FRIDAY, MARCH 14 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Dr. Tom Gold on “China Today and Tomorrow” 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.  

Healthy Living for Seniors A day of workshops for seniors, their families and caregivers. All About AC Transit, at 10 a.m., Seniors Driving Safely: DMV Resources for Older Adults at 10:45 a.m., All About East Bay Paratransit, at 12:15 p.m., Aging and Sexuality, at 2 p.m. at JFCS/East Bay’s Suse Moyal Center for Older Adult Services, 828 San Pablo Ave., Suite 104, Albany. Free, lunch provided. RSVP required 558-7800.  

Global Business and Human Rights Symposium beginning at 1 p.m. at Room 105, Boalt Hall, UC Campus. Keynote speech at 4:30 p.m. with Professor David Weissbrodt, reception to follow. Sponsored by The Berkeley Journal of International Law. RSVP to BJIL.Symposium@gmail.com 

Womansong Circle Participatory singing for women at 7:15 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Small Assembly Room, 2345 Channing St. Suggested donation $15-$20. 525-7082. 

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. www.circledancing.com 

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 

Chevron Direct Action and Rally: Against the Wars, Against Pollution Rally at 11 a.m. at Judge G. Carroll Park, W. Cutting Blvd & S. Garrard Blvd, Richmond. Nonviolent Direct Action at Chevron Refinery 100 Chevron Way, Richmond at 1 p.m. Free shuttle buses will leave from Richmond BART and Point Richmond, 3rd St. and Chesley Ave., at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Cosponsored by Greenaction, West County Toxics Coalition, Amazon Watch, Richmond Progressive Alliance, Richmond Greens, and others. 

“The Fifth-Year Anniversary of the Occupation of Iraq” A Town Hall meeting with Congressmember Barbara Lee, and screening of the documentary “War Made Easy” at 9 a.m. at Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. 763-0370. 

South Berkeley Community Church Annual Crab Feed from 5 to 8 p.m. at 1802 Fairview St. Tickets are $35, children aged 7-12, $15. 652-1040. 

Mini-Farmers in Tilden A farm exploration program, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 4-6 years, accompanied by an adult. We will explore the Little Farm, care for animals, do crafts and farm chores. Wear boots and dress to get dirty! Fee is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Bay Area Ridge Trail Walk Join Berkeley Path Wanderers on a 5.5 mile walk on the Bay Area Ridge Trail from Tilden Path to Huckelberry Botanic Regional Preserve, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Morris Older of Tilden-Wildcat Horsemen’s Assn. will lead this up-and-down walk with great views. Bring lunch and liquids; wear sturdy shoes and layered clothing. Meet at the Upper (overflow) parking lot by the Tilden Park Steam Trains, off Lomas Cantadas Rd. just east of Grizzly Peak Blvd. 925-254-8943. www.berkeleypaths.org 

“Gardening from the Ground Up” Learn simplified garden care starting with healthy soil, backyard composting and mulching basics, with Bay-Friendly gardeners, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bay-Friendly Demonstration Garden, 666 Bellevue Ave., Lakeside Park, Oakland. Free. 444-7645. www.bayfriendly.org  

UC Botanical Garden’s School Garden Conference A one-day conference to discuss new curricula and activities. Cost is $25. Pre-registration required. 643-4832. manoux@berkeley.edu 

“Alternative Materials: Cob and Strawbale” A seminar on two natural building methods from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Building Education Center, 812 Page St. Cost is $85. 525-7610. 

NAACP Berkeley Branch Meeting at 1 p.m. at 2108 Russell St. 845-7416. 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations meets at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, Westminster Bldg, 2407 Dana St. 388-4850. 

Church Miniature Altars and Memory Boxes A hands-on workshop using recycled materials, writing and art, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist. One Lawson Rd. Cost is $45. To register call 415-505-7827. 

Fibers and Dyes Discover the history of using plants for fibers and dyes in a walk-through exhibit, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. Free with garden admission. 643-2755, ext. 03.  

