Art

The Lamorinda Arts Council is excited to announce the Art Gallery at Wilder's grand reopening on Sunday, March 3 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. A reception is planned with light refreshments. Orinda Vice Mayor Latika Malki will officially open the Gallery to the public. Hours will be Monday - Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Curators are readying the gallery to display featured solo artist Shiva Jafarzadeh's artwork. Her theme is "Paintings and Drawings of Romance, Womanhood, Feminine Poems and Motherhood."  https://LamorindaArts.org/galleries-2, info@LamorindaArts.org, (925) 359-9940.

Art Gallery at the Orinda Library: Students Rock the Art at VAC. The Lamorinda Arts Council's (LAC) High School Visual Arts Competition (VAC) features artwork from students living in or attending school in Orinda, Lafayette, or Moraga, including all schools in the Acalanes Union High School District. In addition to the in-person art exhibit which runs from March 4 to April 7, the contest features cash prizes, merit certifications, and an online public exhibit on the LAC website, www.LamorindaArts.org/

online-galleries/. The reception in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda, begins at 7 p.m. on March 14; the juried awards ceremony runs from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Auditorium. (925) 359-4490. www.lamorindaarts.org/vac.

Music

Diablo Ballet presents Stars & Stripes Jubilee onn March 22 and 23 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, located at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Performances: Friday, March 22 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Single tickets are now on sale now ($26 - $54) with senior and youth pricing available. For tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org.

Cantare, an Oakland-based non-profit community choral organization, celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its 120-voice adult Chorale this March with a concert of past favorites by American composers on Saturday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m., Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek. Tickets and more information at www.cantareconvivo.org, or (510) 836-0789, or at the door. General admission is $35; Seniors, $30; Students, $10.

Deborah Del Mastro Benefit Concert on March 16 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street, Lafayette. General in advance $50, General at the door $60, VIP $75. www.townhalltheatre.com/benefit-concert

Armando's presents The Sunday Paper at the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, March 10, from 2 to 6 p.m., at Townhall Theatre, 3535 School Street, Lafayette. The Sunday Paper is known for their crisp, tight sound with former and current members of Tower of Power, Cold Blood, Sly & The Family Stone, Santana. Cost: $55. For more info see https://SundayPaperMarch10.eventbrite.com.

The Diablo Symphony Orchestra brings Igor Stravinsky's groundbreaking Rite of Spring to Walnut Creek on March 3 at 2 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts. The program also features a new work, "Many Hues of Green," by local composer Jean Ahn, and Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor featuring 16-year-old Starla Breshears, this season's winner of the DSO's Yen Liang Young Artist Competition. www.diablosymphony.org

Flock of Flutes in free concert Saturday March 9 at 3:45 p.m., directed by Monica Williams and Martha Uhey. Come and hear a variety of flutes including contra bass flute, bass flutes, alto flutes, concert c flutes, and piccolo. Free. Don Tatzin Hall at Lafayette Library: 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard.

Theatre

Miramonte High School's upcoming spring musical Footloose! Join for a toe-tapping, hip-shaking journey that'll have you dancing in the aisles and cheering for more. With electrifying music, exhilarating choreography, and a 90-member cast and crew that's ready to rock, this year's musical production is sure to make you feel like you've been transported straight to the heart of the '80s. Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 9, at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 15, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 16, at 4 p.m., Tickets are available here: www.showtix4u.com/event-details/80916

Town Hall Theatre is thrilled to invite the community to celebrate at their Season Announcement Party on March 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at their esteemed venue, 3535 School Street, Lafayette. Come celebrate as they unveil their highly anticipated 80th season with a theme that delves into the heart of humanity: "Family: Born into and Chosen." To reserve your place and be part of the excitement, please RSVP at www.townhalltheatre.com/2024-2025-season.

