TUESDAY, JUNE 19 

Gay Day with entertainment by Gwen Avery, Happy Hyder, Land-a-Lakes and her Queens, and The Cheerleaders, food and door prizes from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 981-5190. 

Information for Senior Homeowners, including loan document review at 10 a.m. at the West Oakland Multipurpose Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St. Sponsored by AARP and Acorn Housing. RSVP required. 271-8843. 

Berkeley Library Board of Trustees Information Night for prospective trustees at 6:30 p.m. at the West Branch, 1125 University Ave. For more information call 981-6195. 

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 Point Pinole. For information and to register call 525-2233.  

“Low Carbon Diet” Ideas from the Green Team Project on how to live sustainably at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center 2530 San Pablo Ave. 558-0821. susans@acterra.org 

“Religion and Environment” with Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr at 8 p.m. at 433 Madison St., Oakland. Sponsored by The Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California. Cost is $5-$10. iccnc.org. 

Free Diabetes Screening Come find out if you might have diabetes with our free screening test and make sure not to eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Downtown Oakland Senior Center, 200 Grand Ave. 981-5332. 

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

Community Sing-a-Long every Tues, at 2 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 1247 Marin Ave. 524-9122.  

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

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. 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, JUNE 20 

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. www. 

oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

“Betraying Our Troops: The Destructive Results of Privatizing War” with investigative journalist Dian Rasor, at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Donation $10. 559-9500. 

Reading in Common Berkeley Public Library’s community summer reading program will distribute copies of “The Kite Runner” at Senior Centers at 11:30 a.m. and at Library branches at 1 p.m. Related programs throughout the summer. 981-6257. 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Volunteer Orientation Night at 7 p.m. at 2530 San Pablo Ave., Suite G. 843-2222. 

“Ecological Design: Inventing the Future” A documentary on the emergence of ecological design, beginning with Buckminster Fuller, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., between Telegraph and Broadway, Oakland. Donation $5. www.HumanistHall.net 

“Ernesto Che Guevara, The Bolivian Diary” a documentary at 7 p.m. at the Gray Panther Office, 1403 Addison, in the parking lot behind the university Ave. Andronico’s. 548-9696. 

International Latino Film Festival “Un Franco, 14 Pesetas” at 7 p.m. at Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. 620-6555. 

New to DVD Screening and Discussion at 7 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Discussion follows. 848-0237. 

Free Diabetes Screening Come find out if you might have diabetes with our free screening test and make sure not to eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand, from 9 a.m. to noon at Healthy Oakland, 2580 San Pablo Ave. 981-5332. 

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

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  

THURSDAY, JUNE 21 

“Chasing Freedom” Talk and movie screening on the refugees seeking asylum in the US. with guest Arlette Kitenge, survivor of the Rwandan genocide, at 7:30 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St., between 8th and 9th. www.studiorasa.org 

“The Art of Sierra Biodiversity” with author and illustrator Jack Miur Laws at 12:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of Califonia, 1000 Oak St. and 10th, Oakland. 238-2200.  

“Ripe for Change” A documentary film by Emiko Omori and Jed Riffe on the intersection of food and politics in California over the past 30 years at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar at Arch. Filmmakers will be present for discussion. Cost is $5. 843-8724. 

Summer Solstice Gathering at 7:45 p.m. at the Interim Solar Calendar, Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. www.solarcalendar.org 

LeConte Neighborhood Association meets at 7:30 p.m. in the LeConte School cafeteria, entrance on Russell St. karlreeh@aol.com 

Urban Luau for Entrepreneurs at 6 p.m. at Everett and Jones, 126 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $35, $60 for a couple. 655-1304. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. namaste@ 

avatar.freetoasthost.info  

FRIDAY, JUNE 22 

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 Wallenstein on “EBMUD Water Conservation Projects” 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.  

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

“Tribute to Woody Guthrie” with Country Joe McDonald in a fundraiser to save the Memorial Oak Grove at UC Berkeley, at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St., at Bonita. Donation $10-$50. 841-3493. www.saveoaks.com  

“When the Levees Broke” Parts 1 and 2, will be screened at 2 p.m. at the YWCA Berkeley. 2600 Bancroft Way. Free. 848-6370. 

