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 

“Voting Rights 2008” An informational workshop for formerly incarcerated individuals who may be eligible to vote, but are unsure whether they qualify, at 9 a.m. at Downtown Oakland One-Stop Career Center, 1212 Broadway, Oakland. 768-4402. 

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. 

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.  

SATURDAY, OCT. 11 

Environmental Forum for Berkeley Candidates including mayoral and city council races at 1 p.m. at Old City Hall, 2134 MLK Jr Way. Sponsored by the Sierra Club, Northern Alameda County Group.  

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 Chinese 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. 

Rebuilding Together Oakland Block Building Program in the Elmhurst neighborhood of East Oakland. Volunteers will work in teams to restore and rehabilitate the homes of six elderly or disabled low-income homeowners and the neighborhood school. Skilled and unskilled volunteers welcome and must be at least 14 years of age to volunteer. RSVP to 625-0316. www.rtoakland.org 

“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.  

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.  

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. www.ggnrabigyear.org 

Introduction 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 

MONDAY, OCT. 13 

First 5 Alameda Community Meeting on services for local children at 1 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Library, 3301 E. 12th St., Oakland. 875-2400. www.first5ecc.org 

“It Came from Berkeley: How Berkeley Changed the World” with author David Weinstein at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Naomi Wolf and Daniel Ellsberg “Give Me Liberty” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $12-$15. 848-3696. 

“Why Africa Goes Hungry” with Raj Patel, author of “Stuffed and Starved” at 6:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Sponsored by Priority Africa Network. 238-8080. www.priorityafrica.org 

“Physics 101: What Our Next President Needs to Know” with Rich Muller, author of “Physics for Future Presidents” at 5:30 p.m. at Berkeley Rep, Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Free. Sponsored by Berkeley Lab Friends of Science. 486-7292. 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Activities for children including making dream-catchers, stringing beads, and listening to Native American stories, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Habitot, 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111. www.habitot.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, OCT. 14 

Berkeley City Council District 4 Candidates Forum at 7 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1744 University Ave., between McGee and Grant. 

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 Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

Fall Fruit Tasting from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at MLK Jr Way. 548-3333. 

New Deal Film Festival “Artists at Work: WPA Public Art” at 1 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. Sponsored by the Berkeley Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

“Successes and Failures in California Water Regulation” with Gary Wolff, Vice-chair California State Water Resources Control Board at 5:30 p.m. at 112 Wurster, UC campus. 642-2666, waterarc@library.berkeley.edu, www.lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/ccow.html 

Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 6 to 8 p.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 594-5165. 

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 

Caribbean Rhythms Dance Class begins at 5:30 p.m. at Redwood Gardens, 2951 Derby St., and meets every Tues. eve. Donations accepted for Community Rhythms Scholarship Fund. 548-9840. 

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. 

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

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We will have our annual nature treasure hunt from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

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

“The Berkeley Climate Action Plan” Learn about and comment on the City's recommendations for reducing local greenhouse gas emissions at the Planning Commission, at 7 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. www.BerkeleyClimateAction.org 

First 5 Alameda Community Meeting on services for local children at 6 p.m. at Eastmont Town Center, 7200 Bancroft Ave., Oakland. 875-2400. www.first5ecc.org 

“The Fourth World War” A documentary on the war on terror, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

“Engage Her: Getting Minority Women of Lead and Vote” A documentary by Mable Yee and Marie Victoria Ponce at 4 p.m. at Room 2050 Valley Life Sciences Bldg., UC campus. Discussion follows. 642-5254. 

Albany Reads Community reading of “Snow Mountain Passage” by James D. Houston about the Donner Party. Book discussion at 7 p.m. at Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. For other related events, and for a copy of the book call 526-3720. 

“Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: A Family Adventure” at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Berkeley Retired Teachers General Meeting at 12:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 526-3805. 

Presidential Debate #3 at 6 p.m. in the JCCEB theater, 1414 Walnut St. Discussion follows. 848-0237. 

Berkeley Simplicity Forum meets to discuss the path to simplicity at 6:30 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave.  

Radical Town Hall Meeting on the Financial Crises An open discussion on the financial meltdown from an anti-capitalist, non-sectarian perspective at 7 p.m. at the Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 595-7417. npml@marxistlibr.org 

Reel Rock Film Tour Climbing adventure films at 8 p.m. at Pyramid Alehouse Boardroom. Tickets are $12-$14. www.reelrocktour.com 

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. 

Jump Start Entrepreneurs Network meets at 8 a.m. at Cuppa Tea, 3202 College Ave. at Alcactraz. Cost is $5-$6, includes breakfast. 899-8242. www.jumpstartten.com 

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. 16 

"Preservation Works" A panel discussion on the benefits of architectural preservation for a city at 7:30 p.m. at The Hillside Club, Cedar St. at Arch. Sponsored by Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Free. 841-2242. www.berkeleyheritage.com 

Bay Area National Latino AIDS Awareness Day with music and food, from 6 to 9 p.m. at La Peña. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

LeConte Neighborhood Association Meeting with Mayoral candidate Shirley Dean at 7:30 p.m. at the LeConte School, Russell St. entrance. Other agenda items include a mini-park for Oregon/Fulton, anti-blight procedures, better traffic control. karlreeh@aol.com  

First 5 Alameda Community Meeting on services for local children at 6 p.m. at Alameda Behavioral Health Care Services, 2000 Embarcadero, 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. 

