WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Bird Walk at Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the large spherical cage near Nature Center at Perkins and Bellevue. www.goldengateaudubon.org 

“In Grave Danger of Falling Food” A documentary about permaculture at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets 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. 

THURSDAY, NOV. 26 

Give Thanks and Honor the Native Community Vegetarian pot-luck from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Free Thanksgiving Meal from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cafe Gratitude, 1730 Shattuck. www.cafegratitude.com 

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner noon to 2 p.m., Interfaith service at 11:30 a.m., at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. 236-0527. 

FRIDAY, NOV. 27 

After Thanksgiving Docent Guided Garden Tour Learn about California native plants in a beautiful, naturalistic 10-acre setting at 2 p.m. at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Regional Park, Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive. Call to confirm. 841-8732.  

Peace Corps Open House Learn about serving in the Peace Corps from noon to 2 pm, 1301 Clay St., North Tower 5th Floor Conference Room, Oakland. Please bring picture ID because you will need to pass through security. RSVP 452-8442 or SFevents@peacecorps.gov  

Houdini Magic Weekend at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach Fri.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $10-$15. 932-8966. 

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. 

Stand With Us Stand for Peace Stand with Israel vigil every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. www.sfvoiceforisrael.org 

SATURDAY, NOV. 28 

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

Working with Wool Watch as the spinning wheel turns wool into yarn, try a drop spindle, and create a felted ornament to take home, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-2233. 

Berkeley Artisans Open Studios Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For map see www.berkeleyartisans.com 

Womyn of Color Arts and Crafts Show, Sat. and Sun. from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $14-$16. 849-2568.  

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

SUNDAY, NOV. 29 

Fireside Storytime Warm yourself by the fire and sip hot cocoa while listening to nature stories, at 10:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-2233. 

The Buzz About Bees Learn the natural, cultural and cuinary sides of honey, at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-2233. 

“Microcosmos” A documentary on bugs for the whole family, at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 528-2261. 

A Woman’s Voice “An Examination of Choice: Who has it —who doesn’t — and the implications of that difference” with Dr. Robin Lakoff, Prof., Dept. of Linguistics, UCB, at 4 p.m. at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street at Arch. Cost is $5-$10. 644-2967. www.hillsideclub.org 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. at 2 p.m. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Robin Caton on “Responding from the Heart”at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, NOV. 30 

“A Single Woman” A documentary about Jeannette Rankin, the first U.S. Congresswoman, at 7 p.m. at BFUU, 1924 Cedar. Cost is $5-$10. 841-4824. 

East Bay Track Club for ages 3-14 meets at 6 p.m. at the running track of Berkeley High School. For more information call Coach Walker at 776-7451. 

TUESDAY, DEC. 1 

Planning the Berkeley North Branch Library Community discussion on the design process, space layouts, historic features and the new wing, at 6:30 p.m. at North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda. 981-6195. berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

World AIDS Day Chapel Service at 11:10 a.m. and free HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave. For information see www.clgs.org 

Berkeley School Volunteers, New Volunteer Orientation from 3 to 4 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Bring a photo ID and two references to the orientation. Returning volunteers do not need to attend. For further information 644-8833. 

Tuesdays for the Birds Tranquil bird walks in local parklands, led by Bethany Facendini, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Today we will visit Arrowhead Marsh in Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline. Bring water, field guides, binoculars or scopes. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 544-3265. 

Family Storytime, for ages preschool and up, at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

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

Homework Help at the Albany Library for students in grades 2 - 6, Tues. and Thurs. from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. Emphasis on math and writing skills. No registration is required. For more information, call 526-3720. 

Homework Help Program at the Richmond Public Library Tues. and Thurs. from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at 325 Civic Center Plaza. For more information or to enroll, call 620-6557. 

27 Days of Change: Practice Period A six-point personal change program at Center for Transformative Change, 2584 Martin Luther King Jr Way. Free. For information see www.27daysofchange.com 

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 welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2 

Berkeley Path Wanderers: Northbrae Paths & Rock Parks a self-guided walk following Pat DeVito’s May 1999 walk and her short history of the Northbrae neighborhood. Meet at 10 a.m. at the corner Santa Barbara and Spruce. 520-3876. www.berkeleypaths.org 

East Bay Science Cafe H1N1 Swine Flu: An update with Arthur Reingold, Prof. of Public Health, UCB, at 7 p.m. at Cafe Valparaiso, at La Pena, 3105 Shattuck Ave.  

“Science, Consciousness and God” A lecture by Peter Russell at 7:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Free. 526-3805. 

“March of the Penguins” at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

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

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.helpsavealife.org 

“Digestive Health” at 6:30 p.m. at the Center for Holistic Health, 5273 College Ave., Oakland. Free, but reservations required. 652-2302. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. 548-9840. 

