THURSDAY, JULY 16 

“Butterflies in a Butterfly House” with entomologist Rich Kelson of Butterfly Habitat at 7:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. www.goldengateaudubon.org 

Dog Day Thursdays Come practice your reading skills by reading to a dog. A free, drop-in program at 2 and 2:35 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

“The Suntrain and Mr. Swan’s Big Idea” Slideshow presentation on a solar-powered railway at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-3402.  

Berkeley Simplicity Forum on “Decluttering” at 6:30 p.m. at the Claremont Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave. 

Hip-Hop Dance Class for Teens with Lateef at 3 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St.  

Early Childhood Safety Choke-Saving Skills Class, in English and Spanish,  

for parents and caregivers from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111. www.habitot.org 

Magic Workshop with Ordinary Objects with Heather Rogers from 6 to 8 p.m. at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $20. 932-8966.  

Harry Potter Night with games, snacks, and lots of Hogwarts-style fun at 6:15 p.m., at the Main Children's Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. 620-6557. www.richmondlibrary.org  

“Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry” Teach-in at 7 p.m. at AK Press Warehouse, 674-A 23rd St., Oakland. 208-1700. 

Circle of Concern Vigil meets on West Lawn of UC campus across from Addison and Oxford, Thurs. at noon and Sun. at 1 p.m. to oppose UC weapons labs contracts. 848-8055. 

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

Summer Dance Party EveryThurs. at 7:30 p.m. at Live Oak Park. Teachers will lead a variety of dances from around the world. All ages at 7:30, teens and adults at 8:30. Cost is $2 children, $5 adults. 

FRIDAY, JULY 17 

Conscientious Projector Film Series “Torturing Democracy” at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. Donation $5-$10. 841-4824. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St at University. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Berkeley Chess Club meets every Fri. at 7 p.m. at the Hillside School, 1581 Le Roy Ave. 843-0150. 

SATURDAY, JULY 18 

Friends of the Albany Library Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. For information or to volunteer contact friendsalbany@yahoo.com 

Master Gardener Plant Doctor Booth Get information on watering, plant selection, pest management from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. between MLK and Milvia. Bring pictures and samples. 639-1275. 

Garage Sale Benefit for Options Recovery Services, an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1065 Creston Rd. in Berkeley Hills between Marin Ave and Grizzly Peak Blvd. 666-9552. 

Colusa Circle Community FreeCycle Bring your castoffs too good to throw away to exchange for other treasures. No buying, no selling. Salvation Army will pick up the leftovers at the end of the day. To drop off or to reserve a space, call the Colusa Circle Merchants Assoc. 525-6155. 

Easy Tips to Save Money on Your Pets, While Treating Them really well from 1 to 4 p.m. at RabbitEars, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. 

Walking Tour of Historic Oakland Churches and Temples Meet at 10 a.m. at the front of the First Presbyterian Church at 2619 Broadway. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Trinity to Trident Interfaith Peace Walk Program and potluck “Each Step a Prayer Towards World Peace & a Nuclear Free Future” at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Donation $5-$10. No one turned away. www.bfuu.org 

“A Troublesome Pioneer: Galileo Galilei” with Prof. Roger Hahn at 11 a.m. in Room 100, Genetics and Plant Biology Building, UC campus. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Greater Cooper A.M.E. Zion Church, 1420 Myrtle St., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.helpsavealife.org  

Free Car Seat Checks From 10 a.m. to noon officers from the Berkeley Police Department will administer a car seat safety check on the 5th level of the Allston Way Garage, 2061 Allston Way between Milvia and Shattuck. Parking will be validated by Habitot. 647-1111.  

“How to Attract Butterflies and Beneficial Insects to Your Garden” at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave. Free. 644-2351. 

Hip-Hop Dance Class for Teens with Lateef at 3:30 p.m. at West Branch Public Library, 1125 University Ave. 981-6270.  

Circus Weekend at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Cost is $10-$15. 932-8966. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org 

Chocolate Chip Challah Learn to decorate and bake a treat for Shabbat at 10:30 p.m. at Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty St., El Cerrito. 559-8140. www.jewishgateways.org 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Lawn Bowling on the green at the corner of Acton St. and Bancroft Way every Wed. and Sat. at 10 a.m. for ages 12 and up. Wear flat soled shoes, no heels. Free lessons. 841-2174.  

Open Shop at Berkeley Boathouse from 1 to 5 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Take part in constructing a wooden boat or help out with other maritime projects. No experience necessary. First time is free, cost is $10 per day. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

SUNDAY, JULY 19 

Bike Tour of Oakland for ages 12 and up with bikes, helmets and repair kits. Meet at 10th St. entrance of Oakland Museum of California. free, but reservations required. 238-3514. www.museumca.org 

Fun with Painting A children and family exporations day from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts. Cost is $5-$8. 238-3514. www.museumca.org 

Free Sailboat Rides from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club, Berkeley Marina. Wear warm, waterproof clothing and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children 5 and over welcome with parent or guardian. www.cal-sailing.org 

Social Action Summer Forum with Leon Litvak, Prof. Emeritus, UCB, on“Fight the Power After the Civil Rights Movement” at at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

East Bay Atheists Berkeley meeting at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Main Library, 3rd Floor Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St. This month we watch James Carroll’s documentary, “Constantine’s Sword” an examination by a liberal Catholic of the trubled history of Christianity. 222-7580. www.eastbayatheists.org 

“How to Forgive for Good” Practical ways to let go with Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert at 9:30 a.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1255 First Ave., Oakland. Donations accepted. 465-4793. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Joleen Vries on “The Nyingma Mandala in Europe” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

Sew Your Own Open Studio Come learn to use our industrial and domestic machines, or work on your own projects, from 2 to 6 p.m. at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Also on Thurs. from 2 to 6 p.m. Cost is $5 per hour. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

MONDAY, JULY 20 

Reduce Your Personal and Community Carbon Footprint Four-session Climate Change Action Group, meets Mon. or Tues. at 6 p.m. at the Ecology Center in July or Aug. For specific dates see www.ecologycenter.org 

“Disappearing World: 101 of the Earth’s Most Extraordinary and Endangered Places” with author Alonzo Addison at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Community Yoga Class 10 a.m. at James Kenney Parks and Rec. Center at Virginia and 8th. Seniors and beginners welcome. Cost is $6. 207-4501. 

