TUESDAY, OCT. 17 

Tuesday is for the Birds An early morning walk for birders through Bay Area parklands. Bring water, sunscreen, binoculars and a snack. This week we will visit Point Isabel. For meeting location or to borrow binoculars, call 525-2233.  

Berkeley Garden Club “Georgeous Gardens Made Easy” with Kim Haworth, producer of KRON4’s “Henry’s Garden” at 2 p.m. at Epworth Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St. 524-7296. 

Willard Neighborhood Association Candidates Forum featuring the candidates for the Mayoral, District 7 and District 8 City Council races at 6:45 p.m. at the Willard Middle School, Auditorium 2425 Stuart St. 

Fall Fruit Tasting at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market, Derby at MLK, from 2 to 7 p.m. 548-2220. 

Week Without Violence Confront violence against women and empower women and people in the community, through Sat. at YWCA Berkeley, 2600 Bancroft Way at Bowditch St. 848-6370. 

“Saving the Animals in Afghanistan” with Pamela Constable, a foreign correspondent for the Washington Post in Afghanistan, who has helped stray dogs and cats in Kabul find shelter, veterinary care and happy adoptive homes, at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Street. Donation $20. Reservations requested. 594-1613. ruphotos@earthlink.net  

“Rainwater Harvesting” Brad Lancaster explains tools and techniques for implementing sustainable water systems for your home, landscape, and community at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2240. www.ecologycenter.org 

“The Reality and Legacy of the Iraq War” with Ivan Eland, Senior Fellow at The Independent Institute and author of “The Empire Has No Clothes” and Mark Danner, author of “The Secret Way to War,” and Professor of Journalism at U.C. Berkeley, at 6:30 p.m. at The Independent Institute Conference Center, 100 Swan Way, Oakland. Cost is $10-$15. For tickets please call 632-1366. www.independent.org 

Panel Discussion on Breast Cancer with Rachel Whalen, Diana Murphy and Cheryl Cohen-Greene at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Torture Teach-in and Vigil every Tues. at 12:30 p.m. at the fountain on UC Campus, Bancroft at College. 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 6 to 8 p.m. Various East Bay opportunities available. Advanced sign-up is required; please call 594-5165.  

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Discussion Salon on Should Voting be Mandatory? at 7 p.m. at JCC, 1414 Walnut.  

Sleep Soundly Seminar A free class on how hypnosis can help you sleep at 6:30 p.m. at 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. To register call 465-2524. 

Handbuilding Ceramics Class from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. John’s Senior Center, 2727 College Ave. Free, except for materials and firing charges. For information call Diana Bohn, 525-5497. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991.  

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, OCT. 18 

“A Glimpse of South Berkeley” with Belva Davis on “Newsroom and Beyond” at 7:30 p.m. at South Berkeley Community Church, 1802 Fairview St. at Ellis. Tickets are $10 and benefit the church’s restoration efforts. 652-1040. 

South Berkeley Mayoral Debate at 7:30 p.m. at B-Tech Academy auditorium, 2701 Martin Luther King Jr., Way at Derby. 849-4319. 

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. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Neighborhood and Community Green Space with Susan Schwartz on “The Santa Fe Rigth of Way” Meet at 1 p.m. at Spiral Gardens, 2850 Sacramento St. at Oregon.  

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll have our annual nature treasure hunt, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

“Kayaking the British Columbia Coast” with John McCormack at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Music in the Community Fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. at Kimball’s Carnival, 522 Second St., Oakland. Tickets are $5-$15. 444-6979. 

Workshop on Condominium Conversion at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 525-3666. 

Current Events Discussion Group meets at 7 p.m. at the Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. Oakland. 597-4972. 

Gray Panthers Movie Night showing “Wag the Dog” at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Gray Panthers Office, 1403 Addison St. Berkeley Gray Panthers Office, 1403 Addison St. 

New to DVD “United 93 ” Film and discussion at 7 p.m. at the JCC, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

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. 548-9840. 

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 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley BART station, followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www. 

geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, OCT. 19 

Mayoral Candidate Debate Between Tom Bates and Zelda Bronstein at 7:30 p.m. in the Le Conte School cafeteria, Russell St. entrance. Sponsored by the LeConte Neighborhood Association. All are welcome. www.neighborhoodlink.com  

“Global Warming: What Can California Do About It?” with Dr. Stephen Schneider of Stanford at 12:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Clean up the Air Pollution from Pacific Steel with Lois Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health and the Environment at 7:30 p.m. at West Berkeley Senior Center, 6th and Hearst.  

“Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of the Bay Area” is the subject of a talk and slideshow at 7:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, between Solano and Marin., presented by the Golden Gate Audubon Society 843-2222. www.goldengateaudubon.org 

“The Washington Post at War: Reporting From Baghdad” with a panel of reporters and editors from The Washington Post at 7 p.m. in Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. Sponsored by The Graduate School of Journalism. Tickets are $5 available from 642-9988. http://journalism.berkeley.edu/events 

An Evening with Robert Scheer Author and columnist at 7:30 PM at the Piedmont Gardens, 110 41st St., Oakland. Sponsored by MGO Democratic Club. 834-9198. www.mgoclub.org 

“The Current Gandhian Movement in India” with Dr. M.P. Mathai, author of “Mahatma Gandhi’s World View” at 7 p.m. at 166 Barrows Hall, UC Campus.  

Breast Cancer Update Learn about the latest research in diagnosis and treatment at 6:15 p.m. at Summit Campus, Peralta Pavilion, Markstein Cancer Center, 430 30th St., Oakland. Registration required. 869-8735. 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll have our annual nature treasure hunt, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Environmental Film Series “Thirst” on corporate attempts to buy up local water supplies, at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Simplicity Forum with Rachel Laws on “Neighbors: Celebrating the Folks on the Block” at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue Ave. 549-3509. 

Community Shabbat with singer Gary Laplow at 6 p.m. at the JCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $12 adult, $5 chidren. 848-0237. 

Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby at 7:30 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. Free, all are welcome. namaste@avatar.freetoasthost.info  

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 

FRIDAY, OCT. 20 

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 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with David Brains on “Life in the Solar System” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 526-2925.  

Sydney B. Mitchell Iris Society Annual Beardless Iris Auction and sale at 7:30 p.m. at Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 277-4200. 

“Iraq for Sale: the War Profiteers” Part of the Conscientious Projector film series, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St., at Bonita. Suggested donation $10, no one turned away. 528-5403. 

“Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers” A new documentary by Robert Greenwald, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., between Broadway and Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 

Teen Read Week pizza party at 3 p.m. at the The Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. for ages 9 - 17. 524-3043 

Movies That Matter “Coach Carter” at 6:30 p.m. at 565 Bellevue St., at Perkins, Oakland. Free, discussion follows. 451-3009. 

Animal Healing Cicle, a guided meditation to send healing energy to pets at 5 p.m. at RabbitEars, 303 Arlington Ave. Suggested donation $5. 525-6155. 

Meher Baba Introductory Meeting with video and discussion at 7:30 p.m. at 6923 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. AvatarMeherBaba.org  

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

SATURDAY, OCT. 21 

Meet the Berkeley Candidates for Mayor and City Council and learn about measures A, I and J, from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at St. John’s, Sproul Conference Room, 2727 College Ave. 

Oakland/Berkeley Firestorm 15th Anniversary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Remembrance Ceremony at noon at the Rockridge BART Station. 238-7388. www.Oaklandnet.com/WildfirePrevention 

Help Restore Cerrito Creek meet at 10 a.m. at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara St., El Cerrito, just north of Albany Hill. Wear clothes that can get dirty and shoes with good traction. Heavy rain cancels. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

Plant Parenthood Party Help transplant seedlings of native plants and prepare for fall planting into West Stege Marsh, from 9 a.m. to noon at 1327 South 46th St., Richmond. Registration requested. 665-3689. www.thewatershedproject.org 

Recycled Arts Halloween Mask-Making Learn the stories behind this ancient holiday, and turn that old junk into a new mask, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Kid’s Garden Club for ages 7-12 to explore the world of gardening, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 636-1684. 

Walking Tour of Oakland Chinatown Meet at 10 a.m. at the courtyard fountain in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza at 388 Ninth St. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

“Bay-Friendly Gardening for Wildlife” Learn how to attract birds, butterflies and beneficial insects that add color, movement and interest to your landscape, from 9 a.m. to noon at El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser, El Cerrito. 665-3546. www.thewatershedproject.org 

Fall Fruit Tasting at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market, Center St. at MLK, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cooking demonstrations at 11 a.m. 548-2220. 

