TUESDAY, APRIL 24 

Return of the Over-the-Hills Gang Hikers 55 years and older who are interested in nature study, history, fitness, and fun are invited to join us on a series of monthly excursions exploring our Regional Parks. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Big Springs Staging Area off South Park Drive, Tilden Park. For information and to register call 525-2233.  

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds, who may be accompanied by an adult. We will explore the seasons from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 636-1684. 

“Can We Talk About God?” Devotion And Extremism In The Modern Age with Roger Scruton, conservative British writer and philosopher, and Zaid Shakir, resident scholar at the Zaytuna Institute at 7 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. at Bancroft. 582-1979. 

Free Diabetes Screening from 8:15 to 11 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand. 981-5332. 

Berkeley High School Governance Council meets at 4:15 p.m. in the Berkeley Community Theater. 644-4803. 

Berkeley PC Users Group meets at 7 p.m. at 1145 Walnut St. MelDancing@aol.com 

“Hearing Spirit: Social Thresholds and Ears of the Heart” with David Elliot at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley, at the corner of McKinley and Bancroft. 527-2935. www.ahimsaberkeley.org 

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

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

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

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, APRIL 25 

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  

Earth Day 2007: Will Unchecked Profiteering Kill our Planet? with Tod Brilliant, environmentalist, and Nina Rizzo of Global Exchange at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 548-9696. 

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

Bayswater Book Club meets to discuss “What Do You Say After You Say Hello?” by Eric Berne, M.D. at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Coffee Shop, El Cerrito Plaza. 433-2911. 

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. 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, APRIL 26 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds, who may be accompanied by an adult. We will explore the seasons from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 636-1684. 

“Thousand Oaks” An illustrated lecture on one of Berkeley’s unique neighborhoods by Trish Hawthorne at 8 p.m. in the Chapel, Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Presented by Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Cost is $10. 841-2242. www.berkeleyheritage.com 

Biofuels: A Conversation between science, engineering, ecology, poitics and urban design at 7 p.m. at 750 Davis Hall, UC Campus.  

Greg Palast’s “From Baghdad to New Orleans” at 6:30 p.m. at Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5-$10. Sponsored by Speak Out and KPFA FM. 601-0182. 

“Know Your Rights to Break the ICE” An educational forum on immigrant rights at 6:30 p.m. at Rosa Parks Elementary School, 920 Allston Way. Sponsored by Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action. 665-5821. 

California’s Mental Health Oversight Commission Public Hearing to solicit input on personal experiences of mental health stigma and suggestions for policies to combat stigma, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Emeryville Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 Powell St., Emeryville. 916-445-1104. 

“Esoteric Buddhism During the Song Dynasty” with Prof. Charles D. Orzech, of UNC, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jodo Shinshu Center, 2140 Durant Ave.Free, but RSVP requested. 809-1444. 

Multicultural Dinner and Fundraiser for schools in Nepal, Thailand and Kenya at 5 p.m. at restaurants in Berkeley, followed by a cultural program at Yogakula. Tickets are $25. 849-4983 or 549-0611. 

Dining Out for Life to Fight AIDS at various East Bay restaurants. For a list of participating restaurants see www.diningoutforlife.org 

“Marxism and the Call of the Future: Conversations on Ethics, History, Politics” at 7 p.m. at 3335 Dwinelle Hall, UC Campus. 848-1196. 

Great Books Discussion Group meets to discuss “Wild Duck” by Henrik Ibsen, at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3700, ext. 16. 

Poetry Workshop with Donna Davis, ongoing on Thurs. from 9 a.m. to noon at the JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Donation $10 per semester. 848-0237. 

Easy Does It Emergency Services Board of Directors' Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 1636 University Ave. All welcome. 845-5513. edi@easyland.org 

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 27 

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 Ratner on “How Stock Markets Work” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

Film Festival for Diversity “Making Whiteness Visible” at 6:30 p.m. in the Longfellow Middle School Auditorium, 1500 Derby at Sacramento. Free, including dinner and child care. Presented by the Berkeley PTA Council. 644-6320. 

“Residues of the Cold War: Cross Straits and Korean Peninsula” A symposium from 1 to 5:30 p.m. in the Great Hall, Bancroft Hotel, 2680 Bancroft Way. Sponsored by the Institute of East Asian Studies. 642-2809. 

Circle Dancing simple folk dancing with instruction. Potluck at 7 p.m., dancing at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Planning meetings for Dedication to denise brown will be on going every Friday at 2 p.m. at LeConte School, Room 104. Photos, videos and dvd's are welcome to be included in the event. For more information, contact Rita Pettit, PRitaAnn@aol.com, 559-4602. 

Family Pot Luck Shabbat at 6 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. Please bring dinner food appropriate for children and non-perisahble ffod for the needy. Sponsored by Kol Hadash. info@kolhadash.org 

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 

“Pursuing Justice in Israel/Palestine” The Jewish Voice for Peace National Conference begins at 7 p.m., followed by a day of speakers on Sun., at Samuel Merritt Health Education Center, 400 Hawthorne Ave., near 34th, Oakland. Cost is $25-$200. Advance registration recommended. 465-1777. www.JewishVoiceforPeace.org 

Open the Farm Meet and greet the animals at the Little Farm as you help the farmers with the morning chores. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Little Farm, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Bring Back the Natives Tour of School Gardens throughout the East Bay. Cost is $30. 236-9558. www.BringingBackTheNatives.net 

LeConte Elementary School Multi-cultural Spring Festival “Tastes of the World” from noon to 4 p.m. at 2241 Russell St. www.leconteonline.org 

Berkeley History Center Walking Tour “South West Berkeley Cultural Landscape” led by William Coburn at 10 a.m. Cost is $8-$10. For information on meeting place and to register call 848-0181. 

Mt. Wanda Wildflower Walk Join a Park Ranger for a walk in the hills where John Muir took his daughters. Terrain is steep, wear walking shoes and bring water. Rain cancels. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Cal-Trans Park and Ride lot at the corner of Alhambra Ave. and Franklin Canyon Rd., Martinez. 925-228-8860. 

City of El Cerrito Earth Day with volunteer work parties, food, music, an art show, composting demonstrations, an alternative fuel vehicle display, fun activities for children. Barbeque lunch at noon at the El Cerrito Community Center. For more information on the work parties, please contact earthday@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or call Garth Schultz at 215-4351.  

“Where is Feminism Now?” Panel Discussion on the newly published Feminists Who Changed America by Barbara Love and Nancy Cott at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books, 1491 Shattuck Ave. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com  

“Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army” with author Jeremy Scahill at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at door, available at independent bookstores, or at 415-255-7296, ext. 253. www.globalexchange.org/events/blackwater 

Volunteers Needed for “Get Ready Berkeley” to distribute information on Pandemic Flu preparations at 10 a.m. at Frances Albrier Community Center, San Pablo Park. 981-5342. 

“Universal Healthcare-How Do We Get There?” A forum with Ron Adler, MD., Susan Bergman, Ann Munoz, MHA, at 10 a.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, Martin Luther King and Hearst.  

E-Waste Recycling for computers and monitors, cell phones, televisions, printers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Whole Foods Market, 3000 Telegraph Ave. 649-1333. 

Know Your Rights Training with Berkeley CopWatch Learn your rights when interating with police from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grassroots House, 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Cal Carnival for Children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lower Sproul Plaza with games, prizes and food. CalCarnival@gmail.com 

Berkeley Public Library Teen Services Demonstration of Live Homework Help at 2 p.m. at the Electronic Classroom on the 3rd Floor of the Central Library, at 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6133. 

International Family Fair with games and activities for children, entertainment and food, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the New School od Berkeley, Bonita St. at Cedar. 548-9165. 

WiterCoach Connection Yard Sale and Fundraiser at 2447 Derby St. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The SAT or ACT? Which Test is Right for You? A free test assessment for high school students from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Princeton Review, 2176 Shattuck Ave. For information call 845-7900, ext. 111. 

Bolshevik Café “Putting the social in socialism, the comedy in communism and the peace in a piece of pizza” at 7 p.m. at Finn Hall, 1819 10th St. Cost is $5-$15. 415-863-6637. 

Film Screening of “Street Survivors” a Claire Burch film at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St. 547-7602. 

Luna Kids Dance Open House from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, Studio C, 2640 College Ave. kids@lunakidsdance.org 

Petite Pooches Playgroup for small dogs from 10:30 11:30 a.m., one block north of Solano on Ensenada at Talbot. 524-2459. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction 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.  

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

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 

2nd Annual Children’s Day/Book Day Celebration with music, a magician and origami, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Children's Library, 4th floor, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Albany Spring Art and Music Festival with rhythm and blues, Taiko drumming, West African dance and more, children’s activities, food and community booths, from noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park, Washington at Carmel, Albany. www.albanyca.org 

“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.  

El Cerrito Historical Society Spring Meeting will show a video of Sundar Shadi in his home and walking around his garden as he talks about his annual exhibits and his flowers at 1 p.m. at the El Cerrito Senior Center, behind the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7507. 

CA Revels Mayday Zoo Event with a Maypole, the Deer Creek Morris Men and other activities at 1 p.m. at the Oakland Zoo. 632-9525.  

OakTown Blues & Bar-B-Que, St. Paul’s Episcopal School’s annual auction, will be held from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Dunsmuir Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. Call for more information and tickets 285-9614. 

“War & Peace: Israel and the New Regional Paradign” with Israeli security analyst Eran Lerman at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St. Cost is $10. 525-3582. 

Berkeley Playreading Group reads Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” at 2 p.m. at 1471 Addison St., cross st. is Sacramento, in rear of the 1473 building. Donation $5. 655-7962.  

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

Tibetan Buddhism with Ken McKeon on “Inside Inquiry” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, APRIL 30  

Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 6 p.m. at the East Pauley Ballroom, MLK Student Union, Bancroft & Telegraph. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE  

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. 

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., April 24, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., April 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7533.  

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., April 25, at 7 p.m., at the Emergency Operations Center, 997 Cedar St. Gil Dong, 981-5502.  

Police Review Commission meets Wed., April 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., April 26, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410.

In an April 13 story on labor relations in the Berkeley schools, a school employee’s name was misspelled. Her name is Anita Thomson. 

Leon Litwack’s name was misspelled in the April 20 story “Historian Leon Litwak Retires with Golden Apple.” Jimi Hendrix’s name was also misspelled. 

Litwack will give his last lecture for his course, History 7B, at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 7, in Wheeler Auditorium.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24 

THEATER 

Tell It On Tuesday Solo performances at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$12 sliding scale at the door. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Honors Art Show Opening reception at 4 p.m. at the Worth Ryder Gallery, Kroeber Hall, UC Campus.  

FILM 

Academy Film Archive: Recent Preservations with Mark Toscano at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Michelle Goldberg presents her new book, “Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism” at 6:30 p.m. in the 3rd floor Community Meeting Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kitredge St. 981-6107.  

Jacob Needleman talks about “Why Can’t We Be Good?” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Free, but donation of $10 suggested. 559-9500. 

A Conversation with Roger Scruton and Zaid Shakir on “Can We Talk About God? Devotion and Extremeism in the Modern Age” at 7 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. 582-1979. www.zaytuna.org 

Shawna Yang Ryan reads from “Locke 1928” at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Stephen Prothero discusses “Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—And Doesn’t” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Swamp Coolers at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

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

Sachal Vasandani at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $6-$10. 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, APRIL 25 

EXHIBITIONS 

“When We Were Very Young” Photography by Nicole Beck Opening reception at 5:30 p.m. at North Gallery, 5231 College Ave. at Broadway, Oakland. Presented by California Colllege of the Arts. www.cca.edu 

FILM 

History of Cinema “An Injury to One” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash presents Robin Becker reading from “The Horse Fair” and Alison Luterman reading from “The Largest Possible Life” at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Writing Teachers Write with Cyrus Armajani and students from “Write to Read” at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Roberta Maisel reads from “All Grown Up: Living Happily Ever After with Your Adult Children” at 7:30 p.m. at JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $10-$20, benefits Aquarian Minyan. 465-3935. 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music for the Spirit with Ron McKean on harpsichord at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. 

South Berkeley Youth Arts Summit with the Longfellow Middle School Jazz Band and Peace Choir, La Peña Children’s Chorus and The Lab Live Hip Hop Ensemble at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Salif Keita, griot music from West Africa at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

U.C. Jazz at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $6. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Balkan Folkdance at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

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

Brown Bums at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Beckett’s Family Reunion with Nicole and the Sisters in Soul at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Nels Cline Singers at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$15. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, APRIL 26 

THEATER 

Subterranean Shakespeare “Macbeth” opens at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., near Rose in Live Oak Park, and runs Thurs.-Sat. to May 26. Tickets are $12-$17. 276-3871.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Prayer for Peace” Mixed media works by Lucien Kubo. Reception at 6 p.m. at Oakland’s Asian Resource Gallery, 310 Eighth St., corner of Harrison. 287-5353. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Thousand Oaks” An illustrated lecture on one of Berkeley’s unique neighborhoods by Trish Hawthorne at 8 p.m. in the Chapel, Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Presented by Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Cost is $10. 841-2242. www.berkeleyheritage.com 

“Bernard Maybeck and the Hillside Movement” A lecture by Tim Holt at 7:30 p.m. at 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $5. 843-8724. 

An Evening with Greg Palast on “Armed Madhouse: From Baghdad to New Orleans: Sordid Secrets and Strange Tales of a White House Gone Wild” at 6:30 p.m. at Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$24 avalable from www.gregpalast.com  

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

Regan McMahon describes “Revolution in the Bleachers: How Parents Can Take Back Family Life in a World Gone Crazy Over Youth Sports” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Mo’ Phone at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is 85. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Teed Rockwell, touch-style fretboard and Hindustani ragas, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

The Winter Blanket, The Trenchermen, Lindi Wiggins at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Rafael Manriquez in concert and celebrating his 60th birthday at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$20. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Marian McPartland at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Bombay Crawlers, The Privies, Attack Formation at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $7. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Headnodic & Raashan Ahmad at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

FRIDAY, APRIL 27 

THEATER 

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

Aurora Theatre “Private Jokes, Public Places” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through May 13. Tickets are $38. 843-4822. 

Barestage “Cabaret” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at 72 Cesar Chavez Center, UC Campus. Tickets are $8-$12. 642-3880. 

Berkeley Rep “Blue Door” at 8 p.m. at 2025 Addison St., through May 20. Tickets are $45-$61. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “A Streetcar Named Desire” Tennesse Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning play opens at 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Contra Costa Civic Theatre, 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Runs through May 12. Tickets are $8-$11. 524-9132. www.ccct.org  

Impact Theatre “Measure for Measure” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through May 26.Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. 

Masquers Playhouse “She Loves Me” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through May 12.Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org  

Shotgun Players “Blood Wedding” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through April 29. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Subterranean Shakespeare “Macbeth” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., near Rose in Live Oak Park, to May 26. Tickets are $12-$17. 276-3871.  

EXHIBITIONS 

Acrylics on Canvas by David Giulietti Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Artbeat Salon and Gallery, 1887 Solano Ave. 527-3100. www.arbeatsalon.com 

“Touchable Stories: Richmond” A multi-media, oral history event created by the people of Richmond. Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 6 p.m. through May 13, at 1303 Canal Blvd., Richmond (the former Kaiser Shipyard Cafeteria). Cost is $6-$12. For reservations call 619-3675. www.touchablestories.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jonathan Chester presents a slideshow and lecture on “Berkeley Rocks” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. Some of the homes and gardens will be featured on Berkeley Architectural Heritage’s Spring House Tour on May 6. 704-8222. 

“Music and Message” with Sweet Honey in the Rock on the role of music in the Civil Rights Movement and social activism today at 2 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free.  

Strictly Speaking with David Sederis at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Returning to the Shore” Tribute to James Chaill, connoisseur of Chinese painting at 5:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. all-day symposioum on Sat. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Jazz Poetry Festival with Adam David Miller, Gael Lacock, Avotcja, Modupue and others at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $20. 848-3227. www.hillsideclub.org 

“The Music of Primes” with mathematician Marcus du Sautoy at 5:15 p.m. at the Valley Life Sciences Bldg., Room 2050, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. 642-0448. 

Marta Acosta reads from “Midnight Brunch” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Dance Project 2007 “The Reception” choreography and tele-immersion technology at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $10-$14. 642-9925. 

De la Canción Protesta al la Canción Propuesta with Holly Near, Linda Tillery, Lichi Fuentes and others at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Kimberly Jackson & “Urban Legends” at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $15. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Ed Neumaster Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Sambada, Sage, Afro, Barzillian, funk, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Nearly Beloved, folk, country afrobilly, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

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

Evelie Posch and Steve Taylor-Ramirez at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Pat Nevins & Ragged Glory, City Fritter at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Monster Squad, Ceremony 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. 

3rd Date at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Native Elements at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$12. 548-1159.  

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

Marian McPartland at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 

CHILDREN  

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

Stage Door Conservatory “The Hobbit” Sat. and Sun. at 5 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20 at the door. www.juliamorgan.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Tied Up On A Rainy Day” Paintings by Bill Jefferson, sculpture by Larry Baumiller. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at The Gallery Of Urban Art, 1746 13th St., Oakland. 910-1833. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Outdoor Poetry Reading at Berkeley Arts Magnet’s Allen Ginsberg Poetry Garden from 2 to 4 p.m. at 1624 Milvia St.  

National Poetry Month Celebration with readings by Denise Newman, Barbara Tomash, Brian Strang, Patrick Duggan, Chad Sweeney, David Holler, Ilya Kaminsky, Bruce Boston, and Martin Woodside at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Jeremy Scahill describes “Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army” at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at door, available at independent bookstores, or at 415-255-7296, ext. 253.  

“A Gathering of Greatness" Allegorical photographs of famous people in the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, by Dorothy Levitt Mayers. Lecture at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 228-3207. 

Ann Fagan Ginger, Candace Falk, Helene Goodwin, Kathy Johnson, PhoeBe ANNE (sorgen) discuss “Where is Feminism Now?” at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books 486-0698.  

Rhythm & Muse Open Mic with Tracy Koretsky at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera Free Concert at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr Community Room, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Harp Music with Chris Caswell Celtic, Latin and Middle Easterm muisc on hand-made harps at 4 p.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave., off Seventh St. 644-2351. 

Flauti Diversi “Bella Rosas” a program of renaissance and contemporary works for recorder trio at 8 p.m. at St Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. Tickets are $15-$18, reservations recommended. 527-9840. 

Berkeley Dance Project 2007 “The Reception” choreography and tele-immersion technology at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $10-$14. 642-9925. 

Kensington Symphony performs Smetana’s “Ma Vlast” at 8 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 545 Ashbury Ave., El Cerrito. Suggested donation $12-$15, children free. 524-9912. 

Ronnie Gilbert, Sandy Tolan, Charlie Varon, Jeff Halper, and more, at 7 p.m. at the Fontaine Auditorium, Samuel Merritt Health Education Center, 400 Hawthorne Ave., Oakland, in a benefit for Jewish Voice for Peace. Tickets $15-$25 sliding scale. 465-1777. 

Quinteto Latino Compositions by Latin American masters at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

Classical African Music and Dance at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $4-$12. 642-9988. 

National Jazz Appreciation Month BMI & The Roster Super Company at 7 p.m. at Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. 836-4649.  

Sweet Honey in the Rock at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $24-$46. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

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

Jesus Diaz & su QBA, Cuban timba dance music, at 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Music on the Commons at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Kotoja at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. African dance leson with comfort Mensah at 9 p.m. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Rebecca Griffin at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Chris Zanardi Quartet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Steve Forbert at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Juliet Green and Moodswing at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

David Feffrey’s Jazz Fourtet at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

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

The Pine Needles, skiffle band, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

Captain Mike and the Sea Kings, Amy Lou’s Blues at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Born/Dead, Signal Lost at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 

CHILDREN 

Stage Door Conservatory “The Hobbit” at 5 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20 at the door. www.juliamorgan.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

Works by Carla Van Slyke, Rita Sklar, Charlotte Britton and Jack Anderson Reception for the artists at 2 p.m. at Solano Groll, 1133 Solano Ave., Albany. 525-8686. 

“Celebrate the Earth” a show by members of the California Watercolor Association and hand-blown glass by Michael Sosin, on display at the Community Art Gallery, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave. through June 8. 204-1667.  

“Jazz on High” Art Show and Jazz Vespers featuring the Art of Andres Guerrero and jazz by Dave Rocha & Quartet at 4 p.m. at High Street Presbyterian Church, 1945 High St, Oakland. www.highstreetpresbyterian.com 

“In Earth’s Shoe” drawings and prints by YaChin You and “The Prom Queen Series” paintings by Brooke Hatch. Artists’ reception at 7 p.m. at 1811 Carleton St. # A. 847-6272. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Amy Wachspress reads from “The Call to Shakabaz” at 6 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Jacqueline Bautista reads from her stories about modern Spain, “Fiestas” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra features Gabriel Faure’s Requiem at 4:30 p.m. at Saint Joseph The Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Free, donations appreciated. www.bcco.org 

Berkeley Dance Project 2007 “The Reception” choreography and tele-immersion technology at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $10-$14. 642-9925. 

California Bach Society “A Madrigal History Tour” at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Tickets are $10-$25. 415-262-0272. www.calbach.org 

William Beatty, pianist, Marvin Sanders, flute at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $10. 644-6893.  

Theater in Song Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano with music by Jake Heggie and Ricky Ian Gordon at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $62. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Ravi Shankar, sitar, at 7 p.m. at at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $36-$68. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Songs of Lesser Known Writers” Dave Shank, piano, at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., corner of W. Richmond Ave., Point Richmond. Suggested donation $10. 236-0527. 

Healing Muses and Octangle, wind octet, at 4 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington St., Albany. Tickets are $15-$20. 524-5661. www.healingmuses.org 

Ian Tyson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

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

Balkan Folkdance at 1:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Battle of the Bands at 6 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Shotwell, Sonskull, Coming Up Roses, Shorebird at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

MONDAY, APRIL 30 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Aurora Theatre Staged Readings “Happyslap” by Laura Jacqmin at 7:30 p.m. at 2081 Addison St. For tickets call 843-4822. 

Alistair Horne will discuss “A Savage War of Peace” and the parallels between the Algerian War, the subject of his 1977 book, and the current Iraq War, at TIME at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Co-Sponsored by Moe’s Books. Donation $5. 848-3227.  

“Art of the Book” with Malcolm Margolin, Publisher, Heyday Books and Amy Thomas, owner of Pegasus and Pendragon Books at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6150. 

Steven Bach Describes “Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl” Hitler’s filmmaker, at 7 p.m. at Cody’d Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Masha Hamilton reads from “Camel Bookmobile” at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Poetry Express with open theme night on “secrets” with special guest Blair at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

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

A TRIBUTE TO  

JAMES CAHILL 

UC Berkeley Professor Emeritus James Cahill’s collection of Chinese and Japanese paintings form the core of the Asian art collection at the Berkeley Art Museum. Former students and scholars in the field will gather for a conference in his honor on this weekend at the museum, beginning Friday at 5:30 and continuing all day Saturday. 

Known as the Ching Yuan Chai Collection, after Professor Cahill's studio name, this group of paintings has long been admired by scholars, the public, and most intently by the many students who studied with Cahill, many of whom consider to be among the most knowledgeable connoisseurs of Chinese painting in the 20th century.  

This installation, which continues through May 27, provides an overview of the Berkeley Art Museum's holdings of Chinese paintings. For more information, call 642-0808 or see www.bampfa.edu. 

TOUCHABLE STORIES 

A multi-media oral history exhibit is on display this Friday and Saturday in Richmond to challenge public perception of the city by telling the story directly from the people who are living it. Designed by a host of area artists, this 10-room tour is an intimate and interactive journey into the life and times of Richmond. Tours are one hour in length with an audience size limited to 15. The showings are the next three weekends: Fridays (April 27, May 4 and 11) at 8 p.m., and Saturdays (April 28, May 5 and 12) at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. 1303 Canal St. $12. Richmond residents/seniors/students $6. (Families: pay what you can. Tent City participants free) Reservations required: 619-3675.

If you’ve seen the film A Great Day in Harlem, you may have noticed that of the 57 jazz legends who showed up to be photographed by Art Kane standing on the stoop of a Harlem brownstone at 17 East 126th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues on an August morning in 1958, only three of them were women and only one of the three was white. 

The three women were the great Kansas City pianist, Mary Lou Williams, known as “the lady who swings the band” when she performed with the Andy Kirk orchestra; vocalist Maxine Sullivan, famous for swinging Loch Lomond; and Marian McPartland, originally from Berkshire, England, who has spent the last 64 years playing jazz piano and educating people all over the world about this quintessentially black American music. 

Besides being the only white woman in the photo, and the only player not born in the USA, McPartland is one of only six survivors from that photo shoot, along with Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin, Hank Jones, Horace Silver and Benny Golson. Golson’s presence, in what may be the most famous jazz photo of all time, led to his small but pivotal role in Steven Spielberg’s film, The Terminal. 

McPartland’s film career has been more limited than that, but her radio career has been astounding. Her weekly one hour public radio show, Piano Jazz, is the longest-running cultural program on NPR. Her first show aired in 1978 and over the years she has interviewed, featured and dueted with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Mary Lou Williams, Dorothy Donegan (a great jazz pianist otherwise given short shrift by jazz critics), Jay McShann and Johnny Guarnieri. 

Many of these shows are available on CD and they retain their musical and historical interest after repeated listening because, for once, the interviewer knows the true value of the music and musicians she is interviewing. She also knows what to ask them to play to showcase their lives and talents. When she joins her guests at the piano, the duets are spontaneous examples of the kind of telepathic communication plus virtuosity that only occurs at the highest level of jazz performance.  

I first heard McPartland at the Charcoal House in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio around 1965. She and her husband, cornetist Jimmy McPartland, an original member of Chicago’s Austin High School Gang, were playing the local restaurant. She was the pianist in Jimmy’s Dixieland band and when the band took a breather she continued to perform solo. Only it was not Dixieland, but bebop piano that she played between the band’s sets. Jimmy and Marian had met during WWII through the USO and, although her style was still evolving, they found a way to perform together without any of the rancor that was usually associated with Dixieland/bop confrontations. 

Her style has continued to evolve, but she still plays with the same crystalline clarity, spinning out flowing, articulate right hand melodic lines while backing them with inventive left hand harmonies and rhythmic accents. She has obviously learned from bebop pianists, but she also has a profound knowledge and understanding of the entire jazz keyboard tradition. That quality that makes her radio show so fascinating is rooted in her own curiosity and desire to learn about all the ways jazz can be played and swung on a keyboard. It is that combination of eagerness to learn, technical mastery, a brilliant mind still able to be amazed at what takes place during the jazz creative process and a soul overflowing with song that makes Marian McPartland one of the great living giants of jazz.  

Marian McPartland appears Thursday through Sunday at Yoshi’s, with shows at 8 and 10 p.m., except on Sundays when they are at 7 and 9 p.m. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com. 

A young Asian woman in a fashionable, low-cut black dress and high heels busies herself with last minute fussing over the white bulk of an architectural model, positioned on a table elevated enough so that she needs to climb above it on a high tech stepladder to reach down into its interior. 

Meanwhile, a video projection plays on the screen above and behind her, on a wall covered with floor plans, vying for attention with the other, occasionally outre’, architectural models positioned above the stage of the Aurora Theatre for the production of Oren Safdie’s aptly titled play, Private Jokes, Public Places. 

On the screen is the extreme close-up of a smiling, dark-haired Caucasian man with an almost decorative, ostentatiously foreign accent, addressing the camera in a relentless torrent of words: “ ... as if you created a dialectic ... most basic poetic structures ... allows for the true viscera without pusillanimity.” 

The camera pans tightly over what seems a panel, three men exuberantly spouting the most absurd meta-language that seems to refer to, qualify, judge or exalt stray citations of examples of architecture—or, more often, projects. The Aurora audience is already laughing, and in a moment will be pressed into service, literally as an audience, not of a play, but of an ideological brouhaha erupting out of a review by distinguished men of the profession of student projects. 

The panel disbands, the screen goes black, and the three men seen projected on it enter the third dimension through the opposite entrance into the theater, carrying chairs, routing a harried videographer, who sets up at the back of an aisle. The brightly lit Aurora house has now become the architectural school equivalent of an anatomical theater--or dissecting lesson--with one of the suited gentlemen, obviously the academic advisor, advising “those of you who have just joined us” that there will be “the tour of a hospital wing for anorexia ... followed by a picnic lunch,” but that, first, “Well, this is Margaret.” 

It seems we’re all on a first name basis in a breezy, friendly—if self-conscious—academic environment, the extended friendliness ricocheting back from the professional guests. But this is belied by Margaret’s very personal self-consciousness, expressed in many ways as she endeavors to present her project, a public swimming pool designed to scrupulously respond to private needs and fears, which she illustrates with anecdotes from personal experience. Margaret wants the pool and its surrounding structure to be a refuge, “but not claustrophobic.” 

This occasions a diatribe by Ehrhardt, the gangling professional European with a leer, all over the map with his mixed metaphors, far afield from Margaret’s obvious intentions. He waxes Nietzchean, neo-Freudian, post-modern with compelling ambiguity, fashionable yet fully adjustable: “Thanks to psychoanalysis, we only have to communicate visually ... to be one with God!—as an iconoclasic symbol, of course ... You see what I’m getting at; architecture is not about words; architecture is about what’s in here [his hand grazes Margaret’s breast] ... No, Margaret, don’t think architecture is about words!” 

And many, many words follow, ostensibly about architecture, swarming like bees, stinging with issues of class, gender and race (when told her ideas have “a Pei-like quality,” Margaret explodes: “He’s Chinese. I’m Korean!”)—which charmingly remind the learned gentlemen of the ’60s. 

Unlike other plays which use theoretical physics, fine art or poetry as a flimsy, discardable metaphor for social misunderstanding or personal passion, Private Jokes reverses the field and takes on metaphors as a means to misappropriate humanistic ideals for private preoccupation and gain. And it remains a comedy throughout, as directed by Barbara Damachek, an even more farcical tea party in which Mad Hatter Robert Parsons (as gangling professional-European-with-a-leer Erhardt), March Hare Charles Dean (as puckish-then-prissy Colin) and Dormouse Max Gordon Brown (nebbishy advisor William) drag Margaret, a disbelieving Alice, through the ruined place settings they’ve gleefully befouled. 

Through it all, M. J. Kang, for whom the part was written, defines Margaret contrapuntally with her distinctive voice and body language, her facial expressions ranging from melancholy to uncomprehending to furious, turning the tables on her inquisitors, but with a unique humor. 

As a farce, even tour-de-force, which has to top itself, the climax, in which the hilarity finally provokes a display of the men’s hysteria and Margaret’s naked pride and contempt, is a little bit hackneyed, very much like ‘60s memorabilia. But the brief denouement, of her looking down on her spurned model like a mother into a cradle, is good, and the play stands as a paradox, a wry and sanguine view of the aesthetics—no, metaphysics—of contemporary architecture and all that the shape of human dwelling places can possibly imply. 

PRIVATE JOKES, PUBLIC PLACES 

8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays through May 12 at the Aurora Theatre. $12. 2081 Addison St. 525-1620.

There was a time in history when travel diaries were the way people in London, Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam found out about the countries they had yoked to their imperial ambitions. India, Sumatra, and rural Donegal—the places that funneled raw materials and gold into the great imperial centers—came alive in journals and long letters to leading newspapers. Most of the diarists focused on the exotic, but not a few accurately predicted that no matter how many dragoons were sent to terrorize the Irish countryside, insurrectionary groups like the “Whiteboys” would appear in their wake to burn down a landlord’s house. Or divined that all the “khaki boys” in the British Army would never quell the fierce Pushtin tribesmen of the Northern Frontier. 

Benjamin Dangl, the author of The Price of Fire, is a sort of 21st century version of these 18th and 19th century commentators who disdained the colonial comforts of Dublin or Delhi to head off into the outback. He rides buses into Bolivia’s altiplano, chews coca leaves in a Potosi park, and gulps his coffee as a cloud of tear gas descends on him in Buenos Aires. His five-year odyssey took him though Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina, all the while recording what might be called the death of the Monroe Doctrine. 

While the book is subtitled “resource wars and social movements in Bolivia,” Dangl covers most the countries that make up the Andes crescent. His thesis is that Bolivia’s “water war” of 2000 sparked similar uprisings in neighboring countries over the control of resources and resistance to the neo-liberal “Washington Consensus,” whose model of open markets and punishing austerity has plunged the southern hemisphere into economic chaos and bone-grinding poverty. 

