THURSDAY, OCT. 1 

Berkeley Film Foundation Grant winners honored at 6 p.m. at the Fantasy Building, 2600 Tenth St. Donation $100 benefits the Berkeley Film Foundation. filmberkeley.com 

Jane Goodall “Reason for Hope” in a benefit for International Child Resource, at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Reception at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25-$200. 800-838-3006. brownpapertickets.com 

Berkeley Path Wanderers Annual Meeting with Zara McDonald, founder and director of the Felidae Conservation Fund for the protection of big cats, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. www.berkeleypaths.org 

Celebrating 50 Years of Free Speech Readings from banned books with Mollie Katzen, Marissa Moss, Elisa Kleven David Lance Goines and others at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Berkeley Public Library Branch Renovation Program Come share ideas, meet the architects, and learn about the projects’ scopes at 6:30 p.m. at South Branch, 1901 Russell St. at MLK, Jr. Way. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

“Rational Empire and the Cuban Five” with Dr. Michael Parenti at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists. 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Donation $10-$15. 219-0092.  

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. 

FRIDAY, OCT. 2 

Recipe for Hope Fundraiser for Alameda County Community Food Bank with silent and live auctions, entertainment, food and wine at 7 p.m. at the Hillside Club, Cedar at Arch. Tickets are $60 in advance from The Craftsman Home, 655-6503. 

Rainbow Ramblers Explore the magic of a full moon on a sunset moonrise walk for the LGBTQ community. Bring a sack dinner. Well-behaved dogs on leashes welcome. Meet at 6 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. 544-2233. 

Berkeley School Volunteers New Volunteer Orientation from 10 to 11 a.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Bring a photo ID and two references to the orientation. Returning volunteers do not need to attend. For further information 644-8833. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Jeff Robinson on “Amazon Wildlife Photography Cruise” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $15, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 527-2173.  

“Celebrating Fr. Damien” A reading by Mary O’Donnell from her manuscript “The Exiles” an historical novel on the life of Fr. Damien of Molokai at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St.  

Single Payer Healthcare Not War' Speakers’ Forum and open mic at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Plaza on Telegraph at Haste.  

“Just Begun” Community Rejuvenation Project presents their summer work, including a documentary, photographs, mural painting, and gardening projects in East Oakland, at 7 p.m. at Oakland Green Youth media Center, 2781 Telegraph, Oakland. communityrejuvenation.blogspot.com 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1701 Harbor Bay Pkwy., Alameda. To schedule an appointment go to www.helpsavealife.org 

Kensington First Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. with art, music and refreshments from the merchants of Colusa Circle and The Arlington. 525-6155. 

Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Instruction Pointing Out the Nature of Mind with Rigzin Dorje Rinpoche at 7 p.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at Sixth St. Donation $20. http://bayvajra.inf 

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

Stand With Us Stand for Peace Stand with Israel vigil every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. www.sfvoiceforisrael.org 

SATURDAY, OCT. 3 

Berkeley Architectural Heritage Fall Walking Tour North-Central Berkeley Cost is $10-$15, or $40-$50 for the series. Advance registration required. 841-2242. berkeleyheritage.com  

Berkeley Historical Society Walk Marin Avenue North Early 20th Century Berkeley Hills, led by Paul Grunland at 10 a.m. with an optional picnic afterwards. Cost is $8-$10. For reservations and starting point, call 848-0181.  

Walking Tour of Old Oakland Explore the 9th and Washington St. district. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Ratto’s, 821 Washington St. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234.  

Aztec Run for Education sponsored by the Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation at 8 a.m. at Laney College Track, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. Entry fee is $15. Register at www.aztecrun.org 

Mini-Farmers in Tilden A farm exploration program, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 4-6 years, accompanied by an adult. We will explore the Little Farm, care for animals, do crafts and farm chores. Wear boots and dress to get dirty! Fee is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Homefront Festival with exhibits, tours, entertainment and activities for children from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Lucretia Edwards Park in Richmond. www.homefrontfestival.com 

“Exploring De Staebler Through Movement” A movement workshop with Muriel Maffre in conjunction with the exhibition “Steven De Staebler: The Sculptor’s Way” at 11 a.m. at The Richmond Art Center, 2540 Bartlett Ave., Richmond. Free. 620-6772. www.therac.org 

“Predatory Lending Prevention and Foreclosure Intervention Workshop” From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Emeryville Senior Center, 4321 Salem St., Emeryville. All welcom. 596-4316. 

“Obama, the Middle East, and the Prospects for Peace” with Noam Chomsky at 7:30 p.m. at The Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Cost is $22-$250, benefits the Children of Gaza. www.mecaforpeace.org 

Political Affairs Readers Group meets to discuss “The Struggle for Health Care: Lessons from China, 1949 to Now” with Al Sargis at 10 a.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library for Social Research, 6501 Telegraph Ave., near Alcatraz. 595-7417. 

A Day of Free Financial Planning, offered by the Financial Planning Association of the Bay Area from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Elihu Harris State Building, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. Please pre-register at clinicregistration@yahoo.com 

Tea & Fashion Show Benefit for Prevention International - No Cervical Cancer at 2 p.m. at Bakewell Hall, 521 29th St., Oakland, just west of Telegraph, behind the historic church. Suggested donation $25. 501-5183. Soroptimistoakland.org  

“The Zen of Alice” with author Daniel Silberberg at 4 p.m. at RabbitEars, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. 

BayAir Big Air Bammer Grand Opening Jam event and music show, of a public bike and skate park. Jam sign-up at 9 a.m., Jam at noon at 2310 Myrtle St., Oakland. Free for Oakland youth (ID required), others $10. info@bayairpark.org 

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

Witches and Wizards 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 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. at 2 p.m. 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.  

SUNDAY, OCT. 4 

Spice of Life Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with food, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, and activities for children, on Shattuck Ave. between Virginia and Rose. www.gourmetghetto.org 

EcoHouse Tour Tour the Ecology Center’s environmentally friendly demonstration site and learn about greywater systems, solar panels, on-demand and solar water heater, natural and recycled building materials, and much more. Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 1305 Hopkins St., enter via garden entrance on Peralta. Cost is $10-$15. 548-2220, ext. 239. register@ecologycenter.org 

“Oakland’s Fernwood Neighborhood” House and garden tour sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance. For details see www.OaklandHeritage.org 

Tantalizing Tarantulas Learn about these arachnids and learn the best spots for find them, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Pak. 544-2233. 

Brooks Island Voyage Paddle the rising tide across the Richmond Harbor Channel to Books Island to explore the island’s natural and cultural history, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. For experienced boaters who can provide their own kayak and safety gear. Cost is $20-$22. Registration required. 1-888-327-2757. 

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

“People’s Park Still Blooming” Book release party at 7 p.m. at Art House Gallery, 2905 Shattuck. Donation $5. 

