FRIDAY, MARCH 9 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Spreck Rosekrans on “Hetch Hetchy” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 526-2925.  

Help Restore Native Oysters Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Marina and at other sites in the Bay Area to help Save the Bay gather information about our native oyster population. For information call 452-9261 ext. 109.  

“Quality Education through Arts Learning” Workshops, panels and resources from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and Sat. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Mills College Concert Hall, Oakland. Tickets are $35-$45. Register online at www.artseducation.org 

“The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil” at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation of $5 accepted. www.HumanistHall.net 

“Reconnecting with the Root” Spiritual health and empowerment workshop from 3 to 6 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. 849-2568. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St at University. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

SATURDAY, MARCH 10 

Tibetan Flag Raising Ceremony at 9 a.m. at Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia St. March for Tibetan Freedom continues at 11 a.m. at Justin Herman Plaza, S.F. www.freetibetmarch.org 

Let Worms Eat Your Garbage A free worm compost workshop to learn an amazing way to recycle fruit and vegetable scraps. From 10 a.m. to noon at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Mini-Farmers in Tilden A farm exploration program, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 4-6 years, accompanied by an adult. We will explore the Little Farm, care for animals, do crafts and farm chores. Wear boots and dress to get dirty! Fee is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Vegetarian Cooking Class “Hearty Homestyle Italian Cuisine” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro. Cost is $45, plus 435 for food and materials. Registration required. 531-COOK. www.compassionatecooks.com  

Bird House Gourd Crafting Learn the natural history of gourds and how to make a bird house out of one, from noon to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $20-$29. Registration required. 636-1684. 

“Art in the Garden” a drawing class with Karen LeGault from 1 to 4 p.m. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $25-$35. Registration required. 643-2755. 

Help “Save The Bay” Plant Natives Volunteers will restore some of the last remaining wetland habitat in the East Bay at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland from 9 a.m. to noon. RSVP to 452-9261 ext. 109. www.savesfbay.org 

Emergency Summit to Prevent War with Iran with a panel of speakers followed by workshops, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Evans Hall, Room 10, UC Campus. Donation $10. 836-7961. www.handsoffiran.org 

“Facing the Mountain” Armenians and Turks share their stories at 8 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Tickets are $10. For reservations call 642-9460. 

“The Fight Against Capital Punishment: From Baghdad to San Quentin” with Barbara Cottman Becnel, advocate for the late Stanley “Tookie” Williams at 7 p.m. at The Home of Truth, 1300 Grand St., Alameda. Donations accepted. www.alamedaforum.org 

“If Women Ruled the World: Waging Peace in the U.S. and the Middle East” at 12:30 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. 981-2884. 

NAACP Berkeley Branch meets at 1 p.m. at 2108 Russell St. All are welcome. 845-7416. 

African American Basketball Pioneers Panel Discussion and exhibition at 2 p.m. at the African American Museum and Library, 659 14th St., Oakland. 238-6713. 

Haiti Action Committee with Haitian activist and former political prisoner So An at 7 p.m. at The Uptown, 401 26th St., Oakland. Donation $5-$50. 483-7481.  

Burma Human Rights Day Benefit with documentary “Inside the Secret City,” speakers and dinner, at 6 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. Cost is $15. RSVP to 220-1323. www.badasf.org  

East Bay Atheists meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Main Library, 3rd Floor Meeting Room 2090 Kittredge St. Burt Bogardus will speak on “The Teachings of Jesus Christ.” 222-7580. 

Hopalong Animal Rescue Come meet your furry new best friend from noon to 3 p.m. at 2940 College Ave. 267-1915, ext. 500. www.hopalong.org  

Luna Kid Dance 15th Anniversary Celebration at 10 a.m. at Haas Pavillion, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. www.lunakidsdance.org 

Dramatically Speaking Toastmasters Club meets at 9 a.m. at 1950 Franklin St., Room 2F. RSVP required, ID needed to get into building. 581-8675. 

Petite Pooches Playgroup for small dogs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., one block north of Solano on Ensenada at Talbot. 524-2459. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. 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. 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 

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, MARCH 11 

“Open Garden” Join the Little Farm gardener for composting, planting, watering and reaping the rewards of our work, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cancelled only by heavy rain. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Clouds and You Learn the names of clouds and their families on a short hike, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Herstory of the Bay Celebrate Women’s History Month on a five mile walk honoring women who have made a difference in our community. From 2 to 5 p.m. at Point Isabel. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Meeting to Plan the People’s Park Anniversary Folks interested in helping with this year’s celebration (to be held April 22) are welome to come to the planning meeting at the Park’s Stage at 4:30 p.m., at Cafe Med if it is raining. 658-9178. 

