Baking 101: Scones As A Way of Life, Of Single Mind and Fractured Heart: A Night of Absurd Storytelling, May Day!, Exploratorium After Dark: Carnaval, Pearls Over Shanghai, Mutt: Let’s All Talk About Race!, Lilith The Night Demon In One Lewd Act, Grow Your Own Medicine Series, Bike Night, Unexpected Landscapes, Goddess of Love Sensorium: A Creativity Retreat, PeaceJam, Project YouthView: 10th Annual Film Screening and Awards Night, Downtown Benicia Ghost Walk, Being Brave: Is Enlightened Society Possible?, Ruddigore or The Witch’s Curse, California Bookstore Day, Free Comic Book Day, World Labyrinth Day, 20th Annual Petaluma River Cleanup, Marble and Molding: Architecture Tour at Meek Mansion, School of Rock, Upcycling with the Textile Mavens, Monthly Open Village Celebration - Beltane!, Lose Your Lawn, Allied Arts Guild Open Studios, Castles and Kites Festival, Insect Illustration, San Quentin Healing Ceremony, South Bay Circles Beltane, Community Seed Beltane Ritual, Johnny Harper and Carnival, Once Upon a Time: A Fairy Tale Masquerade Ball, Rite of the Dancing Flowers, MMTB Production Office Grand Opening Party, Psychotronic Film Show and Horror Hall of Fame Awards, Giving Motherhood a Microphone, Igudesman and Joo: And Now Mozart, 2014 Hoodoo Heritage Festival, Holt Ceramics Spring Sale, Homestead Apothecary Spring Plant Sale, Cob Oven Building Workshop, World Laughter Day, May The Fourth Be With You, Mead Making Workshop, Second Annual Baile en la Calle: The Mural Dances, How Weird Street Faire 2014: How Weird In Outer Space, Sunnyvale Museum Spring Tea, Women in Saudi Arabia, Fancy Fairy and Gnome Homes, North Bay Reclaiming’s Beltane, California Revels May Day Celebration, Belly Dance Student Showcase, Off Book, Off Broadway, The GENDER Book Launch Party!, NorCal Trans Partners, Family and Friends Support Group, Cleansing and Rebuilding Our Bodies: a Chinese Perspective, Children Of The Amazon and Trading Bows And Arrows For Laptops, The Mysteries of Sleep, Leather Pouch Workshop
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Baking 101: Scones As A Way of Life
with Josh Caraci
Wednesday April 30, 7:00-9:00PM
North Berkeley, RSVP for address
$25-$50 sliding scale, plus $5 supply fee
“Learn how scones can teach you (almost) everything you need to know about baking and beyond! In this hands-on class we be mixing, baking (and eating!) delicious scones from locally sourced ingredients. In the process we’ll discuss ratios and chemistry and how this information can be used to create your own recipes and scone variations as well as a host of other baked goods. With the exception of baking soda, we will use ingredients from the farmers market or the garden. There will be scones to take home along with a list of recipes, books and resources.”
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Of Single Mind and Fractured Heart: A Night of Absurd Storytelling
Directed by Melusina Gomez of Theatre Communitas
Wednesday April 30, 8:00PM
Subterranean Arthouse, 2179 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
$10-$15 sliding scale
http://subterraneanarthouse.org/general/wednesday-april-30th-of-single-mind-fractured-heart-a-night-absurd-storytelling
“Six short pieces exploring Clown and the art of Storytelling: Little Red Riding Hood. And her Mother.; Ugly Duckling Syndrome; The Untold Story of Merlin; Le Petit Renard (The Little Fox); Don't Look Into the Dark; and The Girl Who Loved the Wind Loved Other Things Too, But No One Wrote a Story About It.
Stories connect us.
Clown reveals us.
The link between these two art forms is the power of metaphor and archetype, delivered with simplicity and heart. With this power we give voice and form to the unspeakable and sometimes absurd truths of the human experience. By entering story through the playful and visceral world of clown, we distill our hopes, longings, fears, failings, traps, obsessions, and loves into universal moments on stage. We examine alternate points of view, challenge the linear model of storytelling through experimentation and surrealism, and as always find the most daring and vulnerable ways to tell the truth with make believe.
Theatre Communitas is a physical theatre company interested in exploring the shared experience of humanity through myth, make believe, absurdity and surrealism on stage. Artistic Director Melusina Gomez combines experimental performance, mime, theatrical clowning, and butoh dance to create imagistic original theatre with heart, and teaches classes in clown, writing for performance, and theatre composition in San Francisco and the East Bay. This production is the culmination of an 11 week course in Clown and Storytelling.”
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May Day!
Thursday, May 1, 5:00-7:00AM (yes, AM!)
Inspiration Point, Tilden Park, Berkeley
see website for directions
Morris Dancers and other sundry Pagan, old fashioned and/or eccentric Berkeley-type folks will be gathering to make the sun come up!
Berkeley Morris says:
“As is traditional, we will begin our regular season by dancing the sun up at Inspiration Point, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley.
We will gather at Inspiration Point at 5:00AM and begin dancing around 5:20AM. Sunrise happens at 6:13AM, and we will dance until around 6:45AM. Dress warmly!”