“With Hammer in Hand: The Story of Women in Construction” a television documentary in progress at 2 p.m. at 1401 Walnut St., #1C. RSVP to 548-9904. ruthmag@earthlink.net  

GreenPoint Showcase Tour of homes that have been remodeled or built green, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $10. For details see www.ktvu.com/builditgreen 

Moon Viewing Festival An evening of Japanese food, entertainment, and moon viewing sponsored by the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association and the Golden State Bonsai Collection North. Bento dinner at 5:30 p.m., for $15 at Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, entertainment at 6 p.m. and moon viewing at 6:30 p.m. For dinner reservations call 482-5896 or email info@oakland-fukuoka.org www.oakland-fukuoka.org 

“India: Memories, Dreams and Reflections” with Bill Hamilton-Holway at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

East Bay Atheists Annual Picnic from noon to 4 p.m. at Big Leaf Picnic Area, Tilden Park. Please bring a dish to share. Details at www.eastbayatheists.org/meetings.html  

Jewish Harvest Festival for Young Children at 10:30 a.m. at Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty St., El Cerrito. Free for first-time participants. RSVP required. 559-8140. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. at 2 p.m. 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 Erika Rosenberg on “Working with Emotions” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, OCT. 5 

Healing Children While Building Bridges with Jewish and Arab Children in Israel with three speakers from Israel: Lana Nasrallah, first Palestinian Waldorf class teacher in Israel, Shepa Schneirsohn Vainstein, therapist and co-founder Salaam Shalom Foundation and Tally Zahor, teacher Waldorf HS and peace activist at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Co-sponsored by BFUU’s Social Justice Committee. 

“TV News: How it Got the Way It Is, and Does it Have a Future?” with Bill Schechner at 1:15 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Free. 848-0237. www.jcceastbay.org 

Political Rally Supporting Single Payer Health Care Not War with music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at University Ave. and Martin Luther King Blvd.  

Forum on Immigration Issues at 7 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 981-5190. 

“The Power of Color” Vision and seeing colors with Christie Jones at 7:30 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $5. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, OCT. 6 

Free Flu Shots at the Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo. Vaccines available in both shot and nasal mist form. Seniors and those needing special assistance should enter on Curtis St. 981-5356. 981-5300. 

Tuesdays for the Birds Tranquil bird walks in local parklands, led by Bethany Facendini, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Today we will visit the Berkeley Meadow, Eastshore State Park. Bring water, field guides, binoculars or scopes. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 544-2233. 

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

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 

Homework Help at the Albany Library for students in grades 2 - 6, Tues. and Thurs. from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. Emphasis on math and writing skills. No registration is required. 526-3720. 

Homework Help Program at the Richmond Public Library Tues. and Thurs. from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at 325 Civic Center Plaza. For more information or to enroll, call 620-6557. 

Street Level Cycles Community Bike Program Come use our tools as well as receive help with performing repairs free of charge. Youth classes available. Tues., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. from 2 to 6 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

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

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

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. 

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7 

Berkeley Path Wanderers “Paths, Creeks & History” A self-guided walk. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Live Oak Park Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 520-3876. www.berkeleypaths.org 

Tilden Mini-Rangers Hiking, conservation and nature-based activities for ages 8-12. Dress to ramble and get dirty. Bring a snack. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

North Branch Library Rennovation "Meet the Architects" at 6:30 p.m. at 1170 The Alameda. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Immigration Teach-In “History, Problems, Options for Reform” with Leti Volpp, UCB Prof. of Law, and Mark Silverman, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and immigrants from the community, at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St.  

Sudden Oak Death Preventative Treatment Training Session Meet at 1 p.m. at Tolman Hall “portico” Hearst Ave. at Arch/Leconte, UC campus for a two hour field session, rain or shine. Pre-registration required. SODtreatment@nature.berkeley.edu 

Walking Tour of Oakland City Center Meet at 10 a.m. in front Oakland City Hall at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

“The Next Big Earthquake in Our Backyard” with Kevin Mayeda, seismologist at the UCB Seismological Laboratory at 7 p.m. at Café Valpareso at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Sponsored by East Bay Science Cafe. 

“Ethics, Ecology, and World Renewal” with writer and filmmaker Stephen Most at 7:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 526-3805. 

“White Haze and Jet Trails” and “Weather Warfare” documentaries at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

“An Introduction to Estate Planning” at 7 p.m. at Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St. www.gracenorthchurch.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. 

THURSDAY, OCT. 8 

“Inventing a Masterwork: Bernard Maybeck and the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley, 1909-1911” with Robert Judson Clark at 7:30 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 2619 Dwight Way. Tickets are $15, available from Berkeley Architectural Heritage. 841-2242. berkeleyheritage.com 

Helios Community Open House A presentation on the new Biosciences Institute to be built in downtown Berkeley at 7 p.m. at Pat Brown’s Grill, in the Genetics and Plant Biology Building, UC campus. Take the stairs off Oxford St. near Berkeley Way. For information contact comrel@berkeley.edu 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds. We will have a Nature Treasure Hunt. from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Beginning Seed Saving An introduction to the whys and hows of garden seed saving at 6:30 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., near Dwight Way. Cost is $10-$15. 548-2220, ext. 233. ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley School Volunteers New Volunteer Orientation from 3 to 4 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Bring a photo ID and two references to the orientation. Returning volunteers do not need to attend. For further information 644-8833. 

Home Energy Improvements Workshop Learn how you can save energy and money, improve indoor air quality and take advantage of incentives and rebates, at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. For information call 981-7473. 

East Bay Mac Users Group with Derrick Story, photographer, at 7 p.m. at Expression College for Digital Arts, 6601 Shellmound St., Emeryville. ebmug.org 

American Red Cross Alameda County Heroes Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Oakland Airport Hotel, 1 Hegenberger Rd., Oakland. Tickets are $45. 415-427-8086. www.redcrossbayarea.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Samuel Merritt College, Bechtel Room, 400 Hawthorne St., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.helpsavealife.org 

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. 

The Poetry Workshop, offered by the Berkeley Adult School, meets on Thurs. from 9 a.m. to noon in the library of the North Berkeley Senior Center. Writers of all skill levels are welcome. 

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

FRIDAY, OCT. 9 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Dr. Bethany Cobb n “Astronomical Events: Their Vital Role in the Development of Life on Earth” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $15, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 527-2173. www.citycommonsclub.org 

“Education Inequity” with Dr. Pedro Noguera at 5 p.m. at MLK Student Union at Bancroft Way and Telegraph Ave., UC campus, followed by student spoken word performances on their educational experiences. http://publicservice.berkeley.edu 

Laney College Sixth Annual Business Conference on Green Entrepreneurial Opportunities with keynote speaker Scott Cooney, Author of “Build a Green Small Business: Profitable ways to become an Ecopreneur and a Green Entrepreneur” From 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Laney College, 900 Fallon Street, Oakland. Free. 464-3161. 

