TUESDAY, JULY 31 

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 Berkeley Meadow in the East Shore State Park. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

“Elevating the Sparks of Peace: Stories of Hope and Reconciliation from the Holy Land” with Eliyahu McLean of Jerusalem Peacemakers at 8:30 p.m. at Chochamat HaLev Maggid Conference, 2215 Prince St. 704-9687. www.chochmat.org 

Tuesday Documentaries at 7 p.m. at the Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way. Donation of $5 benefits the Berkeley Food and Housing Project. 665-0305. 

Bayswater Book Club meets to discuss “The Secret History of the American Empire” by John Perkins at 6:30 p.m. Call for location 433-2911.  

Community Sing-a-Long every Tues, at 2 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. 524-9122.  

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

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. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around Preservation Park to see Victorian architecture. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Preservation Park at 13th St. and MLK, Jr. Way. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234.  

South Berkeley Library Presentation with Noll & Tam Architects who have been hired to investigate possible spaces for the library at the Ed Roberts Campus, at Board of Library Trustees meeting at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr. Community Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107. 

“Richmond Shoreline and its Resources” A talk by Rich Walkling and a showing of the documentary “Rheem Creek and Breuner Marsh: A Promised Land” at 7 p.m. at 4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante. 665-3538. www.spawners.org 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 10 a.m. to noon at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. To register call 594-5165.  

CSI at Your Library A crime solving presentation by the Berkeley Police for children 10 and up at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223. 

Family Math and Science Night at 6 p.m. at the West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library. A bilingual program for children ages 7-10 and their families. 981-6270. 

Skin Cancer Screening at the Markstein Cancer Education Center, Summit Campus, Oakland. Appointments reuired. 869-8833, option 2. 

Pax Nomada Bike Ride Meet at 6 p.m. at Nomad Cafe for a 15-25 mile ride up to through the Berkeley hills. All levels of cyclists welcome. 595-5344. 

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

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley BART Station. 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, AUGUST 2 

El Sabor de Fruitvale Farmers market with activities for children, information on community services and music, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Fruitvale Village Plaza, 3411 East 12th St., near the Fruitvale BART. www.unitycouncil.org 

Summer Family Film Series at 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Main Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223. 

“The White Rose” A film about a group of courageous youth in Nazi Germany at 7 p.m. at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. www.revolutionbooks.org 

Healing Yoga for Cancer at 7:30 p.m. at Elephant Pahrmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. Suggested donation $10. 549-9200. 

Cope with Creativity Workshop on “Healing Touch for Self-Care” at 6:30 p.m. at 4401 Howe St., Oakland. To register call 888-755-7855, ext. 4241. 

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

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3 

East Bay Vivarium vists the South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library at 2 p.m. to show off reptiles and amphibians. 981-6260. 

“Butterflies of the SF Bay Region” with Art Shapiro and Tim Manolis discussing their new field guide at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way, just below Telegraph. The authors will lead a nature walk in Claremont Canyon before their talk, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. For information and reservations for the walk email wmcclung@ren.com  

“Yosemite” with scientific illustrator Andie Thrams on Yosemite flora, Ranger Yenyen Chan on Chinese labor in the construction of park roads, and a screening of “Discover Hetch Hetchy” from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak at 10th St. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

“Daily Realities of Living under Occupation” with Hisham Ahmad Ph.D, formerly of Bir Zeit University in the West Bank at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Free. 499-0537. 

Foreclosures in the Changing Real Estate Market: How does it Affect the Albany/Berkeley Area? at 5:30 p.m. at 1302 Solano Ave., Albany. Cost is $3-$5. Sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce. RSVP to 525-1771. 

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. 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 

“Container Gardening for Renters or Those with Limited Space” with strategies on growing in various vessels with information on compost, soils, compost teas, seasonal planting, and more. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $10-$15, no one turned away. Please call to register. 548-2220, ext.233. 

Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tour Preservation Park to Pardee Mansion Meet at 10 a.m. at 13th St. and Preservation Park Way for a walk through Oakland’s 19th Century. Bring a picnic lunch for the end of the tour. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

Birding Bike Trip at Quarry Lakes An easy 24-mile trip to see birdsin riparian, marsh and bayside habitats. Meet at 8:20 a.m. on the east side of the Fremont BART station. Bring helment, bike lock, luch and liquids. For information email Kathy_Jarrett@yahoo.com 

Walking Tour of Jack London Waterfront Meet at 10 a.m. at the corner of Broadway and Embarcadero. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Rally in Support of Universal Health Care (SB 840) at 1:30 p.m. at Oakland City Hall Plaza. Speakers include Sandre Swanson, Richard Quint, MD, Sara Rogers and many others. 832-8683. 

Fun With Bubbles for ages 3 and up at 2 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave, Kensington. 524-3043. 

Fast Pitch Softball for Adults at noon on Saturdays in Oakland. 204-9500. 

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 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 

Green Home Expo from noon to 5 p.m. at the Berkeley Marina, with electronics and old medicine disposal, and information on reducing your global carbon footprint. 981-5435. 

Walking-Pole Workshop in celebration of the opening of the new Glendale Path at 9:45 a.m. Registration required. Email info@berkeleypaths.org  

Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tour of Chinatown Meet at 10 a.m. at the fountain of Pacific Renaissance Plaza, Ninth St., between Webster and Frainklin. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

Home Graywater Systems A workshop on safely irrigating with shower, bathroom sink, and laundry waste water from 10 a.m. to noon at EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St. Cost is $15 sliding scale. Registration required. 548-2220 ext. 242. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to keep your bike in excellent working condition through safety inspections, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 1 to 5 p.m. at 7th Heaven Yoga Studio, 2820 7th St. To schedule an appointment see www.BeADonor.com (Code: 7YOGA) 

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 

MONDAY, AUGUST 6 

Peace Day Crane Folding with the film “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” followed by a crane folding program, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Children’s Story Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223. 

“Landscapes for Politics” A panel discussion with Jake Kosek, author of “Understories,” Marina Sitrin, author of “Storming the Gates of Paradise,” and moderated by Ed Yuen, editor of Confronting Capitalism, at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Help Plan the Peoples Park Paace Rally in Sept., at an organizational meeting at 7 p.m. at Cafe Med, Telegraph Ave. 658-1451. 

“Hormone Disrupting Chemicals in the Environment” with Jennifer Jackson of EBMUD and Rebecca Sutton of Environmental Working Group at 7 p.m. at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin, at Masonic. Sponsored by Friends of Five Creeks. www.fivecreeks.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at West Pauley Ballroom MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

Family Sing-Along at 6:45 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223. 

TUESDAY, JULY 31 

CHILDREN 

Dan Chan the Magic Man and Kat at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext 17. 

Voice of the Wood “How the Jackrabbit Got His Very Long Ears” at 3 p.m. at the West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library. 981-6270. 

FILM 

Jewish Film Festival from 1:45 to 8:45 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. 925-275-9490. www.sfjff.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES  

Deborah Davis introduces “Not Like You at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Wally Schnalle at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $6-$10. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 

CHILDREN 

Zun Zun plays “Music of the Americas” in Spanish, English and Portuguese at 3:30 p.m. at the CLaremont Branch od the Berkeley Public Library. 981-6280. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Telegraph 3 p.m. Project” Photographs by Robert Eliason and poetry by Owen Hill opens at the Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way with a reception at 7:30 p.m. exhibition runs to Jan. 31. 665-0305.  

“Glimpses in Time” Photography exhibition in honor of Gordon Parks opens at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland, and runs to Aug. 31. 465-8928. 

FILM 

Jewish Film Festival from 2 to 8:30 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. For information on tickets call 925-275-9490. www.sfjff.org 

Eco-Amok: An Inconvenient Film Fest “Prophecy” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Ian Jackman describes “Eat This!: 1,001 Things to Eat Before You Diet” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ann Channin, jazz, at 1:15 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 981-5190. 

Johnny Bones and the Palace of Jazz at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Saul Kaye “A Taste of Paradise” at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Tri Tip Trio at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun/Zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Orquestra Universal at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159. www.shattuckdownlow.com 

The Mundaze Acoustic at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Tenth Annual East Bay Blues Revue at 7:30 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Shaped by Water” Abstract landscape paintings by Jane Norling. Reception for the artists at 11:30 a.m. at the EBMUD Gallery, 375 11th St., Oakland. 287-0138. 