Three Beats for Nothing South Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Mon. at 3 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, Ellis at Ashby. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

East Bay Track Club for girls and boys ages 3-15 meets Mon. and Wed. at 6 p.m. at Berkeley High School track field. Free. 776-7451.. 

Small-Business Counseling Free one-hour one-on-one counseling to help you start and run your small business with a volunteer from Service Core of Retired Executives, Mon. evenings by appointment at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. For appointment call 981-6148. www.eastbayscore.org 

TUESDAY, JULY 21 

Exploring the Mount Shasta Region Hiking, camping, cycling and more at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Family Program with The Bubble Lady at 6:30 p.m. at the Albany Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

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

Bridge for beginners from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., all others 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sing-A-Long at 2:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Bird Walk at Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the large spherical cage near Nature Center at Perkins and Bellevue. www.goldengateaudubon.org 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

“The Attack on the Poor” with Wendy Peterson, director of Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County at Gray Panthers meeting at 1:30 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 548-9696.  

“A Crude Awakening” A documentary on America’s addiction to oil, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

Free Screening of “The Day the Country Died“ as part of the Radical Film Nite with free popcorn and post-film discussion, at 8 p.m. at the Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave. 540-0751. www.thelonghaul.org 

Sidewalk Games and Art Learn how to play hopscotch, four square, jump rope games, jacks, paint the sidewalk, and make chalk art at 1 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library, Bayview Branch, 5100 Hartnett Ave., Richmond. and 4 p.m. at the West Side Branch, 135 Washington Ave., Richmond. 620-6557. www.richmondlibrary.org 

Family Singalong at 4:30 p.m. at the Albany Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 6 to 8 p.m.at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 594-5165. BlackstoneA@usa.redcross.org  

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. 548-9840. 

Theraputic Recreation at the Berkeley Warm Pool, Wed. at 3:30 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Warm Pool, 2245 Milvia St. Cost is $4-$5. Bring a towel. 632-9369. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at 6 p.m. at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, JULY 23 

“U.S. Policy Challenges in the World Oil Market” with Dr. Severin Borenstein, at 1:15 p.m. at the JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Donation $5. 848-0237. www.jcceastbay.org 

Dog Day Thursdays Come practice your reading skills by reading to a dog. A free, drop-in program at 2 and 2:35 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

“The Money Fix” Film on the problems with the current centralized monetary system and new currency solutions, followed by discussion, at 7 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Donation $5-$15.  

“Reforming the California Budget and the Process for Change”with San Francisco Assessor Recorder Phil Ting and UC Berkeley Professor of Linguistics, George Lakoff at the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Pot luck at 6 p.m. www.wellstoneclub.org 

“Creative Solutions to Balance Work and Life” with Chau Yoder, Chi Gung trainer at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 526-7512. 

Circle of Concern Vigil meets on West Lawn of UC campus across from Addison and Oxford, Thurs. at noon and Sun. at 1 p.m. to oppose UC weapons labs contracts. 848-8055. 

Three Beats for Nothing South Mostly ancient part music for fun and practice meets every Thurs. at 10 a.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, Ellis at Ashby. 655-8863. asiecker@sbcglobal 

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

Summer Dance Party EveryThurs. at 7:30 p.m. at Live Oak Park. Teachers will lead a variety of dances from around the world. All ages at 7:30, teens and adults at 8:30. Cost is $2 children, $5 adults. 

FRIDAY, JULY 24 

“The Visitor” A film about a professor who returns home to find a young couple, undocumented immigrants, living in his apartment, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Friends Church, 1600 Sacramento St. Discussion to follow. 524-4122. 

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

Shimmy Shimmy Kid’s Dance with clowns, dance music and more for the whole family at 6 p.m. at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda. Cost is $5-$10. www.rhythmix.org 

SATURDAY, JULY 25 

Berkeley Kite Festival and West Coast Kite Championships Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. HighlineKites.com 

Help Restore Cerrito Creek Help Friends of Five Creeks volunteers remove invasives to reduce flooding and improve habitat on Cerrito Creek at the foot of Albany Hill. Meet at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara Ave., El Cerrito at 10 a.m. .All ages welcome, snacks, tools, and gloves provided. Wear closed-toed shoes with good traction and clothes that can get dirty. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

Walking Tour of Chinatown Meet at 10 a.m. at the fountain of Pacific Renaissance Plaza, Ninth St., between Webster and Franklin. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Walking Tour of Fox Theater & Uptown Art Deco From 10 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance. Reservations required. Cost is $10-$15. 763-9218. 

Walking Tour of the Bungalows of Fairview Park Meet at 2 p.m. at the northwest corner of College Ave. and Alcatraz. Sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance. Cost is $10-$15. 763-9218. 

East Bay Baby Fair for new and expectant parents, with information, workshops and demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Albany Veterans Memorial Building, 1325 Protland Ave., Albany. Free. www.eastbaybabyfair.com 

“How Art Helps to Preserve & Protect the Landscape for Future Generations” A conversation with Phyllis Faber and Elisabeth Ptak of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, with photographer Marty Knapp, at 5 p.m., followed by sale of photographs to benefit MALT, at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

“What’s the Economy For, Anyway?” a new film by John de Graaf at 7:30 p.m. at the David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way. Cost is $10 at the door. RSVP to events@earthisland.org 

Vegetarian Cooking Class on greens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro. Cost is $55, plus $5 food and material fee. Advance registration required. 531-COOK. www.compassionatecooks.com 

Plant Families of California: A Medicinal Perspective from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at Blue Wind Botanical Medicinal Clinic, 823 32nd St., Apt. B, Oakland. Cost is $40. Two additional sessions in Aug. To register call 428-1810. 

“Backyard Chicken Keeping” with Carla Bossieux and 4-H of Alameda County at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave. Free. 644-2351. 

Fuzzy Bunny Grooming: Pluck, Clip or Cut? Learn how to care for your wool rabbit from 3 to 5 p.m. at RabbitEars, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. www.rabbitears.org 

Peach Tasting at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Center St. at MLK, Jr. Way. 

Family Day at MOCHA “String Things” Tug, pull, and wrap with cords and thread to make loopy paintings an dlacy sculptures, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Museum of Childrens Art, 538 9th St., Oakland. Cost is $7. 465-8770. www.mocha.org 

“Funding a Society Based on Human Needs” a Peace and Freedom Party discussion on the California budget crisis at 2 pm. at Spud’s Pizza, Adeline and Alcatraz Free. 845-4360. tomcondit@igc.org. 

Creature Features at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach with cast and crew, Sat. and Sun. at 10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. Costs is $10-$15. 932-8966. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org 

Mystical Dance Kiyana Workshop on movements from ancient Persia from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Oakland. For details call the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California. 823-7600. 

Bay Area Crafters with handdyed yarms ceramics and more at knit-one-one studio, 3360 Adeline St. www.knitoneone.com 

Master Gardener Plant Doctor Booth Get information on watering, plant selection, pest management from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. between MLK and Milvia. Bring pictures and samples. 639-1275. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Lawn Bowling on the green at the corner of Acton St. and Bancroft Way every Wed. and Sat. at 10 a.m. for ages 12 and up. Wear flat soled shoes, no heels. Free lessons. 841-2174.  

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. 

Open Shop at Berkeley Boathouse from 1 to 5 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Take part in constructing a wooden boat or help out with other maritime projects. No experience necessary. First time is free, cost is $10 per day. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

SUNDAY, JULY 26 

Berkeley Kite Festival and West Coast Kite Championships from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. HighlineKites.com 

Berkeley Path Wanderers: Three Summer Path-a-Thon Walks exploring the Southside/Claremont paths, 9:45 a.m. challenging, 10:15 a.m, moderate, 11 a.m. easy, followed by a bring-your-own picnic at 12:15 p.m. Meet at John Muir School, entrance at 2955 Claremont Ave. near Ashby. 520-3876. www.berkeleypaths.org 

Tour of the Berkeley City Club, designed by Julia Morgan, from 1 to 4 p.m. at 2315 Durant Ave. Sponsored by the Landmark Heritage Foundation. 848-7800. 

Walking Tour of Jingletown: Industry to Art Meet at 10 a.m. at the corner of Lancaster and Glascock, Oakland. Sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance. Cost is $10-$15. 763-9218. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to do a safety inspection, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Bring your bike and tools. 527-4140. 

Social Action Summer Forum on “U.S.-Russian Relations” with Sharon Tennison, Director of the Center for Citizen Initiatives at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

“How to Forgive for Good” Practical ways to let go with Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert at 9:30 a.m. at Lake Merritt United methodist Church, 1255 First Ave., Oakland. Donations acepted. 465-4793. 

Couples Communication Workshop led by Inbal Kashtan, author of “Parenting from Your Heart” from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Chochmat HaLev, 2215 Prince St. For cost and information call 433-0700. www.baynvc.org 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Barr Rosenberg on “Heartfelt Work” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

Sew Your Own Open Studio Come learn to use our industrial and domestic machines, or work on your own projects, from 2 to 6 p.m. at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Also on Thurs. from 2 to 6 p.m. Cost is $5 per hour. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., July 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7415.  

Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets Thurs., July 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6950.  

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Mon., July 20 , at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7429.  

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., July 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7533.  

Energy Commission meets Wed., July 22, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7439.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., July 22, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7416. 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., July 22, at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.  

City Council meets Thurs., July 23, at 5 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Mental Health Commission meets Thurs., July 23, at 5 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. 981-5217.

THURSDAY, JULY 16 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Residency Projects I” New work by Pawel Kruk, Samantha Lautman, Chris Turbuck and Lindsey White. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Kala Gallery, 2990 San Pablo. Exhibition runs to Aug. 15. 841-7000. kala.org 

Alameda Plein Air Paintout 40 artists capture the character of the city through Sat. at various locations. For details see www.frankbettecenter.org 

“The Many Faces of Frida” Artwork by 31 artists representing an aspect, a tradition or a connection to the life of Frida Kahlo. Opening reception at 5 p.m. at Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Building – Atrium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. Exhibit runs to Aug. 28. www.vivafrida.com 

FILM 

In the Realm of Oshima “100 Years of Japanese Cinema” at 6:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Tiffany Higgins, poet, reads from “And Anenas Stares Into Her Helmet” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Sandi Wisenberg reads from “The Adventures of Cancer Bitch” at 6:30 p.m. at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. 

Peter Dale Scott reads from his new book of poetry “Mosaic Orpheus” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Rafa Postel, trumpet, at noon at the downtown Berkeley BART Station. 

The Crucible’s 9th Annual Fire Arts Festival Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Fire Arts Arena, W. Grand Ave. and Wake Ave., Oakland. www.thecrucible.org 

CB3, Michael Kang, High Heat at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15-$18. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

“Crazy in Love with Patsy Cline” with Lavay Smith, Carmen Getit and Belle Monroe at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Ellen Hoffman’s Showcase at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Pam and Jerry, Jill Knight at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

The Adrian Gormley Jazz Ensemble at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

FRIDAY, JULY 17 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through Aug. 15. Tickets are $12-$15. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Altarena Playhouse “Spitfire Grill” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Aug. 16. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Aurora Theatre “Jack Goes Boating” through July 19. Tickets are $28-$50. 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.  

Contra Costa Civic Theatre “Thoroughly Modern Millie” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through July 19. Tickets are $15-$24. 524-9132. www.ccct.org  

Woodminster Summer Musicals “Peter Pan” at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joachin Miller Rd., Oakland, through July 19. Tickets are $25-$40. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Paul Krassner, journalist/satirist, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Veronica Chater reads from “Waiting for the Apocalypse: A Memoir of Faith and Family” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “The Ballad of Baby Doe” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $18-$48. 925-798-1300, www.berkeleyopera.org 

The Crucible’s 9th Annual Fire Arts Festival Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Fire Arts Arena, W. Grand Ave. and Wake Ave., Oakland. www.thecrucible.org 

Faye Carol, blues, at noon at the Kaiser Center Roof Garden, on top of the parking garage, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Free. www.KaiserCenterRoofGarden.com 

Bolokada Conde at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $20. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Molly Holm and Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Sukhawat Ali Khan at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Big Organ Trio, Alex Lee at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $9. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Rising Stars High school jazz intensive concert at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Justin Ancheta at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Terrence Brewer Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, JULY 18 

CHILDREN  

“Tales from Beatrix Potter” Sat. and Sun. at 12:30 and 3 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

Kathryn Rosak & Her Children’s Dance Program at 3:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. For ages 3 and up. Free. 524-3043. 

THEATER 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Too Big To Fail” Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Cedar Rose Park. www.sfmt.org 

Woman’s Will “The Taming of the Shrew” at 1 p.m. at John Hinkel Park. Free.  

EXHIBITIONS 

Anthony Holdsworth: Cityscape Paintings” On dispaly through Aug. 20 at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave., Suite 4. 414-4485. www.altagalleria.com 

FILM 

In the Realm of Oshima “Double Suicide: Japanese Summer” at 6:30 p.m. and “Gohatto” at 8:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Explore Classical Music” with John Reager, Prof. of Music History at Laney College at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr Community Room, 2090 Kittredge. 981-6241. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Rosie Sorenson reads from “They Had Me at Meow: Tales of Love from the Homeless Cats of Buster Hollow” in a benefit reading for the East Bay SPCA at 1 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, Jack London Square, 98 Boradway., Oakland. 272-0120. 

Jaimal Yogis reads from “Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer’s Quest to Find Zen on the Sea” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

“Exploring the Attic of Family Stories” A workshop with Donald Davis from 3 to 5 p.m., and storytelling concert at 7 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4409 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $15-$65. www.ddavisstoryteller.com 

James Gavin on “The Legend of Lena Horne” at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Friends of Negro Spirituals “Generations Preserving Negro Spirituals Together” at 2:30 p.m. at West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St., Oakland. 869-4359.  

Allegro Ballroom Summer Showcase Exhibition of social dancing including ballroom, country, swing, club and Latin dances from 2 to 8 p.m. at Allegro Ballroom, 5855 Christie Ave., Emeryville. Tickets are $10-$20. 655-2888. www.allegroballroom.net 

Bobi Céspedes, Afro-Cuban, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $18-$20. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Pamela Rose & Her Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Tom Rigney & Flambeau at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Jazzsinger’s Collective with the Walter Bankovitch Trio at 3:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 

Stevie Coyle & the Ten-in-One Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

DiiGin at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Apple Pie Hopes, The Sweet Dominiques at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Wish Inflicted at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, JULY 19 

EXHIBITIONS 

”The African Presence in Mexico” docent tour at 2 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Admission is $5-$8. 238-2200.  

Squeak Carnwath ”Painting Is No Ordinary Object” docent tour at 3 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Admission is $5-$8. 238-2200.  

THEATER 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Too Big To Fail” at 2 p.m. at Cedar Rose Park. www.sfmt.org 

Woman’s Will “The Taming of the Shrew” at 1 p.m. at John Hinkel Park. Free.  

FILM 

Tribute to Hayao Miyazaki “Castle in the Sky” at 2:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Municipal Band Concerts from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Bandstand at Lake Merritt, 666 Bellevue Ave. Free. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnics welcome. 338-2818. 

Berkeley Opera “The Ballad of Baby Doe” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $18-$48. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Midsummer Mozart Festival Program I at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Berkeley. Tickets are $30-$60. 415-627-9141. www.midsummermozart.org 

Favianna Rodriguez, Visual Element, and Dr. Loco and his Rocking Jalapeño Band from noon to 4 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Admission is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Vukani Mawethu Choir at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Darryl Anders & Agape Soul at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Americana Unplugged: Jeanie & Chuck’s Country Roundup at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Madou Sidiki Diabate at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$12. 525-5054.  

John Palowich: Non-Standard Basis at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373.  

Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

MONDAY, JULY 20 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Subterranean Shakespeare “Richard III” Staged reading at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Tickets are $8 at the door. 276-3871. 

Chris Hedges on “Empire of Illusion: End of Literacy, Triumph of Spectacle” at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $10-$12. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Alonzo Addison on “Disappearing World: 101 of the Earth’s Most Extraordinary and Endangered Places” at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Poetry Express with Cat Ruiz and Jan Steckel at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

TUESDAY, JULY 21 

FILM 

Tribute to Hayao Miyazaki “Princess Mononoke” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Minal Hajratwala reads from “Leaving India” at 12:30 p.m. at Women of Color Resource Center, 1611 Telegraph Ave. #303, Oakland. 444-2700 ext. 304. coloredgirls.org/brownbag 

Gary Bukovik, watercolorist, will discuss his paintings of flowers at 6:30 p.m. at UC Botanical Garden. Cost is $35-$40. Registration required. 643-2755. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tri Tip Trio at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 

FILM 

“Woman in the Dunes” screening in conjunction with “Reverberations” Japanese Prints of the 1923 Kanto Earthquake at 7 p.m. at Mills College Art Museum, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 430-2164.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Reading Benefit for Berkeley Food and Housing Project with Cryus Armajani, Larry Beresford, MK Chavez, Sharon Coleman and others at 7 p.m. at Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center St. Suggested donation $5.  

Nick Laird on “Glover’s Mistake” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Berkeley Poetry Slam at 8 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Sonic Strut, R&B, Motown, at noon at Oakland City Center, 12th and Broadway. 

Music on the Main with Junius Courtney Big Band at 5 p.m. at the corner of Macdonald Ave. and Marina Way, Richmond. www.richmondmainstreet.org 

Inga Swearingen at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Big Cheese & Jive Cats at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $6. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Celu’s Silver Kittens at 7 p.m. at Chester's Bayview Cafe, 1508 B Walnut Square. 849-9995. 

Fanfare du Belgistan at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Balkan dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Conjunto Rovira at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Rachel Efron at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

THURSDAY, JULY 23 

CHILDREN 

Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences “If You Give A Mouse a Cookie” play based on the book by Laura Numeroff, Thurs. Sat, Sun. at 4 p.m., Fri. at 6 p.m., thruough Aug. 16, at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$12. 296-4433.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Bay Area: Big, Abstract, Digital” an exhibition of new digital prints. Reception at 6 p.m. at the Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. Exhibition runs through Aug. 23. www.digitalartsclub.com 

“Big Frame Up” An exhibit of early American Tramp Art, carved, painted, and one of a kind frames at The Ames Gallery, 2661 Cedar St. through Sept. 2009. 845-4949. www.amesgallery.com 

FILM 

Free Outdoor Movies at Jack London Square “It Came from Beneath the Sea” Come at 7:30 p.m., movies begin at sundown. Bring blankets and stadium seat. 645-9292. www.jacklondonsquare.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Brendan Constantine, Steve Rood and Cathie Sandstrom at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

David Kessler reads from “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Summer Brenner and Owen Hill read from their murder mysteries set in the Bay Area at 7:30 p.m. at Pegauss Boos Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

David Hunter, bass, at noon at the downtown Berkeley BART Station. 

President Brown & The Solid Foundation Band, Andrew Diamond at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

Kelly Park Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Five Eyed Hand, Bo Carpenter at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

The Sacred Profanities at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

FRIDAY, JULY 24 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through Aug. 15. Tickets are $12-$15. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Altarena Playhouse “Spitfire Grill” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Aug. 16. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Sage Cohen and other poets on “Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation of Read and Write Poetry” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Opera “Agrippina 2000” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Oakland Metro Operahouse, 630 3rd St., Oakland. Tickets are $22. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Seaon Brostol, soul, at noon at the Kaiser Center Roof Garden, on top of the parking garage, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. Free. www.KaiserCenterRoofGarden.com 

The Cataracs, electro pop at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Aaron Bahr, trumpet, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Lady Bianca Blues at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Sila & The Afrofunk Experience at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Jazzy Soul Collective with Eric Roberson, Anthony David and Angela Johnson at 10 p.m. at Maxwell’s Lounge, 341 13th St., Oakland. 839-6169. 

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

Ten Mile Tide, Mad Buffalo at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

The Rhythm Doctors at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Sonando Project Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SATURDAY, JULY 25 

CHILDREN  

“Rabbit on the Moon” A Japanese fairytale Sat. and Sun. at 12:30 and 3 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Cost is $7. 452-2259. www.fairyland.org 

THEATER 

Youth Musical Theater Company “Les Miserables” Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$20. www.brownpapertickets.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Moose Must Persuade The Duck” Encaustic drawings and monotypes by Cheryl Finfrock and kinetic art by Sudhu Tewari. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Float Gallery, 1091 Clacot Place, Unit #116, Oakland. 535-1702. www.thefloatcenter.com 

Anthony Holdsworth: Cityscape Paintings Reception at 1 p.m. at Alta Galleria, 2980 College Ave., Suite 4. Exhibition runs through Aug. 20. 414-4485. www.altagalleria.com 

“Ex Libris” Books, objects and assemblages “from the library” by David Patterson on display in the Lobby Showcase at the Rockridge Branch of the O 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“How Art Helps to Preserve & Protect the Landscape for Future Generations” A conversation with Phyllis Faber and Elisabeth Ptak of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, with photographer Marty Knapp, at 5 p.m., followed by sale of photographs to benefit MALT, at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Rhythm & Muse music & spoken word open mic with poets Adele Mendelson & Clive Matson at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., between Eunice & Rose Sts. 644-6893. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Open Opera “The Marriage of Figaro”at 3 p.m. at John Hinkel Park, 41 Somerset Place, off the Alameda. 547-2471. 

Oakland Opera “Agrippina 2000” at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Oakland Metro Operahouse, 630 3rd St., Oakland. Tickets are $22. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Evelie Delfino Sales Posch “Heart Opening Chants” at 8 p.m. at Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St. Tickets are $5-$20. 548-2153. 

Sila and Dublin in a benefit for the Solar Maasai Program at 4 p.m. at the Beta Lounge, 2129 Durant Ave. 845-3200. 

Peruvian Independence Day with De Rompa y Raja Cultural Assoc. at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15-$18. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Robin Gregory & Her Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Stompy Jones at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Erica Luckett & Ruby at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Vento/Grinder Quintet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Fred Randolph Jazz Trio at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

The Shark Alley Hobos at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Live Dead at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Little Muddy at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, JULY 26 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Municipal Band Concerts from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Bandstand at Lake Merritt, 666 Bellevue Ave. Free. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnics welcome. 338-2818. 

Open Opera “The Marriage of Figaro”at 3 p.m. at John Hinkel Park, 41 Somerset Place, off the Alameda. 547-2471. 

Oakland Opera “Agrippina 2000” at 2 p.m. at Oakland Metro Operahouse, 630 3rd St., Oakland. Tickets are $22. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Midsummer Mozart Festival Program II at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Berkeley. Tickets are $30-$60. 415-627-9141. www.midsummermozart.org 

Shirzad Sharif, Kaveh Hedayati & Friends Songs in solidarity with the people of Iran at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5-$10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Peggy Stern & Kristen Strom at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Americana Unplugged: The Honey Dew Drops at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Bandworks Student band recitals at 1 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

The Big Enough Band at 4:30 p.m. and The Malachi Whitson Group at 7 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Matthew Monfort, Mariah Parker, Ancient Future at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

“I started off with my guitar, singing folk songs,” said jazz singer Inga Swearingen. A frequent guest on National Public Radio’s Prairie Home Companion show with Garrison Keillor, Swearingen will perform with her jazz band Wednesday, July 22, at Freight and Salvage. 

Swearingen, who was born in Sweden, Texas, and grew up in San Luis Obispo, where she still lives, “took choir through school, not one-on-one singing lessons. But my parents and my sister sang. Music was always there.” 

Trained operatically, “jazz came first.” Her high school had a jazz choir and “I had a sense of basic swing and tight jazz harmonies in my ear after high school.”  

Studying formally with mezzo Jacalyn Kreitzer, “who flies off to do something at the Met, then back to teach 30 kids a week in San Luis Obispo,” Swearingen strengthened a voice “that was not big ... when I arrange tunes, I arrange very sparsely. I leave a lot of open space. I know where my voice likes to sit. It’s the kind of music I like to hear, too, with lots of space, where you can hear each instrument.” 

Studying operatic singing, she said, “we both knew I had no intention of becoming an opera or classical singer.”  

Majoring in music at Cuesta College, Swearingen’s jazz choir went in 2003 to the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. There she “saw there was a workshop with Swiss singer and ECM recording artist Susanne Abbuehl. She asked for a volunteer; I raised my hand. She had me sing ‘Summertime,’ put it in five, phrase it all scrunched up, but with the last four measures stretched out, so ‘easy’—sounded easy!”  

Swearingen continued to write Abbuehl e-mails for two years until she had the money to return to Switzerland, taking private lessons in Lucerne. “She taught me where, under the big umbrella of music, my voice fits in.” 

Abbuehl had studied North Indian classical singing with Dr. Prabha Atre. “She taught me as Indian teachers do, when they take on a student. We’d cook together, have meals together. Things just bubbled up naturally. I could see how she balanced it all. I patterned my career after hers.” 

After Switzerland, Swearingen applied to Florida State University, and took her MFA in choral conducting at Tallahassee. “I wanted to study more about music, and have the option to teach.” 

Meanwhile, Garrison Keillor of “The Prairie Home Companion” came through San Luis Obispo. “The piano player from my jazz band sent in a CD, in case they were considering local talent. Probably having a name like Inga Swearingen got it to the top of the stack.” 

Speaking of Keillor, she said, “We hit it off right away. He loves improvisation, scat singing ... I think that’s what he tries to do, reading a story.”  

Swearingen’s been invited back “13 or 14 times. I got to go to Wolf Trap, Tanglewood, amazing venues,” she said. “It was a lot of fun, and very spontaneous. You never know what’s going to happen until moments before the show. They try out stuff, then rewrite it at the last minute. It’s exciting and scary. I’m exhausted after the show; I don’t see how he does it.” 

Being a frequent guest on National Public Radio “was such an opportunity,” she said. “People would write to me; amazing they still take the time. There’s no other show like it, combining music with humor. Listeners plan their day around a radio show!” 

Still, it’s “a slow, steady climb; I spend so much time at it. I have an amazing husband and family. It takes so much energy to get a gig, not being known.” 

Swearingen has performed in Berkeley before at the JazzSchool, at Jazz Vespers around the bay and with Anton Schwartz at Peralta loft concerts.  

She’ll be releasing a new CD, First Rain, in October. “There’s a clear difference between this and my other two. It’s jazz—jazz chords and harmonies—but folk jazz, with guitar, stand-up bass, percussion and my sister’s voice in harmony. The two voices together make it more folk.” 

The new CD will have “a handful of jazz standards, a couple folktunes—a Swedish folk song and John Jacob Niles’ ‘Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair,’ and a handful of original tunes.” 

“I love different genres,” Swearingen said. “That was something about school that disenchanted me, the general sense you could only do one thing, and never the twain shall meet. But Bobby McFerrin does it! He jumps across the line all the time. I want to pull from every single genre I’ve been influenced by, into my sound.” 

INGA SWEARINGEN 

8 p.m. July 22 at Freight and Salvage. $18.50.-$19.50. 548-1761. www.thefreight.org.

If the economy, global warming, the state budget impasse, two wars, nuclear proliferation and the fact that your 401k is in the toilet have got you leaning on your elbow like Durer’s Melancholia, cheer up.  

The 2009 Midsummer Mozart Festival, the only all-Mozart festival in the country, begins this week. Most of this year’s selections will be very fresh for Bay Area audiences, but there will still be a few old favorites in the lineup. More to the point, George Cleve, a Bay Area treasure, will be conducting. Cleve has a special relationship with both the works of Mozart and with his performers. They each come to sparkling life when he is wielding the baton. 

Program I of the festival will begin with the Overture to La Clemenza Di Tito, K.621, Mozart’s final opera. It was first performed in Prague in September of 1791 to celebrate the coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia. It was not performed in America until 1952, but since then has increased appreciably in both popularity and critical esteem. Its theme is one of Mozart’s favorites, mercy and forgiveness, and the overture is like a brief mini-symphony. 

Next up is the beautiful Concerto No. 10 for Two Pianos in E flat, composed by the 23-year-old Mozart for his sister Nannerl and himself. Appropriately, sisters Yong Jean Park and Yong Sun Park join the festival orchestra for this performance. 

Coming forward from the orchestra wind section, flute virtuoso Maria Tamburrino will be featured on the Flute Concerto No. 1 in G. Mozart wrote this for the Dutch amateur, Ferdinand Dejean, a physician with the Dutch East India Company when they met in Mannheim in 1778. The wonderful cadenzas should give Tamburrino ample room to display not only her technical strengths and exquisite silvery tone, but her deep interpretive abilities as well. 

