THURSDAY, MAY 7 

Berkeley Democratic Club with Assembymember Nancy Skinner on the state of the State, and the League of Woman Voters presents the propositions for the May 19th Special Statewide Election, at 7 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda.  

SalmonAID Festival with music, dancing and information about the salmon at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $25. 849-2568.  

Create Your Own Micro-Farm with a self-watering container. Learn how from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Oakland Housing Authority Community Room, 935 Union St., West Oakland on the corner of 10th St. Sponsored by Urban ROOTS. To reserve a spot, please call 655-1304. 

“Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money” with author Woody Tasch on his view of the world of capital markets and sustainability at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-3402. 

Project YouthView: The Power of Youth in Film Festival of winning bay area local youth film shorts, plus the documentary “Trouble the Water” at 6 p.m. at Historic Theatre of the Alameda Theater & Cineplex, 317 Central Avenue, Alameda. Sponsored by Alternatives in Action. Tickets are $5-$8, $100 for VIP section. 748-4314, ext. 304. www.projectyouthview.org 

“Reptiles and Amphibians” with Paul Hamilton as part of the Conservation Speaker Series at 6:30 p.m. in the Marian Zimmer Auditorium, Children’s Zoo, Oakland Zoo. Suggested donation $5-$20. 632-9525, ext. 122. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Laney College, ASLC Offices, 900 Fallon St., Oakland.. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

Film on Washington DC indepth exploration of this multi-cultural city at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

Teaching English as a Second Language Learn about the Foreign Language Certification Program offered by UC Berkeley Extension, at 5:30 p.m. at 1995 University Ave. To reserve a space call 642-4111. 

“Don't Be in Pain” with Dr. Ellliott Wagner on the benefits of acupuncture in relieving neuropathic pain at 1 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 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, MAY 8 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Douglas J. Long, Chief Curator, Dept. of Natural Sciences, Oakland Museum of CA on “The California Grizzly Bear in Fact and Fancy” 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 527-2173.  

“What I Saw in Gaza” with Middle East Children’s Alliance Executive Director Barbara Lubin at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Donation $5-$10. 526-2900. www.bfuu.org 

The Orchid Society of California Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Show and Sale, Fri. noon to 6 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue, Oakland. Free. 582-3404. www. 

orchidsocietyofcalifornia.com 

Stockton Avenue Art Stroll Meet the artists at their studios or galleries, and have a great time exploring art along El Cerrito’s Stockton Ave. For more details, contact Well Grounded Tea & Coffee Bar, 6925 Stockton Ave. 528-4709. 

Love and Justice for Tristan & Palestine with Charming Hostess, Devin Hoff Platform, Molotov Mouths, Hillary Lehr and others at 7:30 p.m. at AK Press Warehouse, 674-A 23rd St., Oakland. Donation $7-$25. 208-1700. 

Womansong Circle “A Celebration of Mothers” An evening of participatory singing for women with guest Evelie Posch, at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Small Assembly Room, 2345 Channing St. Suggested donation $15-20. www.betsyrosemusic.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Children’s Hospital, Outpatient Center Basement, 747 52nd St.,, Oakland.. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com 

Kamit Fest 36th Anniversary Ausar Auset Society Registration at 6:30 p.m., meditation at 7 p.m. Oakland Public Conservatory, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. Other events throughout the day on Sat. 536-5934. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St at University. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

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

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

SATURDAY, MAY 9 

Berkeley Path Wanderers Walk in Claremont Heights, Grand View, and Hiller Highlands Walk the old paths behind the Claremont Hotel that once helped commuters reach the Key Route trains, and look for traces of paths that are no more. Learn about historic Smith Lane and the family that built it. Finally, explore newer paths and streets in neighborhoods rebuilt after the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley firestorm. This route has long, steep hills and stairways, some with uneven footing. Meet at 10 a.m. at Peet’s, 2912 Domingo Ave. www.berkeleypaths.org 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Field Trip to Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve Join Rusty Scalf for a morning of bird watching at our own East Bay volcano. Drive south on Grizzly Peak Blvd until it ends; turn left onto Skyline, the park entrance is located a short distance, about a quarter mile, on Skyline on the left at 6800 Skyline. Meet at parking lot at 8 a.m. www.goldengateaudubon.org 

Blessing of the Animals at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, on the front lawn at 2619 Broadway, Oakland. Please bring pets on leashes or in carriers. 444-3555. www.firstcurchoakland.org  

Jefferson School Mayfair Games, prizes, food, performances, cakewalks, root beer floats and rockets abound at this year’s space-themed Mayfair. Come in costume and compete for prizes. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1400 Ada St., Sacramento St.  

Edible Schoolyard Jamboree and 5th Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Edible Schoolyard, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Plant sale continues on Sun. 558-1335. 

Bike Day at the Farmer’s Market from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Center St between Milvia St. and M.L.K.jr. Way. Come learn to take care of your bicycle with workshops on everything from changing a flat tire to greasing your chain. www.bfbc.org 

California Rare Fruit Growers Golden Gate Chapter with Bill Grimes, CRFG National Office President, on “Growing California Bay Area Friendly Exotic and Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables” at 1 p.m. at 2009 Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr. Community Room, 2090 Kittredge St. www.CRFG.org 

“Opening Doors to Homes: A Walk for Affordable Housing” to raise awareness and funds for much needed affordable housing to the Bay Area from 1 to 4 p.m. at Memorial Glade, UC campus. Cost is $15-$30. Sponsored by Resources for Community Development. Register online at www.firstgiving.com/rcdhousing 

Walking Tour of Jack London Waterfront Meet at 10 a.m. at the corner of Broadway and Embarcadero. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

“Urban Farming Basics: Grow Your Own Food” With Willow Rosenthal of City Slicker Farms from 2 to 6 p.m. at Berkeley Youth Alternatives Garden, Bancroft Way between Bonar and West St. Cost is $10-$15. 548-2220, ext. 239. 

The Orchid Society of California Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Show and Sale Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue, Oakland. Free. 582-3404. www.orchidsocietyofcalifornia.com 

California Lawn Bowls Day Open House from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the corner of Acton St. and Bancroft. 841-2174. 

Annie’s Annuals Mother’s Day Party with food, drinks, a clown and activities for children, and gardening information and raffle Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 740 Market Ave. Richmond. www.anniesannuals.com 

Free Car Seat Checks Officers from the Berkeley Police Department will administer a car seat safety check on the 5th level of the Allston Way Garage, 2061 Allston Way between Milvia and Shattuck, from 10 a.m. to noon. Parking will be validated by Habitot. 647-1111.  

“Becoming America: Becoming California” Exhibition on the history of the Peralta family and the Native People with food, crafts and games, dancing and tours, from noon to 5 p.m. at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. Suggested donation $1. 532-9142. www.peraltahacienda.org/VisitUs.htm  

“Pakistan and Afghanistan: Obama’s and America’s Next Vietnam?” with speaker Conn Hallinan at 7 p.m. at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak St., Alameda. Sponsored by the Alameda Public Affairs Forum Suggested donation $5, no one is turned away. 814-9592.  

Common Agenda Regional Network meeting on reordering federal priorities from the military to human and environmental needs at 2 p.m. at 1403 Addison St. at the Gray Panthers’ Office, adjacent the back entrance of the Andronico’s Grocery. 

1st Annual Rock Paper Scissors Collective Cupcake Bake-off Benefit for the Community Collaborations Donor Campaign at 2 p.m. at Rock Paper Scissors Collective, 2278 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. 238-9171. www.rpscollective.com 

Origami Flowers with Margo Wecksler from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720. 

“Food For Thought” Comedians and speakers, including Johnny Steele, Kamau Bell, Richard Stockton and Carmen Tedesco of Slow Food San Francisco in a benefit for the Alameda County Food Bank at 8 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Theater, 2460 College Ave. Tickets are $15. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.juliamorgan.org 

“The African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present” Community opening of the exhibition from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. Cost is $5-$8. www.museumca.org/tickets 

“Update from Haiti” with Seth Donnelly on the electoral climate in Haiti at 3 p.m. at Niebyl Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.haitisolidarity.net 

Kensington Library Spring Book Sale Sat. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Center, 59 Arlington Ave, Kensington, up the road by the library. 524-3043. 

Jitter-Bug Hunt Fun for the whole family trying to catch these bugs, at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

Mad Hatter Tea Party and White Rabbit Adoption Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. at RabbitEARS, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. 

Kids Go Green: Protecting Chabot’s Redwood Ecosystem from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the redwood forest surrounding Cahabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. Cost is $10.95-$14.95. 336-7373. 

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

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.  

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, MAY 10 

Grand Opening of the David Brower Center Tour the Center, celebrate the planet, and explore environmental and social issues of our time, from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 2150 Allston Way, between Oxford and Shattuck. For a complete schedule of events see www.browercenter.org 

Friends and Family Day at the Magnes Join us in the garden and museum as we reflect on memory and personal history through arts and crafts from 11 a.m. t0 3 p.m. at 2911 Russell St. www.magnes.org 

Mothers Day Stories and Songs with Doug and Todd Elliott’s cultural tour of America’s backcountry, at 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

Treat Your Mother Right Join a tour of the Tilden Little Farm to meet the animal mothers, and two farm grandmothers, at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

Mother’s Day Peace Fair with speakers, music, refreshments from 3 to 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Donation $5, no one turned away. 841-4824. www.uucb.org 

CodePINK: Women for Peace Pink Follies for Mothers’ Day with music, dance, comedy, spoken word at 6:45 p.m. at a La Pena, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10. 540-7007. 

California Native Plant Society Walk Discover California native plants along the way. This loop has a 700 foot elevation gain, with many ups and downs. Round trip is about 5 miles. Meet at 10 a.m. in the Briones Reg. Park, Reliez Valley Staging Area parking lot. 223-3310. 

Welcoming the Three Sisters to the Garden Help us plant beans, squash and corn in the Childrens’ Garden and learn why they encourage eachother to grow, at 10 a.m. at Tilden Narure Area, Tilden Park. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

Discussion of Marxist-Humanist Perspectives at 6:30 p.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Text available at www.newsandletters.org For information call 658-1448. 

Personal Theology Seminars with Rosa Grandillo-Schwentker on “My Experience with the Toltec Shamanic Tradition” 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 Jack Petranker on “The Buddhist Path and the Scientific Method” 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 

MONDAY, MAY 11 

Anna Head Student Housing Project Community Discussion at 7 p.m. in the All Purpose Room, Unit 1 Residence Hall. RSVP to 643-8677. Comments can be emailed to bpiatnitza@cp.berkeley.edu 

AC Transit Service Reduction Community Workshop Bus district seeks community input as it begins planning for service reductions, made necessary by looming deficit due to significant cut in state funding and other economic factors. Bus riders and the community are encouraged to attend at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., West Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 Sixth St. 

“The Drought and Community Response” with Andy Katz, EBMUD director at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

“Hot Technology, Cool Science” with scientists from Berkeley Lab at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Repertory Theater, 2025 Addison St. 

Dog Training Workshop: Come, Spot, Come! at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St. Cost is $35. 849-9323.  

El Cerrito Art Association Painting demonstration Christopher Schink, author of two books on watercolor painting, at 7:30 pm in the Garden Room of the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane. 

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. 

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. 548-0425. 

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.  

TUESDAY, MAY 12 

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 the Sibley Regional Preserve. Bring water, field guides, binoculars or scopes. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 544-3265.  

Alliance for California Tradtional Arts Information session on funding opportunities for folk and traditional artisits at 6 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. 415-346-5200.  

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 

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. We always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

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. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 

Berkeley Housing Element Community Meeting To review the inventory of properties identified for possible future residential development at 7 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 981-7416. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around Preservation Park to see Victorian architecture. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Preservation Park at 13th St. and MLK, Jr. Way. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

“Longing and Belonging: Parents, Children and Consumer Culture” with Allison Pugh, Asst. Prof. Dept of Sociology, Univ. of Virginia, at 7 p.m. at North Oakland Community Charter School, 1000 42nd St., Oakland. 655-0540. 

“Paws to Read” Help your child practice reading with a friendly dog at 2:45 and at 3:20 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. Dogs and handlers are from Therapy Pets volunteering for Paws to Read. Children in grades 1-5 may sign up for 25 minute sessions with tested therapy pets. To reserve a session call 526-3720, ext. 5.  

“The Century of the Self—Episode Two: Happiness Machines” by Adam Curtis at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., uptown Oakland, between Telegraph and Broadway. Donation $5. www.HumanistHall.org 

Free Screening of “Reds“ as part of the Radical Film Nite with free popcorn and post-film discussion, at 8 p.m. at the Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave. 540-0751. www.thelonghaul.org 

Cycling: Improving Your Performance for Fun, Fitness, or Competition with Curtis Cramblett at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

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 the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

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

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

THURSDAY, MAY 14 

Bike to Work or School Day Celebrate bicycling as a healthy, fun, and economical form of transportation. For more event details and locations of energizer stations see bicycling.511.org 

“Richmond Riviera” Walk for Age 50+ Discover birds, parks, and WWII history along Richmond’s Bay shore on a level, paved, wheelchair-accessible walk. Meet at 9 a.m. at Shimada Friendship Park, S. end of Marina Bay Parkway, Richmond. Free but numbers limited; register at Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave., 524-9122, or Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin, 524-9283. 

Book Bingo In celebration of Children’s Book Week, for ages 5 and up, at 3:30 p.m. at the Kendington library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043.  

