TUESDAY, AUGUST 22 

Tuesday is for the Birds A tranquil early morning walk. Bring water, sunscreen, binoculars and a snack. Call for meeting place. 525-2233. 

Tomato Tastings from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at MLK, Jr. Way. 548-2220. 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! Meet at 10 a.m. at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden to look for reptiles. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Raging Grannies of the East Bay invites new folks to join us the 2nd and 4th Tues, of each month, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. to sing (any voice will do), help plan our next gig, at Berkeley Gray Panthers office, 1403 Addison St. 548-9696. 

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. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 

Benefit for Lebanese Refugees, hosted by Dar Al Amal and Amnesty International at 6 p.m. at Youth Radio Café, 1801 University of Grant. Donation $12 and up. 499-9402. 

Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet presented by Noah’s Wish, an organization which provided shelter for animals after Hurricane Katrina, at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society, 2700 Ninth St. at Carleton. Donation of $10 requested. Seating limited. 845-7735, ext. 22. www.berkeleyhumane.org 

Conversation with Bob Watada, father of Lt. Ehren Watada, first U.S. Military officer to publicly resist illegal war and occupation of Iraq, at 10:30 a.m. in Heller Lounge, Student Union Building, UC Campus. ninakfallenbaum@hotmail.com 

Making Another World Possible: Beyond Debt Cancellation, Who Owes Whom? at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1606 Bonita near Cedar. 527-3917. 

Celebrate Women’s Sufferage with the film “Iron Jawed Angels” at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Cost is $5.  

Berkeley Adult School Open House for Career and Technical Education programs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 1701 San Pablo Ave. at Virginia. 644-8973.  

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! Meet at 10 a.m. at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden to look for reptiles. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around the restored 1870s business district. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of G.B. Ratto’s at 827 Washington St. For reservations call 238-3234.  

“Farenheit 451” a film based on the novel by Ray Bradbury on Cold War fears, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. 

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

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome. 548-9840. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704.  

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at the downtoen berkeley BART. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 

Symposium on Employment Conditions for College and University Teachers with union representatives and Joe Berry, author of “Reclaiming the Ivory Tower: Organizing Adjuncts to Change Higher Education” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

“Nurses vs. Arnold” A new Robert Greenwald documentary premieres at 7 p.m. at the Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. www.Yes on89.org 

Berkeley Community Gardening Collective Potluck at 6 p.m. at the Malcom X School Garden, Ellis St. and Ashby Ave. The speaker will be Melanie Okamoto of the California Nutrition Network. 883-9096. 

Family Fun Night at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline at 6 p.m., includes presentations by naturalists and arts and crafts projects for the whole family. 525-2233. 

“Making Another World Possible” A discussion with women who lead resistance movements around the globe, at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, entrance on Dana. Cost is $10-$20. 533-7583. www.ctwo.org  

League of Women Voters Community Luncheon, with Christopher Edley, Jr., Dean of Boalt Hall School of Law, at 11:30 a.m. at Hs Lordships at the Berkeley Marina. Cost is $75. 843-8828. 

Ecovillages Presentation Find out what an ecovillage is and how the ecovillage movement affects the environment, the economy, and social justice issues at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220. 

Easy Does It Disability Assistance Board of Directors’ Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 1744A University Ave. All welcome. 845-5513. 

ACCI Seconds Sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sun. at 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. 

Clothing Swap and Silkscreening Workshop, at 6:30 p.m. at Nabolom Bakery, 2708 Russell St. 845-BAKE. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing on Fridays until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

Activist Series featuring Nadia Mcaffrey, Gold Star Families Speak Out, and Dewaybe Hunn, Director of the People’s Lobby & World Service Corp. whose son was killed in Iraq, at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists’ Hall, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Donations welcome. 528-5403.  

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakland Children’s Hospital, Outpatient Building Basement, 747 52nd St., Oakland. For an appointment call 1-800 GIVE-LIFE. 

Ballroom Dancing every Friday at 8 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, 200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Live band and refreshments. Cost is $10. 925-934-9129. 

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. wibberkeley@yahoo.com 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Kol Hadash Humanistic Shabbat at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. Please bring finger dessert to share, and non-perishable food for the needy. Free and open to all.  

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 

Trails Challenge: Traversing Tilden’s Trails Meet at 8 a.m. at the Lone Oak Staging Area to cover to park’s varied ecosystems. Bring water, sunscreen, layered clothing and lunch. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Rocks A walk to explore seven rock parks in Berkeley, along with paths, historic homes and great views. Meet at 10 a.m. at the northeast corner of Solano Ave. and the Alameda, by Indian Rock Path. Bring lunch and liquids for this 4-5 mile walk with significant uphills. 528-3355. www.berkeleypaths.org  

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Oakland Heritage Walking Tour of Philbrick Boat Works at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cost is $5-$15. Reservations required. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

A Conversation with Bob Watada, father of L. Ehren Watada, first U.S. Military officer to publicly resist illegal war and occupation of Iraq, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Friends Church, 1800 Sacramento St. 684-0239. 

Muir Heritage Ranch Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the John Muir National Historical Site in Martinez. Entertainment, demonstrations, games and food. 925-639-7562. www.JohnMuirAssociation.org 

Oakland Chinatown StreetFest Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Franklin St. from 7th to 11th, and 8th and 9th Sts., from Broadway to Harrison. 893-8979. 

ActivSpace Arts and Crafts Fair Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2703 Seventh St. 845-5000. 

“I Love Bugs!” Day at Habitot Children's Museum from 10 am to 5 pm 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111. 

Urban Releaf Tree Tour of Oakland and workshops in urban forestry that teach tree planting, maintenance, GIS/GPS systems, and community advocacy. For information call 601-9062. www.urbanreleaf.org 

ACCI Seconds Sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sun. at 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. 

PR/Marketing Workshop for Musicians at 11 a.m. at Freight & Salvage Coffee House, 1111 Addison St. Cost is $45-$49. 548-1761.  

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East Bay Bible Church, 11200 Golf Links Rd., Oakland. For an appointment call 1-800 GIVE-LIFE. 

SHAC 7 Benefit Vegan food and films, sponsored by East Bay Animal Advocates at 6 p.m. at AK Press, 674-A 23rd St, Oakland. Cost is $5-$15, sliding scale. shac7benefit@yahoo.com 

Heart Health Fair Sponsored by the Association of Black Cardiologists from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Eastmont Town Center, 7200 Bancroft Ave., Oakland. Free blood pressure screenings, and presentations on strokes and heart disease. 632-1131. www.abcario.org 

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. www.nativeplants.org 

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

Spiritwalking: Aqua Chi(TM) at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley High Warm Pool. Cost is $5.50, $3.50 seniors & disabled. Bring your own towels. 526-0312. 

Yoga for Peace at 9:30 a.m. at Ohlone Park, MLK at Hearst. Bring a yoga mat, warm blanket, and peace sign.  

Adult Fast Pitch Softball at noon. For location call 204-9500.  

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, AUGUST 27 

Oakland Heritage Walking Tour of West Oakland’s “Big One” from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at 14th St. and Nelson Mandela Parkway. Cost is $5-$15. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

Free Sailboat Rides from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club in the Berkeley Marina. Bring change of clothes, windbreaker, sneakers. For ages 5 and up. cal-sailing.org  

Name That Snake An introduction to the snakes that live in our backyards and local parks, at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Cattail Capers We’ll explore the local ponds with dip-nets and magnifiers. Meet at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Dress to get wet. 525-2233. 

Oakland Chinatown StreetFest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Franklin St. from 7th to 11th, and 8th and 9th Sts., from Boadway to Harrison. 893-8979. 

Garden Party at Salem Lutheran Home with entertainment by the Puppets of Praise, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 2361 East 29th St., Oakland. 434-2828. 

Summer Sunday Forum with Katherine Burroughs on elder abuse at 9:30 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Berkeley City Club free tour from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tours are sponsored by the Berkeley City Club and the Landmark Heritage Foundation. Donations welcome. The Berkeley City Club is located at 2315 Durant Ave. For group reservations or more information, call 848-7800 or 883-9710. 

