TUESDAY, JAN. 15 

The Berkeley Garden Club meets at 1 p.m., at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St. The speaker will be Amy Meyer, Co-Chair, GGNRA, speaking on “The Creation of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Its Ongoing Ecological Restoration.” Cost is $3, free for members. 845-4482.  

Solo Sierrans Hike in Tilden Park to explore watersheds, newts and winter topics, on a trail that might be muddy. Meet at 1:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area. Optional dinner follows. 234-8949. 

“Meeting Resistance” Molly Bingham and Steve Connors’ documentary on the the Iraq insurgency at 7:30 p.m. at Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Cost is $10. 452-3556. 

“The Short Life of José Antonio Gutierrez” Film screening followed by discussion of the impact of war and military recruiting on immigrant youth, at 4 p.m. at Oakland Public Library, Cesar Chavez Branch, 3301 E. 12th St., Ste. 271 Free for youth. 535-5620. 

Retirement Community Information Fair with representatives from 12 East Bay retirement communities and the Adult Day Network of Alameda County from 1 to 3 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Martin Luther King Way. 848-1960, ext. 246.  

“If These Walls Could Talk” Video at 7 p.m. at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. 

“What is Everyday Creativity?” with Ruth Richards at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave. 848-3440. www.ahimsaberkeley.org 

The Café Literario, book discussion group in Spanish, meets to discuss “El Túnel” by Ernesto Sábato at 7 p.m. at the West Branch Library, 1125 University Ave. 981-6270. 

“Winter Mountaineering: Basic to Advanced” A slide presentation with Tim Keating at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 6 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

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. 

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

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 always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16 

“Caught in the Crossfire” A documentary on the plight of civilians in Fallujah and “Children of Abraham” at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

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

War and Peace Book Group meets to discuss “A Very Long Engagement” by Sebastian Japrisot at 7 p.m. at Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 16. 

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. 

Morning Meditation Every Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 7:45 a.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at 6th. 486-8700. 

THURSDAY, JAN. 17 

Alan Alda in Conversation with Bob Osserman on Alda’s lifelong interest in science at 7 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $14-$22. 647-2949. www.msri.org 

Golden Gate Audubon Society “Antartica: An Unforgettable Journey” with Eleanor Briccetti at 7:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 843-2222. 

“Workshop: Zen and the Art of Mushroom Hunting” Discover the world of mushrooms with Debbie Viess in an evening slide lecture (and a field trip on Sat. the 19th) at 7:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of CA, 1000 Oak St., at 10th St., Oakland. Cost is $35. Registration required. 843-2222. www.museumca.org 

Cell-Phone Antenna Dispute in Point Richmond at 7 p.m. at Richmond Planning Commission, City Hall, 1401 Marina Way South, Richmond.  

Berkeley Democratic Club General Membership Meeting with Prof. David Tabb, on “The Presidential Primary” at 7:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, Parlor Room, 941 The Alameda. www.berkeleydemocraticclub.com 

LeConte Neighborhood Association meets at 7:30 p.m. at the LeConte School cafeteria. (Please use Russell St. entrance.) Agenda includes a discussion of ways to make our homes and streets safer and Board election for 2008. karlreeh@aol.com 

Appreciating Diversity Film Series “Aging Out” about foster youth who “age out” of the system at 7 p.m., followed by discussion, at Ellen Driscoll Theater, 325 Highland Ave., Piedmont. Appropriate for children 12 and older. www.diversityfilmseries.org 

“Dissent: Voices of Conscience” Celebrate the release of Col. Wright’s new book at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Cost is $5-$10. 488-3559. 

Computer and Office Technology Classes begin at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St. Enrollment open through Feb. 9. www.peralta.edu. 981-2800. 

“Sustainable Urbanism” with David Baker at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

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

Small Business Panel and workshop for people thinking of starting, mamnaging and growing a small business at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 526-7512.  

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

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

FRIDAY, JAN. 18 

“Celebrate the Dream” Opening Ceremony, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s 79th Birthday, with a speech by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway, Oakland. 444-CITY. 

Iraq Moratorium Vigil to Protest the War from 2 to 4 p.m. at the corners of University and Acton. Sponsored by the Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenents Assoc. and the Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

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. 

