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Berkeley Councilmember Jesse Arreguin takes a look early this morning on the computer at his Bancroft Street headquarters at the Alameda County Clerk's election results page, which shows that he's won his race for re-election.
Berkeley Councilmember Jesse Arreguin takes a look early this morning on the computer at his Bancroft Street headquarters at the Alameda County Clerk's election results page, which shows that he's won his race for re-election.
 

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Flash: KPFA Morning Show Staff Fired

Tuesday November 09, 2010 - 09:18:00 AM

The entire staff of the KPFA Morning Show has been fired. See the next issue, now in the process of being posted, for details and comments..


Press Release: Berkeley and National Delegation of Young Jews Challenge American Jewish Leadership At Jewish Federation General Assembly in New Orleans

From Jewish Voice for Peace
Monday November 08, 2010 - 02:28:00 PM

Young Jews Disrupt Netanyahu at Jewish General Assembly from stefanie fox on Vimeo

A group of young Jews with the Young Leadership Institute of Jewish Voice for Peace, including many from the Bay Area, traveled to the largest gathering of Jewish leaders in the US, the Jewish Federation General Assembly, to confront leaders on an approach to saving Israel’s reputation and building young Jewish identity they say actually turns young Jews away. 

Five of the young adults, three Israelis and Israeli-Americans, including two residents of the Bay Area, Rae Abileah, 28, of San Francisco, and Matthew Taylor, 36, of Berkeley, disrupted a speech this morning by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu with banners that said: 

YoungJewishProud.org and one of the below:  

  • The Settlements Delegitimize Israel
  • The Occupation Delegitimizes Israel
  • The Siege of Gaza Delegitimizes Israel
  • The Loyalty Oath Delegitimizes Israel Silencing Dissent Delegitimizes Israel and
  • The Settlements Betray Jewish Values (and in Hebrew:)
  • Justice justice you shall pursue - Deuteronomy 16:20.
The young Jews faced a violent backlash from some audience members. Some audience members attempted to hit and gag Rae Abileah, a young Jewish protester who grew up in Half Moon Bay and now lives in San Francisco. Three of the young Jews, Matan Cohen, Matthew Taylor and Emily Ratner, were temporarily detained, but not before they interrupted Netanyahu's speech five times with chants, and forced him to address them directly. Two of them were captured on the conference live TV feed as they were removed from the crowd. Flipcam footage will be available soon. 

The young Jews' website, www.YoungJewishProud.org, presents the group's Young Jewish Declaration, a compelling vision of collective identity, purpose and values written as an invitation and call to action for peers who care about Israel and Palestine. It is also a strong challenge to elders. The group includes 4 Bay Area residents in total: Matthew Taylor, a writer; Rae Abileah, a national organizer with CODEPINK Women for Peace; Eyal Mazor, a Jewish educator; and Mahaliyah Ayla O, a senior at UC Berkeley. 

These actions are in part a protest of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Jewish Public Affairs Council (JCPA) newly announced $6 million dollar program to target campus, church, peace and human rights groups that are working to end Israel’s human rights violations through nonviolent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions pressure campaigns. The Federations and JCPA are calling this initiative the “Israel Action Network.” Critics say it is a "Shoot the Messenger" approach. 

“We’re here to call out the elephant in the middle of the room. Israel continues to expropriate Palestinian land for Jewish-only communities,passes increasingly racist laws in the Knesset, the foreign minister wants to strip Palestinian citizens of their citizenship -- these are the reasons Israel is becoming a pariah in the world, NOT the human rights groups that are using nonviolent economic pressure to hold Israel accountable. We would be dismissing the values we were raised on if we did not speak up.” Eitan Issacson, Israeli-American, Seattle 

“The Jewish establishment thinks that all we want are free trips to Israel and feel-good service projects. That is in insult to our intelligence and to the Jewish values we were brought up on. What we want is for the American Jewish community to stand up and say that Israel’s ongoing violations of Palestinian human rights are wrong and that we will not continue to support it with our dollars, our political strength and our moral abilities. We are the next generation of American Jews, proud of our heritage, strongly committed to Jewish life. We live our Jewish values in opposing Israel’s human rights violations and we invite – no, implore –all Jews to join in this urgent struggle.” Hanna King, Swarthmore College, Philadelphia 

“We were surprised by how many other young Jews were enthusiastic about the perspective that we brought to the General Assembly. It was scary to ask questions of sometimes hostile panelists, but in fact many people our age were supportive and even asked their own critical questions. We realized this is a terrific opportunity to organize.” Antonia House, graduate student, NYU 

“Right now, the choice for those of us who care about the future of Israel and Palestine is between the status quo--- which includes continued settlement expansion, the siege of Gaza, and the racist Israeli foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman-- or Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions. Given that choice, Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions will win every time.” Matan Cohen, Israeli, Hampshire College 

The students also announced the creation of a spoof Birthright Trip called Taglit-Lekulanu http://taglit-lekulanu.org/ , Birthright for All, open to Palestinian and Jewish-Americans which they followed up with a spoof denial. The goal of the spoof was to highlight the one-sided narrative that Birthright presents, the ways it renders Palestinians invisible. The rebuttal laid bare the problematic assumptions underlying Birthright such as the emphasis on marrying Jews and procreating. http://taglit-lekulanu.org/ 

Participants in the institute include students from schools as diverse as UCLA, NYU, UC Berkeley, Hampshire, and Swarthmore. A new Jewish Voice for Peace campus chapter was recently started at Brandeis University. 


 

 


ABOUT JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE 

Jewish Voice for Peace is America’s largest Jewish grassroots peace group dedicated to reaching a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians based on the principles of equality and international human rights law. 

JVP recently led a campaign to support Israeli artists' boycott of the Ariel settlement. The campaign secured the signatures of over 200 artists dozens of Broadway and Hollywood's leading figures including Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Theodore Bikel, Eve Ensler, Julianne Moore, Mandy Patinkin, Miriam Margolyes, Cynthia Nixon, Roseanne Barr, Ethan Hawke, Ed Asner, the architect Frank Gehry and more. 

JVP works with activists in Palestine and Israel, and in broad coalition with other Jewish, Arab-American, faith-based, and peace and social justice organizations to support the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians for justice, security and self-determination. 

Jewish Voice for Peace calls for: 

 

  • A U.S. foreign policy based on promoting peace, democracy, human rights, and respect for international law
  • An end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem
  • A resolution of the Palestinian refugee problem consistent with international law and equity * An end to all violence against civilians


Press Release: AC Transit Bus Riders Demand Parity with Airline Customers

From urbanhabitat.org
Monday November 08, 2010 - 04:07:00 PM

Ten days after the second round of service cuts to AC Transit this year, bus riders and their allies will be joined by Alameda County Supervisors Keith Carson and Supervisor Nate Miley, Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and other elected officials at a rally to launch the AC Transit Accountability Campaign. They will gather at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 14th and Broadway in Oakland. The campaign aims to raise sufficient and sustainable funds to return AC Transit to its pre-2010 service levels. Bus riders are asking Alameda County's elected officials - from the local to the Congressional level - to join them and fight for AC Transit riders just like they fought for BART's Oakland airline travelers. 

 

"When BART was short $70 million to complete its three-mile Oakland Airport Connector (OAC), elected officials from Oakland, Alameda County and Congress all pitched in and found the money," said Jana Lane, AC Transit Bus Rider and member of Genesis. "Now AC Transit is short $56 million and is cutting core service to thousands of riders, and no one seems to be paying any attention." 

 

Among the OAC's top supporters were Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums and City Councilmember Larry Reid, Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Alameda County Transportation Commission Chair Mark Green, State Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee and Senator Dianne Feinstein. When the OAC lost $70 million in federal stimulus money for BART's failure to comply with civil rights rules, BART was scrambling to make up the loss. These elected officials stepped in and helped find funds and swap other monies at the federal, state and local level. Bus riders are asking for the same treatment of AC Transit's system. 

 

With the upcoming Federal Transportation Bill reauthorization, the development of the Countywide Transportation Plan and the Regional Transportation Plan, along with the reauthorization of Alameda County's Measure B sales tax, there are plenty of opportunities to increase AC Transit's funding to reverse its cuts and protect its service for the long-term. 

 

"We know that the funding is out there, we just need to put our heads together, roll up our sleeves and make it work for AC Transit," said Janet Mack, AC Transit bus rider and member of ACCE.  

 

"We can't afford any more cuts to our service - as it means that students will be missing school, fathers and mothers will be losing job opportunities, the sick will have a harder time getting to their doctors and the list goes on and on. Not to mention that bus drivers - members of our community- are losing their jobs," said Roy Womack, a member of the Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS) Community Organizing Team. 

 

AC Transit cut approximately 7.5% of its service in March and slashed another 7.5% on October 31st. It plans on cutting another 6% of service on December 19th, which looks like roughly half of all weekend service eliminated completely and two-thirds of owl/overnighter service eliminated completely. This will bring service to its lowest levels in 30 years. For more detailed information on the upcoming cuts, see the attachment.  

 

WHAT: Rally to Kick-off AC Transit Accountability Campaign 

WHEN: Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 at 5:15pm 

WHERE: Corner of 14th Street and Broadway, Oakland, California 94612 (in front of the Walgreens) 

WHO: Supervisors Keith Carson and Nate Miley, Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington and members of ACCE, Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS), Center for Progressive Action, Genesis (an affiliate of the Transportation Equity Network), Public Advocates, Richmond Progressive Alliance, United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County, and Urban Habitat


Flash: Worthington Wins for Berkeley Council, Jean Quan Ahead for Oakland Mayor in Ranked Choice Decisions

Friday November 05, 2010 - 05:25:00 PM

The Alameda County Registrar of Voters has posted the unofficial results of the Ranked Choice Voting tallies in Berkeley and Oakland. 

In Berkeley, incumbent councilmember Kriss Worthington was declared the winner, picking up 224 second-place votes from third-place finisher "Ces" Rosales. Final total was Worthington, 1814 votes (57.66%) to George Beier's 1332 (42.34%). 

The big surprise was in Oakland. Jean Quan, after 10 rounds of reassigning the lower-ranked votes for the losing candidates, was declared the unofficial winner in the mayoral contest with 43825 votes (51.09%) to Don Perata's 41949 votes ( 48.91%). There are still 10,000 absentee ballots to be counted, however.


Flash: Mehserle Gets Two Years

By Bay City News
Thursday November 04, 2010 - 10:05:00 PM

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge sentenced former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle to two years in state prison today for involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of unarmed passenger Oscar Grant III.  

A jury convicted him of involuntary manslaughter, with a gun enhancement, July 8 for the shooting death of Grant at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland on Jan. 1, 2009.  

Mehserle, 28, resigned from BART a week after he shot Grant, a 22-year-old Hayward man. The former officer says he mistakenly used his gun instead of his Taser.  

Mehserle could have faced anything from probation up to 14 years in state prison.  

Before Perry sentenced Mehserle, he first ruled on a motion by Mehserle's lawyer, Michael Rains, asking that Mehserle be granted a new trial. That motion was denied.  

Oakland police Chief Anthony Batts has said his department is prepared for any unrest that might occur following Mehserle's sentencing.  

The trial was moved to Los Angeles due to concerns about the extensive media coverage in the Bay Area.


Press Release: David Bacon at La Pena with Grandmothers Against the War

From Bonnie Hughes
Thursday November 04, 2010 - 10:01:00 PM

Photojournalist David Bacon: "Protecting Oil Companies and Attacking Unions -- US Policy in Iraq and the US", presented by Grandmothers Against the War and US Labor Against the War, 7 pm, Sunday, November 7, 2010; donation; La Peña Cultural Center; 3105 Shattuck Avenue,Berkeley, California  

David Bacon will discuss the means by which the U.S. will continue to advise and direct the proposed Iraqi "partnership" government, particularly in policies that affect foreign interests. The attack on the labor movement is now escalating as the Maliki regime seeks to thwart sources of resistance to privatization of industry and public enterprises, including oil and electricity. Unions are among the strongest opponents of the US neo-liberal plan for Iraq. David will put what is happening to the labor movement into the larger context of what is happening to Iraq generally, as the U.S. seeks not only to privatize the economy, but to privatize the occupation by replacing U.S. troops with thousands of mercenaries/security contractors. 

Bacon, who made two trips to Iraq early in the war, continues to monitor the situation of unions and the labor movement in Iraq. Based in Oakland and Berkeley he has been a reporter and documentary photographer for 18 years. He is an associate editor at Pacific News Service, and writes for TruthOut, The Nation, The American Prospect, The Progressive, and the San Francisco Chronicle, among other publications. Bacon covers issues of labor, immigration and international politics.


Berkeley Police Arrest 17-year-old for Shooting Friend

By Allecia Vermillion (BCN)
Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 09:57:00 PM

A 17-year-old boy was arrested today in Berkeley in connection with the Saturday shooting of his teenage friend, a police spokeswoman said. 

Police responded to a 911 call at 3:26 p.m. on Saturday about a shooting victim in the 1500 block of Alcatraz Avenue. 

Police are not releasing the names of the victim or the suspect because both are minors. 

"The two young men were friends," police Sgt. Mary C. Kusmiss said.  

She said there were no indications that either boy was involved with gangs. 

"Thus BPD does not believe there is any nexus between this shooting and gang activity," Kusmiss said.  

The victim was found in a multi-unit apartment complex with a gunshot wound.  

He was treated by Berkeley Fire Department paramedics and taken to a nearby trauma center, where he underwent surgery. He was still in the hospital today, but his condition was not known.  

Police are investigating the shooting and believe it was not random. 


Press Release: KPFA Workers To Picket Thursday to Oppose Cuts to a Quarter of Staff

From Mal Burnstein
Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 09:33:00 PM

Union workers at America’s first listener-sponsored radio station, KPFA 94.1 FM, have mobilized to oppose imminent dramatic cuts to KPFA staffing by their parent organization, the Pacifica Foundation. The Morning Show, Against the Grain, Hard Knock Radio, and the Evening News all appear slated for severe program changes and/or decimating cuts, which may include other vital positions at KPFA. The station has already cut nearly a fifth of its workforce over the past year. 

Pacifica’s executive director, Arlene Engelhardt, claims a budget shortfall requires the layoffs, but she has rejected most of the proposed alternative cost-savings measures that have won the backing of the staff, KPFA’s Local Station Board, and KPFA management. Those proposals, known as the Sustainable Budget, would preserve jobs while cutting unnecessary board expenses and reducing bureaucratic overhead. 

"We're shocked that Pacifica is disregarding all the recommendations made by the union," says Communications Workers of America Local 9415 shop steward Antonio Ortiz. "I don't understand how cutting a quarter of the staff will help the financial viability of the station in the long term." 

“Even during these difficult times, KPFA raises enough money to pay for itself. But it can’t afford to pay for Pacifica and its bureaucracy as well,” says Sasha Lilley, co-host of the public affairs program Against the Grain. “When listeners donate to KPFA, they expect the money to go to programming, not to governance and national bureaucracy. Since 2002, Pacifica has spent more than $2.4 million on its boards and elections alone.” 

In the coming fiscal year, Pacifica wants KPFA to pay it more than $800,000, which is more than 21% of KPFA’s revenue. 

KPFA’s union will be holding an informational picket at noon on Thursday, November 4 at the offices of Pacifica, located at 1925 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley. The picket has been sanctioned by the Alameda Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, which has condemned Pacifica for its “anti-union actions.” The San Francisco Labor Council has passed a similar resolution. 

The Pacifica Radio network is an independent, non-profit organization that operates five radio stations: KPFA in Berkeley, KPFK in Los Angeles, WBAI in New York City, KPFT in Houston, and WPFW in Washington, D.C. In 1999, a struggle between KPFA and Pacifica became a national and international news story and 10,000 people marched through the streets of Berkeley to save their station. 

For more information about the labor conflict at KPFA, go to KPFAworker.org. A fact sheet about the cuts at KPFA can be found at: http://kpfaworker.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/what-kpfas-workers-want/ 

### ### 

CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Antonio Ortiz, Union Steward, CWA Local 9415, 510-848-6767 ext 467, antonio@kpfa.org 

Sasha Lilley, Host, KPFA’s Against the Grain, 510-848-6767 ext 265, sasha@kpfa.org


Updated: Incumbents Win Most Berkeley Races

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 01:36:00 AM

Official Alameda County election results as of 1:30 a.m. show incumbent Councilmembers Jesse Arreguin, Gordon Wozniak and Linda Maio winning re-election in Districts 4, 8 and 1 respectively. Councilmember Kriss Worthington got 49.79% of the first place votes for District 7, so he’ll be trying to pick up about 6 more votes on Friday when third place finisher Ces Rosales’ votes are added to votes for Worthington or George Beier. 

Measure R (advisory downtown planning) passed, with 64.21% Yes votes. Measures S and T (marijuana tax and regulation) both passed. 

In the Berkeley school board race, incumbent Board President Karen Hemphill will be joined by Josh Daniel and Leah Wilson. Both Measure H (the parcel tax) and Measure I (bonds) passed with large majorities. 

Full Alameda county results can be found at http://www.acgov.org/rov/current.htm.


Green Mayor Wins, Casino Loses In Richmond

By Bay City News
Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 10:33:00 AM

Voters in Richmond appear to have re-elected Gayle McLaughlin for a second term as the city's Mayor, according to complete unofficial election results. 

Richmond voters also elected two newcomers to the City Council, Jovanka Beckles and Courtland "Corky" Booze, along with incumbent Councilman Jim Rogers, and appear to have rejected an advisory measure on the plan to build a $1 billion Las Vegas-style casino at Point Molate. 

Richmond City Councilman Nat Bates, who ran for mayor along with former City Councilman John Ziesenhenne, will finish his term on the council, which ends in 2013. 

McLaughlin, a member of the Green Party, has said she will continue to promote green jobs in Richmond and work to reduce crime through community policing strategies and other community-based violence-prevention programs. 

McLaughlin has said she has a vision of Richmond as a hub for the green tech economy and, among other accomplishments, has started green job training programs for local youths and has made Richmond the No. 1 city in the Bay Area for solar wattage installed. 

She also went up against Chevron several times during her last term, including leading two campaigns to put measures on the ballot in an effort to force the oil giant to pay more taxes, the most recent of which led to a lawsuit that ended in a $114 million settlement paid to the city. 

During her re-election campaign, McLaughlin also actively opposed proposals by the Guidiville Indian tribe and their developer Upstream Point Molate LLC to build a 4,000-slot machine casino and resort at Point Molate, a former naval fuel base on the Richmond shoreline, despite promises by the developer that it will make Richmond a destination place and bring hundreds of well-paying jobs to the city. 

McLaughlin was among the members of the Council who voted to place Measure U, an advisory measure for the project, on the ballot. 

Nearly 58 percent of voters rejected the measure in Tuesday's election. Although the measure is non-binding, which means the City Council will still have the final say over how to develop the 266-acre piece of land, the vote could influence the council's final decision on the project. 

The vote could also influence decisions by the state and federal government on the project. 


Elizabeth Warren Addresses the Savio Memorial Lecture at UC Berkeley

By Gar Smith
Tuesday November 02, 2010 - 12:57:00 PM

The 14th annual Mario Savio Memorial Lecture () drew a huge crowd to UC Berkeley's Pauley Ballroom on Thursday, October 28. The event honors the memory and legacy of a remarkable student leader whose presence and passion became synonymous with the favor of the Free Speech Movement, which rocked the Berkeley campus in 1964. The unprecedented student sit-in and occupation of Sproul Hall — and the mass-arrest that followed — reverberated across the country challenging the established order of the Eisenhower years and triggering the social ferment that became known as "The Sixties." (For details, see the FSM Archives .) 

Each year, The Savio Lecture honors outstanding individuals with a Young Activist Award. This years awards went to Reyna Wences and Rigo Padilla, two students who risked their academic careers — and their freedom — by publicly announcing that they are undocumented. The two students are leaders of the Youth Justice League , an organization created to advocate for the rights of undocumented students in the US.  

The winners of the Young Activist honors receive an award of $6,000, which is split evenly between the activists and their organization. And there was something new about this year's prize: Mario's widow, Lynne Hollander, announced that the award money had been donated by the band Linkin Park. The reason? Llinkin Park's new album ("A Thousand Suns," released in September) includes a song that features a sampling of Mario's famous Sproul Steps Speech:  

"...There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart that you can’t take part! You can’t even passively take part! And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus — and you’ve got to make it stop! And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it — that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at al!!

The event's keynote speaker was Elizabeth Warren, President Barack Obama's designated honcha for the Administration's new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Ms. Warren follows a long line of exceptional speakers that have included Seymour Hersh, Molly Ivins, Christopher Hitchens, Amy Goodman, Howard Zinn, Winona LaDuke, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Naomi Klein. Warren proved to be every inch a fighter and earned a boisterous ovation from a full house of students, grads and aging off-campus agitators. 

Railing against the indecipherable fine print intentionally designed to trick and entrap consumers, Warren declared: "The notion that people can be mugged by a contract infuriates me!" She went beyond outrage to promise strong, new regulations that would guarantee "a simple contract that can be read and understood." 

Fulminating against lending practices that are designed to blow up in peoples' faces — and lenders that subsequently blame borrowers for making unwise financial decisions, Warren observed: "If toasters were exploding, we wouldn't say the problem was that the purchasers needed to get better engineering degrees!" 

The question that appeared most frequently on the 60-plus 3-by-5 cards that were returned by the sold-out crowd was: "What can we do about usury laws?"  

Usury laws are ancient guidelines that set permissible limits to the amount of interest that can be demanded by lenders. The Old Testament was clear: "If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest." But the Holy Writ did provide that interest could be exacted from strangers.  

In the days of Babylon (circa 1760 BCE), the code of Hammurabi established a top ceiling of 20% for interest on a silver-based loan. That standard remained the respected norm for thousands of years.  

In her response, Warren referred to "the three major chapters" in the history of usury. "The first runs from the days of Hammurabi to 1981. It was at this point that usury was 'technically' ended in the US. It became a Wild West situation where, 'If you shot it and killed it, you could have it.' The second period runs from 1981 to 2010" and, Warren concluded, "the next chapter begins tomorrow." 

Warren vowed to reign in the unregulated greed of industries that have grown used to charging high-double-digit fees for the use of borrowed money. The audience responded with thunderous applause. 

Asked if the CFPB had a website, Warren replied, "it's funny you should ask that. We are working on that at this very moment. The trick is to build a website that has transparency but provides visitors with a sense of ownership but...." At this point, Warren stopped and started to laugh. Then she continued: "I was about to say 'it's not my decision to make' but then I realized — crap, it IS my decision!" 

Warren concluded with a pledge to move beyond the data and "pay attention to the human stories." She recalled her years as an academically trained data-cruncher and how her perspective changed one day as she worked on a pile of papers for a report on bankruptcies. She had taken a fistful of survey forms along to read on a plane trip. At the end of each survey was a blank page where participants were invited to write down any personal reflections. Warren was expected to "code" these individual statements — rendering their salient points into data-points suitable for expression in percentiles for charts and graphs. 

Instead, she recalled, she began reading the stories — personal tales of failure and anguish. Warren's voice began to tremble as she fought back tears. It was clear that she had not forgotten — and would never forget — the pain expressed by the people who had written down the details of collapsing dreams and lives sideswiped by financial predators. 

 


Press Release: U.C. Police Report Armed Robbery in the 2700 Block of Haste Street

From Mitchell J. Celaya III, Chief of Police
Tuesday November 02, 2010 - 01:03:00 PM

On Monday, November 1, 2010, at 3:05 a.m. two male UC students were walking on the 2700 block of Haste Street. The two noticed a male walking towards them. As the male walked past them he pulled out a semi-automatic handgun, pointed it at them and demanded their property. The victims complied and the suspect was last seen fleeing on foot westbound on Haste Street. BPD searched the area but was unable to find the suspect. The victims were not injured during this encounter. 

The suspect was described as: 

A Black male in his early 20s, 5’8” in height, 150 lbs., a thin build, with long dreadlocks, wearing a purple beanie cap, a hooded sweatshirt and dark blue baggy jeans. 

If you have any information about this crime, please contact: 

Berkeley Police Department (510) 981-5900 / 24 Hours 

As with any emergency situation, if you see suspicious activity, call 9-1-1. >From a cell phone on or near campus, call (510) 642-3333.


Second Suspect Charged in Berkeley Shooting

By Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN)
Monday November 01, 2010 - 09:52:00 PM

A second man has been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of Gary Ferguson Jr. near a Berkeley barbershop in broad daylight last week.  

Coleon Lee Carroll, a 20-year-old Berkeley man, was arrested in Antioch at 4 a.m. last Wednesday by Berkeley police with help from Oakland police, Berkeley police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said.  

Kusmiss said Carroll was arrested on an unrelated warrant. On Friday, however, the Alameda County District Attorney's office charged him with murder and attempted murder for last week's shooting.  

The shooting occurred in the 2900 block of Sacramento Street in Berkeley at 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 26. Ferguson, a 35-year-old Oakland man, was killed and a second man was seriously injured.  

Berkeley police announced Thursday that 21-year-old Brandon Wallace, of Bay Point, had been charged with murder and attempted murder for the shooting, in which they said at least a few dozen shots were fired.  

Carroll was arraigned in Alameda County Superior Court on Friday and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 10 to finalize his legal representation and possibly enter a plea.  

Wallace was arraigned last Thursday and is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 27 to enter a plea.  

According to Oakland police, Carroll had previously been arrested on a robbery warrant in Hercules on July 9, 2009, as part of an investigation into an ongoing feud between rival gangs from South Berkeley and North Oakland.  

Police said the gangs might have been behind an escalation in shootings in Berkeley and Oakland in 2009.  

Oakland police said that when officers tried to serve the arrest warrant on Carroll at a home in the 100 block of Chestnut Avenue in Hercules, he fled through a back window and an officer shot him after seeing him allegedly reach for a weapon.  

Carroll suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen and was treated at a hospital.  

Carroll's brother, Joseph Carroll, then 22, was also arrested in the gang probe, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  


Opinion

Editorials

Avoiding the Inevitable

By Becky O'Malley
Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 10:25:00 AM

When Barack Obama won the presidency two years ago, the naysayers amongst us worried that the Bush financial tsunami was just about to crest, and that he and his party would be stuck with cleaning up the mess. Or even worse, that the Democrats would be blamed for it, even though the Republicans caused it.

Count me among the Cassandra crowd. (Recap: she was the ancient Greek who accurately predicted catastrophes but no one believed her.) And we were, of course, sadly, right. It was inevitable. And as predicted, the Democrats have paid in this election for the sins of George W. Bush and company. 

It was partly inevitable because with a very few exceptions the national commentators don’t seem to be able to see beyond the tip of their noses. One of the amazements of my adult life has been the way that people I know, for the most part not participants in lifestyles of the rich and famous, have been well aware of what’s going on when those who are (increasingly lavishly) paid to understand the big picture just don’t seem to get it.  

In all kinds of situations, all the way from the very beginning of the war in Vietnam to the collapse of the toxic mortgage products foisted on unsuspecting homebuyers by a corrupt financial industry, warning bells have sounded years before the major media and key decision makers heard them ringing. A friend, a former business reporter, told me perhaps 5 years ago that “no one seems to be able to figure out who owns the mortgages in the Stockton area”—and yet it’s just in the last couple of months that we’re finally hearing reports in the media of faked paperwork turning up in foreclosure proceedings. 

I had another Cassandra moment when I read a review in this week’s New York Review of Books about Ireland’s insane building boom, which has bought the country’s economy to its knees. The book’s title is Ship of Fools: How Stupidity and Corruption Sank the Celtic Tiger and that about says it all. Ian Jack, the reviewer, sums it up: “…political leaders were complicit in the boom’s every aspect: land acquisition, planning permission, funding.” Sound familiar? 

More from the review: 

“In 2006, Professor Morgan Kelly of University College Dublin said there could be no “soft landing” for property values that had risen so much more steeply than incomes. Nobody wanted to listen. Prime Minister Ahern mocked Kelly as a moaner, and the press tended to take Ahern’s side. More remarkable, as O’Toole writes, was how few mainstream economists came to Kelly’s defense: 

‘Every historically literate economist knew for sure that the Irish property boom was going to crash…. Yet the overwhelming majority of Irish economists either contented themselves with timid and carefully couched murmurs of unease, or, in the case of most of those who worked for stockbrokers, banks, and building societies and who dominated media discussion of the issue, joined in the reassurances about soft landings.’ “ 

It’s an appalling story. We saw the fancy houses standing vacant in former pastures in Sligo when we were in Ireland last summer, and the papers then were full of tales of woe.  

In the discussion of what’s happening now in the United States, it’s possible to observe a similar pattern: an insane escalation in property values, followed by overbuilding fueled by financial chicanery, and, increasingly, the inevitable crash to follow. And the economists and their politician allies are just as complicit here as they were in Ireland. 

While President Obama is not to blame for how this train wreck got started, his choice of economists has done little to put on the brakes. Summers and Geithner were participants in the run-up to the come-down, and their performance to date has been no more forceful than that of the derided Irish economists. Elizabeth Warren is a seeming exception, but she’s a law professor who teaches contracts, not an economist, which may explain why she has such a clear-eyed analysis of what’s gone wrong. Basically, it’s all about foolish deals sold to gullible consumers by people who should know better and probably do: Consumer Protection 101 

The suburban U.S. equivalent of Ireland’s folly can be seen today in Stockton, and Tracy, and Las Vegas and Atlanta. Here as in Ireland rows of fancy houses stand empty, abandoned by hapless buyers who were told by sharks that they could afford their mortgages.  

And today in Berkeley you can see the urban equivalent, the results of similar stupidity, in the empty new apartments and vacant storefronts which are proliferating downtown. The pattern of “political leaders…complicit in … every aspect: land acquisition, planning permission, funding.” is just as easy to find here if you know where to look.  

Seven out of nine Berkeley Planning Commissioners work in the building industry. The Zoning Adjustment Board and the City Council repeatedly permit huge developments to bypass the California Environmental Quality Act. Measure R, a green-washed scam intended to give a green light to even more overbuilding in downtown Berkeley, was completely funded by developers and even endorsed by former Massachusetts politician and economist Robert Reich, now a snowbird professor at U.C. Berkeley. And that’s just for starters. 

