Arts Listings
Arts Calendar
TUESDAY, DEC. 23
CHILDREN
The Blue Fairy Storyteller for 3-7 year olds at 10:30 a.m. at West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library, 1125 University Ave. 981-6270.
Chin-Chin for 5 year olds and up at 2:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Oakland Ballet Company “Ron Guidi’s Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. at Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$50. www.ticketmaster.com
Zydeco Flames at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24
MUSIC AND DANCE
Oakland Ballet Company “Ron Guidi’s Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. at Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$50. www.ticketmaster.com
Natasha Miller’s Christmas Eve Concert at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $16. 238-9200.
THURSDAY, DEC. 25
MERRY CHRISTMAS
FRIDAY, DEC. 26
THEATER
Berkeley Rep “Ennio” comedy and mime for the whole family at 2 and 8p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St, through Dec. 31. Tickets are $20-$45. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org
Berkeley Rep “The Arabian Nights” Tues.-Sun. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Jan. 4. Tickets are $27-$71. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org
Paul Mooney “Black Man in the White House” comedy, through Dec. 31 at Black Repertory Theater, 3201 Adeline St. Tickets are $25-$100. 652-2120.
FILM
Movie Classics “Mary Poppins” the 1964 film starring Julie Andrews at 8 p.m. at Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $5. 625-8497.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Danny Caron Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.
We A Dem, Messenjah Selah, Luv Fyah, Reggae Boxing Day celebration at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com
The Cavepainters at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Free. 841-2082.
The P-PL at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.
Patrick Wolff Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277.
Roy Hargrove Big Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Wed. Cost is $18-$28, Dec. 31 $100. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com
SATURDAY, DEC. 27
MUSIC AND DANCE
String Circle with special guest Ian Swenson “There were Shepherds, abiding in the Fields” at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864.
Dangerous Rhythm with Tim Fox at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473.
Macy Blackman & The Mighty Fines at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ.
MC Zion, Jack Sprat Collective, hip hop and funk, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com
David Grisman Bluegrass Experience at 5 and 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $34.50-$35.50. 548-1761.
2ME, CD release party, at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.
Lost Cats, with Jim Passard at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881.
Stymie and the Pimp Jones Luv Orchestra, The Funkanauts at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082.
Roy Hargrove Big Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Wed. Cost is $18-$28, Dec. 31 $100. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com
SUNDAY, DEC. 28
THEATER
“The Big Fat Year End Kiss Off Comedy Show XVI” with Will Durst, Johnny Steele, Steven Kravitz, Debi Durst and others at 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. brownpapertickets.com
MUSIC AND DANCE
Mike Marshall & Catrina Lichtenberg at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org
Val Mih Quartet, with special guest Eddie Gale, at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com
Flamenco Family Fiesta at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054.
MONDAY, DEC. 29
READINGS AND LECTURES
Poetry Express “Between the Holidays Erotic Poetry Night” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Roy Hargrove Big Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Wed. Cost is $18-$28, Dec. 31 $100. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com
TUESDAY, DEC. 30
MUSIC AND DANCE
Singing For Your Life with members of SoVoSó and special guests, from noon to midnight at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St., at 27th. Suggested donation $10 and up, benefits Arts First Oakland. 444-8511, ext. 15.
Tee Fee Swamp Boogie at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31
MUSIC AND DANCE
San Francisco Chamber Orchestra “Leading Ladies” with Amanda King, vocalist, Robin Sharp, violinist, and Gwen Mok, pianist, at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Free. 415-248-1640.
Bobi Cespedes & Her Quintet at 7 and 10 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is tba. 841-JAZZ.
High Country, Dix Bruce & Jim Nunally at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761.
Orquesta La Moderna Tradición, Cuban dance music, at 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $25-$28. 849-2568.
Balkan Bash with Edessa, Brass Menageri, Joe Finn & Friends, at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com
The 2008 Beatdown, hosted by The Mundaze, at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.
Chuck Prophet, Aiden Hawken at 9:45 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $25-$30. 841-2082.
