THURSDAY, APRIL 2 

Toy Testing Clinic offered by the Center for Environmental Health which recently found high levels of lead in children’s jewelry and other products at stores such as Wal-Mart and Target. CEH is offering free testing to help parents in the Bay area know if their children’s toys are safe. From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Dept. of Pediatrics, 11th Floor Conference Room, 3505 Broadway, Oakland. 752-7397. www.ceh.org 

Shorebird Migration A Thurs. evening class with Sun. field trips on the migration and reproduction strategies of shorebirds, reviews worldwide shorebird taxonomy, and identification issues of our local shorebirds. Held at the Oakland Museum of California. Cost is $70. Registration required. 843-2222. www.wingbeats.org 

“From Gaza to Cuba: Let’s Break the Blockade” with John Wallers of Pastors for Peace, and Paul Larudee of The Free Gaza Movement at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. Donation $5-$10. 841-4824. 

“Four Actions to Resolve Conflict Inside & Out” at 7:15 p.m. at Center for Transformative Change, 2584 Martin Luther King Jr Way. RSVP to register@transformativechange.org 

3rd “Not-A-Seder” Passover Cabaret at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave.Free. Hosted by the Progressive Jewish Alliance. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Holy Names Univ., Brennan Lounge, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

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 

Improv Acting Class Play fun games that unleash your imagination, creativity, and confidence. Meets 6:45 p.m., Thurs. at YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way. Beginners welcome. Improv perfromance class at 8:15 p.m. Cost is $10. BerkeleyImprov.com 

“High Power Laser Therapy: A New Advancement in the Treatment of Neuropathy” with Colle Hunt, Jr. at 1 p.m. at Seventh Day Adventist Church at 278 Grand Ave., Oakland. 653-8625. 

Circle of Concern Vigil meets on West Lawn of UC campus across from Addison and Oxford, Thurs. at noon and Sun. at 1 p.m. to oppose UC weapons labs contracts. 848-8055. 

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

Buddhist Class on Shikan Meditation at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Cedar at Bonita, through May 28. http://caltendai.org 

FRIDAY, APRIL 3 

Golden Gate Audubon Soicety Walk Around Jewel Lake in Tilden Park. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the parking lot at the north end of Central Park Dr. for a one-mile, two-hour-plus stroll through this lush riparian area. Breeding birds are returning, and we may be treated to some wonderful bird song. Heavy April showers cancels. www.goldengateaudubon.org 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Richard C. Boly, National Security Affairs Fellow, Hoover Institution, on “Promoting Entrepreneurship as US Foreign Policy: Good for Business & and Our Image.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $15, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 524-7468. www.citycommonsclub.org 

Ferment Change A celebration of urban agriculture, food justice, fermented food and community. A benefit for City Slicker Farms in West Oakland, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall,390 27th St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$30, no on turned away. fermentchange.wordpress.com 

“NASA 100 Hours of Astronomy” free viewing through the telescopes Fri. and Sat. from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. www.chabotspace.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waste Management, Large Training Room, 172 98th Ave., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

April Fool’s Weekend At Playland-Not-At-The-Beach Celebrate April Fools with our crew of professional jokesters, play pranks and get them played on you from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri. and Sat. at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach, 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $5-$10. 592-3002. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org 

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

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.  

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 4 

Sustainable Gardening Class for Children Have fun getting your hands dirty and come away with seeds & ideas for your garden. For ages 4-9 and their parents from 10 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, at East Bay Waldorf School, 3800 Clark Rd., El Sobrante. Cost is $10 per family. Call to reserve a space, 223-3570, ext. 2101. 

Creating Year-Round Edible Gardens Learn how to garden care, reducing chores and using as few resources, from water to fertilizer, as possible. This hands-on workshop will offer vegetable gardening basics including: soil preparation, when and what to plant for our local climate, companion planting and pest control, plus creative ways to use your bountiful harvest. Seeds, catalogs, regional food source information, and other handouts will be provided. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ploughshares Nursery, 2701 Main St., at the old naval base, Alameda. Register online. www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=625 

“Spring Blooming Perennials and Shrubs” a talk by Aerin Moore, at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

“Afghanistan: What is A Progressive Solution?” discussion led by Conn Hallinan at 10 a.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. between Alcatraz and 66th, Oakland. 595-7417. 

Wildcat Summer Camp Open House A preview of games and activities from the summer from 1 to 4 p.m. at East Bay Waldorf School, 3800 Clark Rd., El Sobrante. 223-3570.  

Artists’ Marketing Workshop “How To Find and Keep Collectors” from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St., Alameda. Cost is $15 members, $25 non-members. 523-6957.  

Arts at St. Alban’s Storytelling and Music with Joyce Parry Moore and Jack Hayes, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. Free, donations accepted. To register call 525-1716.  

“David Ramadanoff, This is Your YPSO Life” A night at the movies celebrating David’s 20 years as music director, at 7:30 p.m. at Auctions by the Bay Theater, 2700 Saratoga St., Alameda. Tickets are $10-$15. RSVP to 849-9776. 

Preschool Storytime, including crafts and finger plays at 11 a.m. at The Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720 ext. 16. 

Passover Celebration for Young Children at 10:30 a.m. at Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty St., El Cerrito. Free. 559-8140. www.jewishgateways.org  

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.  

Lawn Bowling on the green at the corner of Acton St. and Bancroft Way every Wed. and Sat. at 10 a.m. for ages 12 and up. Wear flat soled shoes, no heels. Free lessons. 841-2174.  

SUNDAY, APRIL 5 

A Peak Hike Join a vigorous 3-mile nature hike to Wildcat Peak for a view of the Bay and beyond, from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring water and snack. Call for meeting place. 525-2233. 