East Bay Mac Users Group Meeting learn about iLife 09- iMovie & iWeb at 7 p.m. at Expression College for Digital Arts, 6601 Shellmound Street, Emeryville. ebmug.org 

Guided Meditation with Patricia Ellesberg on “Mystery Made Manifest” works by Susan Duhan Felix at noon at the Badè Museum, in the Hollbrook Building at the Pacific School of Religion located at 1798 Scenic. 848-0528. 

“The Heart of Islam: Essentials of Islamic Religion and Spirituality” A four week introductory course, open to the general public, Thurs. nights at 7 p.m. at Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison St., Oakland. Cost is $25 for all classes. To register call 832-7600. www.iccnc.org 

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, MAY 15 

Tommie Smith on “The 1968 Olympics” including a film “Return to Mexico City” at 9:30 a.m. at the Little Theater, Berkeley High School, 1980 Allston Way. 812-0121, 776-7451. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Prof. Richard A. Muller “Physics for Future Presidents” 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 527-2173. www.citycommonsclub.org 

Volunteer at Berkeley Youth Alternative Gardens Tasks may include weeding, bed preparation, sowing, transplanting, composting and harvesting, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Berkeley Youth Alternatives Garden, Bancroft Way, between Bonar and West St. 647-0709. www.byaonline.org 

“Ecocities: An Environmentally Conscious Approach to Architecture” with Kirstin Miller on how ecocities can reverse sprawl development and create sustainable cities that promote walking, cycling and public transit, from noon to 1 p.m. at AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay St., Oakland. RSVP by email. events@aiaeb.org 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St at University. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Why Be Jewish? at 6:15 p.m. at Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty Street, El Cerrito. Cost is $7. RSVP required. 559-8140 . www.jewishgateways.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, MAY 16 

Himalayan Fair A market bazaar of the great mountain cultures of the Himalayas with food, arts and crafts and traditional music Sat from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Suggested donation $5. www.himalayanfair.net  

Berkeley Garden Club Plant Sale with CA natives, succulents, perennials and other wonderful plants locally grown at bargain prices, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 547 Grizzly Peak Blvd., top of Euclid. 524-7296. 

24th Bay Area Storytelling Festival Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Kennedy Grove Recreation Area, featuring Jay O’Callahan, Antionio Rocha, Gayle Ross, Judith Black and Doug Elliott. Cost is $40-$80. registration required. 869-4969. www.bayareastorytelling.org 

Sudden Oak Death Blitz Training meeting for people wanting to take part in the documentation of SOD affected trees, from 10 a.m. to noon at Regional Park Botanic Garden, Wildcat Canyon Rd at S. Park Drive, Tilden Park. Sampling will continue on Sat. afternoon and Sun. Bring GPS units if you have them. 847-5482. 

Teens Touch the Earth Earn community service credit while working with others who care about the environment, for ages 13-19 from 9 a.m. to noon at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. Registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

“Recycle, Restyle, Remake Your Clothes” A class on how to economize and stretch your wardrobe by remaking items that are already in your closet. Learn how old sweaters can be transformed into hats and arm warmers, sleeves can be shortened or removed, dresses can be turned into skirts. Bring those pieces still hanging in your closet that haven't been worn in ages and restyle them into something new. From 4 to 7 p.m. at Waterside Workshops, 84 Bolivar Drive, at Berkeley's Aquatic Park. Cos tis $25. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

TransForm’s 12th Annual Summit The Summit will focus on the critical role of transportation and land use in the health of our economy, pocketbooks, and planet, and highlight solutions, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Laney College, 900 Fallon St. at 10th, Oakland. Cos tis $20. To register call 740-3150. transformca.org 

Berkeley Buddhist Temple Satsuki Bazaar and Arts Festival with Japanese foods, crafts, children's games, silent auction and performances by Anthony Brown, storyteller, Brenda Wong-Aoki, Destiny Arts Center's youth hip-hop group, Sat. from 4 to 9 p.m. and Sun. from noon to 7 p.m. at 2121 Channing Way. Free. 841-1356. www.berkeleysangha.org/ev/bazaar 

Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Work-day Enter the park from Swan Way and follow the road to the end parking lot. Meet at 10 a.m. near the wooden observation platform adjacent to Arrowhead Marsh. Sponsored by Golden Gate Audubon Society. 843-2222. www.goldengateaudubon.org 

Fundraiser for New Oakland Farmers’ Market with art gallery, workshops, live music and dancing from from 5 p.m. at Oakland Noodle Factory, 1255 26th St., Oakland. Donations $5-$15, or work-trade. www.phatbeetsproduce.org 

On Hidden Pond Discover the life in this secret pond with naturalist Meg Platt from 2 to 3 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

Bicycle Safety Day Cyclists of all ages and levels can drop in anytime to test their skills in a variety of obstacle courses, learn about basic bike maintenance, discover local bike resources, and talk with a police officer about the rules of the road, from noon to 4 p.m. at the DMV Parking Lot, 6400 Manila Ave, El Cerrito, behind the El Cerrito City Hall. There will be a BMX Stunt Team performing at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.  

Walking Tour of Oakland City Center Meet at 10 a.m. in front Oakland City Hall at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Children’s Community Center Silent Auction at 7 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Tickets are $20-$40, sliding scale, at the door. www.cccpreschool.org 

California Writers Club with Janis Cooke Newman on “A Many-Sided Talent” (Talking About Writing) at 10 a.m. at Barnes & Noble Booksellers Event Loft, Jack London Square, 98 Broadway, Oakland. 272-0120. www.berkeleywritersclub.org 

Friends of the Albany Library Book Sale Sat and Sun. from 10 a.m .to 4 p.m. at the Albany Library and Community Center, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. To volunteer to help at the sale, call the Library at 526-3720 ext. 5. 

“Innerscape” A Day of Art, Play and Transformation For adults from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at John F. Kennedy University, Berkeley Campus, 2956 San Pablo Ave., 2nd flr. Cost is $10, no one turned away for lack of funds. www.artplay.us/innerscape 

Free Sailboat Rides from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club, Berkeley Marina. Wear warm, waterproof clothing and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children 5 and over welcome with parent or guardian. www.cal-sailing.org 

Studio One Art Center’s Community Day with movement and art projects in various media for children ages 4 though teens from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at 36545th street off Broadway, North Oakland. Suggested donation $5. 597-5027. 

Otis School “Spring Fling” Fundraising Event with auction, Italian food and wine, at 6:30 p.m. at JC Cellars, 55 4th St., Oakland. Tickets are $20-$25. 465-5900. 

Small Critter Adoption Day Check out pet rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits, from 1 to 4 p.m. at RabbitEARS, 377 Colusa Ave, Kensington. 525-6155. 

Cartoon Weekend at Playland Watch hundreds of cartoons, meet a famous animator, enter our drawing contest and children in costume get in half off. Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $10-$15. 232-4264 ext. 25. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org 

Beginning Internet Class “Health and Medical Information” at 10 a.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. Free, but call to sign up 526-7512. 