“People’s Park Still Blooming” Book release party at 6 p.m. at Cafe Med, 2475 Telegraph Ave., with slide show and park update. 

Womansong Circle An evening of participatory Spsinging for women at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Small Assembly Room, 2345 Channing at Dana. Suggested donation $15-$20. www.betsyrosemusic.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente, Dining Conference Room, 1950 Franklin St., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.helpsavealife.org 

A Jewish Holiday That’s Like Decorating a Christmas Tree? at 6:15 p.m. at Jewish Gateways, 409 Liberty St., El Cerrito. RSVP required. 559-8140. www.jewishgateways.org 

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

Stand With Us Stand for Peace Stand with Israel vigil every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. www.sfvoiceforisrael.org 

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

SATURDAY, OCT. 10 

Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow and Indian Market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at MLK Jr., Civic Center Park, with exhibition dancing at 10 a.m., grand entry at noon, Turtle Island Fountain Sculpture Ceremony at 2 p.m. 595-5520. info@ipdpowwow.org 

Berkeley Architectural Heritage Fall Walking Tour Claremont Creekside From 10 a.m. to noon explore this neighborhood where the contours of the land are kept intact. Cost is $10-$15, or $40-$50 for the series. Advance registration required. 841-2242. berkeleyheritage.com  

Autumn Arachnids Learn about the mysteries of the spider and explore the area looking for orb weavers, jumping spiders, crab spiders and others, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-2233. 

Fall Fruit Tasting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. ecologycenter.org 

Harmony Walk to End Hunger A 3.5 mile walk beginning at 8 a.m. at Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. Sponsored by Greater Richmond Interfaith Program. For information call 233-7127, ext. 304. gripcommunity.org 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland Uptown to the Lake to discover Art Deco landmarks. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of the Paramount Theater at 2025 Broadway. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Native Plant Fair with plants, speakers, books and posters, Sat. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sun. from noon to 3 p.m. at Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Dr., Tilden Regional Park. Sponsored by the California Native Plant Society. 222-2320. ebcnps.org 

Berkeley Garden Club Plant Sale with natives, annuals, perennials, garden items from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 131 Ashbury Ave., El Cerrito. www.berkeleygardenclub.org 

Point Richmod Fall Fest with music, arts, pumpkin patch, chili cook-off and more from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Washington Ave. and Park Place in downtown Point Richmond. www.pointrichmond.com/FallFest 

Rabbit Adoption Day from 1 to 4 p.m. at RabbitEars, 377 Colusa Ave., Kensington. 525-6155. 

German International School, Bilingual K-5 Berkeley Open House from 10 a.m. to noon at UUCB Berkeley, One Lawson Rd., Kensington. www.gissv.org 

“99 Bottles of Beer: Global Brewing Tradition 2500 B.C. to Present” from noon to 6 p.m. at The Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthopology, Gallery and Patio, 103 Kroeber Hall, UC campus. Tickets start at $20. To register see hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/beer 

Techno Geek Art Challenge Create designs or cyborgs with fuses resistors and other gadjets, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 538 9th St., Oakland. Cost is $3-$7. 465-8770. www.mocha.org 

2009 Reel Rock Film Tour Climbing and adventure films at 8 p.m. at Albany Twin, 1115 Solano Ave. tickets are $12. www.reelrocktour.com 

Great Ghost Gathering 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. “Mystery and Mentalism” with Peter Kim, Sat. at 8 p.m. Cost is $20-$25. 932-8966. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Herms District Scouts and Lions Club, American Red Cross Bus, 1325 Portland Ave., Albany. To schedule an appointment go to www.helpsavealife.org 

“Taking your Leadership to the Next Level” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Ginn House in Preservation Park, 1233 Preservation Park Way, Oakland. RSVP to westcoast@moretolife.org  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. at 2 p.m. 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. 

SUNDAY, OCT. 11 

Native Plant Fair with plants, speakers, books and posters, from noon to 3 p.m. at Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Dr., Tilden Regional Park. Sponsored by the California Native Plant Society. 222-2320. ebcnps.org 

Pumpkin Patch Pageant Learn about the squash family at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 544-2233. 

Little Farm Goat Hike Join a short hike and learn about the historic connections between humans and their ungulate friends at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. For ages 6 and up544-2233. 

Crabby Chefs Seafood Festival Benefit for Cal Recreational Sports Fund from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto, 1919 Fourth St. 845-7771. 

Education Summit for all Bay Area educators and youth workers from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at MLK Student Union at Bancroft Way and Telegraph Ave, UC campus. Over 25 skills-building and education issues workshops and keynote by G Reyes. Free for all students, $25 for community members. http://publicservice.berkeley.edu  

Oaktoberfest in the Dimond with a traditional bier garten, Eco-Expo, and events for children, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fruitvale and MacArthur. www.Oaktoberfest.org 

Old Time Radio East Bay Collectors and listeners get together to enjoy shows together at 4 p.m. at a private home in Berkeley . For more information email DavidinBerkeley, [at] Yahoo.com 

All Italian Car and Motorcycle Show Benefit for the Alameda Special Olympics from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School, 1250 Fernside Blvd., Alameda. Cost is $5. 

“Religious Syncretism in Peruvian Shamanism” with Doug Sharon, retired director of Museum of Anthropology, UCB, at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. at 2 p.m. 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 Tom Morse on “Alternatise to Dissatisfaction” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

CITY MEETINGS 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., at 2118 Milvia St. Nabil Al-Hadithy, 981-7460.  

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Thurs., Oct 1, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7429.  

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon., Oct. 5, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. 

Community Health Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 8, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5356.  

Mental Health Commission meets Thurs., Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. 981-5217.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., Oct. 8, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7430. 

City Council meets Tues., Oct. 13, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

THURSDAY, OCT. 1 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Sticky Earth” New ceramics by NIAD artists. Reception at 5 p.m. at NIAD Center for Art and Disabilities, 551 23rd St., Richmond. 620-0290. www.niadart.org 

“On the Road to Dharma” Works by Amy Oliver. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Exhibit runs to Oct. 31. 848-1228. www.giorgigallery.com 

THEATER 

Round Belly Theatre Company “Orestia: Before the Furies” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Noodle Factory, 1255 26th St. at Union, Oakland. Suggested donation $10. www.roundbellytheatre.com 

FILM 

Berkeley Film Foundation Grant winners honored at 6 p.m. at the Fantasy Building, 2600 Tenth St. Donation $100 benefits the Berkeley Film Foundation. filmberkeley.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry of Protest Local poets present work focused on the realities of war and the current state of America’s Healthcare failures, at 7 p.m. at Café Mediterranean, Telegraph Ave. between Dwight and Haste. 

