THURSDAY, JUNE 11 

“Pacific Pinot Noir” A discussion of the history and evolution with John Haeger at 6:30 p.m. at Vintage Berkeley, 2949 College Ave. www.vintageberkeley.com 

“From Oscar Grant to Lovelle Mixon” Building a movement for economic development and justice at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. oakland@uhurusolidarity.org 

Improv Acting Classes Play fun improv games that unleash your imagination, spontaneity, laughter, and confidence. Class meets Thurs. at 8:15 p.m. at Berkeley YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way. Cost is $12. www.berkeleyimprov.com  

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

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 call 800-448-3543. www.beadonor.com 

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 12 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Kevin Ambrogi, musician, on “Music in the Lives of Famous People: From Nero to Einstein” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $15, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 527-2173.  

“Health, Human Rights and the War on Gaza: Evidence from the Frontlines” A discussion with Dr. Mads Gilbert Norwegian Aid Committee, University Hospital Norway at 7 p.m. at  St. Joseph the Worker. 1640 Addison St.  

“The Sharing Solution: How to save Money, Simplify Your Life & Build Community” with Janelle Orsi and Emily Doskow at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2350 San Pablo Ave. 548-3402. 

“Soulful” A Benefit for ArtsChange, a community-based arts program for at-risk youth in Richmond, with music and tapas at 7 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way. Tickets are $25. 275-4787. www.artschange.org 

Womansong Circle An evening of participatory singing for women at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Small Assembly Room, 2345 Channing Way, at Dana. Suggested donation $15-20. betsy@betsyrosemusic.org 

“All in Your Mind” with Mentalist Peter Kim at 6 p.m. at Playland, 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $20-$25. 232-4264 ext. 25. 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. 

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

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 

Berkeley Juneteenth Festival with arts, crafts, music, cultural events and ethnic foods, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Adeline between Ashby and Alcatraz. 655-8008. www.berkeleyjunteenth.org 

39th Annual Live Oak Park Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. www.liveoakparkfair.com 

Berkeley High School Class of 1959 50th Reunion at 5:30 p.m. at Doubletree Hotel. Cost is $75. RSVP by June 8. 415-897-1320. brklyv@aol.com 

East Bay Open Studios Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For details see www.proartsgallery.org 

Chickens in the Home Garden A class covering the basics of starting and tending a backyard flock, from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact kyle@chezpanissefoundation.org 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland Uptown to the Lake to discover Art Deco landmarks. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of the Paramount Theater at 2025 Broadway. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Peralta Hacienda Historical Park Memory House A multi-media exploration of the cultures of the East Bay. Open from 2 to 4 p.m. at the 1870 Antonia Peralta House, 2465 24th Ave., Oakland. Cost is $1. 532-9142. www.peraltahacienda.org 

“The Elusive Peace in Israel/ Palestine: What is Going On? Where Do We Go from Here?” with Dr. Hasan Fouda at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. 841-4824. 

Master Gardeners at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market Get advice on watering, plant selection and pest management from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Center St., between MLK and Milvia. 639-1275. http://amcg.ucdavis.edu 

Rabbit Adoption Day from 2 to 4 p.m. at Rabbit Ears, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. 

The East Bay Chapter of The Great War Society meets to discuss The Battle of the Coronel Sea & Falkland Islands with Martin Weisberger at 10:30 a.m. at the Albany Veterans Bldg. 1325 Portland Ave. Albany. 526-4423. 

Happiest Place on Earth at Playland Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $10-$15.  

Mercedes Diesel Maintenance Lecture and workshop with Billy Jacobs, Biodiesel collective member from noon to 6 p.m. at 4th St. at Dwight Way. Cost is $30 for lecture, $140 for lecture and workshop. 653-9450. dieselworkshops@gmail.com  

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

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. 

Open Shop at Berkeley Boathouse from 1 to 5 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Take part in constructing a wooden boat or help out with other maritime projects. No experience necessary. First time is free, cost is $10 per day. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

SUNDAY, JUNE 14 

39th Annual Live Oak Park Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. www.liveoakparkfair.com 

Greywater Primer Learn about options for disengaging from the water grid including rainwater, graywater reuse and composting toilets. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location given upon registration. Sponsored by Institute of Urban Homesteading. Cost is $30-$50. 927-3252. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to repair a flat, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Bring your bike and tools. 527-4140. 

“From Oscar Grant to Lovelle Mixon” Building a movement for economic development and justice at 4 p.m. at Uhuru House, 7911 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. oakland@uhurusolidarity.org 

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

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 Powell St., Emeryville. To make an appointment call 800-448-3543.  

“Practicing Theology in the Aftermath of Trauma: How Religious Communities Can Participate in Trauma Healing” with Boston University School of Theology Prof. Shelly Rambo at 11:30 a.m. at Epworth UMC, 1953 Hopkins St. RSVP to 353-8972. mkeelan@bu.edu.  

Social Action Forum with Dr. Loal Vollen on “The Exoneration Project” 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 Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Jack van der Meulen on “Tibetan Yoga for Stress Reduction” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000.  

MONDAY, JUNE 15 

Summer Reading Games Begin at the Richmond Public Library for children under age 13. Teenagers can join the Young Adult Reading Game. Register at any of the four Richmond libraries. For more inormation call 620-6566. 

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

Three Beats for Nothing South Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Mon. at 3 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, Ellis at Ashby. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

East Bay Track Club for girls and boys ages 3-15 meets Mon. and Wed. at 6 p.m. at Berkeley High School track field. Free. 776-7451. 

Morning Meditation Every Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 7:45 a.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at 6th. 486-8700. 

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 

TUESDAY, JUNE 16 

Red Panda Acrobats at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. For ages 3 and up. Free, but reservations required. 524-3043. 

Library-a-Go-Go Book Lending Machine launches at the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station at 7 a.m. 925-927-3228. 

