Art

Valley Art Gallery’s Featured artist through May 30 is the highly acclaimed watercolor artist Ruth Miller, who maintains a successful career as a professional artist while sharing her love for art with the local school children and teaching an art history curriculum that she designed.  Meet the Artist from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15 and Wednesday, May 27 at  the Gallery located at 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek.
 
The Lamorinda Arts Alliance is pleased to present "Spring To Summer " with a curated exhibition at the Papillon Cafe & Gallery in Lafayette through June 9. The days are getting longer, and it is time for the wildflowers to show off their beautiful blooms. We are exhibiting artwork that celebrates the seasons of Spring and Summer. Flowers, butterflies, birds and bees in our gardens, local landscapes and scenery. The paintings include the pastel colors of spring and the bolder colors of summer. Papillon Quality Gourmet Coffee & Tea is located in La Fiesta Square, at 67 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette.

The Main Street Arts Gallery is pleased to feature guest artist Iretta Hunter, a watercolorist whose vibrant work explores a variety of subjects, often from unusual angles and close-up perspectives, through June 28. In addition, the display windows of the gallery will be featuring Martinez-themed art during May and June, in honor of Martinez’s 150th Anniversary of Incorporation. Main Street Arts is located at 613 Main Street, Martinez.  Open Wednesday-Saturday 11-4, Sunday 10-3 and Martinez First Fridays 11-9. www.mainstreetarts.net

Theater

Looking for a fun, different way to spend your Friday night? Come check out Orinda's First Friday celebration, then get LIT at our adults-only BYOB Improv Jam! This relaxed, just-for-fun event is all about sharing laughs and enjoying a playful night out—no experience required. We’ll play easy, low-pressure, high-energy improv games. Whether you prefer to take the stage or simply enjoy the show, just bring your favorite drink and unwind, have fun, and connect with others. Friday, June 5, 7 p.m. LIT Studio, 2 Orinda Theater Square, Ste 111, Orinda. Register at https://www.litimprov.com/ Cost: $20 per person

The Orinda Starlight Village Players presents "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," Mark Shanahan's all new adaptation of the classic Agatha Christie mystery directed and designed by Matt Cardigan-Smith June 5 through July 4 in the Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheater (located at 28 Orinda Way in Orinda). Set in an English village in 1926, the widowed Mrs. Ferrars is found dead by apparent suicide and shortly after her fiancé, the most prominent man in town - Roger Ackroyd, is found dead, rumors start to run rampant. https://www.orsvp.org/the-murder-of-roger-ackroyd

Music

St Mary’s Spring 2026 Performances presents a free Chamber Players and Concert Ensemble "Love Is All Around" on Friday, May 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Chapel and a Choir Concert "Stronger Than the Storm" on Saturday, May 16 at 3 and 7 p.m. at the Chapel. Free for SMC Students, Admitted Students, & High School Juniors; $15 Faculty/Staff/Non-SMC Students: $20 General Admission plus ticketing fees. Please purchase tickets online ahead of time at  https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/academics/liberal-arts/performing-arts/box-office

St. Paul's Concert Series is delighted to present Dr. Natalie Chan Ning, in a spectacular pipe organ performance on Sunday, May 17 at 3 p.m. at 1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek. Dr. Ning will present a dynamic program ranging from classical masterworks to modern compositions—music of lyrical simplicity and grand, multi-layered textures that transforms the very space into sound. No tickets necessary. Optional donations accepted. St. Paul’s Concert Series is pleased to invite its audience in-person for this event, and we will also broadcast this performance simultaneously online.  To obtain the online link and review the full concert program, visit St. Paul’s at stpaulswc.org/
concert-series. 

Literature

Local author Tess Perko will discuss her debut novel, “Learning to Whistle,” at Orinda Books on June 6 at 2 p.m.  “Learning to Whistle” is a contemporary women’s fiction novel about a recently bereft daughter who journeys to South America to run away from her grief—and instead finds self-discovery and healing. It makes a perfect summer read. Resister at https://orindabooks.com/event/2026-06-06/tess-perko-learning-whistle

Other

Let’s Run Lamorinda!  There is a new FREE homegrown running club in our own neighborhood. Sahand Shahrabani, a Miramonte grad, is a local runner and founder of this club. This group is purely for the joy of running and health enthusiasts. Gather in front of 24hr Fitness on Rheem in Moraga every Monday (rain or shine!) at 6 p.m. for a 45-to-90-minute run. 

“Moving past fear - to healing,” presented by Lisa Troseth, practitioner of Christian Science healing on Saturday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. at the Orinda Library Auditorium. The talk will focus on universal healing precepts found in the Holy Bible, especially in Christ Jesus’ life and teachings, showing how they are available for anyone to understand and experience through the lens of Christian Science. The talk is free, open to the community.

Collective Medicine Circle is a guided meditation and sound bath experience in Orinda, designed to support relaxation, reflection, and meaningful connection. Held in a peaceful, intimate setting, each gathering blends mindfulness practices with live, multi-instrument sound healing. Ideal for those seeking stress relief, personal renewal, and a consistent wellness ritual within the Lamorinda community. Thursday, June 4, 6:30 p.m. at 501 Orinda Woods Drive in Orinda. This is a recurring monthly gathering held on the first Thursday of each month in Orinda. 

Kids Teaching Kids: An AI Workshop Thursday, May 14,  4 to 5 p.m. Introduction to AI Concepts (Grades 5–8). This beginner-friendly session introduces the fundamentals of artificial intelligence using activities inspired by MIT’s Day of AI curriculum. Students will explore how AI works and how it’s used in everyday life through simple, hands-on projects. Led by Benji Spicer-Youakim and Leo Xie, middle school students and co-founders of the SIGMA Club at Saklan School. Bring your own device or use a library laptop. Space is limited. Registration required: 925-376-6852. Moraga Library 1500 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. 

Garden

The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center is celebrating its 15th year with a Community Open House on Sunday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community garden is located across from the reservoir at 3932 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. All are invited and the event is free. In addition to guided tours of the garden, there will be information on raising chickens, master gardening, raising bees, simple crafts, refreshments, an opportunity to walk a labyrinth and see the garden’s Miwok Village. Garden members will be on hand to answer gardening questions and showcase their use of vermiculture (worm composting), drip irrigation, ways of amending of beds, native plants and use of hinged covers and mesh enclosures as ways of protecting plants from critters. www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org