ART

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMC | MoA) is pleased to present two Spring Exhibitions, “Foad Satterfield: THINGS KNOWN” and “David Otis Johnson: NOCTAMBULANT.” These exhibitions runs through June 9. For more information on programs and events, please visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.

The Moraga Art Gallery announces the opening of “Into the Wood(s)” an homage to trees, opening on the first day of spring, March 20. Watercolor landscapes by Moraga’s George Ehrenhaft, the show’s featured artist, capture the arboreal splendor of Lamorinda and beyond - from the Pacific shore to peaks of the Sierra. The show’s featured guest artist, Duke Herrero of Orinda, has created museum-quality wooden objects - utensils, table-top boxes, footstools, cutting boards, and more - all hewn and lovingly shaped from a variety of trees from everyday walnut and cherry to exotic ipe and cocobolo. The show runs through June 1, with a free reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 23. The current show “A Sense of Place” is running through March 16. For more information, visit www.moragaartgallery.com or call (925) 376-5407.

Valley Art Gallery presents “Celebrating 70,” a new exhibition for its 70th Anniversary running through March 15, 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek. www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

MUSIC

East Bay treble choir, WomenSing, is hosting an event to celebrate International Women’s Day at 8 p.m. Friday, March 8 that will include a screening of the acclaimed documentary “Little Stones,” a concert, and reception. The audience will have an opportunity to meet members of WomenSing at a reception after the performance. The event will take place at the Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Tickets: $10 youth; $30 general, lesherartscenter.showare.com/
LittleStones

Cantare Con Vivo presents Messa da Requiem at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave., Walnut Creek. The Cantare Chorale, 120 fabulous singers strong, will join with soloists and full orchestra to present one of the pinnacles of Western Art, Verdi’s Requiem. This historical text has been assembled over several hundreds of years and remains relevant today in its addressing personal loss, hope, grief, joy, sorrow, mercy and acceptance. Tickets available online, by phone, or at the door: General $38, Senior $33, Student $10. www.cantareconvivo.org; (510) 836-0789.

Gold Coast Chamber Players performances W.A.M. at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall. There will be a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Tickets: $45 General, $40 Senior (65+), $15 Student. Purchase online: www.gcplayers.org; By phone: (925) 283-3728.

Christopher and Sandra Bengochea, Tenor and Soprano Duet, perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Walnut Creek. At St. Paul’s, Christopher and Sandra Bengochea perform their collection “Songs of Love,” including pieces from Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Verdi’s “Rigoletto” and others. They will be accompanied by Simona Snitkovskaya, a doctoral graduate in piano performance from St. Petersburg Music Conservatory. Donation at the door: average $20, Students $10 (all are welcome regardless of donation).

Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, performs Schubert’s Octet, Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, and Francaix’s Dixtuor, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 in the Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Tickets may be purchased for “Schubert - The Sublime” online at www.
pacificchamberorchestra.org.

Campolindo Music Department presents “The Phantom of the Opera” March 15-17 and March 22-24 at Campolindo High School. Based on the 1910 horror novel by Gaston Leroux, “The Phantom of the Opera” is a thrilling and romantic account of the legendary Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Tickets and showtimes at http://www.campochoir.com/tickets/

Saint Mary’s College Music Department presents a solo piano concert by Bobby Mitchell, a young award-winning American international concert pianist, recording artist, composer, author and teacher at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 31 at Saint Mary’s College Chapel. A reception will follow the free concert.

THEATER

“Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests and the Future,” a one-hour documentary, will play at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 at the Town Hall Theatre on School Street in Lafayette. Sponsored by Sustainable Lafayette, the movie reveals how fuel build-up and climate change have exposed Western wildlands to large, high intensity wildfires, while greenhouse gases released from these fires contribute to global warming. This vicious cycle jeopardizes our forests and affects us all with extreme weather and more wildfires, some of which are now entering highly populated wildland-urban areas. General tickets are $10 and are available via www.sustainablelafayette.org.