“Deconstructing Tyrone” A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation with authors Natalie Hopkinson and Natalie Y. Moore at 6:30 p.m. at Marcus Books, 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 652-2344. 

Bilingual Storytime Stories in English and Spanish for toddlers and preschoolers at 10:30 a.m. in the Edith Stone Room at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

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

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.  

Spiritwalking: Aqua Chi(TM) at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley High Warm Pool. Also Wed. at 3:30 p.m. Cost is $5.50, $3.50 seniors & disabled. Bring your own towels. 526-0312. 

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, OCT. 22 

Berkeley Election Forum with candidates for Mayor and City Council, and discussion of ballot measures from 1 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. 528-5403. 

Community Celebration for the Days of the Dead with crafts, demonstrations, music, dance, ceremonia and food from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak, Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

8th Annual Sisters of Fire Awards Ceremony honoring editor of ColorLines magazine Tram Nguyen, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland City Center, Oakland. Sliding scale entrance fee of $35-$75 includes brunch. Benefit for the Women of Color Resource Center. 444-2700. www.coloredgirls.org 

Dia de los Muertos with craft activities, demonstrations, music, dance, food and a Mercado from noon to 4 p.m. at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center's Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 869-8833. 

Holiday Gourd Crafting Learn the natural history of gourds and create a centerpiece for your holiday table, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Children 11 and older welcome. Cost is $20-$25, includes supplies. Registration required. 636-1684. 

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  

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to repair flats from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Bring your bike and tools. 527-4140. 

IRV Peace Meet-up and Rally at 1:30 p.m. at Splashpad Park, LakeShore and Grand Ave., Oakland. 644-1303. 

Berkeley City Club free tour from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 2315 Durant Ave. For group reservations or more information, call 848-7800 or 883-9710. 

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 

“A Theology of Hospitality” with Barbara Hamilton-Holway at 9:30 a.m at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Jack Petranker on “Learning to Be” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, OCT. 23 

Reading for Life Program providing one-on-one tutoring for incarcerated adults. A brown-bag lunch presentation by Lisa Harris at 12:30 p.m. at the Edith Stone Room of the Albany Public Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 

WriterCoach Connection seeks volunteers to help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills. Training session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For information call 524-2319. www.writercoachconnection.org  

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. 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people aged 60 and over meets at 9:45 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Donation $3. 524-9122. 

Lead Abatement Repairs Find out about funding for lead hazard repairs for rental properties with low-income tenants or vacant units in Oakland, Berkeley or Emeryville, from 4 to 6 p.m. at 2000 Embarcadero, #300, Oakland. Sponsored by Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. 567-8280. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on Aging meets Wed., Oct. 18, 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. Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7487. 

Library Board of Trustees meets Wed., Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. at South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6195. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/library  

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Katherine O’Connor, 981-6601. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/humane 

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., Oct. 19, 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., Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Prasanna Rasaih, 981-6950. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/faircampaign 

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7010. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/transportation 

TUESDAY, OCT. 17 

FILM 

Alternative Visions “War and Video Games” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Aftermath” large-scale photographs of post 9/11 destruction in New York by Joel Meyerowitz. Lecture at 7 p.m. at Sibley Auditorium, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Graduate School of Journalism. www.fotovision.org 

Isaiah Wilner reads at 7 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Rachel Whalen, Diana Murphy and Cheryl Cohen-Greene in a panel on Breast Cancer at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Jeffrey Goldberg decribes “Prisoners: A Muslim and A Jew Across the Middle East Divide” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Freight and Salvage Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $4.50-$5.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Ellen Hoffman and Singers’ Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Super Heavy Goat Ass, The Distants at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Benefit for Oaktown Jazz Workshops with the Bay Area Music Educators Band and others at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $25. 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, OCT. 18 

THEATER 

“The Secret Circus” Wed. and Thurs. at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, through Oct. 19. Cost is $10-$20 sliding scale. 800-838-3006 www.themarsh.org  

EXHIBITIONS 

Photo Exhibit of Foster Children and Youth sponsored by the Bay Area Heart Gallery on display at the Berkeley Public Library central lobby, 2090 Kittredge St. and Downtown Berkeley YMCA, 2001 Allston Way, through Oct. 31. www.bayareaheartgallery.com 

“Grapefruit” Yoko Ono’s instruction paintings opens at at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, and runs through March 28. 642-0808. 