This morning (Wednesday) the radio voices of the chattering classes are making much of the Republican victories across the United States. They seem not to remember that the last three presidents have had their parties tossed out by the fickle electorate in mid-term elections, with not much outcome except two years of gridlock followed by re-election of a president handily able to run against a “do-nothing congress.” It will probably happen the same way this time, despite all the weeping and gnashing of teeth coming from some Democrats today. 

But nothing, still, will be done about what looks more and more like the systemic failure of capitalism as we know it. Both parties this year have run on platforms that talked vaguely about the need for “jobs”, but jobs doing what? Building more expensive condos with vacant ground floor retail? That provides jobs for a certain number of construction workers, right, and certainly fuels developers’ profits with borrowed money, but what are the long-term consequences? The catastrophic situation in Ireland should serve as a warning to us all, but it probably won’t. 


The Editor's Back Fence

New: Check Out These Links

Saturday November 06, 2010 - 11:28:00 PM

Frances Dinkelspiel on berkeleyside.com has a sensitive story about a Berkeley High freshman of 14 who was shot and killed by an older boy (17) who was supposedly his best friend. Reports in The Daily Californian and other publications differ slightly from this account. Berkeley police have yet to release much concrete information about this shooting--a number of questions are still unanswered. 

A view from listener Ian Boal of the crisis at KPFA is in Counterpunch. 

Richard Brenneman spotlights new data about how bad genes migrate from GMO crops.


The Envelope Please!

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 11:42:00 AM

The results of the Daily Planet’s Measure R cartoon contest have been tabulated.

Gar Smith is the winner by a nose, followed closely by Justin DeFreitas, with J.Epstein a very respectable third and Matt Breault and Joseph Young not far behind. 

The announced prize was $500. But Gar, an active Free Speech Movement veteran and frequent Planet contributor, made what he called a “collectivist suggestion” instead: give a $100 prize to each of the five contestants. 

We thought all the cartoons were great, and represented a lot of work by each artist, so we’re delighted to follow his suggestion.  

 

Click here to see or print all 5 cartoons on one page.


Cartoons

Cartoon Page: Odd Bodkins, BOUNCE

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:57:00 PM

 

Dan O'Neill

 

 

Joseph Young

 


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Monday November 01, 2010 - 09:10:00 PM

The King's English 

No one can deny that English is a beautiful language -- granted that it lacks the cadence and lyricism of French and Italian. But with its broad spectrum of accents and colorful dialects (Southern, Texan, Brooklyn and Boston), when spoken properly, English is indeed a lovely language. 

Unfortunately, our language is marred by the repetitive use of metaphors and cliches which drive me up the wall. (Oops, there's one right there!) Listed below are some of my pet peeves, the ones I find most offensive: 

Number One: "To make a long story short." If ever there was a misnomer, brother, this is one! In most cases, the story is excruciatingly boring, of interest to no one but the speaker and should fall on deaf ears. 

Number Two: "We have breaking news." Now there was a time when listening to the evening news, such an announcement would cause me to grip the arm of my chair, fearing a catastrophe, such as an earthquake, assassination, or nuclear attack. So what is this "breaking news?" It's probably that Lindsay Lohman and Paris Hilton are in rehab for use of illegal drugs. 

Number Three: "You guys." I absolutely cringe when I hear a TV anchor man address Supreme Court Justices and other dignitaries with, "What do you guys think of....? UGH! 

Number Four: "You know." It would appear that the most eloquent and articulate of speakers (Presidents, Senators, university professors) are incapable of completing a paragraph without several "You knows" punctuating their speech. I have to confess that this -- you know -- irritates me no end. 

Number Five: "When push comes to shove." So, what in blazes does this mean? 

There are, of course, countless other meaningless metaphors and cliches that do little to enrich our language. I offer these examples merely to illustrate my dismay that the King's English has fallen on hard times! 

Dorothy Snodgrass 

* * *
Exploiting Prejudice


Exploiting prejudice for profit should not be a business model.

The Arizona’s prison industry’s role in drafting SB1070, the law requiring police to imprison people who can’t prove legal citizenship, has strong parallels in the Bay Area.

The prison industry stood to profit directly from building new prisons for the detention of men, women, and even children who were caught without documentation. Their draft language surfaced essentially unchanged at the legislative level, despite the conflict of interest.

San Francisco’s “sit/lie” legislation, which scapegoats sidewalk-sitters, implies that sidewalk-sitters inhibit profits, and that business would thrive without the post-beat, post-hippie, post-punk generation of itinerant travelers sitting in commercial zones. Just as in Arizona, the legislation came straight from the business interests which stand to profit, at least in theory, from the ordinance.

But Berkeley’s similar measures in 1994, only partially trimmed by the courts for unconstitutionality, didn’t cause a business boom. Berkeley’s current election rhetoric continues to blame the least powerful, most vulnerable people in town for the fact that business is down, and some candidates argue for even more restrictive measures.

Well-connected business interests get a big slice of any politician’s time, but taxpayers who enjoy meeting travelers on the street, who feel enriched by their music, their stories, their creative spirit, need a place at the table where costly, potentially unconstitutional legislation is passed around like peanuts.

A city’s welcoming attitude toward strangers, travelers, and the poor might have its costs. But so does constantly circling vulnerable people through court. I’d rather give a dollar to a stranger than play any role in yet another unconstitutional law. 

 

Carol Denney  

* * * 

Library Meetings Hard to Find 

As usual, Gene Bernardi "Library Trustees Rubber-Stamp Costly New RFID System" (Oct. 26 Planet) reports on important relevant-to-everyone events. Her observations are so right-on.  

It's not surprising that almost no one attended the trusty Trustees' meeting on October 15 -- one can supposedly sign up to receive meetings notices/agendas of the Library Trustees as well as the City Councilmembers, but it is unlikely you will receive anything, or receive it in time to attend.  

 

 

 

Helen Rippier Wheeler  

* * * 


New: The Pepper Spray Times

By Grace Underpressure
Sunday November 07, 2010 - 12:10:00 PM

Editor's Note: The latest issue of the Pepper Spray Times is now available. 

You can view it absolutely free of charge by clicking here . You can print it out to give to your friends. 

Grace Underpressure has been producing it for many years now, even before the Berkeley Daily Planet started distributing it, most of the time without being paid, and now we'd like you to show your appreciation by using the button below to send her money.  

This is a Very Good Deal. Go for it! 


Anti-Psychotic Medication: By Force or Choice?

By Jack Bragen
Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 10:45:00 AM

My upbringing wasn’t highly unusual. I believed I was much more different a person than I actually was. I was a fairly typical Jewish boy; shy with girls, intellectual, and ambitious. However, in high school, I was bullied to the extent that I wanted to get out of school and go to work early. This I did. However, my job wasn’t much to brag about, looking back on it. The job also caused me to be somewhat isolated. And at age seventeen, my behavior inexplicably became bizarre and dangerous. My older brother had exhibited mental problems at the same age. Now I was acting strange and bad enough that I was put into a mental hospital. 

At eighteen, my diagnosis indicated a serious disease of the brain; Paranoid Schizophrenia. 

My prescribing physician was very mild mannered and had a kind attitude. I wasn’t aware that this doctor was trying to help me. I didn’t want to go along with the diagnosis, or the medication mandated by it. After a few months of treatment, I refused to take medication. I did this secretly at first--without telling this to either my psychiatrist or family members. When my noncompliance was discovered, I still refused to be treated, claiming that I didn’t really have mental problems and I would soon move out of my parent’s house and support myself. 

I had recently had trouble with the law which was caused by my disease making me enact bad decisions. When family members discovered that I wasn’t taking medication, they were quite upset about it and tried hard to convince me that I needed the medication. They had already gone through a lot of grief, as I had, due to my initial episode of psychosis. 

Unfortunately, one of the curses of this disease is an increased tendency toward denial of all types, including the denial that one has this illness. The brain has lost the ability to judge, including the judgment that one needs help. 

After six or more months without medication, I thought I had proved everyone wrong. I was working full time, and I had moved out of my parent’s house into a share rental. It seemed that I had my act together. 

At the eight month point, I was hearing voices while I worked, and believed I was in telepathic communication with a spiritual teacher. I wrote to this teacher, who was in Oregon, asking whether or not, at his end, he felt that there was telepathic communication. He didn’t respond to my question. To this day, I resent this distant “yogi,” now deceased, who passed up an opportunity to help me, at no cost to him. 

Shortly after my nineteenth birthday, there was a robbery at one of the supermarkets where I worked, and I was at gunpoint for ten hours while the armed robbers waited, during my overnight shift, for someone to show up who could open the safe. Even though I survived this experience, it accelerated my mental deterioration. Had this incident not happened, I believe I still would have deteriorated, only it would have taken longer. 

After a year off medication, I was completely delusional and disoriented, and could no longer work, even on “autopilot.” I was picked up by an ambulance after trying to steal gasoline to get to Oregon. The cop who showed up had me check my jacket for cash; some was there, and the policeman gave it to the gas station cashier. Because of this, I didn’t have the rap of stealing the gasoline. I was hospitalized. I was given antipsychotic medication that quickly brought me back to tracking reality. 

When I am medicated and stabilized I tend to be very law-abiding. I did very well on medication for the next six years; I held several challenging jobs that included electronic repair, and I had a social life. 

After six years on medication and stabilized, I believed I could survive without taking medication, and I again discontinued it against medical advice. I had forgotten just how awful it is to experience a psychotic episode. After just a short time, I was back in the hospital, and my brain had suffered a setback. When I got home, I was less able to function in life than I had been before. 

The six year cycle repeated itself one more time. And then I decided I was through, for the rest of my life, with refusing treatment for this awful disease from which I suffer. It has been nearly fifteen years that I’ve stayed with treatment and haven’t returned to the hospital. I believe this is a good number of years for someone with my diagnosis, as noncompliance is common. Getting married to my wife, Joanna, is one of the key factors that has kept me doing well. 

My parents are now too old to deal with me as a psychotic person, or even help me get out of a bad situation that I have created for myself. Were I to quit medication at this point, I might have very little help in getting the pieces picked up once again. My brain would experience yet another jolt of psychosis, from which it takes several years to recover. My chances would be slim of having a successful existence after such a decision. 

My admission that I need the help of others, some of the time, is an instance of humility that has helped me recover. When I decided it doesn’t matter to my self image that my brain has a problem, it allowed me to like myself exactly as I am. The realization that other people suffer as much as I do, when I go psychotic, is one more factor that seals the deal in my taking of medication. 

Refusal of treatment, in my case, was an irresponsible decision; one that has haunted me long after each instance of psychosis and recuperation. 

I don’t know everyone else’s situation and can’t claim that medication is necessary for all people who have suffered from psychosis. I only know what works for me, and also hope that I am creating a good example in life.


Columns

The Public Eye: Election 2010: Remembering Weimar

By Bob Burnett
Monday November 01, 2010 - 05:20:00 PM

It’s been 77 years since Adolph Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, ending the fourteen-year democracy known as the Weimar Republic. A long time ago but painfully relevant as the November 2, 2010 elections near, because there are ominous parallels between Germany in 1933 and the United States in 2010. 

After Germany’s catastrophic loss of World War I, its imperial government was replaced by a democratic parliamentary system on August 11, 1919. The so-called Weimar Republic lasted 13 years only to be dissolved by Hitler’s authoritarian, fascist Nazi Party. The same five factors that undermined Germany’s first experiment with democracy are present in the US today. 

The economy failed. When Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, it surrendered 13 percent of its territory and agreed to pay billions of dollars in reparations. The economy was crippled. Then came the Great Depression of 1929. By the time Hitler seized power German unemployment exceeded 25 percent. 

America’s economy has also failed. The roots of our problem stretch back thirty years to the Reagan presidency when conservative economic ideology began to dominate American political discourse. Reaganomics produced a warped and brittle US economy, where more than two-thirds of our GDP was housing related: building, buying, and furnishing new homes or borrowing against existing homes in order to maintain a decent standard of living. When the credit bubble burst, the debt-based consumption model failed, taking down first the housing sector and then the entire economy, resulting in catastrophic job losses. 

Conservatives circulated a big lie blaming the left. Many Germans believed signing the Treaty of Versailles was a mistake and Germany would not have lost the war but for a “Stab in the Back” (Dolchtosslegende) – the capitulation of Jews, Bolsheviks, Socialists, and Weimar politicians. 

American conservatives circulated a big lie blaming the collapse of the economy on the Obama Administration, insisting that only Democrats favored “bailouts” and aligned with Wall Street. 

Ordinary citizens were demoralized. Germany had years of fighting between rightwing and leftwing paramilitary groups. There was an artistic renaissance that many Germans saw as a betrayal of traditional values. The rich and powerful became disenchanted with Weimar leaders and formed an alliance with leaders on the far right, hoping for national stability, 

Americans are similarly demoralized. TIME political correspondent Joe Klein recently zigzagged across the US and found anger and anxiety, a pervasive sense of powerlessness, and the belief America has lost its way. There’s an explosive growth of right-wing paramilitary groups. Many conservative Americans deplore the loss of traditional values and blame this on coastal elites and homosexuals. The rich and powerful have become disenchanted with Democratic leaders and formed an alliance with the far right. 

The right gained power by serving the interests of three groups. In Germany these were: ordinary workers fed up with unemployment and social instability; capitalists who sought not only economic stability but also the furtherance of their interests; and conservative Christians who decried Weimar immorality. 

The American right has regained power by fusing the energy of three groups: ordinary folks fed up with high unemployment and a Federal government they view as out of control; capitalists who seek a return to the low-tax, low-regulation era of Reaganomics; and conservative Christians who decry what they see as rampant immorality. 

A demagogic leader emerged who gave voice to the inchoate rage. Seizing on the Dolchtosslegende, Adolph Hitler claimed Jews, Bolsheviks, Socialists, and other undesirables had betrayed Germany. He promoted racial superiority and developed a powerful propaganda machine. During his first years in power Hitler pursued a four-part program: elimination of unemployment; rearmament; currency stabilization; and resurrection of the middle class. 

Beck, Limbaugh, Palin, and others compete as conservative demagogues. They claim America has been betrayed by Barack Obama and the cultural elite. Conservatives argue that “undesirables,” such as homosexuals and illegal immigrants, have compromised American moral purity. US right-wing demagogues agree on a four-part program: elimination of unemployment by spurring business growth through tax reduction and reduced regulation; rearmament; currency stabilization by trade restriction; and resurrection of the middle class. 

Writing in CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA’S FUTURE, Sara Robinson notes that the TEA PARTY has attracted 35 percent of US likely voters and has many of the characteristic of Weimar-era Nazi sympathizers: “economic libertarians who worry about big government collectivist tyranny; Christian Right Conservatives who oppose liberal government social policies; Right-wing apocalyptic Christians who fear a Satanic New World Order; Nebulous conspiracy theorists who fear a secular New World Order; Nationalistic ultra-patriots concerned that US sovereignty is eroding; Xenophobic anti-immigrant white nationalists who worry about preserving the ‘real’ America.” 

Two years ago few of us would have predicted the savage resurgence of the right, its terrifying transformation into the TEA PARTY. Now, as America teeters at the edge, we should all consider the lessons learned from the failure of the Weimar Republic. 

 

Bob Burnett is a Berkeley writer. He can be reached at bobburnett@comcast.net


Dispatches From The Edge: Money Wars: Beating Up On Beijing?

By Conn Hallinan
Monday November 01, 2010 - 03:33:00 PM

Are the U.S. and China on a collision course? Consider the following: 

During the 2010 mid-term elections, some 30 candidates for the House and Senate are blasting China for everything from undermining America’s financial structure to fueling the U.S. unemployment crisis. 

The Obama Administration is accusing China of manipulating its currency to sabotage the U.S. exports trade, and the U.S. House of Representatives just passed a bill to slap huge tariffs on Chinese goods unless Beijing allows the renminbi, China’s currency, to appreciate. 

A recent Financial Times article on the failure of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resolve the currency issue says, “The hostility between Washington and Beijing has escalated into something resembling trench warfare.” Last year a CNN poll found that 71 percent of Americans thought China was an economic threat, and 51 percent of those polled thought Beijing represented a military threat as well. 

If one adds to the above the growing tensions with China in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, some kind of dust up seems almost inevitable, though any “collision” would be a diplomatic one. But a major diplomatic fallout between the world’s two largest economies has global implications. 

What is going on here? Is China indeed manipulating its currency to beggar the U.S.? Does it bear some responsibility for the high jobless rate and the inability of the American economy to recover from the deep recession? 

The answer is both yes and no, and thereby hangs a tale. 

The U.S. charges that China is deliberately undervaluing its currency, the renminbi, which makes Chinese export goods cheaper than its competitors and thus undermines other countries exports.  

China is indeed manipulating its currency, although it is hardly alone. In one way or another, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, Thailand, South Korea and others have recently acted to keep their currencies competitive. Nor is currency manipulation something new. During the 1980s the Reagan Administration and Japan jimmied their currencies to deal with a huge trade gap. Indeed, the current free market orthodoxy regarding currency is a recent phenomenon in world finances, a reflection of the “Washington Consensus” model that has dominated institutions like the IMF and the World Bank for the last two decades. 

How one sees the current dispute depends on where one sits. With U.S. unemployment above 10 percent, Americans are focused on policies that will bring that rate down. But from China’s point of view, any major upward evaluation of the renminbi would simply transfer U.S. jobless rates to China. 

Since it would also reduce the value of the dollar, it would lower the value of the massive debt the U.S. owes China. “And that, to the Chinese, would feel suspiciously like a default,” says Stephen King, chief economist for HSBC. 

In short, a lose-lose deal for Beijing. 

From the Chinese side of the equation, the U.S. is essentially trying to unload the consequences of the economic meltdown that Wall Street caused onto them. And they dispute the fact that the huge trade surplus is all that relevant to the current crisis. 

According to Avinash D. Persuad, chair of Intelligence Capital Limited, even if China’s $175 billion trade were to somehow vanish, it would only have a 0.25 percent impact on global GDP. “The Chinese economy is one quarter of the U.S. economy, and at the peak of the U.S. trade deficit, China’s surplus was less than a third of it. David may have toppled Goliath, but he couldn’t carry him,” says Persuad. 

Exports have certainly been important to China, but they have only accounted for 10 to 15 percent of growth over the past decade. The main engine for Chinese growth has been investment. According to the World Bank Growth Commission, of the 13 countries that have enjoyed 7 percent growth rates over the past 10 years, all had high investment rates. These countries suppressed consumption by keeping wages low, allowing them to amass enormous pools of capital to pour into upgrading infrastructure or subsidizing industry. 

The Chinese economy is booming—it never fell below 8 percent growth during the recession—but it has some vulnerabilities. The Chinese recognize that they need to shift their economy, away from an over reliance on exports to one based more on internal consumption,. To this end, private wages and consumption have been growing at a respectable 8 to 10 percent yearly. The thinking is that as consumption goes up, China will absorb more of its own products, and thus the trade deficit will go down. 

China’s new five-year plan is trying to do exactly this. Shifting some of the economy away from the wealthy coastal areas toward the more depressed inland part of the country will help alleviate some of the wealth gap between city and country, and encourage urbanization in the interior. All of these moves will increase consumption. 

If China were to suddenly raise the value of its currency, however, it would tank a number of export industries and flood China with unemployment. Since the jobless have no money, consumer spending would fall, setting off yet another round of layoffs and plant closings. This is, of course, exactly what Americans are discovering.  

Beijing has begun raising the value of renminbi—it has risen 2.5 percent since June—but the slow pace has not satisfied Washington. The Americans are making other demands as well. For instance, the U.S. would like China to lower its interest rates, which the Americans argue would encourage consumption. 

But as Michael Pettis, a professor of finance at Guanghua School in Beijing University and a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment, points out, “This would be terrible for China. Lower interests rates and more credit will fuel a real estate boom and boost both capital-intensive manufacturing and infrastructure overcapacity—all without rebalancing consumption.” 

From China’s point of view the problem is not its currency, but the lack of controls over American finance that can lead to tsunamis of money flooding into underdeveloped countries. In 1997, waves of international investment money poured into Thailand, tanking the currency and spreading a recession, the so-called “Asian Flu,” throughout the region. The Thais took action Oct. 12 to block a similar “hot wave” of money pouring into the country by imposing a 15 percent withholding tax on capital gains and interest payments on government and state-owned company bonds. Besides Thailand and South Korea, other countries in Asia, including Singapore and Taiwan, have also intervened to keep their financial ships on an even keel. 

Europeans are blowing hot and cold on currency intervention. Last year and this past winter and spring, the EU had good reasons for remaining quiet about the subject of undervalued currencies. The Euro lost 17 percent of its value vis-à-vis the dollar over the Greek financial crisis, which had the effect of powering up European exports, in particular, by Germany. 

Germany—the world’s second biggest exporter after China—is as much concerned about the dollar as the renminbi. “We expect the U.S. to continue its policy of printing money,” Aton Borner, president of the German exporters’ association, BGA, told the Financial Times. “This will trigger a currency devaluation spiral that will hit Europe the most.” The dollar has dropped 20 percent against the Euro since June, and German exports have fallen for two months in a row. 

The Europeans are certainly concerned about the currency crisis, although they are a good deal more sotto voice than the Americans. “It’s not helpful to use bellicose statements when it comes to currency or to trade,” says French finance minister Christine Lagarde. 

Governments that don’t take care of their own during an economic crisis will eventually pay a price at the polls. Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim is certainly concerned about defending Brazil’s currency, but he is careful about applying pressure as a way of finding solutions. “We have good coordination with China, and we’ve been talking to them,” he said, adding, “We can’t forget that China is our main customer.” 

China charges that the U.S. is scapegoating it for problems that the U.S. created for itself, and there is certainly a strong odor of China bashing these days, even from intelligent and thoughtful people like Paul Krugman, Nobel laureate and New York Times columnist. 

Krugman says that while he wants to avoid “hard ball policies,” he says “China is adding materially to the world’s economic problems at a time when those problems are already severe. It is time to take a stand.” Krugman suggests the U.S. should put a 10 percent surcharge on imports from China, a move more likely to ignite a global trade war than bring China to heel.  

Last weekend’s meeting of the G20, representing the world’s leading economies, firmly rejected an American proposal aimed at the Chinese (and also the Germans) and opted for a less confrontational approach. The meeting in Seoul, South Korea essentially asked everyone to play nice. Whether they will or not remains to be seen. The subject is sure to come up again in November when G20’s heads of states get together. 

The solution is not a quick re-evaluation of the currency, says the Carnegie Endowment’s Pettis, but “statesman-like behavior, in which the major economies agree to resolve their trade balances over several years.” 

“Statesman-like behavior” is not exactly what is coming out of Washington these days. 

 


Senior Power: Death of “a prophetic visionary.”

By Helen Rippier Wheeler
Tuesday November 02, 2010 - 01:32:00 PM

Dr. Robert Neil Butler, M.D.-- psychiatrist-turned-gerontologist -- died in July. He was the first to articulate the concepts of "ageism" and of "productive aging." 

Butler’s painful youthful realization that death is inevitable prompted him to challenge and ultimately reform the treatment of the elderly through research, public policy and publications . He was 83 and had worked until three days before his death. The cause was acute leukemia. 

Dr. Butler’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Why Survive? Being Old in America, proposed reforms for the elderly. It went from a bleak explication of their condition to prescriptions for its improvement. “Human beings need the freedom to live with change, to invent and reinvent themselves a number of times through their lives,” he wrote.  

An advocate for the medical and social needs and rights of the elderly, in 1975, Butler became the founding director of the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Seven years later, he founded the Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai Medical Center, the first department of geriatrics in a U.S. medical school, and served as Chair and Brookdale Professor until 1995. The author of hundreds of scientific and medical articles, Dr. Butler served as editor in chief of Geriatrics journal from 1986-2000.  

He defended as healthy the way many old people slip into old memories, naming it the “life review.” And he helped establish that senility is not inevitable with aging. 

In speech after speech, he pounded home the message that longevity in the United States had increased by 30 years in the 20th century — greater than the gain during the preceding 5,000 years of human history — and that this had led to profound changes in every aspect of society, employment and politics.  

He advocated for the aging before the U.S. Congress and the United Nations . He helped start and led the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, and the International Longevity Center. President Bill Clinton named him chairman of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging.  

Dr. Butler challenged long-held conceptions about aging, calling it “the neglected stepchild of the human life cycle.” When the Heinz Family Foundation presented him with an award in 2003, it called him “a prophetic visionary.” 

xxxx 

Dr. Butler wrote that his mission emerged from his childhood. His parents split up eleven months after his birth on January 21, 1927 in Manhattan. He went to live with his maternal grandparents on a New Jersey chicken farm. 

He came to revere his grandfather, with whom he cared for sick chickens in the “hospital” at one end of the chicken house. He loved the old man’s stories. When his grandfather disappeared, Robert was seven; nobody would tell him why. He finally learned that his grandfather had died. He would have preferred that people had been honest with him about death. 

Robert found solace in his friendship with a physician who helped him through scarlet fever and took him on his rounds by horse and carriage. He wrote that he learned about the strength and endurance of the elderly from his grandmother. After losing the farm in the Depression, she and her grandson survived on government-surplus foods and lived in a cheap hotel. Robert sold newspapers.  

“What I remember even more than the hardships of those years was my grandmother’s triumphant spirit and determination,” he wrote. “Experiencing at first hand an older person’s struggle to survive, I was myself helped to survive as well.” 

Dr. Butler served in the United States Maritime Service before entering Columbia University , where he earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees. During his internship in psychiatry at St. Luke’s Hospital, he had many elderly patients and realized how little he had been taught about treating them. He began reading about the biology of aging. 

After his residency at the University of California, San Francisco , he worked at the National Institute of Mental Health as a research psychiatrist. He studied the central nervous system in elderly people, work that became part of a large study of aging. He also helped Ralph Nader investigate problems in nursing homes. The book that emerged from his experiences proposed many specific reforms to help old people, including a national service corps that would enlist the elderly as community volunteers.  

He is survived by four daughters and six grandchildren. 

Dr. Butler acknowledged in a Saturday Evening Post interview in 2008 that his views on his own aging had changed: he feared death less. “I feel less threatened by the end of life than I perhaps did when I was 35,” he said. 

His death is a great loss. In 1997, I was honored when Dr. Butler wrote the Foreword for Women & Aging; A Guide to the Literature. I appreciated his thoughtful evaluation of the book and his daring assertion that my “strong commitment to gender and age equity comes through.” 

 

xxxx  

Four of Dr. Robert Neil Butler’s Books:  

Wh y Survive?; Being Old in America. (Can be borrowed by your public library in your behalf via the LINK.)  

The longevity revolution: the benefits and challenges of living a long life.  

The longevity prescription: the 8 proven keys to a long, healthy life. (2010)  

Ageing & Mental Health 

With Dr. Myrna I. Lewis:  

The New Love and Sex after 60.  

Love and Sex After 60.  

Selected articles by Butler:  

“The Study of Productive Aging”, Guest Editorial . Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. ” Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. 57, no. 6, (2002): S323.  

Dispelling Ageism: The Cross-Cutting Intervention .” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, May, 1989, vol. 503, p. 138-147. 

 

Thoughts on the Development of Geriatrics .” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55, no. 12 (2007): 2086-2087. 

 

Science & Aging - The Myth of Old Age .” Newsweek. 138, no. 11, (2001): 33 

 

Obit. by Douglas Martin. July 7, 2010 New York Times. A version appeared on page A13 of the New York edition. 

xxxx 

# # # 

Helen Rippier Wheeler can be reached at pen136@dslextreme.com. No email attachments; use “Senior Power” for subject. 


Arts & Events

Stage-San Francisco Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:37:00 PM

BEACH BLANKET BABYLON This long-running musical follows Snow White as she sings and dances her way around the world in search of her prince. Along the way she encounters many of the personalities in today's headlines, including Nancy Pelosi, Condoleezza Rice, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harry Potter, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey, Britney Spears, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, George and Laura Bush, Michael Jackson, Martha Stewart, Tom Cruise, Angelina, characters from Brokeback Mountain and Paris Hilton. Persons under 21 are not admitted to evening performances, but are welcome to Sunday matinees. 

"Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon," ongoing. 8 p.m. Wed. - Thurs.; 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Fri. - Sat.; 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sun.  

$25-$130. Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. (formerly Green Street), San Francisco. (415) 421-4222, www.beachblanketbabylon.com.

 

CHANCELLOR HOTEL UNION SQUARE  

"Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast," ongoing. 8 p.m. Fri. -Sat. Audiences gather for a 90-minute show abounding with local anecdotes and lore presented by captivating and consummate conjurers and taletellers. $30.  

433 Powell St., San Francisco. (877) 784-6835, www.chancellorhotel.com.

 

CLIMATE THEATRE  

"The Clown Cabaret at the Climate," ongoing. 7 and 9 p.m. First Monday of the month. Hailed as San Francisco's hottest ticket in clowning, this show blends rising stars with seasoned professionals on the Climate Theater's intimate stage. $10-$15.  

285 Ninth St., Second Floor, San Francisco. www.climatetheater.com.

 

HERBST THEATRE  

"You Can't Bite City Hall, or, Some of My Best Friends Are Vampires," Nov. 7, 4 p.m. The Lamplighters' annual Champagne Gala features a spooky stage performance, along with auctions and receptions. $50-$95.  

401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com.

 

KIMO'S BAR  

"Fauxgirls," ongoing. 10 p.m. Every third Saturday. Drag cabaret revue features San Francisco's finest female impersonators. Free. (415) 695-1239, www.fauxgirls.com. 

1351 Polk St., San Francisco. (415) 885-4535, www.kimosbarsf.com.

 

THE MARSH  

"The Mock Cafe," ongoing. 10 p.m. Saturdays. Stand-up comedy performances. $7.  

"The Monday Night Marsh," ongoing. 8 p.m. Mondays. An ongoing series of works-in-progress. $7.  

1062 Valencia St., San Francisco. (415) 826-5750, www.themarsh.org.

 

PIER 39 A pier filled with shops, restaurants, theaters and entertainment of all sorts from sea lions to street performers.  

"SAN FRANCISCO CAROUSEL" -- The Pier's two-tiered, San Francisco-themed carousel with hand-crafted ponies that rock and move up and down and tubs that spin. In addition, carousel has hand-painted pictures of San Francisco scenes like the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and Coit Tower. $3 per ride. "FREQUENT FLYERS'' -- A bungee trampoline where people can safely jump and flip over 20 feet in the air thanks to the help of bungee cords and a harness. Jumpers must weigh at least 30 pounds and not more than 230 pounds. $10 per session. (415) 981-6300.  

"RIPTIDE ARCADE" -- A 6,000-square-foot, surfer-themed arcade offering the Bay area's only 10-gun, Old West-style shooting gallery and 100 cuttingedge video games, virtual reality units and popular novelty games. Included are the "Dance Dance Revolution'' game, driving and roller coaster simulators, the "Global VR Vortex'' virtual reality machine, "Star Wars Trilogy,'' "Jurassic Park,'' "Rush 2049,'' and classics such as "Pac Man'' and "Galaga.'' Games are operated by 25-cent tokens and range in price from 25 cents to $1.50. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; through Feb. 26: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (415) 981-6300.  

"TURBO RIDE" -- Three simulated rides where the hydraulic seats move in synchronization with events on a giant screen are available at the Turbo Ride complex. The 12-minute-long rides in 3-D and 4-D are: "Dino Island II''; "Haunted Mine Ride,'' and "Extreme Log Ride.'' $12 general for one ride; $8 seniors and children ages 3 to 12 for one ride; $15 general for two rides; $11 seniors and children ages 3 to 12 for two rides; $18 general for multi-rides; $14 seniors and children ages 3 to 12 for multi-rides. (415) 392-8872.  

STUDIO 39 MAGIC CARPET RIDES -- A comedy action adventure utilizing special effects to created a personalized movie with visitors as the "stars'' flying above San Francisco. The Magic Carpet Ride is free. No reservations required. Ride is approximately five minutes. Personalized videos will be available for $30 for one: $10 for each additional tape. (415) 397-3939. SEA LIONS -- California sea lions, nicknamed "Sea Lebrities,'' "hauled out'' on Pier 39's K-Dock shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and by January of 1990 had taken over the docks. Due to a plentiful supply of herring and a protected environment, the population has grown and now reaches as many as 900 during the winter months. Weather permitting, free educational talks are provided by Marine Mammal Center volunteers on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Free. (415) 705-5500. 

"Tony n' Tina's Wedding," ongoing. The original interactive comedy hit where audience members play the roles of "invited guests'' at a fun-filled wedding ceremony. The popular dinner comedy performs at Swiss Louis Italian Restaurant. Thursday-Saturday, 7 p.m.; Matinees: Thursday and Saturday, noon. $88.50-$115.50. (888) 775-6777, www.pier39shows.com. 

Free. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; certain attractions and shops have differing hours. The Embarcadero and Beach Street, San Francisco. (415) 623-5300, (800) SEADIVE, www.pier39.com.

 

SHELTON THEATER  

"Shopping! The Musical," by Morris Bobrow, ongoing. A quick-paced musical about those obsessed with buying things. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m. $27-$29. (800) 838-3006, www.shoppingthemusical.com. 

Big City Improv, ongoing. 10 p.m. Fridays.  

$20. (510) 595-5597, www.bigcityimprov.com. 

533 Sutter St., San Francisco. (415) 433-1227, www.sheltontheater.com or www.sheltontheater.com.<


Stage-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:35:00 PM

Verismo Opera 

"Rigoletto" Nov. 14, 3 p.m. $15 

Hilside Club, 2286 Cedar St. at Arch, Berkeley 

Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-3006< 

 

ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS  

"30th Annual Hula Festival," Nov. 5 through Nov. 7, 3-9 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $10-$15. 

4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. (925) 426-7600, www.alamedacountyfair.com.

 

CAL PERFORMANCES All performances in Zellerbach Hall unless otherwise noted. 

Zenshinza Theatre Company, Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, 8 p.m. Sat.; 3 p.m. Sun. $48-$86. 

Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley. (510) 642-9988, www.calperformances.net.

 

EAST BAY IMPROV  

"Tired of the Same Old Song and Dance?" ongoing. 8 p.m. East Bay Improv actors perform spontaneous, impulsive and hilarious comedy on the first Saturday of every month. $8.  

Pinole Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Ave., Pinole. (510) 964-0571, www.eastbayimprov.com.

 

THE MARSH BERKELEY  

"Loveland," by Ann Rudolph, through Nov. 13, 7 p.m. Fri.; 5 p.m. Sat. $20-$50. 

2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. Info: (800) 838-3006, Tickets: (800) 838-3006, www.themarsh.org.<


Professional Dance-San Francisco Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:34:00 PM

BRAVA THEATER CENTER  

"Duniya Dance and Drum Company and Ensambles Ballet Folklorico's Half Halves," Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, 7 p.m. Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. $15-$20. 

2781 24th St., San Francisco. (415) 647-2822, www.brava.org.

 

COUNTERPULSE  

"2nd Sundays," ongoing. 2-4 p.m. Sun. Sept. 12: Philein Wang, ZiRu Tiger Productions, Tammy Cheney, Lenora Lee. Free.  

"Ampey!" Nov. 11 through Nov. 21, 8 p.m. Thu.-Sat.; 3 p.m. Sun. New works by Adia Tamar Whitaker. $14-$24.  

1310 Mission St., San Francisco. (415) 626-2060, www.counterpulse.org.

 

DANCE MISSION THEATER  

"Shared Space 4," Nov. 5 through Nov. 7, 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 7 p.m. Sun. Works by Todd Eckert and Nol Simonse. $20.  

3316 24th St., San Francisco. (415) 826-4441, www.dancemission.com.

 

HERBST THEATRE  

"Viver Brasil's Feet On The Ground," Nov. 12, 8 p.m. $25-$65. 

401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com.

 

ODC THEATER  

AXIS Dance Company, Nov. 5 through Nov. 7, 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 3 p.m. Sun. $18. 

3153 17th St., San Francisco. (415) 863-9834, www.odctheater.org.

 

PENA PACHAMAMA  

"Flamenco Thursdays" with Carola Zertuche, ongoing. 8:30 p.m. Thursdays Music and dance with performers of traditional flamenco. $10.  

Brisas de Espana Ballet Flamenco, ongoing. 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. Sun.  

$10-$15. 

For ages 21 and older. 1630 Powell St., San Francisco. (415) 646-0018, www.penapachamama.com.

 

SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL  

"Rotunda Dance Series: Ensambles Ballet Folklorico," Nov. 5, Noon.  

Free.  

Free unless otherwise noted. 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlet Place, San Francisco. < 

 

YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS The center's visual arts exhibitions feature contemporary art and popular culture by local, national and international artists. There are four rounds of exhibitions in the galleries each year. 

Sankai Juku, Nov. 11 through Nov. 14, 8 p.m. Thu.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun. A Butoh dance troupe performs. $35-$60.  

$3-$6; free the first Tuesday of every month. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. 701 Mission St., San Francisco. (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org.<


Readings-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:34:00 PM

A GREAT GOOD PLACE FOR BOOKS  

Catherine Gildner, Nov. 5, 7 p.m. "After the Falls.''  

Irv Hamilton, Nov. 6, 7 p.m. "A Twenty Minute War.''  

Tim Palmer, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. "Rivers of California.''  

Kathy Reichs, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. "Virals.''  

Andrew Smith, Lewish Buzbee, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. "The Marbury Lens'' and "The Haunting of Charles Dickens.''  

Sudipta Badhan-Quallen, Nov. 13, 11 a.m. "Quakenstein Hatches a Family.''  

6120 LaSalle Ave., Oakland. (510) 339-8210, www.ggpbooks.com.

 

BERKELEY FELLOWSHIP OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS  

Louise Dunlap, Nov. 6 through Nov. 7, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. "Undoing the Silence: Six Tools for Social Change Writing,'' a two day workshop on writing for social change. $35-$70.  

1606 Bonita Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-4824, www.bfuu.org.

 

BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, CENTRAL BRANCH  

"Writer's Workshop," Nov. 7, 2 p.m. A workshop for aspiring writers led by Mark Peterson. Free.  

Free. Monday-Tuesday, noon-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley. (510) 981-6100, www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/.< 

 

BOOKS INC., ALAMEDA  

"Storytime with Anna Alter," Nov. 6, 2 p.m. "Disappearing Desmond.''  

Vanessa Barrington, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. "DIY Delicious: Recipes and Ideas for Simple Food From Scratch.''  

Ann Wertz Garvin, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. "On Maggie's Watch.''  

Jan Watten, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. Local photographer and artist displays her prints and discusses her recent Artist Profile in Black and White Magazine.  

Free. Readings at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 1344 Park St., Alameda. (510) 522-2226, www.booksinc.net.

 

BOOKS INC., BERKELEY  

"Rethinking Your Holiday Meal Cookbook Panel," Nov. 10, 7 p.m. Featuring: Rosetta Costantino, Victoria Wise, Jordan Mackay and Rajat Parr, Rachel Saunders and Romney Steel.  

1760 4th Street, Berkeley. (510) 525-7777, www.booksinc.net.

 

DARK CARNIVAL IMAGINATIVE FICTION BOOKSTORE  

Michael Castleman, Nov. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. "A Killing in Real Estate.''  

3086 Claremont Ave., Berkeley. (510) 654-7323.< 

 

DIESEL, A BOOKSTORE  

Daniel Pinchbeck, Nov. 7, 3 p.m. "Notes From The Edge Times.''  

Thaisa Frank, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. "Heidegger's Glasses.''  

Poetry Flash: Steven Nightingale, Grace Marie Grafton, Nov. 14, 3 p.m. "The Light in Them is Permanent'' and "Other Clues.''  

5433 College Avenue, Oakland. (510) 653-9965.< 

 

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BERKELEY  

Sam Harris, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. "Can Science Determine Human Values?,'' $6-$15.  

2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. (510) 848-3696, www.fccb.org.

 

MOE'S BOOKS  

Peter Conners, Nov. 9. "White Hand Society: The Psychedelic Partnership of Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg.''  

Rebecca Solnit, Nov. 10. "Infinite City: A San Francisco Atlas.''  

Poetry Flash: Maxine Hong Kingston, James Ragan, Nov. 11. "I Love a Broad Margin to My Life'' and "Too Long a Solitude.''  

10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Readings take place at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2476 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2087, www.moesbooks.com.

 

MRS. DALLOWAY'S  

Susan Straight and Ayelet Waldman, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. "Take One Candle Light a Room,'' and "Red Hook Road.''  

Annie Barrows, Nov. 6, 11 a.m. "Ivy + Bean: What's The Big Idea?''  

Miles Corwin, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. "Kind of Blue.''  

Connie Green and Sarah Scott, Nov. 7, 4 p.m. "The Wild Table.''  

Sam Harris, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values.'' Even takes place at The First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley.  

Leonard Pitt, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. "Paris: A Journey Through Time.''  

2904 College Avenue, Berkeley. (510) 704-8222.< 

 

SAN LEANDRO PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAIN BRANCH  

Novella Carpenter, Nov. 6, 2 p.m. "Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer.''  

Free. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro. (510) 577-3971, Children's Library: (510) 577-3960, www.ci.sanleandro. ca.us/sllibrary.html.< 

 

YGNACIO VALLEY LIBRARY  

Amanda Adams, Nov. 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. "Ladies of the Field: Early Women Archaeologists.''  

2661 Oak Grove Rd., Walnut Creek. (925) 938-1481, www.ccclib.org.<


Classical Music-San Francisco Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:25:00 PM

BAYVIEW OPERA HOUSE  

"San Francisco Chamber Orchestra: Music & Dance," Nov. 6, 7 p.m. A free family concert featuring works by Bartok, Handel and Vivaldi. www.sfchamberorchestra.org. 

4705 Third St., San Francisco. < 

 

HERBST THEATRE  

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. Works by Vivaldi. $25-$85.  

"San Francisco Performances presents Soprano Measha Brueggergosman," Nov. 10, 8 p.m. $35-$60. 

"San Francisco Performances presents Arnaldo Cohen and Nareh Arghamanyan," Nov. 11, 8 p.m. $35-$60. 

401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com.

 

LEGION OF HONOR MUSEUM DOCENT TOUR PROGRAMS -- Tours of the permanent collections and special exhibitions are offered Tuesday through Sunday. Non-English language tours (Italian, French, Spanish and Russian) are available on different Saturdays of the month at 11:30 a.m. Free with regular museum admission. (415) 750-3638.  

ONGOING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM --  

"Doing and Viewing Art," ongoing. For ages 7 to 12. Docent-led tours of current exhibitions are followed by studio workshops taught by professional artists/teachers. Students learn about art by seeing and making it. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon; call to confirm class. Free with museum admission. (415) 750-3658. 

ORGAN CONCERTS -- Ongoing. 4 p.m. A weekly concert of organ music on the Legion's restored 1924 Skinner organ. Saturday and Sunday in the Rodin Gallery. Free with museum admission. (415) 750-3624. 

$6-$10; free for children ages 12 and under; free for all visitors on Tuesdays. Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue and Clement Street, San Francisco. (415) 750-3600, (415) 750-3636, www.legionofhonor.org.

 

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA  

"Madama Butterfly," by Giacomo Puccini, through Nov. 27. Nicola Luisotti conducts. 8 p.m. Oct. 12, 15, 23, 29, Nov. 5, Nov. 27; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 26, Nov. 11, Nov. 17; 2 p.m. Nov. 14 and Nov. 21. $20-$360.  

"Cyrano de Bergerac," through Nov. 12. Starring Placido Domingo. See website for performance dates and times.  

"The Makropulos Case," Nov. 10 through Nov. 28. Sung in Czech with English supertitles. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 24; 8 p.m. Nov. 13, 16, 20; 2 p.m. Nov. 28. $20-$360.  

$25 to $245 unless otherwise noted. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 864-3330, www.sfopera.com.

 

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY  

"Carl Orff's Carmina Burana," through Nov. 8, 8 p.m. Wed.-Fri., Sun. Performace will also include works by Haydn and Schnittke. $35-$135.  

"Dia De Los Muertos Family Concert," Nov. 6, 2 p.m. A celebration of Mexican music and culture for the entire family. $15-$68.  

The Mutter-Bashmet-Harrell Trio, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. Works by Beethoven. $15-$83.  

Rufus Wainwright, Nov. 11 through Nov. 13, 8 p.m. Works by Wainwright, Milhaud, and Weill $15-$140.  

$25-$130. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. (415) 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org.

 

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL  

"Sunday Afternoon Recitals," ongoing. 3:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Sept. 5: Travis Baker.  

Sept. 12: Christoph Tietze.  

$5 suggested donation. 1111 Gough St., San Francisco. (415) 567-2020, www.stmarycathedralsf.org.<


Classical Music-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:11:00 PM

Verismo Opera 

"Rigoletto" Nov. 14, 3 p.m. $15 

Hilside Club, 2286 Cedar St. at Arch, Berkeley 

Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-3006< 

 

CAL PERFORMANCES All performances in Zellerbach Hall unless otherwise noted. 

Ensemble Zellig, Nov. 7, 2 p.m. Concert takes place in Hertz Hall. $42.  

Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley. (510) 642-9988, www.calperformances.net.

 

CROWDEN MUSIC CENTER  

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. Works by Ravel and Schubert. $15; 18 and under free.  

1475 Rose St., Berkeley. (510) 559-6910, www.crowden.org.

 

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BERKELEY  

"Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra," Nov. 6, 4 p.m. Works by Vivaldi. $7.50-$15.  

2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. (510) 848-3696, www.fccb.org.

 

JAZZSCHOOL  

Kai Eckhardt, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. $15. 

Frankye Kelly and Friends, Nov. 6, 8 p.m. $15. 

The Jolly/Steinkoler Duo, Nov. 7, 4:30 p.m. $12. 

Solo Piano Night, Nov. 12, 8 p.m. $15. 

Chelle and Friends, Nov. 13, 8 p.m. $15. 

Alter Ego, Nov. 14, 4:30 p.m. $12. 

Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2087 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com.

 

LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS  

"Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra: Vivaldi's Four Seasons," Nov. 10, 8 p.m. $25-$85. 

1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. (925) 943-7469, www.lesherartscenter.com.

 

MUSIC SOURCES  

"Canconier: Music From The Age of Petrarch." Nov. 6.  

1000 The Alameda at Marin, Berkeley. (510) 528-1685, www.musicsources.org/.< 

 

WALNUT CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH  

"Contra Costa Wind Symphony: Reach For The Sky," Nov. 6, 8 p.m. Works by John Williams and more. $15. www.ccwindsymphony.org. 

1801 Lacassie Ave., Walnut Creek. (925) 935-1574, www.wcpres.org.<


Film Review: A Rare Glimpse Inside Sri Lanka’s Deadly War

By Gar Smith
Monday November 01, 2010 - 09:21:00 PM

Three young tourists, a woman and two male friends, travel to a distant and dangerous part of the world. They cross a restricted border and find their lives changed forever. This sounds like the saga of Sarah Shourd, Jeff and Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal but this is the story of another trio — three student journalists from Europe who crossed into the killing fields of Kilinochchi at the end of Sri Lanka’s bloody rampage against the LTTE — the Liberation Tigers. 

These young reporters were the first foreigners allowed to enter a region that had seen other journalists murdered. They returned with 30 videotapes and 4,000 photos and produced a remarkable and unique record of civil conflict that would otherwise have remained hidden from the eyes of the world.Their film, “The Truth that Wasn’t There,” will have it’s US premiere at the Castro Theatre at 4:20 on November 6. “The Truth” will be screened as part of the San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival, which opens on November 3 and runs through November 7 at the Castro and Brava Theatres. The festival showcases 15 diverse works from filmmakers in India, Tibet, Pakistan, Britain and the US. 

The handheld camerawork is often jittery and unprofessional and much of the footage consists of scenes that flash by, shot on-the-fly as a car races down roads on long drives through a war-ravaged countryside. “This is our story,” the filmmakers confess. “Wholly subjective, entirely contradictory.” 

As one of the team admits, the closing years of the nearly 30-year war was “a time when propaganda and misinformation pervaded both sides so severely that truth was lost at the very moment it was needed most.” 

The three filmmakers arrived in Sri Lanka at the declared end of the conflict. As part of a student project, the trio found themselves granted permission to enter areas that had previously been banned to independent journalists.Closely accompanied by government military guides, they traveled through northeastern Sri Lanka to Menik Farm, an infamous detention center where tens of thousands of displaced tamils were reportedly confined in unhealthy, overcrowded conditions. They visited Kilonochchi, the devastated former capital of the LTTE, Mullaitivu, the final battle ground of the war, and Challai Beach, the scene of one of the war’s bloodiest, final battles. 

The war between the government and the Tamil rebels posed “huge contradictions.” On one side, there were the brutal acts of terror committed by the Tamil Tigers; on the other, the brutal response on the part of the government that raised international cries of “Tamil genocide.” 

“You don’t know who to believe because both sides launched a huge propaganda campaign,” says Philip Panchenko, the team’s photographer. The conflicting stories had a polarizing effect, notes videographer Heidi Lindvall “where the more moderate voices had no effect whatsoever.” The experience was especially difficult for director Guy Gunarathe. “Being from the Singalese diaspora, it was most disconcerting for me,” he says. 

The first visit — to a displaced persons camp called Menik Farm — proved a shock. Instead of encountering the horrible conditions reported by international human rights organizations, the filmmakers found a bustling, model village. They were shown villagers shopping for fresh produce and patronizing a coop bank. Schools, computer centers and vocational training buildings were filled with teachers and well-dressed children. 

The filmmakers were suspicious and wondered if their cameras were being used to promote an unrepresentative image of a “model” camp. It was impossible to speak to any detainees privately but in the training center, a student planning a block of wood admitted he had no idea what he was supposed to be building. Meanwhile, all of the support facilities had been clearly labeled with large block letters — in English — perfect for staged photos. 

After leaving the refugee camps, the filmmakers were driven into former LTTE territory — a three-hour drive along “a long, straight road, with destruction on either side — void of color, void of life.”At one point, the team leaves their car to tour an empty, devastated school. Amid the rubble of toppled books, they discover a teacher’s record-book listing, in neat hand-written letters, the names of all the children in the 9th-grade class. A blackboard still held a day’s lessons, visible in weathered chalk but nothing remains of the teacher or the children. “It was hard walking through that battered town.” Guy recalls. “There was just nothing left here to hold onto.”They visit the empty shell of a gutted home and discover the remains of an old record player and a solitary metal frame shining on the ground with the photo burned away — the detritus of a family’s dreams. 

The film reinforces the message that the violence of war is abhorrent and a tragic waste. The director, who admits that he grew up wanting to become a war correspondent, now admits he wants nothing more to do with war reporting. Guy has formed an independent company devoted to use film as a tool “for peace-building and conflict resolution.” The company is called Codoc Productions and this film is their first effort. The Sri Lanka experience prompted Heidi Lindvall to seek an MA in Human Rights. She has now directed Codoc’s second feature film, a story about abducted child soldiers in northern Uganda. 

For detailed information on the Festival and screenings, see: www.thirdi.org/festival 


Eye from the Aisle: “Wonderfully Cheesy” DRACULA at Center Rep

By John A. McMullen II
Monday November 01, 2010 - 09:17:00 PM
Madeline H. D. Brown and Eugene Brancoveanu
www.kevinberne.com
Madeline H. D. Brown and Eugene Brancoveanu

At intermission, I spied this witty actress with whom I’ve worked, and asked her what she thought about the play. “Wonderfully cheesy!” she quipped. It was pithy and apropos. 

I had hoped for scary and sexy. That’s what you go to see Dracula for, right? Except for a couple of fleeting moments, this one is neither. 

This play bears bare bones resemblance to the 1927 Broadway hit by Balderston & Deane from which they made the 1931 Lugosi movie. It draws much more from modern movies like Coppola’s ‘92 film with Gary Oldman, and some from the ’79 movie with Frank Langella as the Byronesque Count. They all draw from Bram Stoker’s epistolary novel of 1897, written about the same time a little known Austrian physician was writing about sex and the unconscious. This production is set in Victorian England in an English drawing room and bed chamber overtop a madhouse—and if that’s not symbolic enough of the Ego/Id Freudian construct, what is? 

The set and the opening moment promise terror that is never delivered. Kim Tolman’s Expressionist** set—with skewed perspective, walls akimbo and out of kilter— is painted a murky turquoise and offset with red barren trees. It’s enough to give us the willies in the pre-set. The play begins with a golden, scaly, masked creature resembling a reptile with a ruff climbing down the wall in a trick-of-the-eye defiance of gravity. And that’s pretty much it for scary. 

Insofar as sexy, it’s implied rather than enacted. When the three vamps seduce Solicitor Jonathan Harker in the Count’s castle, it turns into a balletic modern dance without any juice. Pulling back on this moment missed a chance to deliver both scary and sexy, especially for the men, because the confusion caused by combining the fear of being bitten and eaten together with sex calls up that male trauma called “vagina dentata.” And the best plays—and scariest—are those that hit us below the conscious level. The Dracula play was the subject of much psychoanalytic literature after the Langella 70’s Broadway version with sets by Gothic cartoonist Edward Gorey. 

We almost get some carnal thrills when Drac goes after a willing Lucy, but, alas, it’s covered over with a clumsy outpouring of red scarves to symbolize blood (so overdone that it reminded me of the classic clown gag of the never-ending scarf). Giving the devil his due, when Mina drinks blood from the bare-chest of our anti-hero, it’s hot, but the moment goes by prematurely. (By contrast, the same, near-fellatio scene with Winona Ryder and Gary Oldman in Coppola’s film plays it for all it’s worth.) 

(Side note: I keep seeing sex scenes on the local stage that are glossed over—three times in my last three outings! Does anybody watch TV and recognize that Contemporary Cable has changed Community Standards?) 

In the theatre, the phrase for reacting truthfully to the scripted events as you would in real life is termed “playing the given circumstances.” Watching the actors go through the pity and the terror of what life brings them supposedly pulls us into their emotional lives, and we vicariously enter their world and walk in their shoes. Regrettably, there is little truth in the acting here. When a young and vibrant loved one declines in a few short days then expires, one expects some wailing in grief even from the stiff-upper lip British. 

While sitting beside her corpse when she unexpectedly recovers, one expects a shriek then an outpouring of joy. When confronted with unknown forces, one expects even strong men to be on the verge of nervous collapse. Under Michael Butler’s direction, nothing like this occurs. While the script calls for lots of expository yakking about the minutiae of the situation, strong and real emotional reactions are MIA. 

The other problem is, ironically, the gorgeous set. Part of terror is having the other-worldly evil enter the mundane world. With the scenery being weird, I expected a style of acting that resembled the disturbed world, such as behavior out of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” This play is a drawing-room melodrama which does not jibe with the background. Going from terror to normal permits the tension to be sustained, but here everything is played out against this dread-inducing backdrop. It would have been a coup if the sets could have righted to normal perpendiculars when things were normal, then gone wonky when the terror struck—but that’s second-guessing the designer. 

The old-time gas lighting of the time period made for warm yellow interiors. This lighting is muted without any coziness to change mood. The picture is enhanced when down-lighting occurs, but otherwise the actors seemed flattened. I couldn’t tell if more backlighting was needed—backlighting makes a figure more three-dimensional—or if the low level of the lights was at fault. There is also scary background music throughout which likewise has a sameness to it. 

Eugene Brancoveanu plays Count Vlad Tepes, the Dracul. His powerful and mellifluous baritone serves the character and audience well. Old actors used to say the one thing an actor had to have was a grand voice to fill the house. With the possible exception of Lucy, played by Madeleine H. D. Brown, all other voices—and personas—are thin by comparison and don’t wrap around us like Brancoveanu’s. “Pro-JECT!” they lectured us in acting school. It was only later that we understood they were talking about more than volume and resonance of the voice: it was this almost magical ability to project one’s presence and emotions to the furthest reaches of the audience. Only Brancoveanu effectively reaches much past the apron of the stage. 

Brancoveanu, an internationally recognized operatic baritone from Romania, has the agility and flexibility to approach the embodiment of an unworldly creature with his seductive, animalistic moves. He is at ease as a seducer—his bravura performance as Don Giovanni, the ultimate seducer, in Berkeley Opera’s recent production was the best opera acting I’ve ever seen. In the opera, big acting is the usual, and when in monster mode, Brancoveanu generally fills the bill. But he seems to be holding back in this straight play, and could go much larger with more effect. He is appropriately suave when in charming nobleman form with his expressive hands and gallant gestures, but without the charisma we see when he is transformed, which disappoints. He overcomes the foppish lacy sleeves with which the costumer has saddled him. His rounded features are boyish and pleasant, but when combined with his Kennedy-style haircut, it mutes the picture of sophistication. In Don G., he spiked his hair, which heightened the character. Maybe a little Bela Lugosi pomade slicking-back, as was the custom of that day, would help here. (Fun fact: two different Princes of Wallachia—200 years apart—were named Tepes (who was the historic Dracula)—and Brancoveanu!) 

Oh, and the other scary moment: the finale. A little lighting trick and a whole lot of acting worked well to leave us with a mild fright. When we did it a million years ago in a little community theatre in Appalachia, the director was a magician, and Drac would really disappear in a welter of fog through a trap door. Worked great. We can see the tricks here, and that isn’t good. If you think the theatre can’t be scary, the next time you go to London, go see “Woman in Black”—just make sure you visit the loo before the curtain. 

The audience laughed at what seemed inappropriate moments. Perhaps everybody knows the story too well—even before Count Chocula, the theme was lending itself to “camp.” Renfield, played by Michael Barrett Austin, is used as a jack-in-the-box comic relief foil instead of the tortured soul who sometimes brings a laugh to break the tension—which is sort of a metaphor for this production. 

I went hoping for more, although some of the opening night audience rose to applaud. My non-theatre-going newbie companions had fun, but both said they might have felt differently if they’d had to pay the $95 for two. 

([** “Expressionism: A movement in the arts during the early part of the 20th century that emphasized subjective expression of the artist's inner experiences; its typical trait is to present the world under an utterly subjective perspective, violently distorting it to obtain an emotional effect and vividly transmit personal moods and ideas. Thank you Wikipedia.org (don’t knock it), and TheFreeDictionary.com.) 

DRACULA plays October 22 - November 20, 2010 

At Lesher Center for the Arts, Margaret Lesher Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek CA  

Tickets: (925) 943-7469 or www.centerrep.org  

Written by Hamilton Dean and John Balderston with additions from the novel by Bram Stoker. Direction by Michael Butler, scenic design by Kim A. Tolman, lighting design by Kurt Landisman, properties made by Seren Helday, choreography by Kate Jopson, costume design by Victoria Livingston-Hall, sound design by Cliff Caruthers, wigs by Judy Disbrow, casting by Jennifer Perry, makeup design by Erik Batz, with stage management by Gregg Rehrig* 

WITH: Michael Barrett Austin*, Eugene Brancoveanu, Madeline H.D. Brown, Lauren Doucette, Emma Goldin, Thomas Gorrebeeck, Taylor Jones, Kate Jopson, Sam Leichter, Kendra Lee Oberhauser, Robert Sicular*, Michael Wiles* (*-member of Actors Equity Association) 

John A. McMullen II wrote his MFA thesis on “A Freudian Approach to the Vampire Play,” and knows more than is healthy about the subject. Contact EyefromtheAisle@gmail.com Thanks to EJ Dunne for editing.


Eclectic Rant: Bob Dylan: "The Brazil Series" Paintings & Drawings in Copenhagen

By Ralph Stone
Monday November 01, 2010 - 05:15:00 PM

On our recent trip to Copenhagen, we visited the National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) for the first public showing of Bob Dylan's "The Brazil Series," 40 acrylic paintings and eight drawings he created during the period 2009-10. Yes, the Dylan of "Blowin' in the Wind," " Mr. Tambourine Man," and "Like a Rolling Stone" fame. Actually Dylan has been sketching most of his life.  

