THURSDAY, MAY 1 

El Cerrito Hillside Exploration for Walkers 55+ Meet at the entrance gate just west of El Cerrito’s recycling center, 7501 Schmidt Lane at 9 a.m. Wear shoes with good traction, bring water, and walking sticks if you use them. Register at the Albany Community Center. 524-9122. 

“Repairing the Damage: Foreign Policy Prescriptions for the Next Administration” with Barbara Bodine, former US Ambassador to Yemen, 1997-2001, at 5 p.m., Sproul Rooms, International House, Bancroft and Piedmont Ave., reception follows. 642-7747. 

Berkeley and Albany Mental Health Services Community Information and Input Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Albany High School Library. 981-7008. 

Berkeley Folk Dancers A free evening of easy dances at 7:30 p.m. at Live Oak Park social hall, 1301 Shattuck at Berryman. No partner necessary. For adults and teens. 549-0337.  

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 

FRIDAY, MAY 2 

6th Annual City of Berkeley Holocaust Remembrance Day featuring Professor Ann Barrows, author of “Our Charlotte”; poet Marcia Falk; musical selections by Rivka Amado; and honoring local Holocaust survivor Louis de Groot, at noon at City Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way Wheelchair accessible. Admission is free. 981-7170. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Jeff Robinson, nature photographer on “Spectacular Animals of South Africa.” 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 524-7468.  

Golden Gate Audubon Society Bird Walk at Jewel Lake Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the parking lot at the north end of Central Park Dr., Tilden Park for a 1 mile stroll through a lush riparian area. 848-9156. 

“Martyr of the Amazon: The Life of Sister Dorothy Stang” with author Sr. Roseann Murphy at 7 p.m. at Newman Hall, 2700 Dwight Way at College. 499-0537. 

Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking Class meets Fri. from 6 to 8 p.m., through June 20 at Alta Bates Summit Cardiac Rehabilitation, 3030 Telegraph Ave. Free, but registration required. 869-6737.  

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

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St at University. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

SATURDAY, MAY 3 

“The Legacy of Berkeley Parks: A Century of Planning and Making” Community discussion from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Civic Center Park, in conjunction with the exhibition in the Addison Street Windows Gallery. 981-7546. 

Creek Care Help clean up Wildcat Creek in Richmond from 1 to 3 p.m. Wear layered clothing that can get wet and dirty. For information call 525-2233. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around the restored 1870s business district. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of G.B. Ratto’s at 827 Washington St. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Immigration Teach-In: Deconstructing Myths, Fears, & Assumptions from 1 to 4 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Sponsored by Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action, and the Immigration Ministry Team from First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Childcare is available for ages 2 through 10 by calling 848-3696 ext. 26. www.fccb.org 

Yoga Benefit for Children’s Hospital with Rajashree Choudhury, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Funky Door Yoga, 2567 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $150. 204-9642. 

Documentary Film Makers Course Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at East Bay Media Center, 1939 Addison St. Cost is $299, student discount available. 310-941-2168. 

Annual Junktique Sale with furniture, computers, kitchen and household goods, books and more, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. 236-0527. 

Bolshevik Café, socializing and comedy at 7 p.m. at Finn Hall, 1819 10th St. Donation $5-$15. 415-863-6637. 

Political Affairs Readers Group will discuss Wadih Halabi’s article “A Tale of Two Economies” at 10 a.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Libray, 6501 Telegraph Ave. Sponsored by the the Oakland Berkeley Branch of the Communist Part. 597-7417. 

California Natives: Plants and People A family tour at 12:30 p.m., lecture on “Getting Started with California Natives” at 3 p.m., at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5-$7. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Annual Finnish Vappu Dance with Heikki Koskinen and the Kaleva All-Star Band at 7 p.m. at Kaleva Hall, 1970 Chestnut St. Donation $20.  

Colorful Containers with Junia Ribiero at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. 

Teen Knitting Circle at 3 p.m. in the 4th Flr Story Room of the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Bring your own needles in size 8. 981-6107. 

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

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 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, MAY 4 

“Beautiful Benvenue, Elegant Hillegass” Berkeley Architectural Heritage’s House Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25-$35. 841-2242. www.berkeleyheritage.com 

Family Birdwalk Learn birding basics for the whole family from 10 a.m. to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

EcoHouse Tour Learn simple improvements to green your urban home. Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Donation $10, sliding scale. Registration required. 548-2220, ext. 242. 

Walk for Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness at 10:30 a.m. at the Berkeley Marina. FOr information call 310-372-5053. 

Bring Back the Natives Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A self-guided tour in the East Bay. Register online at www.BringingBackTheNatives.net 

Bike Tune-Up Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Albany Spring Art & Music Festival, Memorial Park, 1331 Portland Ave., Albany. www.ebbc.org 

Buddha Day/Vesak Celebration to commemorate the birth of Gautama Buddha from 3 to 6 p.m. at Jodo Shinshu Center, 2140 Durant Ave. 809-1444. 

