Arts & Events

Berkeley Video and Film Festival Showcases the Indie Spirit

By Justin DeFreitas
Thursday September 25, 2008 - 10:16:00 AM
The 17th annual Berkeley Video and Film Festival features its usual eclectic mix of independent cinema, from The Road to Bonneville, a documentary about hot rod racing in the salt flats of Utah, to George Aguilar’s virtual cinema-poems, with avatar Cecil Hervi roaming the world of Second Life, to California King, a simple tale of budding romance in a mattress showroom.

Time and time again we’ve seen the word “independent” co-opted by the very corporate forces the independents claim independence from: “indie” record labels engulfed by a corporate parent; “indie” film festivals that draw Hollywood’s A-List roster to remote Western boomtowns. -more-


Arts Calendar

Thursday September 25, 2008 - 10:02:00 AM

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25 -more-


Martha Toledo Sings at La Peña

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday September 25, 2008 - 10:01:00 AM

Singer Martha Toledo from southern Oaxaca, Mexico, aptly described as “radiant” and “dazzling,” will perform songs celebrating her native region with guitarists Jose Roberto and Manuel Constancio, with “un flor, un canto y una poesia” by Nancy and Elizabeth Esteva, at “Pura Fiesta!” at La Peña on Shattuck Avenue, on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. -more-


Shotgun Players Stage ‘Vera Wilde’ at the Ashby Stage

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday September 25, 2008 - 10:03:00 AM

Vera Wilde is a fable about the way society eats its heroes,” Shotgun Players founder Patrick Dooley quoted director Maya Gurantz’s anthropophagic line when introducing Chris Jeffries’ heady musical on opening night. -more-


Books: How Berkeley Changed the World

By Steven Finacom Special to the Planet
Thursday September 25, 2008 - 10:10:00 AM

IT CAME FROM BERKELEY -more-


Books: Useful Advice for Building Sustainable Communities

By Carol Polsgrove Special to the Planet
Thursday September 25, 2008 - 10:12:00 AM

THE TRANSITION HANDBOOK: FROM OIL DEPENDENCY TO LOCAL RESILIENCE -more-


About the House: How Much Wire Do You Really Need?

By Matt Cantor
Thursday September 25, 2008 - 11:12:00 AM

I confess to some iconoclastic tendencies. I’m probably more geek than rebel but I certainly don’t like to run with the pack. One way in which this is true is that I’m a big fan of antique wiring. It might seem obvious that very old wiring systems are inherently dangerous but it ain’t necessarily the case. Some of these are in great shape and can serve your need handsomely and some are either inherently inadequate by design or have been ruined by any of the armies of despoilers that roam the country. -more-


Community Calendar

Thursday September 25, 2008 - 09:51:00 AM

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25 -more-