Celebration of the Memorial Grove tree-sit 100th day at noon at Memorial Grove with music, food and activities for children.  

Community Party for KPFA from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Fellowship, corner of Cedar and Bonita. Food donations appreciated. 525-3583. 

St. Patrick’s Day at the Kensington Farmer’s Market with Irish music, soaps, soda bread, marmalade and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kensington Farmers’ Market, 303 Arlington Ave. 684-6502. 

Summer Programs for Children Information Fair Learn about all types of camps and day programs for sports, music, drama, computers and more, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. www.aauw-op.com 

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

“Sacrifice and Blood: Biblical Images and Their Relevance Today” with Beth Glick-Rieman at 9:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

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

MONDAY, MARCH 12 

“Women Trailblazers” A panel discussion in celebration of Women’s History Month at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 6 p.m. at East Pauley Ballroom, MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com (code UCB) 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 13 

Tuesdays for the Birds Tranquil bird walks in local parklands, led by Bethany Facendini, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Today we will visit Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

DEAR Day: Drop Everything and Read Come read in a Berkeley Public School at 9:30 a.m. For information or to sign up call 644-8833. bsv@berkeley.k12.ca.us 

National Nutrition Month Cooking Demonstrations at 2:30 p.m. at the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 548-3333. 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds, at 3:15 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Berkeley High School Governance Council will discuss Student Support Plans, Advisories, and Common Assessment Measures at 4:15 in the Berkeley Community Theater. 644-4803. 

“Religion and Freedom of Speech: Cartoons and Controversies” with Robert Post, Prof of Law, Yale Univ. at 7:30 p.m. at the Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, UC Campus. 643-9670. 

Women’s HerStory “HIV/AIDS and the Down Low” Lecture and discussion at 6 p.m. at Laney College Forum, 900 Fallon St. http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

A Talk with Valentino Achak Deng one of Sudan’s “Lost Boys” at 7:30 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

“Late Pleistocene to Holocene Evolution of the San Francisco Bay” at 5:30 p.m. at the Goldman School of Public Policy, Room 250, corner of Hearst and LeRoy. 642-2666. 

St. Patrick’s Day Party with Irish Songs at 1:15 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

“Past Tents: A Portrait of Camping in the Early West” with author Susan Snyder at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

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. 

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

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 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. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 

Teach-In and Vigil Against American Torture every Wed. at noon at Boalt Hall, Bancroft Way at College Ave.  

Walk, Talk, Buck the Fence What’s at stake in the Ecology of Berkeley’s Strawberry Canyon A walk at 5 p.m. every Wed. with Ignacio Chapela and expert guests to discuss what is at stake in the proposed steps for the filling of the Canyon by the UC-LBL Rad-Labs, and now British Petroleum. http://canyonwalks.blogspot.com  

“Solving the Klamath Crisis” in commemoration of the 10th Annual International Day of Action for Rivers, at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Free. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Stromwater Designs: Designing a Soft Path” with Rosey Jenks at 1 p.m. at Wurster Hall, 315A, UC Campus. Part of the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Colloquium. http://laep.ced.berkeley.edu/events/colloquium 

“Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope: Making Peace an Urgent Priority for U.S. Policy” with Ronald Young of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative, from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at Giesy Hall, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, 2770 Marin Ave. 559-2731. www.plts.edu  

“Genocide Widows and Survivors in Rwanda” A lecture and discussion with Laura Frazier at 1 p.m. at Laney College Forum, 900 Fallon St. Oakland. Part of Women HerStory Month http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

“Photography for EBay” Learn professional quality studio lighting techniques for use at home, with instructors from the Pacific Center for Photographic Arts, at 7 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Cost is $35. Registration required. 428-2463. 

Poetry Writing Workshop with Alison Seevak at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Building Connections Through Rhythm A drumming workshop for Women HerStory Month at noon at Laney College Theater Building Room 319, Oakland. http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

Kentro Body Balance Movement Class at 7 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

New to DVD: “Borat” at 7 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Discussion follows. 848-0237. 

El Grupito, a group for practicing and maintaining Spanish skills, meets at 7:30 p.m. at Diesel Books, 5433 College Ave., Oakland. 653-9965. 

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

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

vigil4peace/vigil 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 15 

Tilden Mini-Rangers An afterschool program with hiking and nature-based activities for children aged 8-12, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Dress to get dirty. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Women’s History Month “Rosie the Riveter” a lecture with the National Park Service on the World War II Home Front National Park at 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. Optional pot-luck dinner follows. Registration required. 636-1684. 

“Hardy Californians: A Woman’s Life with Native Plants” A discussion of the new expanded edition of Lester Rowntree’s book with Rowntree’s grandson at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 525-0689. 

Valentino Achak Deng on the situation in the Sudan at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Proposed New Berkeley/ 

Albany Ferry Terminal Public Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 1247 Marin Ave. For information see www.watertranist.org 

LeConte Neighborhood Association meets at 7:30 p.m. at LeConte School. We will discuss gang tag graffitti, the mixed-use building proposed for 2700 Shattuck/2100 Derby, the cell phone antennas, changes proposed for Telegraph, the Save the Oaks issue and more. Please use Russell St. entrance. 843-2602. 

“Understanding California’s Tsunamis: Where Do They Come From and How Are They Formed?” at 12:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. 238-2200. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping the public schools, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

Sisters in Crime Panel discussion with local mystery writers at 6 p.m. at the South Branch Berkeley Public Library, 1901 Russell St. 981-6149. 

Teen Book Club meets to discuss underrated and overrated books at 4:30 p.m. at the Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. Bring a book to share. 981-6107. 

“Eat at Bill’s: Life in the Monterey Market” a new documentary by Lisa Brennis at 7:30 at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street at Arch. Cost is $5. 843-8724. 

“Keeping Kosher on the Prairie, Keeping Chickens in Petaluma” with Eleanor Kaufman at 6:30 p.m. at Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St Cost is $6-$8. 549-6950. 

“Travel to Greece” with Lonely Planet author Michael Stamatios Clark at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Public Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. Free. 526-7512. 

Family Story Time for children ages 3-7 at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, at Hopkins. 981-6107. 

ONGOING 

Tax Help at the Berkeley Public Library Sat. from 11:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the South Branch. Call for appointment. 981-6260. Also every Tues. and Thurs. at the West Branch from 12:15 to 3:15 p.m. Call for appointment. 981-6270. 

Berkeley Youth Alternatives Girls Basketball Age 15 and under league begins April 11 and 18 and under begins April 13. From 5:30 to 8:30 at Emery High School, 1100 47th St. Emeryville. Cost is $175 per team. 845-9066. www.byaonline.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Youth Commission meets Mon., March 12, at 6:30 p.m., at City Council Chambers, Old City Hall. 981-6670.  

City Council meets Tues., March 13, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Homeless Commission meets Wed., March 14, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5426.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., March 14, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Janet Homrighausen, 981-7484. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/planning 

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., March 14, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. Cliff Marchetti, 981-6740.  

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., March 15 , at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7415.  

Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets Thurs., March 15, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6950.  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., March 15, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7010.

Michelle Wasserman, president of the Cal Berkeley Democrats, says she was misquoted in the March 6 story “Edwards Brings Presidential Campaign to Berkeley.” Although she was supportive of Edwards’ positions, she has not yet made an endorsement for the 2008 Democratic nominee for president. 

Also, the quote attributed to Wasserman, “Edwards cares about the people. He cares about the lives of women—as a lawyer, a senator, a husband and a father of two daughters,” was spoken by someone else.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” Fri and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through April 1. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Aurora Theatre Company “The Birthday Party” Wed. - Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through March 11. Tickets are $38. 843-4822 

Berkeley Rep “The Pillowman” at 8 p.m. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through March 11. Tickets are $33-$61. 647-2949. 

Berkeley Rep “To the Lighthouse” at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. and runs through March 25. Tickets are $45-$61. 647-2917. 

Central Works Theater Ensemble “Lola Montez” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. through March 25. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. www.centralworks.org 

Impact Theatre “Cartoon” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid, through March 10. Tickets are $10-$15. www.impacttheatre.com 

“Triumph” A one woman show by Vanessa McDaniel at 3 p.m. at Black Repertory Group, 3201 Adeline St. Tickets are $10. 652-2120. 

UC Dept. of Theater “Dolly West’s Kitchen” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $10-$14. 642-9925. http://theater.berkeley.edu 

Virago Theatre “Orphans” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at BridgeHead Studio, 2516 Blanding Ave, Alameda, through March 31. Tickets are $10-$15. 415-439-2456. www.viragotheatre.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Somebody” The New World of Figurative Art Works by seven artists exploring the human form. Reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. 

“Person Place and Thing” Paintings by Susan Kendall, Renie McDonough and Pam Wright opens with a sidewalk reception at 6 p.m. at the Addison St. Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. 981-7533. 

FILM 

Women’s Film Festival and Disgital Arts Club, selected screenings at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. 981-2884. 

“Boris Eifman: Work in Progress” A documentary by Alex Gutman at 7 p.m. at Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. Mr. Eifman will be present to introduce the film and will answer audience questions afterwards. 642-9988. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Tom Odegard and John Rowe read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid at Hearst. 841-6374. 

Alfred McCoy, author of “A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, From the Cold War to the War on Terror” at 7:30 p.m. at at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. 

Sharon Lamb describes “Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers’ Schemes” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Christy Dana Quartet Plus Three at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Tickets are $20. Sponsored by the Berkeley Arts Festival. 524-1124. 

Trillium, harp trio, celtic, world, classical at 8 p.m. at Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Tickets are $15, children $5. 526-9146. 

Tony Bellaver “Interventions” Performance art from 1 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Donations accepted. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

MamaCoatl & Cihuatl Tonali for International Women’s Day, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Danny Hoch Hip Hop Workshop at 8 p.m. at 2116 Allston Way. Tickets are $7-$15. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Classical with a Twist Vicki Trimbach performs at 8 p.m. at the Jazzcafe, 2087 Addison StTickets are $15. 1-800-838-3006, event 6103. 

Carla Zilbersmith & Allen Taylor Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ.  

Womansong Circle Celebrating International Women’s Day in song at 6:45 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Donation. $15-$20. 525-7082. 

Swingthing at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $13. 525-5054. 

Houston Jones, Americana, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Willie Porter at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

The Nomadics, jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

The Freak Accident, The May Fire, Space Vacuum from Outer Space at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

Behind Enemy Lines, Born/Dead, Bumbklatt at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

The Brothers Lekas at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

B-Side Players, Raw Deluxe at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$7. 548-1159.  

Suburban Legends, 5 Days Dirty, All the New at 8:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10-$12. 763-1146.  

Chroma, electro-groove jazz, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 10 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Colibri and Nancy Raven at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Owen Baker Flynn and his “Act in a Box” celebrates National Reading Month Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 452-2259. 

EXHIBITIONS 

8 in 07 A group show of East Bay artists. Reception at 4 p.m. at the Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Gallery hours are Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Exhibition runs to April 1. 848-1228. 

Recent Works of Changming Chen Artist reception at 2 p.m. at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave., Suite #4. 421-1255.  

“Sexicon: The Art and Language of Erotica” from noon to 4 p.m., Sat. and Sun. at Living Room Gallery, 3230 Adeline St. www.myspace.com/livingroomcollective 

“A Rose Has No Teeth: Bruce Nauman in the 1960s” Guided tour at 1:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

THEATER 

“Facing the Mountain” Armenians and Turks Share Their Stories A Playback Theatre Performance at 8 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Tickets are $10. For reservations call 642-9460. 

Butchlalis de Panochtitlan, queer theater and comedy, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568.  

FILM 

Women of Color Film Festival “Sidestepping the Eternal Repetition” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Feminist Art” a lecture by Lousie Stanley at 10 a.m. and “Feminist Postmodern Installations” at 11 a.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. 981-2884. 

“The Bay Area Concept: Bruce Nauman and the Late Sixties” Symposium from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

Joe Hill discusses his scary novel “Heart-Shaped Fox” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Jessica Livingston describes “Founders at Work: Stories of Startups’ Early Days” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera Company “The Seraglio” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$40. 925-798-1300.  

West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Awards Show at 7 p.m. at Kimball’s Carnival, 522 Second St., Oakland. Tickets are $30. For reservations call 836-2227. www.bayareabluessociety.net 

The Albers Trio “Eastern European Masters” at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra “Violin and Viola Virtuosity” at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Free. 415-248-1640. 

Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$56. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Jewish Music Festival “Klezmer Buenos Aires” 8 p.m. at Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St.. Tickets are $22-$26. 800-838-3006.  

Moment’s Notice Improv music and dance at 8 p.m. at Western Sky Studio, 2525 8th St. Coat is $8-$10. 847-1119. 

Steve Tayor-Ramirez, at noon at Cafe Zeste, 1250 Addison St. at Bonar, in the Strawberry Creek Park complex. 704-9378. 

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

Sila and the Afrofunk Experience at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is TBA. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

John McGaraghan and Scott Waters at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Cascada de Flores at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Clarinet Thing with Beth Custer, Ben Goldberg, Sheldon Brown, and Harvey Wainpel at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Polkacide, The Kehoe Nation, The Whoreshoes and others at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $8-$10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Nicole McRory at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

The Ravines, rock, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

Ten Ton Chicken, 7th Direction, Powel St. Jon and Friends at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Cyril Guiraud Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Insect Warfare, California Love, Reagan SS, Noisear at 6 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $8. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 11 

CHILDREN 

Oakland Hebrew Day School “Into the Woods, Junior” at 1 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $5 children, $7 aduults, at the door.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“A Rose Has No Teeth: Bruce Nauman in the 1960s” Guided tour at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

Works by Ellen Oppenhiemer and Peralta Elementary Students Opening reception at 4 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

FILM 

“Thieves in the Temple: The Reclaiming of Hip Hop” written and performed by Aya de Leon at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jack Tillmany and Jennifer Dowling on “Oakland Theaters: A Pictorial History” at 2 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive Theater. 642-0808.  

Mitchell Schwarzer describes “Architecture of the San Francisco Bay Area: A History and Guide” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Poetry Flash presents poets David Roderick and Rebecca Black at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Aaron and David Requiro, chamber music, at 4 p.m. at Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Tickets are $12, free for children under 18. 

Soli Deo Gloria and Orchestra Gloria at 3:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 5201 Park Blvd., Piedmont. Tickets are $20-$25. www.sdgloria.org 

Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$56. 642-9988.  

Classic Flamenco and Mariachi Dive Bar Piano with Seth Montfort, at 5:30 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Cost is $15. 415-362-6080. 

Alarm Will Sound Works by composer Conlon Nancarrow at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32. 642-9988. 

Soul at the Chimes with harpist Destiny and Sonata Pi at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes,4499 Piedmont Ave. Oakland. Tickets are $20-$25. www.brownpapertickets.com 

The Hot Club at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.  

Danny Hoch Hip Hop Workshop at 7 p.m. at 2116 Allston Way. Tickets are $7-$15. 647-2949. 

Tinkture, Kumbulus, Storm Temple and others at 6:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Ellen Seeling/Susan Muscarella Group at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

MONDAY, MARCH 12 

EXHIBITIONS 

Paintings of Michael Murphy opens at The LightRoom, 2263 Fifth St. and runs through April 13. 649-8111. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Writing for the Greater Good” a panel discussion on the recent issue of Greater Good magazine at 5:30 p.m. at 105 North Gate Hall, UC Graduate School of Journalism, Hearst at Euclid Ave. http://journalism.berkeley.edu 

Fred Alvarado on “Urban Dreamscapes” creating community murals at 5:30 p.m. at the Oakland Public Library, César Chávez Branch, 3301 E 12th St. Oakland. 535-5620. 

Jennifer Baumgardner discusses “Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Debra Di Blasi and Paul Vangelisti read at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Dinah Lenney reads from “Bigger than Life: A Murder Memoir” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Poetry Express with Jan Dederick at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Classical at the Freight with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Danny Hoch Hip Hop Workshop at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $7-$15. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

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

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 13 

FILM 

Alternative Visions “When a Stranger Comes to Town: Recent Animations” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Stehen Hawking on “Origin of the Universe” at 7:30 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $15-$32. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Gordon Ball and Hilton Obenzinger read at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Mike Farrell reads from his memoir “Just Call me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Susan Snyder, author of “Past Tents: The Way We Camped,” reads at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Rohini Hensman reads from “Playing Lions and Tigers” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Courtableu, Cajun/Zydeco at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 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 

Danny Hoch Hip Hop Workshop at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $7-$15. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Debbie Poryes and Friends, jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Kim Nalley at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 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, MARCH 14 

FILM 

Film 50: History of Cinema “8 1/2” with a lecture by Marilyn Fabe at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Understanding Tibetan Monastic Music in the 21st Century” at 4 p.m. in the Seaborg Room, Faculty Club, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Center for Buddhist Studies. 643-6536. 

Kim Stanley Robinson introduces “Sixty Days and Counting” a trilogy of near-future eco-thrillers at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Carol Cosman reads from her new translation of Albert Camus’ “Exile and the Kingdom” 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 www.starryploughpub.com 

Open Storytelling hosted by Ed Silberman at 7 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera Company “The Seraglio” at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$40. 925-798-1300.  

