FRIDAY, MAY 12 

Resource Fair for Blind and Low Vision People Learn about the agencies and services available and the latest in vision products, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 Sixth St. Lunch served, with reservations 981-5180.  

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Daniel Strohl on “The Potomac: FDR’s Yacht” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 526-2925.  

Early Childhood Safety: Water Safety Information about baby pools, water buckets, scalding, and bathtub safety at 11 a.m. at Habitot, 2065 Kittredge St. Cost is $5-$6. 647-1111. 

Womensong Circle, participatory singing group for women at 6:45 p.m. at First Congrega- 

tional Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, at Dana. Lyrics provided. Suggested donation $15-$20. 525-7082. 

John Lennon Educational Tour Bus with state-of-the-art mobile recording and multimedia studios will let visitors write an original song, perform and record it, videotape it, and go home with a completed music video. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bay Street in Emeryville. www.lennonbus.org 

“Berkeley’s Movers and Shakers” a celebration of Berkeley’s past, present and future community at 6 p.m. at the Hillside Club. 

Berkeley Critical Mass Bike Ride meets at the Berkeley BART the second Friday of every month at 5:30 p.m.  

Berkeley Chess School classes for students in grades 1-8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. A drop-in, rated scholastic tournament follows from 7 to 8 p.m. at 1581 LeRoy Ave., Room 17. 843-0150. 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 8 p.m. at the East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Kol Hadash Family Pot Luck Humanistic Shabbat Celebration at 6 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. RSVP with food choice to info@kolhadash.org 

SATURDAY, MAY 13 

The Garden Conservancy’s National Open Days Visit eight private gardens in Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond, as part of The Garden Conservancy’s National Open Days Program. Berkeley locations include: 3017 Wheeler St., 2810 Webster St., and 620 Spruce St., open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to each garden is $5. 888-842-2442.  

Mini-Farmers in Tilden A farm exploration program, from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 4-6 years, accompanied by an adult. We will explore the Little Farm, care for animals, do crafts and farm chores. Wear boots and dress to get dirty! Fee is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Walk to End Poverty at 9 a.m. around Lake Merritt in Oakland to raise awaremenss of poverty in Alameda County. 981-5427. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around Preservation Park to see Victorian architecture. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Preservation Park at 13th St. and MLK, Jr. Way. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Emergency Preparedness Class on Basic Personal Prepar- 

edness from 10 a.m. to noon at 997 Cedar St. Also from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Free, but registration required. 981-5506. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes 

Vegetarian Cooking Class on Thai and Southeast Asian Cuisine from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. Cost is $45. 531-2665. www.compassionatecooks.com 

Sign up for Summer Youth Programs from noon to 5 p.m. at the Calvin Simmons Middle School Playground, 2101 35th Ave. in East Oakland. Choices include education programs as well as Skateboarding, Breaking, Basketball and Capoeria. 625-9940. 

Early Childhood Safety: Free Child Car Seat Check from 10 a.m. until noon at the UC Garage on Addison at Oxford. 647-1111. 

Cardweaving and Kumihimo Demonstration of two “Narrow Weave” techniques at 3 p.m. at the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 2982 Adeline St. Free. 843-7290. 

East Bay Atheists “Science and Scientists in Ancient Greece and Rome” with Richard Carrier at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580.  

“The Power of Nightmares” Part III, a new documentary by BBC journalists on the “War on Terrorism” at 3 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27st., Oakland. Cost is $10. Benefits Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club.  

“Democracy: Can We Keep It? Only if we work at it!!” with Lee Sanders, Field Organizer for Common Cause and General Counsel, Citizens for Civic Justice, at 7 p.m. at the Home of Truth Center, 1300 Grand Street, Alameda. Sponsored by the Alameda Public Affairs Forum. www.alamedaforum.org 

Power of The Spoken Word with performances, discussion and a documentary on the influence of Hip Hop at 2 p.m. at African Children’s Advanced Learning Center, 33rd St., corner of San Pablo, Oakland. Cost is $10. Nefertinaproductions@ 

yahoo.com 

Annual Gigantic Friends of the Albany Library Book Sale, 1247 Marin Ave., Sat. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds benefit the programs and services of the Albany Library. 526-3720, ext. 5.  

“Women on the Move: From Vision to Action” all-day conference and interactive workshops for women at the Oakland Marriot Convention Center. Tickets are $65-$75. 654-7557. 

Blue Hydrangea Tea Party to benefit the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at 3 p.m. at L’Amyx Tea Bar, 4179 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Cost is $75, all proceeds benefit NOCC. For reservations call 593-8896. 

“Everyday Green” at talk by author Annie Somerville, executive chef of Greens Restaurant, at 1 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

The Great War Society meets to discuss “The Military History of J. Giles Farquhar” at 10:30 a.m. at 640 Arlington Ave. 527-7118. 

“Smart Ideas for Sage Eating” at 10 a.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Romance Writers of America “Undressing Your Hero & Heroine” A workshop with Tonda Fuller at 10 a.m. at Pyramid Restaurant. Cost is $30. Reservations required. www.sfarwa.com 

Pre-School Storytime for 3-5 year olds at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., through June 22. 526-3720. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732.  

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755.  

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, MAY 14 

Mother’s Day Morning Walk along the Bay Trail at Pt. Isabel with a stop at the Rosie the Riveter National Museum, from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at Ryden Road entrance before Costco. For information call 525-2233. 

Mother’s Day Breakast on board The Red Oak Victory ship, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., includes a tour of the ship. Cost is $6, children under 5 free. Located at Berth #6, 1337 Canal Blvd., Richmond, off Hwy 580. 237-2933. 

Mothers Say “No” to War A walk, picnic and short program with Alameda Peace Network. Meet at 1 p.m. at Alameda City Hall, Santa Clara and Oak, to walk to Jackson Park. 

Spring Rhododendron Tour from 10 a.m. to noon at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $8-$12. Registration required. 643-2755. 

Green Sunday; Venezuela’s New Democracy with Laura Wells, Green Party candidate for State Controller who has done political research in Venezuela, at 5 p.m. at the Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. at 65th in Oakland.  

People Radio Public Meeting to discuss the upcoming KPFA elections at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Universalist Hall at Cedar and Bonita.  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732.  

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Santosh Philip on “Tibetan Yoga for Stress Reduction” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, MAY 15 

Rally Against Military Recruiting at 4 p.m. at Oakland City Center, 12th and Broadway. March to the recruiting center at 5 p.m. www.objector.org 

“The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community” with author David Korten, with Joanna Macy, Maryam Roberts, Alli Chagi-Starr, and Xiomara Castro, poetry by Shailja Patel, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison, at 27th St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$12. Benefits Global Exchange. 415-255-7296, ext. 200.  

Story Tells, a story telling swap with guest teller Mary J. Kelly at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Events Loft at Jack London Square. 238-8585. 

Swing Into Spring benefit for Central Works Theater with music and food at 6:30 p.m. at Downtown Restaurant. Tickets are $85 and up. For reservations call 558-1381.  

Lead-Safe Painting & Remodeling Free introductory class to learn about lead safe renovations for your older home, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Oakland Branch Library 1801 Adeline St. Offered by Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. 567-8280. www.ACLPPP.org 

“How to Expand Your Mind- Body Connection” by creating soothing living spaces, at 5:30 p.m. in the Rose Room at Mercy Retirement Center, 3431 Foothill Blvd., Oakland. Cost is $30 or $120 for the entire series. 534-8547, ext. 666. 

Breathexperience?Classes “Oh, My Aching Back!” 12-1 p.m., $10; “Restoring Viitality” 5:30-6:45 p.m., $10; “The Experience of Breath” 7-8:15 p.m., $12, at MIBE, 830 Bancroft Way, #104. 981-1710. 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60+ years old meets at 10:15 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Cost is $2.50. 524-9122. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, MAY 16 

Public Hearing on the David Brower Center at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. 981-6900. 

Wilderness First Aid Basics with certified wilderness EMT David Yacubian at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Strawberry Tasting at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at MLK Jr. Way. Samples and book signing with Jessica Prentice, author of “Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger Connection.” 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Family Story Time at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Branch Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Free, all ages welcome. 524-3043. 

“Pain-free Naturally” with Lorenzo Puertas, licensed acupuncturist at noon at the Maffly Auditorium, Herrick Campus, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2001 Dwight Way. Please refrain from wearing fragrances. Free. 644-3273. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your digital images, slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 548-3991.  

Discussion Salon on “Predictions for the Future” at 7 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. at Rose. Please bring snacks to share, no peanuts please. 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17  

Walking Tour of Oakland City Center Meet at 10 a.m. in front Oakland City Hall at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

“All About Reverse Mortgages” with Cherisse Baptiste of ECHO Housing at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Gray Panthers Office, 1403 Addison St., behind the Univ. Ave. Andronico’s. 548-9696. 

“The Making of a Revolutionary” a new film about Israel’s conscientious objectors at 7:30 p.m at Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Cost is $10-$13. Benefits Jewish Voice for Peace. 465-1777.  

League of Women Voters Annual Meeting with guest speaker Daniel Purnell, Oakland Public Ethics Commission on “Let the Sun Shine on City Government” at 5 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Cost is $15. 843-8824. http://lwvbae.org 

“Invisible Ballots” and “Help America Vote ... On Paper” two documentaries on the problems with electronic voting at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St. Donation of $5 accepted.  

Safe Medicine Disposal Day Don’t flush or trash medicine! Bring old medicines to Oakland City Hall between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for safe disposal. www.baywise.org  

Classes in English and Citizenship offered by the Oakland Adult Education program Mon.-Fri. from 6 to 9 p.m. Free. Register at Lincoln Elementary School, 225 11th St., room 205. 879-8131. 

American Red Cross Blood Ser Volunteer Orientation from 6 to 8 p.m. at its headquarters in Oakland. We need your help to support the more than 40 blood drives held each month all over the East Bay, evenings and weekends included. For more information, phone Anne at 594-5165.  

Lupus Research Update with Dr. Franc Barrat, Senior Scientist Dynavax Technologies, Inc. at 6:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel, Berkeley Marina. Hosted the Alliance for Lupus Research. Please RSVP to 800-867-1743. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m.  

THURSDAY, MAY 18 

Bike to Work Day Ride your bike to work and see how fast, healthy, and fun it can be. Energizer Stations throughout Alameda County. 415-246-8078. www.511.org 

“Insects of Lake Merritt and Greater Oakland” with Eddie Dunbar at 12:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. 

“Shopping with the Chef” with Jessica Prentice on how she makes shopping decisions at 3:30 p.m. at the North Shattuck Farmer’s Market. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Women’s Cancer Resource Center Benefit with a performance of “Jonna’s Body, Please Hold” at 8 p.m. at Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club, located at 1650 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Tickets are $125. www.wcrc.org 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Historical & Current Times Book Group meets on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1249 Marin Ave. 548-4517. 

ONGOING 

Poll Workers Needed in Alameda County for June 6 Primary Election. Poll workers must be eligible to register to vote in California, have basic clerical skills. Training classes begin in May. 272-6971. 

Berkeley Youth Alternatives Youth Sports Classes NFL Flag Football for boys and girls ages 9 to 12 begins May 9, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Cost is $10-$15 for 5 weeks, and Pee Wee Basketball for boys and girls ages 6 to 8 begins May 13, 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $25-$35 for 6 weeks. For more information contact BYA Sports & Fitness Department 845-9066.  

CITY MEETINGS 

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon. May 15, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. 

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/agenda-committee 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Mon. May 15, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Pam Wyche, 644-6128 ext. 113. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent 

City Council meets Tues., May 16, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., May 17, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Katherine O’Connor, 981-6601. www.ci.berkeley.ca. us/commissions/humane 

Commission on Aging meets Wed., May 17, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. William Rogers, 981-5344. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/aging 

Downtown Area Plan Advisory Commission meets Wed. May 17, at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7487. 

Library Board of Trustees meets Wed. May 17, at 7 p.m. at South Berkeley Senior Center., Jackie Y. Griffin, 981-6195. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/library  

School Board meets Wed. May 17 at 7:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. Queen Graham 644-6147 or Mark Coplan 644-6320. 

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., May 18, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Anne Burns, 981-7415. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/designreview  

Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets Thurs., May 18, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Prasanna Rasaih, 981-6950. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/faircampaign 

™

FRIDAY, MAY 12 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “Small Tragedy” Wed.-Sat at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through May 14. Tickets are $38. 843-4822.  

BHS Drama Dept. “Bat Boy” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at the Florence Schwimley Little Theater, BHS Campus. Tickets are $12 general, $7 students. Arrive early, shows sell out. 332-1931.  

Berkeley Rep “The Glass Menagerie” at 8 p.m. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $59. Runs through june 18. 647-2949.  

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Animal Crackers” at 8 p.m. Fri and Sat., and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Contra Costa Civic Theater, 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through May 20. Tickets are $12-$20. 524-9132.  

Impact Theater “Money & Run Episode 4: Go Straight, No Chaser,” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. Cost is $10-$15. Runs through May 27. 464-4468.  

Shotgun Players “King Lear” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. to June 18. Tickets are $15-$30, reservations suggested. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Subterranean Shakespeare “Richard III” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. at Rose in Live Oak Park, through May. 20. Tickets are $12-$17. 276-3871. 

TheatreFIRST “World Music” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Old Oakland Theatre, 461 Ninth St. at Broadway. Tickets are $18-$22. 436-5085. www.theatrefirst.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Black Artists Expressions of Father” opens with a reception and artists talk at 6 p.m. at Richmond Main Street Intiative, 1101 Macdonald Ave., Richmond. Exhibition runs to July 28. 236-4049, 626-8703. 

“Generations: A Retrospective of the Figure” and “Rendevous” Exhibitions opens with a reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1625 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. www.accigallery.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“The Elegant Gathering: Art, Politics, and Collecting in China” A conference on the collection of Chinese art with keynote address by Jonathan Hay, New York University on “The Effects of Imperial Collecting on the Transmission of Chinese Paintings” at 4:30 p.m. at UC Berkeley Art Museum, 2621 Durant Ave. http://ieas.berkeley.edu/events/elegantgathering 

James Howard Kunstler describes “The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Telegraph. 845-7852.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Natya Indian Dance, the art of storytelling through classical Indian dance at 1 p.m. at the Lakeview Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 550 El Embarcadero. 238-7344. 

Women’s Antique Vocal Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church,1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5-$15. www.wavewomen.org 

Doug Arrington & his Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ.  

Fred Frith in a benefit for the Community School of the East Bay at 7 and 9 p.m. at 215 Ridgeway off Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Donation $20. Reservations suggested. 923-0505. www.cseb.org  

The Sounds We Make with The Bananas, 1918, The Cars The Doors and others at 8 p.m. at 21 Grand, 416 25th St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$10. 444-7263. 

Sin Voz, Waiting in Vain, Weapons at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8-$10. 848-0886. 

The KTO Project at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

With River and Philp Rodriguez, song-writing duo, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Bill Miller at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Peter Barshay Duo at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

DJ & Brook, jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Blue Turtle Seduction, Al Howard at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Harold Ray, Rock ‘N’ Roll Adventure Kids at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

Ise Lyfe, Sol Rebelz, The Attic, hip hop, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$8. 548-1159.  

Vagabond Opera, CD release party, at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 644-2204.  

Sistas in the Pit, Coal Pitts Wash at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100.  

Eleven Eyes at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Hugh Masekela at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $22-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, MAY 13 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Modern Landscapes Plus” works by Barbara Bailey-Porter, Ron Mohoan, and John Crawford. Reception at 6:30 p.m. at Stone Gallery, 600 50th St., Oakland. 536-5600. 

