THURSDAY, OCT. 2 

Walkers 55+: Explore El Cerrito Hillside Gems Join a down-and-up loop exploring little-known creekside paths and great views from El Cerrito’s Hillside Natural Area. Meet at Arlington Park, 1120 Arlington (AC Transit 7) at 9 a.m. Wear hiking shoes; bring sticks if you use them. Registration required, call Albany Senior Center 524-9122. 

Berkeley Public Library Master Plan discussion at 6:30 p.m. at South Branch, 1901 Russell at MLK Jr. Way. Plan available on-line at www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 981-6195. 

“Banned Books Read-In” for children and teens at 4 p.m. at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. Books, door prizes awarded. 620-6555. 

“An Evening of Prose and Politics” with Susan Griffin and George Lakoff at 6 p.m. at Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 18. 

Hecho in Califas Festival “Rise Up and Green Up!” An interactive town-hall meeting on strengthening our community through green initaitives, at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $3-$10, no one turned away. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Town Hall Meeting in Support of Marriage Equality with clergy from the African-American community and the cast from “Noah’s Arc” at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Cost is $30. http://equalitytownhall.eventbrite.com 

Opera Piccola 20th Anniversary Season Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at its new East Oakland headquarters, 2946 MacArthur Blvd. RSVP to 482-2906. 

“Seeds to Harvest” Enjoy locally produced snacks and goodies, and learn about Bay Area Community Services’ commitment to food security at 5 p.m. at the East Bay Community Foundation Conference Center, 365 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. www.bayareacs.org 

Seed Saving for the Home Gardener Learn the basics of pollination, selecting, harvesting, processing and storing seed, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $10-$15. 548-2220, ext. 233. www.ecologycenter.org 

A Beginner’s Guide to E-mail and the Internet Learn the basics without the technical jargon. Get a free e-mail account. From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at North Oakland Senior Center, 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Sponsored by RSVP of Alameda County. For more information call 452-0868. 

Appreciating Diversity Film Series “Unnatural Causes: In Sickness and in Wealth” at 7 p.m. followed by facilitated discussion, at Ellen Driscoll Theater, Frank Havens School, 325 Highland Ave., Piedmont. 835-9227. diversityfilmseries.org 

“Pain Management” with Dr. Ernest Cheng at 1 p.m. at the Grand Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church, 278 Grand Ave., Oakland. 653-8625. 

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 

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

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

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, OCT. 3 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Jim De Mersma on “Dunsmuir Historic Estate: An East Bay Architectural & Horticultural Treasure” 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. 

George Lakoff in Conversation with Josh Kornbluth on “Why We Vote the Way We Do” at 7:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda.  

“The Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal” with J. Patrick O’Connor at 7:30 p.m. at Niebyl Proctor Library at 6501 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. 763-2347. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 10 to 11 a.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. Bring photo ID and two references. 644-8833. 

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, OCT. 4 

North Oakland Neighbors: City Council At-Large Candidates Forum from 1 to 3 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church, 430 49th St., Oakland, just off Telegraph in the Temescal neighborhood. Meeting will include updates on proposed developments and rezoning in Temescal. www.standoakland.org 

“Green Gardening” Exhibits and workshops on saving water and reducing waste from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at MLK Civic Center Park. 981-7432. 

Blessing of the Animals in commemoration St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Humans and their animals congregate at 4 p.m. on the steps of St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. 843-2244. 

110th Anniversary of the Founding of the Hillside Club Open House Celebration Luncheon Potluck at noon at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 644-2967. 

Benefit to Close the School of the Americas with Francisco Herrera and Jon Fromer, singer/songwriters at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. 843-2244. 

Brooks Island Boat Trip Join a guided boat trip across the Richmond Harbor to Brooks Island to explore the island’s natural and cultural history, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For experienced boaters who can provide their own kayak and safety gear. Cost is $20-$22. Registration required. 1-888-EB-PARKS. 

Home Front Festival at Rosie the Riveter Park, with music, carnival rides, art and activities, at Marina Bay, Richmond. Free. For details see www.homefrontfestival.com 232-0865. 

Compost and Worm Workshop Learn the basics of backyard composting; understand how to compost with garden waste and how to compost kitchen scraps using worms at 2 p.m. at Smith & Hawken, 1330 10th Street. Free. store803@smithandhawken.com 

Arachnid Kids Join us as we unravel the mystery of spiders and their webs, for ages seven and up, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Includes a short hike. 525-2233. 

The Political Affairs Readers’ Group of Berkeley “Financial Crisis and Class Struggles” A discussion of the present US financial crisis, its effects on the world economy and on workers’ struggles to improve their lives at 10 a.m. at Niebyl Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 595-7417. 

Ready to Learn Fun Fair Meet Clifford “The Big Red Dog,” receive free books, get your face painted, and play outdoor games from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rosa Parks Elementary School. Free for families and children of all ages. 268-5376. www.acgov.org/board/district5. 

Global Peace and Justice Rally with music and speakers from noon to 4 p.m. at MLK Civic Center Park. 

“Love it Like a Fool” a film about Malvina Reynolds, Berkeley songwriter and political activist at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck. 981-6241. 

Lakeshore Neighborhood Plant Exchange from noon to 4 p.m. at 3811 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Bring plants from cuttings up to full size, as well as gardening books and supplies. 866-8482. www.plantexchange.wordpress.com 

Basic Geneology Research Classes on Sat. at 1 p.m. and Tues. at 10:30 a.m., offered by the California Genealogical Society and Library in Oakland. Free, with $10 materials fee. For more information and to register call 531-3905. 

Preschool Storytime, for ages 3-5, at 11 a.m. at Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Free Internet Classes offered on Sat. from 10 to 11 a.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton St., El Cerrito. Today we will learn how to use Google or Search the Web. 526-7512. 

“Congregational Singing and Listening” at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Suggested donation $10. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Berkeley Alcohol Policy Advocacy Coalition Workshop on how alcohol access and availability affect the community, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center.  

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

SUNDAY, OCT. 5 

Hecho in Califas Festival “Books? or Bombs?” An interactive town-hall meeting on education and military recruitment, at 4 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $3-$10, no one turned away. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“What the TV Pundits Don’t Tell You About the Election” with George Lakoff at 7 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Cost is $10-$20. Benefits the Walden Foundation. www.walden-school.net 

Yoga for Obama A day-long series of classes, every two hours beginning at 8 a.m., with group chant at 6:15 p.m. at Berkeley Yoga Studio, 1250 Addison St. Suggesteed donation $50. 552-0155. 

Kennedy Grove Full Circle Hike Join an invigorating 4.5 mile hike to discover all of Tilden’s trails, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring lunch and water. For information on meeting place call 525-2233. 

“Taxi to the Dark Side” A film on the torture practices of the United States at 4 p.m. at Townsend Center for the Humanities, 220 Stephens Hall, UC campus. 642-0965. 

Home Front Festival at Rosie the Riveter Park, with music, carnival rides, art and activities, at Marina Bay, Richmond. Free. For details see www.homefrontfestival.com 232-0865. 

Hilltop YMCA Home Front Run & Walk at Lucretia Edwards Park, located at the end of Marina Way, south, in Richmond. Check in at 8:30 a.m., races begin at 10 a.m. Cost is $20-$30 with discounts for families. 209-795-7832. www.onyourmarkevents.com 

“Banished” A film about African Americans expelled from counties in the US from 1860 to 1920, at 2 p.m. at Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., Oakland. Cost is $5. 665-7880. 

Berkeley Rep Family Series “Fairy Tales Come True” from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addison St. Free, but bring a book to donate to a school library. 647-2973. 

Blessing of the Animals at 12:30 p.m. on the Terrace at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Dreaming Ritual Demonstration with Antero Alli at 8:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St. Donation $5-$10. www.paratheatrical.com/demonstration.html 

“Journey to Tibet” with Karen Harris on her visit to Buddhist nunneries in remote eastern Tibet at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Kids Cook in the Garden Learn how to create snacks from garden foods from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. For ages 7-12. Registration required. Cost is $15-$18. 643-2755, ext. 03. 

Drop-In Acupuncture from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sarana Community Acupuncture. 968 San Pablo Ave. Albany. Free. 526-5056. 

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

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712.  

Tibetan Buddhism with Mark Henderson on “The Buddhist Dharma Wheel” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

Kol Hadash Tashlikh Service at 10 a.m. at Emeryville Marina. Especially for children. Bring-Your-Own picnic follows. 428-1492. www.kolhadash.org 

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.  

MONDAY, OCT. 6 

“Observations: Bay Area Buildings, Architecture and Planning” an illustrated talk by Susan Cerny, author of “An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area” at 7:30 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. at Arch. 644-2967. www.hillsideclub.org 

“Albany: Then and Now” in honor of the city’s centennial, Richard Russo will present a slide show of photographs from the library’s hostorical collection at 12:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

Biodiesel 101 Learn about biodiesel: emmissions, hoe-brewing, types of vehicles and availability, at 7:30 p.m. at Biofuel Oasis, 2465 4th St., at Dwight Way. 665-5509. http://biofueloasis.com/bbc/ 

“Guadalupe River in Peril” with Santa Clara Creeks Coalition volunteer Larry Johmonn on the South Bay's largest watercourse, at 7 p.m. at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

“Deer in the East Bay: A Very Adaptable Species” A talk and slideshow with Joe DiDonato, Stewardship Manager for EBRPD at 7:30 p.m. at Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Rd., Oakland. Donation $5, K-12 free. 655-6658. www.close-to-home.org 

“Taxi to the Dark Side” and the U.S. War on Terror filmmaker Alex Gibney wil discuss his documentary filmon the torture practices of the United States at 4 p.m. in the Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall, UC campus. 642-0965. 

“Castoffs” Knitting Group meets at 7 p.m. at Kensingotn Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

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, OCT. 7 

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 Arrowhead Marsh at Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

Tilden Mini-Rangers Hiking, conservation and nature-based activities for ages 8-12. Dress to ramble and get dirty. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Berkeley High School BSEP Committee Meeting to select chair, representatives to P&O and SGC committees, at 4:30 p.m. at Berkeley High School, Building D, Conference Room, 501-3307. 

New Deal Film Festival The Dust Bowl Years “Grapes of Wrath” at 1 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Corner of MLK. Sponsored by the Berkeley Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

Seymour Hersh at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $20-$32. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

“The Power of Myth in Movies” with Richard Stromer, first Tues. of the month, through May at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Cost is $40. To register call 528-3417. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. Bring photo ID and two references. 644-8833. 

Birds and Butterflies Easy garden enchantment with native plants, Tues. at 7 p.m. through Oct. 28, at Albany Adult School, 601 San Gabriel Ave., Albany. Sponsored by the Golden Gate Audubon Society. Register online at http://albany.k12.ca.us/adult/ or call 559-6580. 

“Peak Oil and The Impacts to Small Businesses” with Julian Darley of the Post Carbon Institute at 5:30 p.m. at The Prevention Institute, 221 Oak St., Oakland. Cost is $20-$22. To regiser, email info@sustainablebiz.org 

Introduction to Golf Learn pre-shot and full-swing fundamentals, and become familiar with terminology/equipment at 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Golf Course. Golf balls and loaner clubs are provided. Cost is $50-$56, but participants receive a range and class discount card. Registration required 1-888-EBPARKS. 

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 

“Cycling and Car Camping in New Zealand and Tasmania” at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

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.  

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. 845-6830. 

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

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

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8 

Mayoral Debate for South Berkeley Residents between Tom Bates and Shirley Dean at 7:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr Community Center Gym, 1730 Oregon St. Sponsored by The ROC Neighborhood and SBCPC. 

Sunsara Taylor on Bob Avakian’s book “Away With All Gods! Unchaining the Mind and Radically Changing the World” at 7 p.m. in Room 2060 in the Valley Life Sciences Building, UC campus. 384-1816. 

Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 10 a.m. to noon at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 594-5165. 

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 

Family Sing-Along for toddlers, pre-schoolers and their families at 4:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

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, OCT. 9 

El Cerrito Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. at El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito. Ann Flinn from Bear Meadow Lavender will speak on everything about Grosso and Provence Lavender. Public welcome. $3. Free for members. 236-4421. www.elcerritogardenclub.org 

First 5 Alameda Community Meeting on services for local children at 6 p.m. at Beebe Memorial Cathedral, 3900 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 875-2400. www.first5ecc.org 

Workshops for Healthcare Activists, and those who want to be, Single Payer Health Care/SB840 Kuehl at 7 p.m. at Hillside Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito between Portrero and Moeser Lane. 526-0972. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Kaiser Center Lobby, 300 Lakeside Dr., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

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

Yom Kippur Reflection and Discussion at noon at JGate, El Cerrito. RSVP to 559-8140. rabbibridget@jewishgateways.org 

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 

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, OCT. 10 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Detectives Cesar Melero and Darren Raffery, Berkeley Police Dept. on “Protect Yourself from Identity Theft” 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. www.citycommonsclub.org  

