ART

Lamorinda Arts Alliance Open Studios. Once a year, the works of this diverse group of artistic talent can be seen concentrated in a few locations: at the Lamorinda Arts Alliance Open Studios, which will be held this year at nine locations in the Lamorinda area. The work of 29 artists will be available for viewing and for sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19 - 20. The 2013 Open Studios event will kick-off with a reception and showing of selected artwork at the Orinda Library from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. Come and sample some delicious wines and cheeses, meet and talk to the artists, and decide where to go to see more of their work over the weekend. Website: www.laa4art.org/openstudios.

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art’s current exhibits include:  “Points of View” with en plein air painters Mary Lou Correia and Paul Kratter through Sept. 29;   “Afterglow”, featuring installation, video, painting, sculpture, and photography; “Surface: Transformative Photography from Nevada and the Great Basin”  with vividly colored and abstracted desert detritus and desolate but eerily beautiful abandoned mine interiors by photographer Lee Saloutos. Admission: $5 adults, K-12 free. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For info, call (925) 631-3379 or visit www.stmarys -ca.edu/saint-marys-college-museum-of-art.

Local artist Marianne Brown, who has taught watercolor in Lamorinda for 40 years, will be honored by two student artists, Orinda artist Jenifer Kolkhorst, who studied with Brown for 25 years, and San Francisco artist Diane Goldstein who also studied with Brown, at a special exhibit featuring the three artists’ non-objective and abstract watercolor paintings, and acrylics through Sept. 30 at the Orinda Library Art Gallery. Emanuel Rosenheim, a lifelong painter/ceramicist who has taught for many decades in the area, will also show his works in cases at the gallery.

The Moraga Art Gallery’s new show entitled “Indian Summer,” highlighting ceramics by resident artist Donna Arganbright, and jewelry by guest artist Terri Durkovic. The show runs through Oct. 26 at 522 Center Street, Rheem Shopping Center, Moraga. Free. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, email moragaartgallery@gmail.com or call (925) 376-5407.

The America’s Cup challenge is here, and to help the Bay Area celebrate, the Lafayette Gallery is hosting a new exhibition titled “Making Waves” running through October. Themed around water and sailing, the new show links to the “Impressionists on the Water” exhibition currently at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, as well as to the magnificent sight of the AC-72 catamarans foiling across the Bay at 50 knots! The exhibit features not only art in oil, acrylic, watercolor, monotypes and mixed media, but also a wide variety of photographs, jewelry, ceramics and prints for every style of décor and budget. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. from 5 p.m.; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MUSIC

The 3rd Annual Orinda Jazz Festival, a benefit for the Orinda Arts Council, is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Orinda Library Auditorium and Courtyard. The star-studded event will include Jason Marsalis from New Orleans, Claudia Villela from Brazil, Mads Tolling from Denmark, the Los Angeles-based Brian Kinler Band, and local favorites Carol Alban, Bob Athayde, Rhonda Burnett Benin, and others. Free music workshops for the community. For details, visit www.orindajazzfestival.org.

A stunning Steinway grand piano appeared in Saint Mary’s Chapel in June, a gift from Saint Mary’s alums Sandra and William Feaster of Half Moon Bay. To inaugurate the instrument, a concert will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 in the chapel featuring faculty and student performances, including solo piano, voice and piano, cello and piano, small chamber music ensembles, a jazz trio and the SMC Chamber Singers and Glee Club. A reception will follow the concert. A suggested $50 donation will benefit the travel fund of the SMC Glee Club and Chamber Singers as they compete in the World Choir Games in Latvia. Free to SMC students.

Free music in Downtown Pleasant Hill at the Pleasant Hill Chamber’s 11th Annual Art, Jazz & Wine Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7. Fun for the entire family. Music both days with a variety of bands. Stroll down Crescent Drive and visit many fine arts and crafts booths, restaurants, food vendors, wineries, and microbreweries. Bring the kids for activities and entertainment for the entire family! For more info, visit www.pleasanthillchamber.com.

Lamorinda Community Drumming for Seniors from 11 a.m. to noon on the second Monday of each month at Lamorinda Music, 81 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Drumming has been used for centuries to improve health, create community and provide opportunity for creative expression. No prior musical experience necessary. Instruments will be provided or bring your own drum or personal percussion instrument. Wheelchair accessible, all are welcome. Cost: optional donation, no one turned away. For more info, email community.drumming.seniors@gmail.com or call Colleen at Lamorinda Music: (925) 385-0963.

THEATER

Town Hall Theatre presents “The Rainmaker” by N. Richard Nash directed by Derrick Silva through Oct. 5.  Show times and ticket information can be found at www.thtc.org or by calling the box office at (925) 283-1557 or by stopping the theater at 3535 School St in Lafayette. (See story page Bx)

Role Players Ensemble presents Peter Shaffer’s “Lettice and Lovage,” a funny look at the value of friendship and storytelling. Shows start at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays from Oct. 18 to Nov. 9 at the Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville. Tickets: $20-28; online at www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com; at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, Danville; or call (925) 312-3400.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Be the Star You Are!® booth sponsored by The Lamorinda Weekly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Pear and Wine Festival in Moraga. Enjoy writing activities with the young writers of Teen Scene, pick up potpourri and books from Digging Deep columnist, Cynthia Brian. Fun for the whole family. For info, visit http://starstyleradio.com/Events/Entries/2013/9/28_Pear_Festival_2013.html.

OTHER

The Orinda office of Prudential California Realty has set aside Friday, Sept. 27 to staff the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano food barrels at Safeway in Orinda and Lafayette. Prudential team members will also be accepting contributions at the South Broadway and Rossmoor Safeway locations in Walnut Creek. The barrels will be available for several days after Sept. 27 to allow local residents ample time to make donations of nutritious, non-perishable food items. The items of highest priority are peanut butter, hearty soups, canned poultry, meat and tuna, canned ready-to-eat meals, canned fruit in juice, 100-percent fruit juice, canned vegetables, canned tomato products, brown rice, enriched rice, whole wheat pasta, and whole grain cereal. Please note that no expired items or glass containers may be collected. For further info, contact the Prudential Orinda office at (925) 258-4088.

Moraga Pear and Wine Festival. This family event includes music, artists’ booths, a pear cooking contest, and children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Moraga Commons. Local bands will provide entertainment during the afternoon. A limited quantity of fabulous pear pies will be sold; whole or by the slice.

Everyone’s welcome at the 19th Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church, 501 Moraga Way, Orinda.  There will be games, food, live entertainment, folk dancing, crafts and Middle Eastern Heritage exhibits and discussions.  Cost: $2 for adults; children under 12 free. For info, visit  www.stjohnorinda.org  or call (925) 258-4255.

Explore an intimate view of John Muir and celebrate National Public Lands Day during a special presentation by Robert Hanna, John Muir’s great-great-grandson, at the John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. Hanna will describe and uncover the many sides of Muir through family stories and never before seen photographs and writings. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. For more info and to make a reservation, call the John Muir NHS at (925) 228-8860.

Bring the whole family for fun and exercise at the 4th Annual Walk n’ Roll event from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 to support Las Trampas programs. Walk, Run or Roll 1 mile or 5k along the Lafayette-Moraga trail, starting and ending back at Las Trampas for coffee, snacks, carnival games, entertainment and more. Check it out at www.lastrampas.org to get your t-shirt, goodie bag, prizes from 92.1KKDV games, Dryers ice cream and free raffle ticket with entry fee. It’s going to be a great morning for a great cause.

E-waste & Shredding Collection/Fundraiser for Juvenile Hall Auxiliary from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 100 Glacier Drive at The Hall Closet, Martinez. Free to recycle televisions, monitors, laptops, cell phones, flat screens & wires. Fee:  $5 per item to recycle: stereos, telephones, CPU’s, printers, DVD players, radios, fax machines, small appliances, and similar items. Fee for microwaves: $15-30. Personal and business secured document disposal is also provided for $8 per banker’s box.  For info, call (510) 590-7510

Lafayette Creek Day. Creek clean-up and invasive plant removal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at Leigh Creekside Park in Lafayette (corner of Moraga Blvd. and 4th St.). Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, long pants and sleeves, sunscreen or hat and bring work gloves and refillable water bottle. All participants must sign a “release of liability” form. Presentations by creek and native plant experts at noon; information booths will be open all day. Email    lafayette.creeks@gmail.com for more info.

To mark a decade of volunteer service to the people of Contra Costa County, Parents for a Safer Environment, and co-sponsor, The Town of Moraga, will be presenting the community with a series of the most practical, cost-effective and least toxic pest control alternative demonstrations on the gorgeous grounds of the historical Hacienda de las Flores in Moraga from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. Cost: $10 for each of the six, one-hour demos or $50 for the entire day. (Half-off for additional registrants from public agencies, non-profits, or businesses with six or fewer staff.) Organic, gourmet lunch available with pre-orders. For info, contact: Susan JunFish, Parents for a Safer Environment, (925) 283-4609; susan@pfse.net or Lysle Buchbinder, Parents for a Safer Environment, (510) 526-7541, lysle@pfse.net.

Unlocking the Key to Cures for ALS, Parkinson, and Alzheimer’s Diseases – Paul Alan Cox, Ph.D. will update audience members on this exciting research, current human trials, and the background that led the way to this innovative approach at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Orinda Country Club. For more info, visit www.ethnomedicine.org.

“Crime After Crime.” Come be inspired by this acclaimed and riveting documentary about the dramatic fight by Orinda attorney, Nadia Costa, and her colleague, Joshua Safran, to secure the freedom of Deborah Peagler, a victim of domestic violence who was coerced by prosecutors into accepting a life sentence following the 1983 murder of her abuser by local gang members. A wine and cheese reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 prior to the film screening, which will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by ABC7 News Anchor, Cheryl Jennings. Location: Orinda Library Auditorium, 28 Orinda Way, Orinda. Tickets: $20. Funds raised will benefit area domestic violence prevention and response services:              www.eventbrite.com/event/8097781683.  (See story page B3)

Creative Writing Workshop series at Orinda Library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, and Nov. 7 and 14 in Library Gallery Room.  This 6-week series led by author and writing instructor, Jessica Barksdale Inclan, is free and open to the public. Preregistration required by visiting ccclib.org or register at the Orinda Library information desk, (925) 254-2184

Healthcare Reform discussion presented by: James A. Holt, RHU, REBC. Free information seminars at the Lafayette Library in October. Topics include: What is Covered California? Grandfathered vs. Non-grandfathered plans; Tax Credits – Individual and Small Business; Changes Starting Jan. 1, 2014; and How Will My Health Plan Be Affected? from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. For reservations, call (925) 280-8700.

Olive Festival for the historic Olive Grove from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at the Wagner Ranch Nature Area, 350 Camino Pablo and Bear Creek Road (next to Wagner Ranch Elementary) in Orinda.  Bring the family for arts, crafts, and games, taste olives and a variety of olive oils and see local chefs demonstrating olive recipes.  For more info, visit www.fwrna.org.

Blessing of the Animals: Celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis at 11 a.m. after the service in the Saint Mary’s College Chapel Plaza on Sunday, Oct. 6. Bring your hamsters, gerbils, dogs, cats, birds, fish, ferrets, lizards, rabbits, horses, and ANY other animal friend for a special Saint Francis Day blessing hosted by Saint Giles’ Episcopal Church, worshiping in Saint Mary’s College Chapel, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road Moraga. www.stgiles-moraga.org.

Serbian Food Festival will feature authentic Serbian cuisine and pastries from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. with a special feature of barbecued ox, music and dancing at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. For info, call (925) 376-6850.

Join the Oktoberfest celebration from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga. An “oompah” band and authentic German food and beverages will liven up the action at this fundraiser for the Hacienda Foundation. There will be pumpkin painting and games for children. Cost: $5 per adult; children 12 and under free. Free parking and shuttle from AAAAA Storage on Moraga Road. For info, contact Claire Roth at (925) 376-1686.

Performers for Progress: BuildOn. Miramonte High School’s fall show at 7 p.m. Oct. 17-18 will benefit BuildOn, an organization aimed at enhancing education and empowering youth in the U.S. to make a positive difference in their communities, while helping people in developing countries increase their self reliance through education. BuildOn is breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

Screening of “Speaking in Tongues,” an award-winning film about bilingual education follows four diverse kids on a journey to become bilingual will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 at the New Rheem Theatre, Moraga. This charming story will challenge you to rethink the skills that Americans need to succeed in the 21st century. Panel discussion to follow the film. Tickets: $12 in advance at www.casabilingue.org/events; $15 at door, space permitting. Event sponsored by Casa Bilingüe Spanish Immersion School. Questions? Email info@casabilingue.org.

GARDEN

The Walnut Creek Garden Club (WCGC) will hold its October general meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14 at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Rd., Walnut Creek. The program will be presented by Leslie Bennett and Stephani Bittner, owners of Star Apple: Edible and Fine Gardening, who create aesthetically-designed organic edible gardens, and authors of “The Beautiful Edible Garden” www.starappleediblegardens.com. The meeting is open to the public. Guests and those interested in membership are welcome.

The Orinda Garden Club invites you to enjoy “A Feast from the Forests & Fields,” featuring Kevin Feinstein, author, teacher and foraging expert at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Orinda Library Auditorium. Kevin’s presentation will focus on Contra Cost County. Coffee will be served at 10 a.m. prior to the program.