Code Name: Jonah at 9 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277.
Roy Hargrove Big Band at 9 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Wed. Cost is $100. 238-9200.
THURSDAY, JAN. 1
MUSIC AND DANCE
The Adrian Gormley Jazz Ensemble at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
THEATER
Berkeley Rep “The Arabian Nights” Tues.-Sun. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Jan. 4. Tickets are $27-$71. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org
Shotgun Players “Macbeth” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Feb. 1. Tickets are $18-$30. 841-6500.
EXHIBITIONS
“Art of Democracy” Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Red Door Gallery, 416 26th St., Oakland. www.artofdemocracy.org
MUSIC AND DANCE
Lakay, Alexa Weber Morales Band, reggae, caribbean, and Haitain, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054.
Jarl & Coe, Whitney Gardner at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.
Kitchen Fire, The Golddiggers at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.
Pharoah Sanders at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $28. 238-9200.
SATURDAY, JAN. 3
CHILDREN
Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Paul Silveria at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children. 849-2568.
Kirk Waller, storyteller, Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $6. 452-2259.
Children’s Stories, readings and activity for ages 2-5, at 1 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 538 Ninth St., Suite 210, Oakland. Cost is $7. 456-8770.
READINGS AND LECTURES
Celebration of the Cuban Revolution with Saul Landau at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568.
Bay Area Poets Coalition open reading from 3 to 5 pm. at Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison St. 527-9905.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Breakin’ Up Xmas Square Dance with The Stairwell Sisters at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054.
Saturday Afternoon Gallery Acoustic music open mic series at 2 p.m. at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St., Alameda. 931-7646.
Wilson Wong, Katherine Peck at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.
Brama Sukarma and his quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373.
Montana Slim, The Jugtown Pirates at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082.
Lorijo Manly, folk, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881.
Pharoah Sanders at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $28. 238-9200.
SUNDAY, JAN. 4
CHILDREN
Nigerian Brothers at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com
EXHIBITIONS
“L.A. Paint” Tour of the exhibition at 2 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts., Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org
FILM
African Diaspora Film Society “February One” the story of the 1960 Greensboro lunch counter sit-in, at 2 p.m. at Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., Oakland. Cost is $5. 814-2400.
Celebration of the Cuban Revolution Film screenings and discussion at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8, no one turned away. 849-2568. www.lapena.org
MUSIC AND DANCE
Redwing at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net
Community Roots, a community empowerment celebration with Aima the Dreamer, Seasunz, and others at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com
George Garzone and the East Coast Jazz Jam Band at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com
MONDAY, JAN. 5
READINGS AND LECTURES
Michael Chabon in Conversation with John Carroll at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $25. Benefit for Park Day School. 653-0317, ext. 103.
TUESDAY, JAN. 6
FILM
“The Power of Myth in Movies” with Richard Stromer at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Cost is $40. 525-0302, ext. 306.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Andrew Carierre & The Zydeco and Cajun Allstars at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.
Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7
FILM
“Last Chance for Eden” on the impact of racism and sexism, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568.
READINGS AND LECTURES
Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Vince Ho, organ music of Matthew Locke at 12:30 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. 525-1716.
Brian Melvin Trio with Brad Buethe at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.
Whiskey Brothers, old-time and bluegrass at 9 p.m. at Albatross Pub. 843-2473.
Wild Women of the Accordion at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054.
Pellejo Seco at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12. 238-9200.
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
THEATER
Shotgun Players “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage” at 8 p.m. at The Roda Theater, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $30, includes a party after the show. Advance reservations strongly advised. 841-6500.
READINGS AND LECTURES
Elisabeth Payne Rosen discusses her new Civil War novel “Hallam’s War” at 1 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts., Oakland. 238-2200.
MUSIC AND DANCE
Open Decks, Grateful Dead night, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $6. 525-5054.
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.
Kelly Park & Friends at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.
Seconds on End, Tistrya at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.
Brwn Bflo, hip hop, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568.
The Dave G Experience at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.
Airto Moreira with Zakir Hussain at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200.