FRIDAY, APRIL 27 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with David Ratner on “How Stock Markets Work” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 526-2925.  

Film Festival for Diversity “Making Whiteness Visible” at 6:30 p.m. in the Longfellow Middle School Auditorium, 1500 Derby at Sacramento. Free, including dinner and child care. Presented by the Berkeley PTA Council. 644-6320. 

“Residues of the Cold War: Cross Straits and Korean Peninsula” A symposium from 1 to 5:30 p.m. in the Great Hall, Bancroft Hotel, 2680 Bancroft Way. Sponsored by the Institute of East Asian Studies. 642-2809. 

Circle Dancing simple folk dancing with instruction. Potluck at 7 p.m., dancing at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Planning meetings for Dedication to denise brown will be on going every Friday at 2 p.m. at LeConte School, Room 104. Photos, videos and dvd's are welcome to be included in the event. For more information, contact Rita Pettit, PRitaAnn@aol.com, 559-4602. 

Family Pot Luck Shabbat at 6 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. Please bring dinner food appropriate for children and non-perisahble ffod for the needy. Sponsored by Kol Hadash. info@kolhadash.org 

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 

“Pursuing Justice in Israel/Palestine” The Jewish Voice for Peace National Conference begins at 7 p.m., followed by a day of speakers on Sun., at Samuel Merritt Health Education Center, 400 Hawthorne Ave., near 34th, Oakland. Cost is $25-$200. Advance registration recommended. 465-1777. www.JewishVoiceforPeace.org 

Open the Farm Meet and greet the animals at the Little Farm as you help the farmers with the morning chores. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Little Farm, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Bring Back the Natives Tour of School Gardens throughout the East Bay. Cost is $30. 236-9558. www.BringingBackTheNatives.net 

LeConte Elementary School Multi-cultural Spring Festival “Tastes of the World” from noon to 4 p.m. at 2241 Russell St. www.leconteonline.org 

Berkeley History Center Walking Tour “South West Berkeley Cultural Landscape” led by William Coburn at 10 a.m. Cost is $8-$10. For information on meeting place and to register call 848-0181. 

Mt. Wanda Wildflower Walk Join a Park Ranger for a walk in the hills where John Muir took his daughters. Terrain is steep, wear walking shoes and bring water. Rain cancels. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Cal-Trans Park and Ride lot at the corner of Alhambra Ave. and Franklin Canyon Rd., Martinez. 925-228-8860. 

City of El Cerrito Earth Day with volunteer work parties, food, music, an art show, composting demonstrations, an alternative fuel vehicle display, fun activities for children. Barbeque lunch at noon at the El Cerrito Community Center. For more information on the work parties, please contact earthday@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or call Garth Schultz at 215-4351.  

“Where is Feminism Now?” Panel Discussion on the newly published Feminists Who Changed America by Barbara Love and Nancy Cott at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books, 1491 Shattuck Ave. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com  

“Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army” with author Jeremy Scahill at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at door, available at independent bookstores, or at 415-255-7296, ext. 253. www.globalexchange.org/events/blackwater 

Volunteers Needed for “Get Ready Berkeley” to distribute information on Pandemic Flu preparations at 10 a.m. at Frances Albrier Community Center, San Pablo Park. 981-5342. 

“Universal Healthcare-How Do We Get There?” A forum with Ron Adler, MD., Susan Bergman, Ann Munoz, MHA, at 10 a.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, Martin Luther King and Hearst.  

E-Waste Recycling for computers and monitors, cell phones, televisions, printers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Whole Foods Market, 3000 Telegraph Ave. 649-1333. 

Know Your Rights Training with Berkeley CopWatch Learn your rights when interating with police from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grassroots House, 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Cal Carnival for Children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lower Sproul Plaza with games, prizes and food. CalCarnival@gmail.com 

Berkeley Public Library Teen Services Demonstration of Live Homework Help at 2 p.m. at the Electronic Classroom on the 3rd Floor of the Central Library, at 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6133. 

International Family Fair with games and activities for children, entertainment and food, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the New School od Berkeley, Bonita St. at Cedar. 548-9165. 

WriterCoach Connection Yard Sale and Fundraiser at 2447 Derby St. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The SAT or ACT? Which Test is Right for You? A free test assessment for high school students from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Princeton Review, 2176 Shattuck Ave. For information call 845-7900, ext. 111. 