Observance of Stephen Daedalus’s Day with readings at 1 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kaiser Human Resources Service Center, American Red Cross Bus, 1451 Harbor Bay Pkwy., Alameda. To schedule an appointment call 800-448-3543. www.beadonor.com 

Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program with Lori Gray, Outings and Adventures Coordinator at 12:30 p.m. at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Herrick Campus, Maffly Room, 2001 Dwight Way. 644-3273. 

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. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

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. 

Free Meditation Classes, Tues. and Thurs. at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarians, 2nd flr., 1606 Bonita. 

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, JUNE 17 

The Friends of the Berkeley Public Library Annual Luncheon at noon at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. The speaker will be Trish Hawthorne on “North Branch: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” Friends are invited to bring a friend. Bring a bag lunch; beverages and dessert provided. RSVP to 981-6152. 

Simplicity Forum: Frugality and Financial Independence A discussion of “Your Money or Your Life” by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Pubic Library, Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave., at Ashby. 

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. 

Sierra Crossing and More: An evening with outdoors writer Tom Stienstra at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

“Flow” A film about the world’s water crisis, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

Free Screening of “Matewan“ 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 

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

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

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

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 

Uptown Unveiled! live music, arts and walking tours from 5 to 10 p.m. around 19th St. and Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.oaklandnet.com 

“Surfing a Sea of Troubles: Strategies for Protecting California’s Coast and Ocean” a panel discussion at 7 p.m. in the Kinzie Room, David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way. Donation $10-$20. 859-9137. 

Rising Kneads: A Sourdough Primer Learn how to make your own starter culture using different grains and how to make a variety of breads from scratch, from 7 to 10 p.m. on the East Bay. Location given upon registration. Cost is $30-$50. Sponsored by Institute of Urban Homesteading. 927-3252. 

Conscientious Projector Film Series “Garbage Warrior” about homes built from garbage off-the-grid, at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Donation $5-10 appreciated. No one turned away for lack of funds. 841-4824. 

LeConte Neighborhood Association meets at 7:30 p.m. in the LeConte School cafeteria, 2241 Russell St. on the 24 hour convenience store at Telegraph & Ashby and better use and protection of city and BUSD open space. KarlReeh@aol.com 

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

Summer Dance Party EveryThurs. at 7:30 p.m. at Live Oak Park. Teachers will lead a variety of dances from around the world. All ages at 7:30, teens and adults at 8:30. Cost is $2 children, $5 adults. 

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 

Tribute to the Courage of the Homeless and Celebration of boona’s 30 years at BOSS, with an Indian Tamasha and dinner, music and more at 6 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $40, $75 for two. 649-1930. sonja@self-sufficiency.org 

World Refugee Day: East Bay Refugee Forum from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at San Antonio Park, 16th Ave & Foothill Blvd, Oakland. Sponsored by Survivors International, a non-profit dedicated to providing mental health and social services to survivors of torture. www.survivorsintl.org 

Memories of Berkeley Public School Desegregation Application deadline for people interested in sharing their experiences. For information call 981-6142. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Shimmy Shimmy Kid’s Dance with clowns, dance music and more for the whole family at 6 p.m. at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda. Cost is $5-$10. www.rhythmix.org 

Berkeley School Volunteers New volunteer orientation from 10 to 11 a.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Volunteer opportunities in the summer or during the regular school year. 644-8833. bsv@berkeley.k12.ca.us 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Debra Saunders, columnist, SF Chrionicle on “Read Your newspaper!” 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 

Demonstrate for Peace! Bring your signs and determination from 2 to 4 p.m. at Acton and University aves. Sponsored by Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers, and Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Association. 

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, JUNE 20 

7th Annual Berkeley Family Festival & Bike Rodeo! Activities include an obstacle course, mock city, bicycle tours, face painting, performers, bike maintenance and fix-a-flat stations, blood pressure screenings, raffle prizes and lots of other activities and health resources, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at San Pablo Park and Frances Albrier Community Center, 2800 Park St at Oregon St. 981-7676. 

Summer Solstice Music Festival, with over 50 diverse groups of performers from 1 to 7 p.m. along MacArthur Blvd in the Laurel District of Oakland. www.laurelsummersolsticemusicfestival.org 

Summer Solstice Gathering with a mini-workshop on Astronomy and the Seasons, led by Tory Brady, at 7:45 p.m. at the Interim Solar Calendar, César Chávez Park, Berkeley Marina. Dress warmly. www.solarcalendar.org 

SalmonAid Festival with music by Albino, Mitch Woods, Zydeco Flames and others, food, and information about sustainable seafood, Sat. and Sun. from noon to 8 p.m. at Jack London Square, Oakland. www.salmonaid.org 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Return of the Terns Celebrate the return of the endangered California Least Terns, nesting at the Alameda Wildlife Refuge after their 2,000-mile migration from Latin America. Reserve a one-hour viewing trip to the Alameda Wildlife Refuge with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist. Registration required; please visit www.ebparks.org.  

Economic Empowerment Fair Increase your awareness of the financial and social services resources and information in the Berkeley community with workshops, vendors, free credit reports, follow up counseling, and youth activities, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Paul AME Church, 2024 Ashby Ave. Free. 848-2050. 

