The Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary’s College presents Gifted Hands: the Fine Art of Craft, featuring 90 objects by 15 major contemporary Bay Area artist through December 12. These artists transform glass, textiles, fiber, metal, precious and semi-precious stones, clay, wood, fallen logs, and sea shells into extraordinary works of art. On view are both functional and decorative objects: furniture, wearable art, jewelry, pottery, quilts, turned wooden bowls, and fabric and metal sculpture. The Hearst Art Gallery is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am-4:30pm. Suggested adult donation is $4; free for K-12th grade students and Hearst Art Gallery members.

The Lafayette Gallery is pleased to announce our holiday show, Winter Wonderland. The public is invited to celebrate the season with a festive reception on Friday, December 3rd from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Enjoy the Lafayette Gallery, aglow with inspiration of the holiday season. Lafayette Gallery is a 23 member cooperative at 50 Lafayette Circle in downtown Lafayette. Gallery Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-5pm.

The 45th annual juried fine arts and crafts show and sale at Valley Art Gallery, Walnut Creek opens with a public reception Friday, November 19 from 5 to 8 pm. Located at the Valley Art Gallery, 1661 Botelho Drive. The show features fine crafts from over 50 Bay Area artisans, and an extensive juried selection of jewelry, pottery, woodworking, sculpture and glass items offer unique holiday gift options.

For the month of November, The Moraga Public Library will be exhibiting artwork by Davis, California artist Mary Neri King. Her work consists of bird portraits, landscapes and close-ups of nature in acrylic, watercolor, pastel, graphite and colored pencil. Address: 1500 St. Mary's Road, Moraga. Call (925)376-8294 for hours open.

Sunday Nov 14,The New Rheem Theatre presents the Mike Vax Jack Orchestra Concert and Dance, featuring vocalist Cami Thompson. $20 General Admission, $10-Students at the New Rheem’s box office or www.thenewrheemtheatre.com.

Ten talented pianists of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society will appear Sunday, Nov 14. At this 2pm free concert, the pianists will perform compositions by Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Scott Joplin, Schubert, John Cage and Isaac Albeniz. All are welcome free of charge. Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.

The Fall Concert for the Campolindo Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensembles will be held on Thursday, November 18, at 7:30pm in CPAC at Campolindo High School. The concert is free of charge and open to the entire community, followed by a reception to meet the musicians and enjoy refreshments.

New Century Chamber Orchestra presents 'Waltzing in Appalachia' Thursday, November 18 8-10pm, at the First Congregational Church in Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Featuring Composer Mark O'Connor, accomplished American bluegrass, country and classical fiddler, composer and music teacher joins New Century as soloist. Tickets are 29-49$. For more information go to http://www.ncco.org/1011season/waltzinginappalachia.htm.

On November 19, 20 and 21 dazzling Bay Area pianist Daniel Glover will join the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra to perform Schumann’s Introduction and Allegro appassionato and Chopin’s Polonaise. Sunday, November 21, 7:30pm at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, tickets are $20-28 at the door, for more information call (925) 943-SHOW or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org.

Start the holiday season off with a song! Join us at the annual holiday concert performance by Saint Mary's Colleges' student chorus, the NightinGaels. The program includes selections from the great composers, contemporary artists and holiday favorites. Sunday, November 28, at 2 pm and Monday, November 29, at 8pm at the Chapel, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga.

The Saint Mary's College Student Chamber Musicians, directed by Lino Rivera, Dawn Foster-Dodson and Martin Rokeach will perform vocal and instrumental music from a variety of prestigious composers. Two performances: Tuesday, November 30, at 8 pm, and Wednesday, December 1, at 8pm at the Chapel, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga.

The Saint Mary’s College Performing Arts Department presents a 20th Anniversary production of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize winning "Angels in America" for their fall theatre production. November 11, 12,13, 19 and 20 at 7:30pm; November 14 and 21 at 2pm, in the LeFevre Theatre, Saint Mary’s College, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga, CA. $15 general admission; $12 Saint Mary’s faculty and staff; $8 Saint Mary’s students. For reservations call (925) 631-4670 or www.stmarys-ca.edu/arts. The language and content in the play is frank, adult and unsparing. (See article page 1)

Crisis Hopkins presents Damned for a Limited Time as part of the Town Hall Comedy Series, November 19-20, $25 General Admission. Contact Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925)283-1557, or purchase online at
www.TownHallTheatre.com. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Crisis Hopkins has performed improv and sketch comedy locally and throughout the nation since 2006. Their last big show -- Easy Answers for Hard Times -- was preceded by One Nation Under Crisis the previous year. Crisis Hopkins also produces the Improv Soapbox; and they are the official producers of the San Francisco Improv Festival.

The Miramonte Drama Department presents Mary Zimmerman's "Metamorphoses." This play will be showing on November 17th, 18th and 19th at 7:30 in the Miramonte Theater. Tickets can be purchased online at the MHS Webstore $5 for students and $7 for adults or $8 for students and $10 for adults if purchased at the door.

The family favorite, Scrooge! The Musical returns to Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette this December. The Musical runs December 4 - 19. For tickets and ticket information contact Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557, or purchase online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Why Remembering Matters, Sunday, November 14 at 9am and 10:30am, veterans and active military will be honored during both services and during a reception following services. Veterans will participate in the services and will share stories and memorabilia during the reception. The public is invited to attend this very special Sunday at the Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, 10 Moraga Valley Ln, Moraga. For more information please call (925) 376-4800.

Campolindo High School in Moraga will be the site of a unique 2010 Veterans Day observance. Two memorial plaques will be dedicated to former Campolindo graduates who died in combat while serving our country. The dedication ceremony begins at 3pm at Campolindo and will be followed by a 4pm reception at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial. For more information contact the event coordinator, Tom Gardner, at (925) 285–2087 or tomgardner@comcast.net.