Old Time Radio East Bay Collectors and listeners gather to enjoy shows together at p.m. at a private home in Berkeley. For more information email DavidinBerkeley at Yahoo.com 

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 

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

Tibetan Buddhism with Mark Henderson on “Mantra and Prayer Wheels: An Avenue to Light” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000 www.nyingmainstitute.com 

Kol Hadash with Dora Apsan Sorrell, Holocaust survivor at 10 a.m. at Albany Comunity Center, 1249 Marin Ave. Suggested donation $5. 428-1492. 

Sew Your Own Open Studio Come learn to use our industrial and domestic machines, or work on your own projects, from 4 to 8 p.m. at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Cost is $5 per hour. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

MONDAY, MAY 5 

2.5 Mile Monday Join a hike in the Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline to explore natural diversity and learn about the area’s historic significance, with naturalist Meg Platt. Meet at 9 a.m. at Big Meadow Picnic Site. 525-2233. 

“The Open Space Movement” with Dick Walker, goegrapher at UC Berkeley and Sylvia McLaughlin, of Save the San Francisco Bay Assn. at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, central meeting room, 2090 Kittredge.  

“Swing into Spring” Benefit for Central Works with food, music and live and silent auctions at 6:30 p.m. at downtown Restaurant. Tickets are $85. 558-1381. www.centralworks.org 

Berkeley Rep’s Family Series, a monthly theater workshop for the entire family from 11. a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addison St. Free, but bring a book to donate to the library at John Muir Elementary School. 647-2973. 

“Housing, HUD, and Section 8” A discussion group on the future of the program in the Bay Area, especially Berkeley, at 1 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, Ellis St. at Ashby Ave. 

“Israel at 60: Peoples, Culture and Contributions” a brown-bag lunch with Yitzhak Santis of the Jewish Community Relations Council at 12:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group, for people 60 years and over, meets at 9:45 a.m. at Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave, Albany. Cost is $3. 

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 

TUESDAY, MAY 6 

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 Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

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

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds. We will explore ponds from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

“Grand Theft Childhood?” A panel discussion on violent video games by Greater Good magazine at 6 p.m. at North Gate Library, UC Graduate School of Journalism. 643-8965. www.greatergoodmag.org 

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

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 

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. www.watersideworkshops.org  

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. www.ecologycenter.org 

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. 

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 

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

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds. We will explore ponds from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

“Berkeley Bohemia: Artists and Visionaries of the Early 20th Century” with authors Ed Henry and Shelley Rideout at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. 

Walking Tour of Oakland Chinatown Meet at 10 a.m. at the courtyard fountain in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza at 388 Ninth St. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County Spring Breakfast Fundraiser for the Visitation Center for Women and Children with speaker Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, at 8:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, 675 23rd St., Oakland. RSVP to 636-4261. 

“Democracy, Labor and the Prosperity Myth” with Michael Parenti at 7 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. 981-2922. 

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. 

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. 

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 

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

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

THURSDAY, MAY 8 

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) 35th Anniversary Celebration at Hs Lordships at the Berkeley Marina. For tickets and information call 649-1930. www.self-sufficiency.org 

“Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America” with Judy Yung, professor emerita at UC Santa Cruz, at 1 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. 238-2022. 

East Bay Mac Users Group meets to discuss Drive Savers and Time Capsule at 7 p.m. at Expression College for Digital Arts, 6601 Shellmound St., Emeryville. http://ebmug.org  

Baby & Toddler 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 

FRIDAY, MAY 9 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Richard Fields of the Pacific Legal Foundation. 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 524-7468.  

“Palettes and Paddles” for children ages 9 and up to learn water-safety, boating and plein-air painting on Lake Merritt, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Fri. for 5 weeks. Cost is $63. To register call 238-2196. 

“Voices from Inside: Women Prisoners and their Children Speak Out” at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Donations requested. 528-5403. 

Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking Class meets Fri. from 6 to 8 p.m., through June 20 at Alta Bates Summit Cardiac Rehabilitation, 3030 Telegraph Ave. Free, but registration required. 869-6737.  

Communities in Transition Forum: Can There Be a “Female Man”? A panel discussion on the intersection of gender and sex at 7 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. 350-8495. 

Womansong Circle An evening of participatory singing for women led by Betsy Rose 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, MAY 10 

“Grassroots Greening” A walk in West Berkeley to see grassroots “greening” projects near the old Santa Fe rail route, ending with a no-host picnic in Strawberry Creek Park. Meet at 10 a.m. at the observation railing at Codornices Creek on the Ohlone Greenway, north of Santa Fe, under the BART tracks, opposite 1200 Masonic. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. 848-9358. 

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tour “Northbrae Trolleys” Explore the relationship between the early electric street railroads and real estate interests in the Northbrae area, from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $8-$10. For reservations call 848-0181. 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Bird Walk at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Meet at 8 a.m. at Arlington Clubhouse on Arlington Ave. in El Cerrito, for a six-mile hilly hike. 925-376-8945. 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Bird Walk at Vollmer Peak Meet at 8 a.m. at the Vollmer Peak trailhead in Tilden Park. 540-8749. 