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

THURSDAY, DEC. 3 

“The Rebirth of Environmentalism” with author Douglas Bevington of Environment Now, at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-3402. www.ecologycenter.org 

“La Danse: Le Ballet de l’Opera de Paris” Frederick Wiseman's latest documentary at 7 p.m. at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood, 2966 College Ave. at Ashby. Tickets are $20-$50. Benefits the Parachute Fund which provides grants to members of the Bay Area dance community facing HIV/AIDS or other life-threatening illnesses. 415-920-9181. www.dancersgroup.org/benefit.php  

Shu Ren International School Open House A Mandarin immersion program for Pre-K through 3rd grade. From 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 1333 University Ave. 981-0320.  

Legal Document Assistants Who are they, and what can they do to help you? At 6 p.m. at the Alameda County Law Library, 125 12th St., Oakland, Cost is $5. 272-6483. www.acgov.org/law 

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

FRIDAY, DEC. 4 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Mr. Ken LaJoie on “A Geologic Train Ride Down the San Mateo County Coast: The Natural and Unnatural History of a Despoiled Coastline” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $15, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 527-2173.  

Treesit Community 3rd Anniversary Reunion Potluck at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship UU, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. 547-7486. sunsetmoonrise@riseup.net 

Jingletown Holiday Art Walk opening at 6 p.m. at Gallery 420, 420 Peterson St., between Ford and Glascock sts, Oakland, and continues Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. 6 p.m. between the Park and Fruitvale St. bridges. 

CAB+ Holiday Ceramic Art Show Ceramic artists from Berkeley and the bay area from 5 to 10 p.m. at Leslie Ceramic Supply, 1212 San Pablo Ave. 524-7363. 

Meditation I: practice of the body at 7 p.m. at Center for Transformative Change, 2584 Martin Luther King Jr Way. snipurl.com/fearlessmeditation1 

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. 

Stand With Us Stand for Peace Stand with Israel vigil every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. www.sfvoiceforisrael.org 

SATURDAY, DEC. 5 

“Power Trip - Theatrically Berkeley” A film on the green movement in Berkeley at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. http://powertripberkeley.com 

UC Regents’ Lecture with Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder, at 7:30 p.m. at 150 Stanley Hal, UC campus. free. 495-3505. bcnm.berkeley.edu 

Rabbit Rescue Craft, Gift and Food Fair with proceeds supporting rabbit rescue and adoption efforts, from noon to 4 p.m. at RabbitEars, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. www.rabbitears.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market Holiday Fair, with music, crafts and organic produce and lunches, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Civic Center Park, Center St. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Artisans Open Studios Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For map see www.berkeleyartisans.com 

Heyday Holiday Open House and book sale from noon to 4 p.m. at Heyday Books, 1633 University Ave. 549-3564, ext. 316. 

Chaat and Chats with Authors and Artists: A Holiday Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Taste of the Himalayas, 1700 Shattuck Ave. at Virginia. http://chaatandchats.com 

Shibumi Artists Holiday Group Show from 5 to 8 p.m. at 1402 Fifth St. www.shibumigallery.com 

Holidays at Dunsmuir Walk back in time through a beautifully decorated mansion, enjoy live holiday music, have breakfast with Father Christmas at 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. Weekends though Dec. 20. For details see www.dunsmuir.org 

Pie, Chai & Art Please join us for refreshments and sale of art and jewelry created by homeless children, adults from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1208 Peralta Ave. To RSVP or for more information 649-1930. 

Jingletown Holiday Art Walk Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. between the Park and Fruitvale Street bridges bordered by the estuary separating Oakland from the island of Alameda. www.jingletown.org 

World of Good Fair Trade Warehouse Sale Half of proceeds will be donated to the non-profit, World of Good Development. Sat. and Sun. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6315 Doyle St. Emeryville. 

Unity of Berkeley Gala Gift Sale with music and prizes Sat. from noon to 4p.m., Sun. from noon to 3 p.m. at 2401 Le Conte at Scenic Ave. 849-8160. 

Lighten Up Family workshop to make a candle holder from wood, tin and paints, Sat. and Sun. from 1 to 3 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 538 9th St., Oakland. Cost is $3-$7. 465-8770. www.mocha.org  

Close the Farm Say goodnight to the animals from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Little Farm, Tilden Park. 544-2233. 

“Get Sharp: The Cutting Edge Food” with local food writers at 1 p.m. at The Pasta Shop, 1786 Fourth St. 250-6004. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Corpus Christie Church Gymnasium, 322 St. James Dr., Piedmont. To schedule an appointment go to www.helpsavealife.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Calvary Christian Center, multi-purpose room, 1516 Grand St., Alameda. To schedule an appointment go to www.helpsavealife.org 

Political Affairs Readers Group will discuss “Socialism is the Future, Build It Now” from 10 a.m. to noon at Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library for Social Research, 6501 Telegraph Ave. 595-7417. www.marxistlibr.org 

Rollercoaster Movies at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $10-$15. 932-8966. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. at 2 p.m. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 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.  