Gyuto Monks Tibetan Tantric Choir at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Harvey Wainapel Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Eric & Suzy Thompson, Del Ray & Steve James at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Billy Dunn & Bluesway at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Orquestra 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.  

Sentinel at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Machina Sol at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra with special guest Faye Carol at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, MARCH 15 

EXHIBITIONS 

“A Rose Has No Teeth: Bruce Nauman in the 1960s” Guided tour at 12:15 and 5:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

“A Visual Journal” Oils and works on paper by Lisa Bruce. Reception from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bucci’s, 6121 Hollis St., Emeryville. Exhibition runs to March 30. www.lisabruce.com 

“Somebody” The New World of Figurative Art Works by seven artists exploring the human form at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Khalil Bendib, editorial cartoonist will present a slide show and talk about his work. Reception at 6 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Valentino Achak Deng on the situation in the Sudan at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Sisters in Crime Panel discussion with local mystery writers at 6 p.m. at the South Branch Berkeley Public Library, 1901 Russell St. 981-6149. 

Antonia Juhasz, Steven Hiatt, and Jonathan Schwartz discuss “A Game as Old as Empire: The Secret World of Economic Hit Men and the Web of Global Corruption” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Jazzin’ Up Mama's Hymns: A Socio-Historical and Cultural Interpretation of Gospel Blues with Mark Wilson at 7 p.m. at 125 Morrison Hall, UC Campus. 642-4864. 

Ken Alder discusses “Lie Detectors: The History of an American Obsession” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jewish Music Festival “Ensemble Lucidarium” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $22-$26. 800-838-3006. www.jewishmusicfestival.org 

Eda Maxym’s Imagination Club with Stephen Kent at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Travis Jones and Chojo Jacques at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Me & My Arrow, Merch, The Swamees at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

The Tie One On’s at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Headnodic & Raashan Ahmad at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Randy Westons’s African Rhythms Quartet, featuring Billy Harper at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $16-$22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

UC PERFORMING ARTS’ ‘DOLLY’S WEST KITCHEN’  

Final performances of Dolly’s West Kitchen, Frank McGuinness’s play about a family in Donegal (just across the border from Ulster) in the closing days of World War II, will be staged at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at Zellerbach Playhouse. The play, which documents rising tensions in the neutral Republic of Ireland (including rumors of a British invasion) and in Dolly’s home, with divided loyalties and the scandal of adultery brewing, is the latest example of UC Performing Arts’ new, eclectic and ambitious production schedule. Christine Nicholson directed this piece by the noted playwright and screenwriter of Dancing at Lughnasa. $8-14. 642-8268. http://theater.berkeley.edu. 

PFA HOSTS ANTONIONI RETROSPECTIVE 

Pacific Film Archive is presenting a retrospective of the work of modernist director Michelangelo Antonioni. Antonioni had his roots in the neo-realist school of Italian filmmaking but soon moved beyond it into the langorous, minimalist films that would make his reputation, a body of work that often depicts the world and the human soul as vast, empty landscapes. The series runs through April 22. $4-$8. 2575 Bancroft Way. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

THE NEW WORLD OF FIGURATIVE ART 

“Somebody: The New World of Figurative Art” opens today (Friday) at ACCI Gallery with a reception from 6-8 p.m. The show features works by a group of artists in various mediums and runs through March 31. 1652 Shattuck Ave. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. www.accigallery.com.

San-Francisco-born, Los Angeles-based poet and translator Paul Vangelisti will give a rare East Bay reading from his new book, Days Shadows Pass (Green Integer 129, Los Angeles), and share the rostrum with “multimedia fiction” writer Debra Di Blasi and her The Jiri Chronicles (FC2 Books/U. Alabama Press), part of her sprawling “transmedia” project of over 400 individual works taking many forms, 7:30 p.m. Monday at Moe’s Books on Telegraph Ave. Admission is free. 

“Both writers are on the edges of the avant-garde,” said Owen Hill, programmer of the Monday at Moe’s series. “They’re not particularly members of any group, and are unusual, sounding different to the ear than much experimental writing. The influence of the Italian Neo-Avantgarde on Paul’s poetry gives it a different sound, more musical than we’re used to. Debra’s work is more lyrical, too, than most contemporary prose. They’re both different, yet both are, I think, easier to pick up on for those who don’t normally read experimental writing.” 

