150 Years after the Civil War an NEH-sponsored exhibition, Lee and Grant, will be on view from Sunday, Jan. 30 through Sunday, Mar. 20 at The Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. The museum is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am to 4:30pm. Adult admission is $4; admission is free for K-12th grade students and Hearst members. A lecture by Dr. Guarneri, "'Only a Question of Time and Patience': An Inside View of Grant's Campaign against Lee," will highlight opening day programs on Sunday, January 30, which will include displays by members of the National Civil War Association [NCWA] in period costume. A battlefield re-enactment, featuring nearly one hundred NCWA volunteers, is planned for Saturday, March 19, on the Saint Mary’s College campus. Information: (925) 631-4379.

The Lafayette Gallery is presenting the Heart Throb Exhibit. There will be a “meet the artists” reception from 6:30-8:30pm on Friday, February 4. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm. Located at 50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Admission is free. For more information please call (925) 284-2788 or go to www.lafayettegallery.net.

The Moraga Art Gallery’s new show, 2 plus 2 = 1, shorthand for “Two Artists, Two Visions: A Singular Experience,” The exhibit brings together paintings in various media by Orinda’s Beryl Glen-Reiland and watercolors by Moraga’s George Ehrenhaft. The gallery is located at the Rheem Shopping Center, 570 Center Street, Moraga. For more information call (925) 376-5407.

The Performing Arts Society's morning concert for January will feature 20th century composers. Friday, January 28 10:30am, located at the Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd. For more information please contact www.ccpas.org.

Pianist Gary Neuman will appear at Petar’s pub on Lafayette Circle for an open mic event from 8-10pm on Wednesday, January 26 for a piano bar sing-along. This is a revival of an old Petar's tradition and is a great way to meet new friends or connect with old friends.

The Gold Coast Chamber Players present: Harmony and Melody a celebration of Black History Month. Saturday January 29 at 7:30pm and Sunday January 30 at 2pm. General admission is 30$. For more information please call, (925) 283-3728. See story

Campolindo Jazz Dinner Dance featuring the Campolindo High Jazz Band, is coming up on Saturday, February 26 at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette. Miles Lindheimer, Mat Fukano and Matt Reshke will be leading our two combos - the Impro-Visors and the Jazz-Manian Devils - who will make you want to dance the night away! Good food and great company, too! Tickets are $55 ($60 after February 7) and on sale now. Visit www.campomusic.org or contact Diane Haley, 631-1439.

Campolindo Orchestra Winter Concert on Thursday, February 24 at 7:30 in the CPAC. This will be a benefit concert with the proceeds to assist the Campolindo Orchestra's trip to Beijing. Featuring violinist Jeremy Cohen, a three-time Grammy nominee, and Barry Green with his Green Man Bass Group as guest artists. An evening of great music not to be missed! Tickets are $10 only and on sale now. Call 270-8083 to reserve your ticket. More information on website www.campomusic.org.

2010 Grammy award winning Pacific Boychoir Academy and the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation present “A Magical, Musical Afternoon” on Sunday, January 23rd at 4:30pm at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Company C Contemporary Ballet opens its 2010-2011 Season in Walnut Creek on Saturday, January 22, at 8pm, at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Company C opens its season with two world premieres and two company premieres full of athleticism and theatrical intensity. Cost is $18-$40. For more info see http://www.companycballet.org or call (925) 708-0752.

The Saint Mary's January Term's Children's Theater presents: A staged adaptation of the classic Grimm Brothers story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Performances on Wednesday, January 26 at 7pm. and Thursday, January 27 at 4pm.
Where: LeFevre Theater, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Tickets: Only $8.00, available by calling (925) 631-4670 or e-mailing Sharon Cahill at scahill@stmarys-ca.edu.

California Independent Film Festival 2011 will open Friday, January 28 and will run through Thursday, February 3 at The New Rheem Theatre in Moraga. For the complete CAIFF 2011 line up go to www.caiff.org. Tickets for all of the films and showcases are available online at the CAIFF website or at the theater. Advance purchase is advised for the opening night screening of The 5th Quarter, the Slate Awards, and closing night film, Mayor Cupcake. See article

The new International Film Showcase is coming to the Orinda Theatre. For seven days each month we will screen a feature film that has never been released commercially in the Bay Area. Gala premier opening of “Max Manus,” Norway’s 2009 best film award and Oscar submission, starts on January 28. For more information call (925) 283-1700.

“Reform or Bust? The True Cost of Public Pensions”: The Commonwealth Club’s panel of experts will share their views on whether pension reform is needed in California and how it should be done. Location: Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Date: January 25. Time: 5:45pm check-in, 6:30pm program. Cost: $12 members, $22 non-members, $7 students. For tickets go to commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705.

Real Stories presents Real Stories: 'Out On a Limb'. True stories about risk & chance, Wednesday, Jan 26, from 7:30pm to 9:15pm, at 1515 Restaurant Lounge, 1515 N Main St, Walnut Creek. $15 at the door, $10 in adv. online. For more info see http://www.KayDeMartini.com or call (925) 683-9800.

SMC Jan Term Speaker Series: Tuesday, January 25 at 7 pm Robert B. Reich, the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and former U.S. Secretary of Labor, will explain why it’s so difficult for us to get out of the gravitational pull of the Great Recession and why American politics is becoming angrier and more polarized. In his view, the two are related. Professor Reich’s most recent book is the bestseller “Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future.” He blogs at www.robertreich.org. Soda Activity Center, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga.
A book sale will be held from 10am-1pm, Feb 3, in the Friends Sorting Room located downstairs from the Orinda Library. This monthly sale offers quality
books for all interests and all ages. Orinda Library, 24 Orinda Way, Orinda (925)254-1358.