Free Diabetes Screening Come find out if you might have diabetes with our free screening test and make sure not to eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. at Ashby. 981-5332. 

Red Cross Mobile Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Pauley Ballroom, MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. www.BeADonor.com (Code: UCB) 

“The Mission” the British film at 7:30 p.m. at The Center of Light, 2944 76th St., Oakland. 635-4286. 

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.  

SATURDAY, JUNE 23 

Berkeley Path Wanderers Celebrates Piedmont Centennial with a 1.8 mile hilly walk with staircases. Meet at 10 am. at the monument at the edge of Piedmont Park, near the intersection of Highland and Magnolia, Piedmont. www.berkeleypaths.org 

Pet Parade and Art Gallery Tour of “Animals, Sea Creatures and Animation” Paintings, sculpture, digital and fiber art and more, in a benefit for Hopalong Animal Rescue. Narrated art galley tour from noon to 5 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2053 Ashby Ave. 644-4930.  

Dynamite History Walk Explore the explosive and peaceful past of the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline with former Atlas Powder Company employee Norman Monk from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For meeting place call 525-2233. 

Native Plant Gardening for the East Bay Learn how to use native plants that are naturally adapted to our local climate and that require very little water to thrive, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Alameda County Cleanwater Program. Cost is $10-$15. Pre-registration required. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Oak Grove Tree-Sit Summer Festival with music, food and art, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Oak Grove on Piedmont Ave., just north of Bancroft Ave. and International House. 938-2109. www.saveoaks.com 

Common Agenda Regional Network meeting on reordering federal priorities from the military to human and environmental needs at 2 p.m. at the Peace Action West office, 2800 Adeline/Stuart, 4 blocks no. of Ashby BART. 527-9584. 

Know Your Rights Berkeley Copwatch presents a training in your rights with the police and how to be an effective police observer, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. www.berkeleycopwatch.org 

Art and Craft Courtyard Sale with origami, beadwork, knitting, and musical entertainment from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1901 Heast St. Benefits Berkeley’s Nikkei seniors. 

Berkeley Pickup Troupe rehearsal for “Nature v. Merger” a Sci Fi fairy tale at 3 p.m. at 1631 Bonita Ave. Performance on Sun. Call to claim a role. 266-2069. 

Great American Backyard Campout from 3 p.m. until Sun. at 10 a.m. at the Jaoquin Miller Park. Fee is $25 per family and includes parking, dinner, continental breakfast, snacks and activities. Register online at www.oakland.net.com/parks.registration or call 238-7275. 

Cork Boat Regatta and Bubble Extravaganza from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Museum of Children’s Art, 528 9th St., Oakland. Admission is $5, plus $5 for workshops. 465-8770. 

Free Seismic Retrofit Seminar from 10 a.m. to noon at Open House Senior Center, 6500 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 418-1676. bayarearetrofit@aol.com  

Live Reptiles from the East Bay Vivarium and kick-off of the Summer Reading Program at 2 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. For ages 3 and up. 524-3043. 

Preschool Storytime for 3 to 5-year-olds at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720 ext. 17. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland uptown to the Lake to discover Art Deco landmarks. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of the Paramount Theater at 2025 Broadway. Tour lasts 90 minutes. For reservations call 238-3234. 

Origami Earring Workshop with Nga Trinhat 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Free. 981-6100. 

East Bay Baby Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Jewish Community Center of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. 540-7210. 

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

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, JUNE 24 

“Let’s Get Healthy” An educationa presentation, diabetes and hypertension screening, resources and other information for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. 540-7085. 

Health Care Forum from 2 to 4 p.m. at 1924 Cedar St. For information call 526-8419. 