Spring Spiders Learn about the life of a spider, then explore the meadow for wolf spiders, jumping spiders, crab spiders and more, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

East Bay Tracking Club meets every first Sunday of the month in the East Bay to share tracking, survival, wilderness, nature awareness and naturalist skills from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Seabreeze Market, University Ave. and Frontage Rd. To subscribe to the group email eastbaytrackers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  

Berkeley Hiking Club goes to Muir Woods Meet at Shattuck Ave. and Berkeley Way at 8:30 a.m. or meet at Mountain Home at 9:30 a.m. We will hike a variety of trails at a moderate pace for approx 7-8 miles. Rain cancels. 654-3148. 

Solo Sierrans Berkeley Big People Sculptures and Aquatic Park Walk Meet at 10:30 a.m. in front of Sea Breeze Market and Deli, University Ave. and Frontage Rd. for an easy 90 min. walk to learn about the sculptures and Aquatic Park. 234-8949. 

Report Back: International Labour Conference in Iraq with Michael Eisenscher, and Donna and Darlene Wallach, at 7 p.m. at Universalist Unitarian Church, 1924 Cedar St. 436-5738. 

Eggstravaganza: The Wonder of Eggs A family exploration event from 1 to 4 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak at 10th, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200.  

“Naturally-Dyed Easter Eggs” A workshop to introduce children to natural dyes from 1 to 2 p.m. at UC Botnical Garden. Cost is $15-$20. Registreation required. 643-2755. 

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

Camp Kesem Berkeley Auction Fundraiser “Make the Magic” to raise money for a summer camp for children who have or had a parent with cancer, at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Hillel. 909-618-8555. 

“Pesach for Preschoolers” for children ages 2-5 and their grown-ups from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at . Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. Learn with your child about the joy and meaning of the Passover holiday and enjoy an age-appropriate model seder. Cost is $18 per family. Pre-registration required. 547-2424, ext. 100. www.KehillaSynagogue.org 

Personal Theology Seminars with Beth Glick-Rieman on “The Scared Scriptures and How they Shaped my Life” at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Bob Byrne on “Developing Inner Ease” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. 

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 

MONDAY, APRIL 6 

“Blue-Green Building” A slide-show and discussion on East Bay projects, from rain gardens to green roofs, at 7 p.m. at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin. Free. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

“The Conservation of Open Space in the San Francisco Bay Area” with UC Prof. of Geography Richard Walker, author of “The Country in the City” at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St at Arch. Free. 843-8724. 

“How to Bring Solar Energy to Seven Billion People” with Cyrus Wadia, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate, Berkeley Lab, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Free. www.lbl.gov/friendsofscience 

Teen Wild Guide Orientation An opportunity for teens ages 13-18 to become volunteers in the Children’s Zoo, at 5 p.m. at the Oakland Zoo. To register call 632-9525, ext. 201. 

“Andy Goldsworthy: Rivers and Tides” film screening hosted by the Townsend Center for the Humanities at 7 p.m. in the Geballe Room, 220 Stephens Hall, UC Berkeley campus. Free. 643-9670. http://townsendcenter.berkeley.edu 

“State Practices and Zionist Images: Shaping Economic Development in Arab Towns in Israel” with author David Wesley at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

“Castoffs” Knitting group meets at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Community Yoga Class 10 a.m. at James Kenney Parks and Rec. Center at Virginia and 8th. Seniors and beginners welcome. Cost is $6. 207-4501. 

Small-Business Counseling Free one-hour one-on-one counseling to help you start and run your small business with a volunteer from Service Core of Retired Executives, Mon. evenings by appointment at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. For appointment call 981-6148. www.eastbayscore.org 

ASUC Student Legal Clinic provides free legal research and case intake. Drop-in hours Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. anfd Fri. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., UC campus. 642-9986. asuclegalclinic@gmail.com 

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.  

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 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. at Berkeley Boathouse, 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Classes cover woodworking, boatbuilding, and boat repair. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

TUESDAY, APRIL 7 

Sweatshop Worker Event with garment workers and David Bacon, labor journalist, photographer, and author of “Illegal People” at 7 p.m. in the Tilden Room, MLK Student Union, UC campus. 525-5497. 

“Growing Sustainability in a Low-Carbon World” Speaker series sponsored by Inst. for Urban and Regional Development at 5:15 at Wurster Hall, UC campus. http://iurd.berkeley.edu 

“The Great Depression: The Science Behind Depressive Disorders” at 7 p.m. at Cerrito Theater, 10070 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $3. www.sciencecafesf.com 

“Financial Fitness” A five-week series on Tues. from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The HomeOwnership Center, 3301 East 12th St., Suite 201, Oakland. To register call 535-6943. homeownership@unitycouncil.org. 

“Climbing Mount Shasta: Tips for the Novice and the Expert” at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Spring Week at Lawrence Hall of Science with special activities “Water Works” and “Animal Grossology” from noon to 2 p.m., through April 16. Cost is $6-$11. 642-5132. 

Lawyer in the Library at 6 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. Cosponsored by the Alameda County Bar Association. Advance registration required. 526-3720 ext. 5. 

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

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

Street Level Cycles Community Bike Program Come use our tools as well as receive help with performing repairs free of charge. Youth classes available. Tues., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. from 2 to 6 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

Ceramics Class Learn hand building techniques to make decorative and functional items, Tues. at 9:30 a.m. at St. John's Senior Center, 2727 College Ave. Free, materials and firing charges only. 525-5497. 

Bridge for beginners from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., all others 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sing-A-Long at 2:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

Rhythm Tap Exercise Class Tues. at 5 p.m. at Redwood Gardens, 2951 Derby St. Donation $2. 548-9840. 

Wheelchair Yoga at 4:30 p.m., Family Yoga on Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at Niroga Center for Healing, 1808 University Ave. between MLK Way and Grant St. All classes by donation. 704-1330. www.niroga.org 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 

“Stop AFRICOM” The new U.S. Military Command for Africa with Daniels Volman, Dir., African Security Research Project and Dr. Amina Mama, Nigerian Distinguished Prof. of Ethnic Studies, Mills College at 6 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 238-8080, ext. 309. 

