TUESDAY, JAN. 8 

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

Baby-friendly Book Club meets to discuss “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson at 10 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. Toys and board books are available for the babies. 524-3043. 

“Banished” A documentary by Marco Williams on the history of three towns that forcefully banished African-American families at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. www.pbs.org/ 

independentlens/banished 

Native Hawaiian Independence with Lynette Hi’ilani Cruz with Hawaiian music, crafts and food, at 7 p.m. at Redwood Gardens Community Room, 2951 Derby St. 548-6310. 

The Adoptee’s Challenge A 6-week Albany Adult School class open to everyone who is interested in adoption. Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $30 for the entire six weeks. www.albanyadultschool.org 

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

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

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. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 

Pacific Steel Health Risk Community Meeting at 6 p.m. at the West Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 6th St. westberkeleyalliance.org 

Civilian War Victim Series “Beyond Borders” A film about the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and discussion with Dr. Brian Gluss at 1 p.m. at Emeryville Senior Center, 4321 Salem, Emeryville. 596-3730. 

“Hidden Wars of Desert Storm” at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

Poetry Writing Workshop with Alison Seevak at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720. 

“Avalanche Safety” A lecture with Dick Penniman at 6 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $20. 527-4140. 

Teen Chess Club from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. 981-6133. 

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

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley BART Station. www.geocities.com/ 

vigil4peace/vigil 

After-School Program Homework help for children ages 8 to 18, every Wed. from 4 to 7:15 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Cost is $5 per week. 845-6830. 

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

THURSDAY, JAN. 10 

Berkeley Bay Docent Training Thurs. and Fri. from 9 a.m. to noon Bay Interpretive Training (Bay IT) offers fun hands-on activities train volunteer docents who can commit to 14 hours per month to learning and helping naturalists lead environmental-education programs for school-age children at Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Ave. 981-6720. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/marina/marinaexp/volunteer.html  

Happy Hibernators Learn about the animals that hibernate during the winter to escape the cold at 10:30 a.m. at the Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd. Cost is $7.50-$10. Registration required. 632-9525. www.oaklandzoo.org 

“Art and History of Early California” A curator’s tour with Inez Brooks-Myers at 1:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. www.museumca.org 

East Bay Mac. Users Group meets to discuss iLife’08 at 7 p.m. at Expression College for Digital Arts, 6601 Shellmound Street, Emeryville. http://ebmug.org 

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

FRIDAY, JAN. 11 

Teen Playreaders meets to read “Hamlet” and other plays based on the classic, at 4 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. 981-6121. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Robert DAvid Tufft, M.D. on “Hyperbaric medicine” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

Potters Council “Explore the Surface” Ceramic Workshop Listen, watch and learn from David Hendley, Gerald and Kelly Hong, Willie Hulce, Julia Kirillova, Sam Chung and Virginia Cartwright and others. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Leslie Ceramics Supply Co, Inc; 1212 San Pablo Ave. Workshop classes Sat. and Sun. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Berkeley Potters Guild; 731 Jones St. Cost is $150-$380. 866-721-3322. www.potterscouncil.org/explorethesurface  

Circle Dancing in Berkeley Simple folk dancing in a circle, each dance taught before we do it. No experience or partners needed. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut, at University. Donation $5. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Womansong Circle at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley Small Assembly Room, 2345 Channing at Dana. Suggested donation $15-$20. 525-7082. betsy@betsyrosemusic.org 

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, JAN. 12 

Weed Warriors on East Bay Shore Join Friends of Five Creeks and Building with Books removing invasive weeds and helping to establish native vegetation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Eastshore State Park. Meet at Sea Breeze Delicatessen, south side of University Ave., just west of I-880/580. Bring lunch if you plan to stay the full four hours, but come for as long as you like. Dress in layers; we will work in a drizzle but heavy rain cancels. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

“The Fine Art of Pruning” Pruning is needed to maintain plant health, control plant growth, and encourage flowering and fruiting. Learn pruning basics with Kelley Dunn at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. 

“Breaking Down Big Oil: How the Industry Works and How to Stop It From Driving War, Destroying Our Planet, and Decimating Our Democracy” with Antonia Juhasz at 7 p.m. at the Alameda Free Library, Conference Room A, 1550 Oak St. at Lincoln, Alameda. www.alamedaforum.org 

The East Bay Chapter of the Great War Society meets to discuss “Refugees, Relief & Reconstruction- American Humanitarian Assistance” by Branden Little at 10:30 a.m. at the West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library, 1125 University Ave. 

