ART

The Lamorinda Arts Alliance and the Concord Art Association are delighted to present a joint Art Show and Sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 2 at the Lafayette Christian Church at 584 Glenside Dr., Lafayette. There will be 24 artists who work in many mediums including ceramics, jewelry, printmaking, painting, photography, weaving and sculpture. There will be art demonstrations, live music, and light refreshments. https://laa4art.org, http://concordartassociation.blogspot.com

Moraga Art Gallery’s new exhibit “Precision Beauty” will feature interpretations of nature in the form of jewelry by member artist Kuniko Kay Nitta of Walnut Creek and watercolor paintings by Berkeley’s Karen Kramer. An opening reception, to which the public is invited, will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 9. The Gallery is located at 522 Center Street in the Rheem Shopping Center. For more information visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

MUSIC

Stanley Middle School presents Jazz Café from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 1 in the Stanley Multi-purpose room. This is a collaborative performance of Jazz student musicians from Stanley, Campolindo and Acalanes. Support the fundraising efforts of the Stanley Middle School Jazz Program and enjoy a memorable evening of music. General admission $10; elementary students $5; free for children under 6. Food, raffle drawings and silent auction (cash only). Tickets at stanleymusic.org or at the door (cash only).

Free Rock concerts in Lafayette Plaza Park every Friday in June, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Rock the Plaza line up: D. Band on June 1; Sona on June 8.  More information at www.lafayettechamber.org.

Berkeley Festival and Exhibition offers a weeklong feast of music, music events, and festivities from June 3-10.  The concerts and music events are all within walking distance of each other. Park your car and walk from one musical feast to another. Buy tickets online at www.berkeleyfestival.org  or call the Box Office at (510) 528-1725. Children and students will have free admission to the Young Artists Series concerts at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.    

WomenSing presents ‘EarthRise-choral concert for compassion and peace’ from 8 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6 at St. Mary’s Chapel, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. WomenSing presents a musical exploration of the joys, challenges, and fragility of life on Earth. Join us in a glorious ode to our planet! Cost: $28 general admittance; $10 for students. For more info visit https://womensing.org/CurrentSeason or call (925) 798-4875 or email info@womensing.org.

Piano Composers last of the season concert will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 8 at the lovely Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd. in Walnut Creek. Original, delightful, and inspirational music with occasional reference to Broadway, Beethoven, and New Orleans — all this imaginatively performed on stage by composer pianists themselves. This free event is sponsored by the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society (www.ccpas.org).


Diablo Choral Artists presents their concert “Variations on Love and Laughter” at 7 p.m. on June 9 at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. There will be a drawing for a gift basket at the concert, and a reception following the concert. General Admission: Adults $25, Seniors 60+ $15, Students $5, Children 5-12 free. Details and ticket purchase on website: www.dcachorus.org. Tickets are available from choir members, or through Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-2006.

Carol Trio with Amy Likar, presenting chamber concert of Beethoven String Trio, Mozart Flute Quartet, Duos by Martinu and Srinivasan. Brooke Aird [violin], Linda Green [viola], Cathy Aird [cello], Amy Likar [flute]. Presented at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 451 Moraga Way, Orinda. Suggested donation: $20. More info at smumcorinda@gmail.com or stmarksumcorinda.

4th annual Music on the Lawn from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 15 at Saint Mary’s College Chapel Lawn. Bring your whole family and a blanket for a fun evening listening to alumni bands, dining on Damian’s famous taco buffet, and drinking beer and wine. Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $10 Kids. Tickets at the door are cash only. Beer and wine can be purchased separately, cash only. For more information, visit: www.stmarys-ca.edu/4th-annual-music-on-the-lawn.

THEATER

Town Hall Theatre Company Presents “Sense & Sensibility,” based on the novel by Jane Austen, from June 2-23, with previews at 8 p.m. on May 31 and June 1. The play follows the adventures (and misadventures) of the Dashwood sisters – sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne – in gossipy late 18th century Regency England. As the play opens, their father’s unexpected demise leaves the family in dire financial straits; and both sisters must learn to navigate the rising societal pressures, preserve reputations and somehow find happiness and true love. Tickets: $18 Previews, $27-30 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, $25-27 Sunday matinee. Discounts available for seniors and youth. Box Office: (925) 283-1557; www.townhalltheatre.com.

MFA in Dance Thesis Concert Series: Unearthed at 3 and 7 p.m. on June 15 and 16 at the LeFevre Theatre, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. Presented by Saint Mary’s MFA in Dance Class of 2018. Featured works by Surabhi Bharadwaj, Stephanie Brumer, KJ Dahlaw, Emily Denham, Summer Logan, Ashley Mott, Laura Natario, and Hilary Snider. Tickets: $15 per concert, $25 for both concerts. https://wwws.stmarys-ca.edu/forms/mfa-dance-performances3/index.html

LECTURE & LITERATURE

“Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Historical Context and Contemporary Issues in the Trump Era” is the title of Dr. Karen Musalo’s lecture for First Friday Forum at 1:30 p.m. on June 1 in the sanctuary of Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Musalo is the director of the UC Hasting Center for Gender and Refugee Studies and a professor of Law at UC Hastings. Refreshments will be served at 1 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This is a free event. For information call (925) 283-8722.

Orinda’s Own REAL Alaska Reality Show from 4 to 5 p.m. on June 7 at the Orinda Library. Join Miramonte High alumna Laura (Melohn) Emerson for a fascinating presentation about her experience in remote Alaska. Emerson moved to a small log cabin in the middle of the Alaska woods, a 20-minute flight from the nearest road! Please join us for Emerson’s presentation full of pictures about this very different and very intentional life.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

“Kids and Snacks-Setting Healthy Habits” a discussion by Dr. Nazia Sheriff from Olive Leaf Pediatrics and a snack demonstration by Chief Lynda from Cooking with Kids Foundation will be held from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, May 31 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall. Please register for the free event via  cheflyndak@aol.com.

Free Family Movie Night: enjoy “Wonder” at Moraga Commons Park starting at 8:50 p.m. on Friday, June 1. Bundle up with blankets under the stars. Concessions will be sold by the Moraga Youth Involvement Committee.

The Contra Costa County Library is proud to kick off Summer Reading on Monday, June 4. The program is the Library’s yearly effort to keep kids reading during the summer months, preventing “brain drain.” This year’s theme is “Reading Takes You Everywhere” and the program is filled with activities, events and reading lists designed to show you that reading can take your imagination anywhere. Summer Reading runs through Saturday, Aug. 4. For more information on Summer Reading including a list of prizes, challenges and events, visit your local Contra Costa County Library branch or ccclib.org/summer.

OTHER

Many Faces of Skin Cancers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on May 30 at the Lafayette Library Community Room. Join an engaging panel of medical experts including Drs. Kelly Hood, MD, Arash Mohebati, Susan Kao and Christine Chung, as they offer insights into the latest information on prevention, risk factors, new treatment options, and explore the unique issues of skin cancer survivors. Reservations recommended, call (925) 677-5041.

See Community Concern for Cats’ new crop of kittens at a weekend adoption event from 1-4 p.m. at Pet Food Express in Lafayette, June 2-3. For more information, see www.communityconcernforcats.org  

Come break all the rules at the “Night at the Library” – includes cocktails, vino, silent Disco (?!?!) and fun around every corner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 2 in the stacks of the Lafayette Library. Immerse yourself in merriment, while supporting the library and its programs. www.LLLCF.org/Night2018

Lamorinda Village Travel Series: Just Cruising! at 1 p.m. on June 5 at LOPC, 49 Knox Dr. New trends are making cruises more attractive than ever. Ron Hermanson from Cruise Holidays will share ideas and options for cruise travel. Learn about river cruises exploring new destinations, great rivers of Europe, ship/cruise descriptions and accommodations, advantages of river cruising (vs. other methods of travel) and more! Free for Lamorinda Village members; $5 donation is appreciated for nonmembers.  Call (925) 283-3500 to register.

Bay Area Skeptics and Sacramento Area Skeptics present SkeptiCal 2018: The NorCal Conference on Science & Skepticism from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 10, at Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley. SkeptiCalexplores bad science, fake news, homelessness, AI, sugar abuse, and alien abduction. Cost: advance $45 ($35 student); regular $50 ($40 student). For more info see http://www.skepticalcon.com.

Diablo Ballet presents its 3rd annual PAWS de Tutu dog festival from 9 to 11 a.m. on June 23 at the Lafayette Reservoir. Registered guests will be treated to the popular dog costume competitions, along with demos by the Contra Costa Sherriff’s K-9 unit, a DOGA (Dog Yoga) demo, and a dog training demo. Dog owners are invited to dress up their dogs and enter the dog costume competitions – solo competition (one dog in costume) or group competition (multiple dogs in costume). Admission is $10, with an extra $10 to enter the costume contest. Anyone interested in attending, should register online at www.diabloballet.org as participation is limited.

Lamorindans of all ages are invited to a Field Day Open House June 23 at Moraga Commons Park. This free nationwide amateur radio event runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and shows amateurs using 100-year-old technology in today’s world even when cell phones and electric power fail. For details see https://www.facebook.com/K6ORI/?ref=bookmarks.

SENIORS

Cut the Cable Cord (And Possibly Your Cable Bill!) by Orlando Guzman, Technology Guru with the Lafayette Library from 10:30 to noon on May 31 in the Cedar Room at the Lafayette Community Center. Streaming media services abound, but what are they? How do they work? It’s not easy untangling your choices. Let Orlando shed some light on smart TVs and streaming media services, and help you make choices that might decrease or eliminate your cable bill altogether! Members Free; Non-Members $10.