ART

Diablo Fine Art Gallery announces that it will be closing Jan. 20. Maggie Lucas-Hill and Judy Miller, the gallery directors, are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many fine and gifted artists at this gallery and at the Lafayette Gallery. Everyone is invited to a farewell reception at the gallery from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19.

“Intention” Exhibit of new work by Dee Tivenan, Jennifer Perlmutter, Victoria Huckins, Merl Ross and others runs through Jan. 27 at the Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery, 3620 Mt. Diablo Blvd. You are invited to stop in this month and see the artists chosen, read the titles they give their work and ponder the metaphor, subjects, colors, and stories they bring to their work. Check the website for details: www.jenniferperlmuttergallery.com

“Garden Abstraction” at the Moraga Art Gallery featuring paintings by Orinda artist Lisa Gunn. Gunn’s work captures the light, the colors and the shifting shapes and shadows found in the course of a day in her lush backyard garden. The show runs from Jan. 10 to March 17. The public is invited to a free opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 at the gallery at 522 Center Street in Moraga’s Rheem Shopping Center. Come to meet the artists, enjoy a glass of wine, light snacks, and live music.

MUSIC

In the Name of Love, The 16th Annual Musical Tribute Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14 at Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland. Tickets: $25- $40; children 12 and under $8-$12. Purchase at Livingjazz.org/mlktribute. For additional info, call (510) 858-5313 or visit https://www.livingjazz.org/mlktribute/.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert, Fantezie at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3 in the Lafayette Library Community Hall. Tickets: $45 General, $40 Senior, $15 Student. Purchase online: www.gcplayers.org or by phone: (925) 283-3728.

San Francisco Performances presents Alexander String Quartet with host and lecturer Robert Greenberg from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, 2727 College Avenue, Berkeley. San Francisco Performances presents the final concert of Part 1 in the Saturday series with the Alexander String Quartet and Robert Greenberg. Cost: $45. For more info see https://sfperformances.org/performances/1718/ASQBerkeley.html or call 415-392-2545 or email info@sfperformances.org.

Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble, the Bay Area’s premier women’s vocal ensemble, has openings for experienced women singers for its Spring 2018 season – particularly altos. Voci rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in Orinda and performs primarily in the East Bay. Auditions will be held through Jan 17. Spring concert dates are Feb. 11, April 15 and April 21. For more information or to schedule an audition please contact Artistic Director Mitchell Covington at music@mitchellcovington.com. More info at www.vocisings.org.

Ensemble ARI, a group of Korean American musicians in the Bay Area dedicated to classical music that connects to the community, will be collaborating with Calextone, an early music ensemble that specializes in the music of Western Europe from the 13th through the 15th centuries, for a performance at 8 p.m. Jan. 26 in the Saint Mary’s College Chapel. The free concert will feature music by Brahms, Gordon, and 15th century German composers.

Live at the Orinda Theatre Concert Series opens at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 with Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young. The stunning venue will be a place where audiences will experience exceptional performers at close range in an exceedingly elegant setting. Tickets start at $50 and are available at the Orinda Theatre box-office and online at www.lamorindatheatres.com.

Exciting, impish, and gorgeous original music with occasional reference to Broadway, Prokofiev, and New Orleans — all this imaginatively performed on stage by composer pianists themselves at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 at Grace Presbyterian Church 2100 Tice Valley Blvd near Rossmoor in Walnut Creek. This free event is sponsored by the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society (www.ccpas.org) with donations supporting our student scholarship program.
 
THEATER

Diablo Ballet celebrates the New Year with the second program of its 2017-18 Season, Harmonious Beauty, at 8 p.m. Feb. 2 and 2 and 8 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek. The program is composed of four unique ballets and one short film, including a World Premiere by Danielle Rowe. Immediately following each performance, ticket holders are invited to stay for a post-performance Q&A with dancers, choreographers and musicians followed by a dessert and coffee reception where you can meet and mingle with the dancers. Tickets are $25-47. For tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org or www.diabloballet.org.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Registration for Lafayette students entering TK and Kindergarten for the 2018-2019 school year will take place Jan. 16 and 17. In addition, an informational presentation, “A Roadmap to Kindergarten” will be held at Springhill Elementary, Multi-Purpose Room from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, for all interested parents in the school district. Further information can be found at www.lafsd.org.

OTHER

“Israel’s Place in the World” with Shlomi Kofman - Israel’s Consul General in San Francisco to the Pacific Northwest at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Temple Isaiah Sanctuary at 945 Risa Road, Lafayette. Free. Community dessert reception to follow. More details and R.S.V.P. at temple-isaiah.org/israelandworldjewry.

Open House at The Saklan School on Friday, Jan 12, 1678 School Street, Moraga. Get an inside look at Saklan’s middle school program, including project-based, hands-on learning curriculum and an active social and emotional educational program. Please register at saklan.org.

New Year’s is a purrfect time to adopt a cat or kitten from Community Concern for Cats. See beautiful kitties at the adoption event from 1 to 4 p.m., Jan. 13 and 14. Locations are Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill, and Petco in Walnut Creek. For more information, see www.communityconcernforcats.org.

ESL Conversation Circle at 1 p.m. every Thursday at the Orinda Library. Practice speaking and listening to English in a casual group guided by trained ESL instructors. No registration required and free of charge.

KPFA Radio 94.1 FM presents Bandy X. Lee and Dee Mosbacher: The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Avenue, Berkeley. Bandy X. Lee and Lee Mosbacher discuss The Dangerous Case Against Donald Trump, answer questions and sign books. Hosted by Joanna Manqueros. Cost: $12 advance; $15 door. For more info see http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3210560 or call (510) 967-4495.

Free Bankruptcy legal workshop available through the Contra Costa Bar Association from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 at the CCC Bar Association, 2300 Clayton Road, ste. 530 in Concord. RSVP by calling (925) 370-2540 or online at http://www.cccba.org/community/calendar.

Introduction to Chair Yoga at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 in the Orinda Library Garden Room. Students will be led through a 30-minute class that combines poses, breath work, and body awareness during this introduction to chair yoga presented by Atma Yoga Studio.

Contra Costa Tale Spinners at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan 25 in the Orinda Library Garden Room. Join us for a story swap with featured teller, Ben Tucker, who will tell a few stories from his memoir, “A Good Run.” Share, listen, expand your universe.

SEED is hosting a screening of an award-winning documentary called “Swim Team” about a New Jersey swim team that is comprised of athletes on the autism spectrum, followed by a discussion moderated by Lafayette School District Psychologist Jenna Krook at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Dr., Lafayette.  For info, visit http://www.seedlafayette.org/event-2764484.

Be a powerful voice for a child in Foster Care. You have the powerful opportunity to impact the life of a vulnerable child when you volunteer with CASA of Contra Costa County. CASA volunteers may be the only reliable and stable presence in a child’s life to help encourage, support and motivate them to keep going. Info sessions will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 17 at 2151 Salvio Street, Concord and from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Jan. 26 as a Webinar. You must be 21 years or older to volunteer. http://cccocasa.org/menus/become-a-volunteer.html

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

Appointments Training from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Walnut Creek Library, Oak View Room, 1644 N Broadway. Ever considered getting involved in your local community as an appointee to a board or commission? Want to know more about how the process works? Join California Women Lead and Assemblywoman Catharine Baker for an appointments training to learn the process that one should take to be appointed to a board/commission/committee at the local and state level. This training is free and open to the public. No Admittance without Prior RSVP. To RSVP visit www.cawomenlead.org/event/WalnutCreekAppointmentsTraining.

SENIORS

Mindful Aging: Brain Chargers at 10:30 a.m. on Mondays starting Jan. 22 at the Orinda Library. Sign up for an hour of brain stimulating activities - Elder Paws (reading aloud to a dog, solving puzzles, and coloring). Open to adults 55 years or older. Space is limited. Sign up for a session by phone or in person at the Orinda Library.

Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. A program of MOWSOS in partnership with Lamorinda Village, the 8-week program starts at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church - Davies Room, 49 Knox Drive Lafayette. Registration is $15. Call (925) 283-3500 for more information. https://lamorinda.helpfulvillage.com/events/1498.

Healthy Brain, Healthy Memory - Join memory expert Dr. Linda Sasser for an educational and entertaining presentation on how memory works and age-related brain changes. You will learn about lifestyle practices that help maintain and improve brain function as well as easy-to-use strategies for remembering names, information, and tasks. The presentation is from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 12 at Lamorinda Village, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Call (925) 283-3500 to register!

Branch 116 Sons In Retirement (SIRS) will be holding its 11:15 a.m. lunch meeting Jan. 15 at the Clubhouse at Boundary Oak, 3800 Valley Vista Road, Walnut Creek. The guest speaker will be Monica Sanders, program director of the First Tee of Contra Costa and a LPGA member. Luncheon cost is $25. For reservations or information please call (925) 322-1160 or email branch116@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.branch116.org.

Lamorinda Village presents a series of workshops on financial topics that are important and relevant for seniors. Our speakers, all experienced investment advisors who advise clients daily, will address common issues and answer questions at the end of the workshop. The workshop runs from 11 a.m. to noon on Jan. 23 at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, and will cover investment strategies.

GARDEN

The Moraga Garden Club will hold its next meeting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. The guest speaker will be William McNamara, executive director of the Quarryhill Botanical Garden. The subject of his discussion will be “Plant Hunting on the Edge of the World.” Interested parties are welcome to attend the 9:30 a.m. social hour, the 10 a.m. meeting, as well as the presentation by Mr. McNamara, immediately following the meeting.

Montelindo Garden Club Meeting (third Friday of every month, September through May) will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. Presentation: Fresh Ideas for Your Front Yard; speaker Janet Sluis, director of Sunset Western Garden Collection and a Berkeley-based horticulturist who will look at new trend-setting ideas for your California front yard.

Winter Rose Pruning Workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at McDonnell Nursery, 193 Moraga Way, Orinda. To reserve a space please call (925) 254-3713 or email info@mcdonnellnursery.com.