Debra Di Blasi is based in the Midwest, although she lived in San Francisco in the late ’80s, contributing to SOMA Magazine. Edward David Hamilton of the Iowa Review coined the “multimedia fiction” monicker for her writing, which the New York Times Book Review characterized as “clear, resonant prose, laced with bittersweet humor.” Previous books include novellas Drought and Say What You Like (New Directions), which won the Thorpe-Menn Book Award, and short stories Players of an Accidental Nature (Coffee House Press). Di Blasi founded Jaded Ibis, a transmedia corporation, and also produces work in poetry, music, painting, video, visual art, websites, audio interviews, clothing, jewelry and, most recently, “celebrity scents.” 

Paul Vangelisti was born in SF’s North Beach, brought up in the Marina, attended USF and Trinity College in Dublin, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1968. He’s published over 20 books of poetry and almost as many of translation, as well as co-editing Invisible City/Red Hill Press with John McBride (of Berkeley) in the ’70s. 

Currently, he edits the New Review of Literature and heads the Creative Writing Program at Otis College of Art and Design. His visits to San Francisco are called “elusive,” though recently he was heard reading Jack Spicer’s poetry with his co-editor Luigi Ballerini at New College during a program of readings by San Francisco contributors to their remarkable bilingual anthology of postwar American poetry, in volumes city by city, published by Mondadori in Italy, Nuova poesia americana. 

Days Shadows Pass is “a different book from my others,” said Vangelisti, “Only two of which are made up of short poems, the others being longer work or long sequences. It looks elegiac—several poems are inspired by, dedicated to, dead poet and artist friends who were important to me—but they’re really about exile. Not exile from anything, but towards a hope for meaning. In the elegiac sense, they’re full of different forms of constraint—and we live in a time of absolute constraint. The only way I can approach a political question like this is to deal with constraint as a poet, perpetrate poetry like perpetrating a crime. To situate the strength of poetic language in a given time and place—that is exile, my natural position.” 

Sound of hard freight before dawn 

a few lights and chill in the arroyo, 

considering the lie of the strangers 

and later on the flock of pigeons 

at noon soaring and tumbling 

silver then white then sunlight 

against the weight of air. 

—Paul Vangelisti 

an excerpt from “Absolutely Like Spring,” Days Shadows Pass

The San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra will present a panoply of music by Bay Area composers Katrina Wreede, Lisa Scola Prosek, Alexis Alrich, Loren Jones, Erling Wold, and Chris Carrasco, this Saturday at Old First Church in San Francisco. 

Mark Alburger, himself a Bay Area composer, and conductor for many of the pieces, commented on the program, “Katie Wreede’s piece, ‘Children’s Garden,’ will be performed by Alexis Alrich on piano, the composer (who’s from the East Bay) on viola and Lisa Scola Prosek, voice--an ongoing trio.” 

“That will be the only chamber music,” said Alburger. “The rest will be chamber orchestra. Lisa Scola Prosek is a composer of Bel Canto for the 21st century, and there will be two selections from her opera, Bel Sagor, which will be premiered at the end of May, about the devil meeting his match in a witchy woman--and having a horrible time of it! There’s a duet and full ensemble, with soprano Eliza O’Malley in full voice and Maria Mikheyenko also up in the stratisphere, plus Aurelio Viscarra, tenor, and Micah Epps, bass.” 

The third composer will be Loren Jones, “with selections from his continuing 12-movement essay about life and times in San Francisco, Dancing on the Brink of the World, from brothels and barrooms on the Barbary Coast, and the Panama-Pacific Exhibition, like carny music, going to ‘the outer districts,’ in chilly, muted tones.” 

Alexis Alrich also is “serially introducing a larger piece, which she will conduct, with Matthew Cannon as soloist on a five-octave marimba. For Alexis, tonality is the music of the future!” 

Erling Wold’s revival of an older piece, “Baron Ochs,” will follow. “Erling’s one of the most wonderful post-Minimalist composers around,” said Alburger, “whose music is played in Europe. When Alexis Alrich premiered her piece, ‘California Oaks,’ Erling joked that ‘I’d better revive “Baron Ochs”’—and now he is!” 

The concert will be concluded by “a 19-year-old up-and-comer,” as Alburger put it—Chris Carrasco, with “The Mind Suite,” which Alburger describes as “a descent into madness! Chris is a fine percussionist, with a drum and bugle corps background. He played with The Blue Devils. But he’s Philip Glass-influenced. We wanted the grand finale to be a lot of fun, with some real in-your-face rhythmic music.” 