Kickabout at Codornices Park Soccer for all, skill and talent not required. For more information contact cambour@hotmail.com  

Balinese Dance Class with Tjokorda Istri Putra Padmini at 11 a.m. at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave. 237-6849. 

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

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 Robin Caton on “Meditation: Patience and Ease” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, AUGUST 28 

“The Man Behind the Marquee” An evening with Grand Lake Theater owner Allen Michaan. Hear what events compelled this voting-rights activist to seek unique expression of his right to free speech and to provide venue for others to speak out as well. Sponsored by The Paul Robeson Chapter of the ACLU at 7:30 p.m. at “Theatre By The Bay,” 2700 Saratoga, Alameda Point, Alameda, former Naval Air Station. 596-2580. 

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

Stress Less Seminar at 6:30 p.m. at Piedmont Branch Library, 160 41st St., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

In the Aug. 15 story “Incumbents Hit Filing Deadline,” the Planet reporter Richard Brenneman wrote that “Challenger Howard Chong has filed his papers for the Rent Board . . .” Howard Chong is not a challenger, however, but the current chair of the Board.  

The story failed to mention that Chris Kavanagh, another incumbent, also filed his papers last Friday.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22 

FILM 

Screenagers “Seventeen” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Geoffrey Nunberg explains “Talking Right: How the Right Turned Liberalism into a Tax-Raising, Latte-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving, New York Times-Reading, Body-Piercing, Hollywood-Loving, Left Wing Freak Show” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Uzodinma Iweala introduces “Beasts of No Nation” at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Sauce Piquante at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Beep at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Jane Bunnett & Radio Guantanamo featuring Kevin Breit at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays, a weekly showcase of up-and-coming ensembles from Berkeley Jazzschool at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Visions of the Builtscape” Paintings of urban landscapes by Scott Courtnay-Smith. Reception at 7 p.m. at Artbeat Salon and Gallery, 1887 Solano Ave. Exhibtion runs to Oct. 22. 527-3100. 

FILM 

Frank Borzage “Moonrise” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Berkeley Treasures Series A conversation with Richard Whittaker at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

“Writing Teachers Write” with special guest Jane Juska at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Tucker Malarkey reads from his new novel “Resurrection” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Jewish Writers in the Bay Area with Reuven Goldfarb on “Baseball Kabbalah” and “Sane Terrain”at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley-Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 465-3935. 

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 www.starryploughpub.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Terrance Brewer Quintet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Roy Zimmerman in “Faulty Intelligence” An evening of satirical songs, at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2118 Allston Way, through Aug. 24. 800-838-3006. www.themarsh.org  

Japanther, This Bike is a Pipe Boms, KIT, and others in a benefit concert for the Prisoners Literature Project and Berkeley Liberation Radio at 7 p.m. at Lobot Gallery, 1800 Campbell St. and 18th, Oakland. Donation $7-$20. 290-81512. 

Partyin’ with “Patrice”/Batya, a memorial benefit, at 6 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $10-$25.  

The Hooks, Fetish, Stone Cutter, Mike Rogers at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8-$10. 848-0886.  

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

Jean Fineberg & Saxophunk at 5 p.m., and Mingus Amungus at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Michael Coleman Trio Jazz Jam at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Bring your instrument. 451-8100. w 

Jane Bunnett & Radio Guantanamo featuring Kevin Breit at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 

FILM 

Beyond Bollywood “Masala” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Ray LeMoine and Jeff Neuman describe their travels to “Babylon by Bus” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Summer Noon Concert with United Capoeira Association at the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Free. www.downtownberkeley.org 

18th Annual Annual Freight Fiddle Festival at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761.  