“New Visions” Group show of work by Bay Area artists. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. 763-9425. 

FILM 

“2nd Verse” A documentary exploring teen life in the Bay Area and the popularity of Spoken Word, at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5-$6. 849-2568.  

Jewish Film Festival from 1:45 to 8:30 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. For information on tickets call 925-275-9490. www.sfjff.org 

A Theater Near You “White Light/Black Rain” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Roberta Spear Retrospective “A Sweetness Rising” with Pholip Levine, Peter Everwine and Sandra Hoben at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 559-9500. 

“Conversations on Art” with Faith Powell on the female subjects in Man Ray’s work at 6:30 p.m. at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $6-$8. 549-6950.  

Larry Kearney reads his poetry at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Steve Carter Trio at noon at the downtown Berkeley BART station. info@downtownberkeley.org 

“Once More, For the First Time” students of the Ailey Camp perform at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Free tickets available from 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Dgin, Mad Maggies at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $8. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Iwori, Raya Nova, Sugar Shack at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082 . 

Claudia Russell at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Vortex Tribe at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Pete Escovedo at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “All in the Timing” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through Aug. 11. Tickets are $12. 525-1620. www.aeofberkeley.org  

Altarena Playhouse “Oh My Godmother” Fri and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through Aug. 11. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Meet Me in St. Louis” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. in July at 951 Pomona Ave., at Moeser, El Cerrito, through Aug. 4. 524-9132. 

Stage Door Conservatory “Urinetown” A Teens On Stage Production, Fri. at 7 p.m., Sat. and Sun. at 5 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20. 521-6250. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Colors of the American West” Pein-air paintings by Deborah Diamond. OPening reception at 7 p.m. at The Gallery, 5751 Horton St., Emeryville. 428-2384. 

“Glimpses in Time” Photography exhibition in honor of Gordon Parks. Opening reception at 4 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. 465-8928. 

“Inscibere” A group show of works related to the act of writing. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, 25 Grand Ave., upper level. www.chandracerrito.com 

“The Locals” Group show of artists using photography, metal, lichen and sound. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Rhythmix Cultural Works, K Gallery, 2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda. 845-5060. www.rhythmix.org 

FILM 

Max Ophuls: Motion and Emotion “Happy Heirs” at 7 p.m. and “Lola Montes” at 8:35 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“Gumby Dharma” the story of Art Clokey and his cartoon legend at 8:45 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak at 10th St. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Art Shapiro and Tim Manolis discuss their new book “Butterflies of the SF Bay Region” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way, just below Telegraph. The authors will lead a nature walk in Claremont Canyon before their talk, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. For informration and reservations for the walk email Bill McClung at wmcclung@ren.com  

William Poy Lee reads from his new book “The Eighth Promise” at 7:30 p.m. at Oakland Musuem of California, 1000 Oak at 10th St. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. w 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ross Hammond’s “No Do” at 8 p.m. at Free-Jazz Fridays at the Jazz House, 1510 8th St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$15. 415-846-9432. 

Saed Muhssin, part of The Arab Cultural Initiative, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$12. 849-2568.  

The Brama Sukarma Ensemble at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373.  

Judy Wexler & Anton Schwartz Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.  

Bayonics, 40 Watt Hype at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

YBSC, jazz fusion, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

The Hobbyists, indie folk duo, at 9 p.m. at Downtown Restaurant & Bar 2102 Shattuck Ave. 649-3810. 

Midnite, roots reggae from St. Croix, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $25-$30. 548-1159.  

Bryan Harrison and Abel Mouton at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

The Blind, Everest at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

Born/Dead. A.N.S., Cross Examination, Resist the Right 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. 

The Wayward Sway at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Midnite, roots reggae, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $25-$30. 548-1159.  

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 

CHILDREN 

Pinocchio: The Hip-Hopera, Sat. and Sun. at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave. 452-2259. 