Bike Day at the Berkeley Famers’ Market, Center St. btwn Milvia and MLK Way. “How to Lock Your Bike” at 10:30 a.m., “Everyday Bicycling” at 11 a.m., “Hands-On Repair Class” at 12:30 p.m., and “How to Lock Your Bike” at 2 p.m. 548-7433. www.ebb.org 

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

Spring Plant Sale to benefit the Edible Schoolyard, Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. 558-1335. www.edibleschoolyard.org 

Dye-Namite Tie Dye Learn natural tie-dying and the history of the craft, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden PArk. For ages 10 and up. Cost is $5-$7. Registration required. 1-888-EB-PARKS. 

Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival with activity tables where approximately 50 mathematicians and engineers will engage the children as they figure out the math behind puzzles, games and problems, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pixar Animation Studios, 1200 Park Ave., Emeryville. For more event information, please see www.msri.org/specials/festival/invite2008.html 

Celebrate Ghana! with the music, food, and arts of Ghana and drumming by Pope Flynn, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. Free. 532-9142. 

Advanced Recycled Bookmaking from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $10-$15. Registration required. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Unselt Birding Breakfast A walk and talk with a light breakfast, at 8 p.m. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Reservations required.643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Mother’s Day in the Garden of Old Roses at 1 p.m. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $17-$20. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

“Financial Crisis in America” A forum with Jack Rasmus, Prof of Economics at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, at 7 p.m. at Alameda Free Library, Conf. Room A, 1550 Oak St. at Lincoln. Sponsored by the Alameda Public Affairs Forum. 814-9592. 

Isadora Dance Workshop with Lois Flood from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Suggested donation $20. Class size limited. For reservation email LDAyres@gmail.com 

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

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

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. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission meets Thurs. May 1, at 7 p.m., at 2118 Milvia St. Nabil Al-Hadithy, 981-7461.  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., May 1, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400. 

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Thurs. May 1, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7419.  

City Council meets Tues., May 6, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. 

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs. May 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5428. 

West Berkeley Project Area Commission meets Thurs., May 8, at 7 p.m., at the West Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7520.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., May 8, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7410.  

Community Health Commission meets Thurs., May 8, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5356.

THURSDAY, MAY 1 

THEATER 

Eastenders Repertory Company “Three Vanek Plays” by Vaclev Havel, Thurs. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at JCC East Bay. Tickets are $15-$20. 800-838-3006. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lunch Poems Student readings at 12:10 p.m. at Morrison Library, Doe Library. 642-0137. lunchpoems.berkeley.edu 

Lytle Shaw, Holloway Lecturer in the Practice of Poetry, reads at 6:30 p.m. at 315 Wheeler Hall, The Maude Fife Room, UC Campus. 642-3467. http://holloway.english.berkeley.edu 

Chana Bloch, poet, reads at 7 p.m., followed by open mic, at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. Albany. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Molly Dwyer reads from “Requiem of the Author of Frankenstein” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Akademie Ensemble with Kent Nagano and Stuart Canin, at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $20-$60. 841-2800. www.berkeleysymphony.org 

Icarus Ensemble, contemporary music group from Italy, in concert at noon at Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Free. 559-6910. 

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

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

Over the Edge Guitar/violin and vocals at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Mauricio Diaz El Hueso and Fernandito Ferrer, young singer-songwriters from Mexico and Puerto Rico, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Rachelle Ferrell at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $26-$30. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, MAY 2 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Uncle Vanya” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave., through May 17. Tickets are $10-$12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org  

Aurora Theatre “The Trojan Women” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through May 11. Tickets are $40-$42. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley High School “Grease” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Florence Schwimley Little Theater, BHS Campus. Dance contest at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5-$15. hypedrama@aol.com 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Foxfire” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave. at Moeser, El Cerrito, through May 11. Tickets are $11-$18. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Theatre de la Jeune Lune “Figaro” through June 8 at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $13.50-$69. 647-2949. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Emancipated Hearts “What is Family to Me?” Art by at-risk high school foster children. Reception from 5 to 9 p.m. at Esteban Sabar Gllery, 430 23rd St. at Telegraph, Oakland.  

27th Annual Quilt Show With a special exhibition of the quilts by Dorothy Vance, opens at the Berkeley Public Library, North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, and runs through May 28. 981-6121. 

Chris Trueman “Recent Paintings” Opening reception at 5:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. Exhibition runs to June 26. 465-8911. 

“Earth Days” Works by Carrie Lederer, Irene Imfeld and Andrew Kaluzynski. Reception at 7 p.m. at Oakopolis, 447 25th St., Oakland. 663-6920. 

“In The Light of May” Ocean paintings by Emily Payne and Crossing the Skies photographs by Noreen Rei Fukumori on display at Cecile Moochnek Gallery, 1809-D Fourth St. 549-1018. 