Sara & Swingtime at 6 p.m. at La Note, 2377 Shattuck Ave. 526-6080. www.lanoterestaurant.com 

Mo’ Rockin Project at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Girl Talk at 5 p.m. at Ristorante Raphael, 2132 Center St. 644-9500. www.ristoranteraphael.com 

Tom Duarte at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Free Peoples, Phoeniz & Afterbuffalo at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Laurie Antonioli & Zilberella at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Kenny Washington Trio at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

David Weckl Band at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $15-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

CV1 at 8 p.m. and Black Edgars Musicbox at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 

THEATER 

California Shakespeare Theater “The Merchant of Venice” at the Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda. Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. through Sept. 3. Tickets are $15 and up. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org 

Encore Theatre Company and Shotgun Players “The Typographer’s Dream” at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Sept. 3. Tickets are $15-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Impact Theatre “House of Lucky” Written and performed by Frank Wortham, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through Aug. 26. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. 

Masquers Playhouse “Dairy of a Scoundrel” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond across from the Hotel Mac. Through Sept. 30. Tickets are $15. 232-4031. 

FILM 

Kenji Mizoguchi “Street of Shame” at 7 p.m. and “Sansho the Bailiff” at 8:50 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Robert E. Bowman in a classical piano recital, at 8 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 845-1350. 

Trumpet Supergroup at noon at the Downtown Berkeley BART. 845-5373.  

“Jazz & Poetry” with David Meltzer, Genny Lim, Kit Robinson and others at 7 p.m. at Half Price Books, 2036 Shattuck Ave. 526-6080. 

Quartet San Francisco at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Free. 981-6241. 

Otro Mundo at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12, children 12 and under, free. 849-2568.  

Julian Pollack & Taylor Eigsti at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373.  

Zoe Ellis Band with guest Dave Ellis at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. 

Sister Carol with The Yellow Wall Dub Squad, reggae, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $17-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Meli, Latin vocalist, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

John Stowell at 5 p.m. at Ristorante Raphael, 2132 Center St. 644-9500. www.ristoranteraphael.com 

Tera Johnson Quartet at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Ira Marlowe and Mario DeSio at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Trailer Park rangers, Eddie Rivers and the Flood at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. 

Thought Riot, Scare, Goddamn Wolves at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Realistic Orchestra at 10 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10. 548-1159.  

Eddie Marshall and Holy Mischief at 8 p.m. and John Schott’s Dream Kitchen at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

David Weckl Band at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $15-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Video Work by Bill Viola” An installation with continuous loops of the videographer’s works from 1977-1994, opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

“Horses in the Trees” works by Mark P. Fisher. Reception at 2 p.m. at Alta Gallery, 2980 College Ave. #1. Exhibition runs to Oct. 7. 421-1255. 

THEATER 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Godfellas” Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Willard Park, Hillegass & Derby. 415-285-1717. 

San Francisco Shakespeare “The Tempest” Free Sharespeare in the park at 4 p.m. at Lakeside Park at Lake Merritt, corner of Perkins and Bellevue, Oakland. Sat. and Sun. through Aug. 27. 415-865-4434. 

Shotgun Players “Ragnarok: Doom of the Gods” Sat. and Sun. at 4 p.m. at John Hinkle Park, through Sept. 10. Free, with pass the hat donation after the show. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Jump! written and performed by Shanique S. Scott at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $10-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

The Great Night of Soul Poetry at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Co-sponsored by Dan and Dale Zola and Black Oak Books. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

John Canemaker “Marching to a Different Tune” at 5 p.m. and “Winsor McCay: His Life and Art” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Rhythm & Muse features poet Jeanne Lupton at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. 527-9753. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Old Puppy at 10 a.m. at Nabalom Bakery, 2708 Russell St. 845-BAKE. 

Jazzschool Ensembles at 10:30 a.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at MLK. 845-5373. 

Ambrose Akinmusire at noon at the Downtown Berkeley BART. 845-5373. 

George Brooks Summit at 2 p.m. at the Downtown Berkeley BART. 845-5373. 

Royal Society Jazz Orchestra at 4:30 p.m. at the Downtown Berkeley BART. 845-5373. 

Jaya Lakshmi, Indian devotional music at 8 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Cost is $16-$18. 843-2787. www.studiorasa.org 

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Kotoja, Afrobeat dance party, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054.  

John Bruce and Derek See at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

The People, Bayonics at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8-$10. 848-0886.  