THEATER 

Shotgun Players “The Three Musketeers” Sat. and Sun. at 4 p.m. at John Hinkle Park, Southampton Ave., off The Arlington, through Sept. 9. Free. 841-6500. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Berkeley’s “Other” Revolution: Celebrating 35 Years of Independent Living, Disability Access, and Disability Rights. Photographs by Ken Stein on display in the windows of Rasputin Music, 2401 Telegraph Ave., between Channing Way and Haste. 525-2325. 

“Interiors/Exteriors” Works by Tracy Wes, Vivian Prinsloo and Scott Courtenay-Smith. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at Esteban Sabar Gallery, 480 23rd St., Oakland. 444-7411. 

FILM 

Jewish Film Festival from 12:30 to 9:15 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. For information on tickets call 925-275-9490. www.sfjff.org 

Abbas Kiarostami: Image Maker “And Life Goes On” at 6:30 p.m. and “Through the Olive Trees” at 8:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“At the Med ... Were You There?” Thirty years of sketches from Telegraph Ave.’s Mediterranean Coffee House by Doyl Haley. Lecture on Doyl Hayley’s work by John McNamara at 2 p.m.at the Berkeley Public Library, in the 3rd flr Community Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. 

Bay Area Poets Coalition open reading from 3 to 5 p.m. at Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison St. Park on the street. 527-9905.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Erik Friedlander at 8 p.m. at the Jazz House, 1510 8th St., Oakland. Cost is $15. 415-846-9432. 

Roy Zimmerman “Faulty Intellegence” songs about ignorance, war and greed at 8 p.m., reception at 6:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Tickets are $10-$30. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Saul Kaye “A Taste of Paradise” in a benefit for missing woman Lynn Ruth Connes, at 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Mal Sharpe and Big Money in Gumbo at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.  

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Sotaque Baiano, Brazilian, at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

The Cannery and Nomi at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

“The Q is Silent” with Dan Marschak and Friends at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Le Jazz Hot at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

5 Dollar Suit, The Mission Players, San Pablo Project at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Ceremony, Blacklisted, Shipwreck Said Radio at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

Pete Escovedo at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 

THEATER 

“Nature vs Merger” a Sci-Fi fairy tale for all ages at 3 p.m. at 1631 Bonita Ave. Rehearsal and set building on Sat. at 2 p.m. Call to claim a role. 266-2069. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Paintings by Yoni G. Opening reception at 4 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

FILM 

Max Ophuls: Motion and Emotion “La signora di tutti” at 5 p.m. and “The Exile” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Museum Dialogs” A panel discussion on culturally-specific museums in the Bay Area at 2 p.m. at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $10-$12. 549-6950.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Trumpet and Organ Concert with James Tindsly, trumpet and Ron McKean, organ, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Oakland. Suggested donation $10. 444-3555. 

Oakland Municipal Band Concert with jazz, big band, marches and showtunes from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Edoff Memorial Bandstand, Lakeside Park and Lake Merritt, Oakland.  

Dred Scott Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Trick Kernan Combo at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe. 595-5344.  

Julian Pollack Three-O at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373.  

Lion of Judah, Ability at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

MONDAY, AUGUST 6 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Actors Reading Writers“Forces of Nature,” stories by Alice Munro and Wallace Stegner, at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 932-0214.  

“Landscapes for Politics” A panel discussion with Jake Kosek, author of “Understories,” Marina Sitrin, author of “Storming the Gates of Paradise,” and moderated by Ed Yuen, editor of Confronting Capitalism, at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Jessica Bruder describes “Burning Book: A Visual History of Burning Man” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Danubius, Hungarian Gypsy music, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100. www.lebateauivre.net 

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

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

The Telegraph 3 p.m. Project, a collection of scores of photographs by Robert Eliason with matching poems by Owen Hill captioning text that chronicles in an upbeat fashion streetlife on the avenue, will be on exhibit at the Gaia Building, 2120 Allston Way (near Shattuck) through Jan. 31. 

There will be a reception with the artists, who refer to the exhibit as “going downtown,” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1. Refreshments will be served; admission is free. 

The project, named after the hour of Eliason’s lunchbreak at Moe’s Books (where both artists are longtime booksellers) when most of the photographs have been taken, will be represented by 161 photos, about a third of the project’s total so far, many of the images newer than those shown in two previous exhibits, in larger format and higher quality prints. 