Dangl sees “common threads” between land struggles in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, the seizure of Argentine factories by unemployed workers, and Venezuelan barrio members turning a prison into a community center. While these specific movements are of our time, the spirit that drives them is hardly new. A good part of the book chronicles the long history of resistance, first to the Spanish, than to the avaricious elites and rapacious corporations that followed in their wake. The current struggles, he points out, have deep roots on the continent, and are built on the memories—sometimes the bones—of previous generations.  

But each great struggle has a transforming moment: a Puebla, an Easter Rebellion, a Soweto. For Bolivia it was a war over water.  

The Cochabamba water war was sparked off when the World Bank pressured the Bolivian government into selling local water rights to the huge, California-based Bechtel Corporation. The sale was textbook neo-liberalism: private enterprise and the free market would come in, upgrade the water system and provide for all. Instead, Bechtel raised rates by as much as 200 percent, seized control of irrigation systems and rural wells and, in the words of author William Finnegan, “stole the rain.”  

This privatization mania—led by the two horsemen of global capital, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—swept through South America during the 1990s, turning the continent’s resources over to multinational corporations for pennies on the dollar. In one particularly egregious example, Argentina sold off its fleet of state-owned Boeing 707s to a French company for $1.40 apiece. The planes are still being flown.  

But in Cochabamba the people took a stand against both the largest construction company in the world and their own government. And they won. 

“There is no organizer like victory,” Ho Chi Minh once remarked. The water war triumph led to a similar campaign in Alto, Bolivia, and then spread to Argentina and Uruguay. It also brought the issue of water privatization to the attention of the international movement against globalization. In Bolivia it paved the way for the great Gas War of 2003, which in turn laid the groundwork for the election of the Movement Toward Socialism’s Evo Morales as president.  

Dangl argues that the Bolivian resistance resonated throughout the rest of Latin America. There is certainly truth in this, although in its battle against the IMF, Argentina also drew on its own history of a powerful trade union movement and strong left. In places like Paraguay and Uruguay there is little doubt that Bolivia set an example for others to follow. 

But the book is not about who should get credit for what, it’s about the fact that resistance produces concrete benefits, whether they be for landless campesinos in Paraguay, unemployed factory workers in Argentina, or illiterate barrio dwellers in Caracas.  

And all of these people come alive in the Price of Fire. Dangl’s reporting—which brings to mind John Reed’s “Insurgent Mexico”—is filled with images of what Daniel O’Connor once called “the great common people.” There is coca farmer Leonilda Zurita, dressed in traditional garb, chatting up a reporter from the BBC on her cell phone. There is a former soldier turned rapper earnestly explaining why he took up the fight against the IMF. And a chilling interview with a pair of right-wing students in Bolivia’s conservative and restive Santa Cruz Department. 

One of the book’s strong points is that, while the author celebrates the growing tide of resistance, he has no illusions about how difficult the future will be. The people of Cochabamba won the water war, but, as Dangl notes, “creating a successful public-run water system proved to be harder than many citizens imagined.”  

Dangl eschews rose-colored glasses, keeping a certain political independence about the current situation in Latin America. For instance, while he cheers on the growing power of the Left, he is also critical of Brazilian President Lula de Silva for reversing his support for land occupations by landless campesinos. He even has sharp words for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for seizing the land of indigenous people.  

Nor does he think the colossus of the north has been vanquished. Dangl warns that the U.S. is using the war on drugs as “a convenient way to continue post Cold War intervention in Latin American countries.” U.S. military spending in the region has more than doubled during the Bush Administration.  

His ability to balance embracing those involved in the struggle, with maintaining a certain analytical distance keeps the book from being just a well-written and engaging piece of anti-globalism cheerleading. 

While the book’s main focus is the current situation, Dangl packs a lot of history into its modest size, history about which most Americans haven’t the foggiest idea. Who knew that the bloody Chaco War (1832-35) between Bolivia and Paraguay was initiated by Standard Oil and Royal Dutch Shell? That may seem like esoteric history, but the bitterness left by the Chaco War played no little role in fueling the Great Gas War of 2003.  

The Price of Fire is about everyone from grassroots organizers to presidential candidates, and they all get a chance to have their say. It’s a book about big things, like the IMF, world trade, and international finance. But it is also about small moments that transform. Cochabamba grassroots organizer Oscar Olivera distills the formula that led to the water war victory: “we lost our sense of fear.” The Price of Fire is about how people lose their fear, and when the poor and the disposed of the world lose their fear, the pillars of empire tremble. 

Conn Hallinan is an analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus, a winner of a Project Censored Award, and did his Ph.D. dissertation on the history of insurrectionary organizations in Ireland.