Art

Art at Orinda Books in November and December features the paintings of Lisa Gunn. Lisa has a longstanding artistic presence in the Bay Area working out of her Orinda art studio. Her style is a "California Impressionism" involving landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts. For a preview, visit https://www.orindabooks.com. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda

The Moraga Art Gallery launches the holiday season with a new exhibit, entitled “OODLES,” featuring paintings by member artist, Orinda’s Kath Balamuth, admired for originality, exacting details and alluring colors — oodles of them, in fact. The public is invited to a free reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 432 Center Street in Moraga’s Rheem Valley Shopping Center. For more info visit www.moragaartgallery or call 925-376-5407.

Lamorinda Arts Council presents the December exhibit at the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library. Artist Reception on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. More information online at tinyurl.com/LACDEC25. Lamorinda Arts Council's Virtual Gallery features works by local artists each month. View December's exhibit online at tinyurl.com/virtlac. 

Theatre

Town Hall Theatre presents the World Premier of “Snowbound: A Holiday Tale” by Kimberly Ridgeway & Richard Perez. A family friendly play that takes us back 33 years and gives the heartwarming reminder of what the winter season is all about. Previews Dec. 4 & 5, running Dec. 6-20. Town Hall Theatre Co is located at 3535 School Street, Lafayette. Tickets: $20-$45, Pay-What-You-Can tickets starting at $2, use the promo code PWYC followed by the amount you wish to pay per ticket. https://www.townhalltheatre.com/snowbound  

Music

Barefoot Chamber Concerts presents French Decadence: 18th-century music for violin, viol, and harpsichord on Friday, Nov. 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Saint Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley. The ornate and colorful chamber music that preceded the French Revolution: Rameau, Forqueray and Aubert. A world of elegance and gesture. Cost: $25.  For more info see http://barefootchamberconcerts.com or call 510-220-1195 or email info@barefootchamber
concerts.com.

Music Director Lawrence Kohl invites you to welcome the holiday season by attending a concert of Handel’s “Messiah." Enjoy world-class soloists soprano Raven McMillon, alto Sara Couden, tenor Ricky Garcia, bass Matt Boehler and the Pacific Chamber Chorus and Orchestra. Nov. 29 at Del Valle Theater in Walnut Creek, 4 p.m.; Nov. 30 at Bankhead Theatre in Livermore, 3 p.m. https://PacificChamberOrchestra.org/
tickets.

Cantare presents "Lead with Love," an intergenerational holiday concert featuring selections that focus on themes of the holiday season. Two performances only: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church and 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7, at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland. tickets: https://www.cantareconvivo.org/lead, by phone at (510) 836-0789, or at the door. Tickets are $44 (General); $39 (Senior); $20 (Student). There is a $5 per ticket discount for tickets purchased before Dec. 1.

The Contra Costa Chorale presents “Darkness to Light” featuring choral works by Reena Esmail, Randall Thompson, and George Frideric Handel that take us through the shifting moods and rhythms of the winter season, both sacred and secular. Orinda Community Church, Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. Purchase tickets online or at the door: $25-$30 general admission, $20-$25 students/seniors, children under 12 free. More information at www.ccchorale.org.

Literature

Ann Packer, author of The Children’s Crusade and a Kate Chopin Literary Award winner, will be speaking about her new book “Some Bright Nowhere” during a Literary Luncheon at Orinda Books on Thursday, Nov. 20 at noon. Attendees will enjoy lunch while listening to Ann Packer discuss her newest novel about a couple lasting decades of marriage and raising two children, who are faced with the sudden upheaval of their life by a medical diagnosis and a deathbed request, shattering their carefully constructed world. Tickets are priced at $35 and will include a copy of the book and a light lunch. Tickets https://tinyurl.com/AnnPackerLunch

Join the Sweet Thursday Author Series on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Don Tatzin CH at the Lafayette Library to hear Pat Rudebush and Catherine Davis from Orinda Books discuss Holiday gift books across many genres. This is a free event, but registration is required at www.tinyurl.com/sweet-Dec2025. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee and treats.