FILM 

“Spin” and “Nightwatch” experimental media art at 8:30 p.m. at the “Great Wall of Oakland” outdoor projection on Grand Ave., just west of Broadway. www.oaklandculturalarts.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Martyr of the Amazon: The Life of Sister Dorothy Stang” with author Sr. Roseann Murphy at 7 p.m. at Newman Hall, 2700 Dwight Way at College. 499-0537. 

“The Best Women’s Travel Writing” with contributors Carol Arnold, Gayle Keck and others at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Mirthkon and Research & Development, multi-media concert, at 8 p.m. at Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $10. 

“Save Our Music” Concert to raise funds to save music programs for Alameda Elementary students with The Eyewitness Blues Band, jazz vocalist Natasha Miller, guitarist Terrence Brewer at 6:30 p.m. at Kofman Auditorium, 2200 Central Ave., Alameda. Tickets are $10-$25. 522-7101. 

The Function, hip-hop with Ise Lyfe at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Current Trends in Improvised Music at noon at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Garrett McLean, violin and Marvin Sanders, flute, at 8 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Cost is $10. 848-1228. 

San Francisco Opera “The Little Prince” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $40-$60. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Dr. Loco and his Hot Jalapeño Band at 5 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. 238-2022. 

Amina Figarova Group at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Songbird: A Tribute to Eve Cassidy at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $20. 845-5373.  

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

Ralph Stanley at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $49.50-$50.50. 548-1761.  

Dave Matthews Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

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

Dezarie, roots reggae from St. Croix at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $20-$25. 548-1159.  

Raya Nova at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Rachelle Ferrell at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $26-$30. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, MAY 3 

CHILDREN  

“Songs from Around the World” in English and Spanish with Juan L. Sanchez at 10 a.m. in the 4th flr Children’s Library, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St.  

“Toys: An Aerial Dream Come True” with Les Aerielles, a youth troupe of girls aged 7-14, at 8 p.m. at Trapeze Arts, 1822 9th St. Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15. www.lesaerielles.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

Jocelyn Konarski “Florenditpity” Flower photographs. Opening reception at 3 p.m. at LightRoom Gallery, 2263 Fifth St. 649-8111. www.lightroom.com 

Polly Pitkin Ryan “Watercolors 1946-199” Opening reception at 1 p.m. at the UC Faculty Club, Chernin Lounge, UC Campus. www.berkeleyfacultyclub.com 

Gail Tarantino “Sight Unseen” Art that incorporates braille on display at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave., Suite 4. 421-1255. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Storytelling and Music Festival, with stories from the African American and Native American tradiitons from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

“Memories and Dreams of the Twentieth Century” An evening of stories written and performed by Michael D. Brown at 8 p.m. at Da Silva Ukulele Co., 2547 8th Street, suite 28, in the Sawtooth building between Dwight and Parker. Suggested donation $15. 

Bay Area Poets Coalition Open Reading at 3 p.m. at Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison St. Park on street, not in Lodge parking lot. 527-9905.  

Poetry Reading for Sixteen Rivers Press, with Dan Bellum, Terry Ehret and Gillian Wegener at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Shattuck. 559-9500. 

Forum on the Themes of “Follies” with Ted Chapin of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Bldg., 200 Grand Ave., Oakland.  

Artist Support Group Speaker Series with Jamie Brunson, founder Art Primer, at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. Cost is $8-$10. 644-6893. 

Lisa Lutz reads from her new book “The Curse of the Spellmans” at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Community Orchestra “The Mozart Requiem” and “Hear The Bell” by Robin Eschner, winner of BCCO’s 2007 Julian White Choral Composition Competition, at 8 p.m. St. Joseph The Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Donations accepted.  

Berkeley Opera “Bluebeard’s Castle” by Bartok and “L’enfant at les sortileges” by Ravel at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $16-$44. 925-798-1300. 

BOCA Fund-Raiser Concert with Cal’s Gospel Choir and Francisco Herrera at 7 p.m. at McGee Avenue Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart St. Donation $10. 665-5821. 

Gamelan Sari Raras at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $4-$12. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

La Familia Peña-Govea at 8:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Discussion of Mexican music at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Yolanda Alicia Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

Ralph Stanley at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $49.50-$50.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Dick Hindeman Trio at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15 . 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Kurt Ribak Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

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

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

Tres Mojo at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Voetsek, Judas, In Disgust 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, MAY 4 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Home EC” Contemporary artists look at changing perspectives on caring for the home. Opening reception at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Nothin’ to Somethin’” poetry and rap by Oakland high school students to raise funds for homeless teens at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $5. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Memories and Dreams of the Twentieth Century” An evening of stories written and performed by Michael D. Brown at 7 p.m. at Da Silva Ukulele Co., 2547 8th Street, suite 28, in the Sawtooth building between Dwight and Parker. Suggested donation $15. 