Terry Riley at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. 845-5373.  

“Jazz & Poetry” with Adam David Miller & Pam Johnson, Al Young, and others at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6241. 

Rhonda Benin Quartet at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Kai Eckhardt’s Area 61, at 9 p.m. at Capoeira Arts Cafe, 2062 Addison St. Cost is $10. 666-1255. 

The Whoreshoes, Meat Purveyors, Pickin’Trix at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. All ages show. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Will Blades Duo at noon, Sarah Manning Trio at 5 p.m. and Disappear Incompletely at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Charm, UG Man, Lewd Acts at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 

FILM 

Kenji Mizoguchi “The Life of Oharu” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Elizabeth Wagele talks about “The Happy Introvert: A WIld and Crazy Guide for Celebrating Your True Self” at 6:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Linda Moyers, poetry reading, at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary and Garden Arts, 2904 College Ave. www.mrsdalloways.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Benefit Concert for the Animals, featuring flautist Carol Alban, cellist Suellen Primost, and others at 3 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Suggested donation $10. 595-9009. 

Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco at noon at the Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza, 845-5373.  

Art Song of Debussy, Duparc, Vaughan Williams, Beethoven and more with Dorothy Isaacson Read, mezzo soprano and Kristin Pankonin, piano at 4 p.m. at Chamber Arts House, 2924 Ashby Ave. Suggested donation $5-$10.  

John Santos & Machete Ensemble at 2 p.m. at the Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza, 845-5373. 

Bob Marley Ensemble at 5 p.m. at the Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza, 845-5373.  

Vicki Randle with Nina Gerber & Bonnie Hayes at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Ray Obiedo’s Mambo Caribe with Pete Escovedo at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Will Bernard Trio at noon, Americana Unplugged with Feed and Seed at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 655-5715. 

Girl Talk at 5 p.m. at Ristoprante Raphael, 2137 Center St. 644-9500. 

Natasha Miller and Bobby Sharp at 4:30 p.m. and Kasey Knudsen Sextet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373.  

Bigger Olsen at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. t 

The Hot Club of San Francisco at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

MONDAY, AUGUST 28 

CHILDREN 

Rafa Cano, Spanish sing-along for children, at 10:30 a.m. at PriPri Cafe, 1309 Solano Ave., Albany. Free. 528-7002. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lucy Jane Bledsoe presents “Ice Cave: A Woman’s Adventures from the Mojave to the Antarctic” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

David Abel and Stephen Vincent read at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express theme night on “pet peeves” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums, with Ms. Carmen Getit at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054.  

Gina Leishman at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Nika Rejto at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12. 238-9200.

The ambitious second annual Downtown Berkeley Jazz Festival, produced by the Jazzschool, begins this Wednesday. Over the course of five days, 45 musical events will be presented at 15 venues all over downtown Berkeley. 

Besides every genre of jazz, there will be films at the Gaia Arts Center and poetry at the Berkeley Public Library and Half Price Books. Many of these events are free and provide an opportunity to check out the great cuisine of Berkeley’s restaurants, read the poems inscribed in the sidewalk on Addison Street and find out what kind of jazz is being played locally and what kind you like. 

One of the best groups being featured at the Festival is John Schott’s Dream Kitchen. 

I first became aware of John Schott while trying to fill holes in my collection of pre-Louis Armstrong recordings by African-Americans. Someone at Down Home Records told me he would be helpful and knowledgeable. That was an understatement. His way of learning about a subject is both broad and deep, scholarly, yet passionate, and he is obsessive about getting the details right. He is also generous in sharing the results of his research. 

Far from being theoretical though, his scholarly approach is eminently practical. The 40-year-old Schott not only knows the early compositions and recordings of Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and Bix Beiderbecke, but makes them the repertoire of his trio, Dream Kitchen. The trio will be playing some of these pieces at a free performance this Friday evening at Jupiter as part of the Downtown Berkeley Jazz Fest.  

