MONDAY, JULY 28 

Underwater Week at Habitot Children’s Museum at 2065 Kittredge St. Cost is $7-$8. 647-1111. www.habitot.org 

Kensington Library Book Club meets to discuss “Persuasion” by Jane Austin at 7 p.m. at 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Pacific Boychoir Music Day Camp, Mon.-Fri., for boys ages 5-9 at 410 Alcatraz Ave. 652-4722. www.pacificboychoiracadey.org 

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 

Free Boatbuilding Classes for Youth Mon.-Wed. from 3 to 7 p.m. at Berkeley Boathouse, 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Classes cover woodworking, boatbuilding, and boat repair. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

TUESDAY, JULY 29 

Diabetes Screening Drop in anytime between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. at Savo Island Community Room, 2017 Stuart St. Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours, with the exception of water, before the test. 981-5367. 

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 Briones Regional Park. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

Little Farm Open House Join the naturalists and farm docents in crafts, songs and fun educational activities to learn about the farm, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Little Farm, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Peach Tasting including nectarines, plums, pluots, and apricots, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at MLK, Jr. Way. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

“Away With All Gods” Discussion group meets to discuss pages 96-119 of the book by Bob Avakian at 7 p.m. at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. 

Green Living Project: Africa 2008 A mulitmedia presentation with Rob Holmes at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

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

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

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

Yarn Wranglers Come knit and crochet at 6:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

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. Share your digital images, slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 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 offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and 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, JULY 30 

“Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula” with author Jules Evens at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Summer Board Game Days from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

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. 548-9840. 

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. 

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. 

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

Berkeley CopWatch Drop-in office hours from 6 to 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

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

THURSDAY, JULY 31 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets at 7:30 a.m. at Au Coquelet, 2000 University Ave. Flammia@gmail.com 

Diabetes Screening Drop in anytime between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. at Savo Island Community Room, 2017 Stuart St. Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours, with the exception of water, before the test. 981-5367. 

“Growing Food, Growing Community: Food Access Through Urban Gardens” A panel discussion of the ideas and projects of the late Karl Linn at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Teen Book Cub meets to celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday at 4 p.m. at the Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. 981-6107.  

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

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

Three Beats for Nothing South Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Thurs. at 10 a.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, Ellis at Ashby. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

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, AUGUST 1 

“A World Beyond Violence” CA 2008 U.S. Dept. of Peace Conference at UC Berkeley, Fri.-Sun. Keynote speaker Marianne Williamson at Wheeler auditorium. Conference cost $105. Call regarding sliding scale tickets. 527-6062. 

Introduction to Pilates at 10:30 a.m. at Elephant Pharm, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Fearless Meditation I at 7 p.m. at Center for Urban Peace, 2584 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Sliding scale fee $20-$30. 549-3733, ext. 3.  

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. 

Three Beats for Nothing Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Fri. at 10 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, Hearst at MLK. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 

Summertime at the Ponds Learn about life in the ponds, then use nets to investigate this dynamic habitat, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“Wildlife Photography of Jeff Robinson” A slide show of wildlife photographs from around the world at 2 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park” Hear National Park Ranger Betty Reid Soskin share the overlooked stories and contributions of the “Rosies” and other Americans on the Home Front during World War II, at 2 p.m. at Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland. 531-4275.  

Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tour: The Civil War at Mountain View Meet at 10 a.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Cost is $10-$15. 763-9218. info@oaklandheritage.org 

Got a problem in the garden? Want expert advice on watering, plant selection, lawn care, or pest management? Visit the master gardener booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center Street between ML King and Milvia. 639-1275. 

Nature Detectives at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center Discover the fascinating world of arthropods by exploring our channels, meeting a resident crab in our touch tank, and making a craft to take home. For 3 to 5 year olds and their caregivers, at 11 a.m. at 901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. Cost is $5, registration required. 670-7270. 

US Tennis Association Girls’ 18 National Championship Aug. 2-10 at the Berkeley Tennis Club and the Claremont Resort, Tunnel Rd. at Domingo. www.USTAgirls.org  

Summer Board Game Days from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

LakeFest 08 A festival along Lakeshore Ave. in Oakalnd Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 834-9198. www.oaklandevents.net 

Port Huron Project 5: The Liberation of Our People a reenactment of the 1969 speech by Angela Davis at 6 p.m. at the original site of DeFremery Park, 1651 Adeline St., West Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Free Meditation Workshop at noon at 7th Heaven Yoga Studio, 2820 7th St. 665-4300. 

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. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 

Berkeley Rent Board Nominating Convention Help nominate a progressive rent board slate for the November election, at 4 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Donation $3-$10, no one turned away. 549-0534. 

Lazarex Cancer Foundation “Hope in Motion” 5/10 K Walk/Run, at 8 a.m. at Lake Merritt, 568 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $30-$35. 925-820-4517. www.lazarexfoundation.org 

Trash to Treasure at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center. Get some creative reuse ideas as we turn our old and/or ripped pants into a small pillow, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. 670-7270. 

Social Action Forum with Antonio Medrano on his work in Mexico for Amnesty International at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensigton. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to do a safety inspection, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Bring your bike and tools. 527-4140. 

Yoga and Meditation at 9:15 a.m. at Elephant Pharm, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

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

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

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

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. Also on Fri. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $5 per hour. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

ONGOING 

Summer Lunch For Kids & Teens from June 16 to August 15 Meal sites are located at various schools and community centers throughout Oakland and Alameda County. For information call 800-870-3663 for a meal site near you or visit www.summerlunch.org To make a donation see www.accfb.org  

Contra Costa Chorale is accepting new singers. Rehearsals begin August 25, at 7:15 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navallier Street, El Cerrito. 527-2026. www.ccchorale.org 

School Backpack Collection Drive Drop off new or gently used backpacks at Spenger’s, 1919 Fourth St.,during August, for a $10 dining certificate. Backpacks will be distributed by the Berkeley Boosters/Police Activities League. 845-7771. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Mental Health Commission meets Wed., July 24 , at 6:30 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. 981-5213.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., July 24, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7410. 

Parks and Recreation Commission meets Mon., July 28, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5158.  

Zero Waste Commission meets Mon., July 28, at 7 p.m., at 1201 Second St. 981-6368.  

MONDAY, JULY 28 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Clay Eals discusses “Steve Goodman: Facing the Music” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Virago Theatre Company: Visions and Voices Play Reading Series at 7 p.m. at Crosstown Community Center, 1303 High St.. Alameda. Cost is $10. www.viragotheatre.org 

Poetry Express with Bradley Buchanan from Cal State Sacramento, and Alcie Templeton at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Downtown Jam Session with Glen Pearson at 7 p.m. at Ed Kelly Hall, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. Cost is $5. www.opcmucsic.org 

East Bay Blues Revue Benefit at 7:30 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, JULY 29 

THEATER 

Youth Musical Theater Company, “Into the Woods” Tues.-Thurs. at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$18. 800-838-3006. www.brownpapertickets.com  

FILM 

United Artists: 90 Years “Sweet Smell of Success” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Residency Projects Part 3” Works by Katsutoshi Yuasa and Richard T. Walker. Artists’ talk at 7 p.m. at Kala Art Insitute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Hugh Masekela at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $22. 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, JULY 30 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Summertime Visions” New works by Toby Tover-Krein on display at C'era Una Volta, 1332 Park St., at Redwood Square, Alameda, through Sept. 23. 769-4828. www.ceraunavolta.us 

FILM 

The Long View: A Celebration of Widescreen “Days of the Eclipse” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jess Winfield reads from his novel “My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs and Shakespeare” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

“Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula” with author Jules Evens, at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Summer Sounds at Oakland City Center with Eldridge “Big Cat” Tolefree, blues, at noon at 12th and Broadway, Oakland.  

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

Rick and Yolanda at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

Orion’s Joy of Jazz with Pete Yellin, Craig Browning and Orion Edmondson at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

Ric and Yolanda at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

Balkan Folkdance at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Karabali 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.  