Why visit a Bob Dylan painting and drawing exhibit in Copenhagen? Because my wife and I are longtime Dylan fans, my wife more than me. We have all or most of Dylan's albums/CDs, even his born-again Christian albums, and my wife has heard him in concert here in San Francisco. Therefore, seeing the Dylan paintings and drawings was a must. 

“The Brazil Series” is exhibited in a large well lit gallery. In a gallery alcove, there is a timeline of Dylan's career. The painting are exhibited in the main part of the gallery. On a back wall, there a video of the curator discussing Dylan's paintings interspersed with Dylan sketching and four persons expressing their views of the paintings. The timeline, the video, and the painting and drawing labels are in English. (English is the common language among the Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). 

The collection includes figurative scenes from Brazilian slums, farms and beaches. The 69-year-old folk singer and songwriter sketched the scenes during visits to Brazil and then later painted them on canvas in a studio. Dylan said that he chose Brazil because he’s been there and he likes the atmosphere. The paintings were created specifically for the National Gallery. 

The paintings are vaguely reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Matisse with such titles as "The Incident," "Favela Villa Candido," and "Barber Shop," displaying Dylan's fascination with Brazil's cultural diversity. They picture crowded slums, spaghetti-eaters in a cafe and workers in a vineyard. Dylan also captures sombre snapshots of courtrooms, street shootings, cabaret dancers, even a solitary boxer practising in a gym. According to Curator Kaspar Monrad, Dylan said that if he could have expressed in song what he has now painted, he would have written a song instead. 

The exhibition is accompanied by the publication of Bob Dylan: The Brazil Series. The book is the first publication to subject Dylan's visual art to serious, art-historical analysis and readings. We didn't purchase this publication. 

Dylan has previously exhibited his paintings. The critically acclaimed exhibition ‘Bob Dylan – The Drawn Blank Series” opened at the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz in Germany in the autumn of 2007, and smaller selections of many of the watercolors displayed in that exhibition were subsequently shown in galleries in Europe and the U.S. 

We learned later that the Danish critics were not very appreciative of Dylan's work. The critic for the daily Berlingske review was typical: "When we talk about music, Bob Dylan is one of the great Picassos of the 20th century, but this is not the case for his painting," And art history professor Peter Brix Soendergaard, interviewed by the daily Information said, "Bob Dylan paints like any other amateur, using a rather oafish figurative style, . . ."He is what we used to call a Sunday painter." 

The Danish weekly, Weekendavisen, defended Dylan’s work with faint praise stating that he’s ”not a great painter,” but noted his work “is interesting because he is not pretentious and he has an eye for drama.” 

My wife and I are not art experts, but we have visited museums around the world and appreciate fine art. In our considered opinion, Dylan is a good amateur painter; his paintings are interesting and unpretentious with strong colors. The exhibit is well worth seeing, especially to Bob Dylan fans. 

The National Gallery was criticized by some for putting "financial interest ahead of artistic judgment," knowing that the Dylan name would bring in a crowd. 

It is not unheard of for artists in one medium to branch out into another medium. For example, actor Dennis Hopper was a prolific photographer, painter, and sculptor. And Kevin Bacon and Keanu Reeves are actor-musicians. Their celebrity status draws in the curious. 

There is still time to view “The Brazil Series” as it doesn't close until January 30, 2011. 


Eye from the Aisle: PENELOPE-- Graves is a Berkeley treasure!

By John A. McMullen II
Monday November 01, 2010 - 03:35:00 PM
Jan Zvaifler in the title role.
Jay Yamada
Jan Zvaifler in the title role.

There is a wave of Iliad and Odyssey plays washing over the East Bay: the “Salt Plays” at Shotgun, and now PENELOPE’S ODYSSEY by Gary Graves at Central Works playing at the historic Berkeley City Club. 

PENELOPE plays out the myth to its logical conclusion given the circumstances and the personalities of the characters, in modern idiom and parlance, with just enough intersplicing of imagery and passages from Homer to appeal to modern sensibilities. Graves knows how to spin a modern tale and is a wordsmith of the first water. 

In the imposing room with the great hearth and 20-foot beamed ceiling, with amphorae in the niches and Paul Germain’s artwork of a strung bow—Odysseus’ proverbial weapon—as centerpiece above the mantel, the legend of the post-war wanderer is brought to life. 


(NOTE: these marvelous modern dramatizations of classic plays may not be for everyone. I went to these plays and raved, but my friends replied with, “What was that about?!” It helps to know something about the legend to understand the allusions, implications, and complications of the situation. Otherwise it’s like watching Woody Allen’s “Play it Again, Sam,” without ever having seen “Casablanca.” These days it’s pretty simple with Google to find a quick summary on the web. Used to be that the works every literate person knew and read were The Bible, The Iliad and Odyssey, Ovid’s Metamorphoses (replaced by Bullfinch’s Mythology), and Shakespeare; thus, these are the sources for the allusions of most literature and drama in the Western World. So, if you studied something in undergrad that saves lives or builds dams or contributes something other than making you really good at “Jeopardy,” take a few minutes to inform yourself and go to Wikipedia for a ten minute background read before you go; the more you know the more you’ll enjoy.) 

That disclaimer done, PENELOPE has its problems, but I don’t think it’s with the script. There is a difference of acting styles that works to the detriment of the play. Matt Lai is a consummate comic actor, and those often make the best dramatic ones. His style in the part of Antinus, Penelope’s main suitor, is cinematically realistic with nuance and subtext galore, and when he talks, it is as if he is not acting, and thus relaxes us into believing. His is the first scene, and he sets the tone and tenor for the play—alas, under the direction of John Patrick Moore, the other actors do not provide the same measure of realism. 

The theatre is about 45 seats, and being 6 to 12 feet away from the actors is grandly intimate, but the trade-off is that there is a burden of realism on the actor perhaps not as acute as on a larger stage. You can smell “acting” when you’re that up-close. 

Jan Zvaifler plays Penelope, Odysseus’ patient wife who has kept up the hope of his return for 20 years, while being inundated by suitors who can party like the Greeks and are eating her out of house and home. With sunglasses and dressed in Tammy Berlin’s lovely sea-colored frocks, she is the very picture of the other famous Greek widow Jackie O. She has the same demure and sophisticated manner, and her shining blue eyes radiate to the audience when she turns her head up to speak in her warm alto. She is quietly emotional, and in the later tempestuous moments, we see tears stream down her face. Her final transformation of character is impressive. However, her delivery is not as easy and modern as hoped for. After the play, when she gave the “please donate” curtain speech, she revealed a glittering personality full of easy and charming expression which we wish could have been infused into the character. 

Graves’ plays freely with the myth, as all writers have license to do and thereby expand and create great things. He casts Telemachus—the scion of Odysseus—as a transgendered daughter turned son by the goddess’ intervention, and this is believably and movingly exposited. I can’t recall a precedent for this turn of the myth, except for a twist on the myth of Tiresias who was a man-turned-woman-turned-man by supernatural action and who gave Odysseus good advice when they met in Hades. Odysseus’ acceptance of Telemachus’ “her-turned-him” nature bonds them. As soon as the gender discrepancy is explained, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong looks believable in the part of Telemachus as a teenager in conflict, though her expression is the usual spectrum of adolescent reactions of sulking, frustration, and outrage. 

Graves’ writing is filled with the same expansive imagery as Homer—not just “wine-dark sea” and “rosy-fingered dawn” but those are in there, too. Regrettably, too often the actors did not reveal the pictures that his words paint. In the second half of the first act, the writing of the dialogue between Penelope and Telemachus seems to turn to a more classic style, and they fell into the trap of declamation, volleying words as if in a speed-run, so that we couldn’t tell what the emotional message was and sometimes lost track altogether. It was one of those extended, uncomfortable moments when folks turned to read their programs or looked at the architecture. 

In the 1st century B.C.E., Quintus Roscius Gallus—the first Roman actor to be knighted in a society that held the profession in contempt—theorized that there was a magic to acting that allowed the practiced actor to 1) envision the image in his mind’s eye and, 2) through his words, 3) transfer that image into the audience’s mind. In their rush, it seemed that the actors in this production may have skipped that first step. 

The second act swells with action and irony upon the arrival or the long-awaited master of the house, and Graves uses Homer’s ironies well. Terry Lamb plays Nobody. Perhaps you’ll recall that when Odysseus is trapped in the cave by the Cyclops Polyphemus, he tells him his name is “Nobody.” After he blinds the Cyclops with a spear, Polyphemus goes raging to his brother Cyclops, urging them to vengeance. When they ask, “Who did this to you?” Polyphemus replies, 

“Nobody!” “But who is to blame?” “Nobody!” Sort of like a Greek version of “Who’s on first?” 

Lamb’s performance as the grizzled, foul-smelling tramp/troubadour—Odysseus in disguise, of course—is closer to realistic, but still carries a touch of “performing,” and he ends most lines with a self-satisfied, self-conscious chuckle. He boldly delivers the story of the Trojan Horse, and we follow every moment and see every word-picture. His character as written is true to the hardening of men at war, and he is unrecognizable to his wife who, we would imagine, looks deep into the face of every stranger to see if it’s her husband returned. When he and Telemachus plot to exterminate the interlopers, he asks, “Ever kill a man? The killing’s easy. Living with yourself afterward is a bit tricky.” Lamb effectively underplays this gut-wrenching line as an off-the-cuff remark. Graves aptly has “Odysseus the cunning” end his days as a “vet” who obsessively spouts war stories between pulls on the bottle, wearing just his underwear and wife’s housecoat, with the story trailing off into drunken oblivion. 

More moving ironies: 

· Antinus falling in love with Penelope and making her laugh by singing a Tom Jones’ impersonation—and her laughing as if it is the first time she has laughed in 20 years—all just before the arrival of her long-lost husband, as well as the erotic symbolism of Antinus’ gift. 

· Odysseus singing “This Old Man (Knick Knack Paddy Wack)” which gives us a recognizable and wry joy with a nod to Odysseus’ fabled and absent dog Argos. 

· Odysseus waxing philosophical about the goat, which is reputed to sing a song of “Don’t let it be me!” before it is sacrificed for our sins as the scapegoat, and which conjures up the literal translation of “tragedy”: tragos = "goat" and aeidein = "to sing, as an ode." 

The final irony is that, while Homer writes a happy ending, the tragedy of abandonment and Ibsen-like despair here is a much more realistic and satisfying resolution. 

 

Penelope's Odyssey, a new play based on Homer’s Odyssey 

at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley  

Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm thru November 21 

Tickets (800) 838-3006 Info www.centralworks.org  

Written by Gary Graves, directed by John Patrick Moore, lighting by Gary Graves, costumes by Tammy Berlin, stage management by Gregory Scharpen, with art by Peter Germain. 

WITH: Matt Lai, Terry Lamb, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, and Jan Zvaifler. 

John A. McMullen II has been reviewing for the Berkeley Daily Planet since April, and is a member of the SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and the American Theatre Critics Association. Contact EyefromtheAisle@gmail.com Thanks to EJ Dunne for editing.


Popmusic-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:33:00 PM

924 GILMAN ST. All ages welcome. 

Monarch, Trees, Laudanum, Alaric Badr Vogu, Nov. 5, 7 p.m. $8. 

Sabertooth Zombie, Skin Like Iron, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. $8. 

Melodramatics, Joint Venture, IV, Nov. 7, 5 p.m. $8. 

Cruel Hand, Backtrack, Crucified, Secret People, Not Sorry, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. $8. 

Dezu, Dona Canchis, Jokes for Feelings, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. $10. 

Outbreak, Hour of the Wolf, Wolves and Thieves, Smarbomb, At Our Heels, Nov. 14, 5 p.m. $10. 

$5 unless otherwise noted. Shows start Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. (510) 525-9926, www.924gilman.org.

 

ALBATROSS PUB  

Whiskey Brothers, ongoing. 9 p.m. First and third Wednesdays.  

Free.  

Michelle Pollace, Nov. 13, 9:30 p.m. $3. 

Free unless otherwise noted. Shows begin Wednesday, 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 1822 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-2473, www.albatrosspub.com.

 

ARMANDO'S  

The Johnny Smith Group, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. $10. 

The Sons of Emperor Norton, Nov. 6, 8 p.m. $10. 

Blues Jam, ongoing. 7 p.m. $3. 

"West Coast Songwriters Association Competition," Nov. 10, 7-10 p.m. $5. 

The Mark Holzinger Quintet, Nov. 11, 8 p.m. $10. 

Jeffrey Halford and The Healers, Nov. 12, 8-11 p.m. $10. 

Tip of the Top, Nov. 13, 8-11 p.m. $10. 

Thomas Martin and Friends, Nov. 14, 3-6 p.m. $10. 

707 Marina Vista Ave., Martinez. (925) 228-6985, www.armandosmartinez.com.

 

ASHKENAZ  

Sophis and Kalbass Kreyol, The Dunes, Nov. 5, 9 p.m. $10-$20. 

The Funkanauts, Nov. 6, 9 p.m. $10-$13. 

Bandworks, Nov. 7, Noon. $5. 

Bandworks, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. $5. 

Balkan Folkdance, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. Balkan dance lessons; 8 p.m. show. $7. 

Great American Taxi, The David Nelson Band, Nov. 11. $25. 

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-5054, www.ashkenaz.com.

 

BECKETT'S IRISH PUB  

The Shark Alley Hobos, Nov. 5.  

Shiono and Friends, Nov. 6.  

Fun with Finnoula, Nov. 10.  

3 Shots of Whiskey, Nov. 13.  

Free. Shows at 10 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2271 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 647-1790, www.beckettsirishpub.com.

 

CAL PERFORMANCES All performances in Zellerbach Hall unless otherwise noted. 

Buika, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. $26-$40. 

Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley. (510) 642-9988, www.calperformances.net.

 

CHOUINARD VINEYARDS AND WINERY The winery features an exhibit of stone craft and baskets honoring the rich culture of the Ohlone Indians. Palomares Canyon was a summer home to the Ohlone Indians. The exhibit also includes historical photos and artifacts that document more recent colorful inhabitants to the canyon."Music at Chouinard," ongoing. 4:30-8:30 p.m. on select Sundays June-August. The rest of the year features live music in the tasting room on the second Sunday of each month. Enjoy the best of Bay Area artists at Chouinard. Bring your own gourmet picnic (no outside alcoholic beverages). Wines are available for tasting and sales.  

$40 per car. 

Free. Tasting Room: Saturdays-Sundays, noon-5 p.m. 33853 Palomares Road, Castro Valley. (510) 582-9900, www.chouinard.com.

 

FOX THEATER  

Florence and the Machine, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. $25. 

Brandon Flowers, Nov. 11, 8 p.m. $30. 

1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. (510) 452-0438, www.thefoxoakland.com.

 

FREIGHT AND SALVAGE  

"Freight Open Mic," ongoing. Tuesdays. $4.50-$5.50. 

Blue Highway, Nov. 5. $20.50-$21.50. 

Richard Shindell, Krista Detor, Nov. 6. $24.50-$25.50. 

Archie Fisher, Nov. 10. $18.50-$19.50. 

"Soldier Stories," Nov. 11. Features Nell Robinson, Jim Nunally, Keith Little, Joe Craven and more. $18.50-$19.50.  

David Berkeley, Nov. 12. $18.50-$19.50. 

"Singsong Planet: Octopretzel, Orange Sherbet, VaSt," Nov. 13, 11 a.m. $8.50-$9.50. 

Cheryl Wheeler, Jill Sobule, Nov. 13, 8 p.m. $26.50-$27.50. 

Larry Hanks, Deborah Rollins, Nov. 14. $18.50-$19.50. 

Music starts at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 548-1761, www.freightandsalvage.org.

 

JAZZSCHOOL  

Kai Eckhardt, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. $15. 

Frankye Kelly, Nov. 6, 8 p.m. $15. 

Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2087 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com.

 

JUPITER  

"Americana Unplugged," ongoing. 5 p.m. Sundays. A weekly bluegrass and Americana series.  

"Jazzschool Tuesdays," ongoing. 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Featuring the ensembles from the Berkeley Jazzschool. www.jazzschool.com. 

8 p.m. 2181 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-8277, www.jupiterbeer.com.

 

KIMBALL'S CARNIVAL  

"Monday Blues Legends Night," ongoing. 8 p.m.-midnight. Enjoy live blues music every Monday night. Presented by the Bay Area Blues Society and Lothario Lotho Company. $5 donation. (510) 836-2227, www.bayareabluessociety.net. 

522 2nd St., Jack London Square, Oakland. < 

 

THE NEW PARISH  

Cold War Kids, Nov. 12, 9 p.m. $22.50-$25. 

Sandman, Isis Genisis, Los Rakas, Dominique Jones, Nov. 13, 10 p.m. $8-$12. 

Faun Fables, The Cairo Gang, Nov. 14, 9 p.m. $10-$13. 

579 18th St., Oakland. (510) 444-7474, www.thenewparish.com.

 

ROUND TABLE PIZZA  

East Bay Banjo Club, ongoing. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays.  

Free.  

1938 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. (925) 930-9004.< 

 

SHATTUCK DOWN LOW For ages 21 and older. 

"Live Salsa," ongoing. Wednesdays. An evening of dancing to the music of a live salsa band. Salsa dance lessons from 8-9:30 p.m. $5-$10. 

"Thirsty Thursdays," ongoing. 9 p.m. Thursdays. Featuring DJ Vickity Slick and Franky Fresh. Free.  

Brasiu, Nov. 6, 9 p.m. $10. 

DJ's Smoke One and Henroc, Nov. 7, 9 p.m. $10. 

Orquestra Elefante, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. $10. 

DJ's Kool Karlo and Chris Fox, Nov. 11, 9 p.m.  

Free.  

San Quinn, DaVinci, Roach Gigz, St. Spittin, The Fam, Young Gully, Nov. 12, 9 p.m. $15-$20. 

DJ's Flow, Champino, Jawbreaker and Bittersweet, Nov. 13, 9 p.m. $5. 

Don Carlos, DJ's Smoke One and Kurious, Nov. 14, 9 p.m. $15-$20. 

2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 548-1159, www.shattuckdownlow.com.

 

STARRY PLOUGH PUB  

The Starry Irish Music Session led by Shay Black, ongoing. Sundays, 8 p.m. Sliding scale.  

The Beautiful Losers, Roy G Biv, The Mnemonic Devices, Katie Garibaldi, The Blank Tapes, Matt Adams, Nov. 5, 8:30 p.m.  

Oceanography, Teri Falini, Anna Coogan, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.  

Felsen, Deborah Crooks, Chris Velan, Nov. 11, 9 p.m.  

Ziva, Birdmonster, Melatones, Kate Kilbane, Nov. 12, 9 p.m.  

"Children's Hospital Benefit Concert," Nov. 13, 2 p.m.  

Kevin Beadles, Left Coasting, Chingus, Nov. 13, 9 p.m.  

For ages 21 and over unless otherwise noted. Sunday and Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-2082, www.starryploughpub.com.

 

UPTOWN NIGHTCLUB  

Birds and Batteries, Maus Haus, Nov. 5, 9 p.m.  

Free.  

Thee Oh Sees, Bare Wires, Nov. 6, 8 p.m. $12. 

"Eddies Eyeballs Benefit," Nov. 10, 9 p.m.  

1928 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. (510) 451-8100, www.uptownnightclub.com.

 

YOSHI'S  

Gil Scott-Heron, Nov. 5 and Nov. 6, 8 and 10 p.m. $28. 

Greg Adams and East Bay Soul, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. $15-$20. 

The Fellowship Band, Nov. 10 through Nov. 11, 8 and 10 p.m. $10-$18. 

Hiromi Solo, Nov. 12 through Nov. 14, 8 and 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 and 7 p.m. Sun. $5-$20. 

Shows are Monday through Saturday, 8 and 10 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200, www.yoshis.com.<


Outdoors-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:32:00 PM

ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM Ardenwood farm is a working farm that dates back to the time of the Patterson Ranch, a 19th-century estate with a mansion and Victorian Gardens. Today, the farm still practices farming techniques from the 1870s. Unless otherwise noted, programs are free with regular admission.  

ONGOING PROGRAMS --  

"Blacksmithing," Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch a blacksmith turn iron into useful tools.  

"Horse-Drawn Train," Thursday, Friday and Sunday. A 20-minute ride departs from Ardenwood Station and Deer Park.  

"Animal Feeding," Thursday-Sunday, 3-4 p.m. Help slop the hogs, check the henhouse for eggs and bring hay to the livestock.  

"Victorian Flower Arranging," Thursday, 10:15-11:30 a.m. Watch as Ardenwood docents create floral works of art for display in the Patterson House. "Horse-Drawn Train Rides," ongoing. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Meet Jigs or Tucker the Belgian Draft horses that pull Ardenwood's train. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Ardenwood Station or Deer Park. 

"Potato Harvesting," ongoing. Learn the spectacular history of this New World native as you dig with your spade and help find the spuds. 

"Toddler Time," ongoing. Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Meet and learn all about a new animal friend through stories, chores and fun.  

"Animal Feeding," ongoing. Thursday-Sunday, 3 p.m. Feed the pigs, check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. 

"Country Kitchen Cookin'," ongoing. Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy the flavor of the past with treats cooked on Ardenwood's wood burning stove. Sample food grown on the farm and discover the history of your favorite oldtime snacks. 

$1-$5; free children under age 4. Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. (510) 796-0199, (510) 796-0663, www.ebparks.org.

 

BAY AREA RAIL TRAILS ongoing. A network of trails converted from unused railway corridors and developed by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.  

BLACK DIAMOND MINES REGIONAL PRESERVE RAILROAD BED TRAIL -- Ongoing. This easy one mile long rail trail on Mount Diablo leads to many historic sites within the preserve. Suitable for walking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Accessible year round but may be muddy during the rainy season. Enter from the Park Entrance Station parking lot on the East side of Somersville Road, Antioch.  

IRON HORSE REGIONAL TRAIL -- Ongoing. The paved trail has grown into a 23 mile path between Concord and San Ramon with a link into Dublin. The trail runs from the north end of Monument Boulevard at Mohr Lane, east to Interstate 680, in Concord through Walnut Creek to just south of Village Green Park in San Ramon. It will eventually extend from Suisun Bay to Pleasanton and has been nominated as a Community Millennium Trail under the U.S. Millennium Trails program. A smooth shaded trail suitable for walkers, cyclists, skaters and strollers. It is also wheelchair accessible. Difficulty: easy to moderate in small chunks; hard if taken as a whole.  

LAFAYETTE/MORAGA REGIONAL TRAIL -- Ongoing. A 7.65 mile paved trail converted from the Sacramento Northern Rail line. This 20-year old trail goes along Las Trampas Creek and parallels St. Mary's Road. Suitable for walkers, equestrians, and cyclists. Runs from Olympic Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road in Lafayette to Moraga. The trail can be used year round.  

OHLONE GREENWAY -- Ongoing. A 3.75-mile paved trail converted from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway. Suitable for walkers, strollers and skaters. It is also wheelchair accessible. The trail runs under elevated BART tracks from Conlon and Key Streets in El Cerrito to Virginia and Acton Streets in Berkeley.  

SHEPHERD CANYON TRAIL -- Ongoing. An easy 3-mile paved trail converted from the Sacramento Northern Rail Line. The tree-lined trail is gently sloping and generally follows Shepherd Canyon Road. Suitable for walkers and cyclists. It is also wheelchair accessible. Begins in Montclair Village behind McCaulou's Department Store on Medau Place and ends at Paso Robles Drive, Oakland. Useable year round. 

Free. (415) 397-2220, www.traillink.com.

 

BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL ongoing. The Bay Area Ridge Trail, when completed, will be a 400-mile regional trail system that will form a loop around the entire San Francisco Bay region, linking 75 public parks and open spaces to thousands of people and hundreds of communities. Hikes on portions of the trail are available through the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Call for meeting sites. ALAMEDA COUNTY -- "Lake Chabot Bike Rides." These rides are for strong beginners and intermediates to build skill, strength and endurance at a non hammerhead pace. No one will be dropped. Reservations required. Distance: 14 miles. Elevation gain: 1,000 feet. Difficulty: beginner to intermediate. Pace: moderate. Meeting place: Lake Chabot Road at the main entrance to the park. Thursday, 6:15 a.m. (510) 468-3582.  

ALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA COUNTY -- "Tilden and Wildcat Bike Rides." A vigorous ride through Tilden and Wildcat Canyon regional parks. Reservations required. Distance: 15 miles. Elevation gain: 2,000 feet. Difficulty: intermediate. Pace: fast. Meeting place: in front of the North Berkeley BART Station. Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. (510) 849-9650. 

Free. (415) 561-2595, www.ridgetrail.org.

 

BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF THE EAST BAY ongoing. The Council sponsors trail work days, Youth Bike Adventure Rides, and Group Rides as well as Mountain Bike Basics classes which cover training and handling skills. "Weekly Wednesday Ride at Lake Chabot," ongoing. Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. A 13- to 20-mile ride exploring the trails around Lake Chabot, with 1,500 to 2,000 feet of climbing. Meet at 6:15 p.m. in the parking lot across from the public safety offices at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley. Reservations requested. (510) 727-0613.  

"Weekly Wednesday 'Outer' East Bay Ride," ongoing. Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. Ride some of the outer East Bay parks each week, such as Wild Cat Canyon, Briones, Mount Diablo, Tilden and Joaquin Miller-Redwood. Meeting place and ride location vary. Reservations required. (510) 888-9757. 

Free. (510) 466-5123, www.btceb.org.

 

BOTANIC GARDEN Ongoing.  

Intersection of Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley. www.ebparks.org.

 

CRAB COVE VISITOR CENTER At Crab Cove, you can see live underwater creatures and go into the San Francisco Bay from land. You can also travel back in time to Alameda's part. The goal is to increase understanding of the environmental importance of San Francisco Bay and the ocean ecosystem. Crab Cove's Indoor Aquarium and Exhibit Lab is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the East Bay."Catch of the Day," ongoing. Sundays, 2-3 p.m. Drop by to find out more about the Bay and its wildlife through guided exploration and hands-on fun. 

"Sea Siblings," ongoing. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Explore the natural world and take part in a theme related craft. Designed for the 3-5 year old learner. Registration is required.  

$4. (888) 327-2757. 

"Sea Squirts," ongoing. 10-11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Discover the wonders of nature with your little one. Registration is required. $6-$8. 

Free unless otherwise noted; parking fee may be charged. 1252 McKay Ave., Alameda. (510) 521-6887, www.ebparks.org.

 

DUNSMUIR HOUSE AND GARDENS HISTORIC ESTATE ongoing. Nestled in the Oakland hills, the 50-acre Dunsmuir House and Gardens estate includes the 37-room Neoclassical Revival Dunsmuir Mansion, built by coal and lumber baron Alexander Dunsmuir for his bride. Restored outbuildings set amid landscaped gardens surround the mansion.  

ESTATE GROUNDS -- Ongoing. Self-Guided Grounds Tours are available yearround. The 50 acres of gardens and grounds at the mansion are open to the public for walking Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Booklets and maps of the grounds are available at the Dinkelspiel House. Free.  

GUIDED TOURS -- Docent-led tours are available on the first Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. (except for July) and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. $5 adults, $4 seniors and juniors (11-16), children 11 and under free. 

Dunsmuir House and Gardens, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. (510) 615-5555, www.dunsmuir.org.

 

FIFTY-PLUS ADVENTURE WALKS AND RUNS ongoing. The walks and runs are 3-mile round-trips, lasting about one hour on the trail. All levels of ability are welcome. The walks are brisk, however, and may include some uphill terrain. Events are held rain or shine and on all holidays except Christmas and the Fifty-Plus Annual Fitness Weekend. Call for dates, times and details. 

Free. (650) 323-6160, www.50plus.org.

 

FOREST HOME FARMS ongoing. The 16-acre former farm of the Boone family is now a municipal historic park in San Ramon. It is located at the base of the East Bay Hills and is divided into two parts by Oak Creek. The Boone House is a 22-room Dutch colonial that has been remodeled several times since it was built in 1900. Also on the property are a barn built in the period from 1850 to 1860; the Victorian-style David Glass House, dating from the late 1860s to early 1870s; a storage structure for farm equipment and automobiles; and a walnut processing plant. 

Free unless otherwise noted. Public tours available by appointment. 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. (925) 973-3281, www.ci.sanramon. ca.us/parks/boone.htm.< 

 

GARIN AND DRY CREEK PIONEER REGIONAL PARKS ongoing. Independent nature study is encouraged here, and guided interpretive programs are available through the Coyote Hills Regional Park Visitor Center in Fremont. The Garin Barn Visitor Center is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In late summer, the Garin Apple Festival celebrates Garin's apple orchards. The parks also allow picnicking, hiking, horseback riding and fishing. 

Free; $5 parking fee per vehicle; $2 per dog. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 1320 Garin Ave., Hayward. (510) 562-PARK, (510) 795-9385, www.ebparks.org/parks/garin.htm.< 

 

GREENBELT ALLIANCE OUTINGS A series of hikes, bike rides and events sponsored by Greenbelt Alliance, the Bay Area's non-profit land conservation and urban planning organization. Call for meeting places. Reservations required for all trips.  

ALAMEDA COUNTY --  

"Self-Guided Urban Outing: Berkeley," ongoing. This interactive smart growth walking tour of central Berkeley examines some of the exciting projects that help alleviate the housing shortage in the city as well as amenities important to making a livable community. The walk, which includes the GAIA Cultural Center, Allston Oak Court, The Berkeley Bike Station, University Terrace and Strawberry Creek Park, takes between an hour-and-ahalf to two hours at a leisurely pace. Download the itinerary which gives specific directions by entering www.greeenbelt.org and clicking on "get involved'' and then "urban outings.'' Drop down and click on Berkeley. Free. 

Free unless otherwise noted. (415) 255-3233, www.greenbelt.org.

 

HAYWARD REGIONAL SHORELINE With 1,682 acres of salt, fresh and brackish water marshes, seasonal wetlands and the approximately three-mile San Lorenzo Trail, the Hayward Shoreline restoration project is one of the largest of its kind on the West Coast, comprising 400 acres of marshland. Part of the East Bay Regional Park District.Ongoing.  

Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 3010 W. Winton Ave., Hayward. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org/parks/hayward.htm.< 

 

HAYWARD SHORELINE INTERPRETIVE CENTER Perched on stilts above a salt marsh, the Center offers an introduction to the San Francisco Bay-Estuary. It features exhibits, programs and activities designed to inspire a sense of appreciation, respect and stewardship for the Bay, its inhabitants and the services they provide. The Habitat Room offers a preview of what may be seen outside. The 80-gallon Bay Tank contains some of the fish that live in the Bay's open waters, and the Channel Tank represents habitats formed by the maze of sloughs and creeks that snake through the marsh. The main room of the Center features rotating exhibits about area history, plants and wildlife. Part of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. "Exploring Nature," ongoing. An exhibit of Shawn Gould's illustrations featuring images of the natural world.Ongoing.  

"Nature Detectives," ongoing. 11 a.m.-noon. An introduction and exploration of the world of Black-Crowned Night-Herons. Ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Registration required. 

"Waterfowl of the Freshwater Marsh," ongoing. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join an expert birder to go "behind the gates'' to areas of the marsh that are not open to the public. 

"Weekend Weed Warriors," ongoing. 1-4 p.m. Help the shoreline to eliminate the non-native plants that threaten its diversity. Ages 12 and older. Registration required. 

Free. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. (510) 670-7270, www.hard.dst.ca.us/hayshore.html.< 

 

JOHN MUIR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE The site preserves the 1882 Muir House, a 17-room Victorian mansion where naturalist John Muir lived from 1890 to his death in 1914. It was here that Muir wrote about preserving America's wilderness and helped create the national parks idea for the United States. The house is situated on a hill overlooking the City of Martinez and surrounded by nine acres of vineyards and orchards. Take a self-guided tour of this well-known Scottish naturalist's home. Also part of the site is the historic Martinez Adobe and Mount Wanda. Public Tours of the John Muir House, ongoing. Begin with an eight-minute park film and then take the tour. The film runs every 15 minutes throughout the day. Wednesday through Friday, 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.  

MOUNT WANDA -- The mountain consists of 325 acres of grass and oak woodland historically owned by the Muir family. It offers a nature trail and several fire trails for hiking. Open daily, sunrise to sunset. 

JOHN MUIR HOUSE, ongoing. Tours of this well-known Scottish naturalist's home are available. The house, built in 1882, is a 14-room Victorian home situated on a hill overlooking the city of Martinez and surrounded by nine acres of vineyards and orchards. It was here that Muir wrote about preserving America's wilderness and helped create the national parks idea for the United States. The park also includes the historic Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849. An eight-minute film about Muir and the site is shown every 15 minutes throughout the day at the Visitor Center. Self guided tours of the Muir home, the surrounding orchards, and the Martinez Adobe: Wednesday-Sunday, 1 a.m.-5 p.m. Public tours or the first floor of the Muir home: Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations not required except for large groups.  

$3 general; free children ages 16 and under. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez. (925) 228-8860, www.nps.gov/jomu.< 

 

KENNEDY GROVE REGIONAL RECREATION AREA ongoing. The 95-acre park contains picnic areas, horseshoe pits and volleyball courts among its grove of aromatic eucalyptus trees.  

$5 parking; $2 per dog except guide/service dogs Through September: daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante. (510) 223-7840, www.ebparks.org.

 

LAKE CHABOT REGIONAL PARK ongoing. The 315-acre lake offers year-round recreation. Services include canoe and boat rental, horseshoe pits, hiking, bicycling, picnicking and seasonal tours aboard the Chabot Queen. For boat rentals, call (510) 247-2526. 

Free unless noted otherwise; $5 parking; $2 per dog except guide/service dogs. Daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. 17930 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

LINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM This is the oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation center in America, taking in 6,000 injured and orphaned animals yearly and returning 40 percent of them to the wild. The museum offers a wide range of educational programs using non-releasable wild animals to teach children and adults respect for the balance of nature. The museum includes a state-of-the art wildlife hospital which features a permanent exhibit, titled "Living with Nature,'' which houses 75 non-releasable wild animals in learning environments; a 5,000-square-foot Wildlife Hospital complete with treatment rooms, intensive care, quarantine and laboratory facilities; a 1-acre Nature Garden featuring the region's native landscaping and wildlife; and an "Especially For Children'' exhibit.  

WILDLIFE HOSPITAL -- September-March: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hospital is open daily including holidays to receive injured and orphaned animals. There is no charge for treatment of native wild animals and there are no public viewing areas in the hospital.Ongoing.  

SPECIAL EVENTS Ongoing.  

$5-$7; free children under age 2. June 16-Sept. 15: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; Sept. 16-June 15: noon.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. (925) 935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org.< 

 

LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT ongoing.  

4444 East Ave., Livermore. (925) 373-5700, www.larpd.dst.ca.us/.< 

 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SHORELINE ongoing. This 1,200-acre park situated near Oakland International Airport offers picnic areas with barbecues and a boat launch ramp. Swimming is not allowed. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Grove, a group of trees surrounding a grassy glade, is at the intersection of Doolittle Drive and Swan Way. The area also includes the 50-acre Arrowhead Marsh (part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network) and a Roger Berry sculpture titled "Duplex Cone,'' which traces the summer and winter solstice paths of the sun through the sky. 

Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted Doolittle Drive and Swan Way, Oakland. (510) 562-PARK, Picnic reservations: (510) 636-1684, www.ebayparks.org.

 

MILLER-KNOX REGIONAL SHORELINE ongoing. A 295-acre shoreline picnic area with a secluded cove and swimming beach, and a hilltop offering panoramic views of the north Bay Area. 

Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted. 900 Dornan Dr., Richmond. (510) 562-PARK, Picnic Reservations: (510) 636-1684, www.ebparks.org.

 

MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK ongoing. The 3,849-foot summit of Mount Diablo offers great views of the Bay Area and an extensive trail system. Visitors to the park can hike, bike, ride on horseback and camp. Notable park attractions include: The Fire Interpretive Trail, Rock City, Boy Scout Rocks and Sentinel Rock, Fossil Ridge, Deer Flat, Mitchell Canyon Staging Area, Diablo Valley Overlook, the Summit Visitor Center (open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the Art Gallery, the Observation Deck and the Mitchell Canyon Interpretive Center. 

Free. $6 per vehicle park-entrance fee; $5 for seniors. Daily, 8 a.m. to sunset. Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard, from the Diablo Road exit off Interstate Highway 680, Danville. (925) 837-2525, www.mdia.org or www.parks.ca.gov.

 

OAKLAND ZOO The zoo includes a Children's Petting Zoo, the Skyride, a miniature train, a carousel, picnic grounds and a gift shop as well as the animals in site specific exhibits, which allow them to roam freely. Included are "The African Savanna,'' with its two huge mixed-animal aviaries and 11 African Savanna exhibits; the Mahali Pa Tembo (Place of the Elephant), with giraffes, chimpanzees and more than 330 other animals from around the world; "Simba Pori,'' Swahili for "Lion Country,'' a spacious 1.5-acre habitat offering both a savanna and woodland setting for African lions; "Footprints from the Past,'' an anthropology exhibit showcasing four million years of human evolution and an actual "footpath'' of the first hominids to emerge from the African savanna; "Sun Bear Exhibit,'' a stateof-the-art space the zoo has developed for its two sun bears; and Siamang Island, a state-of-the-art, barrier-free area that emulates the gibbons' native tropical rain forest habitat. Also see the Malayan Fruit Bats from the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Florida that are now roosting in trees at the zoo. In addition there are special exhibits and events monthly. "Valley Children's Zoo," ongoing. The three-acre attraction offers a completely interactive experience for both children and adults. The exhibits include lemurs, giant fruit bats, otters, reptiles, insects and more. Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

"Endangered Species," ongoing. An exhibit of photographs about the most endangered animals on the Earth and what can be done to save them. At the Education Center. Open daily during zoo hours. ONGOING EVENTS --  

"Valley Children's Zoo," ongoing. Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The three-acre attraction will offer a completely interactive experience for both children and adults. The exhibits include lemurs, giant fruit bats, otters, reptiles, insects and more. Free with regular Zoo admission.  

"Wildlife Theater," ongoing. Saturday, 11:45 a.m.; Sunday, 1:45 p.m. On Saturday mornings listen to a story and meet a live animal. On Sunday afternoon meet live animals and learn cool facts about them. Meet in the Lobby of the Zoo's Maddie's Center for Science and Environmental Education. Free with regular Zoo admission. (510) 632-9525, ext. 142.Ongoing.  

"Coyotes in Our Midst," Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m. reception; 7 p.m. presentation A screening of the award winning documentary "American Coyote: Still Wild at Heart" and a talk with coyote expert, Camilla H. Fox. $10-$20. 

$7.50-11; free children under age 2; $6 parking fee. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Knowland Park, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland. (510) 632-9525, www.oaklandzoo.org.

 

PLEASANTON RIDGE REGIONAL PARK ongoing. This 3,163-acre parkland is on the oak-covered ridge overlooking Pleasanton and the Livermore Valley from the west. A multi-purpose trail system accommodates hikers, equestrians and bicyclists. 

Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Foothill Road, Pleasanton. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE ongoing. The 2,315-acre parkland bordering Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo offers views of Mount Tamalpais, the Marin shoreline and San Pablo Bay. There are trails through meadows and woods, and along the bluffs and beaches of San Pablo Bay. Visitors can hike, ride bikes or take the park's shuttle bus to reach the 1,250-foot fishing pier at Point Pinole. 

$5 per vehicle; $4 per trailered vehicle; $2 per dog (guide/service dogs free). Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted. Giant Highway, Richmond. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

PREWETT FAMILY WATERPARK ongoing. There are pools and water slides for all ages, from the Tad Pool for toddlers to Boulder cove for older swimmers. In addition to fun pools and slides there are fitness pools for lessons and exercise, lawns for relaxing, locker rooms, community room and kitchen. Lap lanes are open year round. Food and beverages are not permitted in the park. Picnic tables are available outside the park. 

$4-$11. Sunday through Friday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Aug.23-27, 30-31. 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. (925) 776-3070, www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CitySvcs/Prewett.< 

 

QUARRY LAKES REGIONAL RECREATION AREA ongoing. The park includes three lakes sculpted from former quarry ponds. The largest, Horseshoe Lake, offers boating and fishing, with a swim beach that will open in the spring. Rainbow Lake is for fishing only, and the third lake, Lago Los Osos, is set aside for wildlife habitat. In addition, there are hiking and bicycling trails that connect to the Alameda Creek Regional Trail. The park includes three lakes sculpted from former quarry ponds. The largest, Horseshoe Lake, offers boating and fishing, with a swim beach that will open in the spring. Rainbow Lake is for fishing only, and the third lake, Lago Los Osos, is set aside for wildlife habitat. In addition there are hiking and bicycling trails that connect to the Alameda Creek Regional Trail. 

$5 parking; $2 per dog except guide/service dogs; boat launch fees; Park District fishing access permit fee of $3. Through Labor Day: daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 6 through Sept. 30, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2100 Isherwood Way,, between Paseo Padre Parkway and Osprey Drive,, Fremont. (510) 795-4883, Picnic reservations:: (510) 562-2267, www.ebparks.org.

 

ROBERT SIBLEY VOLCANIC REGIONAL PRESERVE ongoing. East Bay residents have several volcanoes in their backyard. This park contains Round Top, one of the highest peaks in the Oakland Hills. 

Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 6800 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN One of America's finest private gardens, the Ruth Bancroft Garden displays 2,000 specimens from around the world that thrive in an arid climate. Included are African and Mexican succulents, New World cacti, Australian and Chilean trees, and shrubs from California. 

DOCENT TOUR SCHEDULE -- ongoing. 10 a.m. Saturdays. Docent-led tours last approximately an hour and a half. Plant sales follow the tour. By reservation only. $7; free children under age 12.  

SELF-GUIDED TOURS -- Ongoing. 9:30 a.m.-noon Mon. - Thurs.; 9:30 a.m. Fri.; 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sat.; 5 p.m. Sunday. Self-guided tours last two hours. No reservations required for weekday tours; reservations required for Friday and Saturday tours. Plant sales follow the tours. $7; free children under age 12.  

Gardens open only for tours and special events listed on the garden's telephone information line. 1500 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. (925) 210-9663, www.ruthbancroftgarden.org.

 

SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL RECREATION AREA ongoing. The 296-acre park includes an 80-acre lake and a four-flume waterslide, with picnic grounds and a swimming beach. Water slide fees and hours: (925) 829-6230. 

$6 per vehicle; $2 per dog except guide and service dogs. May 1 through Labor Day: daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; shortened hours for fall and winter. Stanley Boulevard, one mile from downtown, Pleasanton. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

SULPHUR CREEK NATURE CENTER A wildlife rehabilitation and education facility where injured and orphaned local wild creatures are rehabilitated and released when possible. There is also a lending library of animals such as guinea pigs, rats, mice and more. The lending fee is $8 per week. "Toddler Time," ongoing. Learn about animals by listening to stories and exploring. Themes vary by month. Call for schedule. $7 per family.  

"Day on the Green Animal Presentations," ongoing. Meet an assortment of wild and domestic animals. Wildlife volunteers will present a different animal each day from possums to snakes, tortoises to hawks. Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. 

CHILDREN'S EVENTS -- Ongoing.  

Free. Park: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Discovery Center: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Animal Lending Library: Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: daily, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 1801 D St., Hayward. (510) 881-6747, www.haywardrec.org/sulphur_creek.html.< 

 

SUNOL REGIONAL WILDERNESS This park is full of scenic and natural wonders. You can hike the Ohlone Wilderness trail or Little Yosemite. There are bedrock mortars that were used by Native Americans, who were Sunol's first inhabitants."Sunol Sunday Hike," ongoing. Sundays, 1:30-3 p.m. A natural history walk in the wilderness. 

"Sunol Sunday Hike," ongoing. Sundays, 1:30-3 p.m. A natural history walk in Sunol Regional Wilderness. 

Free unless otherwise noted; $5 parking; $2 dog fee. Geary Road off Calaveras Road, six miles south of Interstate Highway 680, Sunol. (510) 652-PARK, www.ebparks.org.<


Museums-San Francisco Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:31:00 PM

ASIAN ART MUSEUM OF SAN FRANCISCO The Asian Art Museum-Chon-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture recently unveiled its new building in San Francisco's Civic Center. The building, the former San Francisco Public Library, has been completely retrofitted and rebuilt to house San Francisco's significant collection of Asian treasures. The museum offers complimentary audio tours of the museum's collection galleries. "In a New Light," ongoing. There are some 2,500 works displayed in the museum's new galleries. They cover all the major cultures of Asia and include Indian stone sculptures, intricately carved Chinese jades, Korean paintings, Tibetan thanksgas, Cambodian Buddhas, Islamic manuscripts and Japanese basketry and kimonos.  

ONGOING FAMILY PROGRAMS --  

Storytelling, Sundays and the first Saturday of every month, 1 p.m. This event is for children of all ages to enjoy a re-telling of Asian myths and folktales in the galleries. Meet at the Information Desk on the Ground Floor. Free with general admission.  

"Target Tuesday Family Program," first Tuesday of every month. Free with general admission.  

"Family Art Encounter," first Saturday of every month, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Drop in to make art related to the museum's collection. Children must be accompanied by an adult. In the Education Studios. Free with admission.  

DOCENT-LED ART TOURS -- The museum's docents offer two types of tours: a general introduction to the museum's collection and a highlight tour of specific areas of the collection. Free with museum admission.  

ARCHITECTURAL GUIDES -- Tuesday through Sunday at noon and 2:30 p.m., Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Learn about the former Main Library's transformation into the Asian Art Museum on this 40-minute tour. Free with museum admission.  

RESOURCE CENTER -- Tuesday through Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Watch a video, or learn more about Asian art with slide packets, activity kits and books. Free with museum admission.Ongoing. Free with general admission unless otherwise noted.  

"Japan's Early Ambassadors to San Francisco, 1860-1927," through Nov. 21. Timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the ship Kanrin Maru and the first Japanese embassy to the United States, this thematic exhibit focuses on some of the first Japanese diplomats and cultural emissaries in San Francisco, and how they responded to the experience of being in America.  

$7-$12; free children under age 12; $5 Thursday after 5 p.m.; free to all first Sunday of each month. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 200 Larkin St., San Francisco. (415) 581-3500, www.asianart.org.

 

BEAT MUSEUM Formerly located on the California coast in Monterey, the Beat Museum now sits in historic North Beach. The Museum uses letters, magazines, pictures, first editions and more to explore the lives of leading beat figures such as Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Neal Cassady and many others. A gift shop and bookstore are open to the public free of charge."North Beach Walking Tour,", ongoing. A 90-minute walking tour of North Beach with Beat Museum curator Jerry Cimimo. See the bars, coffeehouses, homes, and other Beat-related highlights of North Beach. Call for info. $15.Ongoing.  

$4-$5. Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. CLOSED MONDAY. 540 Broadway, San Francisco. (800) KER-OUAC, www.kerouac.com.

 

CABLE CAR MUSEUM The museum is located in the historic Cable Car Barn and Powerhouse. Visitors can see the actual cable winding machinery, grips, track, cable and brakes, as well as three historic cable cars, photo displays and mechanical artifacts. The best way to get to this museum is by cable car; street parking is practically non-existent.Ongoing.  

Free. April 1-Sept. 30: daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 1-March 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1201 Mason St., San Francisco. (415) 474-1887, www.cablecarmuseum.org.

 

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  

"Nightlife," ongoing. 6 p.m. Thursdays. Every Thursday night, the Academy transforms into a lively venue filled with provocative science, music, mingling and cocktails, as visitors get a chance to explore the museum.  

"Where the Land Meets the Sea," ongoing. Exhibition features sculpture by Maya Lin.  

BENJAMIN DEAN LECTURE SERIES -- Ongoing.  

$14.95-$24.95. Daily, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. (415) 379-8000, www.calacademy.org.

 

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY  

HISTORY WALKABOUTS -- Ongoing. A series of monthly walking tours that explore the history, lore and architecture of California with veteran tour guide Gary Holloway. Walks take place rain or shine so dress for the weather. Reservations and prepayment required. Meeting place will be given with confirmation of tour reservation. Tour price includes admission to the Museum.  

MUSEUM -- Ongoing. The museum's permanent collection is made up of the Fine Arts Collection, consisting of 5,000 works of art that represent the history of California from pre-Gold Rush days to the early decade of the 20th century; and The Photography Collection, containing nearly a halfmillion images in an array of photographic formats documenting the history of California in both the 19th and 20th centuries. The Library and Research Collection contain material relating to the history of California and the West from early exploration time to the present including texts, maps, and manuscripts.  

"Landscape and Vision: Early California Painters from the Collections of the California Historical Society," open-ended. An exhibit of oil paintings including a large number of early landscapes of California, from the museum's collection.  

"Think California," through Feb. 5, Wed.-Sat. noon-4:30 p.m. An exhibition highlighting the colorful history of California through the institution's remarkable collection of artwork, artifacts and ephemera. Themes include: Coming to California, Scenic Splendors, Earthquakes, Floods and Volcanoes, and more. $1-$3; members are always free. 

"Think California," through Feb. 5. Exhibition features artworks, artifacts and ephemera exploring California's colorful history.  

$1-$3; free children under age 5. Wednesday-Saturday, noon-4:30 p.m. 678 Mission St., San Francisco. (415) 357-1848 X229, www.californiahistoricalsociety.org.

 

CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA The CHSA Museum and Learning Center features a permanent exhibition, "The Chinese of America: Toward a More Perfect Union'' in its Main Gallery, and works by Chinese-American visual artists in its Rotating Galleries. "Leaders of the Band," ongoing. An exhibition of the history and development of the Cathay Club Marching Band, the first Chinese American band formed in 1911.Ongoing.  

$1-$3; free children ages 5 and under; free for all visitors first Thursday of every month. Tuesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m. 965 Clay St., San Francisco. (415) 391-1188, www.chsa.org.

 

DE YOUNG MUSEUM The art museum has now reopened in a new facility designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog and de Meuron and Fong and Chan Architects in San Francisco. It features significant collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries; modern and contemporary art; art from Central and South America, the Pacific and Africa; and an important and diverse collection of textiles. 

ARTIST STUDIO PROGRAM -- Ongoing. 1-5 p.m. Wed.- Sun. A monthly interactive program during which the public can meet and work with a featured artist. Demonstrations take place in the Kimball Education Gallery, which does not require paid admission. (415) 750-7634. 

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES --  

"Children's Workshops: Doing and Viewing Art and Big Kids-Little Kids," ongoing. Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-3 p.m. Family tour and art activity for ages 4-12. 

LECTURES AND SYMPOSIA -- Ongoing.  

LECTURES BY DOCENTS Ongoing. These lectures are free and are held in the Koret Auditorium unless otherwise noted.  

SPECIAL EVENTS  

"Poetry Series," ongoing. 7-8:30 p.m. $8-$12. (415) 750-7634. 

"Friday Nights at the de Young: Cultural Encounters," ongoing. 5-8:45 p.m. The de Young stays open until 8:45 p.m. each Friday night and hosts special events including live music, dance, film, lectures and artist demonstrations.  

Aug. 22: "Cultural Encounters presents Hot Brazilian Nights.''  

Event features music by Forro for All and art-making for the entire family.  

Aug. 29: "Cultural Encounters.''  

Event features live music by the Scott Amendola Trio. Free with admission. 

"Pat Steir: After Hokusai, after Hiroshige," through Jan. 30. Exhibition shows the continued influence of the Japanese print on Western artists into the late twentieth century.  

OPENING -- "To Dye For: A World Saturated in Color," through Jan. 9. Exhibition features over 50 textiles and costumes from the Fine Arts Museums' comprehensive collection of textiles from Africa, Asia and the Americas.  

$6-$10; free for children ages 12 and under; free for all visitors the first Tuesday of every month. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m.-8:45 p.m. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco. (415) 863-3330, www.deyoungmuseum.org.

 

GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM The museum is a project of the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) Historical Society.Ongoing.  

EXHIBITS Ongoing.  

$2-$4. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. 657 Mission St., Suite 300, San Francisco. (415) 777-5455, www.glbthistory.org.

 

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN Ongoing.  

101 Howard Street, Suite 480, San Francisco. (415) 543-4669, www.imow.org/home/index.< 

 

LEGION OF HONOR MUSEUM DOCENT TOUR PROGRAMS -- Tours of the permanent collections and special exhibitions are offered Tuesday through Sunday. Non-English language tours (Italian, French, Spanish and Russian) are available on different Saturdays of the month at 11:30 a.m. Free with regular museum admission. (415) 750-3638.  

ONGOING CHILDREN'S PROGRAM --  

"Doing and Viewing Art," ongoing. For ages 7 to 12. Docent-led tours of current exhibitions are followed by studio workshops taught by professional artists/teachers. Students learn about art by seeing and making it. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon; call to confirm class. Free with museum admission. (415) 750-3658. 

ORGAN CONCERTS -- Ongoing. 4 p.m. A weekly concert of organ music on the Legion's restored 1924 Skinner organ. Saturday and Sunday in the Rodin Gallery. Free with museum admission. (415) 750-3624.In the Gould Theater unless otherwise noted. $4 after museum admission unless otherwise noted. (415) 682-2481. 

"Sunday Jazz Brunch," ongoing. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $21-$53. 

$6-$10; free for children ages 12 and under; free for all visitors on Tuesdays. Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue and Clement Street, San Francisco. (415) 750-3600, (415) 750-3636, www.legionofhonor.org.

 

MARKET STREET RAILWAY MUSEUM ongoing. The museum will permanently display a variety of artifacts telling the story of San Francisco's transportation history, including dash signs, fare boxes, a famed Wiley "birdcage'' traffic signal and more. 

Free. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 77 Steuart St., San Francisco. (415) 956-0472, www.streetcar.org.

 

MEXICAN MUSEUM ongoing.  

THE MEXICAN MUSEUM GALLERIES AT FORT MASON CENTER ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED --  

The Mexican Museum holds a unique collection of 12,000 objects representing thousands of years of Mexican history and culture within the Americas. The permanent collection, the Museum's most important asset and resource, includes five collecting areas: Pre-Conquest, Colonial, Popular, Modern and Contemporary Mexican and Latino, and Chicano Art. The Museum also has a collection of rare books and a growing collection of Latin American art. 

Fort Mason Center, Building D, Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard, San Francisco. (415) 202-9700, www.mexicanmuseum.org.

 

MUSEO ITALOAMERICANO ongoing. The museum, dedicated to the exhibition of art works by Italian and Italian-American artists, has a small permanent collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs and works on paper by such renowned artists as Beniamino Buffano, Sandro Chia, Giorgio de Chirico and Arnaldo Pomodoro.  

DOCENT TOURS -- Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free. 

$2-$3; free children under age 12; free to all first Wednesday of the month. Wednesday-Sunday, noon -4 p.m.; first Wednesday of the month, noon-7 p.m. Fort Mason Center, Building C, Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard, San Francisco. (415) 673-2200, www.museoitaloamericano.org.

 

MUSEUM OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY Ongoing.  

Free. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Humanities Building, Room 510, SFSU, Font Boulevard and Tapia Drive, San Francisco. (415) 405-0599, www.sfsu.edu/~museumst/.< 

 

MUSEUM OF PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN Ongoing.  

Free. Wednesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue at McAllister, 4th Floor, San Francisco. (415) 255-4800, www.mpdsf.org.

 

MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA A new museum exploring and celebrating the influence of the African Diaspora on global art and culture through interactive, permanent and changing exhibits and special programs. The museum occupies the first three floors of the new St. Regis Hotel at Third and Mission streets.  

PERMANENT EXHIBITS --  

"Celebrations: Rituals and Ceremonies," "Music of the Diaspora,'' "Culinary Traditions,'' 'Adornment,'' "Slavery Passages,'' and "The Freedom Theater.''Ongoing.  

"Urban Kidz Film Series," ongoing. Noon-3 p.m. An offshoot of the San Francisco Black Film Festival, featuring a striking assemblage of short and feature films designed to spark the imaginations of the 5-to-12-year-old set. $10 adults; children free. (415) 771-9271.Ongoing.  

$5-$8; free children age 12 and under. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; CLOSED MARCH 13 THROUGH MARCH 21. 685 Mission St., San Francisco. (415) 358-7200, www.moadsf.org.

 

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM LIBRARY (THE J. PORTER SHAW MARITIME LIBRARY) ongoing. Closed on federal holidays. The library, part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, focuses on sail and steam ships on the West Coast and the Pacific Basin from 1520 to the present. The museum library holdings include a premiere collection of maritime history: books, magazines, oral histories, ships' plans and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park's 250,000 photographs. 

Free. By appointment only, Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m., and the third Saturday of each month 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fort Mason Center, Building E, Third Floor, Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard, San Francisco. (415) 560-7080, (415) 560-7030, www.nps.gov/safr.< 

 

PACIFIC HERITAGE MUSEUM ongoing. The museum presents rotating exhibits highlighting historical, artistic, cultural and economic achievements from both sides of the Pacific Rim. The museum features a permanent display documenting the history and significance of the Branch Mint and Subtreasury buildings. 

Free. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 608 Commercial St., San Francisco. (415) 399-1124.< 

 

RANDALL MUSEUM "Earthquake Exhibit," ongoing. Learn about plate tectonics. Make a small quake by jumping on the floor to make a "floor quake'' that registers on the seismometer in the lobby. See the basement seismometer that registers quakes around the world. Walk through a full-size earthquake refugee shack that was used to house San Franciscans after the 1906 earthquake that destroyed so many homes.  

"Creativity and Discovery Hand in Hand," ongoing. A photography exhibit that gives visitors a look into the wide variety of programs the Museum offers in the way of classes, workshops, school field trips, and special interest clubs.  

"Toddler Treehouse," ongoing. Toddlers may comfortably climb the carpeted "treehouse'' and make a myriad of discoveries, from the roots to the limbs.  

"Live Animal Exhibit," ongoing. Visit with more than 100 creatures including small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, raptors and small birds, insects, spiders and tide pool creatures. "Saturdays Are Special at the Museum," ongoing. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A series of drop-in ceramics and art and science workshops. All ages are welcome, though an adult must accompany children under age 8. $3 per child, $5 per parent-child combination.  

"Bufano Sculpture Tours," first and third Saturdays of the month, 10:15 a.m. A tour of the giant animal sculptures of Beniamino Bufano. The sculptures were carved out of stone in the 1930s and include a giant cat and a mother bear nursing her cubs.  

"Animal Room," ongoing. Visit some of the animals that live at the museum, including reptiles, raptors, tide pool creatures and small mammals.  

"Meet the Animals" Saturdays, 11:15 a.m. to noon. See the Randall's animals close-up and in person.  

"Animal Feeding," Saturdays, noon. Watch the animals take their meals.  

"Golden Gate Model Railroad Exhibit," Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

DROP-IN ART AND SCIENCE WORKSHOPS -- Ongoing. 1-4 p.m.  

$3-$5. "Drop-in Family Ceramics Workshop," ongoing. Saturday, 10:15-11:15 a.m. $5. 

"Animal Feeding," ongoing. Saturday, noon. 

"Meet the Animals," ongoing. 11:15 a.m.-noon. 

"Golden Gate Model Railroad Exhibit," ongoing. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

"Drop-in Family Ceramics Workshop," ongoing. Saturday, 1:15-2:15 p.m. 

"Film Series for Teenagers," ongoing. Fridays, 7 p.m. 

"Meet the Animals," ongoing. Saturdays, 11:15 a.m. Learn about the animals that live at the Randall Museum. 

"Third Friday Birders," ongoing. 8 a.m. The hike through Corona Heights Park allows participants to enjoy the early morning views and learn more about the feathered inhabitants of the area. Children aged 10 and older if accompanied by adult. 