The Contra Costa Jewish Day School invites prospective families to an Open House for Kindergarten - 8th grade on Sunday, January 23, 3-5pm, at the school, 3836 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette (next to Temple Isaiah). Childcare will be provided. The Open House provides an opportunity to learn more about the school, meet the faculty, visit the classrooms and speak to current families. For further information and to RSVP please contact Amy Wittenberg, Admissions Director at (925)284-8288 or amyw@ccjds.org or visit www.ccjds.org.

Ever wish you could have at your fingertips the wisdom of experienced moms to help you navigate the middle school years with your daughter? Here’s the next best thing: "How to Raise a Strong, Independent Daughter and Survive"-True Confessions of Mothers of Daughters”, a Q&A with a panel of local moms who did. They will share their strategies, dilemmas and successes raising their own daughters in the Walnut Creek/Lamorinda Community. January 26, from 7-8:30pm at Walnut Creek Intermediate School.

St. Perpetua School is celebrating 47 years of service and education to the Lamorinda community. Grades K-8 open house tours are Sunday January 30, and Monday January 31. They are also are currently accepting applications for the 2011-2012 school year. Call 284-1640 or visit www.stperpetua.org for more information.

On Saturday, February 5 at 3:00 pm, two storytellers will spin Asian tales at the Orinda Library to welcome in the Year of the Rabbit. Clara Yen has been telling stories to the families of the Bay Area for more than twenty years. The stories are ones she remembered hearing while growing up in a Chinese family, and other folk and fairy tales that she has discovered over the years. Megumi also has a vast repertoire of Japanese folk tales. This event is free and appropriate for families. It takes place in the auditorium of the Orinda Library, which is at 26 Orinda Way.

The Contra Costa/Alameda County Widowed Persons Support Group is offering grief support meetings for the recently widowed. These sessions are run by widowed people. The meetings will be Saturday’s from January 15-February 19 from 10:00am to noon. They are held at St. Stevens Church, 66 St. Stevens Dr., Orinda. You need not attend all sessions. Just come when you can. No reservation needed. For questions, please contact Penny Robb at (510) 654-0974.

The Lamorinda Republican Women, Federation club, is holding a luncheon meeting, Thursday January 20, at the Orinda Country Club, 315 Camino Sobrante. The special guest speaker is Jason Clemens of the Pacific Research Institute, Director of Research and Strategic Planning and Budgeting. The topic will be “The 10 Keys to Returning California to Prosperity.” $25 luncheon or $15 program only (no meal).

On February 12th and 13th, “Wine & Chocolate Weekend” takes place throughout Lodi Wine Country at over 40 participating wineries from 11am to 4pm each day. Event attendees will have the opportunity to travel from winery to winery while taking in each of the winery’s hosted activities such as wine and chocolate pairings, live music, barrel tasting and cellar tours. Ticket prices are $45 in advance or $55 during the event and are available at www.lodiwineandchocolate.com or by calling the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center at (209) 365-0621.

Montelindo Club general meeting and speakers are every third Friday of the month, September through May. Meetings take place at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Refreshments and plant and garden accessory sale at 9am, meeting at 9:30, and speaker at 10:30. The meeting is free and welcomes guests and new members. www.montelindogarden.com.

Moraga Garden Club meets at 9:30am every third Thursdays monthly through May. On January 20, join us for a presentation by botanical artist and Filoli instructor Catherine Watters. Watters paints in watercolor on paper and vellum in a style that is filled with breath-taking grace. Her illustrations appear in five books. She will speak about the history of botanical art. Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga. Membership: Linda (925) 376-2809.

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center, 1700 School St. Moraga. Social hour 11am, lunch 12 pm. On Feb 2, the after lunch speaker will be Jay Gaskill, former Alameda County Public Defender, whose talk will be entitled Thugologh 101. He will share insights from three decades of experience working with the criminal population especially those considered thugs. He will be taking a wide range of questions pertaining to criminal activity and what we might do about it. For membership information, call Larry at (925) 631-9528.

Lafayette Partners in Education (formerly LASF) is hosting a Crab Feed on Friday, January 28, from 6:30 - 9:30pm at Veterans Memorial Building in Lafayette to celebrate our schools, our community, our children. Evening includes Cocktail Hour, Host Bar, Dinner, Dessert Silent Auction and Raffles. $55 per person includes dinner and hosted bar. Join us and enjoy a great time with friends and neighbors

Knights of Columbus Council #7683 16th will be held January 29, in Saint Monica’s Peace Room in Moraga. Appetizers and no-host cocktails will be served starting at 6pm. Dinner will be served at 7:30. Our raffle with many exciting gifts follows dinner. Tickets are $50 and must be bought or reserved in advance. For more information call (925)283-3679.

Crab Feed & Dance, Saturday, February 5, 6-11pm, Holy Trinity Cultural Center,
1700 School Street, Moraga. Music provided by popular DJ. Dinner & Dance $37.50; Dance only $10. For non-crab lovers: Chicken available by special advance order request. Dinner tickets MUST be purchased in advance. For info & reservations call (925) 672-6799.

Soroptimist International of 24-680’s annual Crab Feed & silent auction, Saturday February 12, 5:30 pm, Lower Court Oakwood Athletic Club, Lafayette, $40 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Soroptimist International’s mission is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. For tickets & information: (925) 285-7797 or si24-680@soroptimist.net.