World Refugee Day: Art & Awareness from 2 to 6 p.m. at College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Ave., Oakland. Sponsored by Survivors International, a non-profit dedicated to providing mental health and social services to survivors of torture. www.survivorsintl.org 

Family Pride Day at Habitot Children’s Museum with activities from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 2065 Kittredge St. Cost is $7-$8. For details see www.habitot.org 

Insect Discovery Lab A hands-on interactive event emphasizing the conservation of unusual bugs, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Eclectix Gallery, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. www.eclectix.com 

California Writers Club on “The Tools of Writing Clarity” with Dr. Ransom W. Stephens, physicist, essayist at 10 a.m. at Barnes & Nobel Event Loft, Jack London Square, 98 Broadway, Oakland. 272-0120. www.berkeleywritersclub.org 

Father’s Day Weekend at Playland Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $10-$15. Dads get in for free when accompanied by one of their children. 232-4264 ext. 25. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org 

Master Gardeners at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market Get advice on watering, plant selection and pest management from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Center St., between MLK and Milvia. 639-1275. http://amcg.ucdavis.edu 

Small Animal Adoption Day and RabbitEars 5th Birthday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Rabbit Ears, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. 

Homebuyers Education from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The HomeOwnership Center, 3301 East 12th St., Suite 201, Oakland. To register call 535-6943. homeownership@unitycouncil.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. 

Open Shop at Berkeley Boathouse from 1 to 5 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Take part in constructing a wooden boat or help out with other maritime projects. No experience necessary. First time is free, cost is $10 per day. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

SUNDAY, JUNE 21 

Father’s Day/Summer Solstice Labyrinth Walk, East Lawn, Berkeley Marina from 2 to 4 p.m. with music from world musician Alan Tower, invocation by poet/artist Rafael Jesús González and labyrinth peace walk facilitated by singer/songwriter Margie Adam. 526-7377. eastbaylabyrinthproject@gmail.com  

Berkeley Path Wanderers: Daley’s Scenic Park and Beyond A moderately paced excursion through the original stomping grounds of the Hillside Club. While this first ever weekend evening walk will not have a formal program, we’ll stop and enjoy the architectural and panoramic treasures on our way up to La Verada Rd and back. Some steep climbs will be included. Meet at 6 p.m. at Hillside School, 1581 Le Roy Ave. 528-3246. www.berkeleypaths.org 

Bike Tour of Oakland for ages 12 and up with bikes, helmets and repair kits. Meet at 10th St. entrance of Oakland Museum of California. free, but reservations required. 238-3514. www.museumca.org 

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 

Kids Are Us Fun Day with poetry, art and music jam session, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. www.expressionsgallery.org 

Father’s Day at the Oakland Aviation Museum from noon to 4 p.m. with open cockpits and car show, at 8252 Earhart Rd., Bldg. 621, Historic North Field, Oakland Airport. 638-7100. www.aoklandaviationmuseum.org 

Social Action Forum on volunteering in the local community at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Jewish Songs & Stories at 10:30 a.m. at Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty Street El Cerrito. RSVP required. 559-8140. http://www.jewishgateways.org/  

East Bay Atheists with a video of Andy Thomson’s talk “Why We Believe in Gods” at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Main Library, 3rd Floor Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580. www.eastbayatheists.org/meetings.html 

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 Rosalyn White on “Saving a Culture, Book by Book” 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 Health Commission meets Thurs., June 11, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5356.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., June 11, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7430.  

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon., June 15, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. 

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/agenda-committee 

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., June 18, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7415.  

Medical Cannabis Commission meets Thurs., June 18, at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, Cypress Room, 2180 Milvia. 981-7402. 

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., June 18, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7061.  

Zero Waste Commission meets Mon., June 22, at 7 p.m., at North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6357. 

City Council meets Tues., June 23, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil

THURSDAY, JUNE 11 

FILM 

Free Outdoor Movies at Jack London Square “Jaws” Come at 7:30 p.m., movies begin at sundown. Bring blankets and stadium seat. 645-9292.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Mary Pols reads from her memoir “Accidentally on Purpose: The True Tale of a Happy Single Mother” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Luis Alberto Urrea on “Into the Beautiful North” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Cost is $5-$10. berkelyarts.org 

Philip Dreyfus discusses his book “Our Better Nature: Environment and the Making of San Francisco” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books, 1855 Solano Ave. 525-6888. 

“Mid-Century Modern In Your Backyard” with author Pierluigi Serraino at 5:30 p.m. at AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay St., Oakland. Cost is $10 for OHA/AIA members; $20 for non-members. Advance registration requested. 464-3600. www.oaklandheritage.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Singing Bear and Sean Hodge at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $6. 525-5054.  

Missy Raines and the New Hip at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Echo Falls, The Nasty Chefs, The Muffin Tops at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

“Standard Deviations: The Deep Grown & Sexy Show” at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Country Joe McDonald’s Open Mic at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar St, at Bonita. 841-4824.  

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 12 

THEATER 

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

Central Works “Misanthrope” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through June 21. Tickets are $14-$25. 558-1381. centralworks.org 

Hurlyburly Carnival: Birth of a Company with Mikka Bonel, Allison Combs, Lindsey Cookson, Dan Korth and others at 8 p.m. at Periscope Cellars, 410 62nd St., Emeryville. Donation $10. jointhehurlyburly.com 

Masquers Playhouse “Lady Windermere’s Fan” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, and runs through July 4. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Pinole Community Players “Pump Boys & the Dinettes” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Community Playhouse, 601 Tennet Ave., Pinole, through July 11. Tickets are $17-$20. www.pinoleplayers.org 

Shotgun Players “Faust, Part 1” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. through June 28. Tickets are $18-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

ACCI’s Annual Printmaking Exhibition Opening reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. Exhibition runs to July 5. www.accigallery.com 

“Josifov, Dildine, Costello” featuring “Being You Uses Me” a performance by Igor Josifov and Michael Ryan Noble, (performance contains nudity). Paintings by Joshua Dildine and Dana Costello, at 6 p.m. at Alphonse Berber Gallery, 2546 Bancroft Way. 649-9492. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Eduardo Galeano on “Mirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Cost is $8-$15. berkelyarts.org 

Tobey Kaplan, Catherine Freeling will read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave. as part of the Last Word Reading Series. There is also an open reading. 841-6374.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “The Old Maid and the Thief” and “No Exit” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org 

Burke Schuchmann and Brian Ganz, cello and piano at 8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 2407 Dana. Tickets are $18-$25. 234-4502. 

Point Richmond Summer Concert with The New Iberians Blues and Zydeco Band at 5:30 p.m. and Freesound at 6:45 p.m. at Park Place at Washington Ave. in downtown Point Richmond. www.pointrichmond.com 

Las Bomberas de La Bahía at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$14. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Tribute to Vern and Ray with Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, Tom Rozum, Patrick Sauber, and Dan Booth at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Skerik, Scott Amendola, Wil Blades, and Will Bernard at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

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

East Bay Soul and Funk Revue with The Grease Traps and Monophonics at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 

CHILDREN  

Buki 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 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Kids Are Us” Group art show. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. www.expressionsgallery.org 

Lowell Darling’s “Secret” Sat. and Sun. from 1 to 5 p.m. at Garage Gallery, 3110 Wheeler St. www.berkeleyoutlet.com 

New Works by Joanna Crawshaw Artist reception at 7 p.m. at SaHaira Salon, 5510 College Ave., Oakland. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Chelsea Martin, Bradon Scott Gorrell and Mike Young read at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

La Peña’s 34th Anniversary Celebration with performances, oral history art installation and exhibition of objects from ex-political prisoners from Chile, at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$14. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “The Old Maid and the Thief” and “No Exit” at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org 

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

Steve Carter Jazz Trio at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. 

Mal Sharpe’s Big Money in Jazz at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Sambo Ngo at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Rick Gordon at 5 p.m. and Dick Conte Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Art House Opening “Visionary Surrealism, Fantasy and Psychedelic Art” with group art show, music and poetry from noon to 10 p.m. at 2905 Shattuck Ave. Suggested donation $5-$10, and pot luck. 472-3170. 

Freight and Salvage Anniversary Show with Phil Marsh, Eric & Suzy Thompson, Country Joe McDonald, Danny Carnahan at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Moment’s Notice A performance series of improvised music, dance and theater at 8 p.m. at Western Sky Studio, 2525 8th St. Tickets are $8-$15. 992-6295. 

Elliot Randall, Cyndi Harvell at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 14 

CHILDREN 

Colibri at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“The African Presence in Mexico” Docent tour at 2 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Admission is $5-$8. 238-2200.  

Tour of the Oakland Museum of California Building and Gardens at 1 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Admission is $5-$8. 238-2200.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

2nd Annual Radical Storytelling Hour Readings by Local Author Parents on the Pleasures, Pains, and Politics of Parenting at 5 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Chamber Music Sundaes with Trio Navarro and guest Nancy Ellis, viola, at 3 p.m. at St John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets at the door $20-$25. 415-753-2792.  

“Islands in the Park” Celebrating the Cultural Heritage of the Caribbean with music by Third World, The Mighty Sparrow, Collie Budz, Shiela Hilton and the New Kingston Band at 7 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheatre, Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland. Tickets are $25-$45. 832-5400.  

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “The Old Maid and the Thief” and “No Exit” at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org 

Americana Unplugged: Homespun Rowdy at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Grupo TerroRitmo, salsa, cumbia, hip-hop at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Mike Slack’s New Orleans Jazz Band at 7 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Safire: The Uppity Blues Woman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Soul Jazz Sundays with the Howard Wiley Organ Trio at 5 p.m. at The Aqua Lounge, 311 Broadway, Oakland. Donation $5. 625-9601. 

MONDAY, JUNE 15 

CHILDREN 

“The Princess Mermaid” with puppeteer Nick Barone at 3 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library, Main Children’s Room, 325 Civic Center Plaaza, Richmond. 620-6557. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Page to Stage Conversation with Amy Freed playwright of “You, Nero” at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. 647-2949. berkeleyrep.org 

Summer Brenner and Owen Hill read at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Lac Su on “I Love Yous Are for White People” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Cost is $5-$10. berkelyarts.org 

Michael Pollan will discuss his new book “In Defense of Food” at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble 6050 El Cerrito Plaza, El Cerrito. 524-0087. 

Poetry Express with Jeanne Powell & Dianne Frank at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jump City at 5:30 p.m. at Palm Tree Plaza, Jack London Square. 645-9292.  

Victor Jones and Culture-Versy at 8 p.m. at Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. Tickets are $12. www.opcmusic.org 

Jazzschool Studio Bands at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $5-$15. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, JUNE 16 

CHILDREN 

Asheba at 6:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lisa Jervis, founding editor of “Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Richie Unterberger, music historian, discusses his latest book “White Light, White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day by Day” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tom Rigney & Flambeau at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Lilia Valitova, a composer and pianist, will introduce her new CD, “Yearning” piano suites based on Jewish folk and liturgical melodies at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $10 - $20 sliding scale, and benefits the Aquarian Minyan. 528-6725. 

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Up Against the Wall: Berkeley Posters from the 1960s” at the Berkeley Historical Society, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. Exhibit runs to Sept. 26. 848-0181. 

“Squeak Carnwath: Painting is no Ordinary Object” exhibition runs through Aug. 23, at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak at 10th, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

“What We Can Live With” The 39th Annual UCB Master of Fine Arts Graduate Exhibition on display at Berkeley Art Museum through June 21. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“Urban Beast or Urbane Beauty: Planning the City Beautiful” An exhibit exploring the City Beautiful Movement as manifested in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through Sept. 15 at Environmental Design Library: Volkmann Reading Room, 210 Wurster Hall, UC campus. 642-4818. 

“Reverberations” Japanese Prints of the 1923 Kanto Earthquake. Opening reception at 5:30 p.m. at Mills College Art Museum, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 430-2164. www.mills.edu/museum/ 

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 

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 

Femi, soul, at noon at Oakland City Center, 12th and Broadway. 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “Inferno: The Second Circle of Hell: The Lustful” Wed. and Thurs. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877.  

Tilo Bunnies Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

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

My Amp Showcase, student band recitals, at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Vission Latina, salsa, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Quinn Deveaux Band at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Celu and Friends at 7 p.m. at Chester's Bayview Cafe, 1508 B Walnut Square. 849-9995. 

Fiddlin’ Mamas with Kaila Flexer, Maria Muldaur, Suzy Thompson, and others at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Frank Jaffe, flamenco guitar, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave.  

The Downtown Dive at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 

THEATER 

“2012: The Beginning of the End of the Beginning ... Again!” with Marc David Pinate at Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Freshly Cut” Conversation with the artists Sandy Drobny and Daphne Ruff at 5 p.m. at Craft and Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Bldg., 1515 Clay St., Oakland. 622-8190. 

“Landscapes of Our Souls” Conversation with the sculptors Susan Almazol and Lorraine Bonner at 6 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, Lower Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. 465-8928. www.joycegordongallery.com 

FILM 

Berkeley Filmmakers Screening Series “Archaeology of Memory: Villa Grimaldi” at 7 p.m. at Zaentz Media Center, 2600 Tenth St. Free but reservations required. reservations@ 

berkeleyfilmscreening.com  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Ayelet Waldman reads from “Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Poetry Flash with Cynthia Kraman at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Novella Carpenter in Conversation with Michael Pollan at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Cost is $6-$12. berkelyarts.org 

FOUND Magazine celebrates the release of its latest collection “Requiem for a Paper Bag: Celebrities and Civilians Tell Stories of the Best Lost, Tossed, and Found Items from Around the World” at 8 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “Inferno: The Second Circle of Hell: The Lustful” at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org 

Kaweh, flamenco, rumba, salsa at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $13-$15. 525-5054.  

Dirk Hamilton at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

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

An Evening with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 

THEATER 

“2012: The Beginning of the End of the Beginning ... Again!” with Marc David Pinate at Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Aurora Theatre “Jack Goes Boating” through July 19. Tickets are $28-$50. 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.  

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

Central Works “Misanthrope” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through June 21. Tickets are $14-$25. 558-1381. centralworks.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theatre “Thoroughly Modern Millie” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through July 19. Tickets are $15-$24. 524-9132. www.ccct.org  

Masquers Playhouse “Lady Windermere’s Fan” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, and runs through July 4. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Pinole Community Players “Pump Boys & the Dinettes” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Community Playhouse, 601 Tennet Ave., Pinole, through July 11. Tickets are $17-$20. www.pinoleplayers.org 

Shotgun Players “Faust, Part 1” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. through June 28. Tickets are $18-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Prartho Sereno and Karen Benke, poets, at 7 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. www.expressionsgallery.org 

Amy Stewart reads from “Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Lorna Dee Cervantes and Al Young read their poetry as part of Berkeley City College’s Summer Creative Writing Intensive at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. Cost is $3, free for students in the intensive. scoleman-at-peralta.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Antiquia at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $15. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

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

Nino Maschella, Armen Nalabandian, Raashan Ahmad at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10. 548-1159.  

Bob Crawford Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, JUNE 20 

CHILDREN  

Colibri at Utunes Coffe House at 10:30 a.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakland. Tickets are $10for families, $5 for adults, $3 for children. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Tales from Beatrix Potter Sat. and Sun. at 12:30 and 3 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

Ang Tsherin Sherpa: Deity Thangka Paintings Reception 1 p.m. at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave Suite 4. Exhibition runs to July 15. 414-4485. www.altagalleria.com  

Michael Dashow Prints of his science fiction and fantasy digital paintings. Reception at 2 p.m. at the LightRoom Gallery, 2263 Fifth St. 649-8111. www.lightroom.com 

“Machinations” Machines by Kurt Wold and “Robots and Watercolors” works by Clayton and Betty Bailey. Artist reception at 3 p.m. at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond. Exhibitions run to July 18. 620-677. www.therac.org 

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

Lowell Darling’s “Secret” at 1 p.m. at Garage Gallery, 3110 Wheeler St. www.berkeleyoutlet.com, lowelldarling.com. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Alon Shalev reads from his new novel “Oilspill dotcom” at 7:30 p.m. at The Bread Workshpop, 1398 University Ave. www.alonshalev.com 

Shawn Yang Ryan and Jerry Ratch read their work as part of Berkeley City College’s Summer Creative Writing Intensive at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. Cost is $3, free for students in the intensive. scoleman-at-peralta.edu 

Todd Shimodo reads from his novel “Oh! A Mystery of Mono no Aware (The beautiful sadness in things)” at 3:30 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. www.asiabookcenter.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Summer Solstice Music Festival, with over 50 diverse groups of performers from 1 to 7 p.m. along MacArthur Blvd in the Laurel District of Oakland. www.laurelsummersolsticemusicfestival.org 

SalmonAid Festival with music by Albino, Mitch Woods, Zydeco Flames and others, food, and information about sustainable seafood, Sat. and Sun. from noon to 8 p.m. at Jack London Square, Oakland. www.salmonaid.org 

The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus and Swing Fever of San Francisco “Cabaret-Zoot Suit!” at 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church of Oakland, 111 Fairmount Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $30 and up. oebgmc.org 

Open Opera Concert in the Park at 3 p.m. at Franklin Park, 1432 San Antonio Ave., Alameda. Free. www.alamedainfo.com 

Lady Mem’fis & Her Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Andrew Carrier and the Zydeco/ Cajun Allstars at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Fiddlekids Faculty Concert at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Powerage, Destroyer, Beauty and the Beat at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Mel Flannery Trucking Co. at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, JUNE 21 