Free. All ages welcome; an adult must accompany children under age 8. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS. 199 Museum Way, San Francisco. (415) 554-9600, www.randallmuseum.org.

 

SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR MUSEUM ongoing. The museum is located in the historic Cable Car Barn and Powerhouse. Visitors can see the actual cable winding machinery, grips, track, cable and brakes, as well as three historic cable cars, photo displays and mechanical artifacts. The best way to get to this museum is by cable car; street parking is practically non-existent. 

Free. October 1-March 31: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily; Closed on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 1201 Mason St., San Francisco. (415) 474-1887, www.cablecarmuseum.com.

 

SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK One of only a few "floating'' national parks, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park includes four national landmark ships, a maritime museum, a maritime library and a World-War-II submarine named the USS Pampanito.  

HYDE STREET PIER -- Demonstrations, ship tours, programs, music and special events offered throughout the day. Check ticket booth for schedule. At the foot of Hyde Street, Hyde and Jefferson streets.  

Entering the Pier is free but there is a fee to board the ships.  

HISTORIC SHIPS AT THE HYDE STREET PIER -- The historic ships at the Pier are the 1886 square-rigger "Balclutha,'' the 1890 steam ferryboat "Eureka,'' the 1895 schooner "C.A. Thayer'' (not available at this time due to restoration), the 1891 scow schooner "Alma,'' the 1907 steam tug "Hercules,'' and the 1914 "Eppleton Hall,'' a paddlewheel tug.  

"Balclutha." This historic ship, a three-mast square-rigger, has undergone extensive repairs and preservation work. She now contains more original materials and fittings than any other historic merchant square-rigger in the United States. The Balclutha is a designated National Historic Landmark. At Hyde Street Pier.  

"Eureka." Explore this 1890 ferryboat with a 40-foot walking-beam engine. The boat once carried passengers and autos across the San Francisco Bay. At Hyde Street Pier. Daily, call for times of boat tour.  

"C.A. Thayer." A three-mast schooner used in the lumber and cod fishing trades. At Hyde Street Pier.  

"Alma." Between 1850 and the early 1900s, the best highways around the San Francisco Bay area were the waterways and the delivery trucks and tractortrailer rigs of the time were the flat-bottomed scow schooners. Able to navigate the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta region's shallow creeks, sloughs and channels, the scows' sturdy hulls could rest safely and securely on the bottom providing a flat, stable platform for loading and unloading. Made of inexpensive Douglas fir, scow's designs were so simple they could be built by eye or without plans.  

"Hercules." Tugs in the early part of the 20th century towed barges, sailing ships and log rafts between Pacific ports. Because prevailing north/west winds generally made travel up the coast by sail both difficult and circuitous, tugs often towed large sailing vessels to points north of San Francisco. In 1916 Hercules towed the C.A. Thayer to Port Townsend, Wash., taking six days to make the trip. At the end of the sail era, the Hercules was acquired by the Western Pacific Railroad Company and shuttled railroad car barges back and forth across San Francisco Bay until 1962.  

"Eppleton Hall." Built in England, the steam side-wheeler plied the Wear and Tyne rivers of Northeast England. Designed to tow ocean-going colliers (coal-carrying sail vessels) the tugs saved transit time getting the sail vessels upriver to load. The side-wheelers were also used to tow newly built ships out to sea. From 1969 to 1979, the Eppleton Hall served as a private yacht. She was modified for an epic steam via the Panama Canal to San Francisco, passing through the Golden Gate in March of 1970.  

HISTORIC SHIP AT FISHERMAN'S WHARF --  

"USS Pampanito." This World-War-II-era submarine is berthed at Fisherman's Wharf. The submarine celebrated her 50th anniversary in November of 1993 and is perhaps best known for her participation in a "wolf pack'' attack on a convoy of enemy ships during World War II. The entrance fee includes a taped audio tour that describes what life on this submarine was like. At Pier 45, near foot of Taylor Street. Monday through Thursday, Sunday and holidays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. $9 general; $5 seniors, $4 active duty military, $4 youth ages 6 to 12; free children under age 6. (415) 775-1943. "Historic Ship Volunteer Work Party," Saturday, 9 a.m. Become part of an effort to preserve four of the park's nautical treasures. Work on a different ship each Saturday. Bring work clothes, work shoes and lunch. Call for meeting place. (415) 332-8409.  

Unless noted otherwise, events take place on the Hyde Street Pier, located at the foot of Hyde Street on Jefferson Street.Ongoing. Current Exhibits at the Visitor Center:  

"What's Your Pleasure? Recreational Boats of California's Past," openended. This exhibit includes 1940s Sacramento Hydroplanes, a Russian River launch from the 19th century, classic wooden motor launches and motor boats, and other smaller crafts.  

"Hydroplanes and Racing Boats," open-ended. A small exhibit showcasing 1930s racing engines and hydroplane boats.  

"Frisco Bound," an exhibition about immigration to San Francisco, clipper ships, and the Gold Rush era.  

"Hyde Street Ship Models," an exhibit of models of the historic ships at the Hyde Street Pier.  

"Discovery Room," a preview of the Maritime Library where visitors can look up documents and photographs.  

(415) 447-5000.Ongoing.  

"Adventures at Sea: Life Aboard a 19th century Sailing Ship," ongoing. Daily, 2:15 p.m.-3 p.m. Take a guided tour of the sailing ship Balclutha and learn about the hardships and awards of the sailors show fought for survival during the treacherous Cape Horn passage. Vessel admission. 

"Animals of Hyde Street Pier," through Nov. 19, 3-3:30 p.m. Experience the sea life of Hyde Street Pier.  

Dates: 11/1, 11/3, 11/5, 11/19. Free. 

"Sailing Adventure Aboard Scow Schooner ALMA," ongoing. 12:30-4:30 p.m. Three-hour educational, hands-on sailing program. Takes place on various days throughout the month; see website for full details. $20-$40; children under 6 are free. 

"Chantey Sing," Nov. 6, 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Monthly sing along aboard a historic ship. Bring a mug for hot apple cider served from the ship's galley. Free; reservations required. Reservation line: (415) 561-7171. 

"Historic Waterfront Walking Tour," ongoing. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Park Rangerled, hour long tour of San Francisco's northern waterfront. Tour takes place on various days throughout November; see website for full details. Free. 

"Maritime Story Time: The Tale of Henry and Harry," Nov. 6, 1-1:30 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m. Hear a story about the adventures of two stowaway kittens aboard the BALCLUTHA. Free. 

"HERCULES Engineering Tour," Nov. 7, 3-3:45 p.m. Explore the major engineering spaces and learn about steam engine technology and its effects on the working environment of the marine steam engineer. $5; under 16 free. 

"EUREKA Engine Room Tour," Nov. 13, 3-3:45 p.m. Take a Park Rander led tour of the ferryboat Eureka's engine room and get a close-up look at what makes a steam ferry run. $5; under 16 free. 

"Small Craft Collection Tour," Nov. 13, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tour of small craft collection. Free. 

"Bird Watching for Children and Beginners," Nov. 14, 10-11 a.m. Learn how to find and identify birds at Aquatic Park using binoculars and guidebooks. Free. 

VISITOR CENTER -- Ongoing. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily  

Entering the Pier is free but there is a fee to board the ships. The fee allows access to all ships and is good for seven days. $5; free children under age 16. May 28-Sept. 30: daily, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Oct. 1-May 27: Daily, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Foot of Hyde Street, San Francisco. (415) 561-7100, www.nps.gov.

 

SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF CRAFT AND DESIGN A museum celebrating and promoting the art of contemporary craft and design. The museum showcases diverse exhibitions from regional, national and international artists, working in mediums such as wood, clay, fiber, metal and glass.Ongoing. TEMPORARILY CLOSED.  

$2-$4; free youths under age 18. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 550 Sutter St., San Francisco. (415) 773-0303, www.sfmcd.org.

 

SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART "Matisse and Beyond: The Painting and Sculpture Collection," ongoing. This newly reconceived exhibition of SFMOMA's modern art collection features paintings, sculptures and works on paper from the first 60 years of the 20th century. Featured artists include: Joseph Cornell, Ellsworth Kelly, Yves Klein, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, Andy Warhol and Paul Klee.  

"Between Art and Life: The Contemporary Painting and Sculpture Collection," ongoing. This new presentation of the SFMOMA collection features works from the past five decades by Louise Bourgeois, Robert Gober, Eva Hesse, Anish Kapoor, Sherrie Levine, Brice Marden, Gordon Matta-Clark, Barry McGee, Bruce Nauman, Robert Rauschenberg and Kara Walker.  

"The Art of Design: Selections from the Permanent Collection of Architecture and Design," ongoing. The exhibit will feature 100 selections from their architecture, graphic design and industrial design collections on a rotating basis. It features classic works plus new designs by up-andcoming artists.  

"Picturing Modernity: Photographs from the Permanent Collection," ongoing. Photography is possibly the quintessential modern art medium because its 160-year history corresponds almost exactly with Modernism's duration as a cultural movement. This exhibit looks at the photograph's unique pictorial ability and its ever-growing pervasiveness in modern culture, putting the medium in dialogue with paintings and other kinds of art.  

KORET VISITOR EDUCATION CENTER -- This facility includes multimedia display technology, "Pick Up and Go'' guides for adults and children, art videos, and a community art gallery created by participants in school, teen and family programs. Thursday, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

Jesse Hazelip, through Nov. 13. Artists Gallery showcases the work of the Oakland-based artist.  

$7-$12.50; half price on Thursdays after 6 p.m.; free for all visitors on the first Tuesday of every month. Monday, Tuesday and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8:45 p.m. 151 Third St., San Francisco. (415) 357-4000, www.sfmoma.org.

 

SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMING ARTS LIBRARY AND MUSEUM ongoing. "Dance in California: 150 Years of Innovation," ongoing. This permanent exhibit traces the history and artistic range of modern dance in California, with photographs and documents highlighting the achievements of Lola Montez, Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, Martha Graham, the Christensen brothers, the Peters Wright School, the company of Lester Horton, Anna Halprin and Lucas Hoving.  

"Maestro! Photographic Portraits by Tom Zimberoff," ongoing. This permanent exhibit is a comprehensive study of a generation of national and international conductors. In Gallery 5.  

"San Francisco 1900: On Stage," ongoing. In Gallery 4.  

"San Francisco in Song," ongoing. In Gallery 3. 

Free. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 1-5 p.m. San Francisco War Memorial Veteran's Building, 401 Van Ness Ave., Fourth Floor, San Francisco. (415) 255-4800, www.sfpalm.org.

 

SEYMOUR PIONEER MUSEUM ongoing. The museum, owned by The Society of California Pioneers, houses a permanent research library, art gallery and history museum. Exhibits include a photography collection documenting California history. 

$1-$3. Wednesday-Friday and the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth St., San Francisco. (415) 957-1859, www.californiapioneers.org.

 

TREGANZA ANTHROPOLOGY MUSEUM AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY ongoing. The museum, founded in 1968, houses collections of archaeological and ethnographic specimens from Africa, Oceania, Asia, and North America as well as small collections from Central and South America. There are also collections of photographs, tapes and phonograph records from Africa and Europe. In addition, there is an archive of field notes and other materials associated with the collections. The museum also houses the Hohenthal Gallery that is used for traveling exhibits as well as exhibits mounted by students and faculty. 

Free. Museum office: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; Hohenthal Gallery, SCI 388: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Science Building, SFSU, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco. (415) 338-2467, www.sfsu.edu/~treganza/.< 

 

WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM  

"From Storyboards to Animatics," Nov. 6, 1-4 p.m. A special adult-level cartooning class with industry professional James Scott Hummel. $45. (415) 345-6814. 

104 Montgomery St., San Francisco. (415) 345-6800, www.disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/index.html.< 

 

ZEUM Zeum is a technology and arts museum for children and families featuring exhibits and workshops that cover a variety of fascinating subjects.Ongoing.  

$8-$10. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday. 221 Fourth St., San Francisco. (415) 820-3220, www.zeum.org.<


Museums-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:30:00 PM

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM AND LIBRARY AT OAKLAND ongoing. The Oakland Public Library's museum is designed to discover, preserve, interpret and share the cultural and historical experiences of African Americans in California and the West. In addition, a three-panel mural is on permanent display. 

Free. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5:30 p.m. 659 14th St., Oakland. (510) 637-0200, www.oaklandlibrary.org.

 

ALAMEDA MUSEUM ongoing. The museum offers permanent displays of Alameda history, the only rotating gallery showcasing local Alameda artists and student artwork, as well as souvenirs, books and videos about the rich history of the Island City. 

Free. Wednesday-Friday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 2324 Alameda Ave., Alameda. (510) 521-1233, www.alamedamuseum.org.

 

BADE MUSEUM AT THE PACIFIC SCHOOL OF RELIGION The museum's collections include the Tell en-Nasbeh Collection, consisting of artifacts excavated from Tell en-Nasbeh in Palestine in 1926 and 1935 by William Badh, and the Howell Bible Collection, featuring approximately 300 rare books (primarily Bibles) dating from the 15th through the 18th centuries. 

"Tell en-Nasbeh," ongoing. This exhibit is the "heart and soul" of the Bade Museum. It displays a wealth of finds from the excavations at Tell en-Nasbeh, Palestine whose objects span from the Early Bronze Age (3100-2200 BC) through the Iron Age (1200-586 BC) and into the Roman and Hellenistic periods. Highlights of the exhibit include "Tools of the Trade" featuring real archaeological tools used by Badh and his team, an oil lamp typology, a Second Temple period (586 BC-70 AD) limestone ossuary, and a selection of painted Greek pottery.  

"William Frederic Bade: Theologian, Naturalist, and Archaeologist," ongoing. This exhibit highlights one of PSR's premier educators and innovative scholars. The collection of material on display was chosen with the hopes of representing the truly dynamic and multifaceted character of William F. Badh. He was a family man, a dedicated teacher, a loving friend, and an innovative and passionate archaeologist.  

Free. Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Holbrook Hall, Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley. (510) 848-0528, www.bade.psr.edu/bade.< 

 

BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE  

"Thom Faulders: BAMscape," through Nov. 30. This commissioned work, a hybrid of sculpture, furniture, and stage, is the new centerpiece of Gallery B, BAM's expansive central atrium. It is part of a new vision of the gallery as a space for interaction, performance, and improvised experiences.  

"Himalayan Pilgrimage," through Dec. 19. Exhibition features sculpture and painting dating from the ninth to the eighteenth centuries and drawn from a private collection on long-term loan to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.  

"Hauntology," through Dec. 5. Drawn primarily from the museum's recent acquisitions of contemporary art, this exhibition explores a wide range of art through the lens of the concept of "hauntology,'' a term coined by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida in 1993 to refer to the study of social, psychological, and cultural conditions in the post-Communist period.  

2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. < 

 

BLACKHAWK MUSEUM ongoing.  

AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM -- The museum's permanent exhibition of internationally renowned automobiles dated from 1897 to the 1980s. The cars are displayed as works of art with room to walk completely around each car to admire the workmanship. On long-term loan from the Smithsonian Institution is a Long Steam Tricycle; an 1893-94 Duryea, the first Duryea built by the Duryea brothers; and a 1948 Tucker, number 39 of the 51 Tuckers built, which is a Model 48 "Torpedo'' four-door sedan. "International Automotive Treasures," ongoing. An ever-changing exhibit featuring over 90 automobiles.  

"A Journey on Common Ground," ongoing. An exhibit of moving photographs, video and art objects from around the world exploring the causes of disability and the efforts of the Wheelchair Foundation to provide a wheelchair for every person in need who cannot afford one. Free Public Tours, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Docent-led guided tours of the museum's exhibitions. 

$5-$8; free for children ages 6 and under. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. (925) 736-2280, (925) 736-2277, www.blackhawkmuseum.org.

 

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY  

HISTORY WALKABOUTS -- Ongoing. A series of walking tours that explore the history, lore and architecture of California with veteran tour guide Gary Holloway. Walks are given on specific weekends. There is a different meeting place for each weekend and walks take place rain or shine so dress for the weather. Reservations and prepayment required. Meeting place will be given with confirmation of tour reservation. Call for details.  

678 Mission St., San Francisco. (415) 357-1848, www.californiahistoricalsociety.org.

 

CHABOT SPACE AND SCIENCE CENTER State-of-the-art facility unifying science education activities around astronomy. Enjoy interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, indoor stargazing, outdoor telescope viewing and films. 

"Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space," ongoing. An interactive exhibit that allows you to immerse yourself into the life of an astronaut to experience the mixture of exhilaration, adventure and confinement that is living and working in space.  

"Chabot Observatories: A View to the Stars," ongoing. Explore the history of the Chabot observatories and how its historic telescopes are used today. Daytime visitors can virtually operate a telescope, experiment with mirrors and lenses to understand how telescopes create images of distant objects and travel through more than a century of Chabot's history via multimedia kiosks, historical images and artifact displays. Ongoing.  

"Daytime Telescope Viewing," ongoing. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. View the sun, the moon and the planets through the telescopes during the day. Free with general admission. 

"Galaxy Explorers Hands-On Fun," ongoing. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. The Galaxy Explorers lead a variety of fun, hands-on activities, such as examining real spacesuits, creating galaxy flipbooks, learning about telescopes, minerals and skulls and making your own comet. Free with general admission. 

"Live Daytime Planetarium Show," ongoing. Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Ride through real-time constellations, stars and planets with Chabot's full-dome digital projection system. 

Center Admission: $14.95; $10.95 children 3-12; free children under 3; $3 discount for seniors and students. Telescope viewing only: free. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Also open on Tuesdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. after June 29. 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. (510) 336-7300, www.chabotspace.org.

 

HABITOT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM A museum especially for children ages 7 and under. Highlights include "WaterWorks,'' an area with some unusual water toys, an Infant Tree for babies, a garden especially for toddlers, a child-scale grocery store and cafe, and a costume shop and stage for junior thespians. The museum also features a toy lending library. "Waterworks." A water play gallery with rivers, a pumping station and a water table, designed to teach about water.  

"Little Town Grocery and Cafe." Designed to create the ambience of shopping in a grocery store and eating in a restaurant.  

"Infant-Toddler Garden." A picket fence gated indoor area, which includes a carrot patch with wooden carrots to be harvested, a pretend pond and a butterfly mobile to introduce youngsters to the concept of food, gardening and agriculture.  

"Dramatic Arts Stage." Settings, backdrops and costumes coincide with seasonal events and holidays. Children can exercise their dramatic flair here.  

"Wiggle Wall." The floor-to-ceiling "underground'' tunnels give children a worm's eye view of the world. The tunnels are laced with net covered openings and giant optic lenses. 

"Architects at Play," ongoing. This hands-on, construction-based miniexhibit provides children with the opportunity to create free-form structures, from skyscrapers to bridges, using KEVA planks. Ongoing.  

$6-$7. Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Closed Sunday-Tuesday. 2065 Kittredge St., Berkeley. (510) 647-1111, www.habitot.org.

 

HALL OF HEALTH ongoing. A community health-education museum and science center promoting wellness and individual responsibility for health. There are hands-on exhibits that teach about the workings of the human body, the value of a healthy diet and exercise, and the destructive effects of smoking and drug abuse. "Kids on the Block'' puppet shows, which use puppets from diverse cultures to teach about and promote acceptance of conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, leukemia, blindness, arthritis and spina bifida, are available by request for community events and groups visiting the Hall on Saturdays. "This Is Your Heart!" ongoing. An interactive exhibit on heart health.  

"Good Nutrition," ongoing. This exhibit includes models for making balanced meals and an Exercycle for calculating how calories are burned.  

"Draw Your Own Insides," ongoing. Human-shaped chalkboards and models with removable organs allow visitors to explore the inside of their bodies.  

"Your Cellular Self and Cancer Prevention," ongoing. An exhibit on understanding how cells become cancerous and how to detect and prevent cancer. 

Suggested $3 donation; free for children under age 3. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 2230 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 549-1564, www.hallofhealth.org.

 

HAYWARD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM The museum is located in a former post office and displays memorabilia of early Hayward and southern Alameda County. Some of the features include a restored 1923 Seagrave fire engine and a hand pumper from the Hayward Fire Department, founded in 1865; a Hayward Police Department exhibit; information on city founder William Hayward; and pictures of the old Hayward Hotel. The museum also alternates three exhibits per year, including a Christmas Toys exhibit and a 1950s lifestyle exhibit.Ongoing.  

50 cents-$1. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 22701 Main St., Hayward. (510) 581-0223, www.haywardareahistory.org.

 

JUDAH L. MAGNES MUSEUM The museum's permanent collection includes objects of Jewish importance including ceremonial art, film and video, folk art and fine art, paintings, sculptures and prints by contemporary and historical artists. 

"Projections," ongoing. Multimedia works from the museum's extensive collections of archival, documentary and experimental films. Located at 2911 Russell Street. Ongoing.  

$4-$6; free for children under age 12. Sunday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. CLOSED APRIL 3-4 AND 9-10; MAY 23-24 AND 28; JULY 4; SEPT. 3, 13 AND 27; OCT. 4; NOV. 22; DEC. 24-25 AND 31. 2911 Russell St., Berkeley. (510) 549-6950, www.magnes.org.

 

LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE "NanoZone," ongoing. Discover the science of the super-small: nanotechnology. Through hands-on activities and games, explore this microworld and the scientific discoveries made in this area.  

"Forces That Shape the Bay," ongoing. A science park that shows and explains why the San Francisco Bay is the way it is, with information on water, erosion, plate tectonics and mountain building. You can ride earthquake simulators, set erosion in motion and look far out into the bay with a powerful telescope from 1,100 feet above sea level. The center of the exhibit is a waterfall that demonstrates how water flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay. Visitors can control where the water goes. There are also hands-on erosion tables, and a 40-foot-long, 6-foothigh, rock compression wall.  

"Real Astronomy Experience," ongoing. A new exhibit-in-development allowing visitors to use the tools that real astronomers use. Aim a telescope at a virtual sky and operate a remote-controlled telescope to measure a planet.  

"Biology Lab," ongoing. In the renovated Biology Lab visitors may hold and observe gentle animals. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

"The Idea Lab," ongoing. Experiment with some of the basics of math, science and technology through hands-on activities and demonstrations of magnets, spinning and flying, puzzles and nanotechnology.  

"Math Around the World," ongoing. Play some of the world's most popular math games, such as Hex, Kalah, Game Sticks and Shongo Networks.  

"Math Rules," ongoing. Use simple and colorful objects to complete interesting challenges in math through predicting, sorting, comparing, weighing and counting.  

"Animal Discovery Room,,' ongoing. 1:30-4 p.m. Visitors of all ages can hold and touch gentle animals, learn about their behavior and habitats and play with self-guided activities and specimen models.  

"Forces That Shape the Bay," ongoing. This science park shows and explains why the San Francisco Bay is the way it is, with information on water, erosion, plate tectonics and mountain building.  

"Ingenuity in Action," ongoing. Summer 2010. Enjoy the best of the Ingenuity Lab. Engage your creative brain and use a variety of materials to design, build and test your own innovations.  

"Kapla," ongoing. Play with simple, versatile building blocks that can be used to build very large, high and stable structures.  

"KidsLab," ongoing. This multisensory play area includes larger-than-life blocks, a crawl-through kaleidoscope, the Gravity wall, a puppet theater and a reading area.  

"NanoZone," ongoing. Discover the science of nanotechnology through handson activities and games.  

"Planetarium," ongoing. Explore the skies in this interactive planetarium.  

"Science on a Sphere," ongoing. Catch an out-of-this-world experience with an animated globe. See hurricanes form, tsunamis sweep across the oceans and city lights glow around the planet. Ongoing.  

"Scream Machines The Science of Roller Coasters, through Jan. 2. This head-spinning, stomach-churning exhibition for thrill-seekers features interactive exhibits, artifacts and images to explore.  

$6-$12; free children ages 2 and under. Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. University of California, Centennial Drive, Berkeley. (510) 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org.

 

LINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM This is the oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation center in America, taking in 6,000 injured and orphaned animals yearly and returning 40 percent of them to the wild. The museum offers a wide range of educational programs using non-releasable wild animals to teach children and adults respect for the balance of nature. The museum includes a state-of-the art wildlife hospital which features a permanent exhibit, titled "Living with Nature,'' which houses 75 non-releasable wild animals in learning environments; a 5,000-square-foot Wildlife Hospital complete with treatment rooms, intensive care, quarantine and laboratory facilities; a 1-acre Nature Garden featuring the region's native landscaping and wildlife; and an "Especially For Children'' exhibit.  

WILDLIFE HOSPITAL -- September-March: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hospital is open daily including holidays to receive injured and orphaned animals. There is no charge for treatment of native wild animals and there are no public viewing areas in the hospital.Ongoing.  

SPECIAL EVENTS Ongoing.  

$5-$7; free children under age 2. June 16-Sept. 15: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; Sept. 16-June 15: noon.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. (925) 935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org.< 

 

MEYERS HOUSE AND GARDEN MUSEUM The Meyers House, erected in 1897, is an example of Colonial Revival, an architectural style popular around the turn of the century. Designed by Henry H. Meyers,the house was built by his father, Jacob Meyers, at a cost of $4000.00.Ongoing.  

$3. Fourth Saturday of every month. 2021 Alameda Ave., Alameda. (510) 521-1247, www.alamedamuseum.org/meyers.html.< 

 

MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE VILLAGE ongoing. A science museum with an African-American focus promoting science education and awareness for the underrepresented. The science village chronicles the technical achievements of people of African descent from ancient ties to present. There are computer classes at the Internet Cafi, science education activities and seminars. There is also a resource library with a collection of books, periodicals and videotapes. 

$4-$6. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, noon-6 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. 630 20th St., Oakland. (510) 893-6426, www.ncalifblackengineers.org.

 

MUSEUM OF CHILDREN'S ART A museum of art for and by children, with activities for children to participate in making their own art.  

ART CAMPS -- Hands-on activities and engaging curriculum for children of different ages, led by professional artists and staff. $60 per day.  

CLASSES -- A Sunday series of classes for children ages 8 to 12, led by Mocha artists. Sundays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

OPEN STUDIOS -- Drop-in art play activities with new themes each week.  

"Big Studio." Guided art projects for children age 6 and older with a Mocha artist. Tuesday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. $5.  

"Little Studio." A hands-on experience that lets young artists age 18 months to 5 years see, touch and manipulate a variety of media. Children can get messy. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $5.  

"Family Weekend Studios." Drop-in art activities for the whole family. All ages welcome. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. $5 per child.  

FAMILY EXTRAVAGANZAS -- Special weekend workshops for the entire family.  

"Sunday Workshops with Illustrators," Sundays, 1 p.m. See the artwork and meet the artists who create children's book illustrations. Free.Ongoing.  

"Saturday Stories," ongoing. 1 p.m. For children ages 2-5. Free. 

Free gallery admission. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 538 Ninth St., Oakland. (510) 465-8770, www.mocha.org.

 

MUSEUM OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY The museum features local artifacts, pictures, flags and drawings commemorating the valley's history. It also houses a historical narrative frieze. In addition to a permanent exhibit on the valley's history, the museum sponsors revolving exhibits and several guided tours. The restored railroad depot that houses the museum was built on the San Ramon Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad 108 years ago.Ongoing.  

Free. August: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Depot, West Prospect and Railroad avenues, Danville. (925) 837-3750, www.museumsrv.org.

 

MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET Located in a former town hall building, this museum is a piece of local history. It has a photo and document archive, collection of artifacts, local history publications for purchase, and a history library. It is supported by the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society.Ongoing.  

$2. Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; CLOSED DEC. 23-JAN. 8. 603 Main St., Pleasanton. (925) 462-2766, www.museumonmain.org.

 

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA "Art a la Carte," Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. Art docents offer a variety of specialized tours focusing on one aspect of the museum's permanent collection. Free with museum admission.  

"Online Museum," Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Explore the museum's collection on videodisks in the History Department Library.  

Docent Gallery Tours, Saturday and Sunday, 1:30 p.m. 

"Explore our New Gallery," through Dec. 2. The new Gallery of California Art showcases more than 800 works from OMCA's collection-one of the largest and most comprehensive holdings of California art in the world.  

"Gallery of California History," through Dec. 2. This new gallery is based on the theme of Coming to California.  

OPENING -- "Pixar: 25 Years of Animation," through Jan. 9. Exhibition presents an unprecedented look at the Emeryville-based animation company.  

$5-$8; free for children ages 5 and under; free to all on the second Sunday of the month. Special events are free with museum admission unless noted otherwise. Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; first Friday of the month, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 1000 Oak St., Oakland. (510) 238-2200, www.museumca.org.

 

PARDEE HOME MUSEUM ongoing. The historic Pardee Mansion, a three-story Italianate villa built in 1868, was home to three generations of the Pardee family who were instrumental in the civic and cultural development of California and Oakland. The home includes the house, grounds, water tower and barn. Reservations recommended. Group tours may be arranged between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tues.-Sun.  

Private Tours and Teas: Take a private tour followed by tea in the Pardee family dining room (available for 4-12 persons).  

Tour with light tea: $12 per person  

Tour with high tea: $25 per person.  

High tea without tour: $20 per person. 

$5-$25; free children ages 12 and under. House Tours: 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday and second Saturday of each month; 2 p.m. the second Sunday or each month. 672 11th St., Oakland. (510) 444-2187, www.pardeehome.org.

 

SAN LEANDRO HISTORY MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY ongoing. The museum showcases local and regional history and serves as a centerpiece for community cultural activity. There are exhibits on Ohlone settlements, farms of early settlers, and contributions of Portuguese and other immigrants. There will also be exhibits of the city's agricultural past and the industrial development of the 19th century. "Yema/Po Archeological Site at Lake Chabot," ongoing. An exhibit highlighting artifacts uncovered from a work camp of Chinese laborers, featuring photomurals, cutouts and historical photographs. 

Free. Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 320 West Estudillo Ave., San Leandro. (510) 577-3990, www.ci.sanleandro. ca.us/sllibrarymuseum.html.< 

 

SHADELANDS RANCH HISTORICAL MUSEUM Built by Walnut Creek pioneer Hiram Penniman, this 1903 redwood-framed house is a showcase for numerous historical artifacts, many of which belonged to the Pennimans. It also houses a rich archive of Contra Costa and Walnut Creek history in its collections of old newspapers, photographs and government records.Ongoing.  

$1-$3; free-children under age 6. Wednesday and Sunday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; Closed in January. 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. (925) 935-7871, www.ci.walnut-creek.ca.us.< 

 

SMITH MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, HAYWARD The museum houses significant collections of archaeological and ethnographic specimens from Africa, Asia and North America and small collections from Central and South America. The museum offers opportunities and materials for student research and internships in archaeology and ethnology.Ongoing.  

Free. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Meiklejohn Hall, Fourth Floor, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward. (510) 885-3104, (510) 885-7414, www.isis.csuhayward.edu/cesmith/acesmith.html.< 

 

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY HEARST MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY ongoing. "Native California Cultures," ongoing. This is an exhibit of some 500 artifacts from the museum's California collections, the largest and most comprehensive collections in the world devoted to California Indian cultures. The exhibit includes a section about Ishi, the famous Indian who lived and worked with the museum, Yana tribal baskets and a 17-foot Yurok canoe carved from a single redwood.  

"Recent Acquisitions," ongoing. The collection includes Yoruba masks and carvings from Africa, early-20th-century Taiwanese hand puppets, textiles from the Americas and 19th- and 20th-century Tibetan artifacts.  

"From the Maker's Hand: Selections from the Permanent Collection," ongoing. This exhibit explores human ingenuity in the living and historical cultures of China, Africa, Egypt, Peru, North America and the Meditteranean. 

$1-$4; free for children ages 12 and under; free to all on Thursdays. Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m. 103 Kroeber Hall, Bancroft Way and College Avenue, Berkeley. (510) 643-7648, www.hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu.

 

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY MUSEUM OF PALEONTOLOGY ongoing. "Tyrannosaurus Rex," ongoing. A 20-foot-tall, 40-foot-long replica of the fearsome dinosaur. The replica is made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing.  

"Pteranodon," ongoing. A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22 to 23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs.  

"California Fossils Exhibit," ongoing. An exhibit of some of the fossils that have been excavated in California. 

Free. During semester sessions, hours generally are: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-10 p.m. Hours vary during summer and holidays. Lobby, 1101 Valley Life Sciences Building, #4780, University of California, Berkeley. (510) 642-1821, www.ucmp.berkeley.edu.

 

USS HORNET MUSEUM Come aboard this World War II aircraft carrier that has been converted into a floating museum. The Hornet, launched in 1943, is 899 feet long and 27 stories high. During World War II she was never hit by an enemy strike or plane and holds the Navy record for number of enemy planes shot down in a week. In 1969 the Hornet recovered the Apollo 11 space capsule containing the first men to walk on the moon, and later recovered Apollo 12. In 1991 the Hornet was designated a National Historic Landmark and is now docked at the same pier she sailed from in 1944. Today, visitors can tour the massive ship, view World War II-era warplanes and experience a simulated aircraft launch from the carrier's deck. Exhibits are being added on an ongoing basis. Allow two to three hours for a visit. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to climb steep stairs or ladders. Dress in layers as the ship can be cold. Arrive no later than 2 p.m. to sign up for the engine room and other docent-led tours. Children under age 12 are not allowed in the Engine Room or the Combat Information Center. "Limited Access Day," ongoing. Due to ship maintenance, tours of the navigation bridge and the engine room are not available. Tuesdays.  

"Flight Deck Fun," ongoing. A former Landing Signal Officer will show children how to bring in a fighter plane for a landing on the deck then let them try the signals themselves. Times vary. Free with regular Museum admission.  

"Protestant Divine Services," ongoing. Hornet chaplain John Berger conducts church services aboard The Hornet in the Wardroom Lounge. Everyone is welcome and refreshments are served immediately following the service. Sundays, 11 a.m.Ongoing. Closed on New Year's Day. 

"Family Day," ongoing. Discounted admission for families of four with a further discount for additional family members. Access to some of the areas may be limited due to ship maintenance. Every Tuesday. $20 for family of four; $5 for each additional family member. 

"History Mystery After Hours Tour," ongoing. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Explore the USS Hornet after hours and learn the history of this ship while it is illuminated in red lights used for "night ops." Also, hear stories about the ships' legendary haunts. Reservations required. (510) 521-8448 X282. 

"Living Ship Day," Nov. 13. Witness flight simulations as aircraft are lifted to the flight deck and placed into the launch position; participate in mission briefings; meet former crew; sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet. 

"Flashlight Tour," ongoing. 8:30 a.m. Receive a special tour of areas aboard the ship that have not yet been opened to the public or that have limited access during the day. $30-$35 per person. 

$6-$14; free children age 4 and under with a paying adult. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pier 3 (enter on Atlantic Avenue), Alameda Point, Alameda. (510) 521-8448, www.uss-hornet.org.<


Highlights-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:29:00 PM

"15TH ANNUAL CRUSH FESTIVAL," -- Nov. 7. The Berkeley Chamber's annual gourmet food and wine festival, featuring a taste of local cuisine and 25 local wineries. Also on tap: live music, auctions, and more. Event takes place at Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley. 

$50.2-6 p.m.www.berkeleychamber.com.< 

 

ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS  

"30th Annual Hula Festival," Nov. 5 through Nov. 7, 3-9 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $10-$15. 

"21st Autumn Get-Together," Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Good Guys present a classic car show.  

4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. (925) 426-7600, www.alamedacountyfair.com.

 

CROWDEN MUSIC CENTER  

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. Works by Ravel and Schubert. $15; 18 and under free.  

1475 Rose St., Berkeley. (510) 559-6910, www.crowden.org.

 

LA PENA CULTURAL CENTER  

"11th Annual Hecho en Califas Festival," Nov. 5 through Nov. 14. A series of events showcasing Californian artists. See website for complete schedule.  

Free unless otherwise noted. 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568, www.lapena.org.

 

PLAYLAND NOT AT THE BEACH MUSEUM OF FUN  

"San Francisco's Playland At The Beach," Nov. 6 and Nov. 7, 1-4 p.m. A presentation and book launch focusing on the famous amusement park that once stood at San Francisco's Ocean Beach.  

10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org.<


Kids-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:29:00 PM

A GREAT GOOD PLACE FOR BOOKS  

Sudipta Badhan-Quallen, Nov. 13, 11 a.m. "Quakenstein Hatches a Family.''  

6120 LaSalle Ave., Oakland. (510) 339-8210, www.ggpbooks.com.

 

ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM Ardenwood farm is a working farm that dates back to the time of the Patterson Ranch, a 19th-century estate with a mansion and Victorian Gardens. Today, the farm still practices farming techniques from the 1870s. Unless otherwise noted, programs are free with regular admission.  

ONGOING PROGRAMS --  

"Blacksmithing," Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch a blacksmith turn iron into useful tools.  

"Horse-Drawn Train," Thursday, Friday and Sunday. A 20-minute ride departs from Ardenwood Station and Deer Park.  

"Animal Feeding," Thursday-Sunday, 3-4 p.m. Help slop the hogs, check the henhouse for eggs and bring hay to the livestock.  

"Victorian Flower Arranging," Thursday, 10:15-11:30 a.m. Watch as Ardenwood docents create floral works of art for display in the Patterson House. "Toddler Time," ongoing. Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Meet and learn all about a new animal friend through stories, chores and fun.  

"Animal Feeding," ongoing. Thursday-Sunday, 3 p.m. Feed the pigs, check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock. 

"Country Kitchen Cookin'," ongoing. Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy the flavor of the past with treats cooked on Ardenwood's wood burning stove. Sample food grown on the farm and discover the history of your favorite oldtime snacks. 

"Horse-Drawn Train Rides," ongoing. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Meet Jigs or Tucker the Belgian Draft horses that pull Ardenwood's train. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Ardenwood Station or Deer Park. 

"Potato Harvesting," ongoing. Learn the spectacular history of this New World native as you dig with your spade and help find the spuds. 

$1-$5; free children under age 4. Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. (510) 796-0199, (510) 796-0663, www.ebparks.org.

 

BAY POINT LIBRARY  

"Monthly Craft Night," ongoing. 4-5 p.m. Last Friday of every month. Each month features a different themed craft.  

Riverview Middle School, 205 Pacifica Ave., Pittsburg. (925) 458-9597.< 

 

BLACKHAWK MUSEUM ongoing.  

AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM -- The museum's permanent exhibition of internationally renowned automobiles dated from 1897 to the 1980s. The cars are displayed as works of art with room to walk completely around each car to admire the workmanship. On long-term loan from the Smithsonian Institution is a Long Steam Tricycle; an 1893-94 Duryea, the first Duryea built by the Duryea brothers; and a 1948 Tucker, number 39 of the 51 Tuckers built, which is a Model 48 "Torpedo'' four-door sedan. "International Automotive Treasures," ongoing. An ever-changing exhibit featuring over 90 automobiles.  

"A Journey on Common Ground," ongoing. An exhibit of moving photographs, video and art objects from around the world exploring the causes of disability and the efforts of the Wheelchair Foundation to provide a wheelchair for every person in need who cannot afford one. Free Public Tours, Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Docent-led guided tours of the museum's exhibitions. 

$5-$8; free for children ages 6 and under. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. (925) 736-2280, (925) 736-2277, www.blackhawkmuseum.org.

 

BOOKS INC., ALAMEDA  

"Storytime with Anna Alter," Nov. 6, 2 p.m. "Disappearing Desmond.''  

Free. Readings at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 1344 Park St., Alameda. (510) 522-2226, www.booksinc.net.

 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP ongoing. An interactive place where children, and adults, can learn how a stuffed animal is made, then choose an animal pattern from the offering of bears, elephants, dogs and rabbits; stuff the chosen animal; dress it; and create a birth certificate. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

$10-$25; clothing and accessories extra. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Broadway Plaza, 1248 Broadway, Walnut Creek. (925) 946-4697, www.buildabear.com.

 

CHABOT SPACE AND SCIENCE CENTER State-of-the-art facility unifying science education activities around astronomy. Enjoy interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, indoor stargazing, outdoor telescope viewing and films. 

ASK JEEVES PLANETARIUM -- Ongoing. The planetarium features one of the most advanced star projectors in the world. A daily planetarium show is included with general admission. Call for current show schedule.  

"Immersive Space: Fly Through the Cosmos," ongoing. Fridays, 8 p.m. Experience the "digital universe'' in a new full-dome system. Travel to the nearest star and beyond in seconds. 

"Tales Of The Maya Skies," ongoing. "Tales of the Maya Skies'' is a new full-dome planetarium show that explores the cosmology of the ancient Maya, along with their culture and their contributions to astronomy. Starts November 21. 

"Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity," ongoing. Take a ride to the inside of a massive black hole and learn about the latest scientific evidence, which suggests that black holes are real. Narrated by Liam Neeson. Suitable for age 12 and older. Free with General Admission ticket. 

"Sunshine," ongoing. A 15-minute planetarium show for children ages 5 and under. In the show, Sunshine, a lovable animated cartoon of the Sun, urges children to sing and play along with his tricks. In the process, he introduces the colors of the day sky and the other suns of the night sky. Free with regular general admission. 

"The Search for Life: Are We Alone?" ongoing. A voyage from the ocean deep to the outer reaches of the cosmos in search of life, narrated by Harrison Ford. 

"The Sky Tonight," ongoing. Saturdays, 8 p.m. Take a live tour of the starry sky overhead on the night of your visit. The show includes a look at constellations, planets and special celestial objects. 

"Space NOW!", ongoing. Each week, this real-time ride through constellations, stars, and planets will reflect current happenings in our sky. Space NOW! will also tie in activities going on throughout the center. This is Chabot's first daytime guided tour of the universe. 

"Sonic Vision," ongoing. Friday-Saturday, 9:15 p.m. This show uses the latest digital technology to illuminate the planetarium with colorful computer-generated imagery set to today's popular music, including Radiohead, U2, David Bowie, Coldplay, Moby and more. 

"Secret of the Cardboard Rocket," ongoing. Take a journey through the solar system with two young adventurers who turn an old cardboard box into a rocket. Recommended for ages 5-10. 

"Astronaut," ongoing. What does it take to be part of the exploration of space? Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body. Narrated by Ewan McGregor. 25 min.Ongoing.  

"Chabot Observatories: A View to the Stars," ongoing. This new permanent exhibit honors the 123-year history of Chabot and its telescopes. The observatory is one of the oldest public observatories in the United States. The exhibit covers the three different sites of the observatory over its history as well as how its historic telescopes continue to be operated today. Included are informative graphic panels, multimedia kiosks, interactive computer programs, hands-on stations, and historic artifacts. 

"Dinner, Movie and the Universe," ongoing. Every Friday and Saturday evening. Enjoy a bistro-style dinner, then cozy up for a film in the 70-foot MegaDome theater and end the evening with a telescope viewing. Call to purchase general admission tickets and to make dinner reservations. (510) 336-7373. 

Telescope Visions Class, ongoing. 7 p.m. This course introduces participants to the astronomer's main tool: the telescope. Classes are held in the Galileo Room twice monthly. $85-$95; reservations required. (510) 336-7373. 

"Global Cool: A Gala Benefit for Planet Earth," Nov. 13, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Event features Bill Nye's Climate Lab exhibition premiere, live auction, a cocktail soiree and more. $500-$10,000; reservations required. 

TIEN MEGADOME SCIENCE THEATER -- Ongoing. A 70-foot dome-screen auditorium. Show times subject to change. Call for current show schedule. Price with paid general admission is $6-$7. Theater only: $7-$8. (510) 336-7373, www.ticketweb.com. 

"Forces of Nature," ongoing. This film showcases the awesome spectacle of earthquakes, volcanoes, and severe storms as scientists continue their quests to understand how these natural disasters are triggered. 

"Cosmic Voyage," ongoing. A breathtaking journey through time and space. Zoom from the surface of the Earth to the largest observable structures of the Universe and back down to the sub-nuclear realm, a guided tour across some 42 orders of magnitude. Explore some of the greatest scientific theories, many of which have never before been visualized on film. 

"The Human Body," ongoing. This show explores the daily biological processes that go on in the human body without our control and often without our notice. This amazing story is revealed in detail on the giant screen. 

"The Living Sea," ongoing. The film celebrates the beauty, power and importance of the ocean. Produced in association with The National Maritime Center, the Ocean Film Network and Dr. Robert Ballard. 

"Dinosaurs Alive," ongoing. A global adventure of science and discovery, featuring the earliest dinosaurs of the Triassic Period to the monsters of the Cretaceous, "reincarnated" life-sized for the giant screen. Audiences will journey with some of the world's preeminent paleontologists as they uncover evidence that the descendents of dinosaurs still walk (or fly) among us. From the exotic, trackless expanses and sand dunes of Mongolia's Gobi Desert to the dramatic sandstone buttes of New Mexico, the film will follow American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) paleontologists as they explore some of the greatest dinosaur finds in history. 

Center Admission: $14.95; $10.95 children 3-12; free children under 3; $3 discount for seniors and students. Telescope viewing only: free. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Also open on Tuesdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. after June 29. 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. (510) 336-7300, www.chabotspace.org.

 

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND A fairy tale theme park featuring more than 30 colorful fantasy sets. Designed especially for children ages 10 and under, there are gentle rides, a train, the "Peter Rabbit Village,'' puppet shows, story-telling and lots of slides and animals. Admission price includes unlimited rides, special shows, guest entertainers and puppet shows.  

OLD WEST JUNCTION -- Children's Fairyland's newest attraction is a Wild West-themed town sized just for children, with a livery stable, bank, jail and a water tower slide.  

PUPPET SHOWS -- Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. All shows are at the Open Storybook Theatre. Free with regular Fairyland admission.  

ARTS AND CRAFTS CENTER -- Activities on Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.  

ANIMAL OF THE DAY -- Saturday and Sunday, 1-1:20 p.m. at the Humpty Dumpty Wall. Learn about one of Fairyland's animal friends."Animal of the Day!" ongoing. Saturdays and Sundays, 1-1:20 p.m. Come up close and learn about Fairyland's creatures. 

"Arts and Crafts," ongoing. Noon-3 p.m. Event features arts and crafts projects for children and their families. $6. 

$6; free for children under age 1; $2 for a Magic Key. No adult admitted without a child and no child admitted without an adult. Summer (June through Labor Day): Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fall and Spring: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Winter: Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CLOSED DEC. 25-JAN. 4. 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. (510) 452-2259, www.fairyland.org.

 

CRAB COVE VISITOR CENTER At Crab Cove, you can see live underwater creatures and go into the San Francisco Bay from land. You can also travel back in time to Alameda's part. The goal is to increase understanding of the environmental importance of San Francisco Bay and the ocean ecosystem. Crab Cove's Indoor Aquarium and Exhibit Lab is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the East Bay."Sea Siblings," ongoing. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Explore the natural world and take part in a theme related craft. Designed for the 3-5 year old learner. Registration is required.  

$4. (888) 327-2757. 

"Catch of the Day," ongoing. Sundays, 2-3 p.m. Drop by to find out more about the Bay and its wildlife through guided exploration and hands-on fun. 

"Sea Squirts," ongoing. 10-11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Discover the wonders of nature with your little one. Registration is required. $6-$8. 

Free unless otherwise noted; parking fee may be charged. 1252 McKay Ave., Alameda. (510) 521-6887, www.ebparks.org.

 

DUNSMUIR HOUSE AND GARDENS HISTORIC ESTATE ongoing. Nestled in the Oakland hills, the 50-acre Dunsmuir House and Gardens estate includes the 37-room Neoclassical Revival Dunsmuir Mansion, built by coal and lumber baron Alexander Dunsmuir for his bride. Restored outbuildings set amid landscaped gardens surround the mansion.  

ESTATE GROUNDS -- Ongoing. Self-Guided Grounds Tours are available yearround. The 50 acres of gardens and grounds at the mansion are open to the public for walking Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Booklets and maps of the grounds are available at the Dinkelspiel House. Free.  

GUIDED TOURS -- Docent-led tours are available on the first Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. (except for July) and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. $5 adults, $4 seniors and juniors (11-16), children 11 and under free. 

Dunsmuir House and Gardens, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. (510) 615-5555, www.dunsmuir.org.

 

FOREST HOME FARMS ongoing. The 16-acre former farm of the Boone family is now a municipal historic park in San Ramon. It is located at the base of the East Bay Hills and is divided into two parts by Oak Creek. The Boone House is a 22-room Dutch colonial that has been remodeled several times since it was built in 1900. Also on the property are a barn built in the period from 1850 to 1860; the Victorian-style David Glass House, dating from the late 1860s to early 1870s; a storage structure for farm equipment and automobiles; and a walnut processing plant. 

Free unless otherwise noted. Public tours available by appointment. 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. (925) 973-3281, www.ci.sanramon. ca.us/parks/boone.htm.< 

 

FREIGHT AND SALVAGE  

"Singsong Planet: Octopretzel, Orange Sherbet, VaSt," Nov. 13, 11 a.m. $8.50-$9.50. 

Music starts at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 548-1761, www.freightandsalvage.org.

 

HABITOT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM A museum especially for children ages 7 and under. Highlights include "WaterWorks,'' an area with some unusual water toys, an Infant Tree for babies, a garden especially for toddlers, a child-scale grocery store and cafe, and a costume shop and stage for junior thespians. The museum also features a toy lending library. "Waterworks." A water play gallery with rivers, a pumping station and a water table, designed to teach about water.  

"Little Town Grocery and Cafe." Designed to create the ambience of shopping in a grocery store and eating in a restaurant.  

"Infant-Toddler Garden." A picket fence gated indoor area, which includes a carrot patch with wooden carrots to be harvested, a pretend pond and a butterfly mobile to introduce youngsters to the concept of food, gardening and agriculture.  

"Dramatic Arts Stage." Settings, backdrops and costumes coincide with seasonal events and holidays. Children can exercise their dramatic flair here.  

"Wiggle Wall." The floor-to-ceiling "underground'' tunnels give children a worm's eye view of the world. The tunnels are laced with net covered openings and giant optic lenses.Ongoing.  

$6-$7. Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Closed Sunday-Tuesday. 2065 Kittredge St., Berkeley. (510) 647-1111, www.habitot.org.

 

HALL OF HEALTH ongoing. A community health-education museum and science center promoting wellness and individual responsibility for health. There are hands-on exhibits that teach about the workings of the human body, the value of a healthy diet and exercise, and the destructive effects of smoking and drug abuse. "Kids on the Block'' puppet shows, which use puppets from diverse cultures to teach about and promote acceptance of conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, leukemia, blindness, arthritis and spina bifida, are available by request for community events and groups visiting the Hall on Saturdays. "This Is Your Heart!" ongoing. An interactive exhibit on heart health.  

"Good Nutrition," ongoing. This exhibit includes models for making balanced meals and an Exercycle for calculating how calories are burned.  

"Draw Your Own Insides," ongoing. Human-shaped chalkboards and models with removable organs allow visitors to explore the inside of their bodies.  

"Your Cellular Self and Cancer Prevention," ongoing. An exhibit on understanding how cells become cancerous and how to detect and prevent cancer. 

Suggested $3 donation; free for children under age 3. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 2230 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 549-1564, www.hallofhealth.org.

 

HAYWARD SHORELINE INTERPRETIVE CENTER Perched on stilts above a salt marsh, the Center offers an introduction to the San Francisco Bay-Estuary. It features exhibits, programs and activities designed to inspire a sense of appreciation, respect and stewardship for the Bay, its inhabitants and the services they provide. The Habitat Room offers a preview of what may be seen outside. The 80-gallon Bay Tank contains some of the fish that live in the Bay's open waters, and the Channel Tank represents habitats formed by the maze of sloughs and creeks that snake through the marsh. The main room of the Center features rotating exhibits about area history, plants and wildlife. Part of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. "Exploring Nature," ongoing. An exhibit of Shawn Gould's illustrations featuring images of the natural world.Ongoing.  

"Waterfowl of the Freshwater Marsh," ongoing. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join an expert birder to go "behind the gates'' to areas of the marsh that are not open to the public. 

"Weekend Weed Warriors," ongoing. 1-4 p.m. Help the shoreline to eliminate the non-native plants that threaten its diversity. Ages 12 and older. Registration required. 

"Nature Detectives," ongoing. 11 a.m.-noon. An introduction and exploration of the world of Black-Crowned Night-Herons. Ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Registration required. 

Free. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. (510) 670-7270, www.hard.dst.ca.us/hayshore.html.< 

 

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST BAY  

"Shabbat Celebration for Young Children," ongoing. Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Join other families with young children to sharethis weekly Jewish holiday of joy and renewal.  

1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. (510) 848-0237, www.jcceastbay.org/.< 

 

JUNIOR CENTER OF ART AND SCIENCE ongoing. A center dedicated to encouraging children's active wonder and creative response through artistic and scientific exploration of their natural urban environment. The center's classes, workshops, exhibits and events integrate art and science. Three educational exhibits are mounted in the "Children's Gallery'' each year. A docent-led tour, demonstrations, hands-on activities and art projects are available to school groups throughout the year.  

"Jake's Discovery Garden," ongoing. Jake's Discovery Garden is a new interactive studio exhibit designed for preschool-aged children and their adult caregivers that teaches young visitors about the natural environments found in their backyards, playgrounds and neighborhoods.Ongoing.  

Free; programs and special exhibits have a fee. September through May: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June through August: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 558 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. (510) 839-5777, www.juniorcenter.org.

 

LAKE CHABOT REGIONAL PARK ongoing. The 315-acre lake offers year-round recreation. Services include canoe and boat rental, horseshoe pits, hiking, bicycling, picnicking and seasonal tours aboard the Chabot Queen. For boat rentals, call (510) 247-2526. 

Free unless noted otherwise; $5 parking; $2 per dog except guide/service dogs. Daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. 17930 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE "NanoZone," ongoing. Discover the science of the super-small: nanotechnology. Through hands-on activities and games, explore this microworld and the scientific discoveries made in this area.  

"Forces That Shape the Bay," ongoing. A science park that shows and explains why the San Francisco Bay is the way it is, with information on water, erosion, plate tectonics and mountain building. You can ride earthquake simulators, set erosion in motion and look far out into the bay with a powerful telescope from 1,100 feet above sea level. The center of the exhibit is a waterfall that demonstrates how water flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay. Visitors can control where the water goes. There are also hands-on erosion tables, and a 40-foot-long, 6-foothigh, rock compression wall.  

"Real Astronomy Experience," ongoing. A new exhibit-in-development allowing visitors to use the tools that real astronomers use. Aim a telescope at a virtual sky and operate a remote-controlled telescope to measure a planet.  

"Biology Lab," ongoing. In the renovated Biology Lab visitors may hold and observe gentle animals. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

"The Idea Lab," ongoing. Experiment with some of the basics of math, science and technology through hands-on activities and demonstrations of magnets, spinning and flying, puzzles and nanotechnology.  

"Math Around the World," ongoing. Play some of the world's most popular math games, such as Hex, Kalah, Game Sticks and Shongo Networks.  

"Math Rules," ongoing. Use simple and colorful objects to complete interesting challenges in math through predicting, sorting, comparing, weighing and counting.  

HOLT PLANETARIUM Ongoing. Shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Programs recommended for ages 6 and up unless otherwise noted. $2.50-$3 in addition to general admission.  

$6-$12; free children ages 2 and under. Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. University of California, Centennial Drive, Berkeley. (510) 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org.

 

LINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM This is the oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation center in America, taking in 6,000 injured and orphaned animals yearly and returning 40 percent of them to the wild. The museum offers a wide range of educational programs using non-releasable wild animals to teach children and adults respect for the balance of nature. The museum includes a state-of-the art wildlife hospital which features a permanent exhibit, titled "Living with Nature,'' which houses 75 non-releasable wild animals in learning environments; a 5,000-square-foot Wildlife Hospital complete with treatment rooms, intensive care, quarantine and laboratory facilities; a 1-acre Nature Garden featuring the region's native landscaping and wildlife; and an "Especially For Children'' exhibit.  

WILDLIFE HOSPITAL -- September-March: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hospital is open daily including holidays to receive injured and orphaned animals. There is no charge for treatment of native wild animals and there are no public viewing areas in the hospital.Ongoing.  

$5-$7; free children under age 2. June 16-Sept. 15: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; Sept. 16-June 15: noon.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. (925) 935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org.< 

 

MUSEUM OF CHILDREN'S ART A museum of art for and by children, with activities for children to participate in making their own art.  

ART CAMPS -- Hands-on activities and engaging curriculum for children of different ages, led by professional artists and staff. $60 per day.  

CLASSES -- A Sunday series of classes for children ages 8 to 12, led by Mocha artists. Sundays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

OPEN STUDIOS -- Drop-in art play activities with new themes each week.  

"Big Studio." Guided art projects for children age 6 and older with a Mocha artist. Tuesday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. $5.  

"Little Studio." A hands-on experience that lets young artists age 18 months to 5 years see, touch and manipulate a variety of media. Children can get messy. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $5.  

"Family Weekend Studios." Drop-in art activities for the whole family. All ages welcome. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. $5 per child.  

FAMILY EXTRAVAGANZAS -- Special weekend workshops for the entire family.  

"Sunday Workshops with Illustrators," Sundays, 1 p.m. See the artwork and meet the artists who create children's book illustrations. Free.Ongoing.  

"Saturday Stories," ongoing. 1 p.m. For children ages 2-5. Free."Saturday Stories," ongoing. 1 p.m. For ages 2-5. Free. 

Free gallery admission. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 538 Ninth St., Oakland. (510) 465-8770, www.mocha.org.

 

OAKLAND ZOO The zoo includes a Children's Petting Zoo, the Skyride, a miniature train, a carousel, picnic grounds and a gift shop as well as the animals in site specific exhibits, which allow them to roam freely. Included are "The African Savanna,'' with its two huge mixed-animal aviaries and 11 African Savanna exhibits; the Mahali Pa Tembo (Place of the Elephant), with giraffes, chimpanzees and more than 330 other animals from around the world; "Simba Pori,'' Swahili for "Lion Country,'' a spacious 1.5-acre habitat offering both a savanna and woodland setting for African lions; "Footprints from the Past,'' an anthropology exhibit showcasing four million years of human evolution and an actual "footpath'' of the first hominids to emerge from the African savanna; "Sun Bear Exhibit,'' a stateof-the-art space the zoo has developed for its two sun bears; and Siamang Island, a state-of-the-art, barrier-free area that emulates the gibbons' native tropical rain forest habitat. Also see the Malayan Fruit Bats from the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Florida that are now roosting in trees at the zoo. In addition there are special exhibits and events monthly. "Valley Children's Zoo," ongoing. The three-acre attraction offers a completely interactive experience for both children and adults. The exhibits include lemurs, giant fruit bats, otters, reptiles, insects and more. Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

"Endangered Species," ongoing. An exhibit of photographs about the most endangered animals on the Earth and what can be done to save them. At the Education Center. Open daily during zoo hours. ONGOING EVENTS --  

"Valley Children's Zoo," ongoing. Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The three-acre attraction will offer a completely interactive experience for both children and adults. The exhibits include lemurs, giant fruit bats, otters, reptiles, insects and more. Free with regular Zoo admission.  

"Wildlife Theater," ongoing. Saturday, 11:45 a.m.; Sunday, 1:45 p.m. On Saturday mornings listen to a story and meet a live animal. On Sunday afternoon meet live animals and learn cool facts about them. Meet in the Lobby of the Zoo's Maddie's Center for Science and Environmental Education. Free with regular Zoo admission. (510) 632-9525, ext. 142.Ongoing.  

"Coyotes in Our Midst," Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m. reception; 7 p.m. presentation A screening of the award winning documentary "American Coyote: Still Wild at Heart" and a talk with coyote expert, Camilla H. Fox. $10-$20. 

$7.50-11; free children under age 2; $6 parking fee. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Knowland Park, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland. (510) 632-9525, www.oaklandzoo.org.

 

PIXIELAND AMUSEMENT PARK ongoing. This amusement park for children features pixie-sized rides such as a dragon roller coaster, swirling tea cups, a carousel, red baron airplanes, an antique car ride and a miniature train among other attractions sure to please the little ones. Classic carnival-style food and souvenirs round out the experience. Admission to the park is free; ride tickets are $1.25 each or 10 tickets for $10; Day wrist band for unlimited rides, $25. Specials and season passes are also available. 

Nov. 2010: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed Nov. 25-26. 2740 E. Olivera Road, Concord. (925) 689-8841, www.pixieland.com.

 

POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE ongoing. The 2,315-acre parkland bordering Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo offers views of Mount Tamalpais, the Marin shoreline and San Pablo Bay. There are trails through meadows and woods, and along the bluffs and beaches of San Pablo Bay. Visitors can hike, ride bikes or take the park's shuttle bus to reach the 1,250-foot fishing pier at Point Pinole. 

$5 per vehicle; $4 per trailered vehicle; $2 per dog (guide/service dogs free). Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted. Giant Highway, Richmond. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

PREWETT FAMILY WATERPARK ongoing. There are pools and water slides for all ages, from the Tad Pool for toddlers to Boulder cove for older swimmers. In addition to fun pools and slides there are fitness pools for lessons and exercise, lawns for relaxing, locker rooms, community room and kitchen. Lap lanes are open year round. Food and beverages are not permitted in the park. Picnic tables are available outside the park. 

$4-$11. Sunday through Friday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Aug.23-27, 30-31. 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. (925) 776-3070, www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CitySvcs/Prewett.< 

 

ROBERT SIBLEY VOLCANIC REGIONAL PRESERVE ongoing. East Bay residents have several volcanoes in their backyard. This park contains Round Top, one of the highest peaks in the Oakland Hills. 

Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 6800 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL RECREATION AREA ongoing. The 296-acre park includes an 80-acre lake and a four-flume waterslide, with picnic grounds and a swimming beach. Water slide fees and hours: (925) 829-6230. 

$6 per vehicle; $2 per dog except guide and service dogs. May 1 through Labor Day: daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; shortened hours for fall and winter. Stanley Boulevard, one mile from downtown, Pleasanton. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.

 

SULPHUR CREEK NATURE CENTER A wildlife rehabilitation and education facility where injured and orphaned local wild creatures are rehabilitated and released when possible. There is also a lending library of animals such as guinea pigs, rats, mice and more. The lending fee is $8 per week. "Toddler Time," ongoing. Learn about animals by listening to stories and exploring. Themes vary by month. Call for schedule. $7 per family.  

"Day on the Green Animal Presentations," ongoing. Meet an assortment of wild and domestic animals. Wildlife volunteers will present a different animal each day from possums to snakes, tortoises to hawks. Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. 

CHILDREN'S EVENTS -- Ongoing.  

Free. Park: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Discovery Center: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Animal Lending Library: Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: daily, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 1801 D St., Hayward. (510) 881-6747, www.haywardrec.org/sulphur_creek.html.< 

 

USS HORNET MUSEUM Come aboard this World War II aircraft carrier that has been converted into a floating museum. The Hornet, launched in 1943, is 899 feet long and 27 stories high. During World War II she was never hit by an enemy strike or plane and holds the Navy record for number of enemy planes shot down in a week. In 1969 the Hornet recovered the Apollo 11 space capsule containing the first men to walk on the moon, and later recovered Apollo 12. In 1991 the Hornet was designated a National Historic Landmark and is now docked at the same pier she sailed from in 1944. Today, visitors can tour the massive ship, view World War II-era warplanes and experience a simulated aircraft launch from the carrier's deck. Exhibits are being added on an ongoing basis. Allow two to three hours for a visit. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to climb steep stairs or ladders. Dress in layers as the ship can be cold. Arrive no later than 2 p.m. to sign up for the engine room and other docent-led tours. Children under age 12 are not allowed in the Engine Room or the Combat Information Center. "Limited Access Day," ongoing. Due to ship maintenance, tours of the navigation bridge and the engine room are not available. Tuesdays.  

"Flight Deck Fun," ongoing. A former Landing Signal Officer will show children how to bring in a fighter plane for a landing on the deck then let them try the signals themselves. Times vary. Free with regular Museum admission.  

"Protestant Divine Services," ongoing. Hornet chaplain John Berger conducts church services aboard The Hornet in the Wardroom Lounge. Everyone is welcome and refreshments are served immediately following the service. Sundays, 11 a.m.Ongoing. Closed on New Year's Day. 

"Family Day," ongoing. Discounted admission for families of four with a further discount for additional family members. Access to some of the areas may be limited due to ship maintenance. Every Tuesday. $20 for family of four; $5 for each additional family member. 

"History Mystery After Hours Tour," ongoing. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Explore the USS Hornet after hours and learn the history of this ship while it is illuminated in red lights used for "night ops." Also, hear stories about the ships' legendary haunts. Reservations required. (510) 521-8448 X282. 

"Flashlight Tour," ongoing. 8:30 a.m. Receive a special tour of areas aboard the ship that have not yet been opened to the public or that have limited access during the day. $30-$35 per person. 

"Living Ship Day," Nov. 13. Witness flight simulations as aircraft are lifted to the flight deck and placed into the launch position; participate in mission briefings; meet former crew; sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet. 

$6-$14; free children age 4 and under with a paying adult. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pier 3 (enter on Atlantic Avenue), Alameda Point, Alameda. (510) 521-8448, www.uss-hornet.org.< 

 

WATERWORLD CALIFORNA ongoing. ` 

$19.95-$31.95 General Admission; Season pass: $39.99-$59.99. Park closes in October and reopens in May. 1950 Waterworld Parkway,, Concord. (925) 609-1364, www.waterworldcalifornia.com.

 

YOSHI'S  

Hiromi Solo, Nov. 12 through Nov. 14, 8 and 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 and 7 p.m. Sun. $5-$20. 

Shows are Monday through Saturday, 8 and 10 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200, www.yoshis.com.<


General-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:28:00 PM

"15TH ANNUAL CRUSH FESTIVAL," -- Nov. 7. The Berkeley Chamber's annual gourmet food and wine festival, featuring a taste of local cuisine and 25 local wineries. Also on tap: live music, auctions, and more. Event takes place at Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley. 

$50.2-6 p.m.www.berkeleychamber.com.< 

 

ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS  

"30th Annual Hula Festival," Nov. 5 through Nov. 7, 3-9 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $10-$15. 

"21st Autumn Get-Together," Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Good Guys present a classic car show.  

4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. (925) 426-7600, www.alamedacountyfair.com.

 

ASHKENAZ  

"I Like My Bike Night," ongoing. 9 p.m. First Fridays of the month. This monthly series brings bicycle innovators, enthusiasts, artists and organizations together under one roof, as well as encourages regular Ashkenaz show-goers to leave their cars in the driveway and arrive at the venue by bicycle instead. $8-$25.  

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-5054, www.ashkenaz.com.

 

AUCTIONS BY THE BAY  

"ArtiFacts: A Lecture Series for Collectors," ongoing. 3 p.m. First Sundays of the month Guest curators, scholars and conservation experts from throughout the Bay Area discuss the art of collecting. First Sunday of every month, 3 p.m. $7; includes a preview of the monthly estate auction which takes place the following day at 10am.  

Auctions by the Bay Theater-Auction House, 2700 Saratoga St., Alameda. (510) 835-6187, www.auctionsbythebay.com.

 

BAY AREA FREE BOOK EXCHANGE  

"Free Books," ongoing. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. - Sun. Donate your unwanted books and receive new titles for free.  

10520 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. (510) 526-1941, www.bayareafreebookexchange.com.

 

CALIFORNIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY AND LIBRARY  

"California Genealogical Society and Library Free First Saturday," ongoing. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Event takes place on the first Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Trace and compile your family history at this month's open house event. Free. www.calgensoc.org. 

2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland. (510) 663-1358.< 

 

CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY  

HISTORY WALKABOUTS -- Ongoing. A series of walking tours that explore the history, lore and architecture of California with veteran tour guide Gary Holloway. Walks are given on specific weekends. There is a different meeting place for each weekend and walks take place rain or shine so dress for the weather. Reservations and prepayment required. Meeting place will be given with confirmation of tour reservation. Call for details.  

678 Mission St., San Francisco. (415) 357-1848, www.californiahistoricalsociety.org.

 

CALIFORNIA MAGIC THEATER  

"Dinner Theater Magic Show," ongoing. 7:30 p.m. Fri - Sat. Enter the joyous and bewildering world of illusion while chowing down on a home cooked meal. Each weekend features different professional magicians. Recommended for ages 13 and older. $54-$64 includes meal.  

729 Castro St., Martinez. (925) 374-0056, www.calmagic.com.

 

CHABOT SPACE AND SCIENCE CENTER State-of-the-art facility unifying science education activities around astronomy. Enjoy interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, indoor stargazing, outdoor telescope viewing and films. 

ASK JEEVES PLANETARIUM -- Ongoing. The planetarium features one of the most advanced star projectors in the world. A daily planetarium show is included with general admission. Call for current show schedule.  

"The Search for Life: Are We Alone?" ongoing. A voyage from the ocean deep to the outer reaches of the cosmos in search of life, narrated by Harrison Ford. 

"Secret of the Cardboard Rocket," ongoing. Take a journey through the solar system with two young adventurers who turn an old cardboard box into a rocket. Recommended for ages 5-10. 

"Sunshine," ongoing. A 15-minute planetarium show for children ages 5 and under. In the show, Sunshine, a lovable animated cartoon of the Sun, urges children to sing and play along with his tricks. In the process, he introduces the colors of the day sky and the other suns of the night sky. Free with regular general admission. 

"The Sky Tonight," ongoing. Saturdays, 8 p.m. Take a live tour of the starry sky overhead on the night of your visit. The show includes a look at constellations, planets and special celestial objects. 

"Tales Of The Maya Skies," ongoing. "Tales of the Maya Skies'' is a new full-dome planetarium show that explores the cosmology of the ancient Maya, along with their culture and their contributions to astronomy. Starts November 21. 

"Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity," ongoing. Take a ride to the inside of a massive black hole and learn about the latest scientific evidence, which suggests that black holes are real. Narrated by Liam Neeson. Suitable for age 12 and older. Free with General Admission ticket. 

"Space NOW!", ongoing. Each week, this real-time ride through constellations, stars, and planets will reflect current happenings in our sky. Space NOW! will also tie in activities going on throughout the center. This is Chabot's first daytime guided tour of the universe. 

"Sonic Vision," ongoing. Friday-Saturday, 9:15 p.m. This show uses the latest digital technology to illuminate the planetarium with colorful computer-generated imagery set to today's popular music, including Radiohead, U2, David Bowie, Coldplay, Moby and more. 

"Astronaut," ongoing. What does it take to be part of the exploration of space? Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut. Explore the amazing worlds of inner and outer space, from floating around the International Space Station to maneuvering through microscopic regions of the human body. Narrated by Ewan McGregor. 25 min. 

"Immersive Space: Fly Through the Cosmos," ongoing. Fridays, 8 p.m. Experience the "digital universe'' in a new full-dome system. Travel to the nearest star and beyond in seconds. 

CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER -- Ongoing. "Escape from the Red Planet,'' a cooperative venture for families and groups of up to 14 people, age 8 and up. The scenario on this one hour mission: You are the crew of a shuttle to Mars that has been severely damaged in a crash landing. Your replacement crew is gone, the worst dust storm ever recorded on Mars approaches, and air, food, and water are extremely low. The mission: get the shuttle working again and into orbit before the dust storm hits. Reservations required. Children age 8-12 must be accompanied by an adult; not appropriate for children under age 8. $12-$15; Does not include general admission to the Center. Reservations: (510) 336-7421.Ongoing.  

"Dinner, Movie and the Universe," ongoing. Every Friday and Saturday evening. Enjoy a bistro-style dinner, then cozy up for a film in the 70-foot MegaDome theater and end the evening with a telescope viewing. Call to purchase general admission tickets and to make dinner reservations. (510) 336-7373. 

"Chabot Observatories: A View to the Stars," ongoing. This new permanent exhibit honors the 123-year history of Chabot and its telescopes. The observatory is one of the oldest public observatories in the United States. The exhibit covers the three different sites of the observatory over its history as well as how its historic telescopes continue to be operated today. Included are informative graphic panels, multimedia kiosks, interactive computer programs, hands-on stations, and historic artifacts. 

Telescope Visions Class, ongoing. 7 p.m. This course introduces participants to the astronomer's main tool: the telescope. Classes are held in the Galileo Room twice monthly. $85-$95; reservations required. (510) 336-7373. 

"Global Cool: A Gala Benefit for Planet Earth," Nov. 13, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Event features Bill Nye's Climate Lab exhibition premiere, live auction, a cocktail soiree and more. $500-$10,000; reservations required. 

TIEN MEGADOME SCIENCE THEATER -- Ongoing. A 70-foot dome-screen auditorium. Show times subject to change. Call for current show schedule. Price with paid general admission is $6-$7. Theater only: $7-$8. (510) 336-7373, www.ticketweb.com. 

"Cosmic Voyage," ongoing. A breathtaking journey through time and space. Zoom from the surface of the Earth to the largest observable structures of the Universe and back down to the sub-nuclear realm, a guided tour across some 42 orders of magnitude. Explore some of the greatest scientific theories, many of which have never before been visualized on film. 

"The Human Body," ongoing. This show explores the daily biological processes that go on in the human body without our control and often without our notice. This amazing story is revealed in detail on the giant screen. 

"Dinosaurs Alive," ongoing. A global adventure of science and discovery, featuring the earliest dinosaurs of the Triassic Period to the monsters of the Cretaceous, "reincarnated" life-sized for the giant screen. Audiences will journey with some of the world's preeminent paleontologists as they uncover evidence that the descendents of dinosaurs still walk (or fly) among us. From the exotic, trackless expanses and sand dunes of Mongolia's Gobi Desert to the dramatic sandstone buttes of New Mexico, the film will follow American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) paleontologists as they explore some of the greatest dinosaur finds in history. 

"The Living Sea," ongoing. The film celebrates the beauty, power and importance of the ocean. Produced in association with The National Maritime Center, the Ocean Film Network and Dr. Robert Ballard. 

"Forces of Nature," ongoing. This film showcases the awesome spectacle of earthquakes, volcanoes, and severe storms as scientists continue their quests to understand how these natural disasters are triggered. 

Center Admission: $14.95; $10.95 children 3-12; free children under 3; $3 discount for seniors and students. Telescope viewing only: free. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Also open on Tuesdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. after June 29. 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. (510) 336-7300, www.chabotspace.org.

 

DUNSMUIR HOUSE AND GARDENS HISTORIC ESTATE ongoing. Nestled in the Oakland hills, the 50-acre Dunsmuir House and Gardens estate includes the 37-room Neoclassical Revival Dunsmuir Mansion, built by coal and lumber baron Alexander Dunsmuir for his bride. Restored outbuildings set amid landscaped gardens surround the mansion.  

ESTATE GROUNDS -- Ongoing. Self-Guided Grounds Tours are available yearround. The 50 acres of gardens and grounds at the mansion are open to the public for walking Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Booklets and maps of the grounds are available at the Dinkelspiel House. Free.  

GUIDED TOURS -- Docent-led tours are available on the first Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. (except for July) and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. $5 adults, $4 seniors and juniors (11-16), children 11 and under free. 

Dunsmuir House and Gardens, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. (510) 615-5555, www.dunsmuir.org.

 

FRANK OGAWA PLAZA  

"Oakland Artisan Marketplace," ongoing. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays. The City of Oakland and Cultural Arts & Marketing Department presents a weekly market featuring fine arts and crafts of local artists. Free. (510) 238-4948, www.oaklandartisanmarketplace.org. 

14th Street and Broadway, Oakland. < 

 

JACK LONDON AQUATIC CENTER  

"Oakland Artisan Marketplace,"' ongoing. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays The City of Oakland and Cultural Arts & Marketing Department presents a weekly market featuring fine arts and crafts of local artists. Free. (510) 238-4948, www.oaklandartisanmarketplace.org. 

115 Embarcadero, Oakland. < 

 

LA PENA CULTURAL CENTER  

"11th Annual Hecho en Califas Festival," Nov. 5 through Nov. 14. A series of events showcasing Californian artists. See website for complete schedule.  

Free unless otherwise noted. 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568, www.lapena.org.

 

LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE "NanoZone," ongoing. Discover the science of the super-small: nanotechnology. Through hands-on activities and games, explore this microworld and the scientific discoveries made in this area.  

"Forces That Shape the Bay," ongoing. A science park that shows and explains why the San Francisco Bay is the way it is, with information on water, erosion, plate tectonics and mountain building. You can ride earthquake simulators, set erosion in motion and look far out into the bay with a powerful telescope from 1,100 feet above sea level. The center of the exhibit is a waterfall that demonstrates how water flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay. Visitors can control where the water goes. There are also hands-on erosion tables, and a 40-foot-long, 6-foothigh, rock compression wall.  

"Real Astronomy Experience," ongoing. A new exhibit-in-development allowing visitors to use the tools that real astronomers use. Aim a telescope at a virtual sky and operate a remote-controlled telescope to measure a planet.  

"Biology Lab," ongoing. In the renovated Biology Lab visitors may hold and observe gentle animals. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

"The Idea Lab," ongoing. Experiment with some of the basics of math, science and technology through hands-on activities and demonstrations of magnets, spinning and flying, puzzles and nanotechnology.  

"Math Around the World," ongoing. Play some of the world's most popular math games, such as Hex, Kalah, Game Sticks and Shongo Networks.  

"Math Rules," ongoing. Use simple and colorful objects to complete interesting challenges in math through predicting, sorting, comparing, weighing and counting.  

HOLT PLANETARIUM Ongoing. Shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Programs recommended for ages 6 and up unless otherwise noted. $2.50-$3 in addition to general admission.  

$6-$12; free children ages 2 and under. Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. University of California, Centennial Drive, Berkeley. (510) 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org.

 

PLAYLAND NOT AT THE BEACH MUSEUM OF FUN  

"San Francisco's Playland At The Beach," Nov. 6 and Nov. 7, 1-4 p.m. A presentation and book launch focusing on the famous amusement park that once stood at San Francisco's Ocean Beach.  

10979 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org.< 

 

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE ongoing. Exploring cinema from the Bay Area and cultures around the world, the Pacific Film Archive offers daily film screenings, including rare and rediscovered prints of movie classics; new and historic works by world famous directors; restored silent films with live musical accompaniment; retrospectives; and new and experimental works. Check Web site for a full schedule of films.  

"First Impressions: Free First Thursdays," first Thursday of every month. Special tours and movie presentations. Admission is free. 

Single feature: $5-$8; Double feature: $9-$12 general. PFA Theater, 2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. (510) 642-5249, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu.

 

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, MORRISON LIBRARY  

"Lunch Poems," ongoing. 12:10-12:50 p.m. First Thursdays of each month  

2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. (510) 642-3671.< 

 

USS HORNET MUSEUM Come aboard this World War II aircraft carrier that has been converted into a floating museum. The Hornet, launched in 1943, is 899 feet long and 27 stories high. During World War II she was never hit by an enemy strike or plane and holds the Navy record for number of enemy planes shot down in a week. In 1969 the Hornet recovered the Apollo 11 space capsule containing the first men to walk on the moon, and later recovered Apollo 12. In 1991 the Hornet was designated a National Historic Landmark and is now docked at the same pier she sailed from in 1944. Today, visitors can tour the massive ship, view World War II-era warplanes and experience a simulated aircraft launch from the carrier's deck. Exhibits are being added on an ongoing basis. Allow two to three hours for a visit. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to climb steep stairs or ladders. Dress in layers as the ship can be cold. Arrive no later than 2 p.m. to sign up for the engine room and other docent-led tours. Children under age 12 are not allowed in the Engine Room or the Combat Information Center. "Limited Access Day," ongoing. Due to ship maintenance, tours of the navigation bridge and the engine room are not available. Tuesdays.  

"Flight Deck Fun," ongoing. A former Landing Signal Officer will show children how to bring in a fighter plane for a landing on the deck then let them try the signals themselves. Times vary. Free with regular Museum admission.  

"Protestant Divine Services," ongoing. Hornet chaplain John Berger conducts church services aboard The Hornet in the Wardroom Lounge. Everyone is welcome and refreshments are served immediately following the service. Sundays, 11 a.m.Ongoing. Closed on New Year's Day. 

"Family Day," ongoing. Discounted admission for families of four with a further discount for additional family members. Access to some of the areas may be limited due to ship maintenance. Every Tuesday. $20 for family of four; $5 for each additional family member. 

"History Mystery After Hours Tour," ongoing. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Explore the USS Hornet after hours and learn the history of this ship while it is illuminated in red lights used for "night ops." Also, hear stories about the ships' legendary haunts. Reservations required. (510) 521-8448 X282. 

"Living Ship Day," Nov. 13. Witness flight simulations as aircraft are lifted to the flight deck and placed into the launch position; participate in mission briefings; meet former crew; sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet. 

"Flashlight Tour," ongoing. 8:30 a.m. Receive a special tour of areas aboard the ship that have not yet been opened to the public or that have limited access during the day. $30-$35 per person. 

$6-$14; free children age 4 and under with a paying adult. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pier 3 (enter on Atlantic Avenue), Alameda Point, Alameda. (510) 521-8448, www.uss-hornet.org.<


Exhibits-San Francisco Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:27:00 PM

"SUN SPHERES," -- ongoing. "Sun Spheres'' is a trio of mosaic sculptures by artist Laurel True at the intersection of Ocean and Granada Avenues in the OMI District of San Francisco. 

(415) 252-2551, www.sfartscommission.org/pubart.< 

 

EVENING GALLERY WALKS These monthly evening gallery walks or "crawls'' are a way to learn about art for the casual viewer without the intimidation of visiting a gallery with no one else around. Generally the galleries are filled on the "walk'' evenings with people drinking wine and talking. Gallery owners are happy to answer questions about the art on view. The important thing to remember is that it is free to gaze and drink. 

"First Thursday," ongoing. 5:30-8 p.m. Generally some 20 galleries participate in this monthly evening of open galleries. Many are located around Union Square. Some of the galleries that participate on a regular basis are Pasquale Iannetti Gallery, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, and Hackett-Freedman Gallery, all on Sutter Street; Meyerovich Gallery and Dolby Chadwick Gallery on Post Street; and Rena Bransten Gallery and Stephen Wirtz Gallery on Geary Street. Sponsored by the San Francisco Art Dealers Association. First Thursday of the month. Free.  

San Francisco. < 

 

HOTEL DES ARTS The boutique 51-room art hotel in Union Square features an art gallery by Start SOMA. 

"Painted Rooms," ongoing. An exhibit of painted rooms in the hotel by emerging artists.  

Free. Daily, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. 447 Bush St., San Francisco. (415) 956-4322, www.sfhoteldesarts.com.

 

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN FRANCISCO  

"The Digital Liberation of G-d," ongoing. A permanent interactive media installation created by New York-based artist Helene Aylon, which examines the influences of patriarchal attitudes upon Jewish traditions and sacred texts.  

Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 3200 California St., San Francisco. (415) 292-1200, Box Office: (415) 292-1233, www.jccsf.org.

 

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY, BAYVIEW-ANNA E. WADEN BRANCH  

"Bayview's Historical Footprints," ongoing. A permanent photographic exhibition celebrating the diverse history of Bayview Hunters Point featuring multimedia oral histories from community elders.  

Free. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wednesday, 1 p.m.-8 p.m.; Thursday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. 5075 Third St., San Francisco. (415) 355-5757, www.sfpl.org.

 

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAIN BRANCH  

"Digging Deep: Underneath San Francisco Public Library," ongoing. Exhibition collects archaeological remains from the Gold Rush-era cemetery and the ruins of old City Hall destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.  

Free. Monday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 100 Larkin St., San Francisco. (415) 557-4400, www.sfpl.org.

 

USF THACHER GALLERY  

"Galleons and Globalization: California Mission Arts and the Pacific Rim," through Dec. 19. The exhibit explores the lively commerce in iconography, materials and ideas that shaped California's rich mission arts.  

2130 Fulton St., San Francisco. (415) 422-5178.<


Exhibits-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:26:00 PM

BOOKS INC., ALAMEDA  

Jan Watten, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. Local photographer and artist displays her prints and discusses her recent Artist Profile in Black and White Magazine.  

Free. Readings at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 1344 Park St., Alameda. (510) 522-2226, www.booksinc.net.

 

CARMEN FLORES RECREATION CENTER  

"El Corazon de la Communidad: The Heart of the Community", ongoing. Painted by Joaquin Alejandro Newman, this mural installation consists of four 11-foot panels that mix ancient Meso-American and contemporary imagery to pay homage to local activists Carmen Flores and Josie de la Cruz.  

Free unless otherwise noted. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 1637 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland. (510) 535-5631.< 

 

LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE "NanoZone," ongoing. Discover the science of the super-small: nanotechnology. Through hands-on activities and games, explore this microworld and the scientific discoveries made in this area.  

"Forces That Shape the Bay," ongoing. A science park that shows and explains why the San Francisco Bay is the way it is, with information on water, erosion, plate tectonics and mountain building. You can ride earthquake simulators, set erosion in motion and look far out into the bay with a powerful telescope from 1,100 feet above sea level. The center of the exhibit is a waterfall that demonstrates how water flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay. Visitors can control where the water goes. There are also hands-on erosion tables, and a 40-foot-long, 6-foothigh, rock compression wall.  

"Real Astronomy Experience," ongoing. A new exhibit-in-development allowing visitors to use the tools that real astronomers use. Aim a telescope at a virtual sky and operate a remote-controlled telescope to measure a planet.  

"Biology Lab," ongoing. In the renovated Biology Lab visitors may hold and observe gentle animals. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

"The Idea Lab," ongoing. Experiment with some of the basics of math, science and technology through hands-on activities and demonstrations of magnets, spinning and flying, puzzles and nanotechnology.  

"Math Around the World," ongoing. Play some of the world's most popular math games, such as Hex, Kalah, Game Sticks and Shongo Networks.  

"Math Rules," ongoing. Use simple and colorful objects to complete interesting challenges in math through predicting, sorting, comparing, weighing and counting.  

"Kapla," ongoing. The hands-on exhibit features thousands of versatile building blocks that can be used to build very large, high and stable structures and models of bridges, buildings, animals or anything else your mind can conceive.  

$6-$12; free children ages 2 and under. Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. University of California, Centennial Drive, Berkeley. (510) 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org.

 

LINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM This is the oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation center in America, taking in 6,000 injured and orphaned animals yearly and returning 40 percent of them to the wild. The museum offers a wide range of educational programs using non-releasable wild animals to teach children and adults respect for the balance of nature. The museum includes a state-of-the art wildlife hospital which features a permanent exhibit, titled "Living with Nature,'' which houses 75 non-releasable wild animals in learning environments; a 5,000-square-foot Wildlife Hospital complete with treatment rooms, intensive care, quarantine and laboratory facilities; a 1-acre Nature Garden featuring the region's native landscaping and wildlife; and an "Especially For Children'' exhibit.  

WILDLIFE HOSPITAL -- September-March: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hospital is open daily including holidays to receive injured and orphaned animals. There is no charge for treatment of native wild animals and there are no public viewing areas in the hospital.Ongoing.  

SPECIAL EVENTS Ongoing.  

$5-$7; free children under age 2. June 16-Sept. 15: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; Sept. 16-June 15: noon.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. (925) 935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org.< 

 

OAKLAND ASIAN CULTURAL CENTER  

"Oakland's 19th-Century San Pablo Avenue Chinatown," ongoing. A permanent exhibit of new findings about the rediscovered Chinatown on San Pablo Avenue. The exhibit aims to inform visitors about the upcoming archaeological work planned to explore the lives of early Chinese pioneers in the 1860s.  

Free. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 388 Ninth St., Suite 290, Oakland. (510) 637-0455, www.oacc.cc.

 

OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT  

"Going Away, Coming Home," ongoing. A 160-foot public art installation by Mills College art professor Hung Liu. Liu hand painted 80 red-crowned cranes onto 65 panels of glass that were then fired, tempered and paired with background panes that depict views of a satellite photograph, ranging from the western United States to the Asia Pacific Area. Terminal 2.  

Free. Daily, 24 hours, unless otherwise noted. Oakland International Airport, 1 Airport Drive, Oakland. (510) 563-3300, www.flyoakland.com.<


Dance-East Bay Through November 14

Wednesday November 03, 2010 - 04:26:00 PM

ALAMEDA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS  

"30th Annual Hula Festival," Nov. 5 through Nov. 7, 3-9 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $10-$15. 

4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. (925) 426-7600, www.alamedacountyfair.com.

 

ELKS LODGE, ALAMEDA  

"All You Can Dance Sunday Socials," ongoing. Sunday, 4-6 p.m. Marilyn Bowe and Robert Henneg presents monthly socials with ballroom, swing, Latin and rock & roll themes. www.dancewithme.info. 

2255 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda. (510) 864-2256.< 

 

SHATTUCK DOWN LOW For ages 21 and older. 

"Live Salsa," ongoing. Wednesdays. An evening of dancing to the music of a live salsa band. Salsa dance lessons from 8-9:30 p.m. $5-$10. 

2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 548-1159, www.shattuckdownlow.com.

 

SOLAD DANCE CENTER  

"Persian Dance," ongoing. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 and 10 p.m. Rosa Rojas offers traditional dance classes. $10.  

Citrus Marketplace, 2260 Oak Grove Rd., Walnut Creek. (925) 938-3300.< 

 

STARRY PLOUGH PUB  

"Ceili and Dance," ongoing. Traditional Irish music and dance. The evening begins with a dance lesson at 7 p.m. followed by music at 9 p.m. Mondays, 7 p.m. Free.  

For ages 21 and over unless otherwise noted. Sunday and Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-2082, www.starryploughpub.com.<