“Gathering Time” Photographs by Heidi B. Desuyo opens at Photolab Gallery, 2236 Fifth St., and runs to June 24. 644-1400.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Power of The Spoken Word with performances, discussion and a documentary on the influence of Hip Hop at 2 p.m. at African Children’s Advanced Learning Center, 33rd St., corner of San Pablo, Oakland. Cost is $10. Nefertinaproductions@ 

yahoo.com 

“The Elegant Gathering: Art, Politics, and Collecting in China” Panel discussions from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at UC Berkeley Art Museum, 2621 Durant Ave. http://ieas.berkeley.edu/events/elegantgathering 

Youth Speaks Poets celebration and readings at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Telegraph Ave. 845-7852.  

Miriam Engelberg describes “Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person: A Memoir in Comics” at 4 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

American Bach Soloists “St. Matthew Passion” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $18-$40. 415-621-7900. www.americanbach.org 

San Francisco Early Music Society “Paris in the Spring” Songs of the 17th century French Court, at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. at Garber. Tickets are $10-$25. 528-1725.  

The Sounds We Make with Up the Voltage, Abi Yoyos, Hey Girl at 3 p.m. at Rock, Paper, Scissors, 2278 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Free. 238-9171. 

Praise ‘n’ Hip Hop at 3 and 7 p.m. at Black Repertory Theater, 3200 Aldeline St. Tickets are $15-$20. 384-4566. 

The Sounds We Make with Christopher Willits, Cenk Ergun, Wobbly and others at 8 p.m. at 21 Grand, 416 25th St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$10. 444-7263. 

Rhonda Benin & her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

West African Highlife Band at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. African dance lesson at 9 p.m. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054.  

Dandara & band, Beto Guimarães, Bateria Lucha at 8 p.m. at The Beat at Eddie Brown Center for the Arts, 2560 9th St. Cost is $15-$20. 548-5348. www.the-beat.org 

Famous Last Words, Rick Didia and Nate Cooper at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

The Kathy Kallick Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Damond Moodie, Kiff at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100.  

Finless Brown, The Get Down, Vera Clique at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8-$10. 848-0886.  

Kristen Strom, saxophonist, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373.  

Caroline Chung Duo at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Strange Angels, local blues veterans, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881. 

Hollow Point Syndicate, Imagika at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082.  

StevenThe Jets at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Naked Aggression, Retching Red, Mouth Sewn Shut at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, MAY 14 

CHILDREN 

Mary Miche Mother’s Day Concert at 3 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Now-Time Venezuela Part 2: Revolutionary Television in Catia” with selections from the community television station, opens at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, and runs through July 16. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“Healing Waters” paintings by Judi Miller, glass sculpture by Carol Holmes, and “Katrina’s Children” art and poetry by gulf coast youth on display at the Community Art Gallery, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave. through July 5. 204-1667.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Now-Time Venezuela Part 2: Revolutionary Television in Catia” Panel discussion on media activism at 2:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808.  

Poetry Flash with Deena Metzger and Jayne Lyn Stahl at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Telegraph. Donation $2. 845-7852.  

Brian Keene and J.F. Gonzalez introduce their new horror novels at 3 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

St. Mark’s Choir and Orchestra celebrates Mozart’s 250th birthday at 10 a.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way at Ellwsorth. 845-0888. 

Pacific Boychoir Mother’s Day Concert at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. 238-2200. 

Crowden Music Center Faculty Concert at 4 p.m. at 1475 Rose St. at Sacramento. Cost is $12, free for children.  

Bella Musica “A Choral Menagerie” at 5 p.m. in the Chapel of Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Blvd. Suggested donation $10-$15. 525-5393. 

Giorgio Parolini, organist, at 6:10 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way at Ellsworth. 845-0888. 

College of Alameda Jazz Band performs a free jazz concert from 2 to 6 p.m at the Oakland Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. Families welcome. 748-2213. 748-2312. 

Kathy Kallick Mother’s Day Concert at 1 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $7.50 children, $9.50 for adults. 548-1761. 