Celebrating 50 Years of Free Speech Readings from banned books with Mollie Katzen, Marissa Moss, Elisa Kleven, David Lance Goines and others at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Poetry Flash with Denise Newman and Sandra Stone at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. moesbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

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

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

Bigelows Treehouse, Porkchop Express at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

Women Jam Night at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

FRIDAY, OCT. 2 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “The Nerd” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Oct. 25. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep “American Idiot” at 2025 Addison St., through Nov. 1. Tickets are $32-$86. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theatre “Harvey” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. through Oct. 11 at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $18, $11 for 16 and under. 524-9132. www.cct.org 

Impact Theatre “See How We Are” A contemporary adaptation of “Antigone.” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through Oct. 17. Tickets are $12-$20. impacttheatre.com 

Round Belly Theatre Company “Orestia: Before the Furies” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Noodle Factory, 1255 26th St. at Union, Oakland. Suggested donation $10. www.roundbellytheatre.com 

Shotgun Players “This World In A Woman’s Hands” The story of the WWII Victory warships and the African-American women who built them, with live acoustic bass by Marcus Shelby. Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage. 1901 Ashby Ave, through Oct. 18. Tickets are $18-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Woman’s Will “The Clean House” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way, through Oct. 10. Tickets are $15-$25. 420-0813. www.womanswill.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

City of Berkeley Civic Center Art Exhibition Works by Berkeley artists on display Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Civic Center, 2180 Milvia St., through Dec. 11. 981-7533. 

The El Cerrito Art Association’s 33rd Annual Art Show Meet the Artists reception at 7:30 p.m. at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane. Also Sat. from noon to 7:30 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Art Attack! A special event for California Arts Day, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Eclectix Gallery, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. www.eclectix.com 

Tarra Lyons “Transmutation” and Joan Weiss “Reckless Blooms” Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Mercury 20 Gallery, 25 Grand Ave., Oakland. 701-4620. www.mercurytwenty.com 

“Longing for the Background” Thérèse Lahaie’s sculptures, photography and site-specific installations. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, 25 Grand Ave., upper level, Oakland. Exhibition runs to Nov. 21. 415-577-7537. www.chandracerrito.com 

“The Human Face of Death Row” Art by Kevin Cooper, James Anderson and Edie Vargas, two of whom are on death row, and the third has a life sentence. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Rock Paper Scissors Gallery, Telegraph and 23rd St., Oakland. www.nodeathpenalty.org 

“This Long Road” work by Derek Weisberg, Crystal Morey, and Ben Belknap. Reception at 7 p.m. at The Compound Gallery, 6604 San Pablo Ave., Oakland thecompoundgallery.com 

Robert Rickard, metal wall art at Christensen Heller Gallery, 5829 College Ave., Oakland, through Nov. 1. 655-5952. www.christensenheller.com 

“Embracing the Spirit” Works by artists who teach art to children. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art Gallery, 472 Water St., Oakland. 

23rd Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition Opening reception at 6 p.m. at 5815 Shellmound Way, Emeryville. Exhibition runs to Oct. 25. 652-6122. www.emeryarts.org 

“Faces and Places” Paintings by Damon Rodrigues. Opening reception at 1 p.m. at Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave., off Park St. 521-1233. www.alamedamuseum.org 

“Writer in Residence” Group art show in mixed media. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St., Alameda. 523-6957. www.freankbettecenter.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Banned Book Week at Berkeley Public Library with readings from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Library Plaza, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

“Celebrating Fr. Damien” A reading by Mary O’Donnell from her manuscript “The Exiles” an historical novel on the life of Fr. Damien of Molokai at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Highlands Meets Lowlands Andean and Venezuelan harp tradtions at 8:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $13-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Macy Blackmand & The Mighty Fines at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Agualibre, LoCura at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10, $8 with bike. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

WomenGig@Trieste with The Kitty Rose Trio at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. Suggested donation $10-$15. 548-5198. 

Rebecca Rust, cello, Friedrich Edelmann, bassoon, Bill Mayer, poet at 8 p.m. at MGiorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Cost is $15. 848-1228. 

The Good Friends Trio with Maria Marquez, Hugo Wainzinger and Jonathan Alford at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Ramana Viera and Ensemble, Portuguese world music, at 8 p.m. at Art House, Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$15. 472-3170. 

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

Damage, Inc., Paradise City, Aaron Pearson at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

SATURDAY, OCT. 3 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Jerry Kennedy at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Saturday Stories “Jackson and Bud’s Bumpy Ride: America’s First Cross-Country Automobile Trip” read by author Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff at 1 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 538 9th St., Oakland. 465-8770. www.mocha.org 

Active Arts Theatre “Strega Nona” Sat. and Sun. at various times at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave, through Oct. 4. Tickets are $14-$18. 296-4433. activeartstheatre.org 

Babes in Toyland Puppet Show at 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. at at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 296-4433.  

THEATER 

Stone Soup Improv Comedy at 8 p.m. at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St. at Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $7-$10. www.stonesoupimprov.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Exploring De Staebler Through Movement” A movement workshop with Muriel Maffe in conjunction with the exhibition “Steven De Staebler: The Sculptor’s Way” at 11 a.m. at The Richmond Art Center, 2540 Bartlett Ave., Richmond. Free. 620-6772. www.therac.org 

“Metaphysical Abstraction: Contemporary Approaches to Spiritual Content” Opening Reception at 5 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center. 644-6893. berkeleyartvcenter.org 

“Faces and Places” Paintings by Damon Rodrigues. Opening reception at 1 p.m. at Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave., off Park St. 521-1233. www.alamedamuseum.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Bay Area Poets Coalition open reading from 3 to 5 pm. at Strawberry Creek Lodge, 1320 Addison St. Park on the street. 527-9905. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “Solidarity” at 8 p.m.at Flux53 Theater/Artspace, 5306 Foothill Boulevard, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org  

Festival of the Harps, featuring over 35 harp groups, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Oakland. Tickets are $10-$20. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Oakland East Bay Symphony “An Evening with Denyce Graves” at 8:30 p.m. at The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $60-$125. www.oebs.org 

“Hand to Mouth” A song-play of the journey of the seed from soil to table with tenor John Duykers at 7:30 p.m. at Bucci’s Café, 6121 Hollis, Emeryville. Cost is $60, inlcudes dinner. For reservations call 547-4725. 

Jackie Payne, Dennis Wilmerth, Jada Simone in a free concert from 1 to 5 p.m. in People’s Park. Presented in conjunction with Single Payer Healthcare Not War. 

Concert for Labor & Human Rights with George Mann at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Suggested donation $5. 495-5132. www.bfuu.org 

The Marlenes at 6:30 p.m. at Bacheeso’s Garden Bistro, 2501 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 644-2035. 

Mucho Axe CD release party at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Carlos Oliveira and Ana Carbatti at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Youssoupha Sidibe at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Strange Angel Blues Band at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

Walcott’s Medicine Show at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Sephardic Music Experience with Kat Parra at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $20. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

The Zony Mash with Horns at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

SUNDAY, OCT. 4 

CHILDREN 

Octopretzel at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Shepherd’s Crook, Zack Bateman & the Spirit in the Basement and others in a benefit for Children’s Hospital at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

UpSurge: Evolution of UpSurge at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Festival of Harps Fringe Festival with Ann and Charlie Heymann, Park Stickney and Rudiger Oppermann at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Compared to What, R&B, at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

MONDAY, OCT. 5 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Subterranean Shakespeare “Pericles” staged reading at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Tickets are $8. 276-3871. 

Jock Whitehouse “The Ledge of Quetzal, Beyond 2012: A Magical Adventure to Discover the Real Promise of the Mayan Prophcey” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

The Art, Technology and Culture Colloquium with artist Camille Utterback on interactive art 7:30 p.m. at Sutardja Dai Main Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall, UC campus. 495-3505. atc.berkeley.edu 

Poetry Express with Sharon Coleman and Thadra Sheridan at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

TUESDAY, OCT. 6 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Po Bronson on “Nurtureshock: New Thinking About Children” at 7 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. TIckets are $10-$12. www.brownpapertickets.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Mark St. Mary Lousiana Blues and Zydeco at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun/Zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

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

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Domestic Disturbance” Intergenerational group of artists on the difficulties of balancing public and private life. Opening reception at 5 p.m. at Worth Ryder Gallery, 116 Kroeber Hall, UC campus. Exhibit runs to Oct. 31.  

FILM 

“Suite Habana” at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Dawkins on “The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution at 7:30 p.m. at FCCB, in the sanctuary at 2345 Channing Way. Enter from courtyard. Tickets are $6-$15. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Cihan Tugal on “Passive Revolution: Absorbing the ISlamic Challenge to Capitalism” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Whiskey Brothers 45th Anniversary Party at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Patrice Haan, harp, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre Resturant, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 

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

Scott Huckabay, world music, at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Borinquen at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Silver Kittens at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

THURSDAY, OCT. 8 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Inventing a Masterwork: Bernard Maybeck and the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley, 1909-1911” with Robert Judson Clark at 7:30 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 2619 Dwight Way. Tickets are $15, available from Berkeley Architectural Heritage. 841-2242. berkeleyheritage.com 

Poetry Flash with Rose Black, Rafaella del Bourgo and Joseph Zaccardi at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. moesbooks.com 

Sherman Alexie on “War Dances” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Oakland, 2501 Harrison St., at 26th, Oakland. Tickets are $6-$15. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Cornelia Nixon discusses “Jarrettsville” about brothers who fought on opposing sides in the Civil War at 7 p.m. at Diesel, 5433 College Ave., Oakland. 653-9965. www.dieselbookstore.com 

Individual World Poetry Slam Championships 7 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10-$15. 841-2082. www.iwps.poetryslam.com 

Poetry Slam Thurs. and Fri. at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, with events from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the café. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Edward Espe Brown presents “The Complete Tassajara Cookbook: Recipes, Techniques, and Reflections from the Famed Zen Kitchen” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ablaye Cissoko & Volker Goetze, African, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Dr. K’s Home Grown Roots Revue with Culann’s Hounds, Lucia Comnes, and the Gas Men at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jazz Singers’ Soiree with Benny Watson Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

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

Country Joe McDonald’s Open Mic at 7 p.m. at BFUU, 1924 Cedar St.  

The Lost Cats at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

FRIDAY, OCT. 9 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “The Nerd” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Oct. 25. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep “American Idiot” at 2025 Addison St., through Nov. 1. Tickets are $32-$86. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theatre “Harvey” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. through Oct. 11 at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $18, $11 for 16 and under. 524-9132. www.cct.org 

Impact Theatre “See How We Are” A contemporary adaptation of “Antigone.” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., through Oct. 17. Tickets are $12-$20. impacttheatre.com 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “So Many Ways to Kill a Man” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Metal Shop Theater, 2425 Stuart St. at Willard School, through Oct. 24. Tickets are $15-$30. 1-800-838-3006. www.raggedwing.org 

Round Belly Theatre Company “Orestia: Before the Furies” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at Noodle Factory, 1255 26th St. at Union, Oakland. Suggested donation $10. www.roundbellytheatre.com 

Shotgun Players “This World In A Woman’s Hands” The story of the WWII Victory warships and the African-American women who built them, with live acoustic bass by Marcus Shelby. Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at The Ashby Stage. 1901 Ashby Ave, through Oct. 18. Tickets are $18-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Smokey Joe’s Cafe “The Songs of Lieber and Stoller” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Alameda Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda. Tickets are $30, Dinner adn show tickets are $55. 522-3428. 

Woman’s Will “The Clean House” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way, through Oct. 10. Tickets are $15-$25. 420-0813. www.womanswill.org 

UC Dept. of TDPS “Dead Boys” A musical by Joe Goode in collaboration with composer Holcobe Waller, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m., through Oct. 18 at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC campus. Tickets are $10-$15. 642-8827. 

FILM 

“It Happened One Night” at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $5. 1-800-745-3000. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Naomi Lowinsky and Al Averbach read their poetry at 7 p.m. at Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Ave., a little north of Hearst. 841-6374. 

Individual World Poetry Slam Championships 7 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10-$15. 841-2082. www.iwps.poetryslam.com 

Poetry Slam at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, with events from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the café. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Deborah Tannen reads from “You Were Always Mom’s Favorite! Sisters in Conversation Throughout Their Lives” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“When Dreams Are Interrupted” dance, music, art and spoken word on the WWII internment experience of Bay Area Japanese-Americans, Fri.-Sun. at 2 p.m. in the Berkeley residence of former internees. For more information see www.purplemoondance.org 

Artists Vocal Ensemble “Kirchenabendmusik” at 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Tickets are $10-$20. wwwave-music.org 

Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum & Friends at 8 p.m. at UTunes Coffe House, First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St., Oakland. Tickets are $14-$18, children ages 6-15, $5. www.utunescoffehouse.org 

Gateswingers Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. at 33 Revolutions Record Shop and Cafe, 10086 San Pablo Ave. at Central, El Cerrito. 898-1836. 

Quijerema at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Hurricane Sam & The Hotsshots at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

LT3, in a benefit for Buffalo Field Campaign at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

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

George Cole & Vive Le Jazz at 8 p.m. at Art House Gallery, 2905 Shattuck Ave.  Donation $10-$12. 472-3170. 

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

7th Street Band at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is 410. 548-1159.  

SATURDAY, OCT. 10 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Juanita Ulloa at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Babes in Toyland Puppet Show at 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. at at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 296-4433.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Joana Carneiro, Berkeley Symphony's new music director, in conversation with pianist and radio host Sarah Cahill at 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr. community room, 2090 Kittredge. 981-6236. 

Ernest Bloch Anniversary Symposium at 2 p.m. at 125 Morrison Hall, UC campus. Free.  

“Metaphysical Abstraction: Contemporary Approaches to Spiritual Content” Artist talk with Tom Marioni at 4 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center. Cost is $5. 644-6893. berkeleyartvcenter.org 

Joaquin J. Gonzalez on “Filipino American Faith in Action” at 3:30 p.m. at Eastwind Books of Berkeley, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

Richard Russo in conversation with West Coast Live’s Sedge Thompson at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“When Dreams Are Interrupted” dance, music art and spoken word on the WWII internment experience of bay Area Japanese-Americans, at 2 p.m. in the Berkeley residence of former internees. For more information see www.purplemoondance.org 

Women’s Antique Vocal Ensemble 10th year anniversary concert at 8 p.m. at St. Albert Priory Chapel, 6172 Chabot Rd., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15. www.wavewomen.org 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “Solidarity” at 8 p.m.at Flux53 Theater/Artspace, 5306 Foothill Boulevard, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org  

Ernest Bloch Anniversary Concert at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC campus. Free. 

The Bloom Project Piano and saxophone comprovisations with Thollem McDonas and Rent Romus at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “The Concerto: An Adversarial Friendship” at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $25-$75. 415-392-4400. 

El Cerrito Free Folk Festival with Eric and Suzy Thompson, Leftover Dreams with Tony Marcus and Partice Haan, Euphonia, Misner and Smith, and many others, from noon to 10 p.m. at Windrush School, 1800 Elm St., El Cerrito. www.elcerritofolkfest.org 

Gamelan Sekar Jaya at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20. brownpapertickets.com 

Orquestra La Moderna Tradición at 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

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

Reggae Angels at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

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

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

Sonic Safari at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

Moh Alileche Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Art House, Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$12. 472-3170. 

LT3 at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

SUNDAY, OCT. 11 

CHILDREN 

Asheba at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

Sharyl Gates Solo Show of paintings in oils and acrylics. Opening reception at 4 p.m. at the Albany Community Center Foyer, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

ENDdependence Poets honor Indigenous La Raza Day at 6 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Opera Piccola Play Reading & Open Mic Poetry at 4 p.m. at Opera Piccola Performing Arts, 2946 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Free, donations accepted. www.opera-piccola.org  

Anna Thomas presents “Love Soup: 160 All-New Vegetarian Recipes from the Author of The Vegetarian Epicure” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

San Francisco Cabaret Opera “Solidarity” at 7 p.m.at Flux53 Theater/Artspace, 5306 Foothill Boulevard, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-289-6877. www.goathall.org  

“When Dreams Are Interrupted” dance, music art and spoken word on the WWII internment experience of bay Area Japanese-Americans, at 2 p.m. in the Berkeley residence of former internees. For more information see www.purplemoondance.org 

Chamber Music Sundaes Program of String Chamber Music at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets at the door are $20-$25. 415-753-2792. www.chambermusicsundaes.org 

Sundays @ Four Chamber Music “Two Pianists” with Luis Magalhaes and Nina Schumann at 4 p.m. at Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Tickets are $15, free for children 18 and under. 559-6910. info@crowden.org 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra “The Concerto: An Adversarial Friendship” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $25-$75. 415-392-4400. 

Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band Fundraiser for the Stupa Peace Park at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unity Church, 2401 LeConte at Scenic. Tickets are $35-$40. 831-425-4466. 

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

Hipline Extravaganza, belly dance, at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Terrence Brewer “Goovin Waves” A Wes Montgomery Tribute at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

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

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

Compared to What, R&B, at 7 p.m. at Chester’s Bay View Cafe, 1508 Walnut St. 849-9995. 

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch at 3 p.m. at Wisteria Ways, 383 61st St., Oakland. Donations $15-$20. Reservations strongly recommended. info@WisteriaWays.org 

Oakland East Bay Symphony, celebrating Michael Morgan’s 20th anniversary as music director, will present “An Evening with Denyse Graves,” a preseason benefit for the symphony’s education and outreach programs, this Saturday, beginning at 5 p.m. with a champagne reception including special guests, followed by dinner with entertainment by Charles Spikes and Friends at 6 p.m., a Gala Concert at 8:30, and a dance with dessert reception at 10:30, at the Fox Theatre in uptown Oakland. 

The concert program includes Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” Ravel’s song cycle Scheherazade, Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Bizet’s Carmen, Suite No. 1 Prelude & Aragonaise—and with Denyse Graves, “Près de remparts de Seville” (from Carmen), Saint-Saëns’ “Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” (from Samson and Delilah), Puccini’s intermezzo from Manon Lescaut, Francesco Cilea’s “Acerba volutta” from Adriana Lecouv-reur and the spiritual “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.”  

Denyse Graves, who has been called “an opera superstar of the 21st century,” is most closely associated with the title role of Carmen—her signature and debut role at the Metropolitan Opera during the 1995–96 season. 

Graves is a native of Washington, D.C., where she attended the Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts; she studied at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory, receiving her doctorate from Oberlin. Ebony Magazine named her one of 50 Leaders of Tomorrow.  

Graves received the Marian Anderson Award, presented by Marian Anderson, and sang at the tribute honoring the 70th anniversary of Marian Anderson’s appearance at the Lincoln Memorial. She hosts a weekly show on XM satellite radio, “Voce di donna.” 

Also from Washington, D.C.—where he bagan conducting at 12—and an Oberlin alumnus, Michael Moore studied at Tanglewood with Gunther Schuller and Seiji Ozawa, working there with Leonard Bernstein. He debuted as a conductor in 1982 at the Vienna State Opera. In 1986 he was chosen by Sir George Solti as assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony. That year, Bernstein invited him to debut with the New York Philharmonic. In addition to the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Morgan directs the Oakland Youth Orchestra, the Sacramento Philharmonic and Festival Opera in Walnut Creek, and teaches the graduate conducting class at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 

Oakland East Bay Symphony’s educational and outreach programs serve more than 24,000 East Bay students annually.

Pinball machines are really a kind of kinetic sculpture,” said Lawrence Zartarian of the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda, as he and museum founder Michael Scheiss, both Berkeley residents, gave a tour of the museum on Santa Clara Avenue, where visitors can pay a set price for free play on the dozens of vintage machines, as well as check out art exhibits and find out about the history and science of pinball. 

Pinball’s history of technological and artistic development will be the special theme of the third annual Pacific Pinball Exhibition, presented by the museum in association with the Pinball Revival Company of Novato, from this Friday through Sunday, at the Marin County Civic Center Exhibition Hall, just north of San Rafael. The exhibition is the biggest pinball show anywhere and features tournaments, speakers, clinics, vendors, raffles and antique and unique games, including one of the museum’s “visible” pinball machines, made of Plexiglass, which shows its electromagnetic workings while being played, and vintage Woodrail games of the ’40s and ’50s from the newly acquired collection of Gordon A. Hasse. Admission gives exposition attendees free play on the hundreds of machines from the museum’s collection, which now number about 650. 

There’s more than a little local history to the museum itself. A game arcade known as Lucky Ju Ju (“Lucky—not bad!—Ju Ju,” Scheiss points out, smiling), once a stroll from the Neptune Beach amusement park that flourished on Crab Cove from 1917 until 1939, which the nonprofit museum has begun to restore and refurbish with vintage jukeboxes, an old movie theater popper and bottles of cola.  

The museum’s being expanded, too, into a long storefront, which was once the Record Gallery, with an entrance on Webster. “It was owned by an old Alameda character named Fud,” Scheiss said. Fud was reputedly something of a hip mentor to the young Jim Morrison, later of the Doors, when his Navy brass father was stationed here. 

Scheiss and Zartarian—both collectors who’ve donated their scores of pinball machines to the museum—spoke with enthusiasm, erudition and wit about the history of the game that inspired cautionary tales from generations of mothers. Remotely descended from an ancient Greek game—“like bocce ball,” said Scheiss, “but played up an incline, arching balls over holes”—pinball’s more direct ancestor was Bagatelle, a game popular with the French aristocracy during the reign of Louis XVI. Played at the Château de Bagatelle, it employed a cue stick to shoot marbles that would be caught by arrays of pins on a board “the size of a grape tray,” according to Zartarian. “Like the nobility taking croquet indoors as billiards, with pockets,” said Scheiss.  

In America, pinball’s true home, Montague Redgrave developed the ball shooter in 1870. Pinball quite literally got legs in the 1890s, joining the coin-op phonograph as an amusement in saloons and pharmacies.  

Pinball was electrified in the ’30s, the Bally Bumper added on, and finally, in 1947, the flipper was invented, giving the player ball control and making pinball a game of skill. 

Going through the museum’s warehouse at Alameda Point is a good way to get into the game: pinball machines are being overhauled and restored constantly there. Scheiss and Zartarian eagerly show some of the unique games—or survivors—including the biggest pinball machine ever, Hercules, which shoots cue balls with cue sticks, quite the opposite of Bagatelle’s marbles.  

Back at the museum, the first licensed game, Tommy, is on display. “The Who gave a boost to pinball with their rock opera,” said Scheiss. But within a decade or so, video games had overtaken the electromagnetic marvels of pinball. 

While vintage machines were being discarded, European collectors were discovering Americana. “The lion’s share of jukeboxes are in Europe,” Scheiss noted. But Pacific Pinball Museum is on a mission to bring pinball back home. “We want to become the Smithsonian of pinball,” said Scheiss. He then launched into a funny tale about visiting the venerable national institute and looking for three hours in the American Heritage wing for pinball, only to be shown a Pac Man game. 

Scheiss went through a local odyssey before becoming a pinball collector. A Berkeley High alum, he met his wife, Melissa Harmon (who has written an essay—“A feminist essay!” Scheiss declares—on the fashions worn by the women represented on pinball backglasses), at the Berkeley Film House, “a film commune in an old frat that was going under—but the food killed it! Half wanted macrobiotics, the others, meat and potatoes.” He organized the first annual Berkeley Film Festival, making films—“eating razor blades in one, instead of slicing a woman’s eye, like Dali and Buñuel in their first film ... in 1972, I won the Mayor’s Film Award with The Cretin. I doubt the mayor ever saw it! He reminisced about pinball at the Silver Ball ‘on Durant, above the the art store—aspiring artists would go upstairs!’” 

Showing the backglasses of French-born pinball artist Christian Marche—“like back to the home of Bagatelle”—whose pointy, angularcaricature figures and bright, contrasting colors made his name in the genre, but who had a wide range of style and a master illustrator’s eye for composition—or talking about “Lil Ju Ju,” the 1947 Spartan Manor Travel Trailer that’s become the museum’s equivalent of a Library Bookmobile, taking pinball games and ajukeboxto schools and events—Scheiss and Zartarian demonstrate that special mix of collectors’ doting care with the zeal of educators—and just pure enthusiasm—required to lift a relic of craft, technology and entertainment out of the recent past—often the time most quickly forgotten—and bring it back to life by showing its true place in popular culture, something obscured by the game’s plebian associations. Watching either of these two directors of the Pacific Pinball Museum play a game, jostling the machine with loving care to avoid a “tilt!"—is to know the venerable sport and its equipment are literally in good hands.  

PACIFIC PINBALL EXPO 

10 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2; 10 a.m.–midnight, Saturday, Oct.3; 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. at the Marin Civic Center Exhibition Hall, San Rafael. $15–$25 a day; $35–$45 for the weekend. 

PACIFIC PINBALL MUSEUM 

713 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda. Open Tuesday through Sunday (Friday until midnight). $10 adults; $5 for kids under age 12. 205-9793. www.pacificpinball.org.

Opera tenor John Duykers, no stranger to unconventional performance, will join forces with musician and composer Miguel Frasconi, founder of the Glass Orchestra, in a “sneak preview” and dinner to show excerpts from (and to benefit) Hand to Mouth, the work-in-progress song-play they’re developing together with director Missy Weaver, including additional songs by Charles Shere and artwork by sculptor John Watrous. 

The show starts at 7:30 p. m. this Saturday at Bucci’s Cafe, 6121 Hollis St. in Emeryville ($60 for dinner and performance; reservations: 547-4725), followed by two dinner “sneak previews” on Sunday at the French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol. Information: http://agapeperformanceart.blogspot.com. 

Duykers and Weaver spoke with reflectiveness and wit of the traveling they both do to performances and educational events in other cities—and how they’ve balanced being constantly in motion by living on a farm in Sebastopol with friends, the proprietors of the French Garden Restaurant, raising produce that’s cooked at home or in the restaurant, or taken to farmers markets.  

Duykers mentioned in particular the veritable ragout of this performance, drawing on a wide array of ingredients to “celebrate the journey of the seed from soil to plate and ... the inner thoughts of a farmer as he ponders the meaning of his life’s work": a song from a poem by James Whitcomb Riley ("Little Brook,” from “Brook Song,” a lovesong from a seed to a brook); the instruments and media Frasconi and Duykers will play—and play with—(glass goblets and bowls, toy piano, kalimbas, cooking and eating utensils, farm implements, electronic keyboards, video and audio playback,computer); the songs by composer Charles Shere, whose music and writing is familiar to Berkeley listeners; Watrous’ artwork and sculture, which often include installation of lights; the element of improvisation Duykers, Frasconi and Weaver are committed to—and writings by Duykers, including reflections on his life, on growing up in Butte, Montana, the copper-mining “richest hill on earth,” then making a career in music and performance that has taken him around the world—and down on the farm. “I share the genesis of my passion for farming and singing, and the trials and triumphs related to these passions,” Duykers wrote of the song-play, adding he’d sing “of culinary addictions and delights, and the wonders of the earth.”  