Collage de Cultures Africaines “The Journey Back is the Journey Forward” Dance and drum workshops through Sun. at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. For details call 733-1077. www.DiamanoCoura.org 

California Writers Club “Badness or Madness?” with Terry Kupers, forensic psychiatrist, prison-system expert at 10 a.m. at Barnes and Noble Event Loft, Jack London Square, Oakland. 272-0120. 

“In Our Own Backyard” A celebration of the East Bay Regional Parks. An exhibition of photographs by Bob Walker opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., and runs through Oct. 12. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2022.  

“Creating Your Own Garden Paradise” with Aerin Moore at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave., off Seventh St. 644-2351. 

“Paper Story Dress” workshop to commemorate women who have influenced our lives, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the North Berkeley Branch Library. 981-6250. 

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

Oakland Artisans Marketplace Sat. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jack London Square. 238-4948. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 16 

Wolf Spiders on the Morning Dew Join us as we stalk the elusive wolf spider at 10 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Compass Clues Learn how to use a compass to find your way around and participate in a hidden treasure hunt at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Celebrating California’s New Cultures with music and activities for the whole family from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2022.  

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.  

Berkeley High Jazz Club Spring Funraiser Auction from 3 to 6 p.m. at Crowden School, 1475 Rose St. 414-2236. 

Solo Sierrans Hike in Point Pinole Regional Park Meet at 3 p.m. in the parking lot. Bring binoculars for shorebirds viewing. Optional dinner after walk. 234-8949. 

Benefit for “Modesto Anarcho” the Central Valley’s journal of class struggle, at 7 p.m. at The Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck Ave. Donation $5. 

Berkeley Chess Club meets every Sun. at 7 p.m. at the Hillside School, 1581 Le Roy Ave. 843-0150. 

East Bay Atheists Berkeley Meeting to watch and then discuss Part One of “A Brief History of Disbelief” the Jonathan Miller documentary, at 1:30 p.m., Berkeley Main Library, 3rd Floor Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Rosalyn White on “Healing Through Mantra” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000.  

MONDAY, MARCH 17 

Berkeley Green Monday: “the Food Fighters: The Politics of Food” with Chef Ann Cooper, Nutrition Services for the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD), Martin Bourque, Ecology Center, John Selawsky, Chair Berkeley School Board, at 7:30 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Open to all. www.berkeleygreens.org 

March for Good Jobs and Clean Air Meet at 4:30 p.m. outside Oakland City Hall, near the 12th Street BART station for a march to the Port of Oakland to push the port to adopt a strong, clean trucks program. 893-7106, ext. 24. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from noon to 1 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 18 

Fifth Anniversary Living Graveyard at noon at the Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, two blocks from 12th Street BART. www.epicalc.org 

“Does Your Vote Count in California?” A community forum that examines how our electoral system represents the many voices of California with Barry Fadem, President of National Popular Vote, Kathay Feng, Executive Director of California Common Cause and Steven Hill, Director of the Political Reform Program of the New America Foundation, moderated by Richard Gonzales, National Public Radio, at 7 p.. at Oakland Museum of California, James Moore Theatre, 1000 Oak St. Reservations recommended, email chris_holbrook@itvs.org  

“The Book of Revelation” with Elaine Pagels, Prof. of Religion, Princeton Univ. at 7:30 p.m. at Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Townsend Center for the Humanities. 643-9670. 

National Nutrition Month with cooking demonstrations at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., free samples and free recipes, at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market from 2 to 6 p.m. at Derby St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 548-3333.  

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 the Tilden Nature Area. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

The Berkeley Garden Club “Grafting Scions and How to Prune Your Fruit Trees” with Idell Weydemeyer of the California Rare Fruit Growers, at 1:45 p.m., at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St. 845-4482. www.berkeleygardenclub.org  

“Hiking Denali National Park” with Chris Poissnat, former Denali National Park interpretive ranger, at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Docent Training for Tilden Nature Area Learn to assist the naturalists in providing interpretive programs at the Little Farm and nature area gardens, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fee is $35. Application required. For information call 544-3260. 