Friday Films for Teens at 3:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr., 2090 Kittredge St. For details call 981-6121. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Mike Goldstein, Office of General Counsel, UCB on “The Tree Dwellers of UC Berkeley: The Univesity’s Perspective” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

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

SATURDAY, JAN. 19 

“Trading Traditions: California’s New Cultures” opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. www.museumca.org 

Weed Wrenchers Work Party From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pt. Isabel, Rydin Rd, off Central Ave. near Costco, Richmond. Sponsored by Greens at Work. kyotousa@sbcglobal.net 

Solo Sierrans Bayshore Walk in El Cerrito Meet at 2 p.m. at small parking lot at Rydin St., off Central Ave. Bring binoculars to observe the many shore birds. Optional oriental dinner at Pacific East Mall. Wheelchair accessible. Rain cancels. 234-8949. 

California Writers Club with Charles Rubin, author of “Don’t Let Your Kids Kill You” at 10 a.m. at Barnes & Noble, Jack London Square. www.berkeleywritersclub.org 

Drawing Our Days A series of three free classes with Jan Wurnm at 10:30 a.m. at Berkeley Public Library, Art and Music Dept., 2090 Kittredge St. Other classes are Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. 981-6100. 

Techno Geek Art Challenge from 1 to 4 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 528 9th St., Oakland. 465-8770. 

Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes Law, The East Bay Chapter will meet at 1 p.m. to plan to collect 700,000 signatures at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. arinkarolweitzman@yahoo.com  

“Enough Cancer! Nutrition to Stop This Plague” Learn about cancer protective food, culinary and medicinal herbs and dietary supplements at 10 a.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Teen Knitting Circle at 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 4th floor, 2090 Kittredge St. 

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

SUNDAY, JAN. 20 

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m. at Willard Middle School, Telegraph Ave. between Derby and Stuart. Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Rain cancels. 526-7377. 

“Arrogant Humanism versus Respectful Humanism” with Sterling Bunnell at 11 a.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

Grandmothers for the Oaks Celebration Bring warm clothes to donate, hot food and songs of solidarity at 2 p.m. at Memorial Oak Grove. www.saveoaks.com 

“At the River I Stand” screening at 5 p.m. followed by a discussion, in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Cerrito Speakeasy Theater, 10070 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito.  

“Crossing the Line: Multiracial Comedians” A documentary, followed by discussion, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568.  

Berkeley Cybersalon Explores the Next Spiritual Frontier with Steven Vedro, author of Digital Dharma: A User's Guide to Expanding Consciousness in the Age of the Infosphere at 4 p.m. at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cos tis $15 at the door.  

“Trading Traditions: California’s New Cultures” A celebration of Faith in California at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022.  

East Bay Atheists Gene Gordon and Larry Hicok will jointly speak about Materialism at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 3rd floor meeting room, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580. 

MONDAY, JAN. 21 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Bike Trip “Eastshore State Park” Meet at 9 a.m. at El Cerrito Del Norte BART. Bring lunch and bike helmet. 843-2222. 

CodePINK “Fierce Voter Pink Tea Party” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Redwood Gardens, 2951 Derby St. RSVP to 524-2776. 

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 

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 

City Council meets Tues., Jan. 15, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci.erkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6950.  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 17, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5400.  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7010.

TUESDAY, JAN. 15 

FILM 

Experimental Documentaries “Best in the West” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

JCC Film Salon “The Unkown Soldier” at 7:30 p.m. at at the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Tickets are $6-$8. 848-0237. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Marc Lecard, mystery novelist, reads at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Laurie R. King reads from her new mystery “Touchstone” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tom Rigney & Flambeau at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

Albany High School Jazz Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $15. 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, JAN. 16 

EXHIBITIONS 

East Bay Women Artists “Begin the Beguine” Reception at 6 p.m. at Royal Ground Gallery, 2058 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland. 841-0441. 

FILM 

The Medieval Remake “The Valley of the Bees” at 6:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Penny Rimbaud, poet, with saxophonist Louise Elliotat 7:30 p.m. at Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Cafe Poetry, hosted by Paradise, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Fred Luskin describes “Forgive for Love: The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Lasting Relationship” 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 www.starryploughpub.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

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

Swing Fever at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dacne lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Neurohumors at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

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

David Hildalgo and Louie Perez of Los Lobos at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $30. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, JAN. 17 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Cultural Connections” Group show in various media with a special tribute to Chauncey Bailey. Opening reception at 5 p.m. at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Bldg. Atrium, 1515 Clay St. 622-8190. 