Happy Hibernators Learn about the animals that hibernate during the winter to escape the cold at 10:30 a.m. at the Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd. Cost is $7.50-$10. Registration required. 632-9525. 

Kids Go Green Activities centered on ecology and climate change from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. Cost is $9-$13. 336-7373.  

Potters Council “Explore the Surface” Ceramic Workshop Listen, watch and learn from David Hendley, Gerald and Kelly Hong, Willie Hulce, Julia Kirillova, Sam Chung and Virginia Cartwright and others. Workshop classes Sat. and Sun. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Berkeley Potters Guild; 731 Jones St. Cost is $150-$380. 866-721-3322. www.potterscouncil.org/explorethesurface  

Health Screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

“Be a Savvy Healthcare Consumer” with author Christine Larson at 3:30 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

“Have I Got a Story to Tell” A storytelling circle with Diane Ferlatte at 2 p.m. at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. 532-9142. 

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

SUNDAY, JAN. 13 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Field Trip “Tilden Regional Park” with Della Dash. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking lot at north end of Central Park Drive near the Little Farm for a 4 mile hike to look at wintering birds. 843-2222. 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Field Trip “Albany Mudflats” with Oliver James. Meet at 8 a.m. at the raised platform located on the access road to the Albany Bulb to look at wintering birds. 843-2222. 

Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge Workday Help prepare habitat for California Least Terns. Meet at 9 a.m. at main refuge gate, northwest corner of former Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda. For more information and directions, contact Golden Gate Audubon volunteer coordinator, 843-2222. jrobinson@goldengateaudubon.org  

El Cerrito Historical Society meets to discuss “Images of America: Albany” with author Karen Sorenson at 1 p.m. at the El Cerrito Senior Center, behind the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 526-7507. 

“Will Annapolis Lead to Israeli-Palestinian Peace?” with Marcia Freedman and Ruth Atkin at 2 p.m. at Cafe Leila, 1724 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5-$15. RSVP to 524-1993, sf-bayarea@btvshalom.org 

“Who Killed the Electric Car?” Documentary showing at 1:15 p.m. at Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., Oakland. 834-7640 

Cool Schools Global Warming Campaign meets to discuss Transportation and Climate Change from 2 to 4 p.m. RSVP for location. 704-4030. chicory@earthteam.net  

Grandmothers for the Oaks Celebration Bring aorm clothes to donate, hot food and songs of solidarity at 2 p.m. at Memorial Oak Grove, on Piedmont, just north of Bancroft. www.saveoaks.com 

Cheri Lovre, Director of Crisis Management Institute, Salem, Oregon at 11:20 a.m. at Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 526-9146. 

Mantras of Henry Marshall, led by Marcia Emery, PhD. at 2 p.m. at Peralta Community Garden, Hopkins and Peralta. If by chance it rains, we will postpone until the following month. 526-5510. 

“Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement” with Shira Miller at 3 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

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

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

MONDAY, JAN. 14 

Berkeley Green Mondays with Diane Beeson, PhD and Tina Stevens, PhD, Co-founders of Alliance for Humane Biotechnology on “The human egg trade, cloning, and market eugenics” at 7:30 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 848-4681. www.berkeleygreens.org 

“Eat at Bill’s: Life in the Monterey Market” a film by Lisa Brenneis, followed by a discusssion with the market’s owner, Bill Fujimoto at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Contra Costa Chorale rehearsal at 7:15 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navallier St., El Cerrito. New singers welcome. 527-2026. www.ccchorale.org 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

Dragonboating Year round classes at the Berkeley Marina, Dock M. Meets Mon, Wed., Thurs. at 6 p.m. Sat. at 10:30 a.m. For details see www.dragonmax.org 

ONGOING 

E-Waste Recycling St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County accepts electronic waste including computers, dvd players, cell phones, fax machines and many other ewaste products for disposal free of charge at many of its locations throughout Alameda County. Make a tax-deductible donation while disposing of your ewaste appropriately and helping those in need. Free bulk pick-up available. 638-7600. www.svdp-alameda.org 

Help a Newt Cross the Road Every year newts migrate across Hillside Drive to reach their breeding pools in Castro Creek. Volunteers prevent many of these creatures from being crushed by cars. We need volunteers every evening during January and February in El Sobrante. The newts are most active on rainy nights. annabelle11_3@yahoo.com 

Free Tax Help If your 2007 household income was less than $42,000, you are eligible for free tax preparation from United Way's Earn it! Keep It! Save It! Sites are open now through April 15 in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. To find a site near you, call 800-358-8832. www.EarnItKeepItSaveIt.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on Disability meets Wed., Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6346. TDD: 981-6345.  

