Art

Valley Art Gallery announces new exhibition, "Art Sparks," through May 13. Free, open to the public, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek, www.valleyartgallery.org; (925) 935-4311

East Bay Open Studios annual event May 13-14 and 20-21. Over 180 participating artists studios throughout Alameda and Contra Costa County. Free and family friendly. Daily art walks, artist talks, live art demonstrations. Music and more! ebos@oaklandartmurmur.org

Art Exhibition at The Holton Studio Gallery. Moraga resident Paul Kratter: View Through The Trees New Landscape Paintings. May 6 through June 10, Reception for the artist on Saturday, May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Holton Studio Gallery, 2100 Fifth Street, Berkeley. www.holtonframes.com/artist/paul-kratter/

Art Gallery at the Orinda Library: Ekphrasis Author & Artist Reception Saturday, May 6, 3-5 p.m. Ekphrasis is a Greek word defined as writing that describes art; the curators say art can describe writing. Over 100 paired writings and visual artworks are on display. Authors have written responses to original visual artwork; visual artists have created artwork in response to writings. Enjoy light refreshments in the Garden Room as well as author readings and projected images in the Auditorium. Visit https://lamorindaarts.org/ekphrasis/ for more information.

Virtual Art Gallery at Wilder: Paintings by Mary Claire Stotler, April 29 to June 3. View her work in this virtual solo show online at https://lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries/. “For me abstract painting is a combination of memories, imagination, and a bit of my soul,” she wrote on her page on the Valley Art Gallery website (https://valleyartgallery.

org/artist/mary-claire-stotler/), “I start with a design concept in mind, but it is just the beginning of this emotional journey that evolves on the canvas.”

Music

Pacific Chamber Orchestra announces new 2023 season beginning with Refreshing program at 7:30 p.m. May 20 at St Stephens Episcopal Church in Orinda. Immerse yourself in refreshing English works such as Franz Joseph Haydn’s “London” Symphony. Revitalize your soul with George Frideric Handel’s Water Music Suite, composed for King George I to celebrate the Thames River. Appreciate the bold, romantic power of Sir Edward Elgar’s May Song and Love’s Greeting, to appreciate a composer who helped spark a renaissance of English music. Delve into Gordon Jacob’s Little Symphony redolent with England’s own form of musical expression.

“Fresh Inspirations,” conducted by California Symphony’s Music Director Donato Cabrera, will be presented Saturday, May 20, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 21, 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.

Special Musical Event at Town Hall Theatre, Lafayette. Get transported back to mid-1900s Paris through the evocative songs of Edith Piaf on Saturday May 20. Town Hall Theatre will be hosting SonoMusette, featuring native Parisian singer Mimi Pirard as they perform Edith Piaf: Beyond Paris Skies. www.townhalltheatre.com/beyond-paris-skies

The Diablo Symphony and guests Brian Rice and the Berkeley Choro Ensemble play music from Brazil on May 14 at 2 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts. The program includes the premiere of Felipe Senna's Concerto for Pandeiro and Orchestra, Clarice Assad's "Brazilian Fanfare," and a screening of Charlie Chaplin's The Adventurer with Darius Milhaud’s “Le Bœuf sur le Toit.” Advance tickets are available at the Lesher Center box office (925) 943-7469 or online at www.diablosymphny.org

Join us for an evening of music and celebration at the Stanley Jazz Café at 6 p.m. Friday, May 12 at Stanley Middle School. Free to all. For more info, please contact dalianishimori@

gmail.com. Among the musical highlights of this year’s Jazz Café are student ensemble performances of such classic songs as Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon,” Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” and Art Blakey’s “Moanin.”

Volti presents Sounds and Shadows on Saturday, May 13, from 7 to 9 p.m., at St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Walnut Creek, 1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek. Volti concludes its season with a diverse program of groundbreaking new choral works including a world premiere commission by Mark Winges. Free. For more info, see www.VoltiSF.org or call (415) 771-3352 or email info@VoltiSF.org.

Literature

The April Sweet Thursday Author Series invites the community to join us on Thursday, April 27 at 7 p.m. in the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library to hear Vanessa Hua, author of “The Forbidden City,” discuss her book. Attendance is free, but registration is required at tinyurl.com/sweet-apr23.

Join the Sweet Thursday Author Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11 in Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library to hear John McCormick discuss his book, “The Chinese in Napa Valley: The Forgotten Community that Built Wine Country.” This is a free event, but registration is required at Tinyurl.com/sweet-May23. The doors will be open at 6:30 p.m. for coffee and treats. This program will be presented in-person or via Zoom livestream.

Other

Moraga Community Faire & Car Show Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Annual family-friendly event put on by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce, showcasing live music and performances; a beautiful car show; robust Kid’s Zone with games, animal interactions and BIG wheels; an Artist’s Alley; Food, Wine and Beer and many interesting booths to tour! Rheem Shopping Center, 580 Moraga Rd, Moraga. CommFaire@gmail.com www.moragachamber.org/communityfaire/

The Junior League of Oakland-East Bay (JLOEB) invites families to Touch a Truck at Balestrieri Family Farm, Briones. Touch a Truck is a hands-on family event that provides the opportunity for kids to explore vehicles of all types, including public service, emergency, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation, delivery, and just plain cool or unique trucks — all in one place! There will also be live music, wine tasting, food trucks, crafts and a raffle of exclusive goodies. For more information visit www.jloeb.org/truck. Location: Balestrieri Family Farm 6140 Alhambra Valley Road Briones April 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Low-sensory hour 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. $15 Kids; $20 Adults.

The Lafayette Hillside Memorial Board invites you to a Community Conversation. We will share a short history of the site, talk about the current and shifting situation and hopefully receive information from you that will help us move forward. If you have feelings about the Memorial, we hope you will engage in this process. Thursday, May 11, 7 to 9 p.m. Please join us via ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4137479233.  www.lafayettehillsidememorial.org

Farewell Celebration for St. Mark’s Nursery School on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. After 61 wonderful years, St. Mark's Nursery School in Orinda is closing its doors. Please join us in saying farewell. Bring your families, take one last spin on the monkey bars, and enjoy some treats with us!

Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carriers Food Drive Saturday, May 13. 31st anniversary of one of America's great days of giving - the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Participating in this year's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple: Just leave nonperishable food donations in a bag by your mailbox on Saturday, May 13, and your letter carrier will pick it up.

Lafayette Nursery School’s 46th Annual Science Day of Discovery on May 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Make a volcano explode, shoot a rocket, make slime, dig for dinosaur bones and test your senses! Experiments are designed for children preschool age through third grade. It’s a great experience for the whole family. Proceeds are donated to a local math or science-based charity. Cost: $5 per child. Lafayette Nursery School, 979 First Street, Lafayette, (925) 284-2448, www.lafayettenurseryschool.org

The Lamorinda Wine Growers Association (LWGA) will commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of the recognition of Lamorinda as a distinct American Viticulture Area (AVA) with a return to public in-person wine tasting event. The tasting event is on May 7, from noon to 5 p.m. at Wine Thieves, 3401 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette with food trucks at site. Tickets start at $35 can be purchased through https://tinyurl.com/LWGAMay7

The Rotary Club of Lafayette presents Concert at the Res! Saturday May 20, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Lafayette Reservoir on the Rotary Stage. Free live music with Big Band of Rossmoor, Acalanes High School, Stanley Middle School, Edna Brewer Middle School -Oakland, Roosevelt Middle School - Oakland. Food & raffle tickets. Support Lafayette schools and Rotary projects!