“The goal has always been to show Telegraph in a much better light than that in the public’s perception,” said Eliason. “And I think this is the best of the three shows of the work. For one thing, there’s more room to breathe at the Gaia Building. And the size and quality of the prints are so much better. They’re just gorgeous—they sparkle on the walls. It’s as positive a look at Berkeley as you could possibly get. It should make a lot of people happy.” 

The project oiginally began several years back when Eliason, who’d shown Hill his photos, “began e-mailing me hundreds,” Hill recalled, “I’d shoot unrevised texts back on some. We’d negotiate between the two a little—not much.” 

Soon they had scores of photos with short poems captioning them. The first public showing was sponsored by the Telegraph BID, facilitated by Doris Moskowitz, owner of Moe’s. 

“We went up and down the Avenue, asking if business owners were interested in displaying them in windows,” said Hill. “I was surprised how many there were. We were proud and enthused, as hundreds were shown and some were kept up long after the show was supposed to be over.” 

A later exhibit at the YWCA updated the original showing with new work. The new show at the Gaia Building will feature even newer work, as well as some photos of other spots in the Bay Area. 

Hill reflected on the differences seen in the photos of Telegraph over just a few years: “Some look necessarily more deserted than the earlier ones, after Cody’s closed—‘the specter of the Cody’s building,’ Robert calls it—and other businesses went down, leaving empty storefronts. But there’s been an upswing this summer, whether from Peet’s moving in on the corner of Dwight, or the Berkeley World Music Festival bringing people down who realized the avenue’s a good place to go. But the energy doesn’t necessarily change overall. 20-plus years at Moe’s, and living around the corner, watching the avenue, is like watching the stock market. There are terrible months, then everybody comes back.” 

The impetus for applying to the Gaia Building for an exhibit originally came from a resident of the Gaia, also a customer at Moe’s, “somebody who was in one of the first photos,” Eliason recalled, “and wasn’t thrilled about it at first. Then he talked to us, become sort of a fan of the project, and told us they were looking for exhibitors at the Gaia, that we should pull something together. We mailed it off—and heard from them the day it was received.” 

Eliason plans to rotate some of the photos about halfway through the run. “There’s a lot of work that wouldn’t get displayed otherwise.” 

Hill, a bookseller who’s had seven books of poetry and two of fiction, one (The Chandler Apartments) a detective novel set in the neighborhood, published—hopes the new exhibition and the longevity of the project will also result in a book. “It’ll certainly sell off the Moe’s counter!” 

For more information about the Telegraph 3 p.m. Project, see www.lostinthestars.com. 

Photograph: The photographs of Robert Eliason, accompanied by poems by Owen Hill, make up the Telegraph 3 p.m. Project, on display at the Gaia Building through Jan. 31.

“Not fair, roaring without telling,” Decca would warn as I read—and roared—over some bit from her latest book or letter. I was nursing a sherry in her Oakland kitchen, and reading hugely funny and provocative items from some of the experiences we’d shared during the ‘40s and ‘50s. 

Such as the times we faked interest in a white-owned home for sale, in Oakland, running interference for a black couple not allowed to bid for it for themselves. (Racial Restrictive Covenants prevailed then —eventually to be tossed by the U.S. Supreme Court.) Such as producing Lifeitselfmanship: or How to Become a Precisely Because Man, the send-up of Left language, illustrations by me. It was home-mimeographed, stapled and sold to benefit The People’s World, although the satire rubbed some Comrades the wrong way. 

Then Decca became a proper Writer with the publication of her autobiography, Hons and Rebels, in the U.K. in 1959 under her proper name, Jessica Mitford. By that time her Committee—composed of five or six friends and two husbands: Bob Treuhaft and Steve Murdock (my second)—had become a kind of editorial board while roaring over her bizarre family history. Hard to believe that Lord and Lady Redesdale’s next to youngest daughter would become an American Communist married to a Jewish lawyer while two of her older sisters were raging, notorious Fascists. 

Decca went on to write The American Way of Death, the best-seller which dealt a mortal blow to some of the more nefarious practices of the funeral industry. We all enjoyed reading house organs like Casket & Sunnyside, for their grisly ads. 

