TUESDAY, DEC. 19 

Visioning for Downtown Berkeley Art Museum at 10 a.m. a the Berkeley Art Museum and Film Archive, Gund Theater, 2625 Durant Ave. 981-7487. 

Discussion Salon on The Next ? Years at 7 p.m. at JCC, 1414 Walnut.  

Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation at 6 p.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 594-5165. 

Free Diabetes Screening from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. Do not eat for 8 hours before-hand. 981-5190. 

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. 

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 offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20 

New to DVD “Joyeux Noel” at 7 p.m. at the JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

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. 

Gingerbread House Party from 9:30 a.m. at 1 p.m. at Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St. Please bring a bag of candy. 647-1111. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 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. Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at 6:30 at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, DEC. 21 

Candlelight Vigil to Save the Oaks and to Celebrate the Winter Solstice at 5 p.m. at the Memorial Stadium Oak Grove, 841-3493. www.saveoaks.com 

Winter Solstice Gathering at 4:15 at the Interim Solar Calendar, Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. Led by Alan Gould, dress warmly. www.solarcalendar.org 

Easy Does It Disability Assistance Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 1636 University Ave. Open to the public. 845-5513. 

Bayswater Book Club meets to discuss “Make Money in Short Sale Foreclosures” at 1:30 p.m. at Barney’s on Solano. 433-2911. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club at 6:45 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline. 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, DEC. 22 

Muir Family Christmas Tours of the Muir House in Martinez decorated for the holidays on Fri. and Sat. Cost is $3. For details call 925-228-8860. 

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 

“Life of Mammals” The documentary by David Attenborough at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.HumanistHall.net 

“Apollo N Berkeley” with dancers, singers, comedians and a visit from Santa at 8 p.m. at Black Repertory Group, 3201 Adeline St. Cost is $5. 652-2120. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Potluck supper at 7 p.m. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

SATURDAY, DEC. 23 

Telegraph Avenue Holiday Fair with more than 200 vendors, music and food, Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Berkeley Crew’s Annual Holiday Sprints with informal races between Berkeley High Crew Team and alumni, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Jack London Aquatic Center, Oakland Estuary. www.berkeleyhighcrew.org 

SUNDAY, DEC. 24 

“Giving Birth to God” with Sarah Lewis of the GTU at 9:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, One Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

ONGOING 

Help with Medicare Part D Enrollment Seniors who need to enroll in the prescription drug plan, or change their plan can get help and advice at Berkeley Senior Centers. Appointments required. Call 1-800-434-0222. www.lashicap.org 

Peace Action West, a local non-profit which promotes peace and justice, is looking for volunteers to do data entry, stuff envelopes and other tasks. Locates across from the Berkeley Boawl. 849-2272, ext. 104. 

Holiday Food Drive Sponsor a Food Drive to help the Food Bank reach its goal of collecting food for families in need during the holiday season. 635-3663, ext. 318. www.accfb.org  

Magnes Museum Docent Training Open to all interested in Jewish art and history. Classes begin Jan. 18th. cultural.arts@sbcglobal.net 

CITY MEETINGS 

Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee meets Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, Gund Theater, 2625 Durant Ave., for a visioning session on the new downtown art museum. 981-7487.

TUESDAY, DEC. 19 

CHILDREN 

Fratello Marionettes “Peter and the Wolf” at 1 p.m.. at Oakland Public Library, Lakeview Branch, 550 El Embarcadero. 238-7344. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Bayo Seco with the Creole Belles and Andrew Carrier at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun/zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $59 525-5054. 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.  