SUNDAY, DEC. 6 

Urban Drought Solutions: Greywater, Rainwater Catchment, Earthworks a workshop at Berkeley’s Ecohouse. Cost is $10-$15. Pre-registration required. 548-2220, ext. 239. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Path Wanderers: Ft. Winfield Scott and the Presidio Walk. Follow Adah Bakalinsky's route from Stairway Walks in San Francisco to explore this lovely historic part of the Presidio. Meet at 11 a.m. at Barnard Hall, 1330 Kobbe Ave., San Francisco. 520-3876. www.berkeleypaths.org 

Fireside Nature Stories with Lindsey Sanders at 10:30 a.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-2233. 

Holiday Decorations - Naturally Create wreaths, garlands and other seasonal decorations using natural materials, from noon to 3:30 pm. at Tilden Nature Center. Bring clippers, a large, flat box, and a bag lunch. Not appropriate for children under eight. Cost is $25-$51. Registration required. 1-888-327-2757. 

Richmond Art Center Annual Holiday Arts and Music Festival from noon to 5 p.m. at 2540 Barrett Ave., at 25th St. Richmond. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

Congregation Beth El Chaunukah Bazaar with menorahs, candles, dreidels, gelt, decorations, games, books, jewelry from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1301 Oxford St. 526-4917. 

Chanukah Sing-Along and Fair from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1316 University Ave. Cost is $4 for ages 12 and under, $14 for others. www.brownpapertickets.com 

East Bay Hella Free Day Give what you can, take what you need and everyone gets what they want from noon to 4 p.m. at the northside of Lake Merritt at the collanade near the Grand Lake Theater. eastbayfs@gmail.com 

“The Camera and Eye” A free photography workshop offered by Treve Johnson from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Albany Public Library, Edith Stone Room. Bring your camera, your camera manual, and some of your photos that you like. 841-0905. 

Personal Theology Seminars with John McNally on “Fear of Dying: Is it Justified?” at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302. 

JYCA Program Info Session for High School Aged Teens Learn about joining Jewish Youth for Community Action. All high school aged youth are welcome, from noon to 2 p.m. at Kehilla Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. jycajenny@gmail.com 

Tibetan Buddhism with Sylvia Gretchen on “An Awakened Vision of Being” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000.  

ONGOING 

Food Donations for the Homeless and Hungry From Nov. 17 to Nov. 25 please drop off food donations to Berkeley Food & Housing Project at 2362 Bancroft Way. Contact Wanda Williams at 649-4965, ext. 506. wwilliams@bfhp.org 

Volunteers Needed for United Way’s Earn It! Keep It! Save It! The Bay Area’s largest, free tax-assistance program, is now recruiting volunteers to serve as greeters, language interpreters and tax preparers for the 2010 tax season. Training begins in November, and free tax sites will open in late January. No previous tax preparation experience is necessary. There is a special need for volunteers who can speak Spanish. Register at www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org 800-358-8832. 

One Warm Coat Drive Donate outwear including rain coats in all shapes and sizes at the Bay Street Management Office, below AMC Theaters. www.OneWarmCoat.org 

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

David Berkeley at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Ray Cepeda Latin Jazz at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

Kickin’ The Mule at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Montuno Swing at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$7. 548-1159.  

Trio of Doom at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

THURSDAY, NOV. 26 

Happy Thanksgiving 

FRIDAY, NOV. 27 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “Fat Pig” through Dec. 13, at 2081 Addison St. Tickets are $15-$55. 843-4822. auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley Black Repertory Group Theater “Sparkle: The Stage Play” Thurs.-Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. at 3201 Adeline St., through Dec. 20. Tickets are $10-$45. 652-2120. 

Berkeley Rep “Tiny Kushner” Short plays by Tony Kushner at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison, through Nov. 29. Tickets are $33-$71. 647-2949 www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Heretic’s Potentially Offensive Comedy (2) Hour(s)” Featuring the work of Benjamin Garcia, Erin Phillips and writer/director Clay Rosenthal, at 8 p.m. at The Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Tickets at the door are $15. 

Contra Costa Civic Theatre “Lucky Stiff” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. through Dec. 6, at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $18, $11 for 16 and under. 524-9132. www.cct.org 

Impact Theatre “Large Animal Games” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through Dec. 12. Tickets are $12-$20. impacttheatre.com 

Masquers Playhouse “The Rocky Horror Show” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, and runs through Dec. 12. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Bundles, Webs, Remains” work by Carol Lee Shanks. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at Garage Gallery, 3110 Wheeler. Exhibition continues Sat. and Sun. from 1 to 5 p.m. to Dec. 13. www.berkeleyoutlet.com 

“Holidayland” A joint exhibition at The Compound Gallery, 6604 San Pablo Ave., Oakland and Blankspace, 6608 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. Reception at 6 p.m. Exhibitions run to Dec. 20. www.thecompoundgalley.com, www.balckspacegallery.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Golden Gate Boys Choir Outdoor Holiday Performance at 4 p.m. at Alameda Town Center, Otis Drive, Alameda. Free. www.ggbc.org 