She was a hero to me for her bravery in confronting racist mobs; e.g. rounding up defense for a black couple who had moved in to a formerly all-white community in San Pablo; being in a black church in Montgomery, Ala. to hear Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., as rioters raged outside and burned her borrowed car. 

She became “Queen of the Muckrakers,” an investigative reporter who could skewer her subject with the politest of voices, all wide-eyed and relentless. I recall her quizzing a coffin-maker about his wholesale prices to the “trade.” But he was an artful dodger. “Hm, I see you are not going to tell me,” Decca decided. A collection of her essays, Poison Penmanship, is must reading for aspiring journalists.  

Decca’s second autobiography, A Fine Old Conflict, deals with her life as head of the East Bay Civil Rights Congress and membership in the Communist Party. (The title is a “mondegreen,” a mishearing of “’tis the final conflict...” from The Internationale.) And a fine old conflict it was in the McCarthy ‘50s—raising children, going to endless meetings and bucking the racist Oakland police. In Decca’s case, bearding racism in the heart of the South, when she and a group of white women went to Mississippi to try to forestall the execution of an innocent black man, Willie McGee. 

Our lives ran along similar lines. Our lawyer husbands, Bob Treuhaft and Bert Edises, were continually harassed by the police and occasional investigative bodies—HUAC, etc. for their defense of unionists and black people. The Treuhaft house was abuzz with activity in 1966 when Bob ran for District Attorney in an effort to unseat “loathsome” J. Frank Coakley. Bert had made the run in 1950; also lost. But they remained Coakley’s worst nightmare in court. 

Not long after I met Decca, in 1943, we became friends and neighbors. She was never one to hug, but you knew she liked you and was on your side, whenever push came to shove. She and Bob gave great cause parties; one, I vividly remember because you were not only charged for entrance but for napkins, glasses, toiletpaper—and to leave! Anything to keep the CRC afloat.  

Since Decca arrived from England she’d been fascinated by American slang. On our way out to lunch, she would say in her perfect British accent, “I am so longing for grub!” Whereas, when British journalist Claude Cockburn arrived to observe the United Nations Decca was called upon to translate his indecipherable English. She began to sound more like a Brit as she made many trips back to “Jolly Old.” 

It’s such a good read, these letters, and so beautifully stitched together by Peter Sussman. He makes it easy to follow the chronology and the tumultuous ‘50s and ‘60s. He did a massive job of pulling together Decca’s family relationships, the political times (and the curious punctuation). 

The Letters reveal a witty, courageous, hugely funny woman in her own words, from the inside out. It’s a great chronicle of those times. How I miss—and long for Decca’s take on these parlous times. 

DECCA: THE LETTERS OF  

JESSICA MITFORD 

Edited by Peter Y. Sussman. 

Alfred A. Knopf. 745 pages. $35.

Are you interested in little old white lady, self-supporting, spinster-librarians? Do you assume much doesn’t go on in their lives beyond the spectacles and reading all those books? Well, meet “Miss Breed.” She took chances, risked her career and income by taking an activist stance during World War II.  

“Miss Breed” was the San Diego Public Library’s first Children’s Librarian. She worked in the branch used by the city’s Japanese American children. Within four months of Dec. 7, 1941, San Diego Nikkei were forced to leave their homes, schools, jobs, and public libraries.  

At the train station “Miss Breed” distributed self-addressed post cards to “her children” and sent them packages of books and other necessities that she purchased as she came to know their locations. She wrote about their condition and struggled to get published in library literature. And more. 

I learned of “Miss Breed” because recently I happened to tune into Book-TV when Joanne Oppenheim related her experiences writing Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference to an audience that included many of Miss Breed’s children and their children at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles (www.janm.org). All of the above describes this wonderfully illustrated and written book in the barest terms. 

One of the subject headings suggested by the U.S. Library of Congress catalogers is “Juvenile Literature,” but it should be read by every one. It is in the Berkeley Public Library collections.  

DEAR MISS BREED: TRUE  

STORIES OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION  

DURING WORLD WAR II AND A LIBRARIAN WHO MADE A  

DIFFERENCE 

By Joanne Oppenheim. Foreword by Elizabeth Kikuchi Yamada. Afterword by Snowden Becker Scholastic Nonfiction, 2006.