“The Crash Course” Part II. A documentary on the consequenses of having a monetary system that must grow tied to an energy system that can’t grow, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

“Jewish Blessing of the Sun/Birkat HaChammah” The East Bay Jewish community celebrates this once in 28 years holiday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Chavez Solar Calendar, at the Berkeley Marina. wildernesstorah@gmail.com  

Foreclosure Prevention A six-week class that meets Wed. at 6 p.m. at the The HomeOwnership Center, 3301 East 12th St., Suite 201, Oakland. To register call 535-6943. homeownership@unitycouncil.org. 

Basic Bike Maintenance at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

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

Confused by Computers? Novice computer users can get one-on-one assistance from noon to 1:45 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. Sign up for an appointment at the reference desk or call 526-3720 ext. 5. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. 548-9840. 

Theraputic Recreation at the Berkeley Warm Pool, Wed. at 3:30 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Warm Pool, 2245 Milvia St. Cost is $4-$5. Bring a towel. 632-9369. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley BART station followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

Teen Chess Club from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. 981-6133. 

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, APRIL 9 

Berkeley Hunger and Homelessness Conference from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Pauley Ballroom at MLK Student Union Bldg, UC campus. Free, food donations encouraged. Hosted by Cal Berkeley Habitat for Humanity, Suitcase Clinic, and CalPIRG. 

“Abolish Corporate Personhood” An organizing meeting at 7 p.m. at 2105 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., between Center and Addison, in the building shared with East Bay Cohousing Clubhouse. 705-1432. 

“Four Actions to Resolve Conflict Inside & Out” at 7:15 p.m. at Center for Transformative Change, 2584 Martin Luther King Jr Way. RSVP to register@transformativechange.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Claremont Resort, Horizon Ballroom, 41 Tunnel Rd.. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

Circle of Concern Vigil meets on West Lawn of UC campus across from Addison and Oxford, Thurs. at noon and Sun. at 1 p.m. to oppose UC weapons labs contracts. 848-8055. 

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

Buddhist Class on Shikan Meditation at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Cedar at Bonita, through May 28. http://caltendai.org 

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Gail Feldman Sustainable Energy Program, City of Berkeley, on “Berkeley’s Solar Energy Project: Leading the Nation through Creative Strategies.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $15, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 524-7468. www.citycommonsclub.org 

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

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 

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 11 

Berkeley Historical Society Spring Walking Tour “Rose Walk and Tamalpais Road” led by John Underhill, from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $8-$10. For reservations and starting point call 848-0181. 

Old-Fashioned Egg Hunt with bunnies and games from noon to 3 p.m. at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. Tickets are $2-$5, or $12 for the whole family. 562-0328. www.dunsmuir.org 

El Cerrito’s Annual Egg Hunt at 10 a.m., sharp, at Arlington Park, 1120 Arlington Blvd., El Cerrito. 559-7000. www.el-cerrito.org 

American Rhododendron Society Annual Show and Sale from noon to 4 p.m. at Lakeside Garden Club, 666 Bellevue, Oakland. Flower show viewing from 10 a.m. to noon. 223-0443. 

Friends of the El Cerrito Library Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 6510 Stockton St., El Cerrito. www.ccclib.org 

Arts at St. Alban’s: Visual Arts with Reena Burton A multi-disciplinary series for children, ages 5 to 10, parents invited, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. Free, donations accepted. to register call 525 1716. info@st-albans-albany.org  

Preschool Storytime, including crafts and finger plays at 11 a.m. at The Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720 ext. 16. 

“Red Highways: A Liberal’s Journey into the Heartland–Implications for the Obama Administration” with journalist, author and political commentator Rose Aguilar, at 7 p.m. at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak St., Alameda. Suggested donation $5. www.alamedaforum.org 

“Grieving is a Revolutionary Act” Seminary of the Street and First Congregational Church of Oakland present a “funeral for the empire” at 7 p.m. at 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. www.seminaryofthestreet.org 

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

Life Goes On Foundation “Comedy Jam” Benefit Show at 7 p.m. at The Bayside Pavilion, 2203 Mariner Square Loop, Alameda. All proceeds will go to raise funds for spinal cord injuries and promote non-violence. www.lifegoesonfoundation.org 

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 

Lawn Bowling on the green at the corner of Acton St. and Bancroft Way every Wed. and Sat. at 10 a.m. for ages 12 and up. Wear flat soled shoes, no heels. Free lessons. 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, APRIL 12 

Little Farm Open House Come grind some corn to feed the chickens, pet a bunny, groom a goat or help out in the Kids Garden, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the Little Farm, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Toddler Nature Walk Little ones and their grown up friends explore the meadows and trails, from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Rabbit Rendevous Come meet the rascally rabbits at the Little Farm and learn about lagomorphs, from 11 a.m. to noon at the Little Farm, at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Old Time Radio East Bay Collectors and listeners gather to enjoy shows together at 4 p.m. at a private home in Richmond. For more information email DavidinBerkeley at Yahoo.com. 

Personal Theology Seminars with Cathleen Cox on “Why Jesus Matters” 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 

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 

Tibetan Buddhism with Judy Rasmussen on “Blessings on the Wind: The Tibetan Prayer Flag” 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 2 to 6 p.m. at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Also on Thurs. from 2 to 6 p.m. Cost is $5 per hour. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission meets Thurs., April 2, at 7 p.m., at 2118 Milvia St. 981-7460.  

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

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Thurs., April 2, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7429. 

Police Review Commission meets Tues., April 7, at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.  

Homeless Commission meets Wed., April 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5431. 

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., April 8, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. 981-6737.  

Community Health Commission meets Thurs., April 9, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5356.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., April 9, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7430.  