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

Hugh Masekela at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, JULY 31 

FILM 

Hecho por México: The Films of Gabriel Figueroa “Days of Autumn” at 6:30 p.m. and “Macario” at 8:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Wendy Lesser examines the intersections between life and art in “Room for Doubt, Except in Regard to Mark Morris” at 7:30 p.m. at JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

Annie Barrows reads from “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Country Joe McDonald Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. 843-0662. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Midsummer Mozart Festival Piano Recital with Nikolai Demidenko, at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. For ticket information call 415-627-9141. www.midsummermozart.org 

AileyCamp “...ism” Young dancers from Alvin Ailey’s summer program perform at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Kaz George Group at noon at the downtown Berkeley BART station, Shattuck at Center St. 

Sean Hodge with High Heat at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

The Jake Blackshear Quartet, The Bridge Crawl, Settledown at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Saul Kaye, Jewish blues, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Fred O’dell and the Broken Arrows at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

The Django Festival with Dorado Schmidt and Larry Coryell at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $14-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “The Matchmaker” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave., through Aug. 16. Tickets are $10-$12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org  

Altarena Playhouse “Hay Fever” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Aug. 9. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Central Works “Midsummer/4” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through Aug. 24. Tickets are $20. 558-1381. www.centralworks.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Kiss Me Kate” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through Aug. 3. Tickets are $15-$24. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Subterranean Shakespeare “The Merry Wives of Windsor” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at The Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., through Aug. 9. Tickets are $12-$17. For reservations call 276-3871.  

The Wild Party Performances Fri.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at The Black Repertory Group, 3201 Adeline St. 652-2120 BWLEM@aol.com  

EXHIBITIONS 

“East Bay Regional Parks Wildlife: Past & Present” Photographs by Jeff Robinson on display at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park, through Aug. 30. Closed Mondays. 525-2233. 

“Present Tension” Works by Jerry Carniglia, Judith Foosaner and Ann Weber. Reception at 6 p.m. at Chandra Cerrito Contemporaty, 25 Grand Ave., upper level, Oakland. www.chandracerrito.com 

“Cycles in Nature” Sculpture using materials found in the natural world by Deborah Yaffe. Reception at 7 p.m. at Oakopolis, 447 25th St., Oakland. Open Sat. from 2 to 5 p.m. 663-6920. 

“Rooted in the Bay Area” Works by Makhael Banut. Reception at 7 p.m. at The Compound Gallery, 6604 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. Exhibition runs to Aug. 12. 655-9019. thecompoundgallery.com 

“Accordion Dreams” Paintings by Julie Alvarado and “Slipping (Into Something)” paintings by Kathleen King. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Mercury 20 Gallery, 25 Grand Ave., Oakland. 701-4620. www.mercurytwenty.com 

“home bound” Mixed media paintings by dj whelan. Artist reception at 5 p.m. at Awaken Cafe, 414 14th St., Oakland. 836-2058. info@awakencafe.com  

“Toasting the End of Capitalism” Collage and photography by Maria Gilardin. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at NoneSuch Space, 2865 Broadway at 29th Street, 2nd fl., Oakland. 650-224-3108. annskinnerjones@yahoo.com 

FILM 

ITVS Community Cinema “Chicago 10” A documentary directed by Brent Morgan at 6:30 p.m., followed by discussion, at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Part of the Port Huron Project 5. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Sunset Cinema “Paperback Dreams” the story of two independent bookstores, at 7:30 p.m. in the garden of the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St. 238-2022. 

The Dark Cinema of David Goodis “Dark Passage” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Studio One Reading Series with Jaarrod Roland and Kaya Oakes at 7:30 p.m. at Studio One, 365 45th St. at Broadway, Oakland. Suggested donation $3-$15. 597-5027. 

Noelle Oxenhandler reads from her memoir “The Wishing Year: A House, A Man, My Soul” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Birdlegg and the Tight Fit Blues Band at 5 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2022. www.museumca.org 

The Black Diamond Band, rhythm and blues, at 5 p.m. outdoors at Broadway at Water St., Jack London Square, Oakland. at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Glenn Miller Orchestra at 8 p.m. aborad the USS Hornet at Pier 3, Alameda. Tickets are $45-$95. 521-8448, ext. 282. www.hornetevents.com 

Alfredo Naranjo y El Guajeo, from Venezuela, at9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $16-$18. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Grace and Julian at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

A Tribute to Utah Phillips with Rebecca Riots and Hally Hammer at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10 and up. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Claudia Russell & the Folk Unlimited Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Emith, Mary Redente Duo at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Pat Nevin’s Ragged Glory in a benefit for the Jerry Day Foundation, at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Slick 46, Harrington Saints, Leif Erickson at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

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

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

The Django Festival with Dorado Schmitt and Larry Coryell at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $16-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 

CHILDREN  

Sandi & Stevie Sing Bug Songs at 2 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. For ages 3 and up. 524-3043.  