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

Shabbat Celebration for Young Children at 10:30 a.m. at Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty St., El Cerrito. Free for first-times, RSVP required. 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. www.nativeplants.org 

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.  

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, MAY 17 

Himalayan Fair A market bazaar of the great mountain cultures of the Himalayas with food, arts and crafts and traditional music from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Suggested donation $5. www.himalayanfair.net  

Heritage Rose Show Celebration of Old Roses with a large display of roses, plus rosey items for sale including plants, jewelry, crafts, books, stationery and food, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito. Free.  

Little Farm Goat Hike Join a short hike with the goats as we explore the historic connections between humans and our ungulate friends at 11 a.m. at the Little Farm, Tilden Park. For ages 6 and up. Children , please bring your adults along. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

Mend Those Fences Learn how to do traditional carpentry with hand-tools and our muscles to put up new fencing from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. For ages 9 and up. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

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

Learn How to Repair Your Clothes A introductory class on simple hand and machine sewing techniques for patching jeans, replacing zippers, hems, buttons, and more from noon to 2 p.m. at Waterside Workshops, 84 Bolivar Drive, at Berkeley's Aquatic Park. Cost is $20, sliding scale. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

The Institute of Urban Homesteading Open House Tour of garden, bees, rabbits and greywater features, and a bake and brew sale with homemade beer and soda and strawberry and raspberry shortcakes, from noon to 5 p.m. Please email for location. iuh@sparkybeegirl.com 

Family Explorations Day: Shadow Puppets from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. Cost is $5-$8. www.museumca.org/tickets 

Oakland on Two Wheels A bike tour exploration of Oakland with docents from the Oakland Museum of California. Meet at 10 a.m. at the museum’s 10th St. entrance. www.museumca.org/tickets 

Bunny Maintenance 101 Everything you need to know about basic care of your bunny. Class includes a take-home first aid kit for bunnies. From 2 to 4 p.m. at RabbitEARS, 377 Colusa Ave, Kensington. 525-6155. 

Egyptology Lecture “Stairsteps to the Gods—Building the Great Pyramid at Giza” with Craig Smith, architectural engineer at 2:30 p.m. at Barrows Hall, Room 20, Barrow Lane and Bancroft Way, UC campus. 415-664-4767. 

“Bums Paradise” Screening of the film with dinner and raffle at 7:30 p.m. at Longhaul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave. at Woolsey. Cost is $10 at the door. 984-2316. 

East Bay Atheists with Dr. Eric Maisel on his new book, “The Atheist’s Way” at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr meeting room. eastbayatheists.org 

Personal Theolo

THURSDAY, MAY 7 

CHILDREN 

Young Actors Workshop “Love’s Labors Lost” featuring students age 11-18 from middle and high schools from around the Bay Area, Thurs.- Sat. at 7 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Aesop’s Playhouse, Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave. Tickets are $9-$13. 

FILM 

Project YouthView: The Power of Youth in Film Fifth annual evening festival of winning bay area local youth film shorts, plus the documentary “Trouble the Water” at 6 p.m. at Historic Theatre of the Alameda Theater & Cineplex, 317 Central Avenue, Alameda. Sponsored by Alternatives in Action. Tickets are $5-$8, $100 for VIP section. 748-4314, ext. 304. www.projectyouthview.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Raka Ray and Seemin Qayum discuss “Cultures of Servitude: Modernity, Domesticity, and Class in India” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585.  

“Mongol Zurag: Artist’s Talk with Narmandakh Tsultem” whose work is featured in the IEAS Gallery exhibition “Eternal Sky: Reviving the Art of Mongol Zurag” at 4 p.m. in the IEAS Conference Room, 2223 Fulton St., 6th Floor. 642-2809.  

“Art and Culture of Cuba” with Sue Matthews, at 6 p.m. at West Auditorium, Oakland Main Library, 125 14th St. at Oak. 238-3136. 

Judy Yung and Eddie Fung will give a slide talk on their book “The Adventures of Eddie Fung: Chinatown Kid, Texas Cowboy, Prisoner of War” at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 536-7512. 

Poetry Flash with Chad Sweeney and Farrah Field at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Eva Hoffman reads from “Appassionata” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Koto Concert with Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto and Brian Mitsuhiro Wong in celebration of Asian Pacific Islander month at 12:15 p.m. in the Art and Music Dept., 5th flr., Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6241. 

Piper Link at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.  

Kelly Park Trio with guest vocalist Seaon at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Night of Roots Rock, Country Western and Blues with Natasha James, The Madison Blues Band and Pete Olson at 7:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $12. 841-2082  

SalmonAID Festival with music, dancing and information about the salmon at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $25. 849-2568.  

John Seabury at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

FRIDAY, MAY 8 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Luv” with gay, straight and lesbian versions, rotating Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through May 23. Tickets are $12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Altarena Playhouse “A Streetcar Named Desire” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through June 7. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

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 

Berkeley Rep “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” at Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. through May 24. Tickets are $33-$71. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Saint Joan” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through May 10. Tickets are $11-$18. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Impact Theatre “Impact Briefs: Puberty” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through June 6. Tickets are $10-$17. impacttheatre.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“All Gurls” A group show by women artists. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Eclectix Gallery, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Exhibition runs to June 20. www.eclectix.com 

“Somebody Else” Group exhibition of six Bay Area figurative artists. Reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. Exhibit runs to June 7. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

FILM 

“Auntie Mame” at 7 p.m. at the Paramount, 2025 Broadway. Tickets are $5. Box office opens at 6 p.m.  

“Under a Shipwrecked Moon” A film by Antero Alli with filmmaker in person at 8 p.m. at Grace North Sanctuary, 2138 Cedar St., near Walnut. Tickets are $6-$10. 464-4640. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lucille Lang Day and Peter Tamases will read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave., a little north of Hearst, as part of the Last Word Reading Series. There is also an open reading. 841-6374. 

Zachary Shore reads from “Blunder” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

University Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Tickets are $5-$15. 642-9988. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Lina G Torio CD release concert of “Mestiza” at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Puska Sunda Gamelan Degung at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

Extra Golden with Makuru and Ousseynou Kouyate at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$12. 525-5054.  

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

Izabella, Alma Desnuda at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Coffins, Stormcrow, Adlebran, Alaric at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $10. 525-9926. 

2ME at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

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

SATURDAY, MAY 9 

CHILDREN  

California Revels performs songs and dances for May Day at 11:30 a.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 452-2259.  

“Snow White” Puppet show by East Bay Waldorf’s School’s 7th grade class at 2 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 536-7512. 

Family Film Series “The Princess Bride” Sat. and Sun. at noon at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood, 2966 College Ave. at Ashby. Tickets are $4. 433-9730. 

Living Arts Playback Ensemble “A Celebration of Mothering” at 2 p.m. at Glitter & Razz, 5951 College Ave, Oakland. 654-7166.  