FILM 

“Lola Montez” with film historian Stefan Drossler in person at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Michael Parenti discusses “Contrary Notions” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

“Open Secrets: The Literature of Uncounted Experience,” with author Anne-Lise Francois at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Marion Bundy reads Dorothy Parker at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Glenn Staller, classical guitar, at 12:15 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 5th flr., 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. 

Beau Soleil with Michael Doucet at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $13-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

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

Yolanda & Ric at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Disappear Incompletely, Adam Shulan Quartet at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

David Hildalgo and Louie Perez of Los Lobos at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $30. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, JAN. 18 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Barefoot in the Park” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through Feb. 16. Tickets are $10-$12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Altarena Playhouse “Wait Until Dark” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Feb. 16. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

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. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Masquers Playhouse “Angel Street” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. through Feb. 23 at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Heart of the Matter” an exhibition by Laney College students. Sidewalk reception at 5 p.m. at Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. 981-7546. 

FILM 

“The 400 Blows” with Laura Truffaut in person at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Shelby Steele describes “A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com  

Kazue Sawai, Japanese koto master, lecture and demonstration at 4 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

MamaCoAtl, Steve Taylor-Ramírez and Alfredo Gomez “Songs of Love and Protest” at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Sam Adams Quartet with Jarrett Cherner, Hamir Atwal, Anthony Diamond at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Kirsten Strom Quintet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Native Elements with Dub Fix and Faya at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Pam & Jeri Show at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Phil Berkowitz & Louis’ Blues at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Calvin Weston and Monster Cock Rally, Slydini, Phillip Greenlief with Thomas Doyle at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Avengers, Pansy Division, R’N’R Adventure Kids at 7:30 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

Oh-no Stonesthrow, Zeph & Azeem, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $12. 548-1159.  

Macabea at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Bobby Hutcherson with Russell Malone, Joe Gilman, Dwaybe Burno and Eddie Marshall at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun.. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, JAN. 19 

CHILDREN  

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

Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences “Little Women” Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m., through Feb. 3, at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $14-$18. 925-798-1300.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Trading Traditions: California’s New Cultures” opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. www.museumca.org 

“Oakland Cityscapes and Landscapes” Photographs by Richard Leon. Reception at 6 p.m. at Luka's Lounge, 2221 Broadway, Oakland. 451-4677. 

“Art in Nature” Paintings by Mari Kearney. Reception at 1 p.m. at Piedmont Yarn & Apparel, 3966 Piedmont Ave., Oakland.  

THEATER 

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.  

FILM 

“The Magic of George Melies” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Justin Frank talks about “Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Dream Kitchen with John Schott, Marc Bolin and John Hanes at 8 p.m. at 2213 Shattuck Ave., at Allston Way. Tickets are $5-$10, children under 12, free. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

Four Seasons Concerts Borealis Wind Quintet, and Leon Bates, pianist, at 7:30 p.m. at Regents Theater, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Tickets are $35-$40. 601-7919.  

Bach to Bachianas Brasileiras with The Wiley-Husbands Duo at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

Novella Quartet at 4 p.m. at a home in North Berkeley. Space is limited, please make reservations. 452-8202.  

Anatolian Rhythms with Yore and Collage Dance Ensembles at 8 p.m. at Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $15-$30. 647-2949.  

Jazz Fourtet at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Saoco, Latin Hip Hop, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Faye Carol & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Shimshai with Tina Malia, Jagadambe at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Moment’s Notice improvised music, dance & theater at 8 p.m. at Western Sky Studio, 2525 8th St. Cost is $8-$15. 992-6295. 

Charming Hostess and Tsipi Gabbai at 8 p.m. at the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Tickets are $10-$12. 848-0237. 