Volunteer in Berkeley Youth Alternatives Garden Tasks may include weeding, bed preparation, sowing, transplanting, and harvesting. Meet at 10 a.m. at Berkeley Youth Alternatives Garden, Bancroft Way, between Bonar and West. 647-0709. www.byaonline.org 

“Reunification: Building Permanent Peace in Korea” A conference from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UC Berkeley Alumni House, Bancroft Way and Dana. Sponsored by UC Berkeley Center for Korean Studies. 642-5674. www.kpolicy.org 

Conscientious Projector Film Series “Can the Presidential Election Be Stolen Again?” followed by discussion at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship, Cedar and Bonita. 495-5132. www.bfuu.org 

Womensong Circle An evening of participatory singing for women at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, small assembly room, 2345 Channing Way at Dana. Donation $15-$20. 525-7082. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Watergate Towers, Conf. Rm D, 2200 Powell St., Emeryville. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

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, OCT. 11 

Indigenous Peoples Day with Powwow and Indian Market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Civic Center Park. MLK at Center St. 595-5520. ipdpowwow.org 

Fall Fruit Tasting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at MLK Jr Way. 548-3333. 

Habitat Hunters Using various scientific tools, find out what creatures live in which habitats, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park For ages 7 and up. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Path Wanderers: Old and New Emeryville Walk meet at 10 a.m. in front of Old City Hall at the intersection of Hollis and Park. 528-3246. www.berkeleypaths.org  

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tour of the northern boundary of Berkeley and Kensington, from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $8-$10. For reservations and starting point call 848-0181. 

Seed Saving Conference with speakers on the Ecology Center's Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (BASIL), dietary health issues, and GMOs, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Intertribal Friendship House, 523 International Blvd., Oakland 415-370-1657. mayalencanahuat@yahoo.com 

Berkeley Garden Club Plant Sale from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 131 Ashbury, El Cerrito. 524-7296. 

Herb Day Learn the history of the garden’s herb collection , including Chhinese medicinal herbs, from 10 a.m. to noon at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. A class on Chinese traditional medicine follows at 1 p.m. Registration required. Cost is $8-$20. 643-2755, ext. 03. 

“Healthy Air Walk” Fundraiser for the American Lung Association of California at 9 a.m. at the Bandstand near 666 Bellevue in Lakeside Park, Oakland. 893-5474. http://snipurl.com/HealthyAirWalk 

“Facing the Mountains: Breakthroughs to New Racial Landscapes” Workshops from noon to 6 p.m., presentations and public dialogue at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Sponsored by World Trust Educational Services. Cost is $25-$50. www.world-trust.org 

Bronze Casting Demonstrations at 9 and 10 p.m. at Berkeley Art Complex, 729 Heinz St. Tours of foundry at 7 p.m. 644-2735. www.artworksfoundry.com 

The East Bay Chapter of The Great War Society meets to discuss “Lawrence of Arabia- Myth & Reality” by Robert DeWard at 10:30 a.m. at Albany Veterans Hall, 1325 Portland Ave., Albany. 526-4423. 

“The New Arms Race” with Jacqueline Cabasso and Andrew Lichterman of the Western States Legal Foundation at 7 p.m. at Alameda Free Library, Conf. Room A, 1550 Oak St. at Lincoln, Alameda. Sponsored by the Alameda Public Affairs Forum. www.alamedapublicaffairsforum.org 

Free Culture Conference on open access to information, copyright law reform, and a culture free from censorship and control, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at International House, Piedmont Ave. at Bancroft. conference.freeculture.org 

Bicycle Safety Class from 2 to 5 p.m. at Crosstown Community Center, 1303 High St., Alameda. 548-7433. www.ebbc.org 

Berkeley Juggling and Unicycle Festival Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Includes workshops and performances. For details see www.berkeleyjuggling.org/festival 

Yongmudo Championship, sponsored by the UC Martial Arts Program, beginning at 8 a.m. at the RSF, 2301 Bancroft Way. Cost is $3-$5. 642-3268. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church Gym, 322 St. James Dr., Piedmont. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

Preschool Storytime, for ages 3-5, at 11 a.m. at Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Introduction to the Alexander Technique at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. RSVP to 528-3109. amira.alvarez@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. 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, OCT. 12 

Berkeley Juggling and Unicycle Festival from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Includes workshops and performances. For details see www.berkeleyjuggling.org/festival 

Raising Chickens Learn which breeds are best for your situation, how to deal with predators, whether your chickens can free-range, and other chicken/duck lore, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St., enter via garden entrance on Peralta. Cost is $15, no one turned away for lack of funds. 548-2220, ext. 242. ecohouse@ecologycenter.org 

Toddler Nature Walk for ages 2-3 and their care-givers, to discover spiders, rolly-pollies, fall colors and more, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Little Farm Open House Come grind some corn to feed the chickens, pet a bunny or groom a goat, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Little Farm at Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Cool Schools Global Warming Campaign for middle and high school students to learn how to take action against global warming in their schools and communities, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge. R SVP requested. 704-4030. caroline@earthteam.net, www.earthteam.net 

Least Tern Habitat Restoration Help prepare habitat for the California Least Tern nesting season with Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge. Meet at 9 a.m. at the main refuge gate, northwest corner of former Alameda Naval Air Station. RSVP required. 522-0601. leoraalameda@att.net, www.ggnrabigyear.org 

Inroduction to Fly-Fishing Learn casting at Lake Anza followed by classroom instruction on knots, fly selection, reading the water, and more. From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Tilden Park. Cost is $60-$66. Registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

“Artists for Change” Garden Reception and Fundraiser for Barack Obama from 2 to 5 p.m. at 449 49th St. Cost is $25-$40. RSVP to 655-3841. 

All Italian Car and Motorcycle Show Benefit for Alameda Special Olympics, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School, 1250 Fernside Blvd., Alameda. Cost is $5.  

Crabby Chefs Seafood Competition from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto, 1919 Fourth St. 845-7771. 

Jewish Coalition for Literacy Training for volunteer tutors from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 300 Grand, Oakland. Register at www.jclread.org 

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 Betsy Damon on “Inside Tibet” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

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 

CITY MEETINGS 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., at 2118 Milvia St. Nabil Al-Hadithy, 981-7461.  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5400.  

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7419. 

Public Works Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6406.  

Peace and Justice Commission meets Mon., Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5510.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Mon. Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7410.  

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

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. 981-6740.

THURSDAY, OCT. 2 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Walls” Paintings by Joel Isaacson on contemporary social and political concerns. Reception at 5:30 p.m., artist talk at 6 p.m. at Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd. Exhibition runs to Jan. 30. 649-2500. www.gtu.edu 

“Residency Projects, Part 4” Works by Adriane Colburn, Taraneh Hemami, and Leslie Shows, opens at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave., and runs through Nov. 22. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Dunbar Ogden discusses his new book “My Father Said Yes: A White Pastor in Little Rock School Integration” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

“The Power of Words: Musings on ‘Huckelberry Finn’ and Other Works of Literature” with D.L. Asantewa at 6 p.m. at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. 620-6555. 

“Punk, Presidential Politics and Art” A conversation between Vail and Jello Biafra in a benefit for the progressive Berkeley Rent Board slate at 7 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7-$10. 525-9926. 

“An Evening of Prose and Politics” with Susan Griffin and George Lakoff at 6 p.m. at Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 18. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Roots Natty, Miosotis, Royal Family Show at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Julian Smedly & Alison Odell at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Space Heater, The Sonando Project at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8-$10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Teed Rockwell, touchstyle fretboard, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Adrian Gormley Jazz Ensemble at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

FRIDAY, OCT. 3 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Bat Boy: The Musical” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Nov. 1. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep “Yellowjackets” by Itamar Moses, a Berkeley resident, set at Berkeley High School, Tues.-Sun. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Oct. 19. Tickets are $27-$71. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org 

California Conservatory Theatre “They’re Playing Our Song” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., 2 p.m. on Sat. and Sun. at 999 East 14th St, San Leandro City Hall Complex, near BART, through Oct. 12. Tickets are $20-$22. 632-8850. www.cct-sl.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Witness for the Prosecution” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through Oct. 19. 524-9132. www.ccct.org  

Impact Theatre “Ching Chong Chinaman” Thurs.-Sat at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, to Oct. 11. Tickets are $10-$17. 464-4468. impacttheatre.com 

Masquers Playhouse “Tally’s Folly” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. Tickets are $10. 232-3888. www.masquers.org 

Oakland Public Theater, “Before the Dream: The mysterious death (and life) of Richard Wright” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Noodle Factory, 1255 26th St., corner of Union, Oakland, through Oct. 5. Tickets are $9-$20. 534-9529. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The History of the Devil” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Central Stage, 5221 Central Ave., Richmond, Through Nov. 1. Tickets are $10-$30. www.raggedwing.org 

Shotgun Players “Vera Wilde” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Oct. 19. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Lace Comes of Age” Tape Laces from the 17th to 20th Century. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Lacis Museum of Lace and textiels, 3163 Adeline St. 843-7178. LacisMuseum.org 

“Look at me Looking at you” Works by Lauren Odell Usher and Heidi Forssell. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Red Door Gallery and Collective, 416 26th Street, Oakland. 374-0444. 

“Strange Brew” Fantastic and strange art by strange artists, celebrating Halloween and El Dia de los Muertos. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Eclectix, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. www.eclectixgallery.com 

Eth6 Magazine Issue 3: Contributing Artist Exhibition Reception at 7 p.m. at blankspace, 6608 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. 547-6608. 

Emeryville Art Exhibition Opening reception at 6 p.m. at 5815 Shellmound Way, Emeryville. Exhibition runs to Oct. 26. www.emeryarts.org 

“New Work” Mixed media by JoAnn Biagini, paintings by Catherine Perillo. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Mercury 20, 25 Grand Ave., Oakland. 701-4620. www.mercurytwenty.com 

“Phenomena of Essence” Works by Keira Kotler, Gretchen Jane Mentzer, Laura Paulini and Dianne Romaine. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, 25 Grand Ave., upper level. Exhibition runs through Nov. 15. www.chandracerrito.com 

“Nature Word ~ Verbe Nature” Photographic silver sun prints by Susannah Hays. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at NoneSuch Space, 2865 Broadway at 29th St., 2nd flr., Oakland. 625-1600. 

“Strictfathermodel” Works by Jordan Essoe Paintings, photographs, sculpture and video. Reception at 7 p.m. at 21 Grand, 416 25th St. at Broadway, Oakland. www.21grand.org 

“Great Wall of Oakland” Illuminated Corridor The lighting of Kahn’s Alley, the entrance to City Hall Plaza bordered by the Oakland Art Gallery and the Rotunda Building, with art, music and film from 7 to 10 p.m. 533-1977. suki@illuminatedcorridor.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

La Voz de la Mujer with Dina Omar, a Palestinian-American, Mahina Movement, Las Bomberas de la Bajia at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Mazacote at 5 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Steve Smith’s Jazz Legacy at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $20. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Falso Baiano CD release party at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Rebecca Riots at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $1-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

David Kent, Paul H. Taylor & the Montera Mountain Boys at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

The Royal Deuces, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, Big Mistake at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Nekita Germaine at 9 p.m. at Maxwell’s Restaurant and Lounge, 341 13th St., Oakland. Cost is $15. 839-6169. 

Paul Baribeau, Good Luck, Fischer 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. 

Ben Stolorow at 8:30 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Jerry Kennedy, acoustic soul, at 7:30 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Powell St. John, Americana/ 

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

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

Mo’Fone at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, OCT. 4 

CHILDREN  

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

“The Girl Who Lost Her Smile” Performance based on Rumi’s poem Sat. and Sun. at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $6. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

THEATER 

Stone Soup Improv Comedy at 8 p.m. at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St. at Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $6-$9. www.stonesoupimprov.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Quilts” by Jennifer Snedeker. Opening reception at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“L.A. Paint” Current SoCal painting by eleven artists opens at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

FILM 

“Love it Like a Fool” a film about Malvina Reynolds, Berkeley songwriter and political activist at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck. 981-6241. 

Jewish Film Series “My Nose” and “Home on the Range: Jewish Chicken Farmers of Petaluma” at 7 p.m. at Temple Israel, 3183 Mecartney Rd., Alameda. Cost is $10. 522-9355. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Bay Area Poets Coalition open reading from 3 to 5 pm. at Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison St. Park on the street. 527-9905. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Bring Down the House for Berkeley High! with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choirs and Berkeley High School student performers at 7:30 p.m. at BHS’s Schwimley Little Theater, Allston Way at MLK Jr. Way. Tickets are $15-$25. 800-838-3006. 

Francisco Herrera and Jon Fromer, singer/songwriters, in a benefit concert to close the School of the Americas at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. 843-2244. 

Eric Hamilton, classical guitar, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Sandra Soderlund, organ music at 8 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, One Lawson Road, Kensington. Suggested donation $10-$15. 525-0302. 

Nino Moschella, Melina Jones, Do Dat & Isis at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Dave Ridnell & Friends, Brazilian jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Burlesque ‘n’ Brass, featuring Hot Pink Feathers & Blue Bone Express, Orleans-inspired jazz, at 9 p.m. at Café Van Kleef, 1621 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Cost is $10. 763-7711. 

Sambada at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Sotaque Baiano, Brazilian, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159. www.shattuckdownlow.com 

Jessie Rubin, Sheila O’Toole at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

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

Howard Wiley: A Tribute to Dexter Gordon, Part Deux at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Gateswingers Jazz Band at 4 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836.  

Hoe, The Shelley Doty X-Tet at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $9. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Endless Demise, Parasytic, Untill the Fall 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. 

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

Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Brian Blade, John Patitucci and Danilo Perez at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $60-$70. 238-9200.  

SUNDAY, OCT. 5 

CHILDREN 

Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences “How I Became a Pirate” at 2 and 4 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $14-$18. www.activeartstheatre.org 

FILM 

Talk Cinema Berkeley Preview of new independent films with dscussion afterwards at 10 a.m. at Albany Twin Theater, 1115 Solano Ave., Albany. Cost is $20. http://talkcinema.com 

“Taxi to the Dark Side” A film on the torture practices of the United States at 4 p.m. at Townsend Center for the Humanities, 220 Stephens Hall, UC campus. 642-0965. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Ellen Bass and Jane Hirshfield at 3 p.m. at Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave., Oakland. 653-9965. www.dieselbookstore.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Richard Goode, piano, at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$62. 642-9988.  

Afiara String Quartet at 4 p.m. at Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Cost is $12. Free for under 18. 559-2941. concerts@crowden.org 

Jewish Music Festival with members of the SF Opera and SF Symphony at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. For ticket information call 800-838-3006. 

Sugarspun, indie rock, at 2 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Phil Hawkins CD release party at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.  

Trick Kernan Combo at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Eono Kane, Hawaiian music, at 3:30 p.m. at Temple Bar Tiki Bar & Grill, 984 University Ave. Cost is $12. Reservations recommended. 524-6403. 

Fasmania at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

MONDAY, OCT. 6 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Diversity” Artwork by over 70 artists with developmental disabilities, on display to Dec. 1 at Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 3rd flr., 101 Eighth St., Oakland. 817-5773. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Cosme Castanieto, Hawaiian healer, reads from his memoir, “The Mystical Kiss of God” at 7 p.m. at Rebecca’s Books, 3268 Adeline St. 853-4768. 

“Observations: Bay Area Buildings, Architecture and Planning” an illustrated talk by Susan Cerny, author of “An Architectural Guidebook to San Francisco and the Bay Area” at 7:30 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. at Arch, Berkeley. Free. 644-2967. www.hillsideclub.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Bill Staines at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.org 

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 

George Cole, gypsy jazz, at 8 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Mark Murphy with Jonathan Poretz & 12 Piece Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $55. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, OCT. 7 

FILM 

New Deal Film Festival The Dust Bowl Years “Grapes of Wrath” at 1 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. Sponsored by the Berkeley Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

“The Power of Myth in Movies” with Richard Stromer, first Tues. of the month, through May at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Cost is $40. To register call 528-3417. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Seymour Hersh at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $20-$32. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Cajun Cottonpickers 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 

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

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

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Evolution of a Sacred Space: Días de los Muertos 2008” opens at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

THEATER 

Druid Theater Company “The Playboy of the Western World” and “The Shadow of the Glen” Wed.-Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $75. 642-9988. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Michael Palmer, Barbara Jane Reyes, Joe Wenderorth and other poets read from “State of the Union: 50 Political Poems” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Cafe Poetry at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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 

Wednesday Noon Concert, new choral music by Berkeley composers with The Ateneo Chamber Singers at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Underscore Orkestra, Balkan, gypsy, world at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Liz Story at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $22.50-$22.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch, bluegrass fiddle and banjo, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

Orquestra Sensual 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.  

Atmos Trio, jazz, at 8 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

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

THURSDAY, OCT. 9 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Residency Projects, Part 4” Works by Adriane Colburn, Taraneh Hemami, and Leslie Shows. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. Exhibition runs through Nov. 22. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

”Human Form in a Wild World” Mixed media exhibition of wild animals and human figures in dream-like settings. Closing reception at 5 p.m. at Bucci’s, 6121 Hollis St., Emeryville. 547-4725. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Martin Sanchez-Jankowski discusses his new book “Cracks in the Pavement: Social Change & Resilience in Poor Neighborhoods” at 6 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Therese Poletti on “The Art Deco Architecture of Timothy Pfueger” at 7:30 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance. Cost is $8-$10. 763-9218. 

Paul Ekman reads from “Emotional Awareness: Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance and Compassion” written in collaoration with the Dalai Lama, at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Spoken Word Open Mic at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Kitka “Lullabies and Songs of Childhood” at 8 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 114 Montecito Ave. Tickets are $18-$25. 444-0323. www.kitka.org 

Big Light, Steve Taylor at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $8-$10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Cesaria Evora at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$48. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Christine Lavin at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $22.50-$23.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

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

Alma Desnuda, Suburban Fix, Raya Nova, world psychedelic groove, at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $9. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Theresa Perez, Steve Taylor-Ramirez, Alfredo Gomez, in a tribute to José Alfredo Jiménez at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $6-$8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Adrian West Trio, electric violin, at 7:30 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

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

Bill Frisell at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, OCT. 10 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Bat Boy: The Musical” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Nov. 1. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep “Yellowjackets” by Itamar Moses, a Berkeley resident, set at Berkeley High School, Tues.-Sun. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Oct. 12. Tickets are $27-$71. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org 

California Conservatory Theatre “They’re Playing Our Song” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., 2 p.m. on Sat. and Sun. at 999 East 14th St, San Leandro City Hall Complex, near BART, through Oct. 12. Tickets are $20-$22. 632-8850. www.cct-sl.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Witness for the Prosecution” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through Oct. 19. 524-9132. www.ccct.org  

Druid Theater Company “The Playboy of the Western World” and “The Shadow of the Glen” Wed.-Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $75. 642-9988. 

Galatean Players Ensemble Theater “Rivets” A musical based on Rosie the Riveter and Richmond’s Kaiser Shipyards, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. onboard the SS Red Oak Victory, 1337 Canal Blvd., Berth 6A, Richmond, through Oct. 26. Tickets are $20. 925-676-5705. galateanplayers.com 

Impact Theatre “Ching Chong Chinaman” Thurs.-Sat at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, to Oct. 11. Tickets are $10-$17. 464-4468. impacttheatre.com 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The History of the Devil” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Central Stage, 5221 Central Ave., Richmond, Through Nov. 1. Tickets are $10-$30. www.raggedwing.org 

Shotgun Players “Vera Wilde” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Oct. 19. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

UC Dept. of Theater “Measure for Measure” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. to Oct. 19 at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC campus. Tickets are $10-$15. 642-8827. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Resuscitation” Group show of work in discarded materials. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. 

Landscape Art Show Preview at 7:30 p.m. at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $25. 644-2967.  

“Manifest Dreams” Contemporary Aboriginal art on display at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way, through Jan. 6. 665-0305. 

FILM 

“Johnny Got His Gun” a new film version of the anti-war novel at Shattuck Theater. www.JohnnyGotHisGuntheMovie.com 

“The Battleship Potempkin” at 6:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Judy Wells and Gail Ford will read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave., a little north of Hearst. 841-6374.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Stefan and Friends Acoustic Jam At 8 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. Tickets are $14-$18. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/39763 

University Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $5-$15. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Aluna, Columbian folkloric band at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15-$25. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Cesaria Evora at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$48. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

John Yi Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Vicki Burns CD release party at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Youssoupha Sidibe with Markius James & the Wassonrai at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Wylie & the Wild West at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Glow In The Dark, Chris Ahlman at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Kate Gaffney, Grace Woods Trio Aeode, in a benefit for Women Rock at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

The New Trust, Build Us Airplanes, Cannons and Clouds 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 Strangers at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Jerry Kennedy, acoustic soul, at 7:30 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

PZ, Equipto at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-10. 548-1159.  

Terrence Brewer Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, OCT. 11 

CHILDREN  

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

“Aesop’s Fables” Sat. and Sun. at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $6. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

THEATER 

“Stories of East & West” with Japan’s Playback A-Z and Oakland’s Living Arts Theatre Ensemble in improvised theater, at 8 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$18. 595-5500, ext. 25. 

“How My Grandmother Found a Story in a Plate” performance by Patricia Bulitt at 1 p.m. at South Branch, Berkeley Public Library, 1901 Russell St. at MLK Jr. Way. Suitable for all ages. 981-6107. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Landscape Art Show Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 644-2967. 

Bronze Casting Art Show Bronze pouring demonstrations at 9 and 10 p.m. at Berkeley Art Complex, 729 Heinz St. Tours of foundry at 7 p.m. 644-2735. www.artworksfoundry.com 

“Color Explosion” Works exploring the dynamics of color and light. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. 

The Compositional “X” Recent work by Jon Kwak. Artist reception at 4 p.m. at Auto Row Smog Gallery, 3060 Broadway, Oakland. 451-7664. 

The Compound Studio Artists Opening reception at 6 p.m. at The Compound Gallery, 6604 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. 655-9019. www.thecompoundgallery.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Wendy Lee reads from “Happy Family” a novel about a Chinese immigrant in New York at 3:30 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

Haruki Murakami reads from his works and talks about his writing process at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $16-$30. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Breath of Asia, traditional and contemporary Vietnamese music, at 2:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Cost is $13-$18. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Artists’ Vocal Ensemble “St. Francis of Assisi: Musings on a New World Order” at 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Tickets are $10-$20. www.ave-music.org 

Eighth Annual Harvest of Song at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Pre-concert discussion at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

University Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $5-$15. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

MamacoAtl, Paul Flores & Los Nadies “The Immigrant Experience” at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Lakay & Mystic Man, Faux Mojo at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Carolyn Dowd, Americana, at 7 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Ryan Grandfield, Pine at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

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

Mads Tolling Trio “Jazz Violin 101” at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

The Stairwell Sisters, The Earl Brothers at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

CV Dub at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

One Way System, Poop, Resilience at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $8. 525-9926. 

Bill Frisell at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SUNDAY, OCT. 12 

THEATER 

“How the West Was Won” with Charlie Hill, Native American comedian and Gary Aylesworth at 7 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St. Benefit for East Bay Waldorf School. For ticket information call 243-0797. iricbridges@aol.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Art Connections: Robert Williams” A conversation with the artist on his works in the current exhibition “L.A. Paint” at 2 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Free admission. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Diane Johnson reads from her new novel “Lulu in Marrakech: at 3 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Architecture Tour of the buildings and grounds designed by Kevin Roche and Dan Kiley at 1 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Free Admission. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Eth6 Magazine Issue 3:Contributing Artist Exhibition Readings at 2 p.m. at blankspace, 6608 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. 547-6608. 

“Everyone Has a Story to Tell” John Fox will discuss “Memory Lab” a Jewish digital narrative project at 2 p.m. at Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $6-$8. RSVP to 549-6950 ext. 345. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Eighth Annual Harvest of Song at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Pre-concert discussion at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.orgLive Oak Concerts presents the Eighth Annual Harvest of Song 

The Ateneo Chamber Singers at 4 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addision St. Tickets are $15-$20. 843-2244. 

The Prometheus Symphony Orchestra presents Tchaikovsky Symphony No.4, Copland’s Variations on a Shaker Melody, and Two Suites for Orchestra by Stravinsky at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland. www.prometheussymphony.org 

“On The Nature Of Nature” a concert featuring new experimental instruments composed and performed by Krystyna Bobrowski, Dan Dugan, Guillermo Galindo and Wendy Reid at 8 p.m. in the Garden of the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. TIckets are $15-$20. www.museumca.org 

Catie Curtis at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

La Peña Community Chorus Cabaret at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

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

Mercury Dimes, family square dance at 3 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Yehudit at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Zap Guru, jazz, rock, jam at 2 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

The Ravines at 3 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. at Alcatraz. www.spudspizza.net 

“Bringing Down the House for Berkeley High,” a benefit fundraiser for the Berkeley High School Development Group, featuring gospel and spirituals by the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, will be held Saturday in the school’s Schwimley Little Theater, Allston Way at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. 

The event features a special 20-plus Student Gospel Choir to open the show, directed by choir soloist and JazzSchool instructor Trelawny Rose and the Oakland Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir with student dancers directed by Berkeley High Afro-Haitian dance instructor (and director of Oakland’s Diamano Coura Dance Co.) Naomi Washington-Diouf. 

In addition to the four performing groups, Berkeley High history teacher Wendell Brooks, an archivist of African-American music, will comment, along with other community members, on gospel and spirituals and the roots of American music, and sing a solo, “Great Gittin’ Up Mornin’ ” Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir artistic director Terrance Kelly will lead a sing-along, inviting the audience to join in.  

Among the goals of the concert, besides “raising sorely needed funds for Berkeley High’s student educational resources,” is sparking interest in a “renaissance” of choral music, including a gospel choir, at the 3,200-student school, which has had no choral music program since 2004.  

“Choral Arts is still listed in the curriculum,” said Mary Ford, chair for the event, “But it’s not being offered. Michael Morgan, music director and conductor for both Oakland East Bay Symphony and Festival Opera, expressed surprise and concern when he heard there’s no choral program at Berkeley High. It’s cost efficient, besides being uplifting and transformative, which is what singing with other people is all about.” 

Rose, a 20-year Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir veteran (soloist, ensemble and board member) who has been singing “since I was in first grade,” got the ball rolling for “Bringing Down the House” after reflecting on attending school arts programs.  

“My son’s in the Afro-Haitian Dance program, and I attended both concerts last year, thinking how incredible—so deep, so rich, so talented. But I noticed at different events how the audience would reflect overwhelmingly either the African-American or the white community, with just a few others not from whichever group dominated,” she said. “I asked myself what I could do to help with this two world thing. I knew the choir was something the community at large knows. It’s 23 years old, with awards and three CDs—and everybody understands its music and spirit, which bring people to tears. So I took the idea of a benefit to the Development Group, to try to find sponsorship, community support to broaden audiences and get them involved.” 

A volunteer organization with its first fundraising gala under its belt last spring, the Development Group began talking about the benefit “and things got moving in August.” Ford mentioned four others in particular who have been key to putting on the event: Rosemary Richie, Karen McKie, Fiona Hamer and Marjorie Alvord.  

“I started all this feeling self-righteous about it,” Ford said, “And now I feel totally humble. I can’t imagine how they accomplish what they do on the resources they have.”  

Concerning the future of a gospel choir at Berkeley High, she said, “It may have to start out as a club, then get back in the curriculum, along with more eclectic repertoire. We’re trying to get funding and a parents’ group to sponsor it. That’s how the Jazz program does it.”  

Mentioning that support has begun to come from different quarters, including the New Spirit Church at the Pacific School of Religion, Ford remarked, “Arts in public schools so often gets marginalized, and it takes a will of iron to navigate back, though there’s even research that it’s good for us—besides knowing that in our gut.” 

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE FOR BERKELEY HIGH 

A fundraiser for the Berkeley High School Development Group featuring the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. 7: 30 p.m. Saturday at  

Schwimley Little Theater, Berkeley High School, Allston Way at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. For group and discounted tickets, contact Edith Jordan in Student Activities, 644-8990. 

Druid Theatre Co. of Galway on Ireland’s West Coast—the first professional theater company in Ireland outside Dublin—will present their celebrated staging of John Millington Synge’s comic masterpiece, The Playboy of the Western World (1907), along with Synge’s earlier short play, The Shadow of Glen, next week, presented by CalPerformances in association with Berkeley Rep. 

Druid (their official one word name), co-founded in 1975 by Garry Hynes, who directed Playboy as Druid’s first production when the company was a summer theater, is noted for their DruidSynge day-long marathon in 2005, which toured cities in Ireland, Scotland and the U.S. Conceived and directed by Hynes, DRUIDSYNGE staged all six plays of Synge’s short career (he died in 1909 at 37) in a single performance, a first in producing Synge’s work. 

Hynes has referred to him as “our house playwright.” 

Synge, born near Dublin, was originally a violinist who first pursued an unsuccessful music career in Germany, then moved to Paris to study literature at the Sorbonne, where W. B. Yeats met him, translating Petrarch and writing poetry. At Yeats’ bidding, Synge returned to Ireland and lived in the Aran Islands to collect folktales, later setting some of his plays there and elsewhere in the West. When Yeats and Lady Gregory founded the Irish National Theatre in 1905, Synge’s plays were produced to derision by Irish nationalists, and PLAYBOY’s premiere, Jan. 26, 1907, is famous in modern Irish history as “the Playboy Riots.” Future president of the Irish Free State Arthur Griffin called it vile and foul-mouthed, which Synge countered by saying that in Paris there was sex on stage without other elements, in Ireland “the other elements without the sex. I restored sex and people were so surprised, they saw the sex only.” His later play, The Tinker's Wedding wasn’t staged in Ireland until Synge’s centennial in 1971. His plays influenced other playwrights, including Samuel Beckett, Federico Garcia Lorca in Spain (whose Blood Wedding was modeled on Synge’s Riders to the Sea, which also influenced Eugene O’Neill), and those employing ethnic idioms and folk customs everywhere, including writers of the Harlem Renaissance.. 

Playboy, based on incidents Synge heard of in Western Ireland, concerns a young man who becomes a celebrity when he arrives in a County Mayo town, declaring he’s killed his father. Shadow of the Glen tells of a man who fakes his own death, exposes his wife’s infidelity and turns her out in winter, taken from the folk stories Synge collected. 

Garry Hynes, the first woman to win a Tony Award (in 1998 for Martin McDonagh’s THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE), past artistic director of the Abbey Theatre (where Playboy originally premiered) and close professional associate of playwright Tom Murphy, whose Bailegangaire, directed by Hynes, turned out to be “the swan song” for the great Siobhan McKenna, commented on Synge and on present-day Irish theater, placing Synge as part of the great European theatrical tradition, closely related to then-current plays and prefigures more modern ones. “I think his Well of the Saints reads today more like it was influenced by Beckett than the other way around.” On working with Martin McDonagh, Hynes remarked, “When I originally read his scripts, I knew immediately that here was a distinctive voice, extraordinarily skilled in storytelling and dialogue. We worked together for six months on the production of The Beauty Queen; he sat in on rehearsals. I don’t think he could write in the way he does without such close involvement.”  

Of Tom Murphy, Hynes says, “I think he’s one of the great writers of the 20th century.” 

Commenting on the imbroglio that Playboy originally met with, Hynes says, “Ireland has undergone an entire change. In the past, the Catholic Church was the central moral authority. That’s entirely disappeared. Ireland’s so transformed in every possible way, it would be hard to recognize the way it was, 20 years ago.” 

And asked about her approach to the humor of plays like A Streetcar Named Desire (which she directed at the Kennedy Center), Hynes said, “I approached it like a play written today, not as a great classic. The humor in it is the humor of the human situation; you have to create the situation for the humor to make sense.” 

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD 

THE SHADOW OF THE GLEN 

Wed. (Oct. 8)-Fri. (Oct. 10), 8 p. m.; Sat (Oct. 11) 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sun. (Oct. 12), 3 p.m. 

The Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 

Tickets $75 

642-9988 

“In a cave many miles to the south/Lived a boy with fangs in his mouth ...” Teenage spelunkers bring back a bundle with pointed ears after caving near their hometown of Hope Falls, West Virginia. And the local citizenry is up in arms—and song—over the advent of Bat Boy in their fold, where the slaughterhouse is empty because the cattle are scrawny and moribund, and the social event of the year is the revival meeting. 

Bat Boy: The Musical opens with a preposterous set-up, and, as one of the local rednecks might have said, just gets preposterouser. It’s a raucous, goofy, off-kilter dysfunctional family entertainment, staged with elan by Alameda’s Altarena Playhouse, and running through Hallowe’en, closing on All Saints Day. 

And from moment to moment, it’s a free-floating burlesque of other musicals, a kind of cracker My Fair Lady (or Dr. Doolittle), as Edgar the Bat Boy (remarkable Alex Rodriguez, a singing Lon Chaney) goes from feral to unxious, thanks to the seemingly inexplicable mother love which Meredith (trouper Lisa-Marie Newton)—wife to the town vet, Doc Parker (Paul Plain, co-director and, as actor, embued with a little bit of Harvey Korman/Tim Conway over-the-top stuff)—lavishes on the squeaking foundling, till a set of BBC language tapes has him pouring tea and acting all pukah.  

From Bat Boy’s first melodic ululations, swinging in his cage, to production numbers featuring the batty boy in top hat, with cane, accompanied by the entire cast of 14 (and the stalwart quartet in the flies, guitar, bass and drums led by Sierra Dee on keyboards), the songs wash over the fast-moving, brilliantly paced show, with titles like “Hey Freak,” “Christian Charity,” “Let Me Walk Among You” and “Apology to a Cow” (when Bat Boy gets the thirst, excusing himself to a cowhead like the horse’s in The Godfather). The timing is so much on the money that the otherwise diverting—and ghastly funny—surprise, sung exposition of the boy’s Gothic family romance (with a tango) and nativity near the end only slows down the slick proceedings a little. 

The cast, with Angelo Benedetto and Plain’s direction, participate equally in its effectiveness. To single out a few, Ron Dritz is a splendid, deadpan sheriff and Jonathan Reisfield does screwy triple duty as a townsman, faith healer Rev. Billy Hightower laying hands on the penitent Bat Boy, and trailer trash Mrs. Taylor, shrieking over her brood, in curlers with a cigarette stuck in the lipstick amid stubble. 

Katie Behnke, a Miramonte High senior from Orinda, handles teenage love interest Shelly with both energy and poise. 

It’s a compound of a diverse range of guilty pleasures, contemporary successor to that old American stage mode, the parody melodrama that morphed into horror with Dracula. From a crazed vet putting locals down with the hypo he’s always brandishing, to blessings bestowed on teenage love by the Great God Pan, Bat Boy’s fun is in part the delicious sense it’s all going to end badly. An anthem to Otherness, to small town mania and the strangest of family values, “Know your Bat Boy,/Love your Bat Boy.” 

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL 

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1. Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda. $17-$20. 

523-1553. www.alterena.org. 

Degenerate Music,” a remarkable program of songs and compositions by German composers and lyricists, many of them Jewish, branded as “Degenerate Artists” by the Nazis, will be performed this Sunday at the East Bay Jewish Community Center, as part of the Jewish Music Festival. 

Co-sponsored by the Mendocino Music Festival and the Goethe-Institut, “Degenerate Music” premiered last summer in Mendocino. Its billing as music of the Weimar Republic conjures up images of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, of cabaret and the louche life of Berlin, as chronicled by Christopher Isherwood and Robert McAlmon, among others. 

But the provocative title and the Weimar-related PR don’t begin to do justice to the range and depth of what pianist Susan Waterfall has put together for chamber group, soloists and singers.  

The program covers unusual examples of music produced from the time of the First World War, through the runaway inflation that helped make Weimar-era Berlin an international party town, to the censure and destruction of modern art as degenerate by that very different party, the National Socialists (just as Max Nordau had attacked the “Decadents” earlier, but without state apparatus), through the years of exile and war—music that includes much of what would influence postwar American music and culture, a lot of it created or premiered on American soil—to the repatriation and reconstruction of Germany during the postwar occupation. 

Waterfall hasn’t just created a divertissement of familiar pieces, but rendered a 30-year period of immense conflict and change with a sense of dimension, and of the unusual. 

There are pieces like Schoenberg’s onomatopoeic entertainment for his fellow officers in World War I, lesser-known Brecht-Weill songs like “The Shell Oil Song” or a gripping Hanns Eisler setting of a Brecht poem that details what happens to a young woman who flauts the Nuremberg Race Laws prohibiting social relations with Jews.  

Stereotypes are also overturned. “The Hollywood Songbook” contains German poems set by Eisler when he and Brecht were endeavoring to work for the film industry in wartime Los Angeles—and justly called by Waterfall the greatest art song cycle composed in America. Brecht’s lyrics detail his passion for little things: the portable radio he flees with from country to country, which broadcasts the voice of his enemy declaring victory after victory, this precious crystal set the poet begs never to fall silent; or the strange new trees and flowers he finds in his garden in Los Angeles, overwatering them with the hope of nurturing something in dark times. 

Even the familiar songs of Threepenny Opera are presented in a virtuoso arrangement by a colleague of Weill’s for the violin—Paganini plays “Mac the Knife”?—in a delicious, tour-de-force instrumental medley. 

There’s also profound chamber music, “14 Ways of Describing the Rain,” composed in 12-tone style by Eisler and presented to his old teacher Schoenberg on the composer’s 70th birthday in exile. The piece was played with the silent film Regen (Rain) by Joris Ivens. The program ends with the anthem Eisler composed for German schoolchildren to give them perspective and hope during reconstruction. A moving recording gives us Eisler himself crooning it. 

Projections place the sounds with photographic images and pictures of visual art. Throughout, valiant vocalist Erin Neff sings and enacts lieder that run a gamut of emotions, changing costume constantly, rejoining Waterfall and the other players onstage. “Degenerate Music” is an immersion in one of the crucial epochs of the 20th century, its culture and politics in an upheaval of values, still affecting us today. 

DEGENERATE MUSIC 

7:30 p.m. Sunday as part of the Jewish Music Festival. East Bay Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St.