CHILDREN 

The Hipwaders 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 Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Admission is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Joan Gelfand and Jenny Overman, poets, as part of the monthly New Moon Illuminations series, on Tammuz, brokenness, at 3:30 p.m. at Afikomen, 3042 Claremont Ave. 655-1977.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “Inferno: The Second Circle of Hell: The Lustful” at 5 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org 

The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus and Swing Fever of San Francisco “Cabaret-Zoot Suit!” at 5 p.m. at First Christian Church of Oakland, 111 Fairmount Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $30 and up. oebgmc.org 

All Bach Program including Trio Sonata from The Musical Offering with Garrett McLean, violin, Marvin Sanders, flute, Paul Rhodes, 'cello, Marion Rubinstein, harpsichord, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Tickets are $12-$15. 644-6893. berkeleyartcenter.org 

San Francisco Renaissance Voices “The Darkness and the Dawn” the Requiem of Giovanni Matteo Asola and motets by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-664-2543, ext. 3. www.SFRV.org 

ChamberMix “New and Unusual Music” with guest artists Christa Pfeiffer, soprano, Michael Jones, violin and Stephen Moore, viola at 3 p.m. at Christian Science Organization at the University, 2601 Durant Ave. Free. 

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

Americana Unplugged: The Bass Anglers at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Solstice Celebration with Caroline Casey and the Flux, Isabellsa, Intersection, Soul Burners. Program at 6 p.m., live music at 8 p.m. Cost is $20-$25. Free after 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $8. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

A handkerchief, given to a lady by her soldier husband, then stolen, turns romance into senseless tragedy in Othello. In Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, the innocuous accessory of the title, a gift by a wealthy lord to his young wife, turns romantic melodrama into wry comedy, as Wilde’s refracted view of manners and society takes a turn on the boards of Point Richmond’s venerable Masquers Playhouse. 

Directed by Patricia Inabnet, whose version of that old thriller Angel’s Street was a highlight of the Masquers’ previous season, Lady Windermere’s Fan is reset in post-World War II London, with unassuming grace—and fine costumes by Linda Woody-Wood and scenic design by John Hull with background painting by Gordon Pagnello. Like Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, it combines humorous poise (and pose) with the melodrama of the “well-wrought play” (in three acts) of 19th-century Paris, London and New York, the predecessor to much commercial stagework of the West End and Broadway, and the modern feature film.  

Wilde’s last, most famous and original play, The Importance of Being Earnest —regarded by many of his friends and supporters as being an a- or immoral piece of work—dispensed with the pretense of seriousness, camping up in mordant deadpan the preposterous conventions of the genre, skewering its romantic, social and “problem-play” pretensions with a withering insouciance in the delivery of endless and stunning bon mots.  

In Lady Windermere’s Fan, Wilde reverses the polarity, by the final curtain, of the axis of moral judgment (and prejudice) respectively held by Lord and Lady Windermere (Abhimanyu Katyal and Amy Boulanger) in regard to Mrs. Erlynne (Michele Delattre), whom Lord Windermere seems entangled with, while languid Lord Darlington (“I can resist everything but temptation,” played by Craig Eychner), awaits his moment to pounce on the distraught Lady W.  

That old vaudeville gag about the dying comedian, who, asked how it’s going, gasps out, “Death’s easy; comedy is hard!”—could be extended: Comedy is hard; Oscar’s impossible! John Gielgud remarked that the trick to acting Wilde is to never indicate that your character understands what she or he says or does is funny—while somehow letting the audience know that the actor does know it is—which gives some idea of Oscar’s real, original humor, bound up with his notion of The Mask. Bernard Shaw refashioned this in his own way to satirize Anglo-Saxondom, attracting the attention of Brecht, who “alienated” (or “made strange”) the actor as a figure in didactic and epic political theater.  

In Lady Windermere’s Fan, the trick is to move from melodrama to comedy and back again with the gliding ease of a revolving door. Most of the burden falls upon Mesdames Boulanger and Delattre, with a bit of the load on M. Eychner. 

They don’t get away with it seamlessly, but they do maintain their poise—especially Michele Delattre—with a decent deadpan. The cast of 15 plays Wilde’s game with remarkably good form, Loralee Windsor (as Duchess of Berwick) and Laura Morgan (as Lady Agatha) particularly, with a sly mother-daughter act, the Duchess “charmingly” riding herd on her cowed, eligible daughter (whose single, repeated line—“Yes, Mamma!”—is inflected with many accents, fleeting expressions and pantomimed body language), until she’s delivered safe unto the matrimonial intentions of an Aussie nouveau riche, and escapes Down Under. 

“I lost one illusion last night: I thought I had no heart—and found I had one.” Oscar’s reverses are more paradoxical—and revealing—than the melodramatic coups-de-theatre he parodies. They’re true humor, characters finding themselves awkwardly otherwise than as expected, a true taste for the opposite: “I regret my bad actions, and you regret your good ones!” 

Lady Windermere’s Fan 

Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, Friday and Saturday at 8, Sunday at 2:30, through July 4. Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Pt. Richmond. $18. 232-4031; www.masquers.org 

Summer Brenner regularly swims long distances in Berkeley’s public pools. She is also an accomplished author who writes as gracefully as she swims.  

Her latest book, I-5: A Novel of Crime, Transport, and Sex (Oakland: PM Press, 2009), is a novel about sex trafficking along one of California’s major highways. 

It is not at all sleazy or pornographic, as its subject may suggest, nor is it noir fiction, as its misleading sensational cover implies, and it is not a “new mystery,” as shelved at Moe’s. It is literary fiction told from the point of view of Anya, a Russian immigrant, falsely lured to the United States for legitimate work as a clerk or waitress, only to find herself a sex slave. Anya is savvy and sensitive, plotting her own escape even as she endures the unpleasant toils of her forced servitude. 