The first program will conclude with Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 in D, known as the “Haffner.” This piece began as a now partially lost serenade written for the occasion of the ennoblement of Mozart’s friend Siegmund Haffner in Salzburg in 1782. There is also another “Haffner” serenade, written for the marriage of one of Haffner’s daughters. Our symphony, written by a young man of 26, ushers us into the world of grandeur that is Mozart’s late symphonies.  

The festival’s second concert program will begin with one of Mozart’s best early symphonies, No. 29 in A. With a few exceptions, most of the early symphonies lack that greatness that is overflowing in the late symphonies. It is an exception with four full movements, all beautifully conceived and fully realized. Both the melodies and the orchestrations are brilliant.  

Legendary pianist Seymour Lipkin, a frequent festival guest, returns this year to perform the Piano Concerto No. 19 in F. Mozart composed six piano concertos in 1784, each one a masterpiece, and this was the last of the six. Its final movement is among the most dazzling in his oeuvre. 

French horn soloist David Sprung will present another facet of Mozart’s concerto writing when he joins the festival orchestra for the Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat, from 1787. All of Mozart’s works for French horn were written for the virtuoso performer and Viennese cheese purveyor, Joseph Leutgeb.  

Although he was a gifted musician, Leutgeb brought out a strain of sarcasm in Mozart that lead him to ridicule the horn player mercilessly in the margins of some of these horn concertos (“silly ass Leutgeb,” for instance). In spite of this, the music he wrote for this vendor of frommage is wonderful, and the cadenzas allow the soloist to demonstrate everything of which the instrument is capable.  

The festival concludes with Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C, named the “Jupiter” by the British impresario J. P. Salomon. Mozart entered the opening bars of this and his other two last symphonies into his Verzeichnis aller meiner Werke, his autograph thematic catalogue of his compositions, between June 26 and Aug. 10 of 1788.  

That means that during a six-week period in the summer of 1788, after the failure of Don Giovanni in Vienna, during the time that his infant daughter died, while composing half a dozen other pieces, he carried these three symphonies around in his head and then wrote them down one after the other in fully orchestrated versions.  

Not only would that be difficult in itself, but these are the greatest symphonies of the 18th century and among the greatest pieces of music ever composed. The contrapuntal final movement of the Jupiter is usually singled out for particular excellence, but the whole symphony is magnificent from beginning to end.  

Program I of the Midsummer Mozart Festival will be performed Thursday, July 16, 8 p.m., Mission Santa Clara, SCU Campus in Santa Clara; Friday, July 17, 8 p.m., San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, in San Francisco; Saturday, July 18, 6:30 p.m., Gundlach Bundschu Winery, in Sonoma (outdoors); and Sunday, July 19, 7 p.m., First Congregational Church, in Berkeley.  

Program II of the festival will be performed Thursday, July 23, 8 p.m., California Theatre, in San Jose; Friday, July 24, 8 p.m., San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, in San Francisco; Saturday, July 25, 6:30 p.m., Gundlach Bundschu Winery, in Sonoma (outdoors); and Sunday, July 26, 7 p.m., First Congregational Church, in Berkeley.  

For more information on the Midsummer Mozart Festival and the receptions following the concerts call (800) 838-3006 or visit www.midsummermozart.org. 

Led through a progression of rooms—passages between them with flashing lights, bureaucratic apologies and evidence of some urban accident—into a devilish cabaret, devilishly good fun, where gypsies, eccentrics, a big cat on two legs and others sing and dance, the spectators are finally pulled into another room, a party, the guest of honor on a trapeze, all invited to kiss her knee . . .  

And this is just the chorus that swirls around the real story, The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov’s seductive tale of 1938 (though buried for a quarter century) about a great writer, lolling in a bathtub, spurned by secular censors, extemporizing as Pontius Pilate—so speaking of the Garden of Gethsemene and the lonely passion of another master there—provoking the devil himself and his wild retinue to descend on the unbelieving city to spread anarchy around. 

Four Larks, a nicely punning monicker for a committed little theater company that divides its time between the Bay Area and Melbourne, is putting on (I say it advisedly) a diverting show that proves their musical, their choral and cabaret sensibilities are very strong indeed. They also know how—and when—to have a good time, almost disguising their hard work in the process. 

Four Larks has focused on the love story of the great writer and his lady, but it’s the slightly out-of-focus carrying on by the company around the more romantic vignettes that give the show its giddiness and flavor. But the staged wildness, with a solid musical spine, becomes a kind of dialectic whereby the interplay of the cabaret/wild party with the dramatic tableaux give the troupe the chance to creatively use the whole space, every dizzying angle, entrance and exit, of Ghost Town Gallery in West Oakland, dragging a pleasantly puzzled yet willing audience along with it. 

Bulgakov was the brilliant and witty odd man out in the fantastic theater scene of post-revolutionary Russia. A disciple of Moliere, he first got on Stanislavsky’s wrong side (satirizing that old master and his dramatic mood swings in Black Snow), then incurred the displeasure of the Comintern’s toadies, with tragic effect. The Master and Margarita might be seen as his fairytale escape from such woes, summoning up the devil to beat back the ferocious functionaries of a people’s paradise gone awry. (As William Blake put it, “As a new heaven is begun ... the Eternal Hell revives.” 

A piquant pleasure, at a moment in history—or post-history, if that’s what they’re still selling—to go through the hoops of loneliness, the meatgrinder of social obloquy, like this, with a spirit of fun. 

Jesse Rasmussen put together the script and lyrics and directed, with assistance “devising” by Mat Sweeney (who directed the music and sang with Ellen Warkentine), Sebastian Peters-Lazaro and Alessandro Rumie, who also did the choreography, set and murals. Chloe Greaves, visiting from Melbourne, designed costume and lights and is running the boards. Almost everyone doubles up, some acting and on instruments, among them Em Gift, Susannah Freedman, Max Baumgarten, Nathan Greene, Caitlin Valentine, Troy Delaney, Danny Echevarria, Lidsay Cooper, Matthew Fleming, Mallory Gross and Stephanie Butterworth. It’s a bright, young troupe, finding their way instead of dutifully marching down the well-worn highways of one style or another. The Master and Margarita comes closer to vaudeville, burlesque, Commedia in spirit than many more polished “nouveau” presentations.  

THE MASTER AND MARGARITA 

Presented by Four Larks at 8 p.m. July 16-19 at Ghost Town Gallery, 2519 San Pablo Ave. Oakland. $10-$15. Phone or text: 967-0426. E-mail: info@fourlarkstheatre.com. Website: www.fourlarkstheatre.com. 

“I’m driving to rehearsal in a truck loaded with banging metal shadow puppets,” said shadowmaster Larry Reed of Shadowlight Productions, who is co-directing the spectacular aspect of Dan Cantrell’s The Rootabaga Opera, featuring actors, dancers, shadowplay, women’s vocal group Kitka singing to live music. The show takes place tonight through Sunday at The Crucible’s annual Fire Arts Festival in West Oakland, which also hosts performances by several dozen other musicians, dancers, theater and circus artists, as well as demonstrations of the fire arts The Crucible teaches in workshops at its nearby facility. 

Cantrell, an Emmy-winner, also known for his accordion playing, has combined several of poet Carl Sandberg’s Rootabaga Stories (1922) in an ongoing narrative, “with a variety of means of telling, including different ones simultaneously—some spoken, some sung, with puppets going on and off, a troupe of dancers, and a narrator, the Potato-Faced Blindman,” said Reed.  

Working with the voices of Kitka and a septet he’ll direct (which will include a theremin for one number), Cantrell will play keyboards—“but I think he’ll pick up the accordion, too,” Reed said, describing the music as “varied, sometimes with a Bluegrass feel, sometimes like modern compositional music—Eastern European choruses—I don’t know how to describe it.” 

Reed, founder of Shadowlight Productions, will co-direct with Christine Marie, for 10 years with Shadowlight, now studying at CalArts, “who is close to the fire artists as well.”  

Another primary component, the shadow puppets cut from sheet metal, about 105 of them, were designed by East Bay artist Mark Bulwinkle. Some of them can be seen online at: markbulwinkle.com.  

“Mark has a whole bouquet of shadow puppet characters in his Emeryville studio,” Reed said. 

Cantrell approached Reed for the shadow work involved in the show. “Twenty years ago, I was thinking of the same thing, using the Rootabaga Stories. I spent about 10 years considering the project, but it never happened. This isn’t strictly a shadowplay, but I reread the stories and saw them in a new context. I saw the characters as metal puppets, and asked Mark to create them. I’d wanted to work with him for years and wanted to work with an arc welder as the light source. There’re fewer rehearsals than in the way we’re used to working, but the way the puppets are designed and shown, the technique’s fairly simple. It’s kind of exciting.” 

Reed described it like primitive film animation. “We don’t have to do a lot with them, just move them a little with the arclight behind them,” he said. “We’re using carbon arcs, like the old movie projectors.” 

Reed, one of the true originals in Bay Area performing arts—and one of the few to make fundamental contributions and changes to the medium he works in—studied French theater as an undergrad at Yale, then came to the San Francisco Art Institute for film with Robert Nelson (noted for Oh Dem Watermelons! with the Mime Troupe).  

After a stint in the Peace Corps, directing theater in Costa Rica, with the Vietnam War on going, “I wanted to go to Southeast Asia, but someplace at peace,” he said. “I wanted to live in a village, after the urban experience I had in Costa Rica, and learn about musical theater that was not Broadway.” 

He went to Bali as a filmmaker. “The camera got stolen and I saw shadow theater there in 1970. I realized it was a kind of movie, the original screenplay.” 

During the ‘70s, Reed studied intensively in Bali, returning to the Bay Area to perform shadow puppetry.  

“I went back to learn more, maintained relations there for over 30 years. I realized I learned everything I could.” he said. “With Shadowlight, I’ve made explorations of the shadow world through different cultures, different iterations, using cinematic technique, a big screen and so on.” 

Reed’s shadowplays employ more than puppets. There are projections, live “shadow actors” with specially designed masks ... in one show, based on Native Californian coyote myths, a Karok storyteller appeared in live video projection above the screen, intoning the tales in a mixture of English and Karok, all in “Indian time.”  

Besides playing in the Bay Area, it was played for Native Californian audiences in the state’s northwest. Octavio Solis’s Seven Visions, Latino-Indian stories, was performed at different California Missions. 

There has always been live music, “something I carried over from Bali,” either original or traditional. The Wild Party, from a 1920s poem, became a jazz piece shadowplay with guitarist Bruce Foreman.  

Reed has continued to collaborate with Asian artists, performing traditional Balinese shadowplay, producing a gamelan festival in San Francisco, creating the stunning In Xanadu about Kubla Khan in China, and collaborating with a Taiwanese theater company on Monkey in the Spider Cave, which toured Taiwan “and may be coming back to life, hopefully to tour Europe.” 

“Taking my work full circle,” Reed has produced eight shadowplays on DVD, available though Shadowlight. “I’ve completely upset the genre sense” of a form that was often considered mere decorative entertainment. With Reed’s innovations, “it’s a new way of telling stories, a new visual language.” 

ROOTABAGA OPERA 

9 p.m. Thursday, July 16 through Saturday, July 18 at The Crucible’s Fire Arts Festival at Fire Arts Arena. Free parking at West Grand Avenue; free shuttle from West Oakland BART. $25-$95 advance festival admission, plus $5 at door. (877) 840-0457. www.thecrucible.org, shadowlight.com.