SAN FRANCISCO COMPOSERS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 

8 p.m. Saturday. $12-$15. Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St. and Van Ness, San Francisco. (415) 474-1608. 

www.oldfirstconcerts.org or www.sfcco.org.

When, in her final column, Molly Ivins called for the people to get out in the streets, bang pots and pans and raise hell, lefties all over the country responded with tributes and clarion calls to heed her message. Meanwhile, for more than six years, many of these same self-described liberals have excoriated the most accomplished and tenacious hell-raiser of them all, Public Pot-and-Pan-Banger Number One, Ralph Nader. 

An Unreasonable Man, a new documentary opening this weekend at Shattuck Cinemas in downtown Berkeley, examines the career of the controversial consumer advocate-turned-presidential candidate, giving much needed context and perspective to a lifetime of public service. 

The film argues that it has almost become axiomatic, despite much evidence to the contrary, that Nader cost Al Gore the 2000 election, his 19,000 votes in Florida spanning the 537-vote differential between Gore and Bush many times over. The inconvenient truth of the matter, however, is that there were 10 third-party candidates on the Florida ballot and every one of them received more than 537 votes. And nation-wide, more than 10 million registered Democrats forsook Gore in favor of Bush. Mean while Nader, once a left-wing hero, became a pariah almost overnight, trashed by progressives for defending the very same values and truths for which they claimed to stand. Finally, Democrats could speak with one voice. 

An Unreasonable Man documents the efforts, from both the right and the left, to undermine Nader and his causes, from General Motors’ blundering attempts to smear him in the 1960s as well as the more concerted and successful maneuvers by the Republican and Democratic parties to keep him from even attending, much less participating in, the presidential debates. For the most part it’s a simple and straightforward film, presenting the views of Nader’s supporters as well as his opponents, including many who once counted themselves among the former but have since joined the latter. But, even though directors Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan have ostensibly attempted to present a balanced portrait of Nader’s career with the intent of letting the viewer make his own evaluations of the man and his record, at times they tip their hand, revealing their own sympathetic views. For instance, towards the end of the film, as Nader, in an interview, gives voice to the principles that drive him, the directors find it impossible to resist the urge to back his words with a soaring, patriotic score. 

But for the most part the filmmakers are able to stay in the background and simply let their subjects do the talking. And they do plenty. Journalist Eric Alterman says it’s time Nader left the country; he’s done enough damage here. Phil Donahue takes issue with those who criticized Nader for claiming in 2000 that there wasn’t a dime’s bit of difference between the two political parties; the Democrats then spent the next six years proving him right, Donahue says, caving in to the Bush administration’s every whim. Some former Nader’s Raiders say their erstwhile leader has lost his way; others consider the man an American hero. 

Among the more humorous moments are the appearances of Michael Moore, a man who has made a name for himself with films in which he juxtaposes bits of footage to reveal the hypocrisy of those he targets. Here the tables are turned as we see Moore campaigning for Nader in 2000, asking his audience “If you don’t vote your conscience now, when will you start?”, then spinning 180 degrees around by 2004 to chastise those who took his advice, equating a vote for Nader as a transitory moment of pleasure that can only lead to a lifetime of pain. 

One of the more fascinating dynamics that have arisen from Nader’s clash with his one-time loyalists is the pressure that has been brought to bear on the many public interest organizations he has founded. Some of these groups have found it more difficult to do their work; fundraising and outreach efforts have suffered due to the diminished reputation of their figurehead, who, in many cases, is no longer even involved with these groups. It’s ironic that former President Jimmy Carter should count himself among Nader’s critics, as a similar effect was repeated recently with the publication of Carter’s book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Just as some of Nader’s colleagues feel their work has been hindered by his political campaigns, the backlash against Carter’s book led to the resignation of several Carter Center staffers who felt Carter’s decision to speak his mind on the Israel-Palestine conflict undermined the efforts of the center to continue its role as a mediator and non-partisan monitor of elections in the Middle East. 

It’s an interesting question: Should one pursue one’s long-term goals even when that strategy jeopardizes one’s own short-term tactics? Both men are acting on the principle that truth always wins out, no matter the immediate consequences, and that ultimately history will rule in their favor. And both seem secure in the knowledge that their legacies, far from being tarnished by these actions, will one day be defined by them.  

AN UNREASONABLE MAN 

Directed by Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan. 122 minutes. Not rated. Playing at Shattuck Cinemas. 

Photograph: Consumer advocate-turned-presidential candidate Ralph Nader is the subject of  

An Unreasonable Man, a new documentary by Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan.