ART

Lafayette Art Gallery’s current exhibit “Trending” will be open through  May 2, with a free reception from 5 to 7p.m. Friday, April 10. The Gallery is located at The Forge, 3420 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.  Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.  Closed on Monday.  For more info, call (925) 284-2788 or visit www.lafayetteartgallery.com. 

Bedford Gallery’s next exhibition, “The Object and the Void: West Coast Metal Sculpture,” will run through April 12. This show gathers works from renowned artists Bella Feldman, Linda Fleming, Yoshitomo Saito and Clay Jensen. The exhibition will feature both large and small scale works, made using techniques from cast bronze to cut steel, demonstrating the artists’ masterful command of their media.

The Moraga Art Gallery announces a new show entitled “Transitions” featuring the one-of-a-kind, Asia-accented jewelry of Lafayette’s own master jeweler K. de Groot, and a collection of Raku and pit-fired pottery by guest artist Mary Leigh Miller of Moraga. The show opens April 18 and will run until May 30. The public is invited to attend an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 to see the exhibit, have some wine, meet the artists, and enjoy the company of other Lamorinda art lovers.

MUSIC

Pacific Chamber Symphony presents “An Italian Feast” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. The Orchestra’s 26th season closes with Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf’s Symphony No. 1 in C, “The Four Ages of Man” and Felix Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony No. 4 with Ron Blais, trumpet soloist. Tickets $10-35 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 1 (800) 838-3006.

WomenSing presents Treble Voices Now New Music Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. WomenSing and Quinteto Latino present the first public reading of a jointly commissioned new work by Jose-Luis Hurtado. Free. For more info, go to http://womensing.org/concerts/current-season/ or call (925) 798-4875 or email info@womensing.org.

Pianopalooza!  At 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26, three Bay Area pianists – David Olachea, Randy Creighton and Martin Morley – present the finest in piano literature on an outstanding 9-foot concert grand on loan from Oakland’s Piedmont Piano Company. Works by Chopin, Alkan, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Ravel, Ginastera, Gershwin and Creighton. Free. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Concert Series, 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette. For info, visit www.oslc.net or call (925) 283-3722.

WomenSing’s Choral Composers Symposium and Workshop. Words into Music Symposium Friday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saint Mary’s College (Hagerty Lounge), Moraga, and the Youth Inspiring Youth Composers Workshop, Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Lafayette Events Center, Lafayette. The choral composition panel features composers Libby Larsen and Sandra Milliken, poet Francisco Alarcon and conductor Martin Benvenuto. Free, reservations required. For luncheon or panel discussion time reservations, email info@womensing.org no later than Wednesday, April 25. For more info, visit www.womensing.org or call (925) 974-9169 or email info@womensing.org.

Fifth Annual Lafayette Community Music Festival - Town Hall’s signature acoustic music event – at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2. This year’s line up: Other People’s Money, Mark Stanley From Rock Island, Pat Nevins, Kiki Stack’s All-Stars, Clive Worsley & Friends, Mike Miller. Tickets: $30 advance; $35 at the door.

Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble, directed by Anne Hege, presents “Women with a Vision: The Lasting Influence of Hildegard von Bingen and Nadia Boulanger,” a concert celebrating the roles that two great female composers have played in shaping the course of music and the trajectory of new music at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at St. Perpetua Catholic Parish, 3445 Hamlin Rd. Lafayette. Tickets: $25 suggested donation at the door; $20 advance; $15 students. For advanced tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com or www.vocisings.com. For info, call (510) 531-8714.

Maestro David Morales and The Cantare Con Vivo Chamber Ensemble join with the renowned Bay Area instrumental ensemble Quijeremá for Music of Latin America May 6 at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. The audience will be treated to a concert filled with stirring selections from various South and Central American countries, the Caribbean Islands and Mexico. The history of a great people that dominate our hemisphere will come alive through their music, narration and pictures. Tickets: $25 General, $20 Senior, $10 Youth. For tickets visit www.cantareconvivo.org or call the CCV office at (510) 836-0789.

THEATER

Crosslight Theater will kick off its first production since being formed in January 2015 by the merger of Contra Costa Christian Theater and Center Stage of Diablo Valley with “Seussical the Musical” for seven shows over two weekends in April at Walnut Creek’s Del Valle Theater, located at 1630 Tice Valley Blvd.  This imaginative, energetic, engaging production features the singing, dancing and acting talents of 30 local actors and is sure to delight adults and children alike. For tickets and showtimes visit www.crosslighttheater.org or www.lesherartscenter.org.

The Acalanes DramaDons present “The Rimers of Eldritch,” directed by Ed Meehan. The highly imaginative and affecting drama, with a political bite, runs at 7 p.m. April 29 and 30, and May 1 and 2 in the Acalanes Performing Arts Center Little Theatre. Advance ticket sales available through the AHS Web store and on campus during lunch. Limited ticket sales are available at the door. All proceeds benefit Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters-Drama. Tickets: $10 adults; $7 students and seniors. For more info, visit http://dramadons.org/.

“Shrek The Musical JR” at Orinda Intermediate School, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. April 30 and May 1 and 5 p.m. May 2 at 80 Ivy Drive, Orinda. Ticket prices range from $3 - $10 and are available for advance purchase at www.showtix4u.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door.  (See story page B9)

The Acalanes High School DramaDons theater group presents “Hamlet,” a fast-paced adaptation of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy by Bay Area playwright/director Jon Tracy explores the bonds of youth and the influence that their elders exert on them, May 2-5, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10 general; $7 students/seniors at www.dramadons.org or at the door.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

First Friday Forum will feature Ken Wiseman, executive director of the Parks Forward Commission speaking on “Parks Forward: A New Project to Protect State Parks in California” at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 10 in the Sanctuary of Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette (second Friday because of Good Friday) with refreshments at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Free.

Documentary Photographer Matt Herron will speak at Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda, at 11:30 a.m. and again at 2:30 p.m. April 12 about his experience covering the Civil Rights movement in the Deep South during the summer of 1964. Herron, a photojournalist since 1962 covered the struggle for Life, Look, Time, Newsweek, and the Saturday Evening Post magazines, and also provided pictures for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. His recent book, “Mississippi Eyes,” documents the process of social change in the South. Free.  For more info, call (925) 254-8754.

The Storytelling Association of California (http://www.storysaac.org) presents a family friendly festival of oral narratives, poetry, workshops, music and more from 6:30 to 9 p.m. April 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 25, and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 26 at the Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way. For more info, call (510) 869-4946 or email info@bayareastorytelling.org.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

2015 Poul Anderson Writing Contest - open to all students who reside and/or attend high school in Orinda. Entry categories are science fiction, essay/memoir, poetry and short story. Students may submit one entry in any of the four categories for a total of not more than three entries. Submission deadline is noon on Friday, April 17. If you have any questions about the contest, email contest@friendsoftheorindalibrary.com.

Contra Costa Jewish Day School, Temple Isaiah, PJ Library, The Jewish Federation of the East Bay present Shadow puppetry and music with Daniel Barash, The Shadow Puppet Workshop from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 at Contra Costa Jewish Day School, 955 Risa Road, Lafayette. Celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Free. For info, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1506615376221150/.

EARTH DAY FESTIVITIES

Wildlife/Earth Day Festival from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at the Nature Area of Wagner Ranch Elementary School, 350 Camino Pablo in Orinda. Entertainment by an Earth Tribute Band and student musicians, photo contest (info at fwrna.org), participate in arts and crafts, live raptors for viewing and education, bee display, student recycling projects, solar project displays and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Free.

Lafayette’s 10th annual Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. This special anniversary event, hosted by Sustainable Lafayette, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette Library and the City of Lafayette, will focus on green transportation options and feature hundreds of Lafayette community members arriving at the event on foot, bikes, skateboards and other self-propelled means to enjoy food, fun, entertainment, and discover the latest ideas and approaches for living a more sustainable life. The Earth Day Festival will also feature live music, art, storytelling, a scavenger hunt and conservation-themed displays. For more info, visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.

OTHER

10th annual Sudden Oak Death Blitz survey by UC-sponsored volunteers to provide data for academic analyses can come to the Garden Room at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 11 for a one-hour session on SOD and the Blitz leaf collection protocol with UC professor and SOD Blitz founder Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, then collect leaves from areas and at times of your choosing through Sunday, April 12. Visit www.sodblitz.org for more info. For space and material planning purposes, email William Hudson at wllhh@ymail.com if you plan to come.

Second annual Dogtown Downtown from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11. Dog Parade at 10 a.m. from the Lafayette Plaza Park to the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. In addition to the parade there will be demonstrations, exhibits and contests. (See story page A3)

The Orinda Starlight Village Players (ORSVP) is holding season auditions at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at the Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheater and at 7 p.m. Monday, April 13 in the Orinda Community Center carpentry room. You will be asked to read from scripts provided. For more info, call Jill at (925) 528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org.

Remember, Renew and Refill: a Journey Through Grief – a workshop and luncheon to honor lost loved ones from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga. Opening and Closing Speakers will be Dianne West, executive director of Moraga Royale, and author Diane Shore. Breakout sessions will be led by Jeffrey Ismael, bereavement services manager for Vitas Hospice, and Marilyn Hunt, LMFT. Free. Reservations are requested: (925) 376-4800 ext. 285 or www.mvpctoday.org.

“From the Bridge to the Ballot Box,” a 40-minute film celebrating the unsung heroes of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, will be presented at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18 in the parish hall at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Orinda. The film is a part of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s outreach in Teaching Tolerance. After the film, Bettie Fikes, who was a teenaged organizer in Selma with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, will join youth in a discussion of the film. Pizza will be served. Fikes will present a musical performance in the sanctuary beginning at 7 p.m. Free.

Orinda Action Day 2015 is Saturday, April 18. Check in starting 9 a.m. at Orinda Library Plaza. Volunteers receive free T-shirts, as available. Report back to Library Plaza after project completion (11:30 a.m. to noon) for pizza and celebration. Lend a hand! RSVP at www.orindaassociation.org (go to volunteer tab) to indicate which project you prefer. If representing a group, state group name and number of participants expected.

Annual Moraga Beautiful event will be held rain or shine Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at Moraga Commons Park. Volunteers should meet at the park and wear old clothes for weeding and the beautification of the park picnic benches. The town will supply gloves, brushes and stain. Individuals and groups welcome! Call (925) 888-7045 for more information.

Be the Star You Are Book Bash Blowout from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25 (after the Triathlon) at 5A Rent A Space, 455 Moraga Rd., Moraga. Hundreds of brand new books priced from 99 cents. Spend $19.99 and receive a free new book. Free kid crafts, entertainment, snacks, giveaways, author signings. Proceeds benefit BTSYA literacy charity.  For info, visit http://btsya.com/events_calendar.html.
JF Kapnek’s 12th Annual Family 5k/1k Fun Run at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 26 at Miramonte High School in Orinda. There will be face painting, crafts, brunch, Zimbabwean food, African band, free T-shirt, fun run, prizes and more.  To register, go to Active.com (keyword: KAPNEK).

Registrations are being accepted for the Moraga Classic Car Show. Area residents who own classic cars are invited to participate in the 7th annual Moraga Classic Car Show, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 9 as part of the 2015 Moraga Community Faire. The $30 registration fee includes an entry ribbon, lunch for two, a commemorative photo, and a chance for owners to display their restoration work to the public. Prizes will be awarded. The registration deadline is May 1. To register, go to www.moragachamber.org/faire or call Gloria at (925) 247-4473 or Jason at (925) 788-3889.

SENIORS

Discovering Opera: Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The story of Mozart’s last opera is a curious combination of the noble Tamino’s search for enlightenment and the low comedy of his sidekick Papageno, not to mention the wicked queen, the sage elder, the damsel in distress, and the fantastical forest creatures that he meets along the way. It’s all set to some of Mozart’s greatest music, with some of the highest high notes and lowest low notes that you will ever hear in opera. Lecturer Bradford Wade will give a guided tour of The Magic Flute, with a description of the plot interspersed with musical examples from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 9 in the Lafayette Library, Community Hall. Free for Senior Services members; $10 non-members

Sons In Retirement - Branch 116 welcomes guests to socialize at monthly luncheons beginning at 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 20 at Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive. The speaker, Jane Kreidler, outreach coordinator, Contractors State License Board, will share her experiences to help seniors recognize scams and provide steps to proactively resist fraud. Lunch is $15. Guests are welcome. For reservations, call (925) 322-1160.

Avoiding Falls Presentation by Anne Randolph, Physical Therapist. Falls are a threat to your health and independence. Learn how to gain increased balance, avoid falls, and remain self-sufficient. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 in the Sequoia Room, Lafayette Community Center. Cost per class: free for members; $10 non-members.

Get Organized by Creating a Home Inventory, Gaining Control of Paper Clutter. Find out why and what you should inventory, how much value is potentially being overlooked, and the importance of leaving an organized, documented digital legacy for your loved ones. Learn how to set up an efficient, simple filing system, and tips on how to take control of the paper clutter once and for all from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 29 in the Cedar Room, Lafayette Community Center. Free for Senior Services members; $10 non-members.

GARDEN

Moraga Gardens Farm Annual Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through through April 19, 1290 Moraga Way (between the fire station and School Street). Many varieties of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, herb starts offered for sale to the Lamorinda backyard gardener. For info, contact curtincm@gmail.com.

The Lafayette Garden Club will meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 9 in the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., and will feature Rosemary Loveall presenting “Companion Planting with Herbs.” Loveall is owner of Morningsun Herb Farm in the countryside of Vacaville. With degrees in both forestry and environmental horticulture, she operates this specialty nursery where she propagates and sells over 600 varieties of herbs and many unusual landscape perennials. For info, email cpoetzsch@gmail.com.

Montelindo Garden Club Meeting will be at 9 a.m. Friday, April 17 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. James (Doc) Hale, a wildlife biologist, naturalist and ethno biologist will discuss wildlife in the East Bay. For info, visit Montelindogarden.com. Visitors welcome.

Lafayette Community Garden presents Irrigation Efficiency from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 3932 Mt Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.  Seth Wright, a landscape contractor with 20 years experience in the landscape industry, is now specializing in irrigation efficiency. In this class, he will cover spray to drip conversions, EBMUD and CCWD rebate                programs, as well as emitter layout and scheduling. He will emphasize landscape and lawn care during the drought, but will also address issues of edible gardens. This class is free. However, a $5 donation is appreciated to support education programs. To register or for more info, visit www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org.

The Moraga Junior Women’s Club, celebrating their 45th anniversary as an organization, presents the 10th “Through the Garden Gate” garden tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3, rain or shine, through five beautiful gardens in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. For info, visit www.moragajuniors.org.

The Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour is a free, self-guided tour of 30 Alameda and Contra Costa county gardens that will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Pre-registration is required: Register at: www.bringingbackthenatives.net.  (See story page)