Library Board of Trustees meets Wed., Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. at the South Branch Library. 981-6195.  

Police Review Commission meets Wed., Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950. 

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., Jan. 9, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. 981-6740.  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5400. 

TUESDAY, JAN. 8 

FILM 

“Banished” by Marco Williams, chronicles the history of three towns that forcefully banished African-American families at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. www.pbs.org/independentlens/banished 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Andrew Carriere & the Cajun Zydeco All Stars at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Kelly Park at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

Matt Moorish, jazz, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

The Ambrose Akinmusire Group in an Oaktown Jazz Workshops Benefit Concert at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $25. 238-9200.  

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 

EXHIBITIONS 

East Bay Women Artists “Begin the Beguine” Group show opens at Royal Ground Gallery, 2058 Mountain Blvd, Oakland. 841-0441. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

The Coast of Utopia Reading of the trilogy by Tom Stoppard “Voyage” at 7 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Other readings on Jan. 16 and Jan. 23. Tickets for all three are $150. 841-6500, ext. 303. 

Dana Frank describes “Local Girl Makes History: Exploring Northern California’s Kitsch Monuments” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

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. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ravi Abcarian Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.  

Bass Culture Revue at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Orquestra Sensual at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

John Richardson Band at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Margo Leverett & Friends at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Andy Bey at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$18. 238-9200.  

THURSDAY, JAN. 10 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Art and History of Early California” A curator’s tour with Inez Brooks-Myers at 1:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum, 10th and Oak St 238-2022.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny will discuss her book “An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area” at 7:30 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Cost is $8-$10. 763-9218. 

Zaid Shakir introduces his collection of essays “Scattered Pictures: Reflections of an American Muslim” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 559-9500. 

Susan Debroah (Sam) King reads from “One Breasted Woman” poetry collection at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Donations accepted. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Red Hot Chachkas at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Klezmer dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $13-$15. 525-5054.  

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

Peter Anastos & Iter at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.  

Laura Klein & Ted Wolff, jazz, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Kapakahi, The Angry Philosophers at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082  

Roy Hargrove Quintet at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $14-$24. 238-9200. 

FRIDAY, JAN. 11 

THEATER 

Encore Theatre Company & Shotgun Players “The Shaker Chair” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m., at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Jan. 27. Tickets are $20-$30. 841-6500.  

EXHIBITIONS 

IN•FORMATION Featuring Edge Art Group. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. 

FILM 

The Medieval Remake “Andrei Rublev” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Kim Shuck and Molly Albracht Sierra read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave. 841-6374. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Hurricane Sam & The Hotshots at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Wake the Dead at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Hamir Atwal Trio and Uncle Jesse at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Mucho Axe, Latin world groove at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Rustler’s Moon at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

The Nomadics, jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Pockit, Matthew Hansen at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Monster Squad, Whiskey Rebels, Cropknox 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. 

Grease Traps, Mophono at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Beep! Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Roy Hargrove Quintet at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $14-$24. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, JAN. 12 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Gerry Tenney at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Henry Neff introduces “The Hound of Rowan” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Music and Puppets with Jen Miriam at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 Tenth St. Cost is $7. 526-9888. 

THEATER 

“Old Man River: Mark Twain and the Mississippi” A dramatic portrayal and slide show at 5 p.m. at College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Ave, south of Claremont, Oakland. Donation $10. 

San Francisco Theater Project “Aftermath of War: in their own words” Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 925-798-1300. www.willowstickets.org  

“Marriage Counselling” at 8 p.m., Sun. at 6 p.m. at Black Repertory Theater, 3201 Adeline St. Tickets are $15. www.mikeglendinning.com 

FILM 

Jazz and the Movies “Beware” at 6:30 p.m. and “Too Late Blues” at 8:10 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Have I Got a Story to Tell” A storytelling circle with Diane Ferlatte at 2 p.m. at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. 532-9142. 

Claire Becker, Sarah McKinnon, Matthew Thomas Russell, Dan Sanders, Ammon Torrence and Just Kibbe read from thier latest works at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jewish Music Festival presents Aron Saltiel at 8 p.m. at JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. www.jewishmusicfestival.org  

Monterey Jazz Festival at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$52. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Pellejo Seco at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

W. Allen Taylor & His Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Jacob Wolkenhauer, Mike Zawitkowski at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Steve Seskin, Don Henry & Craig Carothers at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $21.50-$22.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Bill Ortiz Group at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Gaucho, Gypsy Jazz Band at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Socket, Machina Sol at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Joshi Marshall Project at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Killing the Dream, Ruiner, Ensign, Braodway Calls at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 13 

FILM 

The Medieval Remake “Alexander Nevesky” at 2 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Maxine Hong Kingston and ten veterans will read selections from their book “Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace” at 3 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, Cedar and Bonita. Cost is $20 and includes receptions. For reservations call 725-8515.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Live Oak Concert “Ensemble Theatrum Musicum” Elizabethan works for small consort, at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $10. 644-6893. berkeleyartcenter.org 

David Daniels, countertenor, Martin Katz, piano, at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $48. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

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

Pappa Gianni & the North Beach Band at 2 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Big Lion, folk-rock, at 2 p.m. at It’s A Grind Coffee House, 555 12th St., Oakland. 268-9902.  

Escalay, Middle Eastern jazz, at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Flamenco Open Stage with Alicia Zamora at 6:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $8. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Young Lions, Old Dogs with Samora and Elena Pinderhughes, David Belove, Paul van Wageningen, at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

John McCutcheon at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

This Bike is a Pipebomb, Vema Cam, Max Levine Ensemble at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

MONDAY, JAN. 14 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Cultural Connections” Group show in various media with a special tribute to Chauncey Bailey opens at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Bldg. Atrium, 1515 Clay St. 622-8190. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jane Rhodes describes “Framing the Black Panthers: The Spectacular Rise of a Black Power Icon” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Poetry Express with Livermore Poet Laureate Connie Post and Damnyo from Los Angeles, at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Babshad Jazzz at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100. www.lebateauivre.net 

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

Howard Wiley & The Angola Project, featuring Faye Carol, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$15. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Few sculptors worked in wood in the late 1950s and ‘60s when Louise Nevelson made her great wooden walls. By the time she produced her Sky Cathedral in 1958, which was shown at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, she was 60 years old.  

She was an artist who did her great work late in life, a phenomenon fairly rare in the history of artists. Born to a Jewish family in the lumber business in Ukraine, she grew up near great forests in Maine and married a gentleman named Nevelson who was in the shipping business.  

She began studying painting in New York, separated from her husband, studied with Hilla Rebay (who became the first director of the Guggenheim Museum), went to Europe, studied with Hans Hoffmann in Munich, went back to New York, became an assistant to Diego Rivera in mural projects and began making small-scale sculptures of a Surrealist persuasion. She exhibited in New York galleries in the 1940s, and received good reviews, an unusual occurrence for women artists at the time.  

Her groundbreaking work was the creation of walls which she made from cut-off wood items—wheels, dowels, parts of chairs, boxes—all kinds of found objects which she scavenged on the streets of New York. She chose those pieces whose shape, scale and texture appealed to her. She then assembled them into large walls, which she painted black to conceal their previous function, endowing things which once had a practical function with a sense of mystery.  

Her process of making sculpture by assembling pieces is related to that of her colleagues such as David Smith and Herbert Ferber, except that they welded metal pieces and wood was Nevelson’s material of choice.  

In the spectacular exhibition in 1958 at MoMA the viewer entered into a dark night and was not at all interested in detecting the previous identity of all, the pieces. “I really deal with shadows and space,” she wrote. “Those are the important things in my work and for me, because I identify with the shadow.”  

But after the night comes the day, and Louise Nevelson began painting her walls a monochrome white in the late 1950s. These she named “Dawn’s Wedding Feast.” These festive works, she felt, would express hope and a new beginning. Finally, still working in monochrome, she produced golden walls which resemble altars in Baroque churches. But black, which she said “encompasses all colors, is the ultimate,” is the color to which she returned in her final phase.  

Although Minimal Sculpture was the leading mode for sculpture in the ‘70s in public spaces, Nevelson received many commissions. Her black metal walls and sometimes free-standing pieces began to appears in Princeton and Philadelphia and in Scottsdale, Arizona and Louisville, Ky.  

There is a Louise Nevelson Plaza filled with her work in Lower Manhattan and a beautiful white relief wall in St. Peter’s Church on Lexington Avenue, as well as a great wall in a synagogue in Great Neck, called “The White Flame for the Six Million” (1970-71.) One of her public pieces is in the Embarcadero Center in San Francisco.  

Unlike so much “Plopp Art” which we see in public places, Nevelson’s sculptures are site-specific and adapted to the environment in which they are placed. The retrospective of Nevelson’s sculpture was organized by the Jewish Museum of New York and is installed at the de Young Museum the way it should be seen.  