Chickens and Ducks in Your Garden with chicken rancher Linnea Due who will help you decide which breeds are best for your situation, how to deal with predators, whether your chickens can free-range, and more, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St., entrance on Peralta. Cost is $15 sliding scale, no one turned away. 548-2220 ext. 242. cohouse@ecologycenter.org  

Trails Challenge in Briones Regional Park Meet at 10 a.m. on the north side, Old Briones Rd. entrance for a 6.5 mile hike. Bring lunch, liquids, and sturdy walking shoes. 525-2233. 

“US Military Bases in Ecuador? Oil Companies in the Amazon?” A report back from Global Exchange at 6:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$20. 849-2568.  

50 plus Berkeley Playreading Group reads “Flirtations” by Arthur Schnitzler at 2 p.m. at 1471 Addison St., entrance in rear of 1473 building, off Sacramento. RSVP to 655-7962.  

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

Social Action Forum with Larry Bensky, formerly of KPFA, on the role of the media at 9:30 a.m. at Unitarian Univresalist Church of Berkeley, One Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302. 

“The Edukators” a film about the reactions to global capitalism at 8 p.m. at Long Haul Infoship, 3124 Shattuck Ave. www.thelonghaul.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Betty Cook on “The Stupa: Symbol of Enlightenment” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, JUNE 25  

Pools for Berkeley meets at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst at MLK. Minutes of prior meetings and presentations available at www.poolsforberkeley.org 

Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Workshop covering legal end-of-life decisions, elder abuse, revocable living trusts, runs for five mondays at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $40, pre-registration encouraged. 644-6130. 

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., June 19, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Commission on Aging meets Wed., June 20, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5344.  

Downtown Area Plan Advisory Commission meets Wed., June 20, at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7487. 

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed., June 20, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5427.  

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., June 21, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7415.  

Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets Thurs., June 21, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6950.  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., June 21, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7010.  

CORRECTION 

The June 12 story “Landmarks Commission Deadlocks on BHS Gym” incorrectly reported the vote on landmarking the gym. Chair Robert Johnson voted in favor of landmarking, while vice-chair Steven Winkel abstained. Their votes were reversed in the original story. 

CLARIFICATION 

A recommendation by Berkeleyans Against Soaring Taxes (BASTA) on how best to administer the Berkeley Housing Authority as reported in the June 15 Daily Planet needs clarification: BASTA supports the Housing Authority of Alameda County establishing an office in Berkeley and overseeing the authority. This effort would keep Berkeley’s Section 8 tenants in Berkeley. 

OPEN CALL FOR ESSAYS 

Healthy Living 

As part of an ongoing effort to print stories by East Bay residents, the Daily Planet invites readers to write about their experiences and perspectives on living healthy. Please e-mail your essays, no more than 800 words, to firstperson@berkeleydailyplanet.com. We will publish the best essays in upcoming issues. 

East Bay Guide 

The Daily Planet invites readers to contribute to a guide for newcomers to the area. Please e-mail your essays, no more than 800 words, describing a favorite or little-known aspect of East Bay life, to firstperson@berkeleydailyplanet.com. We will publish the best essays in upcoming issues.

TUESDAY, JUNE 19 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

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

Barry Gifford reads from “Memories from a Sinking Ship” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500.. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

CZ and the Bon Vivants at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

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

Kaspar/Sherman Jazz Quartet at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Waco, The Altarboys, United Defiance at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $7. 451-8100.  

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

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 

EXHIBITIONS 

“First Exposures: Bay Area Youth Photography” opens at the Mills College Art Museum, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., and runs to Aug. 5. www.sfcamerawork.org 

THEATER 

Queer Cabaret featuring Big City Improv, Jessica Fisher, and Shaunna Bella & Claire Elizabeth, at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. All proceeds will go to Shotgun Players Solar Campaign. 841-6500. 

FILM 

International Latino Film Festival “Un Franco, 14 Pesetas” at 7 p.m. at Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. 620-6555. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Anne Fadiman reads from “At Large and at Small: Familiar Essays” at noon at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

David Rains Wallace describes “Neptune’s Ark: From Ichthyosaurs to Orcas” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Dina Rasor describes “Betraying Our Troops: The Destructive Results of Privatizing War” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Donation $10. 559-9500. 