Young Actors Workshop “Love’s Labors Lost” featuring students age 11-18 from middle and high schools from around the Bay Area, at 7 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Aesop’s Playhouse, Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave. Tickets are $9-$13. 

FILM 

“A Life in Print” A documentary profile of the artist Xavier Viramontes at 1 p.m. at Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, near 27th and Macdonald, Richmond. A question-and-answer session with Xavier follows the screening. The Library is currently hosting a display of art work by the artist in the main reading room. 620-6561. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Images of Morocco” by Stephen Donwerth and “Photos of Mali” by Gary McIntyre. Reception at 1 p.m. at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave Suite 4. 414-4485. www.altagalleria.com 

“5 Takes” Photographs by Fraser Bonnell, Eric Kaufman-Cohen, Cathy Lozano, Martha Snider and Ted Williams. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Photolab, 2235 Fifth St. 644-1400. 

“The African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present” opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. and runs through Aug. 23. Cost is $5-$8. www.museumca.org/tickets 

“Becoming America: Becoming California” Exhibition on the history of the Peralta family and the Native People with food, crafts and games, dancing and tours, from noon to 5 p.m. at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. Suggested donation $1. 532-9142. www.peraltahacienda.org/VisitUs.htm  

“Exoskeleton” Paintings by Philippe Janssens, sculpture and jewelry by Victoria Skirpa. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Float Gallery, 1091 Calcot Place, Unit # 116, Oakland. 535-1702. 

THEATER 

“Food For Thought” Comedians and speakers, including Johnny Steele, Kamau Bell, Richard Stockton and Carmen Tedesco of Slow Food San Francisco in a benefit for the Alameda County Food Bank at 8 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Theater, 2460 College Ave. Tickets are $15. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.juliamorgan.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape” with anthology editors and contributors Jaclyn Friedman, Lisa Jarvis, Leah Lakshmi and others at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Mozart Matinee” The inaugural event of Midsummer Mozart’s new youth oriented concert at 11 a.m. at El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito. Tickets can be purchased at the El Cerrito Community Center for $5 per child, $10 per adult. 559-7000. 

Golden Gate Boys Choir Concert at noon at C’era Una Volta, 1332 Park St. at Redwood Square, Alameda. 769-4828. www.ggbc.org 

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

Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra performs Dvorak’s “Stabat Mater” at 8 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Donations appreciated. www.bcco.org 

Young People’s Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert at 8 p.m., silent auction at 6:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $12-$15. 849-9776. www.ypsomusic.net 

Community Women’s Orchestra Spring Family Concert “Music Around the World” at 4 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Donation $10, children free. Reception following concert. www.communitywomensorchestra.org 

Paufve/Dance Benefit Performance at 5:30 p.m. at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, 2704 Alcatraz Ave. Tickets are $50-$100. www.shawl-anderson.org  

University Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Tickets are $5-$15. 642-9988. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Nosotras at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $13-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Body Tales Improvathon “The Divine Feminine Rising” Fundraising performances at 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m. at Studio 12, 2525 8th St., just south of Dwight Way. Tickets are $10-$25. No one turned away for lack of funds. 649-1791. www.bodytales.com 

Eric Swinderman’s Straight Outta Oakland at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Tito y su son de Cuba at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Dance lesson at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Black Olive Babes, Balkan, Turkish, Romani, Shepardic roots and original music at 2 p.m. at Down Home Music, 10341 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. 525-2129. 

Robin Flower & Libby McLaren at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Alice Di Micele, solo acoustic, at 8 p.m. at Rose Street House of Music. 594-4000, ext. 687.  

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

Tempest, Avalon Rising at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $12. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

NoBunny, Ringers, R’N’R Adventure Kids, Street Eaters at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

RHW & The Jazz Triad at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, MAY 10 

CHILDREN 

Mothers Day Stories and Songs with Doug and Todd Elliott’s cultural tour of America’s backcountry, at 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-3265. tnarea@ebparks.org 

The Nigerian Brothers at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

Oakland Museum of California Docent Tour A look inside the museum’s past, present and future, at 1 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. www.museumca.org/tickets 

Jamie Erfurdt Art Gallery Art Opening from 2 to 6 p.m. at 1966 University Ave. & Milvia. 421-2912. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Ruth Reichl on “Not Becoming My Mother: and Other Things She Taught Me Along the Way” with desserts and drinks at p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $45-$65 includes copy of the book. reservations required. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Nuruddin Farah, author of “Knots” and “From a Crooked Rib” will discuss his work at 6:30 p.m. at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra performs Dvorak’s “Stabat Mater” at 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Donations appreciated. www.bcco.org 

Celestial Sounds for Healing “Hovering Wings” a voice and Celtic harp duo at 4 p.m. in a private home in Berkeley, address to be emailed upon ticket purchase. Tickets are $15 available from www.eventbrite.com/event/318427425 

“Mother's Day Peace Fair” An afternoon of music and speakers including Carol Denney, Stephanie Hendricks, Anna -Lisa Smoker, Maxina Ventura, Hali Hammer, and The Brazen Squirrels, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Suggested donation $5. 841-4824. www.bfuu.org 

Bombazo de Madre Puerto Rican celebration of Mother’s Day at 3 p.m. in the lobby of Café Valparaíso, La Peña. Free. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

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

Cascada de Flores at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.  

Americana Unplugged: .49 Special at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

MONDAY, MAY 11 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Julia Morgan and the Bay Area’s Rustic Renaissance” with Dave Weinstein, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 848-7800.  

Subterranean Shakespeare Theater Company “Hamlet” Staged reading at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Cost is $8. 276-3871. 

Logan and Noah Miller, filmmakers, discuss thier book “Either You’re In or You’re In the Way” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express with Andrena Zawinski at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

University Baroque Ensemble at 2 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC campus. 642-4864.  

TUESDAY, MAY 12 

CHILDREN 

Sandi & Steve “Sealife Songs” at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Reza Aslan on “How to Win a Cosmic War: Confronting Radical Islam” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Cost is $5-$10. berkeleyarts.org 

Javier Calvo, Spanish writer and translator Mara Faye Lethem at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

L.E. Leone reads from her newest collection of stories at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Pine Leaf Boys, from Louisiana, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $15. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Kelly Park at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 

FILM 

Independent Filmmakers Screening Night Bring your 5 - 10 minute shorts & selects to screen every Wed. at 6:30 p.m. at Café of the Dead, 3208 Grand Ave., next to the Grand Lake Theater. Oakland. 931-7945. cafedeadscreening@gmail.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Brian Yaeger on “Red, White & Brew” at 7:30 p.m. at Triple Rock Brewery, 1920 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Peter Balakian reads from “Armenian Golgotha” at 2 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

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 

South Berkeley Youth Arts Summit Performances by Longfellow Middle School Jazz Band, Ballet Folklórico, Dance Envisions and others at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Reid Whatley’s Big Cheese & Jive Rats at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

Maacote at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. with salsa dance lessons. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

John Richardson Band at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Leftover Dreams, jazz, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

THURSDAY, MAY 14 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Our Art Show” Exhibition of works by the youth in the James Kenney programs at James Kenney Recreation Center, 1720 8th St. 981-6650. 