Diablo Ballet celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a world premiere fairytale ballet, Once Upon a Time at 6:30 p.m. on March 22 and 2 and 8 p.m. on March 23 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Join Diablo Ballet on this fairytale adventure where you will meet Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and more. Children in attendance are invited to dress up as their favorite fairytale character and stay and meet the dancers after the performances. Single tickets are $15-$50. For tickets, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org. For more information, visit www.diabloballet.org.

Town Hall Theatre Company presents “Brooklyn Bridge” by Melissa James Gibson, directed by M. Graham Smith through March 23. Tickets and showtimes are available at TownHallTheatre.com or by calling (925) 283-1557. The theatre is located at 3535 School Street in Lafayette.

Town Hall Theatre Company presents Playwright’s Cagematch at 7 p.m. on March 24 at 3535 School Street, Lafayette. Five Playwrights enter but only one will emerge victorious. Join us as playwrights far and wide square off! Playwrights’ CageMatch is a chance for playwrights to show their stuff in an audience-decided live competition. The only requirements for aspiring contributors were that the scenes had to be 20 minutes or less, have no more than four characters with gender parity, and be set in an apartment building in a large city anywhere in the universe. Admission for the Playwrights’ CageMatch is $5 (free to our subscribers), and tokens to vote will be sold for $5. Box Office: (925) 283-1557; www.townhalltheatre.com

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

The 2019 Bookmark Contest sponsored by the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center will be open to all Lafayette students grades K-8 to enter their original artwork. The entry forms will be available beginning Feb. 15 at the Lafayette Library main desk, the Friends Corner Book Shop and at school libraries in the Lafayette School District and St. Perpetua School. The entry deadline is Friday, March 8. For more information please contact Kay Pekrul: kae865@hotmail.com.

Mindful Littles Kindness Book Club from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 9 at the Orinda Library Garden Room. Read a book on a special kindness theme, practice heart-centered movements and mindfulness, and do a fun creative art project. Water and snacks for your kids. Please wear comfortable clothes. Ages 4-11. Parents/guardians are required with children. Register at: https://mindfullittles.org/

Spectacular Special Needs Party from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 at the Lamorinda All-Access Playground at Moraga Commons. Party entertainment, snacks and birthday cake await you! No RSVP needed. Just show up! These parties are free and made possible by SEED’s generous donors. https://seedlafayette.org

Lamorinda Teens Read - the school libraries of Acalanes, Campolindo, Los Lomas, and Miramonte present “One Community, One Book” from Feb. 25 through March 29 when all four schools will read Nic Stone’s latest novel, “Dear Martin” and multiple events will happen at the Contra Costa Library branches. Pick up a free copy of the book to keep in the school or local library.

OTHER

In partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission, MCE will hold an upcoming workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at 2300 Clayton Rd Suite 1150, Concord to learn about General Order 156. Commonly referred to as “Utility Supplier Diversity,” this CPUC program encourages California investor-owned utilities to provide a fair proportion of total utility contracts and subcontracts to businesses that meet diversity qualifications. This program is open to women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT-owned firms representing at least 51 percent of the business ownership. MCE is hosting an informative workshop with guest speakers from the CPUC and the Supplier Diversity Clearinghouse. Together, we will speak to the purpose of this program, certification qualifications, and the contracting opportunities available through the Clearinghouse. Refreshments will be served and parking will be validated. Seating is limited, so please RSVP by Feb. 28 at certifyamplify.eventbrite.com.

Saint Mary’s College Guild cordially invites everyone to join them in their Festive St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser evening of dinner, music, show, with silent auction from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at the Saint Mary’s College Soda Center. The Frank O’Connor Band will feature a variety of Irish and American music. We will be entertained by the Rohan Murphy Irish Dance Academy. Join us for a traditional Corned beef and cabbage dinner - wine included at dinner - $50 per person. All proceeds benefit SMC Scholarships. Make checks payable to: SMC Guild - Send to: Cynthia Kelly - 628 Augusta Drive - Moraga, CA 94556; (925) 388-0437.

Lafayette resident, Papa John Kiefer, will, again, offer workshops on “How to Raise Your Own Chickens.” Topics will include raising young chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction. Workshops are free and will be held in Lafayette from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. Reservations are required. Contact: chickenspapajohn@gmail.com. Location provided upon registration.

Say Something Workshop: How to Help a Friend or Family Member Living with Domestic Violence at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 451 Moraga Way, Orinda. Every year more than 10 million women and men are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Come learn how to listen, talk and take action when someone you care about is being abused. Facilitated by Rev. Michele Robbins, an ordained pastor with a background in Family Relations. Her workshops focus on understanding the cycle of violence, types of power, abuser tactics, and how to talk with victims, including avoiding pitfalls and words that help. More info: shalompastor3@gmail.com.

Come see fancy Ferraris, Fiats and more! Saint Mary’s College Department of World Languages and Cultures and the Dante Club invite the community to its Italian Cars and Culture event from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 31. Enjoy Italian Sports Cars and live folkloric Italian music by the band Pizzi Cali on the front campus lawn at SMC.  Delicious food and ice cream will be available for purchase. Free. Email amr18@stmarys-ca.edu with any questions.



POLITICAL GATHERINGS

The Lamorinda Democratic Club will be hosting Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan for a legislative update from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 14 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. She will join a panel discussion focused on air quality: Coming Up for Air. Additional presenters include James Leach from Sustainable Lafayette and a representative from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). Free for members; $5 for guests. Visit LDclub.org for more information or email info@ldclub.org.

SENIORS

Cooking: Eggs, Eggs and More Eggs by Byron Park Dining Services Team from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at Byron Park, 1700 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. In this demonstration-style class, you will be guided in the many ways the humble yet versatile egg can be prepared - from basic to complex, scrambled to souffle! You will enjoy samples of the dishes and be given the recipes so you may recreate them at home. Space is limited; these classes fill up quickly. Please arrive early to allow time for parking. Cost: $10. RSVP to Lafayette Senior Services by Monday, March 11: Seniors@LoveLafayette.org or 284-5050.

GARDEN

Walnut Creek Garden Club’s March meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 11 at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road in Walnut Creek. The featured speaker, Liz Emmonds, will demonstrate how easy it is to manipulate plant materials to create interesting forms to take flower arrangements to a new and exciting level. Please email mslittle44@gmail.com with any questions.

Lafayette Garden Club will meet at 10 a.m. on March 14 at the Lafayette Veteran’s Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The meeting is open to all at no charge. The program for this meeting will be “Edible Gardening and Design” presented by author and Lafayette resident Stefani Bittner. She will offer up ideas and suggestions for our home gardens. Complimentary refreshments. The LGC has openings for new members so come by and enjoy!

The Montelindo Garden Club March meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 15 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Community Hall. Presentation: Chelsea Flower Show, Speaker: Barbara Norkus, who is an anglophile who has attended the world famous Chelsea Flower Show many times. She will share her music video from the 2016 show.

The Moraga Garden Club will hold its next meeting at 9:30 a.m., March 21, at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. The guest speaker will be Pamela Hester, from the Sloat Garden Center in Danville. The topic of her discussion will be, “Growing Vegetables in Containers.” Free. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit moragagardenclub.com.

The Orinda Garden Club presents Fire Resistant Landscaping by garden designer Kate Frey at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 28 at the Orinda Library Auditorium. It’s a given that homeowners want their landscapes to be aesthetically pleasing. Ecological considerations such as drought tolerance and habitat support are increasingly valued and showcased. Frey will discuss plant materials and techniques for creating a beautiful fire resistant landscape. Free.