Enrique Chagoya: Borderlandia Community Discussion at 3 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. Spanish language tour of the exhibition at 1 p.m. 642-0808.  

Dunbar Ogden reads from “My Father Said Yes: A White Pastor in Little Rock School Integration” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Carl Ludwig Hubsch & Gino Robair at 8 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $10-$15 at the door. 845-1350. www.hillsideclub.org  

Dance-A-Rama Perfomance by Terrain and guests, in honor of National Dance Week. A different program every hour beginning at 1 p.m. at Eighth Street Artists’ Center, 2525 Eighth St. Reception at 5 p.m. 848-4878. 

Berkeley Community Orchestra “The Mozart Requiem” and “Hear The Bell” by Robin Eschner, winner of BCCO’s 2007 Julian White Choral Composition Competition, at 4:30 p.m. St. Joseph The Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Donations accepted.  

Jillian Khuner, soprano, Jonathan Khuner, piano at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20. 684-7563. 

Reflejos de Mexico Nuestras Tradiciones Mexican dance, at 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets at the door $10.  

NorCal Theatre Organ Society “Pops” Concert by organist Ken Double at 2:30 p.m. at Berkeley Community Theatre, 1930 Allston Way. Tickets at door are $15. First-Timers for free. 415-861-7082. www.theatreorgans.com/norcal 

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

Americana Unplugged bluegrass at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

The Dominique Eade at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $20. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

David Jacobs-Strain at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Pappa Gianni and the North Beach Band, Pappa’s Birthday concert, at 2 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198. 

Saros, Thrones, Subarachnoid Space 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, MAY 5 

FILM 

Recent Works from the Eisner Prize Competition at 4 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jeanne Powell reads her poetry, followed by open mic at 7 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. www.expressionsgallery.org 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Julio Bravo, in a performance for Cinco de Mayo, at noon at 555 12th St., Oakland. Part of Oakland City Center Spring Concerts.  

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

Pete Yellin All-Stars at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, MAY 6 

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Animals of the Little Farm” Photographs by Jacqueline Krayna on display at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park, through June 27. 525-2233. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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 

An Evening Honoring Utah Philips with Jody Stecher & Kate Breslin, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Eric & Suzy Thompson, Larry Hanks at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Barbara Linn and John Schott at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Carlabration, benefit for Carla Zilbersmith, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $15-$25. 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, MAY 7 

FILM 

Film 50: History of Cinema: “Memento” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Ed Henry and Shelley Rideout on “Berkeley Bohemia: Artists and Visionaries of the Early 20th Century” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. 

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. 

Berkeley Opera “Bluebeard’s Castle” by Bartok and “L’enfant at les sortileges” by Ravel at 5 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $16-$44. 925-798-1300. 

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

Power to the People Tour with Geologic and Kiwi, benefit for Filipino American organizations, at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Kaladrios at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

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

Orquestra Candela 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.  

Rebecca Griffin, jazz, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Javon Jackson Band, with Les McCann, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, MAY 8 

EXHIBITIONS 

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

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Michael Capozzola, comedy and cartoons at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Claire Johnson reads from her second Mary Ryan mystery, “Roux Morgue” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

College of Alameda Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert at 7 p.m. at College of Alameda Student Center, F Bldg., 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Pkwy., Alameda. 748-2213. 

Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Double Vision Jazz Quartet at 8 p.m., UC Jazz Choir at 7 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

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

Javon Jackson Band, with Les McCann, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, MAY 9 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Uncle Vanya” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave., through May 17. Tickets are $10-$12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org  

Aurora Theatre “The Trojan Women” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through May 11. Tickets are $40-$42. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Foxfire” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave. at Moeser, El Cerrito, through May 11. Tickets are $11-$18. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Theatre de la Jeune Lune “Figaro” through June 8 at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $13.50-$69. 647-2949. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Rauan Klassnik, Gary Young and Karen Wood Hepner, poets, at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Tim Donnelly and Lizz Bronson, poets, read at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Cafe, 1854 Euclid Ave. 841-6374. 

Will Giles reads and shows slides from “Encyclopedia of Exotic Plants for Temperate Climates” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “Bluebeard’s Castle” by Bartok and “L’enfant at les sortileges” by Ravel at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $16-$44. 925-798-1300. 

Lily Storm & Dan Cantrell’s MegaBand at 8 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $10-$15 at the door. 845-1350. www.hillsideclub.org 

University Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $4-$12. 642-9988. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Marvin Sanders, flute, at 8 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Tickets are $10. 848-1228. 

Charlie King, The Prince Myshkins, Roy Zimmerman, political songs and satire, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15-$18. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

San Francisco Opera “The Little Prince” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $40-$60. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Pete Yellin Quartet with Shiela Jordan at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

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

Judgement Day, Ninja Academy, Birdmonster at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

The Dave Stein Hub-Bub at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Poach Stevens at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10. 548-1159.  

