ART

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMC | MoA) presents two new exhibitions on view through Dec. 8. “Kal Spelletich: Significance Machines and Purposeful Robots” explores boundaries between humans and machines, integrating spirituality and mysticism through an unlikely form - robots. And “New Formalism in Painting and Photography,” which presents the collaborative work of artists R&D (Diane Rosenblum and Joe Doyle) expanding the boundaries of painting and photography through digital manipulations. MoA admission is free. For information on programming and hours, visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.

Youth Maker’s Expo at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. Local young entrepreneurs ages 9-16 are encouraged to display and sell their products and services during the festival, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22. Y-ME will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Entrepreneurs will have the option to attend business and marketing classes before the festival. To apply for free table space visit LafayetteFestival.com/y-me/

24th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 in Downtown Lafayette. Four stages featuring over 20 Bay Area cover bands, 300 artist / craft booths, 3 kid zones with activities for all. New this year - The Young Maker’s Expo and the Xfinity Pigskin Party. Free admission. Free bike valet + parking at BART. Supports local education. www.lafayettefestival.com

The Lamorinda Arts Alliance is delighted to present a juried art exhibition “Under Pressure 2”, at the Main Street Arts Gallery at 613 Main Street, Martinez, from Sept. 6 to Oct. 6. All printmaking mediums were considered for exhibition with an emphasis on varied techniques. Intaglio etchings, monotypes, monoprints, solarplate etchings, Chine-coll‚, relief print woodblocks and linoleum art will be represented. The $100 cash first prize and second, third place and honorable mention show ribbons and prizes will be awarded to the winning artists at the reception from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Join Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMC | MoA) from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 5 for their exhibition reception! Interact with Spelletich’s unexpected robots and immerse yourself in the large digital paintings of the collaborative team R&D. Meet the artists behind R&D, Diane Rosenblum and Joe Doyle. Experience live music by the Bay Area Jazz performers Charged Particles. Enjoy gourmet bites and refreshing beverages. MoA admission and events are free and open to the public. “Kal Spelletich: Significance Machines and Purposeful Robots” and “New Formalism in Painting and Photography” are on view through Dec. 8. For more information visit: www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.

Lamorinda Arts Alliance presents “Abstractly Speaking” by Artist 7 through Sept. 27 at the aRt Cottage, 2238 Mt. Diablo St., Concord. Artist 7 is a group of artists that regularly meet to discuss upcoming shows, museum events and to discuss new art techniques and media. “Abstractly Speaking” presents their current abstract work, with each artist exploring different directions in the genre. Moved by the plight of children at our southern border, the artists will donate 30% of all their sales to The Legal Service for Children in San Francisco. The aRt Cottage is open Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 1 to 5 p.m.

MUSIC

Barefoot Chamber Concerts presents Burning River Baroque: `A Mad, Burning Desire’ from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, at Parish Hall of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Cleveland’s cutting-edge baroque ensemble sheds light on the 17th-c. fascination with madness in a concert of mad songs by Henry Purcell and others. Cost: $15. For more info see http://barefootchamber
concerts.com or call (510) 220-1195 or email info@barefootchamber
concerts.com.

Join us for the September Song Piano Concert by the Piano Composers of Contra Costa Performing Arts Society at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Grace Presbyterian Church 2100 Tice Valley Blvd in Walnut Creek. This musical event features original, seductive music with occasional reference to Broadway, Brahms, and New Orleans - all this performed by composer pianists themselves. This free event is sponsored by the not-for-profit CCPAS founded in 1974 (www.ccpas.org) with donations supporting our youth programs. Parking is plentiful.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert, `Sitkovetsky Plays Schumann’ at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Don Tatzin Community Hall, at the Lafayette Library. The 20th Anniversary celebration follows the concert at JPG@thebank. Tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/
index.php?actions=4&p=1089. More information: www.gccpmusic.com/concert-1

Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, performs Beethoven’s monumental Symphony #9 at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 24 Knox, Lafayette. Experience with Beethoven the hero’s inner journey from mysterious and humble beginnings to thundering triumph. Tickets are available at www.PacificChamber
Orchestra.org.

St. Paul’s concert series continues with Greg Dufford and Fernanda Nieto Duet at 7 p.m. on Sept. 28 at 1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek. From San Francisco Opera and Chamber Orchestra to Denver stages, Greg Dufford bings alive the magic of his clarinet artistry. Renowned from Argentina and Colorado, pianist Dr. Fernanda Nieto joins the stage in a vibrant musical performance. Donation at the door: average $20, Students $10 (all are welcome regardless of donation). www.facebook.com/stpauls
concertseries/

THEATER

Town Hall Theatre opens their milestone 75th “Transformations” 2019-20 Season with Matthew Lopez’s comedy: “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” a celebratory piece about a young man discovering his inner drag queen Sept. 26 though Oct. 19. There will be an opening reception at 8 p.m. on Sept. 28. For tickets and showtimes: BOX OFFICE: (925) 283-1557; www.townhalltheatre.com

LECTURE & LITERATURE

San Francisco Opera previews at 7 p.m. at Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Aug. 28: “Romeo and Juliet” (Charles Gounod), Speaker Timothy Flynn and Sept. 4: “Billy Budd” (Benjamin Britten), Speaker Jonathan Khuner. Contact: Silvia Lin at (925) 838-9255 or slininalamo@gmail.com

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Moraga author Jo Mele will hold a book signing for her memoir “The Odd Grandmothers” at 3 p.m. on Sept. 8 at Cine Cuvee Wine Bar, 2 Theatre Square, Orinda. She compares the similarities in the lives of her great-great-grandmother, her grandmother, and herself; the odd generations of her maternal family. She follows three strong women from Sicily, to Brooklyn, to San Francisco, and back again to Sicily. An immigration success story you will enjoy. Rsvp: jomele@comcastnet

SMC Creative Writing Reading Series with Ada Lim¢n & Matthew Zapruder from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 11 in De La Salle Hall: Hagerty Lounge, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. Ada Lim¢n is the author of five books of poetry, including “The Carrying,” which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry and was named one of the top 5 poetry books of the year by the Washington Post. Matthew Zapruder is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently “Father’s Day,” from Copper Canyon in fall 2019, as well as “Why Poetry,” a book of prose. He is editor at large at Wave Books, where he edits contemporary poetry, prose, and translations.

SMC Afternoon Craft Conversation with Ingrid Rojas Contreras from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 at De La Salle Hall: Hagerty Lounge, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. Often, the image that comes to mind when we think of dramatic structure is Freytag’s pyramid, a shape that visually illustrates rising action, climax, and denouement. In this lecture, we will move away from Freytag’s European understanding of structure, and we will investigate how other cultures understand story, how different writers have thought of dramatic structure in architectural and visual language, and how these artists arrived at their visions.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Moraga Library presents Lego and Listen, at 4 p.m. on Sept. 10. The Lego and Listen program is designed to hone listening skills and explore creativity. Children ages 4-10 listen quietly to stories while creating projects with Lego building blocks.

Moraga Library presents Movie and a Craft at 3 p.m. on Sept. 18. You’ve got a friend in the library! Come watch the first “Toy Story” as you make your own Forky. Craft supplies will be provided by the library. Best for ages 4 and up.

The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center hosts its eighth annual Harvest Fest from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept 29.  The garden is located at 3932 Mt. Diablo Blvd., across from the Lafayette Reservoir entrance.   There will be tours, talks, music, crafts, scarecrow making, games, food and drink and lots of fun.  The event is free.  
 
Henna program at the Moraga Library at 4 p.m. on Sept. 19. Rachel Palacios will the art of Henna. Patrons will be able to use the materials to draw temporary body art. Teens and adults.

OTHER

Cancer Support Community is offering free public tours of our open space in Lafayette. Drop in between 10 and 11:30 a.m. Oct. 12 to meet CSC staff, walk the site, and hear our plans for building a cancer community center. Location: south side of Mt. Diablo Blvd, across from Lafayette Community Garden. Contact Libby Eppinga at leppinga@cancersupport.net or (925) 953-1216 for more information.

Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa and St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa are excited to announce their 2019 Bocce Ball Tournament: The Big La Bocce beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Martinez Bocce Federation. The Bocce Ball Tournament will raise funds to support safety-net programs that improve the quality of life for residents of Contra Costa County who struggle to make ends meet. For more information and registration, please visit https://loavesfishescc.

The 2019 Orinda Classic Car Show Weekend with its Saturday Car Show and Friday Party before it will celebrate the history and excitement of classic cars. The car show will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 and the Friday Party will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the beautiful new Orinda Arts and Garden Center. Online car exhibitor entries and Friday party ticket sales are now available. Enter your car or buy tickets for the party at www.orindacarshow.com.

KPFA Radio 94.1 FM presents Randall Munroe: How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Problems from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. Munroe will discuss his new book, “How To,” answer questions and sign books. Hosted by Brian Edwards-Tiekert. Cost: $12 advance, $15 door. For more info see www.brownpaper
tickets.com/event/4268685 or call (510) 967-4495.

Orinda Junior Woman’s Club Open House from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Taverna Pellegrini 65 Moraga Way, Orinda. Orinda Junior Woman’s Club invites Orinda residents to join them for appetizers, drinks and mingle while you learn about what we do and how they give back to the community. An RSVP would be great, but please feel free to drop in even if you didn’t get a chance to. www.orindajuniors.org

Grand Opening Party at Formula3 from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 14 at 983 Moraga Rd. in Lafayette’s La Fiesta Square. Enjoy small bites, drinks and a chance to win raffle prizes. Formula3 signature classes; Forge, Fire, and Flow, are designed with a 60% focus on one of the three core pillars of fitness to offer a complete and effective workout.

Don’t miss Sustainable Lafayette’s “Think Global, Act Local” fundraiser at the Lafayette Community Center’s Jennifer Russell Building from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 15. The event features Ted-style Talks from local sustainable living experts including Larry Goldzband, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Erica Welton, Founder and Owner or Organic Coup, and Jim Coyle, LEED Accredited Professional and Construction Manager at Equity Community Builders. Lafayette businesses will be providing seasonal appetizers, and beverages will be provided by Jackson Family Wines and Anchor Brewing Company. A silent auction offers a great opportunity to do some sustainable shopping! Funds raised will be used to expand youth engagement programs. For tickets or more information visit www.sustainablelafayette.org

The Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW-OML) will hold its annual showcase meeting to kickoff its 2019-20 year and give updates on its activities and projects from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 17 (with 9:30 to 10 a.m. social hour) at Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Also, a recent UC Berkeley graduate will speak on her experience at this year’s AAUW National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), the premier leadership training conference for college women. The meeting is open to the public.

Mountain Shadow’s 5th Annual Short Film Competition at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 and at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Las Lomas High School Theater, 1460 S. Main St. (across from Kaiser Hospital) in Walnut Creek. Categories include animated, live action/narrative and documentary short films. The 11 finalists will be present to compete for cash prizes and the audience choice awards. General admission tickets will be available for $12 at the door beginning a half hour before the start of the competition. Capital One Caf‚ will host a free reception between the two Saturday shows from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to meet the filmmakers. All are welcome.

Middle Eastern Festival 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 on the grounds of the St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church at 501 Moraga Way in Orinda. All are welcome to enjoy the food, live entertainment, folk dancing, exhibits, games and more. Admission is $2.
 
East Bay students, families, retirees and Climate Change activists are gathering in Walnut Creek Civic Park at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 to support the Global Climate Strike and learn how to make significant impacts for change on this crucial issue facing our nation and our planet. The Community Climate Rally and Environmental Action Fair, hosted by the East Bay Climate Action Network, is part of an effort by citizens in more than 150 nations around the world to demand action and express their outrage over the failure of the U.S. government and other major economic powers and industries to acknowledge and forcefully address climate change.

Join the ContraCosta County Library Accessibility Committee for a screening of Pick of the Litter from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Moraga Library. This documentary follows five puppies as they are trained to become guide dogs for the blind. Over the course of their first two years of life, each dog’s ability to protect a blind human is rigorously honed and tested by professional instructors. If volunteers are available they will bring puppies from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Las Trampas invites you to join them and the Morgan Family for their 10th Annual Walk n’ Roll 1 mile or 5K Run fundraiser from 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 28. Walk, Roll or Run from Lafayette Plaza Park where we’ll have refreshments, music, face painting and more. Your registration fee of $25 ($30 if you register at the Walk) includes a t-shirt, raffle prizes. refreshments. Enjoy entertainment by The Jen Coogan Band, and KKDV music and game wheel. 8 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. start time. Register at www.lastrampas.org or call (925) 310-2363.

GARDEN

The Walnut Creek Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 9 at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, in Walnut Creek. The featured speaker will be Tina Neuhausel on the topic of “Sustainable Contra Costa - What’s happening in our community.” Sustainable Contra Costa is a community of citizens, educators, innovators, and organizations designing and building pathways to ecologically sustainable, economically vibrant, and socially just communities for all. You do not need to be a gardener to join the Walnut Creek Garden Club.

Lafayette Garden Club’s September meeting will start at 10 a.m. on Sept. 12 in Lafayette Veteran’s Bldg, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette. Speaker at 11 a.m. Rebecca Byrom designer of home decorations using natural products and owner of ‘Something Special with Herbs’ will be the guest speaker. She will create some Herb Arrangements and share her favorite Irish Gardens. There is no charge to attend, anyone who is interested please contact twalklet@comcast.net

The Moraga Garden Club Monthly General Meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 19 at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street. Alex Friedman from Sloat Garden Center will speak on the topic of Fall Planting and Pruning. General meetings are free and open to the public. New members are welcomed! For more information: www.moragagardenclub.com

The Montelindo Garden Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 20 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Community Hall. Presentation: Bringing Color to Your Garden With Succulents and Their Friends. Speaker: Cricket Riley. After completing degrees in Landscape Architecture, History, Broadcast Journalism and Near Eastern Studies, in April of 2017 Cricket joined the Ruth Bancroft Garden staff. She loves to help people select appropriate plants to produce lush, beautiful and sustainable gardens. To illustrate her presentation, Cricket will be bringing succulents that can be purchased at the meeting’s conclusion.

Bringing Back the Natives workshop California native plant propagation for beginners: How to create native plants from seeds, cuttings, and divisions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 28 in Walnut Creek. Join renowned environmental educator Judy Adler in a hands-on workshop at her half-acre garden, where you will learn how to propagate California native plants from seeds, cuttings, and divisions, and take home plants you have propagated yourself! $40, limited to 15 people. Register: www.bringingbackthenatives.
net/fall-2019-workshops