Come and witness the dedication of new Veteran’s Memorial at The Commons, on November 11 at 11am. The dedication will feature a bagpiper, color guards from the Boy Scouts and the Civil War Historical Society, speakers from the Town Council, a Vietnam Veteran, and the Boy Scouts, and an invocation from clergy. The Memorial celebrates those men and women of the armed forces who have given their lives to protect our freedom and cites a poem in their honor.

St. Giles Episcopal Church in Moraga is holding its 2010 Annual Fundraiser Saturday, November 13 at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette. The entertainment for the evening will be local folk-rock group Fender-Cronin, the husband and wife team of David Cronin and Jami Fender-Cronin. The evening is going to have an “Italian Bistro” theme with great food and lots of fun, including a raffle for a week’s stay in a house at Palm Springs, and a silent auction for loads of exciting items. Tickets are $35 before October 25, and $45 after. For tickets (925)376-5770.

The Lamorinda Mom’s 13th Annual Preschool Fair will be held on Tuesday, November 16 from 6:30- 8:30 pm. Representatives from over 35 local preschools will be present to share their programs and philosophies with the public. This is a wonderful timesaving event for parents to gather preschool information at one time and in one location. This event is free and open to the public!

Moraga Parks and Recreation Department is organizing the second exterior home decorating contest. Homes have to be registered no later than November 15. Judging will take place the week of December 13th by the Moraga Women’s Society. Winners will receive a gift certificate from Moraga Hardware/Across the Way and will receive a plaque from the Town. Entry fee is $12.

Moraga Women's Society invites you to a Pampered Chef Party on November 15 at 10:45am. Come join us for a delicious Mandarin Chicken Salad and Mint Chip Brownies. See a live cooking demonstration, and shop for the holidays. At 10am at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St. For more information contact (925)376-3520.

The women of St Mary’s College Guild’s Harvest Luncheon and Fair will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 10:30am in the Soda Center at Saint Mary’s College. A delicious Thanksgiving luncheon will be served and you will have the opportunity to shop for holiday décor, stocking stuffers, jams jellies, hostess baked goodies and candies. All profits go to scholarships for deserving students.

AAUW general meeting on Tuesday, November l6 at the Serbian Cultural Center, l700 School Street, Moraga at 9:30am. Have you ever wished to learn the value of a treasured family heirloom, a garage or thrift shop purchase ? If so, you have an excellent opportunity to realize your dream. A certified appraiser for Clar`s Auction Gallery will view a wide variety of items, excluding furniture or jewelry, which require special equipment. This meeting is free and open to the public and an opportunity for fun you will not want to miss!

The Orinda Woman’s Club cordially invites you to celebrate the holidays at the Festival of Trees on November 18 at 10:30 am. Come enjoy a delicious luncheon and a dazzling fashion show featuring Helen Lyall’s collections. Tickets are $85 and are tax-deductible. For information please call (925)963-6356. We are a non-profit organization providing help to youth and women in need and scholarships for women who need help improving their lives.

Loaves & Fishes presents the Electronic E-waste Collection Fundraiser at the Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Drive, Lafayette. Saturday, November 20, 9am-4pm. The Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa County provides food to families in need. For more information please call (925)890-1324.

"Cycle Recycle," 1307 Larch Ave. in Moraga, all of November 2010. The Prestons are gathering repairable bicycles that will be repaired by inmates at Marsh Creek Detention Facility, and given to local charities. This fall the Preston will collect used bikes for Trips for Kids/Re-cyclery in Marin County and Bike Education Training and Repair in Richmond. They accept used bikes through the entire month of November, dropped on their driveway, and they do not give receipts. For questions email tpreston2004@comcast.net.

The Stratford at Countrywood Hosts the first East Bay Adult Children's Summit. Saturday, November 13 from 9am - 3pm, The Stratford at Countrywood, is hosting a unique summit for younger and older children who are now faced with helping care for their parents. At the daylong Summit, experts from many different areas will speak providing a well-rounded day of information. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Located at the Lafayette Library Community Room.

Are your holidays nutty enough? The Girl Scouts Fall Sale is going on and Girl Scouts are selling nuts and chocolates just in time for the holidays. From November 5 through November 21, local Girl Scouts are selling nuts and candies throughout Lamorinda. Watch for our Girl Scout booths at: CVS-Pharmacy in Moraga/Rheem, Safeway in Orinda and Lafayette, and the Holiday Bazaar at the Orinda Community Center.

The Bethlehem Experience: Performances 5:30-8pm Dec. 10h, 11th, and 12th. This interactive performance takes participants back through time. Tour guides lead groups of about 10 people through the marketplace of Bethlehem on the night of the Messiah’s birth. Tours begin every 15 minutes and take about one hour. The last tour leaves at 8PM, Lafayette United Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. Questions: (925) 284-4765.

GARDEN

Lafayette Garden Club meets every second Thursday monthly, at 9:30am, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Nov 11 Topic is, “LGC Bouquets To Art Exhibitors Do the Holidays.” Our very own talented and inspiring designers from "Bouquets to Art" will share the magic of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day. They will arrange, educate and entertain us. For more information go to petersonb4@aol.com

Moraga Garden Club meeting, November 18, join us for a special lecture and slide presentation by Elizabeth Murray, who as a professional gardener and artist helped restore Monet’s Giverny gardens in the 1980’s. She has returned annually, photographing its beauties and development and will share her insight. Starting at 9:30am, located at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga.

Join the Mt Diable Nursery & Garden in Harry’s House Garden Gift Shop, November 11-14, Thursday, 5-8pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9-5pm, for a champagne reception featuring the Farmyard Darlings and their fabulous finds, holiday cards, and sampling homemade candies.