ART

The newest show at the Lafayette Art Gallery, titled “H2O,” will run through Aug. 29, and will focus on water. Whether it is the use of water in the artistic process, water as subject matter, or the current absence of water, the talented group of local artists will showcase their works related to the theme of water. For info, call (925) 284-2788 or visit www.lafayetteartgallery.com.

“Scene on the Strait,” an art festival that gives a lift to both young people and the environment, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Martinez Regional Shoreline. The 19th annual festival, one of the most popular events on the Northern California art calendar, is a premiere showcase for landscape or “plein air” painting. Free admission and parking. Martinez Regional Shoreline is on Ferry Street in Martinez. Visit “Scene on the Strait’s” Facebook page or SceneOnTheStrait.org for the latest information.

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art presents Bright and Beautiful: Early San Francisco Bay Area Watercolors - Featuring the Collection of Roger and Kathy Carter and Stephen Joseph: Inside Vasco Caves. These exhibitions run through Sept. 13. Bright and Beautiful will showcase the art of watercolor painting as it was practiced in Northern California in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Vasco Caves features the photography of Stephen Joseph, who spent the next 10 years exploring and documenting the windswept rock outcrops and caves, with an eye towards capturing the landscape as the native people would have experienced it. For info, visit https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/saint-marys-college-museum-of-art.

Valley Art Gallery presents John Brown - “Digital Alternatives” through Sept. 10, with a free reception from 3 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 1 at Valley Art Gallery, 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek. Prior to digital photography, a photographer had to choose between black and white or color film. Brown would carry two cameras and shoot in both. In this show, Brown presents viewers with images in both black and white and color, and asks gallery visitors to vote their choice. For info, visit www.valleyartgallery.org.

“Botanica: All Things Plant Life” – a national juried exhibition featuring over 130 artists from across the country working in a diverse reach of media runs through Sept. 6 at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek. Botanica showcases a deep love of nature, the embrace of its beauty, and a concern for its protection and survival. Visit www.bedfordgallery.org for more information.

MUSIC

Orinda Library’s Summer of Music features a musical performance by Hot Air Saxophone Quartet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29. Four saxophones and nothing else but hot air. But when it’s all under the control of these experienced musicians, it’s magical. Free.

The Concerts in the Park, which are sponsored by the Orinda Parks and Recreation Foundation and supported by the Orinda Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Orinda and City of Orinda, are held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 4: Little Dog 2 - Pop & Rock; from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 11 Cami Thompson - Big Band Jazz.

Broadway Music Sing-Along - Sing your heart out with famous Broadway tunes at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31 at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek (off Walker). Live piano accompaniment by Lynn Finegan, words projected on a large screen. Dessert and beverages provided. Tickets at the door: $10 adults, $5 children over 6.

Concert in the Grove from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, outside in the Oak Grove behind Lafayette Christian Church at 584 Glenside Drive. The Lafayette Studio Big Band, a 16-piece jazz band with vocalist will perform. Musicians have played with The Temptations, The Harry James Orchestra, Judy Collins, Sheila Escovedo, Bruno Mars, City Swing Orchestra and others. Fee at the door. Refreshments.

Live Jazz at Lamorinda Music at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 4 and 6 at 81 Lafayette Circle Lafayette. Aug. 4 - Kyle Athayde’s Cal Tjader Tribute Quartet; Aug. 6 - Alan Ferber Quintet. Suggested donation: $10. Tickets sold at door.

Summer Concert Series at the Moraga Commons begins at 6 p.m.  Schedule: July 30 Foreverland - Electrifying tribute to Michael Jackson; Aug. 6 Chris Gardner Band - country/western. For information, visit www.moragaparks.org/concert.html.

THEATER

Cal Shakes will be performing “Life Is a Dream” through Aug. 2. Cal Shakes performances are held at Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way (formerly 100 Gateway Blvd.), Orinda. For more information, visit www.calshakes.org.

The Orinda Starlight Players will present Louis Flynn’s “Madness on Madrona Drive” Thursdays through Sundays through Aug. 15 at the Outdoor Theatre in Orinda Community Center Park located at 28 Orinda Way. Cost: $16 regular admission; $8 seniors. For show times and ticket information, visit the box office, go to http://www.orsvp.org or call (925) 528-9225.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Authors and Athletes presents Endurance Athlete Barbara Edelston Peterson from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30 at Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Champion XTERRA athlete, author, designer, mother and the founder of The Power of Exercise, Barbara Edelston Peterson believes in a multi-faceted approach to fitness and personal growth. Tickets: $5. To register, visit tinyurl.com/EdelstonPeterson.

“Row with the Champions” Rotary Regatta, scheduled Aug. 22 at San Pablo Reservoir in Orinda, sponsored by the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary.  For info, visit www.rowwithchampions.org. (see story page B3) 

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

The Orinda Parks and Recreation Department is happy to bring back Movies in the Park for a second consecutive year. The movies will be held Thursday evenings at Orinda Community Center Park located at 28 Orinda Way. The following movies will begin at dusk: Aug. 6 “Maleficent;” Aug. 20 “Frozen” Sing-Along.

OTHER

Kitten season is here! Meet these adorables at Community Concern for Cats’ weekend adoption event from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 1 and 2 at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill, Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information, see www.communityconcernforcats.org.

Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda join National Night Out on Aug. 4 - Organize your block or neighborhood for a gathering and join the millions across the country who are celebrating the 32nd National Night Out. For questions or assistance, contact Carol Yates, NNO Director for Lafayette, at lepccarol@gmail.com.  (See story page A12)

Book presentation of “On Holy Ground: Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Lands.” Meet the Authors, Kahuna Leilani Birely and Chiefess Luisah Teish at the book presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. This spiritual, earth based discussion will take place at The Mystic Dream, 1437 North Broadway in Walnut Creek. The authors will be on hand to meet and greet you, read from, and sign your books.

The Concord Japanese American Club’s Annual Summer Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9 at the Japanese Cultural Center located at 3165 Treat Boulevard in Concord. The Festival features authentic Japanese food, including sushi, tempura, udon, teriyaki beef, teriyaki chicken, and gyoza. There will be martial arts demonstrations, Japanese dancers, and bonsai and flower exhibits. Admission is free and free parking is available at Ygnacio Valley High School at 755 Oak Grove Rd. in Concord. More information is available at www.diablojaclub.com.

Assistance League of Diablo Valley Prospective Member Coffee - In response to a growing client base, we are actively pursuing prospective members for our new programs. Two recently formed philanthropic programs concern implementing art in the classroom and staffing the Listen Program that helps identified students with verbal expression. Two other programs address the needs of our seniors. A Prospective Member Coffee will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Community Resource Center, 2711 Buena Vista Avenue, Walnut Creek. For more info, visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org or call (925) 934-0901.

Summer Wine Festival from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 at Saint Mary’s College Soda Center in Moraga. Tickets: $50 per person before Aug. 3. Register at Stmarys-ca.edu/wine or (925) 631-8744.

SENIORS

The 7th Annual Senior Symposium “Aging by Design,” sponsored by the Lafayette Community Foundation, will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 1. This free event is an informative resource fair for seniors in the Lamorinda community, with more than 40 booths sponsored by local vendors that provide services to seniors, as well as many nonprofit organizations that serve seniors in the community. This year, the event will be held in downtown Lafayette, at Lafayette Elementary School, 950 Moraga Road. Advanced registration qualifies for a special raffle prize. Either call (925) 284-8214 or visit the Lafayette Community Foundation’s website: www.lafayettelcf.org.

Sons In Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center 1700 School Street Moraga. Social hour at 11 a.m.; lunch at noon. The after lunch speaker on Aug. 5 will be Heidi Donner who served as Public Information and Educational Programs Manager at Saint Mary’s College Art Museum for 25 years. She has worked extensively with the William Keith collection of paintings at Saint Mary’s. She will discuss William Keith’s influence and connections to John Muir. For membership information, call Larry at (925) 631-9528.

Sons In Retirement - Las Trampas Branch 116 welcomes guest to socialize at its monthly luncheon beginning at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17 to be held at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, located at 1475 Creekside Drive. Our August speaker will be Ms. Rosemary Robles, driver safety manager from the Oakland Office of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Rosemary will be discussing the obstacles and challenges facing senior drivers and will be offering advice for the senior driver. Please call (925) 322-1160 to make lunch reservations if you wish to attend.  Cost for lunch is $15. For additional info, call (510) 363-6845.

‘As The Page Turns’ Book Club - Looking for a good book to discuss with others? Join this informal group of booklovers and enjoy enrichment, lively discussion, fellowship and refreshments. Please call Lafayette Senior Services for the book title: (925) 284-5050. Club meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. every third Tuesday monthly, location changes. Free for Senior Services members; $10 non-members.

The Alzheimer’s Association will be hosting a three-part education series for individuals with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, who are in the early stages and for their care partners. We will discuss what you need to know, what you need to plan and what you can do as you navigate this chapter of your life. Separate classes are offered concurrently for early stage individuals and for care partners. Dates and Location: Wednesdays, Sept. 23, 30 and Oct. 7, in Lafayette. Classes are free but pre-registration is required. Contact Lan Trinh at (800) 272-3900 or ltrinh@alz.org to register.