TUESDAY, SEPT. 4 

Special Session of the City Council to discuss UC’s athletic center at the Oak Grove at 5 p.m. at Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 981-6903. 

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

Introduction to International Folk Dance at 7:45 p.m. at Live Oak Park, 1201 Shattuck Avenue, Live Oak Park. Dance classes continue for 8 weeks. Cost is $30. 528-9168. www.berkeleyfolkdancers.yahoo.org  

Birding Class on Migrating Shorebirds, Tues. evenings in Sept., with Sat. field trips. Cost is $60. To register call 843-2222. 

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

“America: From Freedom to Fascism” A film on the erosion of civil liberties, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.HumanistHall.net 

“Climate Change, Empowerment, and Despair“ A presentation by Rainforest Information Centre, Rainforest Action Network, and Pachamama Alliance, at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center 2530 San Pablo Ave. www.climate.net.au  

“What Happened to the Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville High School Seniors Who Did Not Pass the Exit Exam in 2006 and 2007?” Brown bag lunch with Helene Lecar at noon at Albany Library, at Marin and Masonic Aves., Albany. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters. 843-8824. 

“Nature and Nurture: The Challenge for Adoptees” a six-week class on Tues. from 7 to 9 p.m. at Albany High School, 655 Key Route Blvd. Cost is $50. To register call 559-6580. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 4 to 5 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. 644-8833. 

“Please Vote for Me” A documentary by Weijun Chen on fifth-graders in China at 6 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 100 Oak St., Oakland. Free. 326-1440.  

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 8:45 to noon at the Latina Center, 3919 Roosevelt Ave., Richmond. 981-5332. 

Free Sewing Class for Youth at Sew Your Own, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bolivar Drive, Aquatic Park. 644-2577.  

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

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

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. 

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. We always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

Street Level Cycles Community Bike Program Tues., Thurs., and Sat. from 2 to 6 p.m. Open bicycle repair lab where participants may use our tools as well as receive help with their own repairs free of charge. Waterside Workshops, 84 Bolivar Drive, Aquatic Park. 644-2577. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5 

Stone Pillars of Northbrae Walking Tour Learn about the history of one of Berkeley’s most park-full neighborhoods through its scores of stone pillars. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of North Berkeley Library, on the Alameda near Hopkins St. 524-2383. www.berkeleypaths.org/events/wedwalks.htm 

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. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

“Inventing Human Rights” with Lynn Hunt, Prof. of History, UCLA, at 2 p.m. at Townsend Center for the Humanities, 220 Stephens Hall, UC Campus. 643-9670. http://townsendcenter.berkeley.edu/publicworld.shtml 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 10 a.m. to noon in Oakland. Advanced sign-up is required. 594-5165.  

Young People’s Symphony Orchestra Auditions at 4 p.m. at the Crowden School. For information on what to prepare and to make an appointment call 849-988. 

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Colloquium with Paul Groth on “Bodies and Storefronts: Orchestrating Dances of Desire” at 1 p.m. at Wurster Hall, Room 315A, UC Campus. All welcome. http://laep.ced.berkeley.edu/events/colloquium 

Recording African American Stories Add your voice to the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American History, Wed. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment, at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, through Sept. 12. For appointment call 228-3207. 

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 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, SEPT. 6 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 7 to 8 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. 644-8833. 

The Princess Project - East Bay Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. at Youth Uprising, 8711 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Come help Bay Area girls feel confident and special; help organize a volunteer-run effort to distribute free prom dresses and accessories. 846-5271. 

El Sabor de Fruitvale from 3 to 7 p.m. at Fruitvale Transit Village, Fruitvale BART station, with music, fresh produce and children’s activities. 535-6900. 

Babies & Toddlers Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

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

FRIDAY, SEPT. 7 

“Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness for Change” A documentary of Bloody Sunday in 1965, at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph the WOrker Church, 1640 Addison St. Free. 482-1062. 

“War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death” Film screening and discussion with Normon Soloman at 8 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Circular Migration of Labor” with Rosalio Muñoz, chair, CPUSA Subcommittee on Immigration at 7 p.m. at the Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Suggested donation $5. 251-1120. ncalview@igc.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente Offices, Harrison Building, Room 8-K, 1950 Franklin St., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

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. 