Cafe Poetry with Paradise at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $22-$24. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Denise Fraga & Kristan Lynch at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Balkan Folkdance at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Dance lesson at 7 p.m. Cost is $7. 525-5054.  

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

Le Jazz Hot at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

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

Frankye Kelly at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $6-$10. 238-9200.  

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 21 

THEATER 

“Tea N' Crisp” with Quentin Crisp in tribute to national gay pride week at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave.Tickets are $25, reservations advised. 841-6500.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Works by Robert Bilensky” Reception at 7 p.m. at Artbeat Salon and Gallery, 1887 Solano Ave. Exhibition runs to Sept. 6. 527-3100. 

“A Photographic Celebration of Culture in the Heart of Oakland” Evening viewing with photographers at 5 p.m. at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Bldg. Atrium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. 622-8190. 

“Constructions” Works by Jenny Honnert Abell, Marya Krogstad and Thomas Morphis at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park, through July 1. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

“Bridal Fantasies: The Fashion of Dreams” at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 2982 Adeline St., through August 4. Open Mon.-Sat. noon to 6 p.m. 843-7178.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“The Art of Sierra Biodiversity” with author and illustrator Jack Miur Laws at 12:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of Califonia, 1000 Oak St. and 10th, Oakland. 238-2200.  

Rebecca Camhi Fromer reads from her new book of poems “Out of Silence into Being” at 6:30 p.m. at the Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $6-$8. 549-6950. 

Poetry Flash with Lyn Hejinian and Cathy Park Hong at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. 525-5476. www.poetryflash.org 

John Perkins describes “The Secret History of the American Empire: Economic Hit Men, Jacklas, and the Truth About Global Corruption” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble with Merita Halili and Raif Hyseni at 8 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakland. Tickets are $20-$25. 444-0323.  

Solstice Celebration with Caroline Casey and Amikayla Gaston at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $25. 525-5054.  

Solstice Concert with Terry Riley, Paul Dresher, Ellen Fullman, Todd Renolds and others at 5 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5-$15. www.gardenofmemory.com 

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

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

Pickpocket Ensemble, international cafe music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Fancy Dan, Nick Marcott, Nick Z at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082  

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

Marcus Miller at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $24-$26. 238-9200.  

The Dying Californian, Winfred E. Eye, Odessa Chen at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $7. 451-8100.  

FRIDAY, JUNE 22 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “Bosoms and Neglect” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., SUn. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through July 22. Tickets are $38. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.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  

Berkeley Rep “Great Men of Genius” with Mike Daisey in four different monologues at 2025 Addison St. through June 30. Tickets are $30-$75. 647-2949. 

California Shakespeare Theater “Richard III” at the Bruns Ampitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda, through June 24. Tickets are $15-$60. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org 

Impact Theatre “Impact Briefs 8: Sinfully Delicious” Thurs.-Sat. through July 21 at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. 

Masquers Playhouse “Ring Round the Moon” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through July 14. Tickets are $15. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

“Tea N' Crisp” with Quentin Crisp in tribute to national gay pride week at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave.Tickets are $25, reservations advised. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Virago Theatre Comapny “The Death of Ayn Rand” and “A Bed of My Own” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda to July 7. Tickets are $10-$17. 865-6237. www.ViragoTheatre.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Summer Solos” Works by Yvette Molina, Chelsea Pegram and Amanda Williams. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at Pro Arts, 550 Second St., Oakland. 763-9425. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Country Joe McDonald “Tribute to Woody Guthrie” in a fundraiser for Save the Oaks at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St.Donation $10-$50. 841-3493. 

Edmund Wells and The Bass Clarinet Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $10-$15. 845-1350. 

Company of Prophets, Kiwi & DJ PAtrick, Abyssinian Creole at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Miss Faye Carol & her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ.  

Vicki Virk & Dholrhythms, Fabio Moura and other world dancers at 8 and 10 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Free. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Jill Knight, singer/songwriter, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Iris Dement at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

David Gans, Joe Rut and Mario DeSio at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Stiff Dead Cat, Joe Rut con Queso, at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Attack Disarm Takeover, Worhouse, Arise at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6-$10. 525-9926. 