THURSDAY, APRIL 2 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Human/Nature: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet” Converstaion with ecologist Gretchen Daily and Artist Iñgo Manglano-Ovalle at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Catherine Ramirez in conversation with Jose Saldivar on her new book “The Woman in the Zoot Suit: Gender, Nationalism, and the Cultural Politics of Memory” 6 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Holloway Poetry Series with Cyrus Console at 6:30 p.m. in the Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall, UC campus. http://holloway.english.berkeley.edu 

Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza of Culture Clash read from their new anthology “Oh Wild West” at 7 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak at 10th, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Rubber Soldiers Revue with The Rowan Brothers and David Gans at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

3rd “Not-A-Seder” Passover Cabaret at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave.Free. Hosted by the Progressive Jewish Alliance. 

Bill Evans & Megan Lynch at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Luce Band, Annie Bacon and her O-Shen, The Wicked Oysters at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082  

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 3 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Gypsy” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through April 5. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Black Repertory Group “Mrs. Streeter” Fri. at 8 .m., Sat. at 2:30 and 8 p.m. at 3201 Adeline St., through April 25. Tickets are $15-$20. 925-812-2787. www.blackrepertorygroup.com 

Brookside Rep “Basha Rubenchek from Minsk, Comrade of Petaluma” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant, through May 3. Tickets are $19-$24. www.BrooksideRep.org 

Destiny Arts “Dreaming Awake” Movement theater work created by young artists Fri. at 7:30 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. Cost is $12-$20. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Masquers Playhouse “The Last Five Years” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, and runs through May 2. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

“Memories and Dreams of the Twentieth Century: stories and a couple of songs” A one-man show by Michael Brown, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Da Silva Ukulele Co., 2547 8th St., Suite 28, in the Sawtooth Bldg., through April 4. Suggested donation $15. 868-3280. 

Round Belly Theatre Co. “Twelfth Night” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. Subterranean Art House, 2179 Bancroft Way. Suggested donation $8-$10. 415-728-5975. 

Shotgun Players “Skylight” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., though April 26. Tickets are $25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Descent” Photographs by Peter Tonningsen. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at A Different Day Gallery, 1233 Solano Ave. Albany. 868-4904. 

“Earth Days” Works by Tyrell Collins, Ralph Singer, and John Wood. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Oakopolis, 447 Twenty-fifth St., Oakland. oakopolis@gmail.com 

“Intersectionality of Sisters” Panel discussion and poetry at 5:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. 465-8928. 

“Myth Magic Mystery: Art of the Inner Worlds” Group show. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at The Red Door Gallery and Collective in the Warehouse, 416 26th St., Oakland. 292-7061. 

“Confluence” Painting and sculpture by Margaret Chavigny and Laura van Duren. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Mercury 20 Gallery, 25 Grand Ave. at Broadway, Oakland. 701-4620. www.mercurytwenty.com  

“Modality Room” Installation by Renee Gertler. Reception at 7 p.m. at Blankspace, 6608 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. 547-6608. www.blankspacegallery.com 

“Beyond the Studio: Community Collaborations” Community-based Public Art Projects and Final Exhibition through April 5 at Work-in-Progress Gallery, John F. Kennedy University’s Arts Annex, 2956 San Pablo Ave., 2nd Flr. 486-8118. 

Keiko Nelson Spring Art Show with sculpture and fine art Fri.-Sun. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m at Keiko Nelson Art Studio, Cotton Mill Studio #115, 1091 Calcot Place, Oakland. www.keikonelson.com 

FILM 

“An American in Paris” at 7 p.m. at the Paramount, 2025 Broadway. Tickets are $5. Box office opens at 6 p.m.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Teen Poetry Slam Semi-Finals with eighteen semi-finalists from across the Bay Area, Fri. and Sat. at 7 p.m. at The Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $6-$10. 800-828-3006. www.brownpapertickets.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Friday Noon Concert with Dept. of Music students at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Free. 642-4864.  

Elliot Randall, southern rock/alt country, at noon on Lower Sproul Plaza, UC campus. Free.  

“Cal Band Spring Showcase” a variety of acts from rock bands to dances to comedy skits at 7:30 p.m. at Haas Pavilion, UC campus. Tickets are $5-$10. 642-3436.  

Sergio Caputo Quartet at 8 p.m. at 155 Dwinelle Hall, UC campus. Free.  

San Francisco City Chorus “Spring Rhapsody” choral works from the Romantic Period at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $18-$25. 415-701-7664. www.sfcitychorus.org 

Bill Crossman, First Fridays Free Jazz and Improv at 7:30 p.m. at OPC Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. Cost is $5, free for ages 16 and under. 836-4649. 

Clifton Burton’s Upside Down & Backwards at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

The Phenomenauts, Peelander-Z, The Secretions, Tabaltix at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Mark Hummel with Jerry Zybach at 9 p.m. at Bobby G’s, 2072 University Ave.  

Bob Frank with John Murray & the Lansky Brothers at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Beth Nielsen Chapman, singer/songwriter, at 8 p.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way, at 6th. Cost is $15-$25. 486-8700. www.rudramandir.com  

Marcus Shelby Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Lloyd Family Players, Alex-Lee, The Rad Girls at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

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

Danny Torres & Friends at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7-$10. 597-0795. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 4 

CHILDREN  

John Weaver, storyteller, Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

“Orca, The First Whale” A puppet show based on a tale from Native Americans in the Northwest, at 11 a.m., and 2 and 4 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

Arts at St. Alban’s Storytelling and Music with Joyce Parry Moore and Jack Hayes, a multi-disciplinary series for children, ages 5-10. Parents invited. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. Free, donations accepted. To register call 525-1716. info@st-albans-albany.org  

EXHIBITIONS 

“RE/FORMATIONS: Disability, Women and Sculpture” Opening reception at 2 p.m. at the National Institute of Art & Disabilities, 551 23rd St., Richmond. Exhibition runs through May 11. 620-0290. www.niadart.org 

THEATER 

Stone Soup Improv Comedy at 8 p.m. at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St. at Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $7-$10. www.stonesoupimprov.com 

TheatreFIRST “Old Times” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way, through April 18. Tickets are $23-$28. 436-5085. www.theatrefirst.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Teen Poetry Slam Semi-Finals with eighteen semi-finalists from across the Bay Area at 7 p.m. at The Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $6-$10. 800-828-3006. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Poetry Reading with Ariana Reines at 7 p.m. at Alphonse Berber Gallery, 2546 Bancroft Way. 649-9492. 

