Art

The Lafayette Public Art Committee announces the opening of “Every Day is Memorial Day,” a collection of photographs of the Lafayette Crosses by Jeff Heyman. The exhibition is on view through Aug. 30, in the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. There will be an opening reception and artist’s talk Monday, May 22, from 6-7 p.m., prior to the City Council Meeting. The event is free and opening to the public.

Virtual Art Gallery at Wilder: Paintings by Mary Claire Stotler through June 3. View her work in this virtual solo show online at https://lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries/. “For me abstract painting is a combination of memories, imagination, and a bit of my soul,” she wrote on her page on the Valley Art Gallery website (https://valleyartgallery.org/artist/mary-claire-stotler/), “I start with a design concept in mind, but it is just the beginning of this emotional journey that evolves on the canvas.”

Music

Pacific Chamber Orchestra announces its new 2023 season beginning with Refreshing program at 7:30 p.m. May 20 at St Stephens Episcopal Church in Orinda. Immerse yourself in refreshing English works such as Franz Joseph Haydn’s “London” Symphony. Revitalize your soul with George Frideric Handel’s Water Music Suite, composed for King George I to celebrate the Thames River. Appreciate the bold, romantic power of Sir Edward Elgar’s May Song and Love’s Greeting, to appreciate a composer who helped spark a renaissance of English music. Delve into Gordon Jacob’s Little Symphony redolent with England’s own form of musical expression.

Join us for an evening of music and celebration at the Stanley Jazz Café at 6 p.m. Friday, May 12 at Stanley Middle School. Free to all. For more info, please contact dalianishimori@gmail.com. Among the musical highlights of this year’s Jazz Café are student ensemble performances of such classic songs as Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon,” Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” and Art Blakey’s “Moanin.”

On May 21, conductor Geoffrey Gallegos and the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra will reprise a rousing concert following a late-February postponement. The program, entitled “Discoveries and Revivals”, will be presented at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Orinda at 4 p.m. The concert will close with Howard Hanson’s lyrical and uplifting Symphony No. 2. Since its premiere in 1930, this work has been rediscovered, revived, and reconfigured as part of the soundtracks for the films Alien, E.T., and Boss Baby. Tickets: ContraCostaChamberOrchestra.org or at the door (Adults, $20; Seniors, $15; Students, $7)

Volti Vocal Ensemble Performs at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Walnut Creek, Saturday, May 13, 7p.m. 1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek, or online broadcast: visit stpaulswc.org/concert-series to receive concert link. Donations graciously accepted at the door (avg. $20/$10 Students) and in our online registration. All are welcome regardless of donation! (925) 297-0134, ConcertSeries@stpaulswc.org, https://stpaulswc.org/concert-series/

Diablo Ballet will present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” May 26 – 27 at the Lesher Center for the Arts. This triple bill features a brand-new A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Julia Adam, an encore presentation of Stanton Welch’s Orange; and the premiere of Such Longing by Richard Alston set to the music of Chopin. For performance tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org

Theatre

Special event at Town Hall Theatre, Lafayette. Edith Piaf: Beyond Paris Skies performed by SonoMusette featuring Parisian singer Mimi Pirard. May 20 at 8 p.m. Doors: VIP 6:30 p.m., General 7:15 p.m. SonoMusette, featuring native Parisian singer Mimi Pirard, transports us back to mid-1900s Paris through the evocative songs of Edith Piaf. Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette, www.townhalltheatre.com/beyond-paris-skies

California Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) – Annual June Showcase 2023 runs Monday, May 29 – Saturday, June 3. Showtimes: Monday-Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. Ticket sales http://capashows.eventbrite.com

Literature

Join the Sweet Thursday Author Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11 in Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library to hear John McCormick discuss his book, “The Chinese in Napa Valley: The Forgotten Community that Built Wine Country.” This is a free event, but registration is required at Tinyurl.com/sweet-May23. The doors will be open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee and treats. This program will be presented in-person or via Zoom livestream.

Other

The Rotary Club of Lafayette presents Concert at the Res! Saturday May 20, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Lafayette Reservoir on the Rotary Stage. Free live music with Big Band of Rossmoor, Acalanes High School, Stanley Middle School, Edna Brewer Middle School -Oakland, Roosevelt Middle School - Oakland. Food & raffle tickets. Support Lafayette schools and Rotary projects!

Please join us for a Memorial Day Vigil on Monday, May 29, at 5:30 p.m. The vigil will take place at the Lafayette Hillside Memorial, across from BART in Lafayette. It will include short speeches, poetry, music and reflection. The land may be sold soon, so this may be our last vigil. Also, please join a community work party to tidy the site on Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m.– noon. www.lafayettehillsidememorial.org

Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carriers Food Drive Saturday, May 13. 31st anniversary of one of America's great days of giving - the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Participating in this year's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple: Just leave nonperishable food donations in a bag by your mailbox on Saturday, May 13, and your letter carrier will pick it up.

Fun for the whole family! Acalanes Senior Car Rally—come celebrate our graduating seniors! Friday, May 19, 5 p.m. Downtown Lafayette, along Mt. Diablo Boulevard. Starts at Oakwood and proceeds to McDonald’s (and back).

The Lafayette Hillside Memorial Board invites you to a Community Conversation. We will share a short history of the site, talk about the current and shifting situation and hopefully receive information from you that will help us move forward. If you have feelings about the Memorial, we hope you will engage in this process. Thursday, May 11, 7 – 9 p.m. Please join us via ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4137479233. For more information visit www.lafayettehillsidememorial.org or email info@lafayettehillsidememorial.org

What will it take to protect Africa’s Wildlife? Thursday, May 11, 6:30 p.m. at Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library. The Wild Africa Fund builds support for conservation projects in Africa by changing public and political attitudes to poaching, illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and human wildlife conflict. Families are welcome at this free event. Wine and light appetizers will be served. For more information and to register, please email Corie@wildafricafund.org

Garden

Lafayette Garden Club monthly meeting begins on May 11 at 9:30 a.m. for social time and munchies before the short business meeting begins at 10 a.m. It is held at the Veteran’s Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette and is free to attend. There will not be a speaker at this meeting. Instead, starting at about 10:15 a.m. the club will be holding a plant sale of a wide variety of plants propagated by club members. This is the club’s fundraiser for the year and the public is invited and encouraged to attend and buy some plants to add to your gardens. We hope to see you there.