Events

With unemployment and home foreclosures sharply rising and the nation-wide economy on a downward spiral, these are not rosy times! Certainly the Japan disaster and fears of escaping radiation does little to lift our spirits. So, rather than settle for purely entertaining events and activities, perhaps we should consider something of a more substantive nature, such as the Peace Walk this Saturday, April 16, when groups will congregate at Lake Merritt from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. to stop the violence in the streets of Oakland.  

Also on April 16 the City of Berkeley will host a Bay Festival at Shoreland Park, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. -- fun and educational events, shoreline cleanup, hands-on-activity at the Berkeley Marina. For details, call (510) 981-6720. 

Again, on April 16, Steve Finacom will lead a walk through "A Century of U.C. Students Life," walking through the-south half of the U.C. campus, discovering over 100 years of social and activity facilities built for students as well as the original Student Union dating back to 1923. For reservations, call (510) 848-0181. 

Always a pleasant, if exhausting experience is the Cal Day Open House this Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Here's a chance to explore classrooms, labs, museums, music and dance, sports tours, etc. Free admission. 

For an exploration of food's role in wellness, as part of the Ninth Oakland International Film Festival, Film Maker Michael Bedar will discuss "Simply Raw:Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days." in a screening next Tuesday at the Art Deco Auditorium, 2700 Saratoga Street, Alameda. Bedar points out that there are currently 25.8 million people in the United States with diabetes and cases have tripled in the last ten years. For information on the film, call (510) 776-4178. 

So, if you were looking for light-hearted, purely entertaining activities in the coming week, you won't necessarily find them here. But you just may pick up some worthwhile information.