Parking and admission are free.”
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Exploratorium After Dark: Carnaval
Thursday, May 1, 6:00-10:00PM, and the first Thursday of each month
Exploratorium, Pier 15, San Francisco
$15, 18 and over
“After Dark: Carnaval
Viva Carnaval! Inspired by the long-running Carnaval San Francisco, After Dark brings the noise - and explores colorful aspects of this rich local tradition. Now in its 36th year, Carnaval San Francisco is the largest multicultural festival on the West Coast, reflecting the distinct character of its native Mission District while showcasing a panoply of Latin American and Caribbean arts and traditions. Themed ‘La Rumba de la Copa Mundial - Celebration of the World Cup,’ this year’s festival takes place over Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25.
With the help of community organizer, Carnaval Executive Producer, and guest curator Roberto Hernandez, the Exploratorium honors the spirit of this San Francisco institution with an evening of music, dance, and interactive pageantry.
Get a kick out of the science of soccer (futbol!) with Exploratorium physicists Paul Doherty and Pearl Tesler, or make your moves with samba and zumba lessons. Join a drum circle to experience drumming styles from Trinidad, Brazil, and elsewhere in the Americas while learning the history of different drums. Cheer on Carnaval contingents from 2013, and join Roberto Hernandez to hear how the festival has grown from a few hundred participants in 1978 to a few hundred thousand today. You can also build instruments for this year’s parade with Explorables volunteers, take a mask-making workshop, and parade in costumes from previous years. Don’t miss this Exploratorium take on a treasured Latino and Caribbean celebration - one of San Francisco’s best.
Carnaval San Francisco is an opportunity for many cultures to come together in one spirit to share their creative expression. Their 3-day event starts with Carnaval San Francisco at the San Francisco Giants Orange Friday, and continues with a FREE 2-day festival in San Francisco’s Mission District (on Harrison Street, between 16th and 24th Streets) on Saturday and Sunday offering global cuisine, international music, dance, arts and crafts, and other fun activities for the entire family to enjoy, culminating in the famous Grand Parade on Sunday.
Not a theater, cabaret, or gallery, Exploratorium's After Dark contains aspects of all three. Each evening showcases a different topic - from music to sex to electricity - but all include a cash bar and film screenings, plus an opportunity to play with our hundreds of hands-on exhibits.”
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Pearls Over Shanghai
presented by the Thrillpeddlers
Thursday-Saturday, May 1-3, 8:00PM
The Hypnodrome, 575 10th Street, San Francisco
playing through May 31
playing through May 31
$30-$35
“Our award-winning production of Pearls Over Shanghai, San Francisco’s longest-running Cockettes musical hit, is back on The Hypnodrome stage for a Fifth Anniversary Revival Production.
Pearls Over Shanghai is a comic mock-operetta about white slavery, opium dens, and miscegenation set in the colorful world of 1937 Shanghai. The story is set at the crossroads of good and evil; an exotic ‘old sin town’ filled with singing sailors, humorous whores, foolish immortals, handmaidens and henchmen, all taking their places in streets teeming with a mix of foreign aristocrats, opium addicts, and gangland slave-trade czars.
With a cast of over 20, costumes a-plenty, and a score of 24 original songs, this production is the most eye-popping and toe-tapping in the Hypnodrome’s history, with the scent of intoxicating perfume, poisonous flowers, opium, and sex oozing from every scene.
Three original Cockettes, Scrumbly Koldewyn, ‘Sweet Pam’ Tent, and Rumi Missabu, who were in the original production of Pearls Over Shanghai, will perform in this production, bringing to life the whimsy and the madness that were the ‘all singing, all dancing, all cardboard’ Cockettes.
Our original production of Pearls Over Shanghai ran for nearly two years and received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It’s a phenomenon that keeps on growing! Get your tickets soon for this sure-to-sell-out musical event of the season.”
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Mutt: Let’s All Talk About Race!
Thursday-Sunday, May 1-4,
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 7:00PM
Impact Theatre at La Val's Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Avenue, Berkeley, 510-224-5744
$20 in advance, $25 at the door
“A world premiere by Christopher Chen
Directed by Evren Odcikin
A co-production with Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company
The Republican Party finally - finally! - realizes it has a problem with race. So it decides its best chance for success in the 2016 presidential election is to back a candidate who's hapa - of mixed Asian descent. They think they've found their man in Nick, a promising Congressmember. But when Nick doesn't conform to their expectations of who he should be, they turn to Len, a multiracial war hero who can check off every single box - and maybe a couple more boxes no one knows about. A blisteringly funny satire that skewers not only the elephants in the room but the donkeys too, Mutt burns down the entire house of racial cards.
Christopher Chen, a playwright of immense talent on the rise, was the visionary behind the Glickman Award-winning cosmic explosion The Hundred Flowers Project at Crowded Fire last season. Mutt is a co-production between Impact and Ferocious Lotus, a new company devoted to promoting Asian-American theatre artists led by co-artistic directors Lily Tung Crystal and Leon Goertzen.
Featuring Patricia Austin, Michael Uy Kelly, Matthew Lai, Marilet Martinez, Lawