TUESDAY, MAY 22 

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 Redwood Regional Park. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

Half Dome: a Primer on Hiking to the Summit at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Solo Sierrans Hike Hike at Lake Chabot Reservoir Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the boat house. Optional dinner follows. For information call Delores 351-6247. 

“Rethinking the Market: How Conservatives Get It Wrong and Progressives Can Get it Right” with Dean Baker at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Suggested donation $10. No one turned away for lack of funds.  

“A Crucial Conversation about the War between Religion and Law in America” with Peter Irons at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Donation $5, no one turned away. lewis@litminds.org 

“Climate Change and US” with Andrew Hoerner, Director of the Sustainable Economics Program at Redefining Progress, at the El Cerrito Democratic Club’s meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Makemie Hall, Northminster Presbyterian Church, 545 Ashbury Ave., El Cerrito. 375-5647.  

“Movement and Healing: Coping With Cancer And With Trauma Of War” with Ilene Ava Serlin at 7:30 p.m. at Institute for World Religions/ Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley, at the corner of McKinley and Bancroft. Free. 527-2935. 

Free Diabetes Screening from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand. 981-5332. 

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. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 

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

“Two Angry Moms” A documentary about mothers trying to get healthy food for their children at 7:30 p.m. at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cos tis $5-$10. 388-8932.  

“When the Levees Broke” Part 1 of Spike Lee’s documentary on New Orleans, post-Hurricane Katrina at 7 p.m. at CodePINK office, 1248 Solano Ave, Albany. Donation $5. RSVP to 524-2776. 

Organic Cooking Class “A South Indian Feast” at 6:30 p.m. in the Temescal neighborhood of North Oakland. Cost is $60. To register call 914-1142. daramerin@gmail.com  

“Listen to Iran’s People: A Call For Peace” Margot Smith’s video of her March 2007 visit to Iran with Fellowhip of Reconciliation will be shown at 1:30 p.m. at the Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers monthly meeting at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 548-9696. 

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

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

THURSDAY, MAY 24 

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

Berkeley Retired Teachers Association Awards Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Berkeley Yacht Club, Berkeley Marina. 251-2127. 

“Is God ... Great?” A discussion with Christopher Hitchens and Chris Hedges at 7:30 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Tickets are $20-$25. 848-6767, ext. 609.  

Baby and Toddler Storytime at 10:30 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

FRIDAY, MAY 25 

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

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

Free Compost for Berkeley Residents Self-serve from 11:45 to 2:45 p.m. at the Berkeley Marina Maintenance Yard, 201 University Ave, next to Adventure Playground. 644-6566. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Andy Stern on “Journalism” 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.  

“Dam Nation: Dispatches From the Water Underground” with Cleo Woelfle-Erskine, Laura Allen and July Oskar Cole on river restoration worldwide at 7:30 p.m. at AK Press, 674 23rd St., Oakland. 208-1700. www.akpress.org 

0 to 100 Watts in 4 Days: Build an FM Broadcast Transmitter A workshop sponsored by Free Radio Berkeley to teach you how to build a 40 watt FM broadcast transmitter and related items from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Free Radio Berkeley Workshop, 2311 Adeline, Unit P, Oakland. Cost is $200-$250 sliding scale. 625-0314. www.freeradio.org 

Solo Sierrans Briones Sunset Hike Meet at 6 p.m. in the first parking lot, near kiosk inside Briones Regional Park. Bring warm, layered clothing, flashlight, and optional snack to share. 601-1211. 

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

Kol Hadash Shabbat at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. Please bring finger food to share and non-perishable food for the needy. 428-1492. 

SATURDAY, MAY 26 

Walking Tour of Historic Oakland Churches and Temples Meet at 10 a.m. at the front of the First Presbyterian Church at 2619 Broadway. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

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. 

Reptile Rap Meet our resident snake and turtle friends in an interactive talk for the whole family at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Lost Film Fest with shorts from The Yes Men, TV Sheriff, Guerrilla News Network at 8 p.m. at AK Press, 674-A 23rd St., Oakland. Suggested donation $5-$10. 208-1700. 

Berkeley Hillside Club Fundraiser for Building Maintenance at 6 p.m. at 2286 Cedar Street at Arch. Cost is $35. www.hillsideclub.org 

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

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. 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, MAY 27 

Children’s Garden Fun at People’s Park Join naturalist Terri Compost from 1 to 3 p.m. as we plant sunflowers and an heirloom bean garden, play games and go on a bug safari. Especially for children in grades K-5, but all welcome. Meet at the community garden at the west end of the park. 658-9178. 

Wild About Watersheds A 4.5 mile hike from Tilden Nature Area to Wildcat Canyon to explore the watershed. Meet at 1 p.m. For information call 525-2233.  

Silent Spring? Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s birth as we listen to bird songs in Tilden Park. From 9:30 to 11 a.m. 525-2233. 

Berkeley City Club Tour of the “Little Castle” designed by Julia Morgan at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. at 2315 Durant Ave. 883-9710. 

“Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West” A documentary at 1 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Sponsored by Stand with Us. info@sfvoiceforisrael.org 

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

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

Tibetan Buddhism with Mark Henderson on “The Life of Shakyamuni Buddha” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, MAY 28  

Tilden Open House With farm songs at 11 a.m., meet a snake at noon, and games at 1 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Masquers Playhouse Annual Garage Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 201 Martina St . corner W. Richmond Ave. Pt. Richmond. 236-0527. 

Junktique II Garage Sale to benefit Masquers from from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St. Pt. Richmond. Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and chili lunch from noon to 3 p.m. 236-0527. 

Read Aloud Theater A free Berkeley Adult School class at 9 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 981-5190.  

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

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., May 22, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www. 

ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., May 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7533.  

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., May 23, at 7 p.m., at the Emergency Operations Center, 997 Cedar St. 981-5502.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., May 23,at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484. 

Police Review Commission meets Wed. May 23, at 7:30 p.m. at at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., May 24, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7010.  

Mental Health Commission meets Thurs., May 24, at 6:30 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. 981-5213.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., May 24, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410.  

TUESDAY, MAY 22 

CHILDREN 

Comedy & Tricks with Dana Smith & his dog Lacey, for ages 3 and up at 6:30 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Free. 524-3043. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Peter Irons, author of “God on Trial: Dispatches from America’s Religious Battlefields,” in conversation with Jeffrey Brand, dean of USF Law School, at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. lewis@litminds.org 

Rebecca Mead talks about “One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Debussy Trio at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Tickets are $20. 525-5211. www.berkeleychamberperform.org 

Courtableu, cajun, zydeco, 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 

Audrey Auld Mezera with Nina Gerber at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 

FILM 

International Latino Film Festival “Barrio Cuba” at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$6. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

David Talbot describes “Brothers: A Hidden History of the Kennedy Years” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Writing Teachers Write, student teacher readings, at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Tamsen Donner Blues Band at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 7:30 Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Hip Bones, instrumental jazz with funk and rock, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

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

THURSDAY, MAY 24 

THEATER 

“The Other Side of the Mirror” written and performed by Lynn Ruth Miller at 8 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline. Cost is $10. 650-355-4296. 

Travelling Jewish Theater “Death of a Salesman” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., through June 10. Tickets are $15-$44. 1-800-838-3006. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Residency Projects, Part I” Reception for Kala Fellowship artists, Freddy Chandra and Su-Chen Hung at 6 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. Exhibition runs to June 30. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

FILM 

POV 2 Bay Area Animation Festival at 9:15 p.m. at El Cerrito Speakeasy Theater, 10070 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $6. 848-1994. www.picturepubpizza.com  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Christopher Hitchens and Chris Hedges on “Is God Great?” at 7:30 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Tickets are $20 from www.kpfa.org/events/Hitchens 

Eric Drooker: Musical Slide Lectures, spoken word to projected graphics at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. pegdowntown@sbcglobal.net 

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

Clotilde DuSoulier introduces her cookbook “Chocolate and Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Richard Walker reads from “The Country in the City: The Greening of the San Francisco Bay Area” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tim O’Brien at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $25.50-$26.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Falso Baiano, Brazilian instrumental at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Haale, Samvega, The Hobbyists at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Fishtank Ensemble at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Selector: Cubik & Origami at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

FRIDAY, MAY 25 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “The Last Five Years” Fri and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through June 10. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep “Oliver Twist” at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. through June 24. Tickets are $45-$61. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.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. 