Fying Calamari Brothers A magic and comedy show for ages 3 and up at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

"Ahimsa and Knowledge” with Nik Warren at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, Institute for World Religions, 2304 McKinley Ave.  

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. 

Street Level Cycles Community Bike Program Come use our tools as well as receive help with performing repairs free of charge. Youth classes available. Tues., Thurs., and Sat. from 2 to 6 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. 644-2577.  

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Monthly field trips. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

Sing-A-Long Group from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masoni Ave., Albany. 524-9122. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 

Center Street Plaza Design Exposition Presentation by Walter Hood at 4:30 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way. Sponsored by Ecocity Builders. RSVP to 419-0850. 

The Oakland Bird Club “Breeding Bird Atlas of Santa Clara County” with Bill Bousman at 7:30 p.m. at Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Ave., 444-0355. 

Rally and March on the Fifth Anniversary of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq at 6:30 p.m. at Alameda City Hall, Oak and Santa Clara Sts. Sponsored by the Alameda Peace Network. www.alamedapeacenetwork.org 

Peace Vigil to Mark the Fifth Anniversary of the War in Iraq at 6 p.m. at Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., at Taylor, San Francisco. 

Berkeley Simplicity Forum “Reexamining Our Relationship with Money” at 6:30 p.m. at Claremont Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave.  

“Horns and Halos” A documentary on tangled lives of Dubbya and two others at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

10th Annual Alameda Community Job Fair Learn about current job openings, network with key contacts, and learn about upcoming opportunities, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at College of Alameda student lounge and cafeteria, F Building, 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway, Alameda. 748-5215. 

“Problems in Life and the Buddhist Way of Dealing with Them” Lecture and discusstion with Bhante Sellawimala, a Theravada Buddhist monk at 7 p.m. at Jodo Shinshu Center, 2140 Durant Ave. Free. 809-1460. 

Cycling Lecture with Brett Horton, bicycle memorabilia collector, at 7 p.m. at Velo Sport Bicycles, 1615 University Ave., enter at 1989 California St. RSVP to 849-0437. 

Radical Movie Night: “Duck You Sucker” An exiled IRA demolition expert falls in love with a Mexican bandit, at 8:30 p.m. at the Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck Ave. 540-0751. 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds. We will hunt for amphibians from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-327-2757. 

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 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 

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

Theraputic Recreation at the Berkeley Warm Pool, Wed. at 3:30 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Warm Pool, 2245 Milvia St. Cost is $4-$5. Bring a towel. 632-9369. 

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

After-School Program Homework help, drama and music 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. 

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 

Forum on The West Berkeley Plan and Sustainability: Economy, Environment, & Equity with Karen Chapple, UC Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning on The Industrial Land Debate: Arguments, Assumptions, and Alternatives; Raquel Pinderhughes, PhD SFSU Professor of Urban Studies, author of The City of Berkeley’s Green Collar Jobs Report; Abby Thorne-Lyman, Senior Associate of Strategic Economics on The Case for Industrial Land: The Future for the Bay Area’s Industrial Lands; and Kate O’Hara, East Bay Alliance For A Sustainable Economy on Preserving Industrial Lands, Growing Good Jobs at 6:30 p.m. at West Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 Sixth St., corner of 6th St. & Hearst Ave. Presented by WEBAIC - West Berkeley Artisans & Industrial Companies. 549-3213. webaic.org  

Spring Equinox Gathering at 6:30 p.m. at Interim Memorial Solar Calendar, Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. A mini-workshop on the seasons will be led by David Glaser. Dress warmly. www.solarcalendar.org 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll look for amphibians from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

“Against Cognitive Imperialism” A lecture by Hal Roth, Ph.D., Professor, Religious Studies and East Asian Studies, Brown Univ., at 7:30 p.m. at Chapel of the Great Commission, Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave. 848-9788. 