Benito M. Vergara, Jr. on “Pinoy Capital: The Filipino Nation in Daly City” at 3:30 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. www.asiabookcenter.com 

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

Thaddeus Rutkowski on “Tetched: A Novel in Fractals” at 7 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. www.asiabookcenter.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Gloria” Combined Choirs and Symphony at 8 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, One Lawson Road, Kensington. Suggested donation $15-$20, no one turned away for lack of funds. 525-0302, ext. 309. www.uucb.org 

American Bach Soloists at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, at Dana. Pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$44. 800-838-3006. americanbach.org 

Yolanda Rhodes, jazz standards, arias, spirituals and art songs, at 8 p.m. at Trrinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir “Tonight My Heart Sings” at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Alameda, 2001 Santa Clara at Chestnut, Alameda. Suggested donation $10-$15, children under 13, free. 522-1477. www.AlamedaChurch.com 

Las Bomberas de la Bahía at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Steve Freund at 8:30 p.m. at Bobby G’s, 2072 University Ave.  

Beat Box Showcase with The Vowel Movement and others at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

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

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

Disappear Incompletely and Kapowski at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15-18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Zarate Pollace Brazillian Band at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

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

Celu Hamer & Friends at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7-$10. 597-0795. 

Mitch Marcus Quartet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Berkeley Guitar Festival with Michto Pelo, George Cole and Vive le Jazz, The Terrence Brewer Group at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $12. 841-2082.  

SUNDAY, APRIL 5 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Prints and Posters” Reception at 5:30 p.m. p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Sale and auction runs through April 12. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

“Human/Nature: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet” Guided tour at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“The Lyrical Line: Embracing All & Flowing” Works by Salma Arastu on display from 2 to 5 p.m. at Numi Tea Gardens, 2230 Livingston St., Oakland. 261-1315. 

FILM 

Earth Dance Film Festival at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak at 10th, Oakland. For ticket information call 701-4019. www.earthdancefilms.com 

From Riches to Rags: Hollywood and the New Deal “Wild Boys of the Road” Introduced by Harvey Smith, board member of the National New Deal Preservation Association, at 6 p.m. at 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 

Poetry Flash with Diane di Prima, Maichael McClure and David Meltzer at 3 p.m. at Diesel, 5433 College Ave., Oakland. 653-9965. 

Small Press Distribution Poetry Blow-Out with readings by Clark Coolidge, Norma Cole, Graham Foust, Tennessee Reed and many others, from noon to 4 p.m. at 1341 7th St. at Gilman. 524-1668. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Pocket Opera “La Favorita” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $20-$37. 415-346-7805. www.pocketopera.org 

San Francisco Renaissance Voices “All Allegri Concert” at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 845-6830. www.SFRV.org 

Moira Smiley & VOCO at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is 18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Fiesta de Marimba with Ana Nitmas and Ixim Tinamit at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $12-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

California Coast Music Camp Spring Dance at 4 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $$15-$25. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Clairdee at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15-$18. 845-5373.  

MONDAY, APRIL 6 

THEATER 

Woman’s Will 11th Annual 24-hour Playfest Playwrights, directors and actors race to wirte, rehearse, and perfom seven new plays in 24 hours. Final performace at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$25. 420-0813. www.womanswill.org 

FILM 

“Andy Goldsworthy: Rivers and Tides” film screening hosted by the Townsend Center for the Humanities at 7 p.m. in the Geballe Room, 220 Stephens Hall, UC Berkeley campus. Free. 643-9670. http://townsendcenter.berkeley.edu/depthoffield.shtml#Rivers 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

David Wesley on “State Practices and Zionist Images: Shaping Economic Development in Arab Towns in Israel” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

TUESDAY, APRIL 7 

FILM 

“An Evening of Argentine Experimental Films” with filmmaker Federico J. Winhausen at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“What Obama Should Learn from his Predecessors” with Ivan Eland and Andrew R. Rutton at 6:30 p.m. at The Independent Institute, 100 Swan Way, Oakland. Admission: $10 member, $15 non-member. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 632-1366, ext. 118. 

Marcial Gonzalez on “Chicano Novels and the Politics of Form: Race, Class and Reification” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Paul McGeough on “Kill Khalid: The Failed Assassination of Khalid Mishal and the Rise of Hamas” at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $5-$10. berkeleyarts.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

CZ & The Bon Vivants at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 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 

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

Diablo Valley College’s Night Jazz Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 

FILM 

“Killer of Sheep” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Buena Vista: Maybeck and the Year 1907” with Robert Judson Clark at 7:30 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $15. Sponsored by Berkeley Architectural Heritage Assoc. 841-2242. berkeleyheritage.com 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with students in the Contemporary Improvisation Ensemble at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

“It’s Not a Folk Harp” A concert with Mitch Landy, Natalie Cox, Dianna Rowan and Laura Simpson perfroming on Celtic harp at 7:30 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany, Tickets are $10-$15. 758-0959. 

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

Steve Lucky Quartet at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Avance 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.  

Shan Kenner Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 9 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Human/Nature: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet” Guided tour at 12:15 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

FILM 

“How to Dig a Hole” Films by UC Berkeley students at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Story Hour in the Library featuring novelist Vendela Vida, at 5 p.m. at 190 Doe Library, UC campus. 643-0397. 

Truth Be Told Spoken word with Rico Pabon at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5. 849-2568.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

UC Berkeley’s The Movement Spring Showcase Thurs. and Fri. at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Young People's Performing Arts Center, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8 in advance from ucb.movement.showcase@gmail.com 

Dead Guise at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Kalman Balogh Gypsy Cimbolam Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Country Joe’s Open Mic with singer/songwriter Jo D’Anna at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Donation $5-$10. 841-4824. 