High Diving Horses, Luther Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

Robert Gastelum Group at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Gandolph Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Other Perspectives in Improvised Music at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Port, Melodic Jones, Jamie Jenkins at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Jeffree Star, Von Iva, Bob Weirdos at 7:30 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. 20 

CHILDREN 

Asheba at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“3” Works by Diana Guerrero-Maciá, Kelsey Nicholson, Lena Wolff opens at Traywick Gallery, 895 Colusa Ave. 527-1214. www.traywick.com 

FILM 

“The Nibelungen Part 1: Siegfried’s Death” at 1 p.m. and “Part 2: Kriemhild’s Revenge” at 4 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“In the Name of Love” Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, Rhiannon and Terrance Kelly, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Oakland Children’s Community Choir and Oaktown Jazz Workshop at 7:30 p.m. at Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr. Tickets are $6-$22. 800-838-3006. www.mlktribute.com 

Chamber Music Sundaes with musicians and friends from the San Francisco Symphony at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $18-$22. 415-753-1792. 

Rebecca Riots in a family-friendly concert at 4:30 p.m. at Kehilla Community Synagogue,1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. Tickets are $5-$15. 1-800-838-3006. www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/24792 

Live Oak Concert with Temescal Trio, Karen Wells, clarinet, Madeleine Prager, viola, John Burke, piano at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. Tickets are $10. 644-6893. berkeleyartcenter.org 

Anna Carol Dudley, soprano, will celebrate her birthday by giving a free public recital at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Channing and Dana. 205-8826. 

Jazz at the Chimes with Bruce Forman, guitar, at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15. 228-3218. 

Gil Shaham, violin, and Akira Eguchi, piano, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$62. 642-9988.  

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

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

Jazzschool Studio Band at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $25. 845-5373.  

MONDAY, JAN. 21 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

PlayGround Six emerging playwrights debut new works at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St.Tickets are $18. 415-704-3177. 

Ann Wright and Daniel Ellsberg discuss “Dissent: Voices of Conscience” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 559-9500. 

Ivan Arguelles & John M. Bennett read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express on “Other People’s Poems” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. Email poetryexpress@gmail.com for rules. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ellis Island Band, klezmer, 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.  

West Coast Songwriters Competition at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $5. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.org 

Corey Harris and the 5x5 Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $16-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Theater’s just starting up after a hiatus that featured mainly holiday shows in December. After increasingly vigorous seasons over the past two years, it will be intriguing to see what Berkeley area stage companies have come up with to follow the wealth of productions in the immediate past.  

The resident companies are gearing up with shows to be launched in the coming week or two—and further work that will go up by spring. Berkeley Rep is hosting hip-hopper solo artist Danny Hoch in Taking Over, directed by the Rep’s Tony Taccone. In February, author-actress-Hollywood to-the-manor-born Carrie Fisher, also directed by Taccone, appears in her own solo piece, “a sobering look at her Hollywood hangover,” Wishful Drinking. 

Next door on Addison, the Aurora opens Diana Sen’s Satellites, in a West Coast premiere, as a Korean-American architect and her African-American husband move into a new neighborhood and find a brick thrown through their window. Directed by Kent Nicholson.  

In April, Aurora founder Barbara Oliver directs Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptaion of Euripides’ tragedy The Trojan Women. Oliver helmed Aurora’s production of McLaughlin’s version of Aeschylus’ The Persians a couple of years ago; this is—quite literally—another classic about the effects of a foreign war ... in this case, the misery of the conquered. 

More than a month before The Trojan Women opening in April, Oliver will direct Euripides’ seminal—and still hair-raising—late tragedy, performed in Athens only after the tragedian’s death in exile, The Bacchae, for the UC Berkeley Department of Theater and Dance at the excellent Zellerbach Playhouse, from Feb. 29 to March 9. Euripides pits the self-proclaimed forces of reason and order against ecstatic religiosity and sexuality. This was the favorite play of theatrical visionary and poet Antonin Artaud. 

At Shotgun, where Adam Bock’s acclaimed The Shaker Chair is on through Jan. 29, innovative Banana Bag & Bodice will put on their performance extravaganza of Beowulf (A Thousand Years of Baggage, directed by Ron Hipskind. Coming this summer is Ubu for President, Josh Costello’s adaptation of the original scandal of the Paris avant-garde, directed by artistic director Patrick Dooley. 

The community theaters are also opening with their newest shows. Actors Ensemble of Berkeley goes up this weekend at Live Oak Theatre with Neil Simon’s original ’60s hit, Barefoot in the Park.  