“Then and Now” Photographs by Sebastiåo Salgado. Reception and 6 p.m. at The Hazel Wolf Gallery in the David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, at Oxford. 809-0900. 

“The Mud Wagon and More” A lecture on some of the iconic items in the museum’s History Gallery at 1 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. Cost is $5-$8. www.museumca.org/tickets 

FILM 

“An Evening with Barry Gifford, Sailor & Lula” Screening of David Lynch’s “Wild at Heart” in celebration of the publication of Barry Gifford’s “The Imagination of the Heart” at 9 p.m. at The Cerrito Speakeasy Theater, 10070 San PAblo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $8. Sponsored by Pegasus Books. 649-1320. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Re:con-figure” Panel discussion by the artisis, moderated by René de Guzman at 7 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 2990 San Pablo Ave. Exhibition runs to June 27. 841-7000. www.kala.org 

Sunaina Marr Maira discusses “Missing Youth, Citizzenship, and Empire after 9/11” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Nafisa Haji reads from “The Writing on My Forehead” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

New Century Chamber Orchestra “Shadows and Light” with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Churhc of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $32-$54. 415-357-1111. www.ncco.org 

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

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

Boy in the Bubble, Farewell Typewriter, The Clarences at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Truth Be Told with Dynamic, hip-hop and spoken word at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Country Joe McDonald’s Open Mic and One Year Birthday Party at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar St, at Bonita. 841-4824. www.bfuu.org 

FRIDAY, MAY 15 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Luv” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through May 23. Tickets are $12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Altarena Playhouse “A Streetcar Named Desire” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through June 7. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” at Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. through May 24. Tickets are $33-$71. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Berkeley Rep “You, Nero” at 2025 Addison St., through June 28. Tickets are $13.50-$71. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Impact Theatre “Impact Briefs: Puberty” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through June 6. Tickets are $10-$17. impacttheatre.com 

“So Fresh and So Clean” with Joe Hernandez-Kolski and Joshua Silverstein at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

FILM 

“On Love & Other Difficulties” Six short videos by Antero Alli with the filmmaker in person, at 8 p.m. at 21 Grand, 416 25th St.,near Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $6-$10. 444-7263. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Eve Pell reads from “We Used to Own the Bronx” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Ballet Theater “The Seasons & Collage” Fri. at 7 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at The Julia Morgan, 2460 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$21. 830-9524. 

“Rhythms of Life - a Fusion of Dance, Music, Theater, Song & Fashion” by Berkeley High School’s African American Dance Program at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Community Theater Berkeley High Campus. Tickets are $3-$10. 644-6120. BrownPaperTickets.com 

Oakland East Bay Symphony “Show Boat in Concert” with Julie Adams, soprano, Ben Jones, tenor, and Debbie de Coudreaux, mezzo soprano, at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway in Oakland. Tickets are $25-$70. 800-745-3000. www.oebs.org 

West African Highlife Band 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 

Michael Smolens’ Earplay Jazzquintet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Soja, reggae, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $18-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Jen Shyu and Schumann’s Humanns at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

The Patrick Landeza Project at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

The Bottisini Project at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Anchor Down, Brickfight, Canadian Rifle, The Dopamines 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 Green Machine at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

East Bay Soul & Funk Revue with BASSment, Stymie & The Pimp Jones Love Orchestra, Lord Loves a Working Man at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Sun House at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, MAY 16 

CHILDREN  

“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 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Reflections of Me and My World” ArtEsteems 11th Annual Art Exhibition. Reception at 3 p.m. at Oliver Art Center, California College of the Arts, 5212 Broadway at College, Oakland. 652-5530. 

“The Many Faces of Buddhism” Photographs by Adrienne Miller opens at the Berkeley Public Library, Catalog Lobby, 2090 Kittredge St. and runs trough July 31. 981-6241. 

THEATER 

“Foibles Mench” performance, robots, fire and live music at 10 p.m., doors at 8 p.m., at NIMBY, 8410 Amelia St., Oakland. Tickets are $15-$20. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/63231 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

24th Bay Area Storytelling Festival Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Kennedy Grove Recreation Area, featuring Jay O’Callahan, Antionio Rocha, Gayle Ross, Judith Black and Doug Elliott. Cost is $40-$80. registration required. 869-4969. www.bayareastorytelling.org 

International Day for Sharing Life Stories, honoring the birthday of Studs Terkel, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Charles Hobson, book artist, speaks at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Ballet Theater “The Seasons & Collage” Sat. at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at The Julia Morgan, 2460 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$21. 830-9524. 

California Baroque Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864.  

Contra Costa Chorale and Contra Costa College Chamber Singers “From Brahms to Bernstein” at 7:30 p.m. at St. Jerome Church, 308 Carmel Ave., El Cerrito.Cost $12-$15. www.ccchorale.org 

The Women's Antique Vocal Ensemble 10th Anniversary Concert with selections from the WAVE archives of the past ten years including medieval works from Spain, England, and France at 7:30 p.m. at Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Dr., Oakland. Tickets are $5-$15. 233-1479. www.wavewomen.org 

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

Haitian Flag Day Cutural Extravaganza with Sophis & Kalbass Kreyol, drum and dance performances at 10 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Kompa dance lesson at 9 p.m. Cost is $10-415. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

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

Pocket Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

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

Ed Reed at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

Reality Playthings improvisation with Frank Moore at 8 p.m. at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St., Oakland. fmoore@eroplay.com 

Roger Rocha and the Goldenhearts at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

77 El Deora, Misisipi Rider, Gayle Lynn and the Hired Hands at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

SUNDAY, MAY 17 

CHILDREN 

Kathy Kallick Show at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

Squeak Carnwath “Painting is no Ordinary Object” Docent tour at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. Cost is $5-$8. www.museumca.org/tickets 

“Tempered Fragility” New work by Reem Rahim. Afternoon tea at 3 p.m. at The Compound Gallery, 6604 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. 655-9019. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Art and Constructs of Race: Casta Paintings and Contemporary Conversations about Identity” with Charlene Villaseñor Black at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. Cost is $5-$8. www.museumca.org/tickets 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

14th Annual Jazz on Fourth Street Festival with performances by Charles Hamilton Alumni Band, Tito y su son de Cuba, Johnny Nitro & the Doorslammers and the Berkeley High Jazz Orchestra and Combos, from noon to 5 p.m. on Fourth St., between Hearst and Virginia. 

Berkeley Ballet Theater “The Seasons & Collage” at 2 p.m. at The Julia Morgan, 2460 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$21. 830-9524. 