The Crooked Roads Band, The Z-Train Electric Band, In Rare Form at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “Miss Julie” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m., at 2081 Addison St. to May 10. Tickets are $40-$42. 843-4822. auroratheatre.org 

Black Repertory Group “Mrs. Streeter” Fri. at 8 .m., Sat. at 2:30 and 8 p.m. at 3201 Adeline St., through April 25. Tickets are $15-$20. 925-812-2787. www.blackrepertorygroup.com 

Brookside Rep “Basha Rubenchek from Minsk, Comrade of Petaluma” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant, through May 3. Tickets are $19-$24. www.BrooksideRep.org 

Masquers Playhouse “The Last Five Years” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, and runs through May 2. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Round Belly Theatre Co. “Twelfth Night” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. Subterranean Art House, 2179 Bancroft Way. Suggested donation $8-$10. 415-728-5975. 

Shotgun Players “Skylight” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., though April 26. Tickets are $25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

TheatreFIRST “Old Times” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way, through April 18. Tickets are $23-$28. 436-5085. www.theatrefirst.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Mahmood Mamdani describes “Saviours and Survivors: Darfur, Politics and the War on Terror” at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Cost is $5-$10. berkeleyarts.org 

Charles Blackwell, Selene Steese, and Bob Booker will read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave., a little north of Hearst, in Berkeley, as part of the Last Word Reading Series. There is also an open reading. 841-6374. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

UC Berkeley’s The Movement Spring Showcase at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Young People's Performing Arts Center, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8 in advance from ucb.movement.showcase@gmail.com 

Teslim at Utunes Coffe House at 8 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$18. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Womansong Circle An evening of participatory singing for women, with guest artist Annie Patterson, co-author of “Rise Up Singing” at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Small Assembly Room, 2345 Channing St., at Dana. Suggested donation $15-$20, no one turned away. www.betsyrosemusic.org 

Beausoliel at 2 p.m. at Down Home Music, 10341 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 525-2129. 

Salvadora Galan, flamenco guitarist and singer, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$14. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Ed Neumeister at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Alex Calatuyud’s Brasil! at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $115. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Zulu Spear, The Palmwine Boys at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Happy Clams, Yard Sale at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Naomi and the Courteous Rudeboys at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

East Bay Funk and Soul Revue at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $8. 548-1159.  

Will Blades Quartet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 11 

CHILDREN  

Family Film Series “Ever After” Cinderella with a strong woman and no magic Sat. and Sun. at noon at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood, 2966 College Ave. at Ashby. Tickets are $4. 433-9730. 

Maggie the Clown, Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry and the Planet with Camille Dungy, Robert Haas, Brenda Hillman and many others at 3 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“The New BAM/PFA Facility” with architect Toyo Ito at 7 p.m. at Wheeler Auditorium, UC campus. Free, tickets available at 6 p.m. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Barbara Claire Freeman, Alice Jones, and Nguyen Do will read their poems from the latest Parthenon West Review at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320, pdtevents@gmail.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

UC Berkeley Danceworx Spring Showcase at 8 p.m. at The Julia Morgan Young People’s Performing Arts Center, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$10. dwxshowcasecoord@gmail.com 

Grupo Falso Baiano at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$14. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

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

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

Gateswingers Jazz Band, at 7:30 p.m. at 33 Revolutions Record Shop amd Cafe,10086 San Pablo Ave. at Central, El Cerrito. 898-1836.  

Taylor Eigsti, solo piano, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $20. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

The China Cats, Pat Nevins Acoustic Trio at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Jinx Jones Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Grayceon, Mammatus, Giant, Tides 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. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Human/Nature: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet” Guided tour at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra “Bach to Bach” at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Free. www.sfchamberorchestra.org 

Berkeley New Music Project at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Tickets are $5-$15. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Carlos Oliveira’s Brazilian Opus, featuring Harvey Wainapel, at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Kickin’ the Mule, featuring Freddie Hughes, at 5 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Under a street sign reading “Abbey Road,” the stage is lined with hanging ukeleles, as proprietor Mike Da Silva of the Da Silva Ukelele Co.—and host to an unusual series of performances on Eighth Street—introduces Michael Brown, performing his solo show, Memories and Dreams of the Twentieth Century: Storeis and a Couple of Songs, which runs again this Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4. 

“The second half of the 20th Century is fast becoming the stuff of legend,” Brown begins, “the Second World War, the ’50s, ’60s—even the ’70s ... but not just newspaper stories.” It’s a storytelling show, a very reflective one about memory, about the almost-forgotten sensibilities of the ’60s versus the media events, tags and cliches that now identify it, and the ripening of one man’s—or perhaps his generation’s—own sensibilities, from the romanticism of experiencing it all into something like the wisdom of experience. “I have stories about the big events; I was at Woodstock; I met Fidel, Che, Malcolm X—but that’s not how I remember it.” 

Opening the same weekend as Sun & Moon Ensemble finished up another, more theatrical one-man storytelling play, with an inseparable accompaniment in music and song, Brown’s piece—or pieces, each separately announced by supertitles—seems very spare, with a minimum of gestures or enactment, just straight recitation of his tales with a few aptly placed songs, either self-accompanied on guitar or delivered a capella.  

At first, there seems to be a lot of exposition, but the audience quickly responds to Brown’s thoughtful, easygoing style, absorbing what he spins out, which comes up again in later episodes, the meaning made plain, if sometimes by refraction. Brown, veteran of the Moving Men and other notable troupes and projects of the times he talks about, knows his voice and presence, eschewing illusion, relying instead on the audience’s absorption in his words and his unfolding intention to extract the crystal of meaning from the ore of his reminiscences. 

There’s the story of his successful uncle Benny in Newark, who the young Michael Brown speculates might be in with the Mob, offering at a Seder (“a secular event in my family”) to set his nephew up in politics, only to get tartly rebuffed by the young idealist—who later questions his own attitude when a conservative Christian jailkeeper helps him out of a bind when he’s arrested hitchhiking in Wyoming.  