The Christmas Jug Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

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

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

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20 

CHILDREN 

Circus Finelli’s Holiday Extravaganza at 1 and 3 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$15. 925-798-1300. 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre Company “A Little Cole in Your Stocking” at 8 p.m., Wed.-Sat., at 2081 Addison St., through Dec. 30. Tickets are $25. 843-4822. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Joel Ben Izzy reads at 6:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Berkeley Poetry Slam at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music for Advent with Ron McKean, organist, at noon 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 

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

La Verdad at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Kurt Ribak Trio, Mingus-inspired jazz and groove at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

THURSDAY, DEC. 21 

CHILDREN 

Circus Finelli’s Holiday Extravaganza at 1 and 3 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$15. 925-798-1300. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“A Christmas Memory” Actor Thomas Lynch will perform an abridged reading of Truman Capote’s short story at 4:30 p.m. at the Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. 981-6280. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Winter Solstice Concert with over 35 solo artists perfoming at 6 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland dress warmly and bring a flashlight. 228-3207. 

Ras Kidus, Undah P, Hurricane, McGuyva at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Benefit for Urban Community Action Network. Cost is $10-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Freight Holiday Revue and Fundraiser with Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, Cascada de Flores, and others at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

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

Sueco, Naomi and the Courteous Rudeboys at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082.  

Loop Station, Knees and Elbows, Ragwater Review at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $6. 451-8100. 

FRIDAY, DEC. 22 

EXHIBITIONS 

Don Clausen Oil Paintings Abstract and Portaits at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave., #4. Runs through Feb. 4. 421-1255. 

The Photography of Matt Heron “Voting Rights: The Southern Struggle, 1964-1965” on display in the Catalog Lobby, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St., through Jan. 6. 981-6100. 

THEATER 

“Amahl and the Night Visitors” Thurs. and Fri. at 8p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martinez St., Pt. Richmond. Donation $10. 232-4031. 

Aurora Theatre Company “A Little Cole in Your Stocking” at 8 p.m., Wed.-Sat., at 2081 Addison St., through Dec. 30. Tickets are $25. 843-4822. 

Berkeley Rep “All Wear Bowlers” at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. through Dec. 23. Tickets are $45-$61. 647-2949. 

Circus Fellini’s Holiday Extravaganza at 1 and 3 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., through Sun. Tickets are $8-$15. 925-798-1300. 

Shotgun Players “The Forest War” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Jan 14. Sliding scale $15-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“A Christmas Carol” Actor Martin Harris reads the Dickens classic at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Donation $5-$10. 848-7800. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Christie McCarthy & Starting Five at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Baguette Quartette at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

In Harmony’s Way, a cappella, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jim Grantham Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

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

The New Hour, 5 Cent Coffee, Stella at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Wounds, Have-Nots, Skyflakes at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

Tracy Bartlow, Femi at 9 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway, Oakland. All ages. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

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

Flowtilla at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

The Invisible Cities, Scrabble at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $6. 451-8100.  

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

SATURDAY, DEC. 23 

CHILDREN  

Elmwood Theater Matinee Benefit for local schools showing “Polar Express” at 10 a.m. and noon, and noon on Sun. Cost is $2. Sponsored by Elmwood merchants. 843-3794. 

Circus Fellini’s Holiday Extravaganza at 1 and 3 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., through Sun. Tickets are $8-$15. 925-798-1300. 

THEATER 

“Amahl and the Night Visitors” at 8 p.m. at Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Pt. Richmond. Tickets are $10. 232-4031. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Caroling with Terrence Kelly at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

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

Solstice Celebration in Honor of David Nadel with Zydeco Flames, Sidewinders, Nigerian Brothers, Edessa and others at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Drum circle and potluck at 6:30 p.m. Free. 525-5054.  

The Zoopy Show, Sugar Butt Tiger, The Yard Dogs at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $6. 451-8100.  

Matt Morrish & Trinket Lover, funk, afro-cuban, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Peter Barshay’s “Fog” at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Lady Soul, Sonny, Mr. Grench at 9 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway, Oakland. All ages. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Island of Misfit Music Orchestra at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. 841-2082.  

SUNDAY, DEC. 24 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Clairdee at 7 and 9 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, DEC. 26 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Will Durst “Big Fat Year End Kiss Off Comedy Show” at 18 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$17. 925-798-1300. 