Bolshevik Café “Putting the social in socialism, the comedy in communism and the peace in a piece of pizza” at 7 p.m. at Finn Hall, 1819 10th St. Cost is $5-$15. 415-863-6637. 

Film Screening of “Street Survivors” a Claire Burch film at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St. 547-7602. 

Luna Kids Dance Open House from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, Studio C, 2640 College Ave. kids@lunakidsdance.org 

Petite Pooches Playgroup for small dogs from 10:30 11:30 a.m., one block north of Solano on Ensenada at Talbot. 524-2459. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732.  

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755.  

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 

2nd Annual Children’s Day/Book Day Celebration with music, a magician and origami, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Children's Library, 4th floor, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Albany Spring Art and Music Festival with rhythm and blues, Taiko drumming, West African dance and more, children’s activities, food and community booths, from noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park, Washington at Carmel, Albany. www.albanyca.org 

“The Status of Education in Berkeley” with BUSD Directors Karen Hemphill and John Selawsky at 4 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst St. 

“Open Garden” Join the Little Farm gardener for composting, planting, watering and reaping the rewards of our work, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cancelled only by heavy rain. 525-2233.  

El Cerrito Historical Society Spring Meeting will show a video of Sundar Shadi in his home and walking around his garden as he talks about his annual exhibits and his flowers at 1 p.m. at the El Cerrito Senior Center, behind the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7507. 

CA Revels Mayday Zoo Event with a Maypole, the Deer Creek Morris Men and other activities at 1 p.m. at the Oakland Zoo. 632-9525.  

OakTown Blues & Bar-B-Que, St. Paul’s Episcopal School’s annual auction, will be held from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Dunsmuir Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. Call for more information and tickets 285-9614. 

“War & Peace: Israel and the New Regional Paradigm” with Israeli security analyst Eran Lerman at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St. Cost is $10. 525-3582. 

Berkeley Playreading Group reads Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” at 2 p.m. at 1471 Addison St., cross st. is Sacramento, in rear of the 1473 building. Donation $5. 655-7962.  

Tibetan Buddhism with Ken McKeon on “Inside Inquiry” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, APRIL 30  

Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 6 p.m. at the East Pauley Ballroom, MLK Student Union, Bancroft & Telegraph. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE  

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, MAY 1 

“Energy Policy in California: 2006 Study Results and Aftermath” a League of Women Voters Brown bag Lunch at noon at the Albany Library, Marin and Masonic Aves. 843-8824. 

Free Legal Assistance the first Tues. of the month at 6 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. Advance registration required. 526-3720, ext. 5. 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Discussion Salon on “Is Society Sick” at 7 p.m. at JCC, 1414 Walnut. 848-2995. 

Teen Babysitting Class An introduction to child development and practical babysitting hints from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Bananas, 5232 Claremont Ave. To register call 658-7353.  

“Bodhisattva” A lecture by Rev. Carol Himaka at 7 p.m. at the Jodo Shinshu Center, 2140 Durant Ave. at Fulton St. Registration fee is $10 for three lectures. 809-1460. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UCB Fiji Fraternity, 2395 Piedmont Ave. To schedule an appointment call 415-531-8554. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704.  

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around the restored 1870s business district. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of G.B. Ratto’s at 827 Washington St. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

The UCB-BP Deal: Implications for the Public University with Jennifer Washburn, author of “University, Inc.”, Jean Lave, Ignacio Chapela and others at 7 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 

“Our History is Still Being Written: The Story of Three Chinese-Cuban Generals in the uban Revolution” A panel discussion at 5 p.m. at the Heller Lounge, MLK Student Union, UC Campus. 

9th Annual Community Job Fair featuring representatives from more than 40 Bay Area employers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the College of Alameda Central Quad, 555 Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway, Alameda. 748-2208. 

Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 10 a.m. to noon at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 594-5165. 

New to DVD: “The Queen” at 7 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Discussion follows. 848-0237. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome. 548-9840. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, MAY 3 

“Berkeley Rocks” An illustrated lecture on one of Berkeley’s unique neighborhoods by Jonathan Chester at 8 p.m. in the Chapel, Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Cost is $10. Presented by Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. BAHA’s house and Garden Tour of this Thousand Oaks neighborhood will take place on May 6. For information on the lecture and tour please call 841-2242.www.berkeleyheritage.com 

Michael Parenti speaks on “Political Perception & Deception: How to Think About Empire” at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, 501 Harrison St. Benefits Middle East Children’s Alliance. Tickets are $15. 1-800-838-3006. 

Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay Art Auction and reception to benefit ASEB's Adult Day Health Care Program, at 6:30 p.m. at Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave., Piedmont. 644-8292. 

Living with Ones and Twos Practical advice for new parents with Meg Zweiback, nurse practitioner at 7 p.m. at Bananas, 5232 Claremont Ave. To register call 658-7353.  

Baby and Toddler Storytime at 10:30 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Poetry Workshop with Donna Davis, ongoing on Thurs. from 9 a.m. to noon at the JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Donation $10 per semester. 848-0237. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at Spud's Pizza, 3290 Adeline. namaste@avatar.freetoasthost.info  

ONGOING 

Food Drive for Alameda County Food Bank Drop off canned goods, peanut butter, ceareal, powdered milk, beans, rice and pasta at Citibank, 200 Shattuck Ave. from May 1 to 15. Financial donations always welcome. 635-3663, ext. 318.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Lysistrata” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through May 12. Tickets are $12. 525-1620. www.aeofberkeley.org  

Aurora Theatre “Private Jokes, Public Places” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through May 13. Tickets are $38. 843-4822. 

Barestage “Cabaret” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at 72 Cesar Chavez Center, UC Campus. Tickets are $8-$12. 642-3880. 

Berkeley Rep “Blue Door” at 8 p.m. at 2025 Addison St., through May 20. Tickets are $45-$61. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “A Streetcar Named Desire” Tennesse Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning play opens at 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Contra Costa Civic Theatre, 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Runs through May 12. Tickets are $8-$11. 524-9132. www.ccct.org  

Impact Theatre “Measure for Measure” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through May 26.Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. 

Masquers Playhouse “She Loves Me” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through May 12.Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org  

Shotgun Players “Blood Wedding” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through April 29. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Subterranean Shakespeare “Macbeth” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., near Rose in Live Oak Park, to May 26. Tickets are $12-$17. 276-3871.  

EXHIBITIONS 

Acrylics on Canvas by David Giulietti Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Artbeat Salon and Gallery, 1887 Solano Ave. 527-3100. www.arbeatsalon.com 

“Touchable Stories: Richmond” A multi-media, oral history event created by the people of Richmond. Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 6 p.m. through May 13, at 1303 Canal Blvd., Richmond (the former Kaiser Shipyard Cafeteria). Cost is $6-$12. For reservations call 619-3675. www.touchablestories.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jonathan Chester presents a slideshow and lecture on “Berkeley Rocks” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. Some of the homes and gardens will be featured on Berkeley Architectural Heritage’s Spring House Tour on May 6. 704-8222. 

“Music and Message” with Sweet Honey in the Rock on the role of music in the Civil Rights Movement and social activism today at 2 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free.  

Strictly Speaking with David Sederis at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Returning to the Shore” Tribute to James Chaill, connoisseur of Chinese painting at 5:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. all-day symposioum on Sat. 642-0808.  

Jazz Poetry Festival with Adam David Miller, Gael Lacock, Avotcja, Modupue and others at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $20. 848-3227. www.hillsideclub.org 

“The Music of Primes” with mathematician Marcus du Sautoy at 5:15 p.m. at the Valley Life Sciences Bldg., Room 2050, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. 642-0448. 

Marta Acosta reads from “Midnight Brunch” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Dance Project 2007 “The Reception” choreography and tele-immersion technology at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $10-$14. 642-9925. 

De la Canción Protesta al la Canción Propuesta with Holly Near, Linda Tillery, Lichi Fuentes and others at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Kimberly Jackson & “Urban Legends” at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $15. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Ed Neumaster Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Sambada, Sage, Afro, Brazillian, funk, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Nearly Beloved, folk, country afrobilly, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Keith Greeninger at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Evelie Posch and Steve Taylor-Ramirez at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Pat Nevins & Ragged Glory, City Fritter at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Monster Squad, Ceremony at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

3rd Date at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Native Elements at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$12. 548-1159.  

Beatropolis at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Marian McPartland at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20-$24. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with magician Diana Shmiana at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Stage Door Conservatory “The Hobbit” Sat. and Sun. at 5 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20 at the door. www.juliamorgan.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Tied Up On A Rainy Day” Paintings by Bill Jefferson, sculpture by Larry Baumiller. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at The Gallery Of Urban Art, 1746 13th St., Oakland. 910-1833. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Outdoor Poetry Reading at Berkeley Arts Magnet’s Allen Ginsberg Poetry Garden from 2 to 4 p.m. at 1624 Milvia St.  

National Poetry Month Celebration with readings by Denise Newman, Barbara Tomash, Brian Strang, Patrick Duggan, Chad Sweeney, David Holler, Ilya Kaminsky, Bruce Boston, and Martin Woodside at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Jeremy Scahill describes “Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army” at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at door, available at independent bookstores, or at 415-255-7296, ext. 253.  

“A Gathering of Greatness" Allegorical photographs of famous people in the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, by Dorothy Levitt Mayers. Lecture at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 228-3207. 

Ann Fagan Ginger, Candace Falk, Helene Goodwin, Kathy Johnson, PhoeBe ANNE (sorgen) discuss “Where is Feminism Now?” at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books 486-0698.  

Rhythm & Muse Open Mic with Tracy Koretsky at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera Free Concert at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr Community Room, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Harp Music with Chris Caswell Celtic, Latin and Middle Eastern music on hand-made harps at 4 p.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave., off Seventh St. 644-2351. 

Flauti Diversi “Bella Rosas” a program of renaissance and contemporary works for recorder trio at 8 p.m. at St Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave., Albany. Tickets are $15-$18, reservations recommended. 527-9840. 

Berkeley Dance Project 2007 “The Reception” choreography and tele-immersion technology at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $10-$14. 642-9925. 

Kensington Symphony performs Smetana’s “Ma Vlast” at 8 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 545 Ashbury Ave., El Cerrito. Suggested donation $12-$15, children free. 524-9912. 

Ronnie Gilbert, Sandy Tolan, Charlie Varon, Jeff Halper, and more, at 7 p.m. at the Fontaine Auditorium, Samuel Merritt Health Education Center, 400 Hawthorne Ave., Oakland, in a benefit for Jewish Voice for Peace. Tickets $15-$25 sliding scale. 465-1777. 

Quinteto Latino Compositions by Latin American masters at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

Classical African Music and Dance at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $4-$12. 642-9988. 

National Jazz Appreciation Month BMI & The Roster Super Company at 7 p.m. at Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. 836-4649.  

Steve Mann and Friends at noon at Cafe Zeste, 1250 Addison St. at Bonar, in the Strawberry Creek Park complex. 704-9378. 

Jesus Diaz & su QBA, Cuban timba dance music, at 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Music on the Commons at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Kotoja at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. African dance leson with Comfort Mensah at 9 p.m. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Rebecca Griffin at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Chris Zanardi Quartet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Steve Forbert at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Juliet Green and Moodswing at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

David Feffrey’s Jazz Fourtet at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Nicole McRory at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

The Pine Needles, skiffle band, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

Captain Mike and the Sea Kings, Amy Lou’s Blues at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Born/Dead, Signal Lost at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 

CHILDREN 

Stage Door Conservatory “The Hobbit” at 5 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20 at the door. www.juliamorgan.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

Works by Carla Van Slyke, Rita Sklar, Charlotte Britton and Jack Anderson Reception for the artists at 2 p.m. at Solano Grill, 1133 Solano Ave., Albany. 525-8686. 

“Celebrate the Earth” a show by members of the California Watercolor Association and hand-blown glass by Michael Sosin, on display at the Community Art Gallery, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave. through June 8. 204-1667.  

“Jazz on High” Art Show and Jazz Vespers featuring the Art of Andres Guerrero and jazz by Dave Rocha & Quartet at 4 p.m. at High Street Presbyterian Church, 1945 High St, Oakland. www.highstreetpresbyterian.com 

“In Earth’s Shoe” drawings and prints by YaChin You and “The Prom Queen Series” paintings by Brooke Hatch. Artists’ reception at 7 p.m. at 1811 Carleton St. # A. 847-6272. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Amy Wachspress reads from “The Call to Shakabaz” at 6 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Jacqueline Bautista reads from her stories about modern Spain, “Fiestas” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra features Gabriel Faure’s Requiem at 4:30 p.m. at Saint Joseph The Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Free, donations appreciated. www.bcco.org 

Berkeley Dance Project 2007 “The Reception” choreography and tele-immersion technology at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $10-$14. 642-9925. 

California Bach Society “A Madrigal History Tour” at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Tickets are $10-$25. 415-262-0272. www.calbach.org 

William Beatty, pianist, Marvin Sanders, flute at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $10. 644-6893.  

Theater in Song Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano with music by Jake Heggie and Ricky Ian Gordon at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $62. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Ravi Shankar, sitar, at 7 p.m. at at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $36-$68. 642-9988.  

“Songs of Lesser Known Writers” Dave Shank, piano, at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., corner of W. Richmond Ave., Point Richmond. Suggested donation $10. 236-0527. 

Healing Muses and Octangle, wind octet, at 4 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington St., Albany. Tickets are $15-$20. 524-5661. www.healingmuses.org 

Novello Quartet “Spanish Masters” at 4 p.m. at Ridgeway Yoga Studio, 250 Ridgeway St., Oakland. Donations at the door. www.novelloquartet.org 

“Journey to the Heart of Israel/Palestine” with Linda Allen at 7:30 pm La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10. 849-2568. 

Ian Tyson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Brazilian Soul at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Gift Horse at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Balkan Folkdance at 1:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Battle of the Bands at 6 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Shotwell, Sonskull, Coming Up Roses, Shorebird at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

MONDAY, APRIL 30 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Aurora Theatre Staged Readings “Happyslap” by Laura Jacqmin at 7:30 p.m. at 2081 Addison St. For tickets call 843-4822. 

“Art of the Book” with Malcolm Margolin, Publisher, Heyday Books and Amy Thomas, owner of Pegasus and Pendragon Books at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6150. 

Steven Bach Describes “Leni: The Life and Work of Leni Riefenstahl” Hitler’s filmmaker, at 7 p.m. at Cody’d Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Masha Hamilton reads from “Camel Bookmobile” at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Poetry Express with open theme night on “secrets” with special guest Blair at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Trovatore, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Berkeley High School Jazz Bands at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $15. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, MAY 1 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Water and Light” Giclee photographs by Maris Arnold at Au Coquelet, 2000 University Ave. 843-3236.  

“Inspiring Blooms” works in colored pencil by Bei Brown on display at the Tilden Environmental Education Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Visions of Peace and Justice: Over 30 Years of Political Posters” Book release party for Inkworks Press at 7 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568. 

Dale Pendell reads from “Inspired Madness” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Daniel Farber discusses “Retained by the People: the Silent Ninth Amendments and the Constitutional Rights Americans Don’t Know They Have” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Brass Menagerie and Gamelan X at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Balkan dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Ellen Hoffman and Singers’ Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Dale Ann Bradley at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Avishai Cohen at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 

EXHIBITIONS 

Photo Montages by Fletcher Oakes opens at the It Club Gallery, 10070 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito and runs through May 30. www.touchablestories.org 

“Fleeting Moments in Nature and Life” Bronze sculptures by Elizabeth Dante, plein air landscapes by Barbara Ward, watercolors by John Kenyon and paintings by Paul Graf at the Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave., through June 3. 848-1228. 

FILM 

“Goodbye, Dragon Inn” with a lecture by Marilyn Fabe at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Constructions” Artists’ talk with Jenny Honnert, Marya Krogstad and Thomas Morphis at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

Richard Walker describes the greenswards of the Bay Area in “The Country in the City” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Whiskey Brothers Old Time and Bluegrass at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Myra Melford UC Jazz Group at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Leftist Lounge Dance Benefit for grassroots organizations at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Zydeco Flames at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

In Harmony’s Way, a capella, at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 644-2204.  

Orquestra Liberacion at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa lessons at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $29.50-$30.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Mikie Lee and Amber at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Avishai Cohen at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, MAY 3 

EXHIBITIONS 

“My Ruling Planet” Sculptures, paintings and drawings by Rocky Rische-Baird, and “Traidor!” paintings by four Filipino artists. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Esteban Sabar Gallery, 480 23rd St., Oakland. 444-7411. 

FILM 

“Last Summer Won’t Happen” with fimmaker Peter Gessner in person at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Free screening. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lunch Poems Annual student poetry reading at 12:10 p.m. in the Morrison Library, in the Doe Library, UC Campus. http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu 

“Berkeley Rocks” An illustrated lecture on one of Berkeley’s unique neighborhoods by Jonathan Chester at 8 p.m. in the Chapel, Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Cost is $10. Presented by Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. BAHA’s house and Garden Tour of this Thousand Oaks neighborhood will take place on May 6. For information on the lecture and tour please call 841-2242. www.berkeleyheritage.com 

Michael Parenti on “Political Perception and Deception: How to Think about Empire,” at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Cost is $15. Benefit for Middle East Children’s Alliance. 548-0542.  

Dan Bellm, poet at 7 p.m. followed by open mic, at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

“Not for Mother’s Only: Contemporary Poems on Child-Getting and Child-Rearing” with contibuting poets Laynie Browne, Maxine Chernoff, Norma Cole, Brenda Hillman and Elizabeth Treadwell at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Patricia Vidgerman reads from “The Memory Palace of Isabella Stewart Gardner” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Judith Stone investigates apartheid in South Africa in “When She Was White: The True Story of a Family Divided by Race” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Dead Guise and Avalon Rising at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $20-$32. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Muriel Anderson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Peter Anastos & Iternity at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Megan Slankard Band, Cyndi Harvell Trio, Adrienne Shamszad at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Nell Robinson & Red Level, bluegrass and country, at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 644-2204.  

Quetzal at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Joe Cardillo at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Hiromi at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

POETRY READING TO HONOR GINSBERG 

An outdoor poetry reading in honor of Allen Ginsberg and National Poetry Month will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at the Berkeley home where he wrote portions of his landmark “Howl!” The home, at 1624 Milvia St., is now the site of a poetry garden dedicated to Ginsberg. The event will feature poet/writer/teacher G Reyes.  

KEVIN BROWNLOW AT PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE 

Silent film historian, archivist and documentarian Kevin Brownlow will make the last of his three San Francisco International Film Festival appearances at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Pacific Film Archive, when he will present an introduction to silent film. The program will feature clips and short films from different genres, nations and eras within silent film, along with discussion of each and accompaniment by pianist Judith Rosenberg. $10-12. 2575 Bancroft Way. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. www.sfiff.org. 

Brownlow, the author of the silent era oral history The Parade’s Gone By and producer of many documentaries, including Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow, will also appear at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Castro Theater in San Francisco, where the festival will present him with the Mel Novikoff award, followed by a screening of Brownlow’s recent preservation of Douglas Fairbanks’ The Iron Mask; and at 9:15 p.m. Saturday at the Kabuki Theater, where he will present his new documentary about the life and career of legendary director Cecil B. DeMille.  

LIBRARY HOSTS FREE OPERA PERFORMANCE 

The Berkeley Opera will hold a free concert at 2 p.m. Saturday in the third-floor Community Room of the Berkeley Public Library. 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

Architect Glen Small, feeling unappreciated, with no books or significant critical studies of his work in print, drafted his will and testament with a special request: He bequeathed to his middle daughter Lucia the task of writing his biography. His hope was that she would document his achievements and thus firmly establish his professional reputation once and for all. He wasn’t sick; he was just bitter, and wanted the story to be finally told. 

The assignment was strange for other reasons as well. Glen Small was closer to his oldest daughter, and his youngest daughter was a writer. So why had he chosen Lucia? 

Despite having no answer to the question, she took him up on the offer with the hope that the project might bring the two of them closer together. But she had two caveats: that she make a film rather than a book, and that it cover the man as well as the work. With some hesitation, her father agreed. 

The result, My Father the Genius, is amateurish, but in the best sense of the word: It’s a very personal film, with the feel of a home movie. With the exception of a few animations, there is little flourish or flare. Instead it presents a simple, eye-level portrait of a man and how his obsession with his work has affected his personal relationships.  

Glen Small was, by most accounts, a visionary architect in his younger years. He was a founder and faculty member of the Southern California Institute of Architecture and one of the principal proponents of ecologically sound design. His fantastically futuristic Biometric Biosphere combined eco-architecture with science fiction to create an arresting vision of the city of the future, a structure that would touch the ground in only a few places but could house 100,000 people.  

His more modest designs—the ones that actually got built—include houses, museums and commercial buildings that usually feature dramatic sweeping lines. “Sensuality,” as Small puts it, is his intent.  

But despite his talents, Small was brash, arrogant, rude, and at times downright stupid. He alienated his colleagues, jeopardized his career, undermined his own financial stability, and all but abandoned his wife and daughters. And, as we see in the film, he has apparently learned little from his mistakes. 

Small is presented as an aptly named man, one so self-centered and tunnel-visioned that he repeatedly fails as father, as friend, as husband and as lover. His world view allows for little that does not center on himself and confirm his self-image. Granted, when a camera is in your face you’re inclined to behave as though you’re the center of attention, but we get the feeling that Small believes there should always be a camera in his face, that he is just that interesting and important. And the irony is that this is precisely what makes him compelling, if not personable, as a subject. 

It is surprising and a bit disappointing that Lucia Small was unable to get better access to some of the buildings her father designed, and that there is little discussion of the merits of each structure, other than from Glen Small’s own perspective, which we at times suspect is an inflated view. But if you go into this film with only architecture in mind, or with the hope of finding an in-depth portrait of an artist, you’re bound to be disappointed, for My Father the Genius is only superficially concerned with these matters. Ultimately the film is not about whether Small is great or what he is like as a man; it is really Lucia’s story, the story of a daughter given a strange assignment, her willingness to take on that assignment, and the effects that assignment has on her relationships with her sisters and with her father.  

MY FATHER THE GENIUS (2005) 

Written, directed and produced by Lucia Small. Featuring Glen Small. 84 minutes. $29.95. www.myfatherthegenius.com. 

Photograph: Architect Glen Small, posing here with an early design for a solar-powered mobile home community, is the subject of his daughter’s documentary My Father the Genius.

Noted historian and author Alistair Horne, whose book A Savage War of Peace (1977), on the French war against Algerian rebels (1954-62), has been reprinted by the New York Review with a new preface that draws parallels with the War in Iraq, will lecture and be interviewed Monday, 8 p.m., at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., in a coproduction with Moe’s Books. 

Interest in a new printing of Horne’s book, with its familiar issues of torture and “asymmetrical” tactics, arose when American officers in Iraq began passing around copies and discussing its parallels, rather than those of the War in Vietnam, to Iraq, a situation officially conceived in completely different terms. 

Used copies of the book began selling on Amazon.com for as much as $150—an underground bestseller. The new paperback edition is $19.95, and will be available at the event for signing. 

The event was organized by Lewis Klausner, who coordinated the reading series at Black Oak Books for several years. 

“Lewis came by the store, after the announcement that Black Oak was for sale,” said Owen Hill of Moe’s, who organizes the reading series there. “Things were in a state of flux, and Lewis said he was interested in producing offsite events. Then he called, asking if we wanted to coproduce an Alistair Horne appearance! We jumped at the opportunity. We’d never done offsite events, but had been talking about it, and were grateful for Lewis’ expertise. He wants to make it something a little bit like a Berkeley version of City Arts & Lectures, and plans to interview Horne onstage after the lecture.” 

Horne, the author of a number of books on modern French history, draws several parallels between the Algerian War and the one in Iraq: the tactic of insurgents avoiding the occupying military and attacking police and civilian targets instead, in order to demoralize supporters of the occupation; premature declarations of the conflict being “virtually over,” “porous borders” that allowed rebels sanctuary, supplies and reinforcements from contiguous countries (Morocco and Tunisia in Algeria’s case); and, comparing American attempts to build an Iraqi army and police force to fight insurgency, the fact that more Algerians fought for the French than there were rebels—and yet France still lost after eight years’ struggle. 

Horne also emphasizes that “simultaneous internal ‘civil war’” often flares up alongside “a revolutionary struggle against an external enemy”—and that “torture should never, never, never be resorted to by any Western society,” quoting a French officer that when torture was taken up by the military, beyond the scope of civilian police use of it, “the honor of the nation” was involved. 

In a Washington Post book review of the new edition of Horne’s book, Thomas E. Ricks wrote, “As I wrote about the U. S. Army’s big ‘cordon and sweep’ operations that detained tens of thousands of civilian Iraqi males in the Sunni Triangle in the fall of 2003, I remembered Horne: ‘This is the way a administration caught with its pants down reacts under such circumstances ... First comes the mass indiscriminate round-up of suspects, most of them innocent but converted into ardent militants by the fact of their imprisonment.” 

“When we announced the event on the Moe’s website, we got a flurry of emails from customers,” Owen Hill noted, “who had read Horne’s book on the French Commune of 1871, and were intrigued with what he had to say about Iraq. It’ll be fascinating to see how he compares the different historical situations, speaking in person.” 

Admission is $5, though no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information, see www.hillsideclub.org, www.moesbooks.com or call 848-3227.