University of California Press Annual Sidewalk Book Sale with hundreds of new and slightly scuffed books from the warehouse at a significant discount from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2120 Berkeley Way, one block north of University, between Shattuck and Oxford. www.ucpress.edu 

“Starved for Attention: The Neglected Crisis of Childhood Malnutrition” with Dr. Buddhima Lokuge at 5:30 p.m. at Berdahl Auditorium, Stanley Hall, UC campus. Presented by Doctors Without Borders. 

College Night for High School Students to meet college representatives from 6 to 8 p.m. at the College of Alameda Gymnasium, Building G, 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway, Alameda. 337-2314. 

“Voices of Courage” Family Violence Law Center’s Annual Dinner at 6 p.m. at Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Oakland. Tickets are $100. RSVP to christina@fvlc.org 

Hall of Health Educator's Open House with Eileen Murray, Children's Hospital & Research Center on “Sickle Cell Disease and Trait” at 4 p.m. at Hall of Health, 2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level). RSVP to 705-8527. 

LiveTalk@CPS with Robert W. Fuller, former president of Oberlin College on “Overcoming the Abuse of Rank” at 7 p.m. at College Prepatory School, Buttner Auditorium, 6100 Broadway. Tickets are $5-$15 at the door. www.college-prep.org/livetalk 

“Turkey Vultures: Fact vs. Fiction” with Douglas Long, chief curator of Natural Sciences, at 12:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. Bring photo ID and two references. 644-8833. 

Reel Rock Film Tour Climbing adventure films at 8 p.m. at Pyramid Alehouse Boardroom. Tickets are $12-$14. www.reelrocktour.com 

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 

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

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. 17 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Linda Swift on “Climate Change: A Primer” 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 

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

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. 18 

Brazilian Parade and Festival with Capoeira, Brazilian music and dance starting at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Hearst and Sacramento, to Civic Center Park for a festival. www.capoeiraarts.com 

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

Rebuilding Together Oakland Block Building Program in the Elmhurst neighborhood of East Oakland. Volunteers will work in teams to restore and rehabilitate the homes of six elderly or disabled low-income homeowners and the neighborhood school. Skilled and unskilled volunteers welcome and must be at least 14 years of age to volunteer. RSVP to 625-0316. www.rtoakland.org 

Reptile Rendevous Learn about the reptiles that live in Tilden Park, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. 525-2233. 

Bunny Adoption Day Come meet our rescued bunnies and learn how to train and care for a house rabbit, from 2 to 5 p.m. at RabbitEars, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. 

Native Plant Fair with plants, bulbs and books from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Dr,. Tilden Park, across from Tilden Golf Course entrance. Sponsored by California Native Plant Society East Bay. www.ebcnps.org 

Telling Tales: A Fall Storytelling Festival featuring Awele Makeba, Kirk Waller, Nancy Schimmel and Walker Brents III, from noon to 5 p.m. at Berkwood Hedge School, 1809 Bancroft Way. Cost is $7, $20 per family. 883-6994.  

University Students Cooperative Association 75th Anniversary Gala at 6:30 p.m. at Hs Lordships, Berkeley Marina. For ticket information and reservations see www.bsc.coop/75th 

Home Movie Day Screenings begin at 12:30 p.m., and a special progam at 4 p.m. at PFA, 2575 Bancroft Way. For information on how to submit your old home movies, see www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/film/FN17187 

Benefit for Chaplain James Yee, former U.S. Army Muslim Chaplain at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. 495-5132. www.bfuu.org 

El Cerrito Democratic Club Annual Meeting and dinner with speaker Normon Solomon on “End of an Error - Beginning of an Era: Achieving Our Goals in a Post-Bush America” and music by Vukani Mawethu, at 6 p.m. at Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave. For reservations see www.ecdclub.org 

“An American Blackout” A film about the stolen elections of 2000 and 2004 at 5:30 p.m. with catered dinner at Sky Lounge in El Cerrito, 10458 San Pablo Ave. Donation $5-$10. Sponsored by the El Cerrito Green Party. 526-0972. 

“Writing a Memoir That Sells” with David Henry Sterry, Beth Lisick and Alan Black at the California Writers Club, at 10 a.m. at Barnes & Nobel, Jack London Square, Oakland. 272-0120. 

“Sufi Peacemaking: A New Model of Mediation” led by Nura Laird and Lynn Hammond from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Cost is $45. To register call 233-2666. 

“Love, Loss and Longing” A conference on Cuban families torn apart from 10:30 a.m. to 230 p.m. at Chabot College, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. 832-2372. 

Jewish Literature and Discussion Series meets to discuss “The Lover” by A.B. Yehoshua at 2 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Ancestral DNA Testing A workshop from noon to 3 p.m. at College of Alameda, 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parway, Alameda. Cost is $150. Registration required. 748-2352. 

USS Hornet Museum Open House with tours of the ship and its airplanes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 707 W. Hornet Ave., Pier 3, Alameda. 521-8448. www.uss-hornet.org 

Free Internet Classes “All About Email” at 10 a.m. at the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton St., El Cerrito. 526-7512. 

Jewish Harvest Holiday for Preschoolers at 10:30 a.m. at Jewish Gateways near the El Cerrito BART station. RSVP to Rabbi Bridget Wynne at 559-8140 or rabbibridget@jewishgateways.org.  

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

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

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

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

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. 19 

Family Bird Walk Learn birding basics during a short walk through various avian habitats, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Bountiful Berries A mile-long hike to learn about native berry-producing plants, and the wildlife that enjoys them, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Native Plant Fair with plants, bulbs and books from noon to 3 p.m. at Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Dr,. Tilden Park, across from Tilden Golf Course entrance. Sponsored by California Native Plant Society East Bay. www.ebcnps.org 

Friends of the Kensington Library Fall Book Sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Library at 61 Arlington Ave, Kensington. The ‘Bag Sale’ will begin at 2p.m. 524-3043. 

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

“It Came From Berkeley: How Berkeley Changed the World” with author Dave Weinstein at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley History Center, 1931 Center St. 848-0181. 

El Cerrito Historical Society Meeting will feature a video about the Technical Porcelain and Chinaware Company, or “TEPCO” which was for years the biggest employer in El Cerrito, at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7507. www.elcerritowire.com/history 

Berkeley CyberSalon with freelance Wired and Variety journalist Scott Kirsner at 6 p.m. at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. whoisylvia@aol.com 

East Bay Atheists meets at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Main Library, 3rd Floor, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580. 

“Update on Childhood Vaccinations” with Dr Thauna Abrin on ingredients in vaccinations and how they affect the body and how to prepare your child's body for a vaccination at 10 a.m. at Pharmaca, 1744 Solano Ave. 282-2104. 

“The Roots of the Unitarian Controversy” with Bill Hamilton-Holway at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

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 

Berkeley/North East Bay Chapter of the ACLU Annual Meeting at 1 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center 846 Masonic Ave., Albany. Guests welcome. 558-0377. 

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 Robin Caton on “The Silent Sound of the Mind” 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 

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., Oct. 15, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6601. 

Commission on Aging meets Wed., Oct. 15, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5344. 

Homeless Commission meets Wed., Oct. 15, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5426.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., Oct. 15, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484. 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., Oct. 15, at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950. 

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7415. 

Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6950.  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7010.

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 

“Berkeley, A City of Firsts” Thurs.-Sat. from 1 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Bldg., 1931 Center St., through Oct. 19. 848-0181. 

”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. 

“Karl Kaster Retrospective” the Berkeley School 1930-50, Students, 1950-83, on display at the Worth Ryder Gallery Kroeber Hall, UC campus, through Oct. 24. 642-2582. 

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.org 

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 

Miss Vintage, Andy Grammer in a concert to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in North Korea, at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. www.linkglobal.org/libertylive 

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 

MONDAY, OCT. 13 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Poorman’s Art Show” Works on cardboard opens at the Float Gallery, 1091 Calcot Place, #116, Oakland. Runs through Nov. 8. 535-1702. 

“Art from the Heart” opens at NIAD Center for Art and Disabilities, 551 23rd St., Richmond, and runs through Dec. 19. 620-0290. www.niadart.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Raj Patel, author of “Stuffed and Starved” at 6:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Sponsored by Priority Africa Network. 238-8080. www.priorityafrica.org 

David Weinstein introduces “It Came from Berkeley: How Berkeley Changed the World” at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Naomi Wolf and Daniel Ellsberg “Give Me Liberty” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $12-$15. 848-3696. 

Hasan Elahi on his digital media projct “Tracking Transcience: The Orwell Project” on his experiences with FBI interrogation, at 7:30 p.m. at 160 Kroeber Hall, UC campus. 642-0635. http://atc.berkeley.edu 

El Cerrito Art Association with speaker Karen LeGault on her Chinese brush painting technique at 7:30 p.m. at El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, near Ashbury Ave. 234-5028. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

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

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

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 

Eric Vloeimans at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $5. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, OCT. 14 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Writers at Work with Professor Robert Reich of the Goldman School of Public Policy on his works and writing process at noon in the Morrison Library, 101 Doe Library, UC campus. 

Ernest Callenbach introduces “Ecology: A Pocket Guide” at 6 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Carlos Arozco, Venezuelan harpist, presented by the Embassy of Venezuela, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $13-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Kirov Ballet & Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $50-$125. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Zydeco Flames at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines & Stevie Coyle at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Brian Woods Ensemble, jazz, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Johnny Nitro’s Blues Jam at 7 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Babatunde Lea Quartet at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Diversity” Artwork by over 70 artists with developmental disabilities. Reception at 4:30 p.m. at Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 3rd flr., 101 Eighth St., Oakland. 817-5773. 

FILM 

Latino Film Festival “Orozco: Man of Fire” at 6:30 p.m. at Richmond Public Library, Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. Free. 620-6561. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Art of the Memoir” with David Henry Sterry, Beth Listick and Alan Black at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $10 at the door. 

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, with University Gospel Choir at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

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

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

Buxter Hoot’n, The Sacred Profanities at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Ed Neff & Friends, bluegrass, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

Tito Garcia 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.  

Russ Barnenberg & Bryan Sutton at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Babatunde Lea Quartet at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, OCT. 16 

EXHIBITIONS 

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

READINGS AND LECTURES 

"Preservation Works" A panel discussion on the benefits of architectural preservation for a city at 7:30 p.m. at The Hillside Club, Cedar St. at Arch. Sponsored by Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Free. 841-2242. www.berkeleyheritage.com 

Patrick Coffey describes “Cathedrals of Science: The Personalities & Rivalries that Made Modern Chemistry” at 6 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Poetry Flash with Ed Pavlic and Sean Hill at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

“Love Never Fails” Works by Kelvin Curry. Artist talk at 7 p.m., music at 5 p.m., at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Building - Atrium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. 622-8190. 

Peter Orner and Annie Holmes describe “Underground America: Narratives of Undocumented Lives” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Bobby Tenor, Binghi Drummers, in a Perter Tosh Birthday Celebration at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Laura Love with Orville Johnson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

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

Bright Black Morning Light, Meara Feather’s Avocet at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

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

Faye Carol at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is TBD. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

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

FRIDAY, OCT. 17 

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 

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  

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 

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. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC campus. Tickets are $10-$15. 642-8827. 

Woman’s Will “Macbeth” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at The Retail Theater Space, 95 Washington, Jack London Square, Oakland, through Oct. 26. Tickets are $15-$25. 420-0813. www.womanswill.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Manifest Dreams” Contemporary Aboriginal art. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way. Tickets are $10-$15. Exhibition runs through through Jan. 6. 665-0305. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Living Word Festival “Race is Fiction” at 7 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. A panel and presentation with Adam Mansbach and Jeff Chang, and Urban Word NYC. www.youthspeaks.org 

“China Transformed: Artscape/Cityscape” Keynote address by Wu Hung at 4 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum Theater, 2651 Durant Ave. 642-2809. 

Dave Weinstein reads from “It Came from Berkeley: How Berkeley Changed the World” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

“Love, Loss and Longing” The story, in photographs, of Cuban families torn apart. Reception at 5:30 p.m. Oakland City Hall, HR 3. 832-2372. 

Open Mic Literature and Poetry at 7 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Kirov Ballet & Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $50-$125. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Dave Matthews Soultet & Tony Lindsey at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Arian Shafiee: Margin Project at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Trio Garufa at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Tango lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Orquesta La Moderna Tradición at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

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

Garrin Benfield at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

The Whoreshoes, The Barefoot Nellies, The Mighty Crows at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Plan 9, Verse, Killing the Dream 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. 

Justin Ancheta at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

“Prepare for a Future” Pre-election party with Valerie Troutt & The Fear of a Fat Planet Crew, Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir, plus voter registration and ballot information at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10. 548-1159.  

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

Arturo O’Farrill t 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, OCT. 18 

CHILDREN  

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

John Weaver Storyteller, 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 

EXHIBITIONS 

Neighborhood Public Arts Project Artist reception at 2 p.m. at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave. at 25th St., Richmond. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

“Poorman’s Art Show” Works on cardboard. Opening party at 6 p.m. at Float Gallery, 1091 Calcot Place, #116, Oakland. Runs through Nov. 8. 535-1702. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Telling Tales: A Fall Storytelling Festival featuring Awele Makeba, Kirk Waller, Nancy Schimmel and Walker Brents III, from noon to 5 p.m. at Berkwood Hedge School, 1809 Bancroft Way. Cost is $7, $20 per family. 883-6994.  

“An Evening of Spoken Word” with Charles Ekabhumi Ellik and Berkeley Poetry Slam team at 7 p.m. at Sconehenge Cafe, 2787 Shattuck Ave. 526-5075. 

Susan Quinn reads from “Furious Improovisation: How the WPA and a Cast of Thousands Made High Art Out of Desperate Times” at 5 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Lee Herrick and Jennifer Kwon Dobbs read from their works on the Korean Diaspora at 3:30 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

“China Transformed: Artscape/Cityscape” Symposium on art in contemporary China from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum Theater, 2651 Durant Ave. 642-2809. 

Eliezer Sobel describes “The 99th Monkey: A Spiritual Journalist’s Misadventures with Gurus, Messiahs, Sex, Psychodelics, and Other Consciousness-Raising Experiments” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Rhythm & Muse spoken word & music open mic with Leah Steinberg at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., between Eunice and Rose Sts., behind Live Oak Park. 644-6893.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Philharmonia Baroque “Bach Reconstructed” at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing. Tickets are $30-$72. 415-252-1288. 

Tree Talk, music for two bassoons with Alice Benjamin and David Granger at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

The Function at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Kabile, Balkan at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $18. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

red black and green Environmental hip hop concert with Mos Def, Los Rakas and others from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at deFremey Park, 1651 Adeline St., West Oakland. Free. www.youthspeaks.org 

“Gimme a Cuppa Joe” with Country Joe McDonald at 7:30 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck. Tickets are $25. 843-0662. 

David Greco, not an Airplane at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

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

Ed Reed, CD release, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Amy X Neuberg at 8 p.m. at Wisteria Ways, Rockridge, Oakland. Not wheelchair accesiible. Cost is $15-$20. Reservations required. info@WisteriaWays.org 

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

Dave Matthews Blues Band at 8:30 p.m. at Royal Oak Pub, 135 Park Place, Pt. Richmond. 232-5678. 

The Lloyd Family Players, Gamelan X at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082.  

Harry Gray with the Kreinberg Brothers, rock’n’ reggae, at 7 p.m. at 33 Revolutions, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Oppressed Logic, SMD, Crucial Cause 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. 

SUNDAY, OCT. 19 

FILM 

Envisioning Russia: “Jewish Luck” at 1:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

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

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Day of the Dead Artists A conversation with Miriam Martinez and Yoland Garfias Woo at 2 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Dave Weinstein on his new book “It Came From Berkeley: How Berkeley Changed the World” at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley History Center, 1931 Center St. 848-0181. 