There’s the almost time-lapse image of a woman Brown meets when he sees her prancing through the viewfinder of his 8-mm moviecamera while taking crowd shots for an experimental film. She reappears randomly in his life for years, coast to coast, a Ruby Tuesday kind of thing amid crashing with the Mime Troupe and a bearded horde from mantra-like Mendocino, until he finally loses track of her after a last glimpse through windshield wipers as she dances exuberantly again for him, stepping out of his car. The telling is patently contemporary but captures, somehow, the almost ultraviolet aura of the times, something unspoken (and absent from all the revivals and retellings of yore), both subliminal and self-conscious.  

There’s the story of boyhood, of “the first time beauty entered my soul.” And there’s a funny deadpan tale of determinedly fixing a vintage toaster instead of buying a new one, juxtaposed with Artaud’s image of theater as “victims at the stake, signalling each other through the flames,” and following the Living Theater around, who declared they were inspired by Artaud, propagating the myth—as Brown keeps on fixing his old toaster! 

And finally the “Pièce de Resistance,” a finely told recollection of going to the races, maybe in search of that magical sense of spontaneity lost with the ’60s, and encountering The Great John Henry, then famous 9-year-old gelding in one of his final races, a horse of real heart whose career seemed to defy time, with the blue-collar-hero announcer Bob Gibson calling the race like poetry, drawing out the first syllable of the horse’s name—“Looks him in the eye and goes on by!”—with a happier ending for the noble horse, “coming home on the bit,” than for his legendary African-American namesake with the hammer, whose song Brown periodically intones, trying to beat the machine, both fulfilling a quote Brown recalled about “the personal life” from Anais Nin, an author he never read. 

Just like that vicarious sense of satisfaction of winning at the track, like being told, “You were right; here’s your money,” Brown’s careful style of storytelling pays off in change along the way, every time a stray image hits home—but the dividends ripen as his show progresses, “though you can’t make withdrawals right away.” 

MEMORIES AND DREAMS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: STORIES AND A COUPLE OF SONGS 

Written and performed by Michael Brown. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Da Silva Ukelele Co., Sawtooth Building, Suite 28, 2547 Eight St. $15 suggested donation. 868-3280.

Kenya, 1912. The young Jewish woman from Russia stands with a suitcase, concerned about the man staring at her, trying to talk to her—until he shows a picture he has of her. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it’s you!” she exclaims. “I believe I have the wrong party,” he replies, a Talmudic scholar wondering if this could be his promised bride ... 

Later, introduced to an African man, the young woman says, “They call me Comrade Basha. You can call me Basha. Is that a problem?” 

Mae Ziglin Meidav’s play, Basha Rubenchek from Minsk, Comrade of Petaluma, playing at the Berkeley City Club through May 3, is a tribute to her “firebrand great-aunt, a chicken farmer in Petaluma infamous in the family for having tried to start a utopian enterprise in Africa.” Visiting from her native St. Louis, Meidav recalls being taken aside, at 12, by her aunt, who told her to “be aware of the ‘anti’ forces in the world, anti-Communism foremost among them.” After moving to the Bay Area with her own family years later, Meidav took her still upright 88-year-old relative into their home. 

The subject of a book, Comrades and Chicken Farmers, by Kenneth L. Kann, and a musical, Chutzpah, by Pauline Pfander, Meidav’s play shows—right after intermission—Basha and her partner (Shimon; the two never married) arriving from Africa in 1916 under a sign, “Welcome to Petaluma”—and Shimon remarks, “I wonder if we should’ve gone to Palestine?” (Earlier, speaking of how Jews were urged to settle in Kenya as a new homeland, Basha says, “You can’t always rely on the fickleness of a British invitation.”)  

“We can be pioneers here, too,” she replies. 

But Shimon worries, “We know nothing of chicken ranching.”  

“You knew nothing of cattle ranching in Kenya.”  

“That was the tragedy.” 

The play, which follows Basha as she leaves Minsk, against her father’s wishes, where she worked for social causes and witnessed pogroms by the cossacks, is peppered with Meidav’s sprightly wit. But the conditions the Jewish immigrants were up against, everywhere, were are harsh as Basha’s hopes—and determination—ran high. 

“The real Basha changed her name back and forth,” Meidav said, “to confuse the Federal agents in the days of the Palmer Raids and later the fascist American Silver Shirts ... they deported Emma Goldman and others.”  

Scene by scene, the play delineates the background out of which Comrade Basha came, her progressive beliefs joined to a youthful, feminine spirit (deftly portrayed by Sarah Eismann), keeping her active, open to the world in the midst of adversity. 

Lia Metz has directed her cast—Reuben Alvear II, Al Badger, Biko Eisen-Martin, Theresa Miller, Brian O’Connor, Jeff Trescott and as understudy for Basha, originally from Kyrgyzstan, Yelena Segal—with care, giving the episodic story both epic and intimate overtones. The excellent designers—Don Cate, set and lights; Bradford Chapin, sound; Jessie Amoroso, costumes—more than enhance these qualities.  

There are nice touches that bring in the great events of the times: a visitor asks about the pictures of Lenin and Trotsky on the ranchhouse wall, “Nice pictures; those your relatives?” And there’s some fictionalization that hints at other issues. Biko Eisen-Martin, a self-proclaimed “red-green-black diaper baby,” who teaches Social Studies  

and Black Studies at Berkeley High, plays a Kenyan tribesman as well as itinerant African-American farm laborer, Nathaniel, who Basha teaches to read—and who proves crucial when the local American Legionaires and other reactionaries decide to take matters into their own hands, part of the post-World War I backlash against immigrants, blacks, Catholics and Jews—and leftist sympathizers. 

“I had to collapse a great deal of history into six or seven years onstage,” said Meidav. “And I wanted to incorporate the Jewish immigrants with the black community in Basha’s relationship with the farm worker, show how contrary to racism they were. All of it has to be shown onstage as interaction, the excitement of live theater.” 