Persian New Year: Norouz with egg painting, storytelling and dancing from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111.www.habitot.org 

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

Preconception Healthcare at 7 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Teen Book Club meets to discuss urban fantasy at 4 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue. 981-6121. 

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

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

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. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

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

CITY MEETINGS 

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon., March 17, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Mon., March 17, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers. 981-7368. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent 

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., March 19, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6601.  

Commission on Aging meets Wed., March 19, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5344.  

Commission on Labor meets Wed., March 19, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7550.  

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., March 19, at 7 p.m., at the Emergency Operations Center, 997 Cedar St. 981-5502.  

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed., March 19, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5427.  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., March 20, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 14 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Chicago” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through April 12. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep ”Wishful Drinking” with Carrie Fisher, at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St., through March 30. Tickets are $33-$69. 647-2949. 

Golden Thread Productions “What Do the Women Say?” An International Women’s Day performance on the Middle East at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Central Works “Wakefield; or Hello Sophia” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through March 23.Tickets are $14-$25. 558-1381. 

Impact Theatre “Jukebox Stories: The Case of the Creamy Foam” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through March 22. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. http://impacttheatre.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“In the Round” A celebration of seven sculptors: Robert Cantor, Diana Keevan, Traudel Prussin, Andrew Shaper, Zahava Sherez, Lidija Tkalcevic, Susan Wells. Reception for the artists at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 11652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. 

Ed Dwight “Paintings and Bronze Sculpture” Opening reception at 5:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery 406 14th St. Oakland. 465-8928. 

FILM 

“The Princess of Nebraska” with filmmaker Wayne Wang in person at 7 p.m., “The Terrorizer” with actor Cora Miao in person at 9 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

May Garsson and Tom Odegard will read at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave., followed by an open reading.  

Haleh Hatami and Rosemary Toohey, poetry and staged reading at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Paul Watsky and Barbara Joan Tiger Bass, poetry, followed by open mic at 7 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. www.expressionsgallery.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland East Bay Symphony “Notes From Persia” with pianist Tara Kamangar and mezzo-soprano Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmi at 8 p.m. at Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Pre-concert lecture with John Kendall Bailey at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20-$65. 625-8497. 

Chanticleer “From the Path of Beauty” with The Shanghai Quartet at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $25-$44. 415-392-4400. www.chanticleer.org 

“Makings” music based on the unpublished writings of Tillie Olsen at 8 p.m. at Avonova Studios, 417 Avon St., Oakland. Tickets are $8-$15. For reservations call 707-823-5008. www.deconstructmyhouse.org 

Friday Noon Concert at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Junior Bach Festival, featuring young performers, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2723 College Ave. 843-2224. www.juniorbach.org 

Angélique Kidjo, West African singer at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Sara and Swingtime at 7 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15, $60 with dinner. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Dave Mathews Soultet with Tony Lindsay, at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Sister Carol, Women’s History Month Reggae Celebration, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is tba. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Edo Castro, bassist, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

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

Fernando Tarango and Tiffany Joy at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

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

Kev Choice, Prince Ali & The Destruments, The Bayliens at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$7. 548-1159.  

Bulk at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Sakai, R&B, at 9 p.m. at Maxwell’s Lounge, 341 13th St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$15. 839-6169. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 

CHILDREN  

Stagebridge Theater Company “Chicken Sunday” A musical adaptation of Patricia Polacco’s book, Sat. and Sun. at 3 p.m. at Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. at 27th. Tickets are $5-$12. 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Mariela & Monica, songs in Spanish, at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Boswick the Clown at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 Tenth St. Cost is $7. 526-9888. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Private Collection of Contemporary California Plein Air Paintings” Reception at 2 p.m. at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave Suite 4. 421-1255. 

“Material Evidence” Mixed media work of Peter Boyer, and sculptor Ed Kirshner. Closing party at 6 p.m. at FLOAT Art Gallery 1091 Calcot Place, Unit # 116 , located in a store front loft of the historic cotton mill studios, Oakland. www.thefloatcenter.com  

“In Our Own Backyard” A celebration of the East Bay Regional Parks. An exhibition of photographs by Bob Walker opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., and runs through Oct. 12. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2022.  

