ART

Moraga Art Gallery's new show, “Beautiful America,” features the oil paintings of gallery member and local Moraga artist Ginny Ruble, as well as guest artist Linda Hanford whose work reflects her love of the nature, landscapes, and seascapes of California. The show runs through June 2.

Saint Mary's College Museum of Art Exhibits: Master Artist Tribute IX: Richard McLean; River of Words Art & Poetry Exhibition; William Keith and the California Oak, 11am - 4:30pm, Wednesday -Sunday through June 10 at the Museum of Art, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Road, Moraga. Cost: Adults $5, Free for K-12 students and Saint Mary's students and faculty.

Town Hall Theater in conjunction with the Lamorinda Arts Alliance is pleased to present a solo show by watercolor artist George Ehrenhaft through May 26.  His landscapes include places near and far - from Lafayette Reservoir to Kathmandu.  The art show is free and can be seen most weekdays after 3pm and before performances at the Town Hall Theater, 3535 School Street, Lafayette. (925) 283-1557. For more information on George Ehrenhaft, visit www.mesart.com/gehrenhaft.

The Oakland Art Association is having a viewing at the Orinda Library in June. There will be a reception from 2- 4pm June 3. The library is located at 26 Orinda Way in Orinda. For more info, call (925) 254-2184.

MUSIC

The Contra Costa Performing Arts (PAS) is having a concert including vocal, chamber and piano classical music May 25 at 10:30am, the Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. This Friday morning’s concert opens with a Poulenc sonata for violin and piano, followed by six songs for the tenor voice. The song composers include Handel, Gluck, Schubert and Schumann. Jan Koetsier's Dresdner Trio for oboe, horn and piano appears next. The program concludes with Debussy piano preludes. Free. For more info, visit www.ccpas.org.

Concert at Orinda Community Church. Gabriel Faure's transcendent and popular Requiem will be performed at 4pm May 27 at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda, by the Chancel Choir and Orchestra under the direction of David Milnes.  The performance will be given in honor of the Reverend Frank and Margaret Baldwin, who are retiring from the church after 14 years of service. Everyone is welcome.  For more info, please call (925) 254-4906.

Lafayette’s Annual Jazz Café will have a fabulous lineup featuring: The Stanley Groove Merchants, The Dominant 7, The Stanley Thundering Herd, The Gypsy Chix, The Stanley Jazz Messengers and The Acalanes Jazz Ensemble. There will be scrumptious food, dessert, coffee, and beverages available for purchase. The event is a fundraiser for the Stanley Middle School Jazz department. There will also be drawings to give away fabulous prizes. The event will be held June 1 at 6pm in the Stanley Middle School Auditorium, 3455 School Street, Lafayette. General Admission $10 per person and children under 6 are free.

Amici Lyric Opera presents soprano, Elena Yakoubovsky, in an encore performance of her praised Russian Album solo recital Friday, June 1, at 7pm, Lafayette Library Hall, 491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Cost: $15 Seniors/Students, $20 General. For tickets and info, call (925) 964 -9994 or visit www.amicilyricopera.com.

Jazz Piano Concert. The Contra Costa Performing Arts Society will perform standards from the Great American Songbook plus original jazz compositions at 8pm June 1, the Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Free. For more info, visit www.ccpas.org or call (925) 939-7465.

David Morales and the hundred-voice Cantare Con Vivo Symphonic Chorale close their Silver Anniversary season with a stunning concert of American music, along with several Spanish songs including Lara’s Granada, as they embark on an international concert tour to Spain. The audience will enjoy marvelous arrangements of folk songs, early American hymns, songs by Ellington, “Fats” Waller, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, African American spirituals and gospel selections. The concert will be performed June 2 at 7:30pm, the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Tickets are $35 General, $30 Senior, $10 Youth. Visit www.cantareconvivo.org or call (510) 836-0789 for tickets.

Celebrate the Evening with Piano Music. Join Oakland East Bay Gay Men's Chorus Interim Artistic Director Stephanie Lynne Smith and Board Member Valdez Hi for a benefit recital sponsored by the Reconciling in Christ Committee June 2 at 6:30pm, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. For more info, visit www.oebgmc.org or call 800-706-2389. Tickets are $20 and up.

Vocal Concert. There will be a concert performed by the winners of a voice competition for high school students. The concert of mainly classical music and sponsored by the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society is scheduled for Tuesday June 5, the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. Free. For more info, visit www.ccpas.org or call (925) 939-7465.

WomenSing's June Concerts. WomenSing will delight choral and classical music fans with their Full Circle concert from 8 to 9:30pm Wednesday, June 6 at Lafayette/Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. For more information please visit www.womensing.org or call (925) 974-9169. Tickets are $25 for premium, $20 for general, $18 for Seniors, $10 Student/Youth.

Piano Concert by the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. The pianist members will perform mainly classical selections June 10 at 2 pm, the Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Free. For more info, visit www.ccpas.org or call (925) 939-7465.

Audition now for the award-winning WomenSing, one of the East Bay’s premier ensembles. WomenSing is holding auditions June 11 by appointment for experienced singers. For more info, visit www.womensing.org or call (925) 974-9169.

THEATER

Company C Contemporary Ballet presents a Spring Program full of energy and romance May 25-27, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek.  Cost: $23-$45. For more info, visit www.companycballet.org or call (925) 708-0752.

Shaw's Classic, Pygmalion. Town Hall Theatre closes out their 2011-2012 Main Stage season with George Bernard Shaw’s classic comedy about class and gender, Pygmalion. Pygmalion runs from June 2-23, with previews on May 31 and June 1. It is rated PG and is approximately two hours long. Tickets are $29 for adults, preview or matinee, $32 for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Seniors and youth $25 for preview or matinee, $29 for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Contact Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557, or purchase online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Wagner Ranch Elementary School proudly presents its annual spring musical, Seussical Jr., Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2. Seussical Jr. is based on the Broadway production that combines the story lines of Dr. Seuss’s most beloved books. Show times are 4pm and 7pm on Friday, June 1, and 3pm and 7pm on Saturday, June 2. Tickets can be purchased at the door or on-line at www.shottix4u.com. The prices are $12 reserved and $9 general seating. For more information, visit www.orindaschools.or/wagnerranch.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Clare Cooper Marcus, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at UC Berkeley, introduces her compelling memoir, Iona Dreaming, May 24 from 7:30-9pm at the Community Hall. If you believe in the importance of an examined life and seek a more authentic life, share an evening with us. Free. Books will be available for sale and signing after the event.

Debunking the War on Terror That Washington Still Wants to Wage with Paul W. Rea, PhD, author of Mounting Evidence, a comprehensive book about 9/11. Potluck from 6- 7pm Thursday, May 24 at the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. Cost is a suggested donation of $20 and a dish to share. For more information please visit www.mtdpc.org or call (925) 933-7850.

Self-Discovery and Aging, Creative Writing Workshop. Write to explore issues around aging, emotion, perception and get support to write on any topic. Workshop sessions include writing prompts, feedback, encouragement, and information May 28 and June 11 from noon - 2pm at the Lafayette Community Center in the Elderberry Room. Sessions are $1 for Members and $3 for Non-Members.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Understanding Public Employee Pensions – a presentation by Dan Borenstein about the problems of public-employee pension funding. At this event Borenstein will explain the inner-workings of these retirement plans, delving into how they are financed and why they are leaving billions of dollars of debt for our children to pay. The event is Thursday, June 21 at 7pm, the Orinda Library Auditorium, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. Free.

The Half Price Book Sale will be held Saturday, May 29, from 9am-5pm at the Friends Corner Book Shop at the corner of First and Golden Gate in Lafayette

Friends of the Orinda Library Book Sale Thursday, June 7 from 10am -1pm in the sorting room and book shop, Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. Funds raised are used for books, other library materials, and programs. For more info, call (925) 254-1358.

Orinda Books Event:  Marty Brounstein will discuss and sign copies of his new book, a remarkable true story, Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust, Saturday, June 9, Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda. For more info, visit www.orindabooks.com or contact Janet Boreta at (925) 254-7606.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Family Activity Day & Open House at Roughing It Day Camp. This is a great opportunity for new families to see our site and try some camp activities Saturday, June 2 at 10am, 3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. For more info, visit www.roughingit.com or call (925) 283-3795.