The Sounds We Make with Rose Melberg, Finchers, Nedelle and others at 3 p.m. at Rock, Paper, Scissors, 2278 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Free. 238-9171. 

Jennifer Lee Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ.  

Americana Unplugged with The Grizzley Peak Bluegrass Band at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 655-5715. 

Homenagem Brasileira at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15-$18. 845-5373.  

Ellen Robinson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

The Sick, Troublemaker, GunPowder at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

MONDAY, MAY 15 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

David Korten talks about the consolidation of power in “The Great Turning” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$13. 845-7852.  

Spuyten Duyvil Night with Tod Thilleman, Tsipi Keller and Dean Kostos at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Simon Schama reads from “Rough Crossings: Britain, The Slaves, and The American Revolution” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Telegraph. 845-7852.  

Poetry Express with Sonya Renne, 2004 slam national slam champion, at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jazz at the Chimes with Oakland School of the Arts Big Band at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Donation $15. 228-3207. 

Zilberella Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Trovatore, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Blue Monday Jam, MC Little Jr Crudup, Sam One Blues Band at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. 

Northgate High School at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$15. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, MAY 16 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Shaunna Oteka McCovey, Yurok tribe member, reads from her book of poetry, “Smokehouse Boys” at 6:30 p.m. at the Dimond Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave. 482-7844. 

Shelby Steele describes “White Guilt: How Blacks & Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Telegraph Ave. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Gerard Landry & The Lariats at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ.  

Gove Scrivenor at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Howard Barken Trio, jazz, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 

CHILDREN 

“Zink: The Myth, The Legend, The Zebra” A musical play by Park Day School, Wed. and Thurs. at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Suggested donation $10 for adults and $5 for children at the door.  

FILM 

“Caribe” Politics, passion, and environmentalism in Costa Rica at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$6. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Michelle Goldberg describes “Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Telegraph Ave. 845-7852.  

Café Poetry hosted by Paradise at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $2. 849-2568.  

John Curl will read from his new books “Ancient American Poets” and “Scorched Birth” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music for the Spirit with organ music of women composeers at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. 

Whiskey Brothers Old Time and Bluegrass at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Le Jazz Hot at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

Bernard Anderson & The Old School Band at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054. 

Mazacote at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Calvin Keys Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ.  

Solo Bass Night with Michael Manring, Jean Baudin, Jeff Schmidt and Dave Grossman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Blue Roots at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Delinquent Monastery, Lost and Found Generation, Bumbalo at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8. 848-0886.  

Rebeca Mauleón at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, MAY 18 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Wood Sculpture by Paul Hoffman” Reception at 5 p.m. at The Sculpture Court, 1111 Broadway, Oakland. Exhibit runs through July 19. 238-6836. 

“Works by William Wareham and Keith Ferris” Reception at 5 p.m. at Gallery 555, 555 12th St., Oakland. Exhibit runs through July 28. 238-6836. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Nomad Spoken Word Night at 7 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Alvin Toffler introduces his new book “Revolutionary Wealth” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Telegraph Ave. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

Word Beat Reading Series with Robert Tricaro and Cherise Wyneken at 7 p.m. at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. 526-5985. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Natya Indian Dance, the art of storytelling through classical Indian dance at 1 p.m. at the Brookfield Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 9255 Edes Ave. 615-5725. 

Albany High School Jazz & Rhythm Bound R&B Bands at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$10. 525-5054.  

Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Maya Kronfeld Group at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Wayward Monks at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Vienna Tang, singer songwriter, at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $15-$20. 548-1159.  

Showtime @ 11 Hip Hop at 10 p.m. at the Ivy Room, 585 San Pablo Ave. at Solano. 524-9220. 

Bop City at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Keiko Matsui at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $24-$28. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

When the American Bach Soloists take on the grandeur (and three-hour-plus extent) of The St. Matthew Passion at Saturday at the First Congregational Church, it will be with a somewhat different, more unified sense of that great work’s contemporary significance.  

“Most modern interpreters have observed several different perspectives in The St. Matthew Passion,” said Musical Director Jeffrey Thomas. “There’s the narrative of the Gospel According to St. Matthew, which stands on its own, yet is interspersed with two other movements: arias, sung by anonymous bystanders who come in on the story— comments from outside the action, like our own today, and the chorales, from the German for “hymns,” which in Bach’s day represented the congregation—but in ours, the audience.”  

Thomas explained the particular sense that sets this performance apart: “Just as when, say, Garrison Keillor tells a story, he tells us what its characters say, so Bach handpicked the poetic texts for the interspersed arias and chorales—the i ndividual and group commentaries—and placed them where the voices would clarify what he saw as St. Matthew’s narration of the Passion of Christ. So Bach is the architect of an assemblage that was not pre-existent. It’s like a play by Shakespeare. What you remember is how his words, his rhetoric brought the characters and the drama into the foreground. Not just the story, but the way it’s told.” 

Besides the play of perspectives, “which are like a dialogue, a conversation back and forth, that seems to be discussing what emerges as from a single viewpoint,” Thomas talked about the changing perspective on the master himself. “In Bach’s day, to be a church musician was nothing glamorous. In many ways, he was happily subservient to the views of his patrons in the court and the Lutheran Church. Yet his time butted right up against that of the Enlightenment, when the message of his texts became less associated with God and more with mankind. So Bach emerged as the hero, though that’s not what he intended.” 

So w hat is the message today? “Unlike the listeners in Bach’s time, many of us have no religious background, but that doesn’t diminish the power of his rhetoric. The episodes are still transcendental, no matter what background the audience is from. Take the e pisode about Peter, who catches himself lying, denying Christ, and is filled with remorse. The Gospel stories function within our own experience, represent our humanness and comment on it. That’s the core of the work. How humanity plays a role in these fa ntastic scenes of tremendous, sometimes harrowing, power with the voice of crowds ... it’s a great experience to perform, to hear it together, share it with everyone else in the concert hall, and then emerge thinking about your own life in light of the meanings in that story.”  

The production comprises two separate orchestras and two separate choruses, as well as soloists, “55 performers or so ... though when Mendelssohn staged it for its centennial in 1827—the first time it was performed since at least Bach’s death in 1750—there were literally hundreds of performers,” Thomas said. “We try to strike a balance!” 

Thomas singled out Wesley Rogers, who sings the Evangelist. 

“What he has to do is more than being the narrator, not only must he sing his own p art, but hand over the foreground to the others in such a way that they deliver their role in character according to the Evangelist’s mindset,” he said. “It’s a phenomenal performance.” 

American Bach Soloists was founded 17 years ago in the Bay Area to b ring together the best American Bach specialists. Originally based in Tiburon-Belvedere in Marin County, they’ve expanded their concertizing around the Bay and to Davis, appeared at the UC Berkeley Early Music Festival, and produced over a dozen recording s. The St. Matthew Passion is the last show of their season. The annual summer Bach festival comes up in July. 

Actor, director, composer Andy Garcia’s The Lost City is billed as a love song to Garcia’s native Cuba, to the island as it existed before Fidel Castro’s revolution. The movie attempts to evoke a paradise lost, a land of music and dance and family destroyed by corruption and violence.  

Garcia plays Fico Fellove, owner of a Havana nightclub. He brings to mind Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine from Casablanca, a white-coat-clad impresario, a no-nonsense man who refuses to believe in political causes and only reluctantly takes up the fight. As the revolution comes to a boil, his family is torn apart as his father preaches moderation to Fico’s unyieldingly radical brothers and Fico himself does everything he can to hold the family together. 

In the history of the movies, there is only a handful of actor-directors who manage to do both jobs well. Usually they are adept at one job or the other but fail when they take on both at once, and unfortunately Garcia is no exception.  

The movie is rather hamfisted, beating us over the head with its messages, its themes and its symbols. “I am a sincere man,” Garcia says toward the end of the film, and that is both his virtue and his vice as a director. He is so close to this material that he is unable to distinguish the affecting from the overwrought, the drama from the melodrama, the romantic from the trite. 