Thee Immortals, alt blues, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Javon Jackson Band, with Les McCann, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, MAY 10 

EXHIBITIONS 

Paintings by Judith Brownfield, James Hartman and Nell Haskell. Opening reception at 4 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. 848-1228. www.giorgigallery.com 

“Intertidal” Works by Jamie McHugh, Tara Gill, Susan Adme and Judy Shintani. Opening reception at 5 p.m. at the Community Art Gallery, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave. 204-1667. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Writing Motherhood” with Lisa Garrigues at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Youth Chorus “Oye La Musica!” at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$20. 287-9700. 

MusicEterna “La Vida Breve” Spain and Russia between the Great Wars, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. www. 

trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble at 4 p.m. at Lake Merritt Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave. Tickets are $17-$20. 531-8714. www.vocisings.com 

University Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $4-$12. 642-9988. http://music.berkeley.edu 

“The Lost Musical Instruments of Joe Pachinko” A concert on unusual instruments at 7 p.m. at Leaning Tower of Pizza, 498 Wesley Ave., off Lakeshore, Oakland. 444-6824. 

Los Mapaches, Latin American music for the whole family at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10, $5 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Ed Reed & Brian Cooke Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $15. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

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

Mike Zilber Group “Tribute to Michael Becker and Wayne Shorter” at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Andrew Sammons and Friends at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

2ME at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

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

Punk Prom with Knights of the New Crusade, People Eaters, The Martyr Index 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. 

Les Nubians at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $30. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

The scene should have been a familiar one to a theater reviewer: rows of seats, the seatholders with an air of anticipation, focused on the spectacle to commence before them. 

As I took my own seat, I felt a little rush, similar to the pre-curtain exhilaration on an opening night. Nevertheless, I had that nagging feeling, like in a dream, that something was different, maybe wrong, like a schoolboy who hasn’t studied for a quiz, an actor going up on his lines. 

This was because the attention in that room was focused on me, a guest speaker in one of Marion Fay’s Theatre Explorations classes for Albany Adult School at the Northbrae Community Center. 

No matter how often you make your plaintive or congratulatory views known in print, how often you pipe up to put in your two cents worth, there’s a real difference between being a (more or less) professional spectator and becoming a public spectacle. 

Getting a grip, I told myself (and the class) I’d been on stage before, periodically since youth, when my conjurer dad set me up with a little show of illusions to wow cub scout packs and kids’ parties. 

But even that, and later ventures onto a stage, were in character—playing a role, I mean. This time, it was me as myself, the self that pecks out these mock-authoritative screeds on having seen some local show. And that was the upshot of those stage adventures—becoming a reviewer—about which I had been invited to the class to describe. 

I’d gotten an e-mail a few months ago from my esteemed colleague, fellow Planet writer Phil McArdle, telling me about the class he and his wife Karen attended; an enthusiastic group, Phil said, led by a dynamic teacher who occasionally used my reviews. The class featured guest speakers. Would I be interested? How about it? Disarmed, flattered by these symptoms of readership, I replied YES. Phil put me in touch with Marion, and a more formal invite followed. 

So with a few cues from Marion via e-mail, and many ruminations I knew were truthful and good, because they impressed me, I was ready to essay my stuff. 

I dispensed, however, with my notes and preconceptions right off. The group had its own motor, just like a good production onstage does. I talked. We talked. The questions and remarks by classmembers were intelligent, informed, energetic ... And Marion’s occasional prompting kept me from wandering out into the far trees of self-enactment in the guise of thoughtful presentation. 

What did I think of Future Me? Of Wakefield or Argonautica? All that was easy—and fun; I’d seen, thought about and written on each. And there never is enough space on newsprint to capture the outsized dimensions of that thought, much less the gear it’s clothed in. 

What was harder to describe was being asked to detail the reviewing process. I watch plays, not myself watching plays, or maybe just enough to catch my own mannerisms and the faintest hunches about what’s going on onstage. 

Still, when queried, a lot of subliminal stuff came flooding back. Like an athlete watching a game he was in on tape, it was a revelation, maybe even a readjustment. 

The two hours went by quickly. Critics are supposed to be glib. Guess I got a vocation, after all. 

The generosity of the class and teacher conquered me. I’d put out that old truism about theater being the most social of the arts, and discovered again what a broad community that was, with such depth. 

Leaving, after passing through a few knots of after-hours discussion in the hallway and outside, I had the once-familiar, though never familiar enough, sensation going offstage to an audience’s applause. And I hadn’t forgotten my lines. 

Follies is one of Sondheim’s greatest works,” said Michael Morgan, Oakland East Bay Symphony director and conductor, of the concert version of the Stephen Sondheim-James Goldman Tony-winning musical the symphony will stage at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre May 16 and 18, with Academy Award-Tony-Grammy winner Rita Moreno, Val Diamond (Beach Blanket Babylon) and cabaret diva Sharon McKnight as guest stars. “[It’s] the timeless story of aging, learning from past mistakes and passing wisdom down from generation to generation.” 

