ART

The public is invited to attend the Art and Photography Show, featuring works by some 80 adult students, at Acalanes Adult Education (AAE). Some items will be available for sale. Refreshments will be served. AAE is located at 1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. The exhibit will continue on weekdays through July 29.

Valley Art Gallery presents their show, A Summer Place, which runs through July 30. A Summer Place is “your place” visualized by gallery artists — the places people visit, activities they enjoy. It features over 300 new works of art as warm and wonderful as Diablo Valley summers, including works from the best East Bay artists, for sale or rent. Plus, there are beautifully crafted ceramic, wood and glass pieces, and original designer jewelry. www.valleyartgallery.org.

The new Lafayette Library Art Gallery Exhibit features oil paintings by Geoff Meredith, pastels and watercolors by Dalia Alekna, and ceramics by Olga Jusidman. The exhibit runs through Aug. 31.

Valley Art Gallery will feature member artist Peter McNeil, a well-known local landscape and figurative artist, on Aug. 2. Utilizing oil paint and various drawing media, he is interested in the effects of light, shadow, and the more abstract patterns that occur in the observable world. McNeil lives and works in Walnut Creek and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Design from UC Davis. www.valleyartgallery.org

MUSIC

Live Jazz at Lamorinda Music from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 4. $10 per person.

Orinda Summer Concerts in the Park Series continues from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Orinda Aug. 2: Spill the Wine, Soul/Rock/Funk/R&B with Streetdogs, Chicago style hot dogs; Aug. 9: The David Alt Big Band Concert. Sponsored by Orinda Rotary.

Thursday evening concerts continue 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Moraga Commons Park: July 28: Kings of 88 — Piano rock e.g. Elton John, Billy Joel, etc; Aug. 4: Fleetwood Mask — Tribute to Fleetwood Mac. Picnic on a blanket or lawn chairs on the grassy hillside in front of the band shell.

THEATER

Cal Shakes presents the Bay Area debut of Pulitzer-prize winning playwright August Wilson’s “Fences” through July 30. For showtimes and to purchase tickets see www.calshakes.org.

Realization Theater presents “We Need Better Humans!” from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7, at Waterfront Playhouse, 2020 Fourth St., Berkeley. “We Need Better Humans!” is a 90-minute multimedia production with live acting about a group of alien anthropologists who arrive on Earth. Cost: $25. For more info see www.weneedbetterhumans.com or call (415) 579-2586 or email contact@weneedbetterhumans.com.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

From Burma to Syria — Spend an evening with Dave Eubank, founder of Free Burma Rangers, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, 10 Moraga Valley Lane in Fellowship Hall. Eubank, a former Army Ranger Commander, his family and team risk their lives every day to help people caught in the crossfire of war. After spending 20 years in Burma, Dave decided to go to Kurdistan, Iraq, to deliver medical aid, food and love to innocent victims in the war with ISIS. Free to attend.

Local East Bay Democratic Clubs invite you to hear author David Dayen discuss his award winning book “Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street’s Great Foreclosure Fraud” starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. The book tells the dramatic true story of how, in the depths of the Great Recession, a cancer nurse, a car dealership worker, and an insurance fraud specialist helped uncover the largest consumer crime in American history — a scandal that implicated dozens of major executives on Wall Street. Additional information is available at www.lamorindademoclub.org. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during the event.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Summer Movies in the Park Series: Movies begin at dusk on Thursdays at the Orinda Community Park.  August 4: “Inside Out.”

Calling all Makers, Tinkerers, Creators and DIYers: Celebrate the Summer of S.T.E.A.M. from 10 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center. Demonstrations for all ages including: 3D printing, Air-powered Rocketry, Programmable Microcontrollers, Lego Robotics, Cosplay, and so much more. Hands-on projects like DIY Beauty Bar, Scribble Bots, DIY Instruments, engineering/ building tinker area, photo booth, computer programming for beginners, DIY Ice Cream and more. There’s something for everyone. All ages are welcome. Free event. Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/makerfestLAF2016.

Berkeley Kite Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 30 and 31, Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. Free Event. Kite Competitions, the “Octopile,” Candy Drop, Kite Battles, Kid Zone with pony rides, bounce houses and more. Food, crafts and free kites. www.BerkeleyKiteFestival.com (510) 235-KITE or www.AnotherBullwinkelShow.com for vendor info.