Reggae Reunion and Boxing Day Celebration with Fireproof at at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

McCoy Tyner Quartet at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $35. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

SOLSTICE CELEBRATION 

“From the Darkness, Solace,” a winter solstice concert, will be held at the Chapel of the Chimes Mausoleum from 7-11 p.m.Thursday. More than 35 solo artists perform original music throughout the columbarium in honor of the darkest day of the year. Dress warmly. Flashlights encouraged. $10-$20. 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 228-3207 

ABSTRACTS AND PORTRAITS 

Don Clausen, an East Bay resident and graduate of California College of Arts and Crafts, is showing his oil paintings, abstracts and portraits through Feb. 5 at the Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave., #4. 421-1255. 

MATINEE TO BENEFIT 

LOCAL SCHOOLS 

Elmwood District merchants are sponsoring a matinee screening at the Elmwood Theater as a benefit for local schools. Robert Zemeckis’ The Polar Express (2004), starring Tom Hanks, is about a doubting boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole. 10 a.m. and noon Sunday. Admission is $2. schools. 2966 College Ave. 843-3794. 

FINAL DAYS FOR ‘BOWLERS’ 

All Wear Bowlers, the absurdist comedy by Geoff Sobelle and Trey Lyford, will finish up its run at the Berkeley Rep with performances at 8 p.m. Friday and and at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. 75 minutes.$23.50-$61. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org.

“Both a little naughty and a little nice” is the apt description for husband and wife cabaret team Billy Philadelphia and Meg Mackay’s holiday season show, A Little Cole in Your Stocking, featuring hits and rarities from Cole Porter’s songbook (as well as a few “traditional and non-traditional holiday songs”), playing evenings at 8 p.m., Dec. 20-23 and 27-30, at the Aurora Theatre, where it debuted last year. 

This year’s show, however, will be the real debut of Billy Philadelphia at the Aurora with his wife. Last year, in “just one of those things,” Philadelphia was rushed into emergency heart surgery on opening night, replaced at the last minute at the keyboards by Larry Dunlap (himself comprising half another noted husband-and-wife jazz and cabaret act with Bobbe Norris). 

Though it was an anxiety-fraught situation, troupers Mackay and Dunlap put on such a show that the audience easily shed their own cares, whetting the appetite of anyone who sampled the tunes that evening, or those which followed, for Billy Philadelphia’s return to the stage, and the reprise of A Little Cole in Your Stocking, accompanying his talented partner. 

Meg Mackay demonstrated the range of Porter’s oeuvre, from melodic to finger-popping, dramatic to very intimate, with both spontaneity and poise—real style. Her patter between songs was often witty, and just as likely to be in a warm, conversational address, giving a personal touch to an evening of sophisticated salon and saloon songs. She’s familiar to Bay Area audiences from her appearances in three seasons of A Karen Carpenter Christmas (written and directed by Aurora artistic director Tom Ross), in Beach Blanket Babylon in North Beach, and TheatreWorks’ production of Gypsy! on the Peninsula, as well as on the cabaret stage and her two CDs, both produced by her husband. 

Energetic Billy Philadelphia has, in a quarter century of performing in the Bay Area, done everything from accompanying Dame Edna (on piano) during the San Francisco run of her Royal Tour, to staging Hoagy—a musical tribute to Hoagy Carmichael, to his role as KNBR radio’s The Man About Town. 

In addition to the Cole Porter classics like “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “Night and Day,” Mackay and Philadelphia dust off some seldom-played Porter tunes, as well as a few holiday songs, both familiar and offbeat, to celebrate the season. Porter, whose output covered so much of modern life, never wrote a Christmas number! 

A Little Cole in Your Stocking is a perfect escape from the commercial rush of the holidays, restoring a bit of real conviviality, as this talented couple air the witty, touching works of America’s premiere composer of sophisticated showtunes and intimate numbers for cabaret. 