Stephen Ingram describes “Cacti Agaves, and Yuccas of California and Nevada” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Leon Chisholm, organ, “Baroque Inventions and Re-inventions” at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20. 684-7563. 

California Bach Society performs “Gott ist mein König” and “Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis” at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, at Ellsworth. Tickets are $10-$30. 415-262-0272. www.calbach.org 

Jazz at the Chimes with Jamie Davis, baritone, at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15, children under 12 free. 228-3218. 

Teresa Trull & Barbara Higbie at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Piotr Anderszewski, piano, at 5 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $46. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Philharmonia Baroque “Bach Reconstructed” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing. Tickets are $30-$72. 415-252-1288. 

The Micha Patri and The Junk Jazz Symphony, celebrating the African roots of jazz, at 6:30 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Classical Trio at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. 236-0527. 

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

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

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

UC Berkeley Folkdancers Reunion at 1:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

It’s just before a matinee at the Julia Morgan Center and the theater is flooded with families, lots of kids. And the kids are being given a speech lesson. But it’s taught by pirates—eyepatches, hooks and headscarves, literally out of a storybook, mingling with the audience, saying “Aarrr!” and “Avast!” over and over, followed by a roar of youthful voices. The exclamations appear, projected on the pirate ship’s sail. 

Later on, in Active Arts for Young Audiences’ show, How I Became a Pirate, when the crew of corsairs teaches the new recruit the lingo, breaking into song, they ask the audience to join in—and the happy din, “talking in pirate,” is even greater for the pre-show practice. 

How I Became a Pirate is adapted from the children’s book, written by Melinda Long and David Shannon, in which a young boy joins the pirates, learning about swabbing the deck, weathering a storm at sea—but also teaches his teachers how to play soccer and where to bury the treasure—in his backyard—when he gets homesick.  

“Our focus is to adapt great children’s books to the stage,” said Nina Meehan of Active Arts. “We tend to do musicals, and choose books in the reading range of four to 12-year-olds. One of our basic jobs in theater is to tell a good story, a story our audiences are familiar with, or one we encourage them to read and relive portions of the show they saw as they read.” 

Active Arts endeavors to reach a wider audience than just the young readers their staged stories are aimed at. “We want people of all ages to feel welcome in our theater,” Meehan said. The lineup of the program for the 2008-9 season shows that. 

“How I Became a Pirate is a fairly new book,” Meehan explained, “and was recipient of an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book Award. It was adapted originally by a theater in Chicago. The kids know it—their moms and dads don’t. At our booth at the Solano Stroll, kids would come up and say, ‘I read that in school’—and parents would say, ‘Let’s check it out of the library and read it together tonight.’” 

“With our next show, in late January and February,” Meehan went on, “it’s the reverse. Moms and dads know Pippi Longstocking, but not always the kids. We plan to have an exhibit about author Astrid Lindgren’s other Pippi books and about the books she wrote about a little boy named Emile.” 

The final show of the season, in April and early May, is something everyone knows: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, in a new version, Wonderland, created by Jeff Raz, famous for his participation in Cirque du Soleil, and the Clown Conservatory of the San Francisco Circus Center, where Raz teaches, and produced by Active Arts.  

“It’s exciting, a perfect synergy between two groups,” Meehan said. “We thought of commissioning an adaptation for our third show, then heard they were developing this. They have the show, we have the audience. It’s a great way for our audience to get to know the Circus Center. They have a contortionist, a juggler, a magician, acrobats ... all to tell the Alice story in circus fashion. We get to explore where theater and circus meet—the excitement and magic of the circus, the story-telling and creativity of the theater.” 

Active Arts was founded in 2004 and has been staging shows at the Julia Morgan for four years. This season, they’re adding two weekends in San Ramon as well. Their season subscription list has grown from 30 to 400. 

Meehan relates how a mother stopped her in the lobby to say how seeing a past show, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst, affected her son. “She told me that for a year after, whenever her son had a bad day—and kids do have bad days!—she’d ask, ‘What happened to Alex?’ and take out the book—and it would make the day better.”

At the time of the French Revolution, William Blake wrote, in “The Marriage of Heaven & Hell,” that Milton had been “a true Poet of the Devil’s party without knowing it.” Several generations of Gothic tales and Romantic and “Decadent” works followed, transforming the devil into a modern creature, even an aesthete—quite a jump from medieval Satan or the Mephistopheles of the Renaissance. And before Baudelaire and Dostoyevsky assailed Progress by saying the cleverest trick of the devil was to convince mankind he didn’t exist, Jean-Paul Richter, well before Nietzsche, told of a dream in which a voice announced that God was dead. 

Here and there, the devil turns up on stage as a litigant. In the movie version of Stephen Benet’s The Devil and Daniel Webster, Walter Huston as Mr. Scratch contends with Old Ichabod for the soul of a New England farmer. Breach of contract is the devil’s case; an American cannot serve a foreign prince, is how Webster begins his defense. Ah, says the devil, I’ve been on this soil longer than anybody! 

And now Ragged Wing Ensemble is performing Clive Barker’s The History of the Devil, at Central Stage, right off I-80 on Central Ave., Richmond Annex—a play from the ‘80s which the author said is best described as “John Milton meets John Grisham.” 

With the officers of the court drawn, or dragged, to the ends of the earth, the devil goes on trial quite willingly, wanting to ascend once again to heaven. After an opening statement, he asks the court to rule, so sure is he of his innocence—a simple self-description should suffice. But instead a parade of witnesses are called to testify, some of them lost souls, literally wriggling out of their graves, and the testimonies become flashbacks that take the audience—more or less seated as the jury—back to the devil’s first contact with humankind (great bruises on his back where the wings were before he fell); to a Hellenic settlement (where the Greeks act more like Romans) in South Asia, barbarians vying with the corruption of the locals; to a dungeon for women convicted of witchcraft, to a bareknuckle prizefight in 18th century London ... even the testimony of Lucifer’s estranged wife Lilith, a moment that clearly unnerves the defendant. 

Ragged Wing stages the play, directed by Jeffrey Hoffman, to bring out their physical (and total) theatrics.  

It opens and is punctuated by cello music from El Beh (who played the lead in Woman’s Will’s Good Person of Szechuan), later playing a very willing South Asian boy among the Greeks. A hoary Belial (Anna Kennard and Hillary Milton) absconds with barrister Sam Kyle (Kevin Copps) from London to Africa to plead the defense, where ambitious prosecutor Catherine Lamb (Amy Penney) and her assistant and lover Jane Beck (Fiona Cheung), who later falls for Lucifer—appearing before good ole boy Judge Felix Popper (Gary Grossman).  

Erin Maxon is a show-stopping Lilith, with glass-fracturing voice. Davern Wright as a robotic boxer, Ara Glen-Johanson playing a cynical convicted witch, and Sora Baek, in a variety of roles, all show fine physical theater technique—as does Ragged Wing cofounder Keith Davis, a fine Lucifer, whose eyes either plead or burn, alleging it was mankind who seduced him. 

Ragged Wing’s multi-skilled performers are at their best when the going gets polyphonic, demanding tight ensemble harmonies in movement, gesture and voice. There are excellent, often delightfully funny, moments, whole episodes even, of History of the Devil, where they start to show their stuff, especially when cofounder Amy Sass’ choreography comes into its own, like the Laocoon-like daisy-chain pose the chagrined court officers are discovered in.  

But the troupe’s not entirely well-served by Barker’s play, which tends towards the univocality of the genre auteur, in thrall to its own conceptualism, sometimes more like the scheme for a sci-fi or fantasy novel, or TV pilot, than a play on a live stage. One of the old Gothic or Decadent works, which Barker would probably claim as predecessor, cut and adapted for contemporary theater (and Ragged Wing’s considerable strengths) would serve better—as Artaud’s polyphonic version of Shelley’s (and Stendhal’s) The Censi served to launch his Theater of Cruelty, certainly part of Ragged Wing’s own heritage. 

In any case, Ragged Wing is one of those local independent companies always worth seeing, their mission apparent in everything they do. And they’ve staged five very different shows since their inception—no mean feat for practitioners of such a demanding art. 

THE HISTORY OF THE DEVIL 

Presented by Ragged Wing Ensemble at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (with a special matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19) through Nov. 1 at Central Stage, 5221 Central Ave. No. A1, Richmond. $15-$30. (800) 838-3006, www.raggedwing.org.

When novelist and educator Cecil Brown—longtime Berkeley resident and teacher at Bay Area colleges—was introduced for a reading and talk he gave a few weeks ago at Washington University in St. Louis, Prof. Gerald Early recalled when he was in high school in the ‘60s, “The three books that everybody just had to read were James Baldwin’s Another Country, John A. Williams’ The Man Who Cried I Am and Cecil Brown’s The Life and Loves of Mr. Jiveass Nigger.” 

Now, Brown notes, Baldwin is dead and Williams doesn’t have a major publisher. “He isn’t appreciated anymore. I’ve tried to review him, and it’s been hard to get the reviews published.” 

Brown’s most celebrated book, The Life and Loves, was reissued at the beginning of this month by North Atlantic Press in Berkeley. Originally published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1969 to great acclaim, Brown recalled his book’s reception: “Roger Straus was the greatest publisher in the world! There were Hollywood stars at the book party. I was on the Tonight Show, went to England ... I doubt any African American writer today would get the accolade we got in those days. It’s dead, now. No one’s interested.” 

Brown’s books continue to get published, reprinted and garner critical acclaim. His nonfiction book, Stagolee Shot Billy, published in 2005 by Harvard University Press, was praised by Time Magazine, the New York Times, the Guardian (U.K.) and in the Times Literary Supplement. The Life and Loves has been reprinted multiple times in Europe, Germany in particular (“But I don’t usually hear about it till later!”). 

With the Stagolee book, “I found the nonfiction material so interesting, I novelized it.” I, Stagolee was published in 2006, and “there’s the possibility of a film. Samuel Jackson read and liked it.”  

Brown, who also works with the UC Berkeley Department of Information, developing digital education video games for 3- to 5-year-olds, has made a video game based on the Stagolee tales for 13- to 15-year-olds, “for drop-outs,” he said. “Forty-eight percent of Alameda County’s young black men drop out of high school. Violence is such a waste of time. They need recourse to understand the structure of racism they’re involved in. And it would behoove us to find out what in playing video games, not reading—which about the same percentage doesn’t do—is a reaction to the system making learning boring, penalizing African Americans for a different understanding of what is play, what is work.” 

Brown was born in rural North Carolina. After he and several other students were lent a coach’s car to drive to an SAT test center, Brown received a scholarship to A & T College in Greensboro, N.C.  

As a college freshman, he was influenced by an event: when Jesse Jackson (“He was in a fraternity”) came in late to class, he answered the teacher’s query of where he was by “saying he’d been across the street at a sit-in at the Woolworth’s five-and-dime, protesting that black people couldn’t eat at the lunch counter there. The teacher turned to us and said ‘the rest of you should be doing that, too.’ I was witness to that history when it really got started, and never forgot how students could influence a country’s history.” 

Brown later attended Columbia, publishing stories in the student magazine. “I was writing everything I could; I always wanted to be a novelist. I went to Europe for the first time. None of this had been in the cards for me. I’d been a plowboy. After Columbia, it gave me such confidence ... worldly classmates inviting me to Nantucket—‘Meet my mom, she’s a painter’—I’d never have been accepted in such homes in Mississippi or Georgia, and I came in the front door with their kid, treated as an equal ... . 

“That’s why I feel such pain about the avenues closed to young blacks today. Young guys don’t get to hang out like that, meeting sculptors and musicians like I did, people thinking about what to do with their life—and so did I.” 

At Columbia, Brown was encouraged to write “by LeRoi Jones, now Amiri Baraka, who gave me a tip for an agent, and Seymour Krim, who sent me to Evergreen Review.”  

Brown later attended the University of Chicago, where he witnessed “the eruption of the Democratic National Convention, and when Martin Luther King was assassinated, the rioting on the South Side that spilled over into Hyde Park.”  

But it was with a recommendation from his Columbia teacher Mark Van Doren’s son Charles that Brown drove west “in a Cadillac, with a couple other students” to interview for a teaching job at Modesto Junior College. 

“I took one look at Modesto and could not even stop the car. We drove straight to Berkeley,” he said. 

Brown ended up teaching at Merritt College “and ran into Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, students organizing their own curriculum—and the Black Panther Party.” Brown staged his own plays at Merritt, where a UC Berkeley professor saw them and told him he should be teaching in the UC English Department. 

At UC, Brown met Leonard Michaels, Al Young, Ishmael Reed and David Henderson—“And I added Claude Brown and Richard Pryor,” who was performing at the Mandrake in Berkeley. Brown later followed “when Richard went down to Hollywood, working with him, being his full-time running buddy, day-to-day,” before “taking off to Berlin,” where Brown got involved in filmmaking.  

Asked what influence Pryor had on him—or vice versa—Brown replied, “I had such admiration for Richard. Taj Mahal claims Richard got all these nuances he needed for his characters from me, being from the South, Richard being from the Midwest. Like Taj, living next door to blues players, he paid attention. He says Richard did that with me.” 

(As Brown was explaining this, his cellphone rang. It was Taj Mahal, who, asked to amplify, said: “I bought a four DVD set of Richard Pryor, and said, ‘Wait a second! This cat’s from Peoria, Ill., and sounds like he’s Down South—like Cecil Brown.’ You meet Cecil and see how much Richard got from him for his characters.”)  

Brown’s Hollywood experiences found their way into a 1982 novel, Days Without Weather. Currently, his biography of Pryor, Kiss My Rich, Happy, Black Ass (a remark Pryor famously made to gay leaders, with Brown a witness) is making the rounds of publishers. 

Brown returned to Berkeley in the late ’80s to teach, gaining his Ph.D. in African American Studies, Folklore and Narrative in 1993. Currently, he’s preparing a class at Stanford: Classics 130: From Homer to Hip-Hop, on the oral tradition, studying “Greeks and Griots.”  

He said he believes that “with their feet in the oral tradition, African Americans anticipated the digital age.” 

“No Child Left Behind is the negative onslaught of the world Marshall McLuhan predicted in his famous Playboy interview in 1966, when he described the conflict between the white world versus the black as rooted in envy of a life left out for whites—and that blacks should maintain their connection with the Africa within,” Brown said. “I want to remind the academic world—and certainly students—of that, and to look at what real change is.”  

Cecil Brown’s website is www.cecilbrown.net 

German Expressionism Collection 

One of the pleasures of viewing silent film is watching a nascent art form as it is invented, developed and perfected. In the 1910s and early 1920s, filmmakers experimented with the new form, attempting to harness its unique properties, its potential for drama, for humor, for surprise.  

The Germans soon proved to possess an unparalleled knack for examining the darker side of film, using lighting, set design and camerawork to exploit the medium's capacity for psychological drama.  

Kino has packaged four great films in the German Expressionism Collection, a box set that elucidates the bold inventiveness of Germany in those early years in the creation of art that celebrated its own artifice. 

Expressionism was a strong influence on American film noir, and the pleasure of the genres are similar: overwrought emotion, heightened reality, shadows and shady characters. And the films in this collection play up those qualities, creating fever-pitched realities that are certainly strange, at times demented, but always fascinating. 

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 

Of course, the granddaddy of all expressionist films is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, one of the most legendary of all silent films. It has been readily available on home video for some time; in fact, Kino has not updated their previous release of the film, but simply repackaged it for this set.  

The film would still be considered bold and experimental if it were made today, using painted, surrealistic sets and stark imagery. Far less grounded in reality than most of the films that it would inspire, Caligari is gloriously artificial in its presentation, creating a stage-bound world that bears little resemblance to the everyday world but which lures the view into a strange, hypnotic world of its own.  