If you know the originals, do not be surprised if Dream Kitchen’s versions approach them in an oblique manner, at once original yet uncannily familiar. Schott brushes this material against the grain to reveal the inner strength of the compositions as compositions. He knows that this is early American chamber music that has not yet exhausted its potential for freeing the imagination. 

He puts it well when he describes the music as, “Blues, stomps and hot jazz from the ‘20s played like it was written last week.”  

Schott’s musical taste and interests do not stop with early jazz though. He is equally at home with the work of Billie Holiday and Lester Young, beboppers Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell and Tad Dameron, and avant gardists Cecil Taylor and Ornette Coleman. He likes blues players from Robert Johnson through Muddy Waters to B.B. King. 

His classical interests range from Rubinstein’s recordings of Chopin’s Nocturnes to Arnold Schoenberg, Elliot Carter and John Cage. In fact, part of his reason for leaving Seattle and moving to Berkeley in 1988 was to hear all of the Bay Area concerts celebrating Carter’s music around his 80th birthday. 

He has played in Western swing groups; was one of the three guitarists, along with Charlie Hunter and Will Bernard, in the jazz-funk band T.J. Kirk; recorded post-modern klezmer albums on John Zorn’s Tsadik label; worked with the Rova Saxophone Quartet to create musical backgrounds for the underground films of Stan Brakhage; and written music to accompany the poetry of Dahlia Ravikovitch. 

One of the more interesting projects Schott has conceived was a marathon guitar performance last year from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the Jewish pilgrimage festival of Shavuot (Festival of Weeks, Pentecost or Whitsunday to gentiles). There is a tradition of staying up all night and studying until sunrise. Often the beginning and ending passages of every portion of the Torah, opening passages of every book of the rest of the Bible, and the opening of each of the 63 tractates of the Mishnah, along with passages from the Kabbalistic masterwork, the Zohar, are read during the night as a way of contemplating, celebrating and encompassing the vastness of Jewish studies. Schott transformed this into an eight hour meditative guitar piece. 

Dream Kitchen brings that same kind of intensity, lateral thinking and freshness to the brilliant compositions of early ragtime and jazz.

After the heavy metal overture screeches to a halt, both Frank Wortham and his one-man show, House of Lucky (ending its run this weekend), put on by Impact Theater at La Val’s Subterranean, come on with a bang. 

When the lights come up, the sole performer and author is standing onstage, bleary eyed but volatile, pouring out a salty diatribe about sex on stage, leading to an apocalypse, a national mass turn-on, “a tidal wave of pleasure, and America would come together!” 

This is followed by a dialogue out of the corners of his mouth, a new harangue against domesticity, until it becomes clear that the haranguer is the crank and booze-drenched roommate of the protagonist, a protagonist with the euphonious name of Harper Jones, on his way from The Haight to work at Baby Travel in North Beach, a post-hippie bus “experience.” 

Wortham’s more monologist than raconteur, and his spiel is narratively clear, though its route is as Byzantine as the streets of San Francisco that he verbally travels, back and forth. Besides his speed freak would-be playwright roomie (and school buddy), his tale’s decorated with characters such as his boss, Buddy Morrow, “a visionary hippie capitalist;” his ex-girlfriend Sequoia; his rock ‘n roller paramour (more power mower), femme fatale Beth Lipstick, and her evil twin trannie husband, who doses hapless Harper at the Cafe Du Chien, downstairs on Market.  

Perhaps the centerpiece of Wortham’s ramble is his drop-in at a poetry slam, featuring a snide hipster of an m.c. and Sharkey Laguna, louche reciter of “Pride Like A Lion,” whom Harper must face off with in a sudden death imprompteau haiku run-off. 

As Wortham’s material is taken from his own book, the ensuing sub-literary brouhaha is a sharp satire of what must have been his own introduction to facing down an audience bent on devouring whomever it focuses its attention on. 

That’s not the case here, as the personable performer demonstrates accomplished audience contact, ringing through the changes of scene and character in his two-day tale of losing and finding it again. There’s the requisite sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, and plenty of post-adolescent angst, portrayed, but Wortham has the easy going grace to keep it light-hearted, humorous and fun—in a word, entertaining. 