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

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

Jonny Manak & The Depressives, New Earth Creeps, The Sore Thumbs at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Helepolis, Belair Academy at 6:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Marcus Miller at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $24-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, JUNE 23 

CHILDREN  

Arts and Crafts Weekend with MOCHA and puppet shows from 12:30 p.m. on at Children’s Fairyland, at 699 Bellvue Ave., Oakland. 452-2259. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Animals, Sea Creatures and Animation” Paintings, sculpture, digital and fiber art and more, in a benefit for Hopalong Animal Rescue. Narrated art galley tour from noon to 5 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2053 Ashby Ave. 644-4930.  

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “A Dream Play” Sat. and Sun. at 3 p.m. on the lawn in front of Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Wlnut St. at Berryman, through July 1. 841-5580. www.aeofberkeley.org  

Central Works “Bird in the Hand” Thurs-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through July 29. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Regan McMahon reads from “Revolution in the Bleachers: How Parents Can Take Back Family in a World Gone Crazy Over Youth Sports” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Open Mic at the Marina at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Marina. Sponsored by Cal Adventures. 642-4000. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Company C Contemporary Ballet at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $20-$25. www.companycballet.org 

Music of Paul Bowles with Frank Johnson, piano; Elisabeth Commanday, soprano; author Michael Paller, commentary, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Art Peterson on the Accordion at noon at Cafe Zeste, 1250 Addison St. at Bonar, in the Strawberry Creek Park complex. 704-9378. 

Venezuela: Tambores de San Juan at 8:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$14. 849-2568.  

Dan Hicks and His Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ.  

Baba Ken & West African Highlife Band at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. African dance lesson with Comfort Mensah at 9 p.m. Cost is $15. 525-5054.  

Naomi Adiv and Adrienne Shamszad at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

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

The Wailin’ Jennys at 5 and 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

The Love X Nowhere, Bye Bye Blackbirds, The Trenchermen, at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Eskapo. A.N.F.O., La Grita at 7:30 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Hoods, Life Long Tragedy in a benefit for the Ernie Cortez Family at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Amel Larrieux at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SUNDAY, JUNE 24 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Moshi Moshi! Bridging Cultures through Art” Japanese and American art inspired by cross cultural influences opens at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond, and runs through Aug. 10. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

THEATER 

“Nature v. Merger” a Sci Fi fairy tale by the Berkeley Pickup Troupe at 2 p.m. at 1631 Bonita Ave. 266-2069. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Courtney Martin describes “Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body” at 4 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Conversations on Art: Evolution of a Live/Work Environment, in conjunction with the exhibition “Studio Man Ray” at 2 p.m. at the Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $10-$12. 549-6950. 

“Something that Matters” edited by Elizabeth Fishel and Terri Hinte at 3 p.m. at Diesel Book Store, 5433 College Ave. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley International Folk Festival with Nerissa & Katryna Nields, the Aux Cajunals, Cascada de Flores, Austin Willacy, Hali Hammer and others, from 1 to 10 p.m. with p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Free. 548-1761.  

San Francisco Choral Artists “Someting Borrowed, Something Blue” at 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., at Bay Place, Oakland. Tickets are $18-$25. 415-979-5779. www.sfca.org 

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

Tom Huber at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Americana Unplugged: Jimbo Trout & The Fishpeople at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 

Flamenco Open Stage at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Rover City High, Upside, Stop the Malarchy at 6:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. 

Fleshies, Hey Girl, Bobbie Joe ebola & The Children McNuggets at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

MONDAY, JUNE 25 

FILM 

“Jazz on a Monday Afternoon” Films and discussion on Latin Jazz and Jazz as Internatinal Music at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St., 3rd flr. 981-6100.at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Helen Oyeyemi reads from “The Opposite House” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 559-9500. 

Poetry Express Open mic theme night on “Weddings and Funerals” at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Pickpocket Ensemble at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100.  