Mark Purdy, a former columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, will be discussing his book “San Francisco 49ers: An Illustrated Timeline,” depicting nearly 80 years of the team’s history through photographs and memorable stories at Orinda Books on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. At the event, Purdy will be detailing, based on his 43 years of reporting on the NFL, how the Bay Area’s favorite football team rose to fame and victory, winning five Super Bowls in the process. Purdy will be taking audience questions after the talk. Reservations can be made for free through the Orinda Books Eventbrite.

Photographer Dick Evans and award-winning writer Hannah Hindley will be speaking at the Orinda Library on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. about their book “In the Shadow of the Bridge: Birds of the Bay Area.” Evans and Hindley will discuss the photography of the book and the rich avian biodiversity alive in the Bay Area as well as the fight to preserve it. A blend of art and nature conservation, “In the Shadow of the Bridge” is a perfect gift for birders and bird-lovers alike. Both Evans and Hindley will take audience questions at the end of their discussion. RSVP for Free at: https://tinyurl.com/vansHindleyEvent 

Garden

Montelindo Garden Club presents "Holiday Design Ideas" with Valerie J Lee, speaking about and demonstrating holiday decorations. Ms. Lee is co-owner of J. Miller Flowers and Gifts in Oakland. Lafayette Library Meeting Hall, Friday, Nov. 21. Social time: 9 to 9:30 a.m; Business meeting: 9:30 to 10 a.m; Speaker: 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Free. 
  
Moraga Garden Club’s Nov. 20 meeting "The Fragrant Flower Garden" presented by Stefani Bittner, Owner of Homestead Design Collective. The club meets at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St. at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments. Meetings are free and open to the public. www.moragagardenclub.org

Other

The Moraga Chamber of Commerce is welcoming "trotters" again this Thanksgiving morning to run, walk or stroll at Moraga Country Club from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday Nov. 27.  Wear your favorite zany costume, activewear or PJs! The Trot will include “unofficial” timed 5K and 1.5m races, awards for best Thanksgiving-themed costume and speediest turkey, as well as random bib number draws to earn prizes from local businesses. Runners, walkers and lollygaggers of all ages are welcome. You do not need to be a member of the Chamber or the Country Club to participate. 
Advance registration is required at https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Moraga/MoragaTurkeyTrot.

Lafayette Community Open House to Hear Input on Building Design Standards. Join the Design Review Commission for an open house to share your thoughts on building setbacks and step backs, where to put parking, building design styles, articulation, fenestration, and more during a special meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Come at 6 p.m. for the open house to engage directly with the ODS subcommittee and City consultants, or at 7 p.m. to hear the DRC discuss the finer points of ODS. Public comments welcome at both stages! For more information, visit the City’s ODS webpage

Green Friday Free Park Day. Celebrate Green Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — with a free park day in East Bay Regional Parks! Fees are waived for parking, boat launching, and fishing — only state fishing licenses, watercraft inspections, and concession fees apply. Admission to Ardenwood Historic Farm is also waived for Green Friday! The East Bay Regional Park District celebrates Green Friday to encourage the public to spend time in nature. 

Hugs for Harry Sneaker Drive on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 19 Orinda Way, Suite K, Orinda. Donate your new, used, or worn-out sneakers to support Hugs for Harry, a newly formed dog sanctuary in Orinda that provides care and loving homes for senior, special needs, and at-risk dogs. Every pair helps our furry friends – and keeps sneakers out of landfills. Also, come meet the dogs — you might just go home with your new best friend! 
 
It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration, the Lafayette Chamber's free, fun, family-friendly celebration, includes Santa sightings, free train rides on the Lafayette Express, official holiday tree lighting ceremony, one-of-a-kind photo ops, live musical entertainment, kid’s activities, holiday treats and more on Sunday, Dec. 7, 4 to 6 p.m. in Lafayette Plaza. Arrive early and plan to stay!   

Winter Workshop 4 Kids on Saturday, Dec. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lafayette Plaza at 3530 Plaza Way. Get into the holiday spirit at the Winter Workshop for Kids, where children can craft a handmade gift with all materials and guidance provided. Parents are welcome to join the fun; both Christmas- and winter-themed crafts are available. All Ages Recreation will offer fun activities for everyone, and this year, local musicians will add a cheerful holiday vibe to the event.