Whether clueless or remorseful, self-derogatory or just dosed, dreadlocked or shorn, Frank Wortham’s right on top of the beat, which he syncopates engagingly. 

HOUSE OF LUCKY 

Presented by Impact Theatre. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. $10-$15. For more information, call 464-4468. 

Summer is almost gone, at least that official version that stretches between Memorial and Labor Days, but it’s still possible to catch that theatrical hallmark of the season, Free Shakespeare in the Park. 

And there’s a particularly good production of The Bard’s last great play, the work some consider his valedictory piece, at Lakeside Park in Oakland, ending its brief local run this weekend. 

To say there’s a tempest on Lake Merritt sounds a little like Katrina in a teacup, but The Tempest plays beautifully on the shores of the lake, its castaways, spirits, aboriginal man-monster, magician, lovers and rustic clowns in their element under oak boughs near the waters. 

Kenneth Kelleher has outdone himself as director in putting together a production for San Francisco Shakespeare that is an original staging that plays very well outdoors.  

Facing the lake is a sea-green set (Richard Ortenblad’s design) with jagged walls inscribed by text—is it magic formulae, or pages from Renaissance notebooks?—a Leonardo drawing and an astrolabe are among the figures. 

Doors open and close with sudden comings and goings, as if out of thin air. There’s a throne elevated on a ladder. Prospero (a magisterial Julian Lopez-Morillas) is occasionally seen hovering in a doorway, sitting on the throne, always watching unseen. And the action is vigorous, overlapping the natural and supernal. 

Prospero, deposed as Duke of Milan by his brother Antonio, is in exile on a tropical island (some say Bermuda was the model). Having studied magic, he conjures up the storm of the title to shipwreak his brother and party, which include Alonzo, the King of Naples (Lewis Sims) and his son, Ferdinand (Daveed Diggs). 

All this he explains to his daughter, Miranda (girlish Julia Moytika), as the spirits who attend on him (Brian Levy, Adam Kenyon Venker and Shannon Preto) move rhytmically, rocking a skeletal model ship. 

In aquamarine jumpsuits, faces obscured by colored mesh (Todd Roehrman’s costumes) the spirits are like artists’ mannequins grown life-size, well-choreographed, like all the cast (by Mary Beth Cavanaugh) to anthropomorphize the magic, or flop like spent ragdolls around the set when unused. 

The castaways, passing ‘round a flask, are clad in baggy, quilted mock conquistador garb, and are visited by Prospero’s familiar spirit, Ariel (also a flighty Motyka, just one of the innovative double roles), who makes them sleep (“What a strange drowsiness arrests them!”) and wake (“I heard a humming, and a strange one too, that did awake me.”), and sings to them (including the exquisite “Full Fathom Five/Thy Father Lies.” 

Julia sings them well, to the tune of harp or lutes, with Chris Houston’s soundtrack wafting up into the trees and out over the lake. 

Ferdinand and Miranda fall in love at first sight, and, though outwardly stern, Prospero confides to the audience, “It works!” His magic has other purposes than revenge. 

There are wonderful scenes, as when two shipwrecked (and hilarious) clowns, Trinculo (Brian Herndon, who also plays Alonzo’s morally equivocal brother Sebastian), a jester, and Stephano (Michael Ray Wisely, also Prospero’s usurping brother Antonio), a drunken butler discover each other (“What have we here? A man or a fish? Dead or alive?”), and also Caliban (a fine Daveed Diggs again), Prospero’s unsettling halfbreed slave, himself discovering their hootch, thinks them gods. 

A very funny moment in all this is also the origin of the famous line, “Misery makes strange bedfellows.” 

This small and talented crew (which includes excellent Gary S. Martinez as Gonzalo) keeps the audience, sprawled out on the grass, rapt with enchantment, as a couple late summer hours float away by the shores of Lake Merritt. 

THE TEMPEST 

Presented by San Francisco Shakespeare at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Lakeside Park, Lake Merritt (corner of Perkins and Bellvue streets), Oakland. Admission is free. For more information, call (415) 865-4434.