Puppet Show “The Adventures of Peer Gynt” Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. and “Aesop’s Fables” at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $6. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

Saturday Stories: “The Foolish Tortoise” Listen to the story, then create an art project related to the story, at 1 p.m. at The Museum of Children’s Art, 538 9th St., Oakland. 465-8770. www.mocha.org 

THEATER 

Port Huron Project 5: The Liberation of Our People a reenactment of the 1969 speech by Angela Davis at 6 p.m. at the original site of DeFremery Park, 1651 Adeline St., West Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Red State” at 2 p.m. at Willard Park. Free, donations accepted. 415-285-1717. www.sfmt.org 

Shotgun Players “Ubu for President” An adaptation of the plays of Alfred Jarry, Sat. and Sun. at 4 p.m. at John Hinkel Park, Southampton Ave., off the Arlington, through Sept. 14. Free, donations accepted. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Stone Soup Improv at 8 p.m. at Temescal Art Center, 511 48th St. at Telegraph. Cost is $6-$9. 415-430-5698. info@stonesoupimprov.com 

Prism Stage “The W. Kamu Bell Curve” Sat. and Sun. at 8 p.m. at Pro Arts, 550 Second St., Oakland, through Aug.10. Tickets are $15-$20. 848-0237. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Wildlife Photography of Jeff Robinson” A slide show of wildlife photographs from around the world at 2 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

FILM 

The Dark Cinema of David Goodis “Shoot the Piano Player” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, Sat.-Sat. at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. All Fesitval Pass is $225. Group rates and specials for students and seniors are available. 925-275-9490. www.sfjff.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Port Huron Project 5: The Liberation of Our People A reenactment of the 1969 Angela Davis speech at deFremery Park, 1651 Adeline St., between 16th and 17th St., Oakland. Sponsored by the Oakland Museum of California. 238-2200. 

Bay Area Poets Coalition open reading, 3 to 5 p.m., at Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison St. Park on the street, not in Lodge parking lot. 527-9905. poetalk@aol.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Duo Amaranto, in a concert honoring Julie Winkelstein, at 2 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 16. 

Glenn Miller Orchestra at 8 p.m. aboard the USS Hornet at Pier 3, Alameda. Tickets are $45-$95. 521-8448, ext. 282. www.hornetevents.com 

Gateswingers Jazz Band at 8 p.m. at 33 Revolutions Record Shop and Cafe, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Mariachi Monumental de México de Juan Reyes at 8:30 p.m., panel discussion at 7:30 p.m., at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Frankye Kelly & Her Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

The Phenomenauts with Kepi Ghoulie Electric, Vic Ruggiero and The Secretions, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $110-$12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Anna Laube, Garrick Davis at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Geroid O’hAllmhurain & Barbara Magone at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Kyle Athayde, trumpet, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

Izabella, Sugar Shack at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Portraits of Past, Yaphet Kotto, La Quiete at 7:30 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $10. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 

THEATER 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Red State” at 2 p.m. at Willard Park. Free, donations accepted. 415-285-1717. www.sfmt.org 

FILM 

United Artists: 90 Years “Broken Blossoms” at 5 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Municipal Band at 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Park Bandstand. Bring your beach chair and picnic. 339-2818. 

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

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

Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band, Regina Wells at 7 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Tamar Sella and Shynell Blanson, vocalists, at 4:30 p.m. and Michael Coleman, Nick Lyons Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10 for each concert. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

Krum Bums, Verbal Abuse, Peligro Social at 4 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

Mari Mark’s works, presently seen in a fine installation by Nicolas Ukranic at the Graduate Theological Union Library, are luminous encaustic paintings. Some are heavily textured, others reveal their smooth wax surface. Some are translucent, others appear opaque. They are open to free association by the viewer. They may suggest clouds, sand, rippling water, ploughed earth, heavy fog—everything from mountain ranges and deep canyons to bee hives and fingerprints. They can also evoke a sense of turmoil as well as a feeling of peace. A special luminosity seems to emerge from the material and the process employed by the artist. 