Golden Gate Boys Choir & Bellringers Spring Concert at 2 p.m. at Calvary Christian Center, 1516 Grand St, Alameda. Suggested donation $5-$10. 887-4311. www.ggbc.org 

Vukani Mawethu Choir Concert of gospel, spirituals, labor, and freedom songs of Southern Africa, at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Oakland. Donations accepted. 444-3555. www.firstchurchoakland.org 

Kairos Youth Choir “The Pirates of Penzance” with local singers, ages 7 through 14, at 4 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $12-$17. kairostickets@gmail.com 

Berkeley Akademie Ensemble, Kent Nagano, Artistic Director, at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $20-$60. 841-2800. www.berkeleysymphony.org 

Contra Costa Chorale and Contra Costa College Chamber Singers “From Brahms to Bernstein” at 3 p.m. at El Sobrante United Methodist Church, 670 Appian Way, El Sobrante. Tickets are $12-$15. www.ccchorale.org 

Crowden Alumni Concert with David McCarroll, violin, at 4 p.m. at Crwoden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Cost is $12, free for age 18 and under. 599-2941. 

Sacred & Profane performs works for a cappella women’s choir at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Tickets are $15-$20. 

On Ensemble, taiko drumming, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Martín Perna and Adrian Quesada at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

African Roots of Jazz at 7 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Americana Unplugged: Claudia Russel & The Folk Unlimited Orchestra at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

60s British Explosion Unplugged at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org

I have a confession to make,” confided English-born actress-director Sue Trigg, whose staging of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire opens Friday at Alameda’s Altarena Playhouse. “I’m not a Shakespeare fan! People get mad when I tell them. In school when I was 8, I wanted to do Malvolio, not the women’s parts. I will do Bottom in my old age!” 

“I never thought I could direct,” said Trigg, until six years ago, when she wrote and directed her own British-style “Panto.” Since then she has worked wonders with ensemble shows in a community theater setting, including a remarkable Death of a Salesman in the round (2006) and the pre-war chestnut Morning’s at Seven (2007), by Paul Osbourne. Both were staged at Altarena.  

“Now I love it more than acting,” Trigg said. “to watch the actors shine in their parts, watch them come together. Altarena gave me my start. I truly thought I’d be useless!” 

Trigg started acting in her home town in the Cotswolds “when I was 8—one of those precocious only children. I was around a lot of elderly relatives; entertained myself a lot. I remember singing ‘Born Free’ by my grandmother’s needlepoint. And I loved radio. It’s like those lines in Educating Rita: How would you stage Peer Gynt? Put it on the radio!” She recalled spending six to eight weeks of her summer school vacations “inside the theater. I started out playing Happy the Dwarf in Snow White.”  

She later studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, where she learned “to be absolutely into the text itself—distinctly the playwright’s perspective. What the script says, not the subtext so much. I don’t think I’m anti-Method, but I believe, onstage, you’re a couple of people—one an actor, listening. I met my [present] husband, Chris [Chapman], 24 years ago, when we did Blythe Spirit together here, and he was amazed how I would just pop onstage right in character every night. I told him I could because I knew the words—and knew who I was.” 

Trigg left home at 18, “and took off for Greece. I married an American. We traveled around Greece, then came to America.”  

Trigg has lived in Alameda for 28 years. She started out acting here at the old Oakland Civic Theatre. “I thought the whole time we were in rehearsal that we were in some rehearsal room! My father, who’s only 70, was at Oxford when I was born, and remembers the prompter, who would give you your line if you forgot; the theater itself was a labyrinth of stairs and dressing rooms, different places where you could make an entrance ...” Her four children grew up in theater. “I was pregnant with one when I played in Easy Street. None of them really wants to act, but they know more plays than many actors do.” 

Trigg is also artistic director of Role Players Theater in Danville. “I’ve been in charge for three years. They’re more into musicals out there than drama. As a little girl, I said to my mum, ‘But how do they [the actors] know the words to the songs?’ It can be a difficult audience on the other side of the tunnel, spoiled by the riches out there. The Dean Lesher—everything looks pretty. They pay big ticket prices, but production values vary a lot. It can be an illusion because it’s a pretty place.” 

Talking about Streetcar, Trigg spoke of her actors with admiration and affection. “They give up a lot for six weeks [of rehearsal]. I wish it had been more! The line-load is horrendous, for Blanche especially. But Gigi Benson is a hard worker—and a hell of an actress, one of the most intuitive actresses I’ve ever worked with.”  

“The relationships are extraordinary,” she said of Williams’ masterpiece. “Incredibly complex. Stanley and Blanche in particular share a lot more than people would think: both are users, drinkers ... and Stella is torn so dreadfully between them. To save her marriage she sends her sister away. It’s really the seamy side of the South. Hard to do these American icons; always ironic when somebody with no background in American theater is chosen to do it!” 

“I’m extraordinarily confident—until about now!” Trigg quipped, as the last days before opening wind down. “And I’m a little sad opening night; my work is done, I don’t go back to see it a lot. I’m surprised Altarena chose Streetcar. It’s tricky to do, plot-heavy, all minutiae.” Streetcar, too, will be in the round. She appreciates her artistic director at Altarena, Frederick Chacon, coming to rehearsals. “You can’t direct in a vacuum. A director needs a sounding board; you don’t always know.”  

“It’s amazing in community theater,” Trigg reflected, “No understudies. We rely on the actors to make it through six weeks rehearsal, then the run. Lay people don’t really know what’s going on, don’t understand the concept. Years ago, artists were considered flakes. ‘Oh, it must be so much fun!’ Fun showing up every night, maybe to a bunch of neurotic actors; fun making lists? And it’s nerve-wracking, not to be in control of everything, though I’m not one of those directors who micromanage. A lot of directors have never acted, can’t be in the actors’ shoes. I like to work with actors who think, who come up with their own good ideas all the time. Without the actors, nothing happens!” 

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays through June 6 at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda. $17-20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org.

Food For Thought: Laughing All the Way to the (Food) Bank,” a benefit for the Alameda County Community Food Bank, will be held at 8 p. m. this Saturday at the Julia Morgan Center. The performance will feature “homegrown” comedians Johnny Steel, W. Kamau Bell, Richard Stockton and David Pokorney; a guest speaker panel entitled, “If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get in the Kitchen! A Discussion of Food and Climate Change”; a clip from host Clark Taylor’s forthcoming documentary Deep Green, and a raffle,  

Food For Thought coincides with the 17th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, for which postal patrons can leave a box or bag with nonperishable food by a home or business mailbox Saturday morning for pickup by one of the more than 7,500 letter carriers in the Bay Area, who will transport the food to a collection box at a post office (140 participating in the Bay Area), hence to the local food bank. It’s the largest food drive in the nation. Last year, in Alameda County alone, 140,000 pounds of food was collected. 

This year, there’s even more need than last, due to the economic crisis. Calls to food banks have doubled in the past two years.  

