ART

Art Embraces Words – Oct. 29, 2 to 3:30 p.m. – Costume Event. Writers paint images with words. Artists tell stories with color. Together they enrich our community. The Lamorinda Arts Council invites you to show up as your favorite literary or artistic character at its free program in the Lafayette Library. Emerging writers read from their work surrounded by artwork from local artists. In this way art literally “embraces” the spoken word. The final 2022 program will be a Webinar hosted by AEW alumni Denise Nomura and Natalie Samuels Wheeler in November; date TBD. Visit https://lamorindaarts.org/art-embraces-words/ for more information. This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Lafayette Community Foundation.

Art show at Orinda Books. October features the paintings of Sussana Griswold and the woodturnings of Steve Griswold. Sussana's award-winning oil and pastel work focuses on portraits, both human and animal, which are her favorite subjects. For Steve, wood has always been a source of wonder: "Within the ordinary trees we walk by every day, there are miracles waiting to be discovered, and through turning wood on a lathe I try to reveal those miracles." Visit the Artist of the Month at www.orindabooks.com. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda, (925) 254-7606.

Bedford Gallery presents: The Harmon & Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art: Works on Paper. Now through Dec. 18, from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday at Bedford Gallery in the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. For more information or to purchase tickets ($5, free for children under 13 and Bedford Gallery members), visit www.bedfordgallery.com.

Free open house at the Moraga Art Gallery. Oct. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. 432 Center Street in Moraga's Rheem Shopping Center. Come to meet the artists and to view the gallery's current exhibit, "Unique Expressions,” a treasure trove of over 500 pieces of art by a score of local artists.

Music

Pacific Chamber Orchestra presents “Glorious” – Treat yourself to the everlasting joy of Handel’s Messiah as presented by Pacific Chamber Orchestra, Conductor Lawrence Kohl, the PCO Chorus and Soloists- Halleluyah! Tickets at https://pacificchamberorchestra.org/tickets. Location: St Stephens Episcopal Church in Orinda on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Adult ticket price is $48; Student ticket price is $20.

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Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra Presents “Around the World” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 66 St Stephens Drive, Orinda. Tickets (Adults $20; Seniors $15; Students $7) available at ContraCostaChamberOrchestra.org or at the door. For more info visit www.contracostachamberorchestra.org, call 415-794-1269 or email info@contracostachamberorchestra.org
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Chromatica is presenting its eclectic program of music from stage and screen. Concerts will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 433 Moraga Way in Orinda. The Peace Lutheran concert in Danville will feature the return of the popular (and free!) wine reception after the performance.

Folk music finds its way into the next Gold Coast Chamber Players concert, “Folk Inspired.” Brahms’ “Spring” Quintet, is featured along with quartets by two female composers, Grazyna Bacewicz and Florence Price at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 (pre-concert talk at 7 p.m.) at Don Tatzin Community Hall, Lafayette Library. This diverse program features the passionate Telegraph Quartet and GCCP violist Pamela Freund-Striplen. Come hear why GCCP was awarded Best Concert Series of the East Bay for two consecutive years! Tickets $15-45; Online: www.gccpmusic.com, by phone (925)283-3728

“All Things Strings,” conducted by California Symphony’s Music Director Donato Cabrera, will be presented Saturday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. at the Hofmann Theatre at Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. A 30-minute pre-concert talk and Q&A led by Cabrera will begin one hour before each performance. Information and tickets ($49-$79) are available at CaliforniaSymphony.org.

Duo Concert: Soprano Jumi Kim and Tenor Yo Oh present an afternoon of fine music, spanning art songs, Korean folksong, opera, popular music, and duets at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1225 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton. www.tlcpleasanton.org/ Suggested Donation: $15–20 General; $5 Student; Children free.

Berkeley Chamber Performances presents the Alexander String Quartet on Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. Tickets: $20 - $40. For more info see https://berkeleychamberper
form.org/season/2022-2023/alexander-string-quartet or call (510) 525-5211 or email info@bcp1.org.

Dia de los Muertos Concert and Celebration takes place on Friday, Oct. 28, 5 - 8 p.m. at Creekside Commons, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Embrace the wisdom and spirit of Dia de los Muertos as we honor the tradition of connecting to the ancestors that have gone before us. Designed for the whole family, it's a night filled with the music of Bay Area favorites, Cascada de Flores, a Taco Truck, candle light, calavera face painting, Sangrias, pan de muerto baking station, and even a take home booklet for kids. A wonderful way to add some depth to the Halloween season. Tickets available online or at the door. www.creeksidecommons.org/
upcomingevents

Live At the Orinda 2022-2023 Concert Season opens at the historic Orinda Theatre. Some of the biggest names from Broadway, TV, film and cabaret will grace the intimate 170-seat theatre for an evening of music. The series opens with Broadway star of “Wicked,” “Rent” and “Evita,” Eden Espinosa on Oct. 16, followed by NBC's America's Got Talent finalist and Pink Martini vocalist Jimmie Herrod on Nov. 6. Season subscribers receive ticket discounts, reserved seats for the season, comp drinks and more. For full season line-up, info and tickets, visit www.OrindaMovies.com

Theatre

Synergy Theater, the folks who brought you “Improvisors in Space!” and “Spontaneous Dickens!” returns to the Lesher Center for the Arts, at 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, with the world-debut of “Spontaneous Hitchcock: An Improvised Thriller in the Style of the Master of Suspense!” This completely improvised two-act comedy pays homage to Sir Alfred Hitchcock and his beloved legacy of the Hollywood thriller. It plays Thursday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 30 at 8:15 p.m., Thursdays – Saturdays, and 3:15 p.m. on Sundays. www.SynergyTheater.com

Literature

Orinda Books will host a book launch for Isidra Mencos, featuring her new book, “Promenade of Desire” Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. Her new book is a rich journey into the life of a woman once contained, who finds a way to set herself free. Email info@orindabooks.com to register.

Lauren Groff, 2022 Joyce Carol Oates Prize Winner will read from and sign copies of her books, including, the most recent title and just out in paperback, “Matrix,” as well as “Fates and Furies,” “Florida” and “Arcadia.” Orinda Books is partnering with the New Literary Project to bring Lauren Groff to the bookstore. Saturday Oct. 15 at 3:30 p.m. To register, go to the Orinda Books website or email info@orindabooks.com
The Viet Nam War: Two Perspectives. Author Steven Burchik will present “Compass and a Camera, A Year in Viet Nam.” DAR member, Leslie Pfeifer, will present, “Flying Tigers and the Vietnam War.” Thursday Nov. 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Lafayette Library Learning Center, Don Tatzin Community Hall (across the library plaza). Free.

Other

Womyn's Spiral Dance, a multicultural celebration of our beloved ancestors and crones on Friday, Oct. 28 (Orinda location given upon RSVP – 6:30 p.m. Marketplace open - ritual 7:30 - 10 p.m.) Tickets $23 in Advance by Monday, Oct. 24 and $29 at the door. Daughters of the Goddess is an Aloha-Dianic Temple, and community, that is dedicated in the Spirit of Aloha to the preservation, perpetuation, and promotion of multicultural Goddess and Indigenous culture, public ceremony, ritual, and Womyn's Mysteries. https://daughtersofthegoddess.com/

On view at Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMCMoA) are two original exhibitions featuring work from the museum's permanent collection. “Fake It Till You Make It: A Quest For Authenticity” embarks on an exploratory journey of painting, photography, sculpture, mechanical advances of printing, and digital media to discover how authenticity shifts through time and context. “Interdisciplinary Voice” features 11 unique responses from faculty, staff, and scholars to objects in the permanent collection. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 11. Admission and programs are free. Public tours are offered Saturdays at 2 p.m. For more information, visit: www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum

The Lafayette Res Run for Education's 5k, 10k, 2-mile fun run/walk, and the virtual race, the Reservoir Challenge, is set for this October. Run or walk in downtown Lafayette during the 2-mile fun run/walk or 5K, or strive for your best 10K time which includes going around the Lafayette Reservoir on race day, Sunday, Oct. 23 (Race Start Times: 5K Race 8 a.m.; 10K Run 8:15 a.m.; 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk 8:45 a.m.). The virtual option is around the paved trail of the Reservoir, Oct. 13-22 during Lafayette Reservoir open hours 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Beneficiaries of this event are Lafayette's public schools as well as Campolindo and Miramonte. Note: Strollers and dogs are welcome in the 2-mile fun run/walk, 10K and Reservoir Challenge only. No skateboards, scooters, bikes or similar. The free Healthy Lifestyles Fair located on Lafayette Circle adjacent to La Fiesta Square from 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on race day, Sunday, Oct. 23 will take place as part of this year’s Res Run for Education. Learn more and register at https://lafayettechamber.org/resrun.

Town Hall Theatre’s Open House at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street, Lafayette. Event is free, but feel free to attend Pay-What-You-Can night for “The Body Play” following the open house.

Your Story Matters: If you were to craft a love letter to your life, what would it say? With whom would you share it? This thought-provoking presentation uses the "Ethical Will" model to help you discover different ways to explore the essence of who you truly are through spoken word and/or written storytelling. Facilitated by Professional Personal Historian April Bell, founder at Tree of Life Legacies, a storytelling and wisdom-keeping project based in Lafayette. Hosted by Creekside Commons, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette, Oakview 3. Saturday, Oct. 22, 10-10:45 a.m. Live stream info provided upon request: april@TreeOfLifeLegacies.com

Garden

The Montelindo Garden Club Oct. 21 meeting, at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, will feature speaker Stan Morgan on "That Incredible Wild Iris." Stan is an active member of the Mt. Diablo Iris Society and an early member of the Historical Iris Preservation Society. Membership is open to all, and interested people are welcome to visit montelindogarden.com/meetings.html for meeting and club details. 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Free.