Many viewers want to know how a certain work of art was made, which is often quite irrelevant. In fact artists frequently do not wish to reveal the process. In Mari Marks’ encaustics the process is an essential part of the work. 

The paintings and studies were created by a slow, labor-intensive process using the organic materials of the earth itself. Marks begins each work by placing four to six layers of natural beeswax on her support. She then adds several additional layers of natural or pigmented beeswax, after which, using an engraving tool or scraper and powdered graphite, she engraves the desired pattern—rough or smooth deep or shallow—into the work, which is completed by the artist, placing it with slow hand movement under a heated lamp.  

Mari Marks studied life drawing with Richard Diebenkorn, when the latter taught at the University of Illinois, and, later with Elizabeth Murray. Over the years she has explored textured figurative work, made symbolic constructions and patterned nature paintings, until she arrived at her unique encaustics. Although she does not belong to any group or category, her work can be seen as related to Process Art, an international movement in which the creative process was the essential element of the work. These would include Joseph Beuys’ pieces, dealing with the experience of survival, Agnes Denes’ early Conceptual work, Richard Serra’s splashed lead sculptures, Evas Hesse’s serialized fiberglass works and Bruce Nauman’s linguistic games. Where Marks differs significantly from these works, called “Eccentric Abstractions” at the time, is that her art is palpably solid and the result of slow sequential operations. We are reminded of Alfred Whitehead’s saying that “Process and existence pre-suppose each other.” 

VARIATIONS: MARKS IN TIME 

Through Sept. 3 at the Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ride Road. 649-2500. www.gtu.edu.

A young couple, forced to part, goes through mutual recriminations, put right by a knowing maidservant: “Give me your hands.” At the protest, “I don’t see much point in it,” she replies, “There hasn’t been much point in the past five minutes. Remember you’re in love.” And they do. 

There’s a lot of point to any few minutes of Moliere’s masterpiece, Tartuffe, but also much pure comedy and many transparent, purely theatrical vignettes like this moment of breathing space in a dense theatrical outpouring that can go from archly humorous delicacy to rough-and-tumble slapstick in a second. Sherri Young, founder of the African-American Shakespeare (and newly appointed to San Francisco’s Arts Commission) nicely directs her cast in Charles Edward Pogue’s choice new translation of the classic that played the court of the Sun King. 

“A less than pious con man bamboozles a well-to-do gentleman out of his fortune and his family.” Pogue’s script, besides filling that satiric bill, also brings in dark social circumstances in the background the necessarily discrete original only hinted at. “In these late civil troubles, I lost myself and my way,” apologizes Orgon, the duped gentleman, to his wife. “With countrymen and friends turning on each other, even the king went a little mad, and in the aftermath I felt a madness of my own.” And so turned to the con man, posing as holy, for religious solice. 

Orgon, played as something of a vain huggy-bear of a husband and father, trying to assert a passive-aggressive authority through his infatuation with the phony preacher Tartuffe, is presented well by Abbie Rhone, an old trouper, who tries to navigate around his unbelieving family—unbelieving in Tartuffe and in Orgon’s puffed-up discipleship. In Nicole Brewer’s Elmire, a lady of both gravity and passion, he’s more than met his match—as has Tartuffe—in the uproarious scene of a false seduction that almost backfires. “Prepare for ecstacy, Madame!” cries the monkish rake, while Orgon cringes in self-disgust under the parlor table. 

There are about a dozen players on stage, and all acquit themselves well, following the lead of the script in combining well-to-do airs with domestic tantrums. Of all in the household, the quick-tongued maidservant, Dorine, as played by Belinda Sullivan (whose voice is familiar from Larry Reed’s ShadowLight shows), strikes just the right note, truly Moliere, in light of America, and can whine, yell, or do a slow burn. 

That “Bible-thumping blackguard,” as Orgon’s son, Damis (a rambunctious Keita Jones) puts it, sad-eyed but grinning Vernon Medearis as Tartuffe, in clerical collar and tunic with crucifix, whether ordering Dorine to clean his flagellator or endeavoring to clean Orgon’s clock, does it with lewd deliciousness (“a delightfully deviant performance”), whether in tears and groveling on the floor, or crooning spirituals, as if to himself. 

The supporting players do well, too—even a small, but crucial role, Monsieur Loyal, the bailiff, is deftly handled with sly humor by Federico Edwards, unctious snapping open his frockcoat to serve a writ. 

Ari Fulton’s costumes are both sumptuous and straightforward, matching Paul Riley’s drawing room set.  

“The snake fancies my lady,” Dorine says, aside, after Tartuffe has employed his handkerchief to “conceal that heaving bosom of yours!” The hypocrite casts his net of reverse psychology wide, but can’t conceal his own depravity, in the end only using it as pious confession on the rebound. “Rhythmically comic”—and completely theatrical! Everything a pretense, a performance with an audience in mind, onstage or off—“a sin is only a sin when it’s known”—and Tartuffe’s impersonation of piety drives Elmire to duplicity, too, staging the fake seduction for a private viewing. As Dorine exclaims, “Ma-DAM !” 

TARTUFFE 

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 3 at the and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton St., San Francisco. 

"Nudity can be a beautiful thing, Clara.” “Blimey! Perhaps me being a dresser has spoiled my eye for it!” 

When each member of an English family of artists invites a guest to come down from London for the weekend, the entertainment ranges from group parlor games, which quickly break down into furtive pairs escaping the group, to breast-baring conversations in those pairings, only reinforcing what Clara, the old backstage dresser standing in as housemaid, declares: when you’ve seen a lot of it backstage, somehow the onstage presentation loses its luster.  

But here it’s inverted: When what the guests have seen on stage is pressed upon them as being from the heart, the thrill of the first night begins to pale a little. 

Noel Coward’s 1920s comedy, Hay Fever, an ensemble show if ever there was one, is put on with panache at Altarena Playhouse, with a cast of nine—four ravenous and infighting family members and four increasingly gun-shy weekenders, plus the redoubtable Clara—directed by artistic director Frederick Chacon, all of them working together to make the pieces fit in a hilarious jigsaw puzzle of a pristine day in the country reflected in a sideshow mirror. 

Coward’s extraordinary ear for the offbeat foibles of casual speech sets up a field of simultaneous attractions and repulsions, each little particle starting out sparse, innocuous, if eccentric, in motion, then fusing with other innocent-sounding gaffes to gain a mass and specific gravity that bend light.  

At the center is the lady of the house, and formerly of playhouses everywhere, Judith Bliss (in a wonderful show of professional duplicity by Donna Turner—Judith’s duplicity, I mean). In yet another lull between bidding farewell to her public and another triumphant return to the boards, Judith seeks out single spectators and unwilling, but hypnotized, chamber audiences wherever she can find them, soaking in the praise, giving herself to her lucky public—then taking herself away. The poses she strikes are alone worth the price of admission—that is, unless you’re one of the unfortunates who must endure them close up, expected to applaud. 

Her two grown, yet quarreling, children, Sorel and Simon (Hannah Ward and William Irons) throw her lines or pelt her with distainful rejoinders. Judith’s husband and father to the spoiled brood, David Bliss (a fishy-eyed Englishman, as Fred Sharkey drolly plays him), is mostly upstairs, “undergoing a novel,” as Ezra Pound put it a few years before Hay Fever. And the guests, as if hand-picked to clash with the Bliss house denizens and each other, include a diplomat (Timothy Beagley), a morose little “flapper” (Jill Seagrave), a catty young lady of society (Lisa Price) and a passive-aggressive athlete (Aaron Pewtherer). 

Before long, the family members—when not reading each other out—have skipped out on their own guest to take up with another, only to be replaced by another predatory Bliss householder, eager to court, or hold court. “Do you suppose they know they’re mad?” a guest finally asks in dismay. “No,” replies the diplomat, “People never do.” 