POISE Family Park Day:  Orinda families who have a child in Special Education can enjoy an afternoon of friendship and fun! Meet other families and reconnect with friends, while the kids run and play Sunday, June 3, 2:30-4:30pm, Dalewood Park, Orinda (Corner of Dalewood Dr./Sundown Terrace).  Please bring your own snacks, drinks and a blanket. No RSVP needed.  For questions or suggestions, e-mail       cabennett_98@yahoo.com or visit www.orindapoise.org.

OTHER

Synchronized Swimming. Walnut Creek Aquanuts will be performing Celebration of Champions Saturday, June 16 from 5- 8 pm at Heather Farm Park, Clarke Memorial Swim Center. Tickets are available at the door for $15. For more info, visit www.aquanuts.org.

Anne Randolph Workshop. Anne Randolph, RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 32 years. Learn how improving posture and muscle strength can reduce or eliminate pain altogether. The workshop is May 25 from 11:30am to 12:30pm at the Lafayette Community Center in the Sequoia Room. Please call (925) 284-5050 to register. The cost is $1 for Members and $3 for Non-Members.

Tikkun Leyl Shavuot. A community-wide celebration and night of learning from teachers of the Bay Area Jewish community presented by JCC of the East Bay May 26 – 27, 6:15pm until dawn at JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley. For more info, visit              www.jcceastbay.org/events/2012/05/26/jewishlife/tikkun-leyl-shavuot/ or call (510) 229-8993. Free.

Stage Your Home Like a Pro. Get tips and inspiration on how to turn any room into a showroom. Learn the tricks of professional home stagers. Get planning help, ideas, and resources on home improvement. There will be a presentation Tuesday, May 29 from 10:30am to noon at the Lafayette Community Center in the Elderberry Room. The cost is $1 for Members and $3 for Non-Members. Please call (925) 284-5050 to sign up.

"Saving Orinda's Oldest Treasure." There will be a presentation by Kent Long on the progress and challenges related to preserving the oldest building in the county, the Joaquin Moraga Adobe May 30 at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Free. For more info, call (925) 254-8444.

Find Your Perfect Match at Maddie’s® Matchmaker Adoptathon. Visit ARF on June 9 and 10 when puppies, kittens, dogs and cats all go home with no adoption fees, and ARF receives a grant of at least $500 from Maddie’s Fund® for each qualifying adoption - helping us rescue even more! Limit of two adoptions per household; standard adoption criteria apply. Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek; phone (925) 256-1273.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k Walk Saturday, June 16. Registration 8am; walk at 9am., Heather Farm Park, Walnut Creek. How Far is it? 5k equals about 3 miles. For more info, or to register visit http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/walnutcreek.

Theater View Veterinary Clinic open house June 16, 3-5pm, 1 Bates Blvd., Orinda. Receive free heartworm tests (for the first 90 visitors), free nail trims for dogs and cats, and treats for pets and their people.

Lamorinda Dogs Off Leashed Party Saturday, June 2, 6pm, Rancho Laguna Park, Moraga. Please bring a dish to share, a beverage to enjoy and a dog waste bag to clean up after your dog.

eWaste & Documents for Shredding Fundraiser for Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County. This is an event for recycling and shredding from 9am-10 pm June 16 at the Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Drive, Lafayette. Cost: $5 fee for certain items and $8 for shredding per Bankers Box. For more info, visit www.ctrecycling.net or call (510) 352-2665.

Motorama World of Wheels. Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary is presenting Lafayette's premiere auto show. See classic cars, bikes, and motorcycles Sunday, June 17 from 9am to 4pm at the Clock Tower and Bank of the West parking lots on Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. There will be food, beverages, raffles, car swag, live entertainment, and more. For more info, visit www.motorama.us. Free.

Loaves and Fishes first Annual Event “Food for Thought” summer garden party Sunday, June 24 from 2-5pm, Hacienca de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga. $50 per person. Food prepared and served by renowned East Bay’s chefs as well as live and silent auctions.  All proceeds from this event will benefit Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County, a local agency that has been providing hot nutritious meals for those in need since 1983. To purchase tickets, visit www.loavesfishescc.org and click on Register~Food for Thought or call (925) 687-6760.

CLUBS

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the first Wednesday monthly (social hour at 11am; lunch at noon) at Holy Trinity Culture Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. The next after-lunch speaker will be Tapan Monrose whose topic will be "The Economy as Seen by Tapan.” Monrose usually covers issues relating to our nation, state, and personal finances. For more info, contact Larry at (925) 631-9528.