Duykers and Weaver have worked together many times, including on Berkeley Symphony’s premiere of Kurt Rohlde and Amanda Moody’s oratorio, Bitter Harvest, about farmers battling with agricultural genetic engineering by Monsanto. Frasconi has collaborated with the other two, notably on an opera, Trespass Knot, with libretto by Weaver, as well as “spontaneous compositions” for events like the San Francisco Song Festival. 

John Duykers has sung major roles for 40 years in opera houses all over the world, has premiered new works by Philip Glass and Robert Wilson, and created the role of Chairman Mao in Peter Sellars’ original production of John Adams’ Nixon in China, as well as with performance artist George Coates. Miguel Frasconi, living in New York, but long a Bay Area resident, has scored many dance performances, including work by Alonzo King and Anna Halprin, shadowplay theater pieces by Larry Reed’s Shadowlight Productions and has performed with Morton Subotnick. Missy (Melissa) Weaver has designed and staged works for the Paul Dresher Ensemble, performanceartist Rinde Eckart and composer Clark Suprynowicz.

Working—or rather, slaving—in Terre Haute, architect Willum (Misha Madison) is having a birthday party. From his lady love Tansy (Jillian Seagrave), he receives a card for an 8-year-old (“I couldn’t find one that said 34”) and a kind of ultimatum: she’ll be leaving for D.C. to be a TV weatherwoman (“There’s something bigger than us—meteorology!”). He also receives a notice of an audit from the IRS and, from his cynical, hard-drinking theater-critic friend (clearly a realistic role) Axel (Christopher Ciabattoni), a ration of, well, acid bons mots—manque for his milquetoast demeanor. (Willum’s the sort of guy who leaves an outgoing voice message, “I’m not at home—but the front door is always open!”) 

Willum also gets a couple of birthday visits: one, which he isn’t particularly looking forward to, from his eccentric but demanding boss, Warnock Walgrave, aka “Ticky” (Matt Beall), and his overly polite wife, Clelia (Judy Beall) with their high-strung, conniving kid Thor (Noah Han), and another, heralded by an answering machine message, from Rick Steadman (Tim Beagley), the guy from Wisconsin he owes his life to, but has never met, face-to-face. 

Such is the set-up for Larry Shue’s popular screwball comedy-cum-farce, The Nerd, directed by Richard Robert Bunker, in mid-run at Altarena Playhouse in Alameda. 

Bunker, in his program notes, defines Shue’s strong comedic suit as “silly and farcical circumstances, explored by realistic characters with ‘real-world’ problems.” Actually, couldn’t that be any of us? What’s refreshing is for it to be placed in the Midwest or rural South (as in Shue’s The Foreigner) in the ’70s. 

It’s maybe the comic drift of certain situations as much—or more—as the one-liners, rejoinders and resolutions that provoke the deepest laughter: Willum, who’s wondered for years what the heroic soldier from another unit, who found him unconscious behind the lines and carried him to safety, must be like—then discovers Rick, emerging from a monster suit (Rick somehow thinking it was costume dress), who wrecks his birthday with preposterous party games, getting quickly stuck to him through Rick’s loathsome, unwavering loyalty for life, unable to cue his oblivious benefactor in on the horror inspired in all ... attacked by a ravening Nerd indeed. 

(The character of The Nerd touches the hem of political incorrectness, which also disarms the other characters. Confronted by such a vehemently sincere Yahoo, what can they do? It invites comparison with an old Barry Humphries—Dame Edna—character, supposedly his brash, learning-disorderly cousin, an embarrassment to all but his own gleeful, trumpeting self. It also covertly brings up a fundamental theatrical question: who’s acting? And who’s sincere?) 

Attempting to de-nerd his already unwieldy existence, Willum finds Nice doesn’t work—and discovers, too, he can’t play possum: this nerd’s for him. Unable to sit out the infestation, Willum and his friends call in a little help from an unseen cohort who has a plan to try and out-provincialize Rick—but, like a carny mirror image, the Nerd merely leers back distortedly. 

From party games with shoes and socks off and paper bags over heads (funny that the same playwright who in The Foreigner puts on the Klan has the Hoosiers don hoods) to a supposedly secret Terre Haute insider ritual that resemble a mangy dance for tourists by “natives” paid below scale, the slapstick gets goofier, the normal folk reveal more chagrin—and Rick, in his element, reaches for an apotheosis: a kind of normalcy. 

Special Ed teacher-by-day Bunker’s direction (he’s essayed The Foreigner , too, for Altarena) keeps what could be a ragged show from an overreaching script crisp and funny; the cast comes through as individuals and ensemble. And it’s a perfect role for comic actor Beagley, who’s played proto-nerds, outsiders, even tricksters before—like Groucho in The Cocoanuts at CCCT, a production Jillian Seagrave was featured in, too. 

THE NERD 

8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, through Oct. 25 at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda. $17–$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org.

Ever since Rodin conveyed the illusion of movement by modeling a Walking Man without head or arms in the 1870s, so many modern sculptors have adopted the partial human form that it has become endemic to modern sculpture. For at least three decades, Berkeley sculptor De Staebler has been forming sculpted, fragmented images that signify human incompleteness and yearning for wholeness. 

Like many leading Bay Area artists, De Staebler had initial exhibitions of his work at the Richmond Art Center. It was also there that he received the first of his many awards. In the 1960s, when still in his 30s, he created the sanctuary and crucifix at Newman Center here in Berkeley—one of the truly successful ecclesiastical artworks of our time. It is worth noting that this artist was a student of theology at Princeton before coming to Berkeley to study sculpture. The present show is a stunning installation of numerous standing fragmented figures.These pieces are made of clay, which is the crust of the earth itself. Clay, or terra cotta—Latin for “cooked earth”—has an ancient history in human civilization. 

De Staebler’s sculptures stand like totems of an ancient culture, defiant witnesses of endurance. They have no gender but are endowed by the sculptor with a sense of the universal human condition. All these pieces are assembled from previously fired fragments, many of them long buried by the artist over a period of some 40 years on the hillside of his studio and home in Berkeley. Proceeding like an archaeologist, De Staebler then excavated the pieces and placed them on armatures to construct new sculptures with rods, pins and glue. He never resorted to painting or glazing the clay but derived the color from pigments and oxides, applied prior to single firing. This exhibition, consisting of all these fragments of the past, can be seen as compendium of a life’s work. 

The sculptures are expertly installed, standing against light gray walls. Some of them are placed against a slow curve, which emphasizes their vertical stance. Many of his figures are shafts with long vertical forms, suggesting legs, visible torsos and, small heads. “Figure with Curved Leg,” assembled in 2009, is a six-and-a-half-foot silent statue, whose open legs create a dialogue between solid and void kept in equilibrium, which this artist has achieved by fragmentation.