“We’ve crossed the threshold that separates hard times from a hunger epidemic,” said Suzan Bateson of the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Brian Higgins, ACCFB Communications Manager, noted, “The statistics are off the charts. In March, the first or second lowest month for demand, normally, the record for the worst previous year were shattered by 21 percent. Thirty-five percent of the calls were from people who never used a food bank before—the freshly-minted hungry. Some had personal situations that had gone from great to zero. Often, they were two normally working parents supporting kids now on just one salary or none.”  

The benefit is produced by Whole Foods and Clark Taylor, with all proceeds going to ACCFB. 

“It’s a really unique way of raising awareness,” Higgins said. “It’s no laughing matter, normally, as an issue. But just because it’s serious doesn’t mean we have to always be serious about it. No reason saving the planet and feeding the hungry can’t be funny! Laughter gets the synapses sparking. It’s important people approach this problem creatively, as we’re now entering uncharted territory.”  

Johnny Steel, a performer and contributor to comedy websites, is from Berkeley. W. Kamau Bell—whose “The W. Kamau Bell Curve” was an election-year highlight—is founder of the Solo Performance Workshop in San Francisco. Richard Stockton has been a national comedy headliner and writes, produces and hosts Planet Cruz, a syndicated radio and Internet variety show from Santa Cruz. David Pokorney toured as a comic for 10 years; he’s now a worker at Whole Foods.  

Panelists, moderated by Betsy Rosenberg of Eco Talk from Green 960, include Helge Hellberg, executive director of Marin Organic; Greg Steltonpohl, founder of Odwalla and CEO of Adina; and Carmen Tedesco of Slow Food, San Francisco.  

The raffle features food baskets and discounts for local businesses, and can be entered with a nonperishable food item or $2 per ticket (three for $5). 

All proceeds from door and raffle go to the Alameda County Community Food Bank. The event is not affiliated with any business entitled Food For Thought.  

FOOD FOR THOUGHT 

A benefit for Alameda County Community Food Bank. 8 p.m. Saturday at Julia Morgan Center, 2640 College Ave. $15.  

845-8542. www.juliamorgancenter.org. 

The question of who killed a cat on a lonely road in the remote Aran Islands becomes an overheated matter of life and death in Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore, now onstage at Berkeley Rep. 

Since Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal,” which suggested that the English upper classes sponsor poor Irish babies as an exotic foodstuff to replete their already groaning boards, Hibernian satire has been famous for its outrageous quality, taking the way of black humor as its via negativa of revelation of the human condition. 

The Lieutenant proves to be something of a reverse of Swift’s wild yet dispassionate logic. Here, internecine warfare, bloodletting and torture of one’s family and neighbors is promoted as the way to rid the Ould Sod of the perfidious Limeys, rendering it free for the love of Cats and Country. 

(On asking his old mentor for a one-word description of the Irish, Orson Welles reported that Micheal MacLiammor of Dublin’s Gate Theatre immediately replied, “Malice!”) 

An ailurophiliac lieutenant of an IRA splinter group leaves off torturing a local pot dealer for his crimes (mostly for paying the IRA protection money) and rushes home after hearing that his pet is “doing poorly.” He walks into a snare by the fellow terrorists he thought to be friends while his father and a long-haired young man who found the cat squashed frantically endeavor to cover up Wee Thomas’ demise. 

McDonagh employs an original blend of Celtic storytelling techniques that date from the pagan days of The Cattle Raid of Cooley up to Flann O’Brien, the 20th century’s “misanthrope’s misanthrope.” Some are old rhetorical tropes stood on their head. Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales), one of the first to describe the Irish of the Middle Ages, compared Celtic humor to the deliberate confusion— and reversal—of dependency of large and small in Latin: “What’s that little soldier doing attached to such a big sword?” 

McDonagh uses these modes of humor, entangling true with false, confusing big issues with smaller ones, so the love of cats becomes a fanaticism like extreme nationalism, blurring the already vague causality of why something sociopathic is performed supposedly to defend a domestic virtue. 

McDonagh also shows great dramaturgical savvy, both in the way he carefully prepares the audience for bigger and bigger outrages (and leaves them laughing helplessly) through the solemn denial of what went on just before, bringing the “action” around a full circle of senselessness, casting light on the non sequiturs and plain nonsense language that informs so much programmatic talk and ideological explanation. 

He also realizes onstage something like an evil burlesque of the tableau of bodies of those killed offstage in Greek Tragedy.  

Yet love blossoms amid the gore. 

It’s a brilliantly fashioned play, on the whole well-cast and played. But the night I saw it, there was something slack, something flat to the show. Whether due to end-of-the-first-week letdown in some, or things overlooked in Les Waters’ direction, it was hard to tell. 

James Carpenter sets a consistent ground-level tone of invective and self-delusion as Donny, the Lieutenant’s dad and queasy catsitter. And Molly Camp is brightly funny and unnerving as Mairead, girl sharpshooter who feels the first flush of womanhood as an exciting conflation of romance with bloodlust. 

Mairead, with her tomboy dreams of going north and giving The Troubles a woman’s touch, is the only female in this bellicose, all-male world, exemplified by Danny Wolohan, Rowan Brooks, and Michael Barrett Austin, who are funny and pathetic as the squabbling, would-be assassins. Even the cats sport men’s names; the orange tom the hapless geezers ply with bootblack to be Wee Thomas’ stand-in bears the tragic name of Sir Roger Casement, hanged by the English in 1916 for his part in the Easter Uprising. 

Mairead’s a poor-town version of the bloodlusty queens who people the Gaelic epics she was undoubtedly brought up on, and Molly Camp radiates that manic energy. Adam Farabee, on the other hand, seemed too shrill as long-haired, derided Davey, Mairead’s querulous brother. And Bake Ellis, as Padraic the sadistic Lieutenant, was intermittently effective and rather vaguely distracted, or disconnected. 

Knowing that the New York production portrayed the Lieutenant as an extravagant oddball with an overwrought sentimental streak when it comes to his cat, it’s plain there was a directorial choice to instead show Padraic here as a dispassionate, business-as-usual—at times, almost bureaucratic—killer, except when it comes to avenging his pussycat. There are a couple other production features, too, that slightly undercut a perfectly stageworthy interpretation a little: an overblown set (thatched cottage out of a Hollywood feature), and some film-score flavored, Irish-type music blaring between scenes that distracts from the well-wrought interlocking surprises of plot and story. 

(And all the chatter—before the play, during and after—about gallons of blood spilled and splattered onstage defeats the purpose of its quantity, and ad nauseum counterbalance to the hurried affirmations of patriotism and the bland kitsch of pet love.) 

McDonagh’s dialogue and his shaggy-dog storytelling zeal are barbed and complex. The Rep gets it onstage, in many ways convincing enough, but doesn’t manage to hit all the registers. 

THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE 

8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays;  

2 and 7 p.m.. Sundays; and 7 p.m. Tuesdays through May 24. $33-71. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org.