Other

The Electrified Home Tour is a new program of the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase on Sunday, March 10, from 11 a.m. To 3 p.m. at four electrified homes in Alameda and Contra Costa County (Moraga home included). Free. Registration is required at www.bringingbackthenatives.net/electrify-reg

Leta McCollough Seletzky, J.D., Author, Essayist, Memoirist will be speaking at the Lafayette Rotary meeting. In the iconic photo of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination at Memphis's Lorraine Motel, a figure kneels beside him, attempting to stem the bleeding with a borrowed towel. Little known is that this person, a member of the Invaders, a "black power" activist group, was also an undercover Memphis police officer. This mysterious figure is Lita's father. Lita will share the gripping story of her father's undercover career in her book, "THE KNEELING MAN: My Father's Life as a Black Spy Witnessing MLK's Assassination." Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, March 1 at 7 a.m., https://lamorindasunrise.org/speakers

Celebration of Norouz, Persian New Year Celebration and Spring Equinox on March 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wilder Art and Garden Center, Orinda. Open to the public, Family Friendly. Persian food & sweets, apparel, jewelry and accessories, pottery, bags, and shoes.

American Assoc. University Women - OML Branch general meeting on Tuesday, March 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the Orinda Community Church. Guests are welcome to join this meeting feauturing a panel of 6 women: Pat Rudebusch,  Leta McCollough Seletzky,  Katharine White, Saira Pasha, Dr. Jacalyn Buettner,  Dr. Jamie Textor.

Moraga Historical Society presents resident train expert Sam Sperry. Join us as we go back in time to 1913, when the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway's route between Oakland and Sacramento took commuters to work and pears to market. In 1928, with a merger of railroads, the 185-mile-long Sacramento Northern Railway was formed which included two stops in town: The Moraga Station and St. Mary's Station. Make your reservations now for Sunday, March 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. @ Hacienda de las Flores -- Casita Building, 2100 Donald Dr, Moraga. RSVP to Susan Sperry: ranchsusan@aol.com Moraga Historical Society members free, guests $5. Limited seating.

The Contra Costa Chinese School is holding their annual Open House on Saturdays, March 9 and March 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m at Diablo Valley College, Liberal Arts Building at 321 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill. The school offers kindergarten to 10th grade Mandarin instruction during the school year, as well as a summer program for children, ages 5 to 9. For more information, visit www.cococs.org.

Lamorinda Movers, a social organization for adults 55+, invites you to enjoy a fun and informative evening on Monday, March 11 at the Serbian Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. Cocktails begin at 5 p.m; a St. Patrick's Day-themed buffet dinner, featuring corned beef and cabbage, will begin at 5:45 p.m. Following dinner, long-time Moraga resident and train expert, Sam Sperry, will provide a fascinating program on the passenger and freight trains that once serviced our town. $40 for members, $45 for guests. Reservations required; go to https://lamorindamovers.org/reservations to sign up.

Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street, Lafayette presents "100 Years From Mississippi" movie screening and talkback on March 8, from 6 to 7 p.m. book signing with Nobuko Miyamoto, screening at 7 p.m. with post show talkback. Adults $10, Youth $7, Pay-What-You-Can tickets available at the door www.townhalltheatre.com/100-years

Garden

Moraga Garden Club, March 21 at 9:30 a.m., Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street. "Vegetables Love Flowers" is the topic of their presenter Heather Marano, master gardener and owner of Bush Poppy Farm in Orinda. Community-supported (CSA), Bush Poppy Farm focuses on regenerative farming and offers educational workshops on floral and gardening design. Open to the public and welcome new members. www.moragagardenclub.org

The Lafayette Garden Club monthly meeting begins on March 14 at 9:30 a.m. for social time. At 10:30 a.m., club member Melinda Kell will discuss Soil Preparation for Your Summer Vegetable Garden. At 11 a.m. the guest speaker will be Kim Bancroft, a longtime teacher who became an editor and writer. Kim will present Nature, Landscapes, Farms, and Gardens Through Two 19th Century Bay Area Women's Eyes. Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Free to attend and guests welcome. www.lafayettegardenclub.com