Lamorinda residents live in heaven on earth, right? We have sports, art, film, live theater, restaurants, dance, music, lectures, garden workshops, outdoor festivals, fireworks, annual fundraisers, civic events and more. But part of the beauty of living in Lamorinda is its proximity to some great venues in San Francisco, through the tunnel in Berkeley, or in towns a bit east just off the highway.
Here are a few great options for August:
Presented as a special event by Berkeley's CAL Performances, Yo-Yo Ma will perform Bach's solo cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the outdoor Hearst Greek Theatre (2001 Gayley Rd., Berkeley). Ma is a generous performer, known for his engaging manner. Heralded for his string-busting performances - and a contrasting subtlety that makes single notes shine, like pearls embedded in lace - the 17-time Grammy winner first recorded Bach's unaccompanied cello suites 30 years ago. Ma will be back at Zellerbach Hall Dec.10 as part of CAL Performances inaugural "Berkeley Talks" lecture series, speaking about culture and the arts and sciences in society and illustrating his talk with music. For tickets, email ticketscalperformances.org or call (510) 642-9988.
There are two chances to catch an Oakland A's game and post-game fireworks display: Friday, Aug. 1 as part of Italian Heritage Night (special ticket required; game starts at 6:35 p.m. against the Royals); and Saturday, Aug. 23 as part of the Disney/Pixar "The Incredibles" Fireworks Show (game starts at 6:05 p.m. against the Angels) at the O.co Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way in Oakland. If you have to ask why watching a local professional ball team that's at the top of the American League West is worth the 25-minute trek, here are three good reasons: (1) They're leading their league; (2) They have Samardzija, Céspedes, Donaldson, Crisp, and a kid with a wicked 95-mph fastball, Sonny Gray; (3) Did we mention they are leading their league? OK, so it's not really three reasons, but who's counting? A's fans are: they're counting the days to the 2014 World Series come October. For information, visit http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/schedule/promotions.jsp?c_id=oak&y=2014.
Choices are as American as, well, rock and roll. And August brings two great double-header concerts to rock on to at the Concord Pavilion, with Aerosmith and Slash Aug. 13, or Fall Out Boy and Paramore, Aug. 17, both at 7 p.m. The first show holds all the promise of a well-contained sonic riot (on the guitar strings, not on the ground) and Guns and Roses guitarist Slash is hot (on the guitar, but maybe in general). The second show, perhaps slipping dangerously close to "pop," sports a general seating option, allowing music fans to dance and get up-close to Paramore's Haley Williams. And if these reasons alone are not compelling, think of it as a warm-up for a hometown concert in October when Moraga resident Sandy Preto's Notes4Notes presents another likely-to-be-sold-out Breast Cancer Benefit Concert Saturday, Oct. 18 featuring Mat Kearney, LUCE and special guest Michael Logen at Orinda's Bruns Amphitheater. But you already have your tickets for that show, right? For Pavilion tickets, visit http://www.theconcordpavilion.com/concord-pavilion-tickets/. For Notes4Notes: visit http://www.ticketfly.com/event/619285-mat-kearney-breast-cancer-orinda/.
Here are a few great options for August:
Presented as a special event by Berkeley's CAL Performances, Yo-Yo Ma will perform Bach's solo cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the outdoor Hearst Greek Theatre (2001 Gayley Rd., Berkeley). Ma is a generous performer, known for his engaging manner. Heralded for his string-busting performances - and a contrasting subtlety that makes single notes shine, like pearls embedded in lace - the 17-time Grammy winner first recorded Bach's unaccompanied cello suites 30 years ago. Ma will be back at Zellerbach Hall Dec.10 as part of CAL Performances inaugural "Berkeley Talks" lecture series, speaking about culture and the arts and sciences in society and illustrating his talk with music. For tickets, email ticketscalperformances.org or call (510) 642-9988.
There are two chances to catch an Oakland A's game and post-game fireworks display: Friday, Aug. 1 as part of Italian Heritage Night (special ticket required; game starts at 6:35 p.m. against the Royals); and Saturday, Aug. 23 as part of the Disney/Pixar "The Incredibles" Fireworks Show (game starts at 6:05 p.m. against the Angels) at the O.co Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way in Oakland. If you have to ask why watching a local professional ball team that's at the top of the American League West is worth the 25-minute trek, here are three good reasons: (1) They're leading their league; (2) They have Samardzija, Céspedes, Donaldson, Crisp, and a kid with a wicked 95-mph fastball, Sonny Gray; (3) Did we mention they are leading their league? OK, so it's not really three reasons, but who's counting? A's fans are: they're counting the days to the 2014 World Series come October. For information, visit http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/schedule/promotions.jsp?c_id=oak&y=2014.
Choices are as American as, well, rock and roll. And August brings two great double-header concerts to rock on to at the Concord Pavilion, with Aerosmith and Slash Aug. 13, or Fall Out Boy and Paramore, Aug. 17, both at 7 p.m. The first show holds all the promise of a well-contained sonic riot (on the guitar strings, not on the ground) and Guns and Roses guitarist Slash is hot (on the guitar, but maybe in general). The second show, perhaps slipping dangerously close to "pop," sports a general seating option, allowing music fans to dance and get up-close to Paramore's Haley Williams. And if these reasons alone are not compelling, think of it as a warm-up for a hometown concert in October when Moraga resident Sandy Preto's Notes4Notes presents another likely-to-be-sold-out Breast Cancer Benefit Concert Saturday, Oct. 18 featuring Mat Kearney, LUCE and special guest Michael Logen at Orinda's Bruns Amphitheater. But you already have your tickets for that show, right? For Pavilion tickets, visit http://www.theconcordpavilion.com/concord-pavilion-tickets/. For Notes4Notes: visit http://www.ticketfly.com/event/619285-mat-kearney-breast-cancer-orinda/.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA