Page One
Calendar of Events & Activities
Thursday, Dec. 7
Berkeley Metaphysic
Toastmasters Club
6:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
2515 Hillegass Ave.
Public speaking skills and metaphysic come together at Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters. Meets first and third Thursdays each month.
Call 869-2547 or 643-7645
Free Anonymous HIV Testing
5:15 - 7:15 p.m.
Check in 5 - 7 p.m.
University Health Services
Tang Center
2222 Bancroft Way
Drop-in services and limited space is available.
Call 642-7202
Women’s Travel Book Club
6:30 p.m.
Cody’s Books
1730 Fourth St.
Join a discussion of M.F.K. Fisher’s “Two Towns in Provence: Map of Another Town & A Considerable Town.” New members are always welcome. The group meets the first Thursday of each month.
Call 482-8971
Make a Wreath
10 a.m.
UC Botanical Garden
200 Centennial Dr.
Whether you are a beginner or a veteran wreath-maker, join Nancy Swearengen and Jerry Parsons and learn to use some unusual
materials.
$27.50, including materials
Call 643-2755
Prepare Meals
in a Snow Kitchen
7 p.m.
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
1338 San Pablo Ave.
Chuck Collingwood of the Sierra Club will present a slide lecture on how to survive overnight in the snow.
Call Jason, 527-7377
Let Your Chi Flow Freely
6 - 7 p.m.
University of Creation Spirituality
2141 Broadway Ave.
Oakland
Share peace and tranquillity communally and regain harmony and balance.
Call Idris Hassan, 835-4827 x31
Lunch Poems Reading Series
12:10 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Morrison Room, Doe Library
UC Berkeley
Featuring the first three authors in the UC Press’s California Poetry Series. Featured poets will be Fanny Howe, Mark Levine, and Carol Snow. Free 642-0137
Housing Advisory Commission
7:30 p.m.
South Berkeley Senior Center
2939 Ellis St.
Discussions will include staff reports on state rent restrictions for section eight vacancies and on the vacant unit inspection program.
Public Works Commission
7:30 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)
Berkeley Special Education
Parents Group
7 p.m.
King Middle School
Library
1781 Rose St.
A discussion of social living skills, graduation requirements, and other issues of special education in the Berkeley Unified School District.
Community Environmental Advisory Commission
7 p.m.
2118 Milvia St.
Second Floor Conference Room
Friday, Dec. 8
PC Users Group
7 p.m.
Vista College
Room 303
2020 Milvia St.
A groups of PC users who help each other solve problems. They introduce their members to new software, hardware, and invited speakers and technicians from various PC related companies. Meet the second Friday of each month.
Call Melvin Mann, 527-2177
A Time to Give
2 & 8 p.m.
Alice Arts Center Theater
1428 Alice St. (at 14th St.)
Oakland
A benefit for the Applied Ballet Arts Foundation, the show features new choreography to Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetique, Schubert’s Sonata for arpeggione, and Max Bruch’s Schottish Fantasy for violin.
$12 - $15 sliding scale
Call 268-9000 x218
Yiddish Conversation
1 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst (at MLK Jr. Way)
Call 644-6107
Julia Morgan Collaborating with Bernard Maybeck
11:45 a.m., buffet lunch
12:30 p.m., speaker
Berkeley City Club
2315 Durant Ave.
Mark Wilson, realtor with Prudential Realty, will speak. Also City Commons Club annual meeting.
$1 with coffee, students free
Call 848-3533
Trunk Show
with Art Quintanna
4 - 7 p.m.
Gathering Tribes Gallery
1573 Solano Ave.
Hailing from New Mexico, Quintanna specializes in older “dead pawn” Indian jewelry.
An Evening Under the Stars
5 - 8 p.m.
Courtyard at Swans Marketplace
Ninth St. between Washington and Clay St.
With jazz standards playing in the background, discover the work of local artists and find a unique holiday gift. Sponsored by East Bay Galleries for Art and Cultural Development.
Call 832-4244
Bridge Biker Collective Party
8 p.m.
6447 Regent St. (near Alcatraz)
Celebrate the new initiative to win equal access to Bay Area bridges at a party following the monthly Berkeley critical mass ride. Free
Call 273-9288 or visit www.bikethebridge.org
WomenSing
8 p.m.
Valley Center for the Performing Arts
Holy Names College
3500 Mountain Blvd.
Oakland
In the first concert of their 35th anniversary season titled “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,” WomenSing perform music of Irving Berlin, Holst, and others.
$20 general, $18 seniors/students, $10 18 and under
Call 925-798-1300
Music in the Streets
5 - 7 p.m.
Strolling through downtown
Berkeley
Los Cenzontles & Artemsia Brass Quartet
Saturday, Dec. 9
Berkeley Artisans Holiday
Open Studios
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Get map from:
1250 Addison St. #214
or download at: http://www.berkeleyartisans.com
Over one hundred professional artists and craftspeople open up their studios and workspaces to the public. All styles of artistic expression are represented. Runs Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17.
Call 845-2612
Berkeley Community Chorus
& Orchestra
8 p.m.
St. Ambrose Church
1145 Gilman St.
Arlene Sagan conducts Gounod’s “St. Cecelia Mass,” Handel’s “Chandos Anthem no. 7,” and Mozart’s “Exsultate Jubilate.” Free
Call 528-2145 or www.bcco.org
“The Nutcracker”
2 & 7 p.m.
Julia Morgan Theater
2640 College Ave.
Performed by the Berkeley Ballet Theater.
$12 - $15 Call 843-4689
Holiday Crafts Fair
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
First Congregational Church
Dana St. (between Channing & Durant)
The fair features hand-crafted gifts from women’s cooperatives in Central America, Haiti, and Nepal. Most are one-of-a-kind and many are under $10.
Call 540-5296, box three
Berkeley Farmers’ Market
Ninth Annual Holiday Crafts Fair
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
MLK Jr. Civic Center Park
Bay Area Steppers Drill Team
2 - 4 p.m.
1216 Solano Ave.
One of many performers doing their stuff on Solano during the holidays. Performances every weekend afternoon till Christmas.
Artists at Play Holiday Sale
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Artists at Play Studio
1649 Hopkins St. (at Carlotta)
Work by the artists including original servings dishes, frames, jewelry, and other items.
Call 528-0494
Class Dismissed
7:30 p.m.
Boadecia’s Books
398 Colusa Ave. (at Colusa Cir.)
Kensington
Meredith Maran discusses her book “A Year In the Life of an American High School, A Glimpse into the Heart of a Nation,” the result of her following the lives of three Berkeley High students. Free
Call 559-9184
— compiled by
Chason Wainwright
Loneliness as a Spiritual Crisis
7:30 p.m.
Unitarian Hall
1924 Cedar St.
Hear about the spiritual path of Light and Sound. Also includes the ancient teachings of the saints.
Call Unitarian Hall, 841-4824 or visit www.masterpath.org
Farmers’ Market Craft Fair
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
MLK Jr. Civic Center Park
(Center at MLK Jr. Way)
Local craftspeople will be selling a variety of handcrafted gifts. Also live music, massage, and hot apple cider. Free
Call 548-3333
West Coast Live
10 a.m. - Noon
Freight & Salvage
1111 Addison St.
Interviews, musical performances and a live radio play broadcast to a hundred cities worldwide. This show features the Magniolia Sisters, Alex DiGrassi, Tata Monk and author Malachy McCourt.
Call 415-664-9500
Trunk Show with Art Quintanna
10 a.m. -6 p.m.
Gathering Tribes Gallery
1573 Solano Ave.
Hailing from New Mexico, Quintanna specializes in older “dead pawn” Indian jewelry.
Sunday, Dec. 10
Parenting Book Club
11 a.m.
Cody’s Books
1730 Fourth St.
Take part in a discussion of “Mothers Who Think” edited by Camille Peri. New group members always welcome. The group meets the second Sunday of each month.
Call 559-9500
“The Nutcracker”
2 p.m.
Julia Morgan Theater
2640 College Ave.
Performed by the Berkeley Ballet Theater.
$12 - $15
Call 843-4689
Poems on the Jewish Experience
3 - 5 p.m.
St. Clement’s Episcopal Church
2837 Claremont Blvd.
Selected from over 200 poems submitted, the winners of the fourteenth annual Anna Davidson Rosenberg Award will read their poems.
Journey of the Soul
7 - 9 p.m.
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
2727 College Ave.
A public satsang and Babaji Kriya Yoga meditation with Himalayan yogi Yogiraj Sat-Gurunath.
Call Sylvia Stanley, 845-9434
UNtraining White Liberal Racism
2 - 4:30 p.m.
555 Tenth St. (at Clay)
Oakland
Robert Horton, a white male, founded the UNtraining as a way for white people to work together on the unconscious power of white skin privilege and how it perpetuates racism.
$10
235-6134
Irish Harp & Guitar
Noon - 2 p.m.
1603 Solano Ave.
Trish NiGabhain is one of many performers doing their stuff on Solano during the holidays. Performances every weekend afternoon till Christmas.
LesBiGayTrans Parenting
11 a.m.
Boadecia’s Books
398 Colusa Ave. (at Colusa Cir.)
Kensington
These two groups meet on the second Sunday of each month. The group meeting at 11 a.m. is for prospective parents, the one at noon for parents.
Call 559-9184
Ancient Buddhist Tales
6 p.m.
Tibetan Nyingma Institute
1815 Highland Place
Rima Tamar, storyteller and Dharma Publishing sales director, tells some classic Buddhist stories. Free
843-6812
TOCAR with David Frazier
4:30 p.m.
Jazzschool/La Note
2377 Shattuck Ave.
$6 - $12
Reservations: 845-5373
Tibetan Nyingma Open House
3 -5 p.m.
Tibetan Nyingma Institute
1815 Highland Place
A free introduction to Tibetan Buddhist culture, including a Tibetan yoga demonstration and a meditation garden tour.
Call 843-6812
Baroque Choral Guild
7:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way
Performing the music of Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Merulo, Giovanni Croce, and others.
$20 general, $15 seniors and students
Call 408-733-8110
“From Swastikas to Jim Crow”
10:30 a.m.
Jewish Learning Center
1414 Walnut St.
Donald and Lore Rasmussen of Berkeley, and Jim McWilliams of Oakland, discuss their experiences and the experiences of others who fled Nazi Germany and ended up teaching in African-American colleges in the segregated south. Admission includes brunch.
$4 BRJCC members; $5 general
Call 848-0237 x127
Weird Rooms
3 - 5 p.m.
Berkeley History Center
1931 Center St.
Mal and Sandra Sharpe discuss people who collect unusual things and how their collections take over their rooms.
Black Images in the White Mind
6:30 p.m.
Walden Pond Books
3316 Grand Ave.
Oakland
Jan Faulkner will give a slide show presentation of about her book, “Ethnic Notions.”
Call 832-4438
Retire Campaign Debt
7 - 9 p.m.
Takara Sake
708 Addison St.
Berkeley City Council member Margaret Breland’s fundraiser with food, sake tasting, beverages and live music.
$25 donation requested
Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra
4 p.m.
St. Ambrose Church
1145 Gilman St.
Arlene Sagan conducts Gounod’s “St. Cecelia Mass,” Handel’s “Chandos Anthem no. 7,” and Mozart’s “Exsultate Jubilate.” Free
Call 528-2145 or www.bcco.org
Holiday Crafts Fair
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
First Congregational Church
Dana St. (between Channing & Durant)
The fair features hand-crafted gifts from women’s cooperatives in Central America, Haiti, and Nepal. Most are one-of-a-kind and many are under $10.
Call 540-5296, box three
Monday, Dec. 11
Ask the Doctor
10 a.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst (at MLK Jr. Way)
Dr. McGillis will discuss prevention and treatment of colds and influenza.