Allen Ruppersberg “The Singing Posters” A tribute to Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl” opens at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. and runs through Dec. 10. 642-0808. 

Walter Berman and His Circle at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. and runs through Dec. 10. 642-0808. 

FILM 

Pirates and Piracy “The Pirates of the Great Salt Lake” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Wild Cursive and Modern Chinese Calligraphy, a panel discussion at 6 p.m. at the Women’s Faculty Club Lounge, UC Campus. 642-2809. 

Morton Felix will read from his novel, “In Quest of Another's Suicide” at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $10-$20. 848-0237. www.brjcc.org  

Andy Stern, SEIU President, on “A Country That Works: Getting America Back on Track” at 6 p.m. at 2221 Broadway at Grand Ave., Oakland. 

Emily Wu and Larry Engelmann describe growing up in Mao’s Cultural Revolution in “Feather in the Storm: A Childhood Lost in Chaos” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Peter S. Beagle reads from his book of stories “The Line Between” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

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 

Wednesday Noon Concert, chamber music, at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Acoustic Africa, featuring Vusi Mahlasela, Habib Koité and Bamada, and Dobet Gnahoré at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988.  

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

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

Bernard Anderson and the Old School Band at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. West Coast swing dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is TBA. 525-5054.  

Sugar Shack, soul, R&B, funk, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Carpathian Folk Quartet at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

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

THURSDAY, OCT. 19 

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Secrets of Ousiders” Mixed media paintings by Diego Rios, oil paintings by Bernadette Vergara Sale and acrylic paintings by Liz Amini-Holmes at the Estaban Sabar Gallery, 480 23rd St. at Telegraph, Oakland. Runs through Nov. 1. 444-7411. www.estebansabar.com 

THEATER 

Fusion Theater “Beauty and the Beast” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. Tickets are $3-$10. 464-3544. 

FILM 

The Mechanical Age “Spinning Up, Slowing Down: Industry Celebrates the Machine” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Films by Jerry Abrams from the 1960s, including “Berkeley Peace March” at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $5-$15. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

George Lakoff introduces his new book “Thinking Points: Communicating Our American Values and Vision” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. 

Monique El-Faizy describes “God and Country: How Evangelicals are Transforming America” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congragational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way at Dana. Suggested donation $10. 559-9500. 

“The Washington Post at War” with Rajiv Chandrasekharan, author of “Imperial Life in the Emerald City” and former Baghdad Bureau Chief for the Washington Post at 7 p.m. at Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. Tickets are $5. 642-9988. http://journalism.berkeley.edu 

John Moe discusses “Conservatize Me! How I Tried to Become a Righty with the Help of Richard Nixon, Sean Hannity, Toby Keith, and Beef Jerky” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Savage Jazz Dance Company “Everything’s Everything” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $14-$20. 415-256-8499. savagejazz.org 

Ba-Tu-Ke at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $8-$10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Chris Smither at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Manuel Morena & Quejerema at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Danny Allen’s High Diving Horses, Liz Pappademas, Courtney Fairchild at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

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

Selector: Petri Disk Showcase at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Showtime @ 11 Hip Hop at 10 p.m. at the Golden Bull, 412 14th St. at Broadway, Oakland. 893-0803. 

FRIDAY, OCT. 20 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Hedda Gabler” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Nov. 18 at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman. Tickets are $12. 525-1620. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Altarena Playhouse “Merrily We Roll Along” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St, Alameda, through Nov. 12. Tickets are $15-$18. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Antenna Theater, “High School” An interactive theatrical walking tour of Berkeley High, 1980 Allston Way. One audience member enters the show every minute. Walk lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are $20 adults, $8 students. Reservations required. Runs through Oct. 29. 415-332-9454. www.antenna-theater.org/highschool.htm 

Berkeley Rep “Mother Courage” at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2025 Addison St., through Oct. 22. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Central Works “Andromache” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. through Nov. 19. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1382. 

Contra Costa Civic Theater, “The Orchid Sandwich” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. through Oct. 21. at 951 Pomona Ave. El Cerrito. Tickets are $11-$18. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Fusion Theater “Beauty and the Beast” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. Tickets are $3-$10. 464-3544. 

Impact Theatre “Colorado” A dark comedy about celebrity worship, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. Tickets are $10-$15. Runs through Oct. 28. 464-4468. www.impacttheatre.com 

Shotgun Players “Love is a Dream House in Lorin” by Marcus Gardley, inspired by true stories of Berkeley’s historic Lorin District, Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Nov. 5. Sliding scale $15-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

UC Dept. of Theater “Suburban Motel” six plays by George Walker at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus, through Nov. 19. Tickets are $8-$14. For schedule see http://theater.berkeley.edu 

FILM 

Ousmane Sembene “Emitai” and 6:30 p.m. and “Moolaade” and at 8:35 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Robert Grudin reads from “American Vulgar: The Politics of Manipulation Versus the Culture of Awareness” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Harvey Pekar and Anne Moore introduce “The Best American Comics 2006” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com  

Miss Marjorie’s Mysteries Join three local mystery writers, Kirk Russell, Cornelia Read, Tony Broadbent and our host, Miss Marjorie, for a night of scary stories, at 7 p.m. at Pegasus Books, 1855 Solano Ave. 525-6888. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Opera “Les Enfants Terribles” Fri. - Sun. at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro Opera House, 201 Broadway, through Oct. 22. Tickets are $32-$36. www.oaklandopera.org 

Savage Jazz Dance Company “Everything's Everything” Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $14-$20. 415-256-8499. savagejazz.org 

Berkeley Music Coop Players perform works of Falla, Beethoven, Scriabin at 8 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Tickets are $12-$15. 848-1228. giorgigallery.com 

Free Jazz Fridays with Howard Wiley and Laurie Buenafe Krsmanovic at 8 p.m. at 1510 8th St., Oakland. sfjazzmusic@yahoo.com 

Ojala & Melanie de More, African American folk music, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan ”Wild Cursive” at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Linda Kosut and Max Perkoff, songs of Oscar Brown, Jr., at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

JGB with Melvin Seals and Grapefruit Ed at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $17-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Chris Smither at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Ned Boynton Quintet with Jules Broussard at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Mariospeedwagon and Lemon Juju at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Tempest, Avalon Rising at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $12. 841-2082.  

Life Long Tragedy, Silence Kills the Revolution, Robot Eyes at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Grease Traps, Raw Deluxxe, funk, fusion, soul, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Parallel 23, electro Cuban funk, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

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

SATURDAY, OCT. 21 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Rafael Manríquez, children’s songs in Spanish, at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Laura Numeroff talks about “When Sheep Sleep” at 3 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

THEATER 

“Astarte’s Scream” improvisational theater and performance to build understanding about Middle Eastern cultures at 8 p.m. at The Epic Arts Tea Room, 1923 Ashby Ave at MLK. Tickets are $5-$10 at the door. 704-1404. 

FILM 

Ousmane Sembene “Guelwaar” at 6:30 p.m. and “Faat-Kline” at 8:45 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Filipino Author Celebration with Evangeline Canonizado Buell, Peter Jamero, and Pati Navalta Poblete at 1 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

Natalie Hopkinson and Natalie Y. Moore discuss “Deconstructing Tyrone” at black masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation at 6:30 p.m. at Marcus Books, 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 652-2344. 

Elana Dykewomon, Linda Zeiser, Jan Steckel, Trena Machado, Janell Moon and Maria Kaylib read from the new anthology “What I Want From You: Voices of East Bay Lesbian Poets” at 7:30 p.m. at Laurel Bookstore, 4100 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 531-2073. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“A Hideous Ghost” Johann Sebastian Bach and the Violin performed by John Holloway, solo violin, at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College at Garber. Tickets are $10-$25. 528-1725. www.sfems.org 

Trinity Chamber Concerts Ted Brinkley’s Electric Florid-ians at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan ”Wild Cursive” at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Cascada de Flores, son and song of Mexico and Cuba at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $13-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Robin Gregory & Bill “Jazz Professor” Bell at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Kotoja, Afrobeat, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. African dance lesson with Comfort Mensah at 9 p.m. Cost is $13-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Damond Moodie and Jamie Jenkins at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

David Jeffrey’s Fourtet, featuring Kasey Knudsen, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

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

Rebeca Mauleon Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Pete Yellin Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Caroline Chung Jazz Trio at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Mark Twang & Suzanne Fox, acoustic folk, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881. 