On Jan. 25, Contra Costa Civic Theatre (whose founder, Louis Flynn just died after a long career, appearing onstage in Meet Me in St. Louis last summer as a trolley driver) will open yet another Marx Bros. musical—The Coconuts (music by Irving Berlin, book by Kaufman and Ryskind) at their theater in El Cerrito.  

And in Pt. Richmond, the Masquers will make audiences quake with Frederick Knott’s thriller chestnut, Wait Until Dark, opening this weekend.

In December 2005, a group of women met to form Grandmothers Against the War, planning their first action—a Valentine’s Day 2006 rally and attempt to enlist at the Oakland Induction Center.  

While at a planning meeting for other independent street actions and joint actions with other groups, someone looked around and suddenly tossed out, “The women in this room must represent more than half a century of activism in almost every good cause anyone could name.”  

Another woman quickly caught her message and tossed back, “Our experience is worth something. We have stories to tell, experiences to pass forward.”  

From that exchange came the question, “How about letters to our grandchildren, biological or virtual?” 

On June 9, 2006, the Grandmothers’ Letters Project put out a call to other grandmother groups across the nation, asking for letters of 200 to 1,000 words, telling stories of real experiences, addressed to actual or imagined young people of any age.  

Letters Project coordinators agreed that the writer need not be actually a grandmother or even a woman, just a concerned person with a “grandmotherly attitude” toward the person addressed.  

Letters could be e-mailed or mailed to a Berkeley address. A page for “Love, Grandma” letters was added to the Grandmothers Against the War website www.gawba.org 

Soon letters were arriving from all over the country, narrating a wide variety of experiences. Some writers had led safe lives in America and knew war only as a distant disaster. Some had lost friends or relatives on some battlefield or in some besieged city. A few had themselves lived through horrendous experiences, like losing most of their family in the Holocaust or surviving the literal pulverizing of their small village between opposing armies. 

Wouldn’t such stories only frighten and depress young people? One Grandma letter might be reassuring. A German-American woman recalled learning from her parents and all other adults that Nazis were evil people who must be killed. Then, one day, at a Midwest ice cream social, a man called her “kind of pretty for a Nazi kid.” At this sudden revelation of her evil identity, the girl became haunted by fear, wondering when her parents would discover she was a Nazi, and would they then have to kill her?  

That story should remind us that as children we seldom found honest accounts of reality too much to bear; it was usually a misunderstanding that led to unspeakable, imagined horrors and gave us nightmares; honest stories of the ordeals of survivors and/or activists inspired us more than our favorite fairy tales of imaginary heroes. 

Now over 50 of the letters are available in a print edition. Some letters are from people whose life-long commitment is rooted in and strengthened by religious tradition, while others take a staunchly secular or rationalist stance against all religious faith.  

One writer credited her father for repeatedly telling her the story of his father taking him to witness a lynching, a sight that awakened a thirst for justice he was determined to pass on down the generations. Some recalled a childhood incident in which they discovered, on their own, that adults in authority were misinformed or lying.  

Some letters were poems; some were full of advice and analysis; some began with questions from their real grandchildren: “You asked why you’re always seeing me in the newspaper wearing a crazy hat and carrying a big sign ...” Some admit to doubts that never cease: “I asked myself what am I doing camped out here? What good is it? But then I thought, how could I tell you I’d given up trying to pass on a better world to you?” 

Implicit in all the letters collected in Love, Grandma is a sense of community, even joy, that reminds me of my marching buddy back in the days of the Vietnam War. I would call him and say, “Hey, Al, there’s a demonstration in San Francisco tomorrow. Shall we go?” And Al would answer, “Hell, yes, it’s been a while since our last religious experience!” 

Love, Grandma is available for a donation of $7.50 plus shipping. Go to www.lulu.com and put “Love, Grandma” in the search box. Then click on “add to cart” and follow lulu instructions on ordering and payment. The print edition of Love, Grandma is also available at Cody’s Books in Berkeley and at Walden Pond Books in Oakland. 

(Disclaimer: this article is adapted from the introduction to Love, Grandma, which I wrote, in a shameless effort to lure the susceptible into this conspiracy of troublesome old [and some young] ladies [and some men]—Grandmothers Against The War.) 

At a lively press conference at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in Chinatown Friday, Oakland East Bay Symphony music director and conductor Michael Morgan introduced San Francisco jazz composer, pianist and educator John Jang, whose piece “Chinese American Symphony” was commissioned by the symphony and will premiere at the symphony’s Sounds of China: Celebrating Chinese New Year concert Friday, Feb. 22, at the Paramount Theatre, along with music by Academy Award-winning Chinese composer Tan Dun, John Adams and Igor Stravinsky. 

The conference also served as a preview for an innovative season for the East Bay Symphony, one that demonstrates their commitment to diversity and community building with unusual, provocative programming. 

Sounds of China includes Stravinsky’s short orchestral piece, “Fireworks” (1908).  

“You would expect Tan Dun on a program for Chinese New Years, and John Adams for ‘Nixon in China,’” Morgan said, “but not expect Stravinsky. It’s a four-minute piece. We hope the audience will see the connection to China, the East-West tie: we both have fireworks, and they come from China.” 

Shared experience was the keynote to Morgan’s commentary.  

“A diverse audience can just enjoy a great piece of music together,” he said, “then later younger people may go back out of curiosity to find out about the historical side—and older people can suddenly see different levels of experience, go back and fill in the gaps ... Even if we can’t talk about it, we can understand it together. It’s what we have in common, so we can begin to make a real community.” 

Jang endorsed Morgan’s vision. “I remember seeing an Oakland East Bay Symphony concert,” he said, “where people of all different backgrounds, all the different colors embraced Mozart under Michael’s leadership, seeing that this music is for everybody.” 

Jang’s “Chinese American Symphony” (with no hyphen; “it looks like a minus, less than American!” he said) is a tribute to the Chinese workers, from a nation “hurt by the Opium War” with England, “going to what they hope is a better land, to make money building the railroad, but the U.S. was hostile.”  

He explained various melodies, orchestral sounds, colors and movements he uses to tell that story.  

“It’s so immediate, audiences can latch onto the story,” Morgan said. “It’s why we commissioned a piece like this, and why we use composers who have the gift for making a connection for the audience: to transcend differences, bring people together who might not be able to communicate verbally.” 

Jang explained the use of the two-stringed Chinese classical “violin,” the erhu, which will be played by erhu virtuoso Jiebing Chen, and a wealth of meaningful correspondences he’s built into the piece. “One movement’s 24 minutes intentionally—‘no work stoppage.’ The Chinese workers were incessant, working 24/7.” 

“I’m hearing that for the first time!” laughed Morgan. 

A little bit later, Jang paused in his spirited delivery for an aside: “Maybe I should stop here; this is getting more epic than the piece!” 

Morgan discussed “Water Concerto for Water Percussion and Orchestra” (1998), written in memory of composer Toru Takemitsu by Dun, famed for his film score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.  

“The violin section actually has splash guards! It features percussionist Ward Spangler, who at one point plays the gong while it’s immersed in water—a completely different sound. And there’s the rhythms of splashing water like children in a bathtub. There’s lots of imagery people will get—in John Adams’ very theatrical ‘The Chairman Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra’ (1985), a spinoff of ‘Nixon in China,’ with Madame Mao dancing with an effigy of her husband while Nixon plays cocktail piano ...  

“All new pieces have an impact on coming generations,” Morgan continued, “who will associate the train in John’s piece with the erhu, will put the story together and understand why the elements go together ... learning history through music, making an initial association, then learning later what it means—like those of us who learned classical music through Bugs Bunny!” 

Both Morgan and Jang spoke about how his piece brings out a hidden history, something untold, that would have an impact on second-generation Chinese Americans—a point ratified by audience members at the conference. 

Upcoming programs 

Other upcoming programs aim at the same diversity in music and audience experience: following Sounds of China is Notes from Persia on Friday, March 14, for Persian New Year, Nowwuz, the lunar spring holiday, dating back to a Zoroastrian holiday, celebrated around the Middle East and Central Asia.  

The program is also musically diverse, with mezzo-soprano Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai singing Persian songs, composer Aminollah Hossein’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (1946), Loris Tjeknavorian’s Suite from the opera ‘Rostam and Sohrab’ (1985), as well as Richard Strauss’ ‘Don Juan’ (1889) and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ (1934). Pianist Tara Kamangar of the Royal Academy of Music in London will be featured.