Picking up on the theme of the wisdom passed from generation to generation, the symphony is presenting a free forum with live music, dance and song this Saturday, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Building, 200 Grand Ave. in Oakland. 

With Morgan, assistant conductor Brian Nies and co-choreographer Ronn Guidi of Oakland Ballet as participants, the forum will feature Ted Chapin, director of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization and author of Everything was Possible: The Birth of the Musical Follies, as keynote speaker. 

A multigenerational panel, moderated by John Kendall Bailey, director of Trinity Lyric Opera and Voices of Music Sacra (and preconcert speaker for the symphony), will include Berkeley’s Barbara Oliver, founder of the Aurora Theatre; Golden Follies choreographer-dancer (and co-choreographer of Follies with Guidi) Diane Tembey-Stawicki; dancer Marie Mazza; Guidi; Oakland poet and mystery writer Lucha Corpi; Berkeley High drama student Nkili Birmingham; College of Alameda Music Department chair and jazz player Glen Pearson and career counselor Bonnie Bell of Bell Investments in Oakland. 

The live show will be presented by StageBridge, a nonprofit internationally touring troupe of over-50 actors committed to intergenerational work, in selections (with child performers joining in) from their world premiere musical, Chicken Sunday (Jim Jenkins, piano), from Patricia Polacco’s book, as well as Sondheim songs sung by Darla Wigginton (with Brian Nies on piano) and Diane Tembey-Stawicki performing “Tap Dancing Through the Years.” 

The Forum is presented by the Symphony in association with StageBridge and the Downtown Oakland Senior Center. 

The concert version at the Paramount will feature, in addition to Moreno, Diamond and McKnight, tenor Trent Morant (former director of the Oakland Youth Chorus), soprano Sheri Greenawald (director of the San Francisco Opera Center) and soprano Melody Moore, as well as members of Berkeley Broadway Singers and members of Golden Follies, seniors who perform musical revues. 

FOLLIES 

May 16 and 18 at the Paramount Theater,  

2025 Broadway, Oakland. 

465-6400. www.oebs.org. 

Free forum with music, dance and song 

1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3. Veterans Memorial Building, 200 Grand Ave., Oakland.

Carla Zilbersmith of Albany is a dynamic performer—jazz singer, impressionist, comic, actor—who has also been influential as teacher and director. Her original show, Wedding Singer Blues, was a critical success here and in Los Angeles. Diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), she’s retiring from teaching, but will continue to perform—at the JazzSchool, June 14 and Anna’s Jazz Island on July 11, and also at 8 and 10 p.m. this coming Tuesday, May 6, at Yoshi’s Jack London Square in a benefit for her, with 30 musicians, including musical satirist Roy Zimmerman as well as the JazzSchool Composers Collective Big Band. Carla will sing standards from her new CD Extraordinary Renditions. 238-9200, www.yoshis.com or www.quiltmamas.com.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni climbed up the red-tiled stairs of the International House at UC Berkeley on a recent April afternoon with the familiar gait of someone who has done it a thousand times before. 

“Aren’t these pretty?” she asked, pointing at the colorful mosaic which gives the otherwise placid building on 2299 Piedmont Ave. the warmth hundreds of students flock to every year from all over the world. 

Divakaruni—who called the historic residential center home from 1978 to 79 while completing her six-year Ph.D. program in Renaissance Literature at UC Berkeley—began her prolific literary career from its very rooms. 

The American Book Award-winning author was back under its iconic dome last month to receive I-House Alumna of the Year honor—but this time she skipped her old dorm room and spent the night in the Ambassador Suite, reserved for VIP’s. 

“I had no idea they even had something like this,” Divakaruni said, unpacking in her room after a five-hour flight from Houston, Texas, where she lives with her husband Murthy and two sons, Abhay and Anand. 

“Bangla bolo?” (Do you know Bengali?) she asked me, and as we chatted in our common native tongue, familiar places, customs and people surfaced like voices from the past. 

Divakaruni’s classmates at Loreto Convent, Calcutta, remember her as a good student, and an avid sketcher, often delving into the mystical and the magical to draw inspiration. 

“Chitra was a five pointer, and mind you in those days getting five points wasn’t easy,” one of them told me in a telephone interview from Calcutta, where Divakaruni grew up. 

About 8,000 miles away from the city where she was born, and where many of her novels were set, Divakaruni reminisced about her high school days, and her love for literature. 

“I knew from the beginning that I wanted to major in literature, but I never knew I would be a writer,” she said. “I thought I would major in it and teach it at the university level, and that’s what I came here to Berkeley to do. And for many years I taught literature, and I still do, although I now teach creative writing.” 

Myth and folklore play a prominent role in all of Divakaruni’s stories, but at the same time she also writes to destroy stereotypes about Indians, and to some extent, Americans. 

Stories passed down orally through generations are often woven with intricate detail into her prose in an effort to keep long forgotten traditions alive. 