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, SEPT. 8 

East Bay AIDS Walk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lake Merritt, Bellevue and Grand Aves. To register see www.eastbayaidswalk.kintera.org 

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tour of Rocks, Parks and Neighborhoods of North Berkeley from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $8-$10, season pass is $30. To register and for meeting place call 848-0181. 

Open The Farm Meet and greet the animals at the Little Farm in Tilden Park as you help the farmer with morning chores, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.. 525-2233. 

Reptile Rap Meet our resident snake and turtle friends with an interactive talk for the whole family, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Sierra Club Grassroots Organizing Workshop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2530 San Pablo Ave. RSVP to 848-0800, ext. 307. 

Recycle Your Electronics Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the El Cerrito Dept. of Motro Vehicles, 6400 Manila Ave. Items accepted are computer monitors, computers, televisions, VCR and DVD players, toner cartridges, printers, fax machines, telephone equipment, cell phones and MP3 players. Sponsored by the City of El Cerrito. For infomation call 1-888-832-9839. www.unwaste.com 

Restoration Workday on the Banks of San Pablo Creek from 9:30 a.m. to noon at 4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante. For information call 665-3538. 

Walking Tour of Oakland City Center Meet at 10 a.m. in front Oakland City Hall at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tour of Montclair Village Meet at 1 p.m. at Montclair Branch Public Library, 1687 Mountain Blvd. for a gently sloping walk. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

Salud! A Celebration of Latino Art, Health and Community with health information, visual art and live music, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave. 601-4040. www.wcrc.org 

The Crucible’s Fall Open House from 2 to 6 p.m. followed by Artist-in-Residence reception at 1260 7th Street, Oakland. www.thecrucible.org 

Fall Bloomimng Perennials & Shrubs at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. off 7th St. 644-2351. 

“Interested in Becoming a Foster Parent?” Information and training from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. RSVP to 925-370-1990. 

“The Art of Narration in Television and Radio Ads” with Paul Rowan at Dramatically Speaking, at 9 a.m., 1950 Franklin St., Room 2C, Oakland. Free, but please RSVP. ID required to get into building. 581-8675. Lunni8@aol.com 

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. www.eastbaybabyfair.com 

Common Agenda, a local alliance of some 20 organizations in the Bay Area meets at 2 p.m. at the Peace Action Office, 2800 Adeline St. at Stuart. 524-6071. 

Auditions for Soli Deo Gloria from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1323 Central Ave., Alameda. For infromation call 888-734-7664. www.sdgloria.org 

Careers in Travel a full day class at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St. Cost is $10. RSVP to 981-2931.  

Luna Kids Dance Open House and creative dance class from 1 to 3 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 644-3629. 

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. 

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

Fast Pitch Softball for Adults at noon on Saturdays in Oakland. For information call 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 

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 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 9 

Solano Stroll “Going Green - It’s Easy” with entertainment, food, information booths, and more from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Solano Ave. in Albany and Berkeley. info@solanostroll.org 

Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tour of Broadway Auto Row Meet at 10 a.m. at 28th and Broadway, the tip of the Flatiron Building. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

Huston Smith “Three Outstanding Experiences of My Life” at 10 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

The Red Oak Victory Ship Pancake Breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on board the ship, in Richmond harbor off Canal Blvd. Cost is $6, children under 5 free. 237-2933. 

The Great War Society meets to discuss “The Asquiths & Woods” by Peter Wood at 10:30 a.m. at 132 Montwood Way, Oakland. For information call 527-7118. 

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. 

Sew Your Own Open Studio from 5 to 9 p.m. at 84 Bolivar Drive, Aquatic Park. Our workshop has industrial and domestic machines and tools which you can come learn to use or work on your own projects in a social setting. Cost is $3 per hour. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.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 

MONDAY, SEPT. 10 

The 9/11 Truth Film Festival Films include “Hijacking Catastrophe,” “The Reflecting Pool,” “Zeitgeist,” “Let's Get Empirical,” “9/11: Press for Truth,” and “9/11 Mysteries” from 1 to 10 p.m. Mon. and Tues. at the Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Donation $5-$10. 

Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Workshop for six consequtive Mon. eves. from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo Ave. Pre-registraion encouraged. 644-6130. http://bas.berkeley.net  

Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra rehearsals begin for Puccini's Messa di Gloria at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Pre-registration strongly recommended. www.bcco.org  

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

People's Park Community Advisory Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church, 2362 Bancroft Ave. 642-3255.  

Free Sewing Class for Youth at Sew Your Own, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bolivar Drive, Aquatic Park. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Special Session of the City Council to discuss UC’s athletic center at the Oak Grove at 5 p.m. at Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 981-6903. 

Commission on the Status of Women meets Wed., Sept. 5 , at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., Sept. 5, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/planning 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., Sept. 5, at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 981-4950.  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 6, at 7:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400.  

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7419.  

Public Works Commission meets Thurs. Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6406.  

TUESDAY, SEPT. 4 

EXHIBITIONS 

CCA Photography Retrospective Works by recent graduates as well as faculty opens at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., at 25th St., Richmond. 620-6772.  

FILM 

“Please Vote for Me” A documentary by Weijun Chen on fifth-graders in China at 6 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 100 Oak St., Oakland. Free. 326-1440.  

Devotional Cinema: Films by Dorsky and Ozu with Nathaniel Dorsky at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

David Kirp describes “The Sandbox Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

John Aubrey Douglass discusses “The Conditions For Admission: Access, Equity, and the Social Contract of Public Universities” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Gerard Landry & the Lariats at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Duke Robillard, blues guitarist, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays, a weekly showcase of up-and-coming ensembles from Berkeley Jazzschool at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5 

FILM 

“Ankur” with filmmaker Shyam Benegal at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Khalil Bendib introduces “Mission Accomplished: Wicked Cartoons by America’s Most Wanted Cartoonist” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Zachary Schomburg and Lily Brown read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jazz Masters Concert with Cow Bop, jazz goes Western, at noon at 12th and Broadway, Oakland.  

Wednesday Noon Concert, with Michael Seth Orland, solo piano at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

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

The Mighty Diamonds, reggae, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054.  

Whiskey Brothers, old-time and bluegrass at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Jamie Davis at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$20. 238-9200.  

Groove.org at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 6 

FILM 

“Shorts by Lindsay Anderson” at 5:30 p.m. and “Bhumika” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Brenda Hillman reads her poetry at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Ruthann Lum McCunn reads from her novel “God of Luck” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Mary Gordon reads from “Circling My Mother: A Memoir” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Eric Yates & Friends, Americana, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054.  

Jamie Laval with Ashley Broder, Celtic violinist and mandolin at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Marmadou & Vanessa Sidibe Music Mali at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Beltaine’s Fire, Boudica, Greenbridge at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. 

Otro Mundo at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Kenny Burrell & The Jazz Heritage All-stars at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $14-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 7 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Urinetown, The Musical” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through Oct. 6. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Aurora Theatre “Hysteria” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through Sept. 30. Tickets are $40-$42. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Black Repertory Group “Secret War” Fri.-Sun. at 2:30 and 8 p.m., Gala Sept. 15. Tickets are $25-$35. 652-2120. www.BlackRepertoryGroup.com 

Impact Theatre “Sleepy” opens at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. and runs to Oct. 13. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. 

Masquers Playhouse “The Shadow Box” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., selected Sun. matinees, at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. This show is not recommended for children. Tickets are $15. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Woodminster Summer Musicals "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat” Fri.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland, through Sept. 16. Tickets are$23-$36. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Heading North: Journey to Atacama Desert, Chile” Photographs by Thea Bellos. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“The Sacred in the Mundane” works by Pauletta M. Chanco. Opening reception at 5:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. 465-8928. 

“Down There” New Work by Ayako Higo and Meadow Presley at 7 p.m. at Front Gallery, 35 Grand Ave., Oakland. 444-1900. 

“Distractions” Works by Janelle Renée. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at The Gallery at Lavezzo Designs, 5751 Horton St., Emeryville. 428-2384. 

FILM 

“War Made Easy” narrated by Sean Penn at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Zubeidaa” with filmmaker Shyam Benegal, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Sunset Cinema: “Mighty Warriors of Comedy” about an Asian American sketch comedy group from San Francisco, at 7:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. 