“Open Range” The art of Douglas Light, Michele Hofherr and Scott Courtenay-Smith. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at Esteban Sabar Gallery, 480 23rd St., Oakland. 444-7411. www.estebansabar.com 

FILM 

“Slingshot” with filmmaker Brillante Mendoza at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

82nd Annual Poets’ Dinner and contest results at 11:30 a.m. at Francesco’s Restaurant, 8520 Pardee Dri., Oakland. Lucille Lang will speak on “Poetry, Ecology and the Brain” Tickets are $27-$28.  

Gayle Greene reads from “Insomniac” part memoir, part scientific analysis, at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“People Like Me 2008: It’s My Nature” Interactive theatrical performance for families with dance, music and puppetry. Pre-show workshop at 11 a.m., show at noon at Regent’s Theater, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Cos tis $6-$12. 415-392-4400. www.cityboxoffice.com 

14th Annual Norouz Show Presented by the Iranian Students Cultural Organization at 12:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $5-$15 at the door.  

Collage de Cultures Africaines “The Journey Back is the Journey Forward” Dance and drum performances at 8 p.m. at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. African marketplace at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20-$30 from www.urbanevents.com 

Berkeley Opera “L’Elisir d’Amore” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$44. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Junior Bach Festival, featuring young performers, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2723 College Ave. 843-2224.  

WomenSing “Sounds and Sweet Airs” at 8 p.m. at Holy Names University Chapel, Oaklnd. Tickets are $10-$25. 925-974-9169. www.womensing.org 

Spring Equinox Concert and Ritual “One Soul Sounding” with Linda Tillery, Evelie Delfino Såles Posch, Lisa Rafel, and Eda Maxym at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$24. 654-3234. www.lisarafel.com  

Metropolitan Opera “Peter Grimes” broadcast live from The Metropolitan Opera in New York City at 10:30 a.m. at Bay Street 16, 5614 Bay Street, Ste 220, Emeryville. Tickets are $15-$22. www.FathomEvents.com 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “The Queen of Egypt” with Canadian-Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Pre-concert lecture 45 minutes prior to performance. Tickets are $30-$72. 415-392-4400. www.philharmonia.org  

Steven Strauss, multi-instrumentarian, ukeleleiast, at 3 p.m. at Down Home Music Berkeley store, 1809b Fourth St. www.downhomemusic.com 

Irina Rivkin & Tamra Engle at 8 p.m. at Rose Street House of Music, 1839 Rose St. Donation $8-$20. 594-4000 ext. 687. www.rosestreetmusic.com 

“Makings” music based on the unpublished writings of Tillie Olsen at 8 p.m. at Avonova Studios, 417 Avon St., Oakland. Tickets are $8-$15. For reservations call 707-823-5008. www.deconstructmyhouse.org 

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

Jon Fromer, emma’s revolution, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $13-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Lakay, Abu Simel and the Venutians, Ashkenaz 35th Anniversay Party, at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

The Jazz Fourtet at 5 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Jumoke Hill, Chris Clavey at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Melanie O’Reilly & “Aisling” at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Andrea Fultz, German songs from the 1930s, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Jack Tone Riorden Trio, jazz, at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

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

Wayward Monks at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Gonzalo Rubacaba at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SUNDAY, MARCH 16 

CHILDREN 

Celebrating California’s New Cultures with music and activities for the whole family from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2022.  

Stagebridge Theater Company “Chicken Sunday” A musical adaptation of Patricia Polacco’s book, at 3 p.m. at Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. at 27th. Tickets are $5-$12. 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

Loom Lathe: The Art of Kay Sekimachi and Bob Stocksdale Opening reception at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. 644-6893. www.berkeleysrtcenter.org 

FILM 

“Never Forever” with filmmaker Gina Kim at 7:50 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Wright Centennial Project Readings by the Oakland Public Theater at 6 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 534-9529.  

“Borderlandia in Mind” Panel discussion of the works on Enrique Chagoya at 3 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum Theater. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Takács Quartet pre-performance talk with Paul M. Ellison at 2 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free to ticketholders. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Toni Mirosevich and Annie Holmes read at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15 for concert and reception. Children under 12 free. 228-3218. 

Berkeley Opera “L’Elisir d’Amore” at 5 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$44. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Junior Bach Festival, featuring young performers, at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2723 College Ave. 843-2224. www.juniorbach.org 

Berkeley Symphony “Under Construction” at 7 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2345 Durant. Tickets are $10-$20. 841-2800. www.berkeleysymphony.org 

Prometheus Symphony Orchestra performs Stravinsky, Delius and Rutter at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 116 Montecito Ave., Oakland. Free, donations accepted. www.prometheussymphony.org 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “The Queen of Egypt” with Canadian-Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Pre-concert lecture 45 minutes prior to each performance. Tickets are $30-$72. 415-392-4400. www.philharmonia.org  

Takács Quartet at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $546. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Bay Area Flamenco Partnership with Juan del Gastor from Spain, at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $25. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Michael Coleman’s “Beep” at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Doctor Sparkles at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Jody London at 2 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

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

Robert Stewart Experience “Tribute to Eddie Harris” at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

MONDAY, MARCH 17 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Blind Duck Irish Band at 7 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Helios, Greek and Bulgarian, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100. www.lebateauivre.net 

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

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

Black Brothers, Triskela at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761  

Terrence Brewer at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $8-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, MARCH 18 

CHILDREN 

Flying Calamari Brothers A magic and comedy show for ages 3 and up at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Architecture, Print Culture, and the Public Sphere in 18th-Century France” with author Richard Wittman, at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Swamp Coolers 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.  

Cheryl Wheeler, Kenny White at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761.  

Ari Chersky Trio, jazz, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Dmitri Matheny at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$16. 238-9200. 

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 

EXHIBITIONS 

“California Textural Landscapes” works by Patti Heimburger in mixed media through oil paint, fabric and yarn opens at Christensen Heller Gallery, 5829 College Ave. Hours are Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. noon to 5 p.m. 655-5952. www.christensenheller.com 

FILM 

FIlm 50: “Wild Strawberries” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music for the Spirit with Ron McKean on harpsichord at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with the University Symphony Orchestra at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864.  

Oakland Youth Chorus Benefit for Chirstopher Rodriguez at 7 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakland. Tickets are $15-$20, children under 12 $5-$10. 287-9700.  

Cheryl Wheeler, Kenny White at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761.  

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

U.C. Jazz at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Speak the Music, beatboxing with Syzygy, Monkstilo, Constant Change, and others at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

El Cerrito High School Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $3-$7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Avance 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.  

Pacific Manouche at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

New York Voices at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $16-$22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Here: Oakland Through the Arts” Works by Excel High School Students. Opening reception at 5 p.m. at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of CA Office Bldg., Atrium, 1515 CLay St., Oakland. 622-8190. 

Enrique Chagoya: Borderlandia Guided tour at 12:15 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“Propagations” Paintings and computer animations by Tadashi Moriyama. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Johansson Projects, 2300 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 444-9140. www.johanssonprojects.com 

“Jingletown Junction” Works by ten artists from the Jingletown neighborhood. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at ProArts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. www.proartsgallery.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry for the People with Mohja Kahf of Muslim Women Speak Out, and Ananda Esteva and Imani Uzuri, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Join author Marti Kheel "Nature Ethics: An Ecofeminist Perspective.". Thursday, March 20, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm Literary event: University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704510-548-0585, www.universitypressbooks.com 

Fritjof Capra reads from “The Science of Leonardo: Inside the Mind of the Great Genius of the Renaissance” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Third Thursdays in South Berkeley Multi-generational poetry conversation at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Artist Support Group Speaker Series with Dara Solomon, Asst. Curator, Contemporary Jewish Museum, at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. Cost is $8-$10. 644-6893. 

Mystery Writers Panel Discussion including Rita Lakin, Peggy Lucke, Penny Warner and Simon Wood at 6 p.m. at the South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library. 981-6260. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Perú Negro, Peru’s African heritage on traditional instruments, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Portola Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Workshop and Jazz Band with special guest artists Larry de la Cruz, Marvin McFadden, Jeremy Steinkoler and Wayne Wallace at 7 pm, at Mira Vista Golf and Country Club, 7901 Cutting Blvd, El Cerrito. 417-5897.  

Eric Bibb at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Teed Rockwell and Joel Rudinow, raga-blues, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Vibrafolk at 7:30 p.m. at Central Perk Cafe, 10086 San Pablo Ave., corner of Central, El Cerrito. www.centralperkcoffee.net 

Kenny Garrett Quartet at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sat. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

“The pure products of America go crazy,” intoned poet William Carlos Williams, and Carrie Fisher, a pure product of the American dream factory, who jests about the craziness of her life and icon status in her solo extravaganza, Wishful Drinking, is being held over at Berkeley Rep through April 12.  

She holds forth on the Roda Stage—holds court, at one point sitting demurely, but usually pacing, wound up with nervous energy, hands constantly in motion, tracing big patterns in the air. 

Wishful Drinking is something of an interactive show, as she “reaches out” to the audience, bringing spectators on stage or Carrie into the audience. On opening night, she directed causticly funny lines to (and at) George Lucas in an orchestra seat, and her parents, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, seated on opposite sides of the balcony, making sure they answered, even if tersely. 

Her schtick is all her own as the child of Hollywood “royalty,” center of attention since birth. She jokes about the incestuousness of her family, their many marriages, quipping that she hopes she doesn’t resemble one of the Hapsburgs, whose portrait is projected above the stage, features stricken with the grotesqueness of inbreeding. 

In a way, the show is beyond autobiography or memoir, as everything is cannibalized, including the cannibalism itself. Tragedy is part of the joke, and that—again—is the tragedy of a survivor who lives to tell the tale. Who lives for telling the tale. 

It isn’t Moby Dick, or even Oprah. From donning a Princess Leia wig, to confronting a Princess Leia sex statue dropped from the flies, to charting her extended family tree (Liz Taylor briefly as step-mother) on a blackboard lifted from a Mort Sahl outine, to the headlines projected in montage on the starry sky above her, the valiant attempts by Tony Taccone, the Rep’s artistic director, to flesh out Carrie’s exposition as theater just lends apparatus to an open-house-style chat. It’s not even stand-up, which the show has been compared to, as too many lines are thrown away, like an overheard cellphone conversation in a public place. Her relation to the audience does not carry the dynamic of engagement of the comic or the monologist. 

Her wit can crackle, or cackle a little hysterically, and there is no shortage of laughter as she charts the loopiness that is her normality. As a real-life twist on that old chestnut, the Poor Little Rich Kid, Carrie’s story is rife with funny vignettes and nuances that just never quite reach the level of actual humor. 

There is no form at all to the show, despite its gestures towards theatrical respectability (whatever that really is). But it is pure spectacle of a sort, with a little bit of the rawness of real and simulated reality that so much mass entertainment is striving to display. It’s all Carrie, transparent onstage, as if in a plastic bag—the type kids carry home from a fair, with a goldfish inside, ceaselessly opening and closing its mouth. 

WISHFUL DRINKING 

Through March 30 at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St.  

$33-$69. 647-2949.

The Oakland East Bay Symphony, conducted by director Michael Morgan, will present a unique collaborative program, Notes from Persia, at 8 p.m. tonight (Friday) at the Paramount Theatre. 

The program features the U.S. premiere of Aminollah Hossein’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (1946), played by Tara Kamangar, the suite from Loris Tjernavorian’s opera Rostam and Sohrab (1963), with the composer present, and six folk songs from different regions and cultural traditions of Persia, sung by mezzo-soprano Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai in new orchestral arrangements by composer David Garner. The program will open with Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini” and Richard Strauss’ tone poem “Don Juan.” 

The concert will coincide with Nowwuz, the ancient Persian New Year’s and spring holiday, dating from Zoroastrian times, which is celebrated over much of the Middle East and Central Asia with picnics, music, poetry recital and song. 

“It has all been a person-to-person connection in putting this together,” said an enthusiastic Michael Morgan. “It was Patrice Hidu, who is the project manager running our office, who pointed out to me that there is a large, music-loving community in the Bay Area nobody has really reached out to. And at a Christmas party for Festival Opera, I heard Raeeka Shehabi-Yaghmai sing a Persian folk song. She got David Garner of the S.F. Music Conservatory to arrange six diverse songs for orchestra, and helped greatly to publicize the concert in the Persian community.” 

Morgan talked about the very personable—and very Persian—way the program unfolded.  

“Omid Zoufonoun, my conducting student, whose father was a rather famous performer of Persian classical music, told me about Tara Kamangar, who sent a CD,” Morgan said. “She is not only a great pianist, but has proven to be a wonderful collaborator—the real thing. She told me about Tjeknavorian. He just flew in last Sunday from Tehran. I would love to do his whole opera. He has an English version prepared. I have learned so much putting this together. It is wonderful music, but even more wonderful are the incredible people I have met.” 

Morgan commented on Hossein’s concerto and Tjeknavorian’s opera, based on stories from the medieval Persian epic poem, the Shanameh (Book of Kings) by Firdosi: “You notice right away how closely the modern pieces are melodically—and rhythmically—related to the traditional folk songs. They are very melodious modern music. Especially Tjeknavorian’s. The rhythms are enormously complicated, especially in his finale. I am going into rehearsal right now with the mezzo—who can’t make the dress rehearsal (She’s starring in Carmen at Livermore Opera)—to go over the material together, so I am up on all the characteristics and can teach the orchestra. There is only so much you can write down, and we are all trying to do, deciding how to beat out the Persian 6/8, which seems to us more like a 3—‘I Like To Be In America,’ like that—to work out the groove in these rhythms.” 

Asked if Persian music swings, Morgan answered, “It does!” 

“Putting together this concert has been one of my favorite projects,” Morgan concluded. “It has been a continuation of the symphony’s mission, to reach out to all sorts of corners and parts of our community ... Given the current political tensions between our two countries, I thought this would be a good time to reach out to the Bay Area Persian community, to showcase their extraordinary musical heritage. What better time than now to use the power of music to bring our people together?”  

Aminollah Hossein was born in 1905 in Samarkand, but spent the majority of his professional life in exile in France after musical studies in Russia and Germany. A master of the Persian stringed instrument, the taar, he was deeply influenced by Persian classical music. A prolific composer—20 film scores, three piano concertos, and extensive works for ballet, symphony orchestra and solo piano—his major works include the “Persepolis Symphony” (1947), a 1951 symphony based on the ruba’i (quatrains) of poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam and his ballet “Miniatures Iraniennes” (1975). 

Loris Tjeknavorian, born in 1937, studied at the Tehran Conservatory, to which he returned, becoming a faculty member, after advanced studies at the Vienna Music Academy. He was later named director of the National Music Archive and composer-in-residence and principal conductor of Tehran’s Rudaki Opera House Orchestra. Tjeknavorian has conducted many of the world’s leading symphonies and has made over 100 recordings. The opera Rostam and Sohrab is one of over 75 diverse works. 

Tara Kamangar has played solo piano in venues ranging from London’s Wathen Hall and Leighton House Museum to the Wattis Room in San Francisco’s Davies Hall, and will play in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. She has recorded works by Hossein, Tjeknavorian, Hormoz Farhat and Behzad Ranjbaran. 

Shehabi-Yaghmai has sung leading roles with Oakland Lyric and Festival Operas in the East Bay, West Bay Opera and Merola Opera, and Opera Brasov in Romania. She will perform with the New Music Ensemble in San Francisco and Santa Cruz.