Meet Orinda children’s book author Ginger Wadsworth at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the Orinda Library. Wadsworth will share her newest book, “Seasons of the Bear,” available for the first time outside of Yosemite National Park. Beautifully illustrated by acclaimed artist Daniel San Souci, the book is a poetic look at the year in the life of a black bear and her cubs. Ginger will talk about her research for the book and fascinating facts about our native black bears. She will bring a bear skull and bear ear tags supplied by Yosemite park rangers. For more information, contact the library at (925) 254-2184 or llook@ccclib.org.

Candy Sushi and 5 Minute Ice Cream from 2 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 13 at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center. This teen program will take place in the Arts & Science room and is for sixth-12th grade students. Teens can register using tinyurl.com/lafcandysushi5minicecream

OTHER

Contra Costa Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) will offer a free talk, “Savings Money on Prescription Drugs: 14 Tips and One Pitfall,” from 1 to 2 p.m. on July 28 at the Moraga Library at 1500 St. Mary’s Rd. The following topics will be covered: overview of Medicare Part D coverage and how to choose the optimal plan for you; other resources and programs offering assistance with drug costs; ways to save at the pharmacy and on the drugs themselves, and things to be aware of regarding Canadian online pharmacies. See www.cchicap.org or call (925) 602-4163 for more about HICAP.

Join the National Park Service for a free campfire program at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 at John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) in Martinez, California. The program lasts roughly 1.5 hours. Rangers will lead the group in songs, skits and stories to celebrate the legacy of John Muir, one of the greatest naturalists and conservationists the world has ever known. No reservations are required. Meet at the front gate of John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Avenue, in Martinez. Come with picnic blankets, lawn chairs, marshmallows and a desire to have a good time.

Lights! Camera! Environmental Action! Sustainable Lafayette will be hosting its sixth annual summer film series at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center, featuring recently released documentaries and short films. This year’s film selections focus on clean energy, land preservation, East Bay trail restoration, the Grand Canyon, bicycle travel, and sustainable ranching. The series continues on July 26 and concludes on Aug. 2. All movies will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the Lafayette library, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. July 26: “Rebels with a Cause.”

Diablo Ballet’s Annual Gourmet Gallop food and wine walk returns to downtown Walnut Creek for the sixth consecutive year from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11. The event, sponsored by Diablo Magazine, invites guests to sip, sample and stroll their way through 13 downtown Walnut Creek locations as they experience a one-of-a-kind culinary adventure. Tickets are on sale now to the public and only $39 if purchased on or before July 31. After that date, the price goes up to $45 a person. Tickets are available online at www.diabloballet.org or by calling (925) 943-1775.

Concord’s Japanese American Club’s annual Summer Festival is from 1 to 9 p.m. on Aug 13 and from noon to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 14 at the Japanese American Religious and Cultural Center located at 3165 Treat Boulevard in Concord. The festival features Japanese food, including tempura, sushi, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef, udon, and gyoza, as well as fresh baked goods. There will be games for children. Entertainment includes multiple Taiko drum performances, kendo and judo demonstrations, Koto performances, as well as Japanese dances. Admission is free.

Lafayette Library and Learning Center and Diablo Ballet present the 2016 Dance on Film Series. The films start at 6:30 p.m. and run through Aug. 18.  Aug. 4: “SFDFF International Dance shorts” and “Rare Birds”; Aug. 18: “Saturday Night Fever.” Tickets are $10 for the film series, or $5 at the door. Register at tinyurl.com/LLLCDanceonfilm2016 or call (925) 283-6513 x102.

SENIORS

Anne Randolph physical therapy presentation: Pain Management, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27 in the Tiny Tots Red Room, Lafayette Community Center. Learn how improving posture and muscle strength can reduce or eliminate pain altogether. Stop suffering and take control. Per class: Senior Services members: No charge; non-members: $10

Lafayette Community Foundation’s eighth annual Senior Symposium is from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 6 at Lafayette Elementary School Auditorium, 950 Moraga Road, Lafayette. See page A3.

GARDEN

Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center presents Honeybees in Lamorinda from 3 to 4:30 on Sunday, Aug. 7. Contra Costa beekeeper extraordinaire, Mike Stephanos, will talk about nature’s little wonders: the honeybees. Whether you are a novice beekeeper or someone who loves honey and just wants to know more about the fascinating world of bees, this class is for you. Classes are free. However, a $5 donation is appreciated to support its education programs. To register for classes or for more information, please visit www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org.