Films like this are often called vanity projects, and while the term seems a bit harsh for a project as heartfelt as this, it nevertheless has a certain amount of truth to it. Garcia makes several textbook vanity project mistakes. First of all, the camera rarely leaves him; he is in virtually every scene. It is a rare director who can extract from himself a great performance; a second opinion is desperately needed. Garcia attempts to underplay the role of Fico, whether by choice or by limitation, but just doesn’t pull it off, giving off not the slightest spark of genuine emotion.  

The notion of the auteur is so enticing, so romantic, that it has cemented its place in the public consciousness despite the fact that it is still hotly debated; the public generally believes that movies are solely the work of the director. And though this has sometimes been the case, more often than not, films are collaborative and benefit greatly from that fact. Garcia would have done far better had he hired a director, or at least an equal co-director, to help shape the stilted performances of Garcia and his cast and to help smooth the plot transitions that Garcia patches up with awkward expository dialogue.  

At times the film strays erratically into histrionics. As director, Garcia attempts a sort of expressionistic symbolism, especially in the film’s final moments, but these episodes come across as silly and amateurish. And throughout the film, flowery but trite poetic statements flow from the mouths of characters at the most unlikely of moments.  

Even Bill Murray can’t save the film; his superfluous sad-eyed comedic character parachutes in now and then to rescue a scene from itself, but the script is so dull that Murray’s improvisations have nothing of substance to build on. 

Garcia has so often played the ruthless, cynical tough guy that it seems he can do nothing else. Whether he simply can’t or whether we won’t let him is unclear. But for whatever reason, he’s simply not believable as the good guy. Every smile, every good deed seems disingenuous. “I’m no good at being noble,” the Bogart character says in Casablanca, and the same goes for Garcia. 

Terry Zwigoff’s Art School Confidential veers in the opposite direction. Zwigoff has an apparent predilection for misfits, as well as for cartoonists, not that the two are mutually exclusive. Zwigoff, a San Francisco resident, made Crumb, the award-winning documentary about the life and art of 1960s Bay Area underground cartoonist R. Crumb, as well as Ghost World, a movie based on the comic art of Oakland’s Daniel Clowes.  

Art School Confidential is another collaboration with Clowes and the results are similar, producing a film that falls in that murky category somewhere between drama and comedy. 

The movie features small, strong performances from a variety of indie-film creepcases like John Malkovich and Steve Buscemi. The film has fun ridiculing art school student stereotypes, but one needn’t have attended art school to recognize them; they’re familiar to anyone who did time in a college dorm or whose high school had a drama department.  

The movie is essentially a smarter, more thoughtful version of any number of teen movies: An awkward dreamer of a boy (Jerome, played by Max Minghella) moons over a girl (Sophia Myles) who opts instead for a tall, blonde jock type while the boy tries to woo her back with some kind of public demonstration of his prowess. It’s actually a great deal more complicated than this, but to say more would be to give too much away.  

The satire is entertaining but the film gets more interesting, if a bit clumsy, as it enters its final stretch. Jerome, eager to win first prize at a showing of student artwork, commits an artistic and ethical crime, yet is simultaneously being tracked as a suspect for a real-world crime. The film plays a subtle and effective trick, somehow managing to develop the suspense not from the threat that Jerome might serve time in jail but that he might be exposed as an artistic fraud. 

As with The Lost City, there are a few lame expository moments as the characters and the camera go out of their way to explain the obvious to us. But somehow these transgressions are more in keeping with the teen-drama aspects of the film: a little lame, a little light, a little trite. 

However, Art School Confidential uses this a device for something deeper, as a way to comment on art itself. The teachers are portrayed as has-beens and the students are pretentious, talentless blowhards, while the two artists who display any sort of real talent—Jerome and an alcoholic recluse played by Jim Broadbent—are vilified. The only way to gain recognition is to play the game, to incorporate sham with sincerity, showmanship with artistic integrity; to resign oneself to the cult of personality and sell oneself as a commodity for the sake of acquiring an audience. And ultimately, whether he likes it or not, the artist finds that the artifice becomes an art in itself.