Grand 58, Howdy, Seconds on End at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Arnocorps, Smogtown, Reagan SS, Rock ‘N’ Roll Adventure Kids at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, OCT. 22 

CHILDREN 

Asheba at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Body Language” Paintings and sculpture opens at the Addison Street Windows, and runs through Nov. 29. 981-7533. 

FILM 

The Mechanical Age “2001: A Space Odyssey” at 3 p.m. and “Crash” at 6 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Joyce Maynard reads from “Internal Combustion: The Story of a Marriage and a Murder in the Motor City” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

“Ideas From the Past About Keyboard Instruction” A workshop with Sandra Soderlund at 2 p.m. at A Cheerfull Noyse, 1228 Solano Ave. Free, but RSVP requested. 523-0411. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Alaine Rodin, soprano, at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $20-$32. 925-798-1300 

Donna Lerew, violinist, performs works of Bach, Wienawski, Shostakovich at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $9-$10. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

Emanuel Ax, piano, with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$58. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Chamber Music Sundaes with Scott Pingel, bassist, at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$22 at the door. 415-753-2792 

“Sacred Harp Suite” Premier of new work by Rod McKean at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland. Suggested donation $10. 444-3555. 

Celebration and Benefit for Chiori Santiago, with music by Jane de Cuir, Unity Nugyen, Keenan Webster and the Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble at 5 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$20 sliding scale. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Peter Alsop at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Ben Stolerow Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Americana Unplugged: Jeanie and Chuck’s Country Roundup at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 655-5715. 

Frederick Hodges, solo piano, at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Hal Dinsratz at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Ceremony, The First Step, The Helm, Bad Reaction at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

Earl Klugh at 7 and 9 p.m., at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $22-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

MONDAY, OCT. 23 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein disccuss “The Broken Branch: How Congress is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Anatol Lieven and John Hulsman discuss “Ethical Realism: A New Vision for America’s Role in the World” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Poetry Express with Eugene David at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin” at 5:30 p.m. at Chern Hall’s Simons Auditorium, at MSRI, 17 Gauss Way near the intersection of Centennial Drive and Grizzly Peak Blvd. Part of the “Mathematics and Music Series” 642-0448. 

West Coast Singer’s Open Mike at 7:30 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $5.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Khalil Shaheed, all ages jam, at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Nguyen Le, Tiger’s Tail Quartet with Art Lande, Paul McCandless and Patrice Heral at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$18. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com  

The 24th annual SF Jazz Festival begins this Friday, Oct. 20 with tenor saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins and continues for another 31 events through the Nov. 12 concert of Latin percussion great John Santos and the Machete Ensemble. This will be the most concentrated amount of great jazz available in the Bay Area all year. 

The performances are matched to beautiful locations like the neo-classical Palace of the Legion of Honor’s Florence Gould Theatre, the art deco Palace of Fine Arts, the splendiferous Great American Music Hall, and Herbst Theatre with its magnificent autumnal (thus Herbst) murals by Sir Frank Brangwyn.  

Besides straight ahead musical performances that range through urban blues, swing, bebop, hard bop, funk, fusion, avant-garde, nuevo tango, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Lusitanian fado, Indian, Mongolian throat-singing, African, Gypsy and Latin, this year there will also be Betty Boop cartoons, pre-concert talks like the classical folks do, and a jazz brunch cruise on the Bay. 

Not only is this year’s festival global in its dimensions, interestingly, about a third of the events feature women vocalists, instrumentalists and big bands as headliners. The following programs are just the top picks from a consistently great lineup: 

Without a doubt, the hottest ticket of the Festival has got to be the kick-off concert on Friday, Oct. 20, 8 p.m. at the Masonic Center, with jazz saxophonist extraordinaire Sonny Rollins. While still a teenager, Rollins was playing in New York with bop pioneers Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and Miles Davis. By the early Fifties, in a group with Max Roach, Clifford Brown and Richie Powell, he was ushering in the hard bop era. From 1959-61 he retired from music spending a large part of that time woodshedding on the Williamsburg Bridge. 