Call 644-6107
AHAP Talent Show & Raffle
2 - 4 p.m.
South Berkeley Senior Center
2939 Center St.
The Affordable Housing Advocacy Project organizes the talent show and raffle to help raise funds to further develop tenant leadership through participation in conferences and networking with other tenants in regional, state and national organizations.
Call 1-800-773-2110
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Oakland Preschool Fair
7 - 9 p.m.
Piedmont Avenue Elementary School
4314 Piedmont Ave.
Oakland
Sponsored by the Neighborhood Parents Network, this panel discussion allows parents the opportunity to speak with representatives from local preschools.
Free to NPN members, $5 general
Call 527-6667
Ballroom Dancing for Seniors
9 a.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst (at MLK Jr. Way)
Call 644-6107
Energy Commission
5:30 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)
Waterfront Commission Meeting
7 p.m.
H’s Lordship Restaurant
199 Seawall Dr.
Planning Commission
7 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)
Commission on Disability
6:30 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)
Board of Library Trustees
7 p.m.
West Branch
1125 University Ave.
Homeless Commission
7 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)
Models for the Millenium
7 p.m.
Ecology Center
2530 San Pablo Ave.
An evening of discussion with Becky Tarbotton, the Ladakh Programs Co-ordinator for the International Society of Ecology and Culture. She will speak about the connection between the destruction of Ladakhi culture and issues faced by our own communities in the West.
Suggested donation $5
Call 548-2220 x233
Police Review Commission
7:30 p.m.
South Berkeley Senior Center
2939 Ellis St.
Thursday, Dec. 14
Ultimate Alpine Climbing
7 p.m.
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
1338 San Pablo Ave.
Join veteran alpine climber Kitty Calhoun in a slide presentation of her 20-year climbing career.
Call Jason, 527-7377
Meeting Life Changes
10 a.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst (at MLK Jr. Way)
With John Hammerman.
Call 644-6107
Free Anonymous HIV Testing
5:15 - 7:15 p.m.
Check in 5 - 7 p.m.
University Health Services
Tang Center
2222 Bancroft Way
Drop-in services and limited space is available.
Call 642-7202
Solano Ave. Association
Holiday Mixer & Meeting
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Cafe Del Sol
1742 Solano Ave.
With light refreshments and a silent auction, the Solano Ave. Association invites you to “meet your business neighbors.”
Call 527-5358
Community Health Commission
6:45 p.m.
2640 MLK Jr. Way
Auditorium
Call 665-6845 for exact location
Zoning Adjustments Board
7 p.m.
Council Chamber
2134 MLK Jr. Way
Second Floor
Friday, Dec. 15
BHS Orchestra and Concert Band
7:30 p.m.
Berkeley High Little Theater
Allston Way
St. Paul AME X-Mas Party
5:30 - 8 p.m.
2024 Ashby Ave.
For St. Paul’s annual party they ask that you bring a new toy or book for a needy child. Free
Call 665-2164
“The Nutcracker”
7 p.m.
Julia Morgan Theater
2640 College Ave.
Performed by the Berkeley Ballet Theater.
$12 - $15
Call 843-4689
Music in the Streets
5 - 7 p.m.
Strolling through downtown
Berkeley
Cal Jazz Choir & Oddly Enough, A Barbershop Quartet
Dance for the Forests
8 p.m.
Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Ave.
Join the Alice Di Michele Band, Rachel Garlin, and acapella group Making Waves at this benefit concert for the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters.
Admission is sliding scale
835-6303
Holiday Musical Quartet
11:45 a.m., buffet lunch
12:30 p.m., music
Berkeley City Club
2315 Durant Ave.
With music arranged by Melinda McCallister, the quartet will perform popular year-end songs from around the world.
$1 with coffee, students free
Call 848-3533
Lesbians and Gays Get Together
1:30 p.m.
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst (at MLK Jr. Way)
Call 644-6107
Compiled by Chason Wainwright