“Great Wall of Oakland” Prjected video and improvisational music at 8:30 p.m. on Grand Ave., just west of Broadway. www.aoklandculturalarts.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Rhonda Benin and Soulful Strut at 5 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. 

Jim Ryan & Friends at 8 p.m. at Free-Jazz Fridays at the Jazz House, 1510 8th St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$15. 415-846-9432. 

E.W. Wainwright’s Tribute to Elvin Jones at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Iris Dement at 8 p.m. at The Thrust Stage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Baha and Sam Coble at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Sleepyboy Moe, The Slow Poisoner, L. Cooper at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Du Uy Quintet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Cari Lee & the Saddle-ites at 9 p.m. at Downtown, 2102 Shattuck Ave. 649-3810.  

MDC 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. 

Kenny Burrell & The Jazz Heritage All-stars at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $14-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 

CHILDREN  

“The Panchatantra: Animal Lessons from India” 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 

The Crucible’s Fall Open House Celebrating Art & Community frp, 2 to 6 p.m., followed by Artist-in-Residence Reception from 6 tp 8 p.m. at 1260 7th St., Oakland. www.thecrucible.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Niloufer Ichaporia introduces delicacies from “My Bombay Ckitchen: Traditional and Modern Parsi Home Cooking” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Mozart, Mendelssohn & Brahms” with Tom Rose, calrinet, Darcy Rindt, viola, and Lynn Schugren, piano at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St.. Tickets are $18-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Iris Dement at 8 p.m. at The Thrust Stage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761.  

Stephen Taylor-Ramirez, Fontain’s M.U.S.E., The Simple Things at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Beyond Walls, Beyond Wars with Georges Lamman, presented by the Arab Cultural Initiative at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $13-$14. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Dana Kemp’s Gateswingers Jazz Band at 8 p.m. at Central Perk, 10086 San Pablo Ave. at Central, El Cerrito. 558-7375.  

Eric Swinderman Quartet In Pursuit of Sound at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ.  

Sukhawat Ali Khan Band, The Wingin It Experience at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054.  

Del Rey & Suzy Thompson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Diablo’s Dust, Fernando Tarango at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Izabella, Cas Lucas, Mattt Lucas at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Dangerous Rhythm with Tim Fox at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

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

Royal Hawaiian Serenaders at 9 p.m. at Temple Bar Tiki Bar & Grill, 984 University Ave. 548-9888. 

Rock ‘N’ Roll Adventure Kids at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Bitches Brew at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 9 

THEATER 

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy “A Muslim, A Mormon, and A Jew Walk into A Bar” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 800-838-3006. www.brownpapertickets.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“graham + erikson”A sculpture and photography exhibit at the Addison St. Windows, 2018 Addison St. Sidewalk reception at 3 p.m. 981-7533. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Nathaniel Tarn and H.C. ten Berge read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Conversations on Art “Art and Memory: An Intergenerational Conversation with Mayer Kirshenblatt and Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett at 2 p.m. at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $10-$12. 549-6950. www.magnes.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Evening for the Buffalo featuring Mike Mease and Phoenix & Afterbuffalo. Presentation at 7:30 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Skinny String Gals at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Americana Unplugged with The Stairwell Sisters at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

MONDAY, SEPT. 10 

EXHIBITIONS 

“They Called Me Mayer July” Painted Memories of a Jewish Childhood in Poland Before the Holocaust opens at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St., and runs to Jan. 13. 549-6950. www.magnes.org 

“Wall Writings” A photographic investigation of abandonned buildings by Michelle Nye opens at The Light Room Gallery, 2263 Fifth St. 649-8111. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Robert Reich reads from his new book “Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Donations requested. 559-9500. 

Peter Neumeyer discusses children’s literature and his new book “The Annotated Charlotte’s Web” at 7 p.m. at Kendington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Actors Reading Writers “Dream a Little Dream” stories by Lawrence Block, Thomas Meehan and James Thurber at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 932-0214. 

Brent Cunningham, Bill Luoma and Cynthia Sailers read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express with Buford Buntin at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Nada Lewis, French cafe music, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100. www.lebateauivre.net 

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

At the top of the hill for the Solano Stroll, C.Z. and the Bon Vivants will be pumping out Zydeco and Cajun music for listening and dancing. It’s the third time the popular group will do the Stroll, and as fiddler Catherine Matovich said, “It’s been more fun every time—and nicer up there at the top. People can dance, then go into Andronico’s for something to drink, to keep from passing out!” 

Matovich talked about the musical and ethnic backgrounds of the quintet’s players. 

“Four out of five of us have no business playing this music, if you go by ethnicity,” she said. “Marty Jara, our guitarist, is Mexican, a fabulous dancer, known in L. A.; Tim Orr, the drummer’s from Massachusetts, whose family probably came over on the Mayflower; I’ve never asked Elaine Herrick what her background is, but a woman playing bass with Cajun, Latin and Jazz groups is suspect, anyway, right? and I’m Montenegran, classically trained, having played for symphonies, string quartets and backing people on tour like Neil Diamond and Olivia Newton-John! That leaves Andrew [Carriere], who’s Creole from Lake Charles, our accordion player. Andrew’s father, Bebe, was a famous Creole fiddle player in Louisiana. There’s a video of him playing in the 70s, not that long ago, but a different world. Some people follow us just to hear Andrew sing in the old patois.” 

Andrew Carriere turned 70 last Friday, and spoke from his East Oakland home about where he came from and moving to the Bay Area in 1972, taking up his instrument here. “About 80 percent of my people were musicians in Louisiana. The old people back home were kind of strict. They wouldn’t let me play accordion, said, ‘You’re going to break it!’ When I was eight or nine years old, I used to watch them. I knew how to sing that stuff, and after I moved here, say sometime in ‘73, I grabbed my cousin’s accordion ... it was a right-handed instrument, and I’m left-handed!  

“After a while, he let me get on stage,” Carriere said, “and people liked my style, mixing up Cajun music with Zydeco, which is mostly a faster two-step. People love that stuff. Finally, he wouldn’t let me up, ’til people asked for me—then only let me sing! I bought me an accordion, maybe in ‘83. In ‘95, my cousin, who was music representative of the California Cajun Orchestra, died of a bad heart, and I took over for him. I had to study real hard, get busy ... but it didn’t take me long!” 

Carriere plays regularly with the Bon Vivants and works with other groups occasionally. “Everybody hires me to go ‘way up and down somewhere for weddings.” He’ll sit in with his friend, Gerard Landry Sept. 4 at Ashkenaz, and on the 5th will play with the Creole Belles from 6:30-8 p.m. at Albany Memorial Park. 

“Andrew’s the type of person who’d get along with the president of the United States and with ditch diggers,” said Matovich. 

She spoke about playing Cajun music and Zydeco, and how the group got its start. “I got started late in this sort of music. I was used to the classical scene, all the music written out on charts. I wasn’t used to playing by ear, That was a big learning curve for me. Andrew doesn’t play the music by rules; he’s heard it from birth. It’s not a formula. He keeps us on our toes, lots of times throwing out a song we don’t know: ‘Come on!’  

“The group came about as an accident, and was originally an all-girl group called The Cajun Babes. My day job was with the California Symphony, and then heard Tom Rigney, fiddler who used to play with Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band. I went up on stage and said, “You’ll teach me!” In 2003, for Mardi Gras in Alameda, I found a bassist in a jazz bar and told him I was trying to put together a group, and he said his girl friend could help—so it was Elaine who found almost everyone. Then our accordionist had a baby, and Andrew was suggested. We had to change the name, and did it by democratic process. There were five of us, and it took eight months!” 

For the Solano Stroll, Matovich said there will be “a few special guests sitting in, who are under four feet tall—I’ll leave it like that as a teaser. She put in a last word and a couple anecdotes about playing the music. “It’s really simple roots music, and I appreciate it for that, in a different way than symphonies. Something about the beat; maybe close to the human heartbeat. I’ll see the huge delight on the faces of children of three or four years old hearing it, as if they’re saying, ‘Let me out of the stroller! I’ve got to rock!’ 

“One time, Andrew, Marty and I were playing up on a mountain at 7 a.m. for a bicycle marathon—and Andrew was having a party! I admire that; he’s the real deal. Another time, the three of us were busking on Solano—and George Cleve walks by! I’ve been under his baton in symphonies and operas—and his double take was worth everything! ‘What are you doing?’ he said—and I said, ‘I’m playing music for quarters. What are you doing today?’ And he laughed.” 

C.Z. and the Bon Vivants will perform at the Solano Stroll on Sunday. 

The only way to beat this thing ... is to leave nothing behind, nothing unsaid, nothing undone—use it all up! (But I’m scared to death!)” 

So says Brian (Jim Fye), a self-styled “self-satisfied, admittedly bad writer,” author of (among other atrocities), “four autobiographies, each one under a different name,” to his boozy, partygirl ex-wife Beverly (Dana Zook), who has almost come to blows with Brian’s doting boyfriend, ex-hustler Mark (Ben Ortega), in the hospice cottage where Brian’s living out his last days—not exactly in double connubial bliss, but in a funny way, near enough—as the center panel in the triptych of moribund cottagers and their loved ones, in Michael Cristofer’s The Shadow Box, splendidly staged by director Phoebe Moyer at the Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond. 

The Shadow Box is very probably the best of a genre that came in with the ’70s, preceded a little by hits like Brian’s Song, meditations and milieu dramas on mortality, often very sentimental—if not maudlin—mostly pushing carpe diem to the middle-class limit of self-discovery. 

The Shadow Box differs from the cliche considerably, even if it has weathered a little as time goes on, due to its superior mostly non-, even anti-sentimental script—and its abundance of comic and satiric features, which offset any sense of brooding that could accumulate like weepy humidity. 

Cristofer is maybe more familiar (though not by name) to audiences as a screenwriter; the stage sharpened his ear for dialogue and that unusual taste for the satiric. Hordes of viewers (as most have, if at all, seen it on video after it was “untimely ripped” from the big screen) might excoriate him for his work on the movie version of Bonfire of the Vanities—but some think it the best film satire of the ’80s and its Reaganomics attitudes and fake Frank Capra film hits, in no little part due to its scenario, deliberately crossgrain to the popular Tom Wolfe book and its racy dialogue.  

It’s that sense of capturing the atmospherics, real or imagined, of an era that conditions The Shadow Box, its backgrounds, its characters and their stories—though, with that said, Phoebe Moyer (herself a fine actor) has used this “of its time” quality without comment or overhang (or hangover—excepting Beverly’s), concentrating intensively on the theme and script with her cast to bring off a coup of ensemble playing, true to the play’s intended end, unusual for a community theater, even such a solid, group-oriented production house as the Masquers. 

And, as par for the usual Masquers course, she’s been ably assisted by Tammy Berlin’s costume design, John Hull’s set, Rob (alias “Bill”) Bradshaw’s lights, Jerry Telfer’s sound and Margaret Paradis’ props. 

The scenes and vignettes are increasingly syncopated as the play progresses, and the dialogue of the three groups begins to skillfully overlap, making yet another element in a story that’s developed from bits and pieces of conversation and memories told to another—and interviews delivered to the audience, where The Interviewer (Elizabeth Smith) sits by the side, watching the play as well.  

The families are a mix. Besides the humorously louche grouping of Brian’s bunch, to stage right (and opening the play) is a literally regular Joe (Dale Camden), welcoming his reticent wife Maggie (Elizabeth Williams) and (like Brian as writer, admittedly bad guitarist-singer) son Steve (Joshua Huston) to the cottage (which Maggie won’t enter), only to discover Steve hasn’t learned of his terminal diagnosis.  

To the left is a sodden mother-daughter act: bitter, salty (and blind) Felicity (Christine Macomber) and her downtrodden offspring Agnes (Kristine Anne Lowry)—who hides a secret from her strangely vulnerable “tough case” mother. 

Cristofer breaks with convention by putting the comical milieu at center stage, but it’s a coup that makes the play come alive, defying the ravages of time and taste as its characters aspire to do. It also enables Fye and Zook to perform a comic rave-up as a very funny and truly odd ex-couple, while Ortega (also a standup comic) expertly deadpans as “straight” man. 

The overlapping dialogue is finally fulfilled in its syncopation with a chorus of the full cast addressing the audience, or life itself, in broken, almost ecstatic phrases that approximate a tone poem. 

THE SHADOW BOX 

Through Sept. 29 at Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. $15. 232-4031. www.masquers.org.