Since then, he has recorded an enormous amount of great music, yet often seems stymied in studio settings. In live concert performances, though, his ability to allow free reign to his improvisatory skills really shines. At 76, his physical and imaginative strength are undiminished. Whether he plays a standard like Dietz and Schwartz’ I See Your Face before Me, one of his classic hard bop originals like Oleo or one of his infectious calypsos like Don’t Stop the Carnival, he delights everyone with his swinging ability to vary tunes through subtle accentual shifts, harmonic genius and romantic lyricism. 

Last year saw the death of jazz bass great Percy Heath, but his brothers, drummer Tootie Heath and saxophonist Jimmy Heath, will celebrate Jimmy’s 80th birthday in a concert on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. at Herbst Theatre. The Heath brothers grew up in Philadelphia where they were high school friends of John Coltrane and Benny Golson. 

They were part of that generation of African-American jazz musicians from northern industrial centers who created hard bop. Jimmy started on alto, but soon picked up the tenor, soprano and flute. His original compositions, like CTA and Gingerbread Boy, have become jazz standards. Albert “Tootie” Heath is simply one of the greatest and most sensitive drummers in the history of jazz. Together the Heath brothers have recorded with almost every important jazz musician on a combined 900 albums. Young trumpet star Jeremy Pelt will join their fraternity for this performance. 

Pianist/composer Andrew Hill, who performs on Sunday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. at Herbst Theatre, with his Anglo-American Quintet, represents the generation of jazz players who straddled the period of bop and free jazz. As a teenager in Chicago in the early Fifties, he was playing on dates with Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. By his early twenties, he was working with Roland Kirk and Eric Dolphy. For this gig, he returns to material from his classic 1964 Blue Note album, Point of Departure. Also on the bill is six-string guitarist Nels Cline and his group playing fresh interpretations of Hill’s compelling compositions. 

The organ is the star on Friday, Nov. 3, with shows at 8 and 10:30 p.m. at the Great American Music Hall. Dr. Lonnie Liston Smith, joined by James Brown trombone alum Fred Wesley, kicks things off followed by young reed giant James Carter and his organ trio. Smith had a lot of success in the soul/funk/jazz world with his Cosmic Echoes group. 

Wesley takes in a lot of territory having not only worked with James Brown and George Clinton’s Funkadelic group, but replaced Al Grey with Count Basie. Carter can play anything from Djangoesque swing to screaming free jazz, but the organ format should bring out his nasty funky side.  

One of the great programming coups of this Festival is the concert Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m. at the Masonic Center, featuring pianist Alice and saxophonist/son Ravi Coltrane with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Roy Haynes. Alice is the widow and last pianist of jazz giant John Coltrane. Ravi is their son and John’s saxophone heir. Haden, who comes from a country music family, played in Ornette Coleman’s early combos and is now acknowledged as one of the great jazz bassists. Haynes has played with everyone and among other accomplishments was the drummer on Coltrane’s greatest version of My Favorite Things performed live at Newport. This is one of only three American concerts that this quartet will be presenting. 

Trombonist Roswell Rudd has been at the center of the free jazz movement since the early ‘60. Before that he played the music of Thelonious Monk and in dixieland bands. He has been on key albums with Archie Shepp and John Tchicai as well as on Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra album. He recently began working with Mongolian throat-singers, the results of which can be heard on his 2005 disc Blue Mongol. Strangely, his warm, earthy, throaty trombone sound melds beautifully with the Badma Khanda Mongolian Buryat Band of throat singers and instrumentalists. They perform together on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m. at the Palace of the Legion of Honor’s Florence Gould Theatre. 

The festival comes to a close on Sunday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. at the Palace of Fine Arts, with a farewell concert by John Santos and the Machete Ensemble. Afro-Latin percussionist John Santos is an educator and scholar as well as a major performer who has worked with Latin stars like Yma Sumac, Tito Puente, Patato Valdés, Armando Peraza, Lalo Schifrin, Santana, Cachao and Omar Sosa as well as jazz masters like Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Art Farmer, Bobby Hutcherson, McCoy Tyner and John Faddis. 

His knowledge and experience of Afro-Latin percussion traditions, rooted in family, community, tradition, study, practice and meditation, is profound. For this final concert by the Ensemble, Santos will be joined by Ray Vega, Maria Marquez and a number of other special guests. 

I only have room to breathlessly mention such promising concerts as blues harpist James Cotton (10/21), vibraphonist Stefon Harris (10/26), pianist Cyrus Chestnut (10/27), Astor Piazzolla pianist Pablo Ziegler, keyboard/reed/percussion phenomenon Peter Apfelbaum with the Kamikaze Ground Crew (11/1), and Django Reinhardt-styled guitar virtuoso Dorado Schmitt (11/12). For more information on the SF Jazz Festival call (415) 788-7353 or visit their website at www.sfjazz.org. 

Playwright and producer Lisa Marie Rollins was adopted as an infant and grew up in a white community on a three-acre organic farm in Washington state. In her new one-woman show, Ungrateful Daughter, directed by W. Kamau Bell, she stands on a bare stage, then tells us her parents are not the “hippie, pot-smoking” type of an organic farmer. They are white church-going Republicans. While the agency that placed Rollins had indicated to her parents that they were getting an “Asian-mix” baby, it is doubtful that with her kinky hair and cinnamon skin her parents got what they were expecting. Rollins thinks the agency “packaged” her without acknowledging the African American blood that clearly runs through her veins. 

I have to admit that when I heard about Ungrateful Daughter, which Rollins performed at the San Francisco Solo Festival early this month, I found myself wondering if my own daughter might grow up to be similarly disenchanted. My African American daughter was adopted by me six years ago, and I’m white. Rollins’ powerful performance underlies the message that in transracial adoption it is not okay to sweep our differences under the carpet. 

As Rollins’ hard-working parents raise her with little acknowledgment of their racial dissimilarities, her mother bustles about, busy with cooking, canning, gardening, and her church community. Rollins portrays her mother with grace and humor as a simple country woman who loves her daughter, but clearly doesn’t possess the tools that will help her navigate through life as a person of color. 

As Rollins begins to notice that she looks different from her playmates, she “transforms” into her 7-year-old self. But her mother seems resentful when she has to respond to her daughter’s forthright questions about her background. Sighing, Rollins’ mother locates the locked box that holds the adoption papers. I could visualize the table where they sat, cluttered with paring knives and fruit as the mother uncomfortably reads the agency’s description of Rollins as being part Mexican, part Filipino, and maybe “part-a-few-other-things.”  

Fast forward. It’s winter 2005, and Rollins is home for a visit. Feeling out of place, she wanders through the house but stops short when she notices that on a wall full of inspirational plaques has been added a new decoration: an Aunt Jemima figurine. As seamlessly as Rollins morphed into her other roles, she’s now Aunt Jemima, defending her right to sell pancake mix. She is Aunt Jemima, with a perpetually plastered-on smile, white teeth flashing. In the ensuing exchange Rollins alternates between Aunt Jemima’s voice and her own. She educates us, reminding us that Jemima’s “mammy” image is rooted in slavery, head wrap and all. The original Aunt Jemima character was based on an African American woman who likely kept house and watched the children of her “Massa.” When her mother comes back into the kitchen, Rollins feels tongue tied. Still, she tries to explain why she finds the figurine so offensive. 

Unlike my daughter, Rollins was adopted transracially before a group of African American social workers came out with the stance that children of color are better off with parents who share the same cultural values. Transracial adoptions then proceeded to dwindle until the late 1990s after Congress passed the Multi-Etchnic Placement Act, which makes it illegal to delay the placement of a child awaiting adoption in order to find a racially matching family. Since then the rate of transracial adoptions has been creeping back up. 

Rollins’ acting abilities are competent, and Ungrateful Daughter also shows off her comedic abilities, even if in this piece the humor feels laden with resentment. I think Rollins loves her parents, but obviously wishes they’d “get” it, and her message that shines through loud and clear is that being color-blind benefits no one. After the performance I talked with her and we agreed that the learning curve for people adopting transracially has to begin early, and it is a continual one.  

I left Rollins’ Ungrateful Daughter feeling both hopeful and disturbed. 

UNGRATEFUL DAUGHTER 

8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Marsh Theatre (in the Gaia Arts Center), as part of the Secret Circus series of solo-theatre and spoken word performances. For more information, see www.themarsh.org.