Image: Louise Nevelson’s Case with Five Balusters, from “Dawn’s Wedding Feast,” 1959. 

The Sculpture of Louise Nevelson:  

Constructing a Legend 

Through Jan. 13, de Young Museum 

Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco.

“I grew up in Berkeley in the 1970s,” said jazz pianist and composer Benny Green, who leads the acclaimed Monterey Jazz Festival All-Star Band this Saturday at Zellerbach Auditorium, after playing the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz Thursday. “It was a wonderful time to be in Berkeley—which looks a little different these days, but whenever I think of it, I go back in my mind to those days of the post-Flower Child generation.” 

Born in New York and a student of classical piano at seven, Green began his jazz studies in Berkeley, influenced by his tenor saxophonist father “introducing me to jazz, but also the jazz education program introduced by the late Phil Hardymon. He’d visit all the schools, from fourth grade on ... if a young person was serious, it became a goal to play in the high school band, really a big deal to us. I didn’t realize right away what a special program it was, that other towns, other states didn’t have such a program. It was important, too, because I associated older people with jazz, the faces on the sleeves of my father’s records, and in the jazz program I could hear and play with my peers, playing the music.” 

Green began his career as a teenager in the Bay Area. “I went professional at 15,” he recalled, “backing [singer] Faye Carroll and playing with [trumpeter] Eddie Henderson. Tenor player Hadley Caliman helped me so much.” He also worked in a 12-piece band led by bassist Chuck Israels. At 19, Green moved to New York, and worked briefly with alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, then spent four years backing the late, great bop vocalist, Betty Carter. 

“My goal when I moved to New York was to learn Art Blakey’s music, to join [Blakey’s band] The Jazz Messengers.” Green played with the late innovative drummer and group leader from 1987 until late ‘89, when he joined trumpeter Freddy Hubbard’s quintet.  

Recalling his formative time with Blakey, Green emphasized “the feeling on the bandstand. Art was so powerful, so electric ... he had the ability to elevate what everybody was doing, to breathe so much life into our improvisations and shape them. And he created the illusion you were the one doing this! I discovered sitting in playing with others that sometimes the bottom would drop out. I ended up feeling it was Art playing me! We had to work hard. It was his idea that we should all write music, to see how it worked in a group context, that we should become bandleaders ourselves--to be the ones with the initial conceptions and blossom as composers. He groomed us as composers and performers.” 

In 1993, Green joined the now late bassist Ray Brown’s trio. That year, virtuoso jazz pianist Oscar Peterson chose Green to receive the first City of Toronto Glen Gould International Protege Prize in Music. Green remembered Peterson, who died Dec. 26 at age 82. “His human achievement is just staggering. The example he set for all of us, with his integrity and emotional depth, created a legacy to learn from. But when Oscar died, he took a lot of information with him.” 

“I love learning from older people musically,” Green went on, “from generations closer to the time musicians played for dancing. They honored the melody ... there’s so much to learn from them, not just in terms of theory, but in the way they carry themselves.” 

One older musician Green singled out as someone who carries himself well is James Moody, saxophonist and flautist, who was a close Dizzy Gillespie associate, playing in the trumpet master’s late 40s big band. Moody will turn 83 in March. “He’s been around, been through it all and knows what goes on--and stays optimistic! He has such a positive attitude that comes through, is so enthusiastic ... great to emerge from a long life not embittered by experience, still playing music.”  

Green talked about the other members of the All-Star group—trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard (another Blakey alumnus), bassist Derrick Hodge, drummer Kendrick Scott and special guest vocalist Nnenna Freelon—of how the group gelled after a few quick rehearsals over a weekend to bring excitement to the world’s longest-running jazz festival’s Sunday finale show last September.  

“We have a variety of instrumental and vocal possibilities ... not all six of us will be up on stage for every tune. Terence is such a wonderful composer and he, Derrick and Kendrick have worked together all the time, for several years now, as the nucleus of Terence’s own band—that we want to feature his music as much as possible. And we want to see how much new music we can perform. There’s such diversity, such rich talent in this group. We came to perform, and at Monterey we came together in just a couple of days in our musical intentions and felt like a team, a family. And the way the audience received us there inspired us to new heights.”  

Monterey Jazz Festival: 

50th Anniversary Tour with Benny Green 

Sat, Jan. 12, 8 p.m., Zellerbach Hall,  

UC Berkeley Campus. $34, $40 and $52.  

www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.