Just Theater, “I Have Loved Strangers” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., to May 26. Tickets are $12-$25. 421-1458. www.justtheater.org 

Shotgun Players “The Cryptogram” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through June 17. Tickets are $17-$25. For reservations call 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

“The Striders Club” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Arts Center, 1421 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $5-$11. 450-0891. 

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. 

TheatreFIRST “Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Old Oakland Theatre, 481 Ninth St., Oakland. Tickets are $18-$25. 436-5085. www.theatrefirst.com 

Travelling Jewish Theater “Death of a Salesman” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., through June 10. Tickets are $15-$44. 1-800-838-3006. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Milvia Street 2007 Readings and art showing from Berkeley City College’s art and literary journal at 7 p.m. in the 3rd flr Community Meeting Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jerry Kuderna Piano “From Bach to Babbitt” at 1 p.m. at 2323 Shattuck Ave. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

“Dance Elixir” with Leyya Tawil and Zari Le’on Fri. and Sat. at 8:30 p.m. at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St., Oaklakland. Tickets are $20. 435-6413. 

Jerry Kuderna, piano and Nora L. Martin, vocalist perform Hanns Eisler’s cycle of 18 songs on Poems by Bertolt Brecht at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Arts Festival, 2323 Shattuck Ave. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

Nicolas Bearde and His Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Brother Resistance, Chalkdust, and the D Platinum Crew at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $TBA 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

The Dave Matthews Blues Band at 8 p.m. at The Warehouse Bar, 4th & Webster, Oakland. 451-3161. 

Katie Garibaldi and Jeremy Rourke at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Spotlight Stealerz at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Flowtilla, Judea Eden Band at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Social Unrest, Hellbillys, Static Thought,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. 

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

Saoco, Rico Pabon, Santero at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $7. 548-1159.  

Mingus Amungus at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Filthy Thieving Bastards, Druglords of the Avenues, The Sore Thumbs at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $10. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

SATURDAY, MAY 26 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Amazing Blooms” Floral art by Leslie Winoku. Artist reception and tea at 3 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. Exhibit runs to June 1. 644-4930. 

FILM 

Berkeley Arts Festival “Noisy People” a documentary on the artists and musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area’s improvisational music community, at 8 p.m. at 2323 Shattuck Ave. Costi si $5-$10. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com  

Lost Film Fest with shorts from The Yes Men, TV Sheriff, Guerrilla News Network at 8 p.m. at AK Press, 674-A 23rd St., Oakland. Suggested donation $5-$10. 208-1700. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Sitka Trio Medieval and Baroque music for recorder, vielle, ‘cello, harp and voice, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Jesus Diaz & su QBA at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Ray Obiedo Group at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Baba Ken and the Afro-Groove Connexion at 7 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Mystic, Conscious Daughters, Pam the Funkstress at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$15. 548-1159. www.shattuckdownlow.com 

Nate Lopez and Olivia Voss at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Ben Goldberg at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Caroline Chung Jazz Trio at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Skinlab, WillHaven, Ankla at 6:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146.  

Culann’s Hounds, The Mor Rigan’s Wake at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Tracorum, roots music, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Animosity, As Blood Runs Black, The Faceless, 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, MAY 27 

FILM 

“The Kreutzer Sonata” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Love” a two act musical for soprano and baritone at 7:30 p.m. at The Berkeley Arts Festival, 2323 Shattuck Ave., between Durant and Bancroft. Tickets are $10 at the door. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

“Low-down Hoedown” with Cosio, Hardy Harr, The Parish at 1 p.m. at The Living Room Gallery, 3230 Adeline St. Barbeque facilities available. livingroomgallery@gmail.com 

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

Trick Kernan Combo at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Americana Unplugged: Tom Huebner at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Vernon Bush Group, soul, gospel, jazz, at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

MONDAY, MAY 28 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Stan Apps and Ara Shirinyan read at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Blue Monday Jam at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.

SONGS AND POEMS OF BERTOLT BRECHT 

Jerry Kuderna and Norah Martin, the dynamic duo, will preside over a program of Hanns Eisler’s Cycle of 18 Songs on Poems by Bertolt Brecht at 8 p.m. Friday. $10.  

Fidelity Bank Building, 2323 Shattuck Ave. 665-9496. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com. 

‘IS GOD...GREAT?” 

Journalist and and literary critic Christopher Hitchens, noted for his iconoclastic wit, outspoken anti-theism and fiery political temperament—not to mention his abrupt abandonment of both a Trotskyist youth and, more recently, the progressive left—joins journalist Chris Hedges in conversation under the title, “Is God... Great?” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at King Middle School. $20. The event is sponsored by KPFA and will be introduced by and moderated by Sasha Lilley, formerly co-host of Against the Grain, and presently KPFA’s interim program director. 1781 Rose St.

In a swirl of scenes that quickly alternate between darkness and light, at first very different in what they show, then interpenetrating, Just Theater stages the Bay Area premiere of Berkeley native Anne Washburn’s “text about message,” I Have Loved Strangers, for just three more performances, through Saturday. 

In the darkness, the cast files in, intoning a Gregorian chant, giving the City Club a cloistered air. But just for a moment. Lights on, there’s a downtown rush of busy-ness and overlapping dialogue, techno-chatter, banalities ... reading from the book in which “he wrote it all down,” Baruch (Michael Barrett Austin) throws the immediate into retrospect: “It was a day of astounding light, bursting out everywhere ... Not yet noon ...” 

Above the audience, seated on the sides of the Julia Morgan-designed salon, is a structure that resembles the model for a freeway overpass. And there is a recurrent atmosphere in the play of backrooms and of the subterranean, of being underneath something.  

Into the contemporary bustle wanders a rudely robed, bearded man (Ryan Oden)—a street person? He starts speaking in apocalyptic, scriptural rhetoric as the others shy away from him. It’s recognizable: from Jeremiah in the King James Bible. 

Other scenes follow, seemingly disjointed. A couple (Mick Mize and Alexandra Creighton), clearly cityfolk, hike in the dark, with the sound of frogs and the stars overhead, later exploring the headstones in an old cemetery, the rest of the ensemble in tableau as the Victorian funerary sculpture. One woman asks her friend (Creighton again and Lindsey Gates) to tell her who she (the questioner) is. Are they old school friends playing a game? Or is it a change to a nom-de-guerre? ... A man (Carson Creecy IV) posed with an espresso cup (with which he’ll later do a wry flamenco) asks the Old Testament prophet out to dinner—from which he’s abducted. A modern-day prophet (Anthony Nemirovsky) chats at a cocktail party about how he receives his prophecies, later telling his wife (Gates again) how he was whisked away by armed men while buying coffee beans and questioned by—the king? (later played by Joseph O’Malley) ... The Old Testament prophet wakes up in a safe house in the middle of the night as the Whore of Babylon (Meera Kumbhani) sings to him. 

Ensemble work and the portrayal of individuals provide a contrast, yet in their back-and-forth provide the fluid motion of the show. All the disparate pieces, in their various registers of tone and rhetoric, are gathered up into one odd compound that is—refreshingly—never completely pinned down by plot or “back story.” Besides the scriptural passages, the author and her collaborators were inspired by “material overheard on the streets of New York [in 2005] ... and the activities of the Weather Underground.” 

The binding together of the different vignettes into one tale displays irony, quite different from the usual melding of discrete episodes in a film or TV show. Maybe the lyrical passages take off too much of the edge (which the humor of unlikely juxtapositions relieves pretty well), but they might also provide some of the bright notes in a scale that runs from admonitory to conversational. 

Washburn spoke of how she’s used memories of her childhood in ’70s-’80s Berkeley, “a city obsessed, in the most graceful and graceless ways possible, with the truth.”  

Just Theater’s a young troupe, with the show directed by Jonathan Spector, literary manager of Playwrights Foundation (which partnered in presenting the show), and produced by company founder Molly Aaronson-Gelb, who’s worked with Shotgun, Berkeley Rep and CalShakes. Based in the East Bay, they’re a welcome addition to our diverse stage scene. 

Photograph: Jay Yamada 

Alexandra Creighton and Lindsey Gates in I Have Loved Strangers. 

I HAVE LOVED STRANGERS 

8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave.  

$12-$25. 421-1458.