The timing of the ensemble becomes as complicated in its own way as a Busby Berkeley floorshow. There’s a mathematical precision to Sir Noel’s survey of giddy imprecision. There are a few hilarious in-the-parlor musical numbers, all for extra-musical purpose, excepting the topper, when Clara, the temperamental dresser and maid, does a nice, perfectly offkey and meter-dumb “Tea for Two,” accompanied by the teacart, as she tidies up after the mayhem. 

With Judith leaping about from one heart-rending pose to another like an epileptic Isadora, no wonder a guest finally remarks, “Every time I open my mouth, I’ve been mowed down by theatrical effect!”  

“Her sense of the theater is always fatal.”  

But if Judith always steals the scene, nobody gets the final word, as the family coagulates into a happy, quarrelsome mass, with David reading them his finished novel (to constant interruption) as the guests give the slip. The closest to an explanation of the whole charade is perhaps that given by David, concerning his own: “The only reason I’ve been annoying is that I want to see things as they are at first, then to pretend to see them as they aren’t.” 

HAY FEVER 

Through Aug. 9 at the Altarena Playhouse 

1409 High St., Alameda. $17-$20.  

523-1553. www.alterena.org

Uh-one, uh-two ...” Not Lawrence Welk but Sir John Falstaff—or is that Geoffrey Pond of Subterranean Shakespeare in the outlandish tie and suspenders?—gives the downbeat, and accompanied by the unlikely tinkle of a toy piano, launches into “This Guy’s in Love With You,” with female chorus, to open Subterranean Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor in “new vaudeville” style, as directed by Katya Rivera, at the Berkeley Art Center in Live Oak Park. 

“If not, I’ll just ... die!” Mopping his visage with handkerchief, Sir John profusely thanks the audience, and then the fun begins, with perhaps Shakespeare’s most clown-heavy comedy sporting a gaggle of tackily accoutered funnymen to send up romance while unwittingly fostering it. 

Then the intrepid crew takes the low road with this least-honored of The Bard’s comedies, full of slapstick and silliness but following its delectible flights of language rather than the set-up of story and plot, letting that— characterization and the rest—issue from the intoxicating idiom as it spouts forth. 

There are dangers in doing it this way. The play, even judiciously cut as it is, runs o’er hill and dale, and it’s easy to lose the dynamics, accent and tone of the exquisite verbal flow—and once that’s gone, the rest follows suit. “It’s a real potpourri,” Pond said later, out of character but fondling his tie, “We wanted to play it quick.” 

The excellent duo sitting in as orchestra—Hal Hughes and Kevin Moore on aforesaid toy ivories, fiddle, kazoo, slide and train whistle and on guitars—adds a lot of tone and accent to the relentless comic outpourings. 

The ladies—Alexaendrai Bond and Rebecca Pingee as Mistresses Page and Ford—play it up as they trick Sir John into a nighttime tryst, sporting antlers, to take it out of him, as a band of mock witches and warlocks proceeds to do on cue. 

“Have you no suit against my knight, my guest cavaliero?” The troupe resembles a greasy print of lost Picasso saltimbanques in Bessie Delucchi’s’s costume buffoonery. Maggie Tenenbaum, in pink fishnets and green top with garish miniature parasol and squeaky voice, is Anne Page, courted by ardent Fenton (Caspar Brun) on a scooter, the true love interest, the one that gets away. She doubles in a rakish hat, assisting Mistress Quickly (Jean Forsman) in keeping the pub in an uproar of wine-bibbers and sack topers. 

“Methinks you speak preposterously, sir.” The revved-up braggadocio collides with trickery to produce nothing but folly by friction, whether with Falstaff hid among the linens in a laundry basket or Dr. Caius (Keith Jefferds) and Evans (Jim Colgan) tiptoeing into a fencing match. “Well, thou art a Hector of grief, my boy.” Stuart Hall as the nose-y Ford, disguised as Brook, and slicked-up Catz Forsman as Page are scheming husbands, Paul Shepard and Joseph Talley as Shallow and Slender are the old paying insipid court to the young, and Scott Lettieri essays a few of Falstaff’s hapless routines. 

With the gulling of Sir John, and a marriage (though not the one contracted) to certify it comic, the play ends with a touch of that bittersweet air that drifts above the verbal gales of Shakespeare’s choicest drolleries: “What cannot be eschewed, must be embraced.” 

MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR 

8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. $12-$17. 276-3871.