Musica ha Disconnesso, paino and mandolins, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Blue Monday Jam at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

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

FIRST EXPOSURES 

First Exposures, an exhibition of photographs by local at-risk youth, opens at Mills College Art Museum on Wednesday. The exhibtion is named after the long-running mentoring program created in 1993 by a group of concerned photographers who wanted to use their artistic skills to help their community. Pairing homeless, foster and at-risk youth with qualified adult mentors who teach them photography, First Exposures has grown to become one of the nation’s most respected art mentoring programs. Mills College Art Museum. 5000 MacArthur Blvd. June 20-Aug. 5. www.sfcamerawork.org. 

TEA ’N’ CRISP 

The precocious Quentin Crisp lived a life without shame, reservation or compromise. Shotgun Company member Richard Louis James pays tribute to this international gay icon by bringing him back to life in an original solo piece. Tea ‘n’ Crisp is based on Crisp’s writing and public appearances and will be performed during national gay pride week in celebration of flamboyant autonomy. Tea ‘N Crisp also pays tribute 

to the Shotgun Solar Campaign, to which all proceeds will be dedicated. Let the sun shine in! Thursday, June 21, Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23, 8 p.m. The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. $25. Reservations strongly advised. 510-841-6500.  

www.shotgunplayers.org.

In black battle dress, a figure hobbles onstage to the unlikely strains of Patsy Cline belting out “Wheel of Fortune” over a big band. As he performs an exhausted striptease—one suited for a locker room—the battle-weary wraith launches into “Now is the winter of our discontent” and finally dons topcoat over white T-shirt: Gloucester, who will one day soon be Richard III. 

As played by Reg Rogers, Richard’s a twisted, evil brute, but of an almost whimsical humor in California Shakespeare Theater’s Richard III, playing in the Orinda outdoor Bruns Amphitheater through Sunday. 

His humped back and splayed foot become the trimmings of a kind of vaudeville eccentric—he skips and hops on and off, and such galumphing rhythms provide off-kilter rimshots to his slurred, strident, scathing punchlines. His woebegone demeanor, a kind of cartoonish, Wile E. Coyote goggle-eyed slouch, belies his mastery of hypocrisy and seduction—seduction even of Lady Anne over her husband’s coffin as she curses Gloucester, who killed him. (Susannah Livingstone and Rogers give this famous, fantastic scene a few good twists in their display of it.)  

Opposite Gloucester is his brother, Edward IV, “every inch a king,” though criticized for dalliance with courtesans. James Carpenter, in his delivery of Edward’s soliloquy eulogizing their brother Clarence (Max Gordon Moore), when Richard’s scheming brings about his death while imprisoned (the sleight of hand of warrants and interpreting royal wishes doesn’t quite come off here), brings off a coup of grand theater, as Edward is laid low with grief and remorse, a semidivine creature made mortal. 

The cast is generally pretty well spoken in a very talky play (though some, like Catherine Castellanos as Margaret, widow to Henry IV and general Cassandra, just declaim), but Carpenter’s high tone and manner rise above the rush of “Shakespeare Festivalese” the others sometimes slip into.  

With all the talk, the groupings are usually well enough choreographed by director Mark Rucker, as is the fight on Bosworth Field that brings Richard III, both the character and the play, and the War of the Roses itself to a close—despite a little unnecessary dry ice smoke, and a lot more cloying use of Patsy Cline to underscore the precarious state of the crown and the lives of those near to it. (At one point, Richard sings along while swinging a bloody plastic sack with the head of the latest he’s dispatched.) 

The more serious intricacies of public and private demeanor, and the personal ambition, fear and remorse that play behind the courtier’s face are best shown by Dan Hiatt’s performance as Buckingham.  

The gruesome is therefore combined with the whimsically insouciant to realize a breezy, black-edged humor for much of the show. At times this seems to underline, at others undermine, the point made: how Gloucester’s unscrupulous climb to the top—made by cutting a bloody swathe across Britain—opens up the floodgates to general dog-eat-dog mayhem. 

The plot is pretty well delineated by the way the action is represented, the lines delivered. The production attempts “that savage, old English humor” T. S. Eliot spoke of, which amplified and distorted the Tragic. But sometimes the reverberations of poetry and meaning are muffled by repetitive “sight gags” and riffs, or by the lack of will to go beyond making a scene or a turn and turn the corner into the lonely byways of the strange, hybrid form of Tragedy which bears The Bard’s name. 

RICHARD III 

Presented by California Shakespeare Theater through Sunday at Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda. 

$15-$60. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org.

The Virago Theatre company, resident in Alameda, is currently staging the premieres of two short plays by Bay Area playwrights, The Death of Ayn Rand, by John Byrd (directed by Robert Lundy-Paine) and A Bed of My Own, by well-known Oakland actor and director Robert Hamm (directed by Laura Lundy-Paine) at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda. 

The Death of Ayn Rand is “an absurd comedy about the final hours of Ayn Rand,” said Laura Lundy-Paine. “She has bizarre hallucinations; her views on life seemed so concrete to her that these disorient her—clowns, characters in movies appear, as well as a strange, lewd nurse. It starts out somber, then gets stranger and stranger. Her assistant keeps trying to tell her he loves her, but gets brushed aside. 

“It’s based on some facts from the circumstances of her death, but takes it much further. It was in our playreading series last summer, and we chose it for full production.” 

Robert Hamm, well known to East Bay theatergoers for his appearances in recent years with Aurora and Wilde Irish, among others, besides his directorial work (and past artistic direction of Altarena Playhouse in Alameda), has been writing since youth, taking up playwriting in the 1990s, but A Bed of My Own is his first play to be produced. “I’ve never submitted a play, nor have I been asked!” Hamm said. “But Laura [Lundy-Paine} had heard it some time ago in Will Dunne’s play-writing workshop showcases.”  

Hamm described the play and its hook: “It’s a three-person love-hate triangle. Rose invites her unassuming ex-husband Reager over for dinner, where he finds the real reason he’s there is to get rid of Stan, her live-in lover, who’s been in bed for eight months.” 

Hamm mentioned the background for this skewed, almost primal scene: “I was a substance abuse counselor in the Midwest; Rosie’s partly modeled on the leading prostitute and heroin addict in Rockford, Illinois. Also, I remembered a Life magazine story about Brian Wilson [of the Beach Boys], who was clinically depressed and stayed in bed two years. I’d say Stan’s making an extreme expression of power. He feels, because of some information he has, that he has power over Rosie. And Reager (I don’t know where that name came from; it just rang in my ear) is like a child trapped in the middle, feeling he should make it all right.”  

Both Hamm (who acted in Virago’s fine production of Lyle Kessler’s Orphans a couple of months ago) and Laura Lundy-Paine discussed what it was like to work together on a play by an actor-director. “We worked together first on a proper working arrangement,” said Hamm. “I spent more time away from rehearsal than I would have expected. It was the flip side of the coin for me. Actors and directors try to interpret a work, though in both roles I’m trying less to leave a personal stamp than to find the author’s truth, a more classical position.” 

Lundy-Paine commented on how she and Hamm talked through every page of the script and cast the play together. “It looks at different ways people can be utterly cruel to each other,” she said. “How they serve their own ends relentlessly, and somebody gets caught in the middle, as they fight, make up, and fight again.” 

Why the two plays together? “Well, for one thing, the bed’s centrally located in both plays, with a character who can’t or won’t get out,” said Lundy-Paine. 

Virago, committed to producing a musical and the premiere of a new play each year, emphasizes they accept new scripts for their staged play-reading series. The next musical hasn’t been chosen; Leonard Bernstein’s Candide is being considered. In the fall, a live sit-com by Dan Brodnitz will be filmed. 

THE DEATH OF AYN RAND and 

A BED OF MY OWN 

8 p. m. Fridays and Saturdays through July 7 at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave. in Alameda (not far from the Park Street Bridge). $17 ($10, students and seniors). 865-6237. ViragoTheatre.org.