Arts & Events

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 -more-

In a back room of an historic Lorin District church, the man in the yellow rubber apron sharpens his knife, intoning in the low light, “In my hometown, everybody knows that everybody had to work in the chicken factory or the prison—and I’ve been in both....” -more-

Do you feel like you’re reliving the 1930s Great Depression? Compare and contrast the nature of economic hardship and social and political unrest then and now, through a short film series in April at UC Berkeley’s Pacific Film Archive. -more-

Gamelan Sekar Jaya, the East Bay’s 50-member ensemble of musicians and dancers specializing in the Indonesian performing arts of Bali, will celebrate their 30th anniversary with a benefit celebration Saturday at the Berkeley City Club, featuring music and dance, and both a silent and an open auction of Asian artworks, followed by a raffle. -more-

Two local organizations, Oakland PEN (Poets, Essayists, Novelists), a branch of PEN USA and internationally, and Berkeley’s Subterranean Shakespeare, will be presenting staged play readings in the coming week. -more-

In some sort of way, the society is divided up into two groups. Those that can fix things and those that have to negotiate with the first group to get the fixing done. If you’re tired of wheedling with false compliments, baking cookies and standing there while forcing an adoring expression as Harold lights the water heater after the gas has gone out, I’m here to help (and I can’t see you, so you can stick your tongue out and make a face and finish by burning this paper). -more-

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 -more-