Conrad Veidt played the somnambulist, establishing himself as perhaps the definitive actor of Germany's expressionist era. Werner Krauss plays the deranged Caligari with an unforgettable blend of madness, mystery and menace. 

Hands of Orlac 

Veidt and director Robert Wiene teamed up again for the The Hands of Orlac, a story that takes place in the modern world but is no less nightmarish and unreal. Veidt plays Orlac, a concert pianist whose hands must be amputated after a train crash. A crafty surgeon is able to replace Orlac's hands with those of another man. Soon after, his father is murdered, and fingerprint evidence points toward Orlac, sending his fragile psyche into even greater decline as he begins to unravel the mystery of the origin of his new hands. Wiene and Veidt ratchet up the psychoanalytic elements in bringing the horrors of the plot to life. 

Secrets of a Soul 

G.W. Pabst's Secrets of a Soul is a more overt attempt to capture the essence of psychoanalysis on the screen. Though the film is fairly explicit in its delineation of the dark forces at play in the character's subconscious, with intertitles that fully address his violent urges, there is still much that is left unspoken. Issues of impotence, sterility and sexual dysfunction are for the most part left unspoken, but are suggested through imagery and gesture.  

The dream sequences are lurid and convincing, expressing the disjointed logic of feverish nightmares. The imagery is powerful and stark, beautiful in its own right as surrealist fantasy, but still revealed as logical in the end.  

Warning Shadows 

Warning Shadows is a purely visual film, with no intertitles to convey plot or dialogue—beyond the opening credits, that is, which feature each actor appearing on a proscenium, introduced along with his shadow, for shadows prove to be characters as much as the people who cast them.  

The story concerns a woman and her husband. They are hosting a dinner party of her suitors. A traveling entertainer crashes the party and proceeds to put on a show of shadow puppetry, a show that plumbs the depths of each character’s consciousness. The shadows take on the semblance of reality, acting out a passion play that, in the best Expressionist fashion, gives shape to the tensions and desires in the minds of the party’s hosts and their guests. The husband, overcome with jealous rage, seeks revenge on his flirtatious wife and her ardent suitors, while her beauty and careless allure lead the men to destroy first her and then each other.  

The film was photographed by Fritz Arno Wagner, the famed cinematographer who also shot F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu and Fritz Lang’s M.  

Houdini: Movie Star 

Harry Houdini must have seemed an obvious candidate for movie stardom. Famous as a vaudeville performer and as a daredevil stuntman, he was a born showman, charismatic, daring and bold.  

Though limited as an actor, his appeal, then as now, is readily apparent. Short and rugged with piercing eyes, he comes across as an earlier generation's version of Edward G. Robinson, handsome in an unlikely way, tough and scowling, but able to convey a certain benevolent humor and grace.  

Kino has released a three-disc set of all that remains of Houdini's brief movie career. The set includes three feature films, a surviving fragment from a fourth, and nearly four hours of installments from a 1919 serial. Bonus features include newsreel footage of many of Houdini's straitjacket escapes, usually while dangling upside down over a public street before thousands of onlookers.  

But the main attractions here are Houdini's acting performances. The set starts with the 15-part serial, The Master Mystery (1919, 238 minutes), an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink action adventure in which Houdini, as Quentin Locke, battles a corrupt patents company involved in anti-trust practices, along the way battling a robot, rescuing a beautiful dame, endureing a string of torture techniques, and escaping from an array of deadly devices. The enormous success of the serial led to a contract with Famous Players Lasky/Parmount Pictures, which resulted in two feature films.  

Terror Island (1920, 55 minutes), the most lavish of the Houdini films, sees the magician playing an inventor whose state-of-the-art submarine is called into duty to salvage both treasure and romance. The film again affords Houdini the opportunity to display his talent for the escape, as well as his ability to hold his breath underwater for extended periods as he passes in and out of the submarine to stage various rescues and assaults on nefarious foes. 

During the making of The Grim Game (1919), two planes collided in mid-air, leading the producers to re-write the script around the material. The only fragment that survives of the film shows this accident, and though the filmmakers claimed that Houdini himself was hanging from the plane and survived the accident, the editing and re-shoots that sustained the illusion are hardly any more convincing today than they were then. 

After fulfilling his Hollywood contract, Houdini returned to New York to start his own production company, the Houdini Picture Corporation, producing and starring in two more films. The Man from Beyond (1922. 84 minutes) allowed Houdini to indulge his interest in reincarnation, playing a man unfrozen after 100 years who finds his true love of 1820 is alive and well in another woman's body in 1920. In Haldane of the Secret Service (1923, 84 minutes), his final film, Houdini stars as an undercover agent infiltrating a counterfeiting operation in New York's shadowy Chinatown. 

Despite his fame, Houdini's acting career was not a success. It turned out that the art of the escape required a flesh-and-blood performance to hold an audience's attention; cinema, with all its sleight-of-hand editing and shifting camera angles, robbed Houdini's stunts of their veracity and sense of danger. If an audience wanted grace and daring and swashbuckling charm, they had Douglas Fairbanks; if they wanted dangerous stunt work, cinematically presented and with no editing gimmickry, they had Buster Keaton. Though Houdini was one of the most famous men of his time, his fans preferred to see him not larger than life on the big screen, but on the stage, life size and all the more compelling for that fact that he was real.