Kelly Park Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

Maria Muldaur’s Garden of Joy Jug Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

The Blind, Commisure, Orchestra of Antlers at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Fender Cronin and guests at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

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

Igor & The Red Elvises at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $15, available through ticketweb.com  

Joshi’z 3 at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, NOV. 28 

CHILDREN  

The Snow Queen Puppet Show Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. at at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 296-4433.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Metaphysical Abstraction” Closing party with documentary film on Agnes Martin at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $5, free for BAC members. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

“What’s Cooking” Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Berkeley Potters Guild, 731 Jones St. at 4th St. to Dec. 24. 524-7031. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

John Curl reads from “For All the People: Uncovering th Hidden History of Cooperation, Cooperative Movements, and Communalism in America” at 6 p.m. at Fig Tree Gallery, 2599 8th St., Studio #42, in the Sawtooth Building. 540-7843. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Kenney Washington & Michael O’Neill Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. East Coast Swing dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Sonic Safari Swing at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

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

Michael Shiono and friends at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Wave Array, James Winton Band at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Steve Carter Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, NOV. 29 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Aurora Theatre Company Script Club Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” 7:30 p.m. at 2081 Addison St. 843-4822. auroratheatre.org 

John Curl reads from “For All the People: Uncovering th Hidden History of Cooperation, Cooperative Movements, and Communalism in America” at 3 p.m. at Book Zoo, 6395 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 654-2665. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Erik Jekabson & Bay Area Composers’ Big Band at 7 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Family Square Dance with Pearson’s Pork Pies at 3 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Mahealani Uchiyama, world, Afro-Polynesian at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

An Irish Christmas in America at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

MONDAY, NOV. 30 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Subterranean Shakespeare “Twelfth Night” staged reading at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Tickets are $8. 276-3871. 

Jeffrey Haas reads from his new book, “The Assassination of fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther” at 7 p.m. at Books, Inc., 1760 Fourth St.  

“Japanese Fairy Tales: Powerful Unattainable Woman” with author Marie Mockett on her new novel “Picking Bones From Ash” at 7:30 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $5. 644-2967. 

.Poetry Express theme night on “poems about why you write poems” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Classical at the Freight at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $8.50-$9.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

TUESDAY, DEC. 1 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Andrew Carierre & the Zydeco and Cajun Allstars at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun/Zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

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

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2 

CHILDREN 

Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy & Bean series, at 4:30 p.m. at Black Pine Circle School library, 2027 7th St. Free. www.blackpinecircle.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

Berkeley City College Digital Art Club recent work on display at La Peña Cultural Center, through Jan. 31. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Tree of Life” Works by students of the Walden Center and School at Addison Windows Gallery. A sidewalk opening reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 2018 Addison St. 981-7533. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with music for the Javanese and Balinese Gamelan at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Los Cenzontles Feliz Navidad concert at noon at 12th and Broadway, Oakland.  

Body Music Festival Opening Party at 8 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10.www.crosspulse.com  

Matt Eakle Band at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Zabava at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Balkan dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Sage Jazz Trio at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

Orquestra Universal at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Tin Hat, chamber folk, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

THURSDAY, DEC. 3 

CHILDREN 

”The Nutcracker” Children’s dance program at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Community Center, 59 Arlington Ave. For ages 3 and up. 524-3043. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Pairings” Photographs, photograms, polaroids and paintings by Jim Doukas. Artist talk at 7:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. 465-8928. 

“Gratitude Altar Show” opens at 7 p.m. at Oakopolis, 447 Twenty-fifth St., Oakland. Exhibition open sat. from 2 to 5 p.m. to Jan. 9. oakopolis@gmail.com 

FILM 

“La Danse: Le Ballet de l’Opera de Paris” Frederick Wiseman's latest documentary at 7 p.m. at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood, 2966 College Ave. at Ashby. Tickets are $20-$50. Benefits the Parachute Fund which provides grants to members of the Bay Area dance community facing HIV/AIDS or other life-threatening illnesses. 415-920-9181. www.dancersgroup.org/benefit.php 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Body Music Festival Lecture Demonstration with Braulio Berrera, Kenny Muhammad, Fatima Moreno Gonzalez and others at 8 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $12. www.crosspulse.com  

Canyon Sam reads from “Sky Train: Tibetan Women on the Edge of History” at 7 p.m. at Books Inc. 1760 4th St. 525-7777. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tammy Hall “Jazz at Noon” at 12:15 p.m. at the Art & Music room, 5th flr., Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge at Shattuck. Free. 981-6241. 

Gerardo Balestrieri and members of The Fishtank Ensemble at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

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

Women Jam at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995.  

The Flux, Eaglehead at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

FRIDAY, DEC. 4 

THEATER 

Aurora Theatre “Fat Pig” through Dec. 13, at 2081 Addison St. Tickets are $15-$55. 843-4822. auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley Black Repertory Group Theater “Sparkle: The Stage Play” Thurs.-Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. at 3201 Adeline St., through Dec. 20. Tickets are $10-$45. 652-2120. 

Contra Costa Civic Theatre “Lucky Stiff” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. through Dec. 6, at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $18, $11 for 16 and under. 524-9132. www.cct.org 

Impact Theatre “Large Animal Games” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through Dec. 12. Tickets are $12-$20. impacttheatre.com 

Masquers Playhouse “The Rocky Horror Show” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, and runs through Dec. 12. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Shotgun Players “The Threepenny Opera” Thurs.-sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Jan. 17. Tickets are $18-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBTITIONS 

“New Images of Man and Woman” Curated by Peter Selz and Cameron Jackson. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Alphonse Berber Gallery, 2546 Bancroft Way. Exhibit runs to Jan. 30. info@alphonseberber.com 

“Light on Lake Merritt” Photographs by Laura Sutta. Artist’s reception at 5 p.m. at Alameda County Law Library, 125 Twelfth St., Oakland. 208-4830. www.acgov.org/law 

“Elemental: New Work at Mercury 20” an overview of recent painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, drawing and mixed media by East Bay artists. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Mercury 20 Gallery, 25 Grand Ave., at Broadway, Oakland. www.mercurytwenty.com 

“The Maker Show” a sampling of Makers from the Maker Faire. Opening reception at 5 p.m. at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, 480 23rd St Oakland. 415-577-7537. www.chandracerrito.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Frederick Hertz talks about “Making It Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions” at 7 p.m. at at Books Inc., 1760 4th St. 525-7777. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Sacred & Profane “Spain and the New World: A Holiday Concert” at 8 p.m at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft. Tickets are $15-$20. www.sacredprofane.org 

Advent Lessons and Carols at 6 p.m. at Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave. 849-8239. 

Sally Light, mezzo-soprano, and Miles Graber, pianist, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. Suggested donation is $20, but no one will be turned away. 525-1716. 

Sarah Eden Davis & All-Star Band at 8 p.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way. Tickets are $15-$20. 486-8700. 

7 Potencias, Afro-Cuban, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $20-$22. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

WomenGig@Trieste featuring The Jill Knight Trio and poet Dian Sousa at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. Suggested donation $10-$15. 548-5198. www.womengig.com 

Forro Barzuca, Samba de Raiz, Brazilian, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Body Music Festival Concert at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $22.50-$23.50. 548-1761.  

Jean White and Friends at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

Eric Mcfadden Trio , Sistas in the Pit at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082.  

The Aggrolites, reggae, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $14. 548-1159.  

Soul Burners at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Tres Mojo at 7:30 at Art House Gallery, 2905 Shattuck Ave. Donation $5-$10. 482-3336. 

SATURDAY, DEC. 5 

CHILDREN  

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

Susan Gal talks about “Night Lights” the story of a child’s evening routine through all of the different kinds of lights that shine in the night at 11 a.m. at Books Inc., 1760 4th St. 525-7777. 

“Here is the Arctic Winter” with author Madeline Dunphy at 1 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 538 9th St., Oakland. Free. 465-8770.  

The Snow Queen Puppet Show Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. at at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 296-4433.  

Andy Z Music Concert at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 10th St. Cost is $9. 526-9888. 

THEATER 

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

EXHIBITIONS 

R. Pocekay, Henry Epstein and Raul Jorcino, paintings. Opening reception Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. at Deco Art, 5495 C. Claremont Ave., Oakland. 593-4575 

FILM 

“Power Trip - Theatrically Berkeley” on the green movement in Berkeley at 7 p.m. at Brkeley Fellowship of Unitarian universalists, 1924 Cedar St. http://powertripberkeley.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Gene Luen Yang discusses his graphic novels “American Born Chinese” and “Eternal Smile” at 3 p.m. Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

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

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus and Otto Voci “Baby It’s Cold Outside” at 7:30 p.m. at Lakeshore Baptist Church, Oakland. 1-800-706-2389. www.oebgmc.org, www.BrownPaperTickets.com  

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $10-$40. 465-6400. www.oigc.org 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “Gloria! A Holiday Celebration” at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $25 and up. 415-392-4400. www.cityboxoffice.com 

Anna Maria Mendieta Candlelight Christmas concert for harp and percussion at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

Venezuelan Music Project “Gaitas 2009” at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $16. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Musical Night in Africa with Kotoja, Bab Ken & West African highlife Band, Afro-beat Connexion and Nigerian Brothers at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Tara Linda, accordionist at 2 p.m. at Down Home Music, 10341 San Pablo A., El Cerrito. 

Saturday Afternoon Gallery Acoustic, a songwriters open mic, with Susan Newman and Eliza Shefler, at 2 p.m. at Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru at Lincoln, Ave., Alameda. 523-6957. www.frankbettecenter.org 

Sotaque Baiano at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159. www.shattuckdownlow.com 

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

Strange Angel Blues Band at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

The China Cats, Pat Nevins at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

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

SUNDAY, DEC. 6 

EXHIBITIONS 

Berkeley City College Digital Art Club Opening reception for recent work at 3 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Exhibit runs through Jan. 31. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

PEN Oakland 19th Annual Josephine Miles Literary Awards at 3 p.m. at at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Egyptology Lecture “The Tale of Two Tombs: Field Work in the Theban Necropolis, and New Discoveries in the Nile Delta, Site of Ancient Mendes” with Drs. Susan and Donald Redford, Pennsylvania State University, at 1:30 p.m. at Barrows Hall, Room 20, Barrow Lane and Bancroft Way, UC campus. 415-664-4767. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

San Francisco Mandolin Orchestra at 4 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. Donation $10-$15. www.st-albans-albany.org 

The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus and Otto Voci “Baby It’s Cold Outside” at 5 p.m. at Lakeshore Baptist Church, Oakland. 1-800-706-2389. www.oebgmc.org, www.BrownPaperTickets.com  

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “Gloria! A Holiday Celebration” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way). Tickets are $25 and up. 415-392-4400. www.cityboxoffice.com 

Canto Con Vivo “Tis the Season” at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 27th and Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $10-$40. www.cantoconvico.org 

Symphonic Wind Ensemble at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Free. The Pacific Alumni Association and University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music reception at 1:30 p.m. Cost for reception is $10. RSVP for reception to 866-575-7229. 

Soli Deo Gloria with Orchestra Gloria “Songs of Nativity” at 3:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 1700 Santa Clara, Alameda. Tickets are $20-$25. Students grades K-8, free. 888-SDG-SONG. www.sdgloria.org 

“Messiah Sing in Baroque Style” at 6 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, One Lawson Rd., Kensington. Suggested donation $10-$15, no one turned away. 525-0302. www.uucb.org 

Trombonga at 1 p.m. outside Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

t 5 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Tickets are $$5-$15. 642-9988. www.calperformances.net 

Bomba y Plena Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms, song and dance at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Eva Scow & Ami Molinelli Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Ray Cepeda Latin Jazz at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

Israeli Folkdance with Allen King at 1:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Ava Bird and Friends A shakti soulstice celebration at 7 p.m. at 2905 Shattuck Ave. Donation $10. 

Maria Muldaur, “interpreter of Americana music since long before that genre even had a name,” and an unusual highlight, An Irish Christmas in America, grace the Freight and Salvage Coffee House this Friday and Sunday at their new downtown location on Addison Street. 

“Maria will be hawking her new CD with the same title as her show,” said Lisa Manning of The Freight, commenting on Friday’s show of Maria Muldaur and Her Garden of Joy Jug Band, a true reunion of where the Bay Area singer came from, at least into popular awareness.   

The album includes appearances by John Sebastian and David Grisman—both members of the Even Dozen Jug Band, which Maria joined at the behest of blues singer Victoria Spivey, who recorded the group on her own label in ’60s New York. Other favorites on the record include Taj Mahal, Berkeley fiddler extraordinaire Suzy Thompson and the late Fritz Richmond. 

Richmond was a jug and washtub bass player with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, the Boston-based recording group Maria joined after the Even Dozen folded. (As a teenaged groundsworker, this writer recalls, with exhilaration, Maria’s performance of her first hit, “I’m a Woman,” both campy and impassioned, with the Jug Band on Mt. Tamalpais at the Magic Mountain Festival in 1967.)  

After a stint as a duo act with her then-husband Geoff (from Kweskin’s Jug Band), Maria put out her famed platinum hit, “Midnight at the Oasis,” going on to immerse herself in roots music, recording duets with Dr. John, and garnering a nomination for the W. C. Handy Award.  

Her 1999 “Meet Me Where They Play the Blues,” featured the last recorded appearance of the great (and longtime East Bay resident) crooner-pianist, Charles Brown.  

For her show, Maria will be joined by her new discovery, also on the album, ragtime guitarist Kit Stovepipe, the Gallus Brothers, Devin Champlin and Lucas Hicks from the Crow Quill Night Owls. In addition, there’ll be some new tunes penned especially by Dan Hicks of Hot Licks notoriety. 

In “a nice kickoff for the holidays,” according to Manning, Sunday’s An Irish Christmas in America will feature Sligo fiddler Oisin MacDiarnada and bodhian player Tristan Rosenstock from Teada, Kerry singer and accordionist Seamus Begley, young dancer Brian Cunningham, harper Grinne Hambly and uilleann bagpiper Tommy Martin.  

“It’s their third year doing this,” said Manning, “and it’s charming and well put together, with storytelling and different kinds of entertainment between, singing, dancing and playing. A wide array of entertainment, truly something for all ages. I’m encouraging my parents to come. With the liveliness of the music and the mixture of the show, kids can hang with it. It’s both interactive and intimate. It’s like an Irish village shares its holiday with you. Some of the lore, like Wren Boys at the New Year, was news to me.” 

A CD of An Irish Christmas in America is available at the show. 

Maria Muldaur’s  

Garden of Joy Jug Band 

8 p.m. Friday 

$18.50–$19.50 

An Irish Christmas in America 

8 p.m. Sunday 

$20.50–$21.50 

Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St. 

548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org. 

Wheeling your decrepit uncle from Atlantic City through Monte Carlo for one last fling, no matter how venal the motive (like garnering an inheritance in seven figures that will otherwise—literally—go to the dogs) is one thing. But if it’s your never-before-met old uncle, a Jersey gangster —your never-before-met late Jersey gangster uncle —in that wheelchair, rolling around for a week in the clubs and casinos ... 

What you have then is Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens’ 1988 musical comedy, Lucky Stiff, now playing to appreciative—guffawing, even—audiences at Contra Costa Civic Theater. 

With Amy Nielson’s stage direction and Sierra Dee leading the trio onstage from the keyboard (with Ted Gould, bass; Poh Soon Teng, drums and percussion), the cast of 12 puts on a tight, not to say constricted, show. As is appropriate to this style of parody—or burlesque—musical, it’s the little things that count, and that’s what the show aims for. 

John Brown and Sharon Rietnick, a bright new face, are just right as the unlikely romantic leads: an English former shoe salesman, worried by the dogs in his London rooming house, and Annabel Glick of the Universal Dog Home, shadowing him to make sure he keeps his uncle’s wishes to the letter (or he’ll forfeit a few mil to the hounds). 

But there are others, maybe with only a moment of the audience’s undivided attention: Steve Yates as Luigi Gaudi, who tries to force himself on shoe salesman-“caregiver” Harry as a guide, who all but stops the show with a “confession” that borders on pure exposition; or Brian Dauglash, who paddles vigorously in the waters of a Monte Carlo nightclub as a comic emcee; or Kerry Chapman as Rita, purblind mistress to Uncle Anthony, packing the pistol she nearsightedly shot the old gang- 

ster with, all the way to Monte Carlo  

to claim the inherited loot. Or Eric Neiman as Vinnie, Rita’s optometrist brother, unwittingly along for the ride. Or Joe Fitzgerald in the most deadpan role ever ...  

Whether as principals, characters appearing for a moment to supply color, or all together as ensemble, it’s a sharp troupe onstage, gliding through one set-up after another, Eugene De Christopher’s set, Adam Fry’s lighting and Travis Rexroat’s sound design underpinning the fluidity. The costumes by Jenine Hillaire, with the director’s collaboration, are occasionally jokes by themselves, not just props for the same. 

Well into the action, Harry has a dream, a nightmare-become-production number, “Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon,” in which all the people in his life appear, snouted and muzzled like dogs—the dogs he hates, from his rooming house. 

Less penetrating are the moments when Harry is winning, for the first time in his life, at the tables, with his uncle’s roulette system. Or drinking champagne, arms locked with Dominique, the chanteuse, who sings “And now you’re speaking French.” 

Lucky Stiff can be a very funny romp, and the CCCT folks—all of them, onstage and off—do their best to carry you with them onto the playing fields of a contemporary burlesque of musical comedy, one which reaffirms the norm at its best with funny, exuberant action.  

No wonder the lyric it ends on: “It’s good to be alive!” 

Lucky Stiff 

Presented by Contra Costa Civic Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday–Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 6 at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. $11–$18.  

524-9132. www.cct.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of two holiday event roundups. The second will appear in the Dec. 10 edition. 

On the brink of The Holidays—and many feel a bit of vertigo—there is, as in past years, a dazzling array of both traditional and up-to-date ways to celebrate, or distract yourself, all around the East Bay and throughout the Bay Area.  

Starting with the ultra-traditional, even revivalistic, real Yuletide stuff, MusicSources (1000 The Alameda, at Marin) has announced its early music supergroup-in-residence, the remarkable quartet Canconier, will perform “Now Is Yool Coming,” festive music of the Middle Ages, 7:30 p. m. Fri., Dec. 16. For ticket info: 528-1685; www.musicsources.org.  

And what would a Bay Area holiday season be without The Revels, the annual celebration in music, song, dance and pageantry of the Winter Solstice, with the audience joining in song and a dance, this year featuring the folklore of 19th-century Bavaria, with Berkeley’s Robert Sicular as Sankt Nikolaus, Friday, Saturday and Sunday matinees and evenings, Dec. 11-20, at the Scottish Rite Theater on Lakeside Drive, by Lake Merritt, Oakland. $12-$50. 452-8000; www.calrevels.org. 

Another, non-European Solstice celebration, Return of the Sun, features Indian, Afro-Peruvian, Mayan and Korean dance with Brenda Wong Aoki’s storytelling, in Noh and Kyogen styles of theater movement, appropriately of the Shinto myth that’s claimed as the origin of Japanese performing arts, the tale of the sun goddess, Amaterasu, wooed from hiding to fill the dark earth with light. Accompanied by musicians led by Mark Izu, Asian American jazz pioneer. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sat. Dec. 5, San Francisco Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. (at Presidio Ave.), San Francisco. $15–$25. 415-292-1233; www.jccsf.org. 

And another perspective on characters familiar to many in biblical story, Moses and the Shepherd, from the great sufi poet Rumi’s Masnavi, staged with Persian and contemporary music, with an accomplished reciter of the Quran in the title role, will be performed at 6 p. m. Dec. 6 at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, a beautiful century-old Moorish-style building at 1433 Madison, near the Main Library in downtown Oakland. $10. 

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir uplifts the spirit with their annual show of gospel and spirituals, under the direction of Terrance Kelly, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5, at the Paramount Theatre on Broadway (near 19th St.), Oakland. $10–$40.  

Also at the Paramount, the annual Let Us Break Bread Together, which brings together the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Michael Morgan conducting, with the Oakland Symphony Chorus, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Mt. Eden High School Choir and klezmer band Kugelplex. $15–$40.  

One more at the Paramount—and cause for holiday rejoicing for fans of ballet: despite Ronn Guidi’s departure, 28 dancers from the Oakland Ballet Co. and Peninsula Ballet Theatre will join forces to dance Carlos Carvajal’s acclaimed version of the holiday classic The Nutcracker to Tchaikovsky’s music on the choreography’s 15th anniversary. Four performances, including matinees, Dec. 24-27. Tickets: $11.25–$50. Paramount Box Office: www. paramounttheatre.org. 

An old holiday treat for the family was watching The Wizard of Oz on TV. Better yet, Berkeley Playhouse has it onstage through Dec. 6 at the Julia Morgan Center, 2640 College Ave. $19–$33. www.berkeleyplayhouse.org. 

An unusual holiday fair, Chaat & Chats, with authors offering autographed books and artists with their work, will be at Taste of Himalayas Restaurant, 1700 Shattuck (at Virginia) 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Dec. 5. www.chaatandchats.com. 

Of course, it only works when you know what you need,” smiles lingerie salesman Jimmy (Jai Sahai), as his sheer, firetruck red wares sparkle in their closet—and will throughout the play. 

“My attitude is this,” explains Valerie (Leontyne Mbele-Mbong), a forlorn African-American accounts-payable clerk, hefting a safari rifle with scope, “if you take the time to really kill something, you want to do it right.”  

Factor in Rose (Elissa Dunn), who tells her best friend Nicole (Cindy Im) about bringing her “escort” to a bullfight (Roy Landaverde as Miguel) on her vacation to Spain back home with her (“But he doesn’t speak English!” Nicole objects, to which Rose sighs, “Isn’t it amazing?”), followed by Nicole’s serial dreams of a shirtless matador Miguel with herself as the bull—and Alicia (Marissa Keltie), a young woman with a grand manner and a big rock she keeps flashing on her left hand, who discovers to her dismay what her “perfect” fiance Stan (Timothy Redmond) wears underneath when she wants him to slip on the polo shirt she bought, so he can join Daddy at the country club (“I never would’ve guessed that’s where you got your swagger!” she later tells him) ... 

And you have the human ingredients for Impact Theatre’s production of their third Steve Yockey (playwright-in-residence at Marin Theatre Company) play, Large Animal Games, a co-premiere with Dad’s Garage Theatre in Atlanta, directed by Impact artistic director Melissa Hillman. 

There are lots of clever plays out there—or plays trying to be clever, even profound—that rehash sitcom material, or insert a thoughtful moment in same, most of them a little bit less theatrical than a rerun of “Friends” (often directed, after all, by veterans of The Committee and other venerable comic theaters), merely performed live, apparently without canned laughter. 

But Large Animal Games is a little bit different—and a lot more enjoyable—than these two-dimensional hybrids. Employing the live stage and its conceits, it expands on an amusing roommate/friend/fiance milieu situation, a pretty typical post-adolescent “aha!” fest, and graces it with a touch of ambiguity, a little fantasy, tweaking the plot and dialogue, letting both—and the actors—stretch a little. 

As Valerie tells the audience how her “be-in-charge” safari gets derailed by an encounter in Kenya with a dewy-eyed gazelle, Jimmy the ubiquitous lingerie salesman breezes into her evocation, helpful as ever, cheerfully intoning “Everybody needs something.” When Valerie protests “Get out of my grassland! You’re ruining my vacation!” he mildly replies, “Is it a grassland? I think it’s a savannah.”  

The cast is right; it’s directed with a light enough touch, and the material is light and smart, up to date—very much in the spirit of Impact’s mission to entertain. 

Large Animal Games 

Presented by Impact Theatre at 8 p.m.  

Thursday–Saturday through Dec. 12  

at La Val’s Subterranean,  

1834 Euclid Ave. $12-$20.  

www.impactheatre.com.