Brenner portrays Anya as a real flesh-and-blood person, as well as her relationships with others, who like her, are trapped into this “business,” her connections with her pimp/“manager,” and then her forced journey from Los Angeles to Oakland on I-5. Along the way she encounters thriller-like adventures that are breathtaking and gripping, but listing them would make the novel sound melodramatic, which it is not, so I’ll leave it to its lucky readers to learn her story. 

Brenner says I-5, her eighth novel, was inspired by the events of 1999 in Berkeley when a 17-year-old Indian girl died of carbon monoxide poisoning in an apartment over Pasand restaurant on Shattuck Avenue. She and other teenagers had been brought to the United States from India by the Lakireddy family to work as cheap labor and sex providers. With the death exposing the trafficking, eventually many colluding family members were tried, fined, and given various prison sentences. Feminists, led by Diana Russell, picketed and boycotted the restaurant—some still do to this day—but Brenner took the incident many steps further, a tribute to her social conscience, especially her identification with immigrants and other marginalized groups, her feminism, and her considerable writing skills. The dedication to this slim book (186 pages) reads: “Written as a curse on them that force women and girls into bondage.” This is an impressive literary novel, well worth reading. 

Summer Brenner was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She moved north, east, and eventually west, taking up residence in Berkeley where she has been a long-time resident. Her writing has appeared in dozens of anthologies and literary magazines. Performances of her work include “The Flood,” a poem for four voices; “The Missing Lover,” a one-act play; and the poetry and musical extravaganza, Arundo. One of her novels, Presque nulle part, was published in France by Gallimard. She has given scores of readings in the United States, France, and Japan. Grant awards include the California Arts Council, the Creative Work Fund, and in partnership with Community Works, the Christensen Fund and the Lesher Foundation. Currently, she is working on literacy projects in Richmond. Nearly Nowhere (PM Press) and My Life in Clothes (Red Hen Press) are scheduled for publication in 2010. 

Summer Brenner and the West Contra Costa Unified School District, in partnership with Community Works, received a grant from the Creative Work Fund to develop and publish a young adult novel that reflects the life stories of students in Richmond’s Iron Triangle neighborhood. Richmond Tales: Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle, written by Brenner and illustrated by Miguel Perez, tells the story of Mario and Maisha and their unlikely friendship. They live in present-day Richmond, but through the magic powers of Misty Horn, they travel backward and forward through time to different eras of Richmond: Native American, 1915, 1942, and 2050. The book is directed to students age 9 to 12 and will be distributed to more than 4,500 fourth- and fifth-graders for summer reading. To purchase the book, call 486-2340 or write to community_works@yahoo.com. A reading will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 at the Richmond Public Library Terrrace, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. 

Owen Hill, longtime bookseller at Moe’s Books on Telegraph Avenue, will read from his new humorous detective novel about the Berkeley adventures of Clay Blackburn, book scout and private eye, The Incredible Double (P.M. Press), for the reading series he established and continues to run at Moe’s. Summer Brenner will also read from her latest, I-5: A Novel of Crime, Transport, and Sex. 

“Summer and I read together on tour,” Hill said, “Five readings in New York City. We come off as a team. She writes hardhitting noir; mine’s full of jokes.”  

Hill’s detective fiction comes from the building he lives in, around the corner from Moe’s, on Dwight Way, the Chandler Apartments, also the title of his first novel, published in 2002 and now out of print. 

“It’s a grand old building,” said Hill, “And would work well in a mystery, I thought. It became a kind of joke. I’d always written poetry. On a whim, when I was laid up, I started The Chandler Apartments. I must’ve joked around enough. I’d always been a mystery fan, knew the form as a reader; there’s a lot of pulp in my library. I stole from [poet] Jack Spicer’s Tower of Babel the idea of using the detective novel to poke fun at the poets in your circle. The Chandler Apartments is full of poets. In a bland world, poets are still kind of nutty. I respect them for it.” 

Asked to give a thumbnail description of the story, Hill said, “With a short book—The Incredible Double is 140 pages—it’s hard to give a reading without giving the plot away! Clay Blackburn’s a book scout and poet at the end of his scouting run. It’s harder and harder to make a living as a scout, so he falls into detecting. Through some weird fluke, he’s hired to find a Berkeley nut who threatened a CEO, whose security forces don’t know how to penetrate the Telegraph Avenue underground. 

Questioned about that impenetrable underground, which swirls outside Moe’s front window, Hill replied, “It’s as I’d like it to be. There’s not much of a Bohemia anymore, in this country at least. But there is in my novel.” 

Pressed about Berkeley locations in the book, Hill cautiously answered, “Moe’s is in it a lot, of course, where Clay sells his books; a couple of my coworkers get to have cameos. There’s a kidnapping in Elephant Pharmacy—gone now. Clay likes to drink at Cesar’s; he meets his love interest there. My car mechanic, from Pete’s Automotive, happens to drink at Cesar’s, too, so another cameo.” 

“It’s kind of a Berkeley thing,” Hill added, “An auto mechanic with an advanced degree. The overeducated underachiever. A friend’s plumber is a marine biologist! Such a beautiful part of Berkeley, which makes conversations so interesting. It doesn’t happen everywhere.” 

Hill himself hails from Southern California, “Torrance, the suburbs, till 20, 21, then to Santa Cruz. I was heading for college, but dropped out. I did a stint as ice cream maker at Polar Bear, pre-Haagen-Daaz gourmet ice cream, then got a job as a buyer at Logos Books on the Mall. Then came to San Francisco, worked at Columbus Books, after Discovery Books went out of business there, near City Lights. Then did a stint at Shakespeare & Co. while I argued my way into Moe’s—‘Moe, I could buy for you...’ ‘No, no...’ Finally, he gave in.” 

Moe gave in in 1986. Reflecting on almost a quarter century on the Avenue, Hill said, “It’s been a long ride, but it’s home. It’s the best bookstore I was ever in. Moe took care of his employees, and that’s still happening, post-Moe. It’s a little oasis.” 

Expanding on the theme, Hill said, “I’ve always really liked public life, bookstores and cafes as the place to make a living. There’s a constant flow of characters.” 

The reading series at Moe’s “started very informally, then snowballed. So many other bookstores were dropping off; we became the premiere reading series in the East Bay—readings once, twice, three times in a week. But it began almost by accident. There was a little garden area behind Moe’s we don’t use anymore. [Poets] Clark Coolidge, Michael McClure, Nanos Valaoritis were all friendly customers, shopping the poetry section. I said, Why not come outside? That was 1999. Then we came back in, later got a microphone ... Now I’ve invited myself to read in my own series. And I accepted.” 

Bookseller, “curator” of the poetry section at Moe’s, himself a poet, detective novelist and humorist ... “I’m happy to be in the middle of it. Coming from the suburbs, I’ve been running away from blandness my whole life. Berkeley isn’t bland.” 

Owen Hill and Summer Brenner, 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue. Free admission. 510-849-2087. 

“Say you come across someone in the street, a street person who tells you a story. Later, you hear them tell the same story to someone else, and you feel a little betrayed, like they’re on a loop.” 

Peter Josheff talked about the opera he composed, with lyrics by poet Jaime Robles. “This has been going on for all eternity; it’s not the first time it happens.” 

Josheff and Robles will see their opera, Inferno, Second Circle of Hell—The Lustful, from Dante’s Divine Comedy, premiered at Live Oak Theater next Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m., and again on the following Sunday at 5, as part of San Francisco Cabaret Opera’s Weekends in Hell. 

Inferno will feature Eliza O’Malley, soprano; Adam Flowers, tenor; Richard Mix, bass; and Eric Zivian, from Left Coast Ensemble, piano. 

Josheff and Robles have been working together since the mid-1990s. Smaller projects premiered at the annual Harvest of Song series at the Berkeley Art Center. 

“We always planned to do a large project,” Josheff said. “So we proceeded methodically with smaller ones. She came to me with the idea—and Jaime always comes to me with exactly what I’m looking for. I can always set her text easily.” 

“I’d been looking for an opera to do for some time,” Robles said. “I was taking a writing course; they asked us to do some collaborative work. During that assignment I read the story of Francesca and Paolo [in Canto V of Dante’s poem]. Given its very theatrical and dramatic character, I thought it was suitable for opera, and that it would fit well with the kind of composing Peter’s good at: lyrical, sensual, a romantic quality about it. He might not like hearing that!” 

“In the Second Circle, they can’t control their passions,” Josheff explained, “They’re blown by the wind from one passion to another. It was easy to compose music that tries to convey passion for each character. Paolo croons like a pop singer. He doesn’t know he’s in hell; he’s still trying to seduce Francesca. Francesca knows where she is; all she can ask is, What am I doing here? What crime did I commit? She looks at Paolo and can’t fall for it anymore. And the wind’s an actual character, a monster demon, kind of charming in a way. He torments the damned with good-natured, pitiless cruelty.” 

“Most of those who approach the material deal with the story of Paolo and Francesca by telling her life, her love affair and death,” Robles said. “What really interested me more were the moral and ethical qualities of the story; what’s hell all about? Why did Dante, the quintessential love poet, write this story in which love is repaid by death? But I wanted to make the story more contemporary; I found articles where psychiatrists compare the medieval vision of hell with psychiatric states. I used fragments of medieval texts on melancholia in the libretto to set up the connection, to bridge the medieval to the contemporary, by portraying depression as a form of hell in life on this planet. And our ethical system is different. I came up with psychological disconnection and projection as their sin, their crime: Paolo totally absorbed in a fantasy of his own making, and Francesca realizing she’s just a projection of that, that nothing can be done about it. They suffer from the disease of narcissism.” 

“I think there’s a lot of irony in this work,” Josheff said, “a sweetness in the music, with a lot going on underneath. The characters, especially Francesca, make their pitch to the audience, as if the audience is an embodiment of Dante and Virgil, knowing they’re in hell, yet drawn to the damned, affected by the torment, the suffering.” 

“When I finished writing the first section,” Robles said, “I said to myself, ‘This is a downer!’ I didn’t want people to walk out of the theater feeling like they wanted to kill themselves. But Peter’s way of looking at it was more humorous. He has Paolo singing a kind of doo-wop love song. I tend to be a little abstract in writing, in my perceptions of life. And that’s what I like about opera. It’s public, stagey, theatrical, kind of an antidote to the private experience you create writing poetry, talking to a person reading a book.” 

Josheff mentioned “the chorus of lost souls, the damned, dancers from Huckabay Dance Company, Jenny McAllister—a wonderful collaboration!—who provide commentary through movement across the stage, with a lot of sensuality. The damned are Hell’s Wind’s flock of sheep; there’s something pastoral about his attitude toward this suffering under his thumb. Francesca is passionate, spiky, rebelling against fate, and remains alone on stage for her final aria when everyone else drifts off with the damned.” 

Josheff concluded, “This is the first part of the work; there’s going to be the Ninth Circle, with the sufferings of Francesca’s husband, Paolo’s brother—she was betrayed, seduced by proxy—in a lake of ice, a sense of contrast. But this is the culminating moment in Jaime’s and my collaboration. We worked hard to get here. And it opens the door to other large-scale works.” 

INFERNO, SECOND CIRCLE OF HELL 

8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 17 and 18; 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21 at Live Oak Theater. Part of San Francisco Cabaret Opera’s Weekends in Hell, which also features Zachary Watkins’ No Exit, from the play by Jean-Paul Sartre, and Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Old Man and the Thief, A Grotesque Opera in 14 Scenes.