Meidav has had a rich, “zig-zag career,” working as an assistant to the chief engineer at BART for 21 years, where she set up a lunch hour creative writing group with “P.R. people, industrial engineers, a graphic designer” that still meets at her house. Meidav worked in computer analysis for aircraft companies: MacDonald-Douglas, De Havilland, Israel. She’s also studied and taught sociology, at one point as a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley. In theater, she’s done solo shows, eventually putting together a two-act play out of “these little vignettes,” produced by Stanley Spenger for Subterranean Shakespeare at La Val’s as Delicate Pinstripes and Other Tales. Spenger also produced and starred in Franz Kafka’s Love Life, which Brookside Rep produced in a newer version last year. Basha Rubenchek from Minsk, Comrade of Petaluma received a California Living History Center grant. 

Brookside executive producer John McMullen, who directed Kafka, commented on the timeliness of Basha: “When we do a play, it doesn’t start out topical, but it ends up that way. And now we do one about Comrade Basha and Jewish chicken ranchers in Petaluma—and if you turn on Fox News, every 15 seconds you hear ‘socialism, socialism!’” 

Basha Rubenchek from Minsk,  

Comrade of Petaluma 

8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 5 p.m. Sundays through May 3 at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. $19-$24. 

(800) 838-3006. www.BrooksideRep.org. 

Donald Pippin started performing with chamber and Renaissance music and one-act operas in 1954, first staging Pocket Opera at North Beach’s Old Spaghetti Factory, in the back—or “flamenco”—room, in 1960. In 1968, he introduced his own translations of operas, now numbering something close to the scriptural three score and ten, four volumes of which are now available from Pocket Opera Press (As the Lights Go Up: Tales from the Opera), along with his oral history of the intrepid little company, A Pocketful of Wry, sponsored by the Bancroft Library, as well as sales (and rentals) of various individual libretti. 

In his foreword to As the Lights Go Up, Joshua Kosman writes, “With the discerning dexterity of the master jeweler, Pippin winkles out the essential elements of a scene ... and renders these into clear, concise and often witty English.” 

After becoming a nonprofit in 1977, Pocket Opera sallied forth from the salon of benches and water glasses of wine in the Spaghetti Factory into the theaters of the Bay Area, with its first spring subscription season in 1979.  

At the start of his company’s 30th year, Pippin shared some thoughts with The Daily Planet: 

On La Favorita and Donizetti: “His career was relatively brief, but he composed about 70 operas, about a dozen of which get performed at all, including some lesser known. La Favorita still counts as lesser known, though acknowledged as one of his greatest. They profit by intimacy. All the nuance can be lost trying to fill a cavernous hall with sound. We have four major soloists for La Favorita, all superb—and our excellent tenor’s sung in Pocket Opera productions for seven years. I don’t know why he’s still working with us!” 

On Pocket Opera’s staging and the company’s development, Pippin said: “We pay more attention now to the production as a whole, without abandoning our original mission of simplicity, concentrating on the singing, the interaction of character. Our staging is very much like Elizabethan theater, I think. Opera directors tend these days to fill up the stage with a lot of irrelevant business, especially with Handel, whose stories are static, wracking their brains to distract the audience with all that business. 

“We’ve decidedly not gone in that direction,” Pippin said. “And I think I’ve grown as a musician and artistic director. I don’t do the stage direction. We now have access to more singers, with auditions every year, where we hear about a hundred. So a constantly fresh supply, though women more than men—which is sad, because there are more roles for men than women.” 

On choice of composers, Pippin said: “Our three mainstays are Handel, Offenbach and Donizetti—all three prolific, all three very famous but for a small part of their output. We explore their underrated work. So much depends on interpretation. On the page, Donizetti’s melodies look insipid but are beautiful when played and sung. With Handel, beauty’s more apparent in his Italian operas (about 40) than in his maybe 20 English oratorios. 

“Although we’ve done The Rake’s Progess, I’m leery of latter-day 20th century works, which are so dependent on orchestral color,” he said. “With 19th century music, you lose something with our kind of orchestration, but also gain something. Like in chamber music, the transparency is there, you follow the individual voices. With eight instruments, we do quite well, even with Puccini and Verdi, which can be quite grandiose.” 

On notoriety and the press: “In the ’80s, we had good press coverage. In those days, the Chronicle had four music critics; now just one beleaguered critic,” Pippin said. “We’ve had fewer and fewer reviews the past dozen years. Through exhaustion, I suppose, they don’t come anymore. And during the same time, the two big record stores, Tower and Virgin, have closed. It really does starve us, you know.” 

On himself, on stage, Pippin said: “What was I thinking when I originally started? Where to put my foot next! I had no long vision of it, ever. One step at a time. Sometimes I feel I’m casting myself as the Fool, or like some character in Shakespeare—those characters who stand by and comment, like the Duke in Measure for Measure, who’s presumably absent, but is there all the time. Hovering over all—that’s me! 

"We do keep exploring. I’m feeling very positive, going forward,” Pippin said. “We’ve grown over the years; there have been high points. But we’ve always had an extraordinary group of singers, even at the beginning. And I’m having even a better time than I used to. I think I’ve become much more conscientious about my narration. When I’m praised, I get increasingly anxious and try to improve. I’m cursed with the inability to rest on my laurels.” 

On the next production (May 9 at the Julia Morgan), his new translation of Moniuszko’s The Haunted Manor: “It’s much revered in Poland—the composer considered second only to Chopin—though unknown here. It reminds you a little of Czech operas, like The Bartered Bride. A delight. Exuberant, ebullient, full of life—with melodies of Polish dance forms, and a good story." 

La Favorita  

Presented by Pocket Opera at 2 p.m.  

Sunday at Julia Morgan Center, 2640 College Ave. $20-$37. 

(415) 346-7805. www.pocketopera.org.