A LITTLE COLE  

IN YOUR STOCKING 

8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday through Dec. 30 at the Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addision St. $25. 843-4822. 

Photograph by David Allen 

Meg Mackay and Billy Philadelphia in A Little Cole in Your Stocking.

A 16th-century Russian conspiracy swept Boyars and Old Believers last Friday night into the First Congregational Church at Dana and Durant, where they put on a private show of Modest Mussorgsky’s opera, Khovanchina, for an audience of friends and family. 

Scores in hand, the two dozen singers acted out in voice and gesture the tale of a thwarted rebellion of the Streltzy Guards and the harsh reaction of the tsar’s forces, with the able producing and stage direction of Phil Lowery, utilizing only a few scenic devices and bits of costumery—a couple of ornate armchairs, a fur cap or two, white scarves for the Old Believers who offer themselves up for martyrdom at the opera’s close. 

The libretto was translated into English from the original Russian. “This is an old Bay Area tradition,” said the conductor, whose name was also translated from its original language to be listed in the program as K. G. Longfield, but who was quickly recognized by local concert-goers. “Those participating have donated their time for the love of doing this. Some have corporate day jobs and are singers at night. Artists of all sorts have gotten together informally to sing and play this way for generations. It refreshes the rounds of professional performances.” 

The singers included amateurs and semi-pros, as well as some of the luminaries of the local music scene. Particularly fine were the performances of mezzo Valentina Osinski as Marfa, the lovelorn “young Old Believer,” and her love object, Andrei (tenor Codrut Birsan), son of the revolt’s leader, Prince Ivan Khovansky (played by bass-baritone Roger McCracken, a fine and appropriately haughty baritone). Sopranos Marcelle Dronkers and Eliza O’Malley sang and acted outstandingly in brief scenes as, respectively, Susanna, an Old Believer who heaps fire and brimstone on Marfa’s expressions of love, and Emma, a German Lutheran damsel in distress that the roving eye of Andrei latched onto. 

Clifton Romig’s bass rendition of Dosifei, leader of the Old Believers, was impressive in jousting with Susanna or Princes Ivan and Vassily Galitsin (tenor Mark Narins, with bass Andrew Brumana as his retainer), and in sympathy with Marfa, but touched profundity in his solo, glimpsing martyrdom, at the beginning of Act V. Indeed, Mussorgsky’s music became more and more profound, with soloists and duets more finely articulated from the chorus, as the tragic plot deepened. 

Ensemble members (Sibil Demirmen, Alexina Butler, Bianca Showalter, Ellen St. Thomas, Joanne Bogart, Marney Margules, Kelcey Poe, Miguel Fennick, Rick Bogart, Gregory Friedman and Puay Kua) doubled in the chorus and other roles—the women as wives mocking their drunken, or condemned, Guard husbands (Art Mahoney, Wayne Wong, Torlef A. Borsting), or as Prince Ivan’s serving women, strived to entertain him (Kelcey Poe as a Persian dancer) while awaiting repercussions of the downfall of the revolt. In the end, swelled by the voices of defunct soloists, the choir brings forth an unearthly sound, as the Old Believers accept their fate, trapped in a burning monastery chapel. 

Baritone John Burton provides a wry thread of sardonic humor as Shaklovity, a Boyar who early on hires a Scrivener (tenor Ross Halper) to pen an anonymous letter warning the Tsar, and later has a Mephistophelean laugh as Prince Ivan is assassinated on his way to a meeting with the Tsarevna which the boyar had urged the prince to attend. 

Pianist Doug Han, whom Phil Lowery credited with much of the musical preparation, accompanied the show with exceptional playing, laced with remarkable figures, arpeggios and arabesques. 

At the end—rebels defeated, assassinated, exiled or run to ground, and the Old Believers self-immolated—artists and audience retired in true Russian fashion to a pot-luck repast, marvelous in its diversity, though somewhat scant in black caviar, starka vodka and blinis.