“There are superstitions, there are traditional ways of thinking about women which I don’t agree with,” she says. “But I bring those in too. They are all part of the texture of Indian culture.” 

A smattering of Bengali words such as parota, khichuri, chorchori can be found in almost all of Divakaruni’s stories—but her more recent novels neither italicize them nor list them under a glossary for the benefit of her western reader, something she promptly defends.  

“English is always a changing language and with immigration many words have entered English and are entering English, and this is just part of that larger movement,” she said. “I wanted to introduce them into the texture of the book without pointing to them as foreign words which by italicizing you do.” 

Divakaruni, who left the I-House for student housing in Albany after getting married, later went on to teach English at Foothill College in Los Altos. 

As a professor of creative writing at the University of Houston, Divakaruni teaches the literature of India, where she introduces students to the works of her contemporaries—Salman Rushdie, V.S. Naipaul, Arundhati Ray and Anita Desai, and other Indian and Indian American prose writers.  

“One of the things I miss about the Bay Area is that it’s just geographically so beautiful,” she said. “Another thing I like is the easy cultural mixing. It’s a place of great intellectual stimulation and social awareness. Houston is also culturally diverse but I notice people stay more within their ethnic groups.” 

Bengal and Bengalis play a very important role in Divakaruni’s novels, as do themes such as alienation, rootlessness, domestic violence, economic disparity and loss of identity. 

Her characters live, love and forge friendships inside Calcutta’s (Bengal’s capital city) centuries-old buildings or just find themselves inexplicably connected to the place through their past. 

“Bangla culture is a big part of my writing,” Divakaruni continued. “I realized that in order to remember the people and places I knew while I was growing up, I needed to write.” 

Standing in the middle of College Street—or “Boi Para” as it is commonly referred to—in present-day Calcutta, it is easy to picture Sudha and Anju, characters around which her novel Sister of My Heart is centered, being chaperoned down its sepia-tinted streets, as was customary in traditional middle-class Bengali families when Divakaruni was a young girl. 

Divakaruni often draws inspiration for her characters from her own cross cultural experience, which began when she left Calcutta when she was 19 to pursue a master’s degree in English at Wright State University in Ohio. 

“It was being an immigrant that made me into a writer, because when I moved away from my culture, I began to be able to see it more clearly,” she said. “When I was living in Calcutta, my culture was all around me. I didn’t give it much thought. It was only when you are in a place where you don’t have many Bengalis around you, you can’t speak your language, you can’t eat your food then you start thinking about those things, what they meant to you. You want to re-create those things.” 

Living in the Bay Area, and especially in Berkeley, for a long time, made Divakaruni aware of different cultures. 

Set in Oakland in the 1980s and recently made into a movie starring Aishwarya Rai, her novel Mistress of Spices shatters the divide between modern-day America and myth through Tilo, a magical figure who helps Indian immigrants overcome difficulties through her exotic spices, but in the end battles with her heritage to accommodate her own desire. 

“A lot of it is about living in a culture that’s not your own and how you adapt to it,” Divakaruni said. 

Women—especially those victimized by domestic violence or abuse—have always been central to Divakaruni’s writing, something the writer said piqued her interest when she was volunteering for the Women’s Center in Berkeley. 

Today, Divakaruni serves on the board of the Bay Area-based Maitri and the advisory board of Daya in Houston—organizations which help battered South Asian or South Asian American women reclaim their lives. 

“What I learned when I worked with women who were victims of abuse has changed me as a person, and some of them inspired me to create other characters.” 

Two of her books, Arranged Marriage and Mistress of Spices, revolve around women trying to break out of difficult situations and the lack of respect society often has for them. 

According to Divakaruni, incidents of domestic violence have increased since she helped start Maitri in 1991. 

“The good thing is today, women come out more to talk about it,” she said. “Earlier there was a great deal of stigma attached with being abused. Womens’ organizations do a lot of outreach work in India today to explain to parents and families about what causes abuse. There are lots of checks and balances in place.” 

Some of Divakaruni’s more recent writings (such as The Unknown Errors of Our Lives) also focus on the changing Indian Diaspora. 

Her protagonists are people who go back to India to reconnect with their culture and take their children back with them to connect with their heritage, a theme that has also been explored by other Indian writers such as Amit Chaudhuri. 

The Palace of Illusions—Divakaruni’s latest book—is a retelling of the Indian epic, the Mahabharat, through the eyes of one of its most misunderstood characters, the Princess Panchaali. 

Divakaruni spent four years writing the book, which is twice the amount of time it usually takes her to write a novel. 

Her meticulous historical research involved reading several different versions of the epic poem—including the translation from Sanskrit by the 17th century Bengali poet Kashiram Das—and learning about the architecture, food and beauty secrets which existed thousands of years ago. 

“The story goes way back into an ancient world, and yet one of the things I wanted to show is that human concerns are not that different,” Divakaruni said. “Mahabharat is really on one level a book that warns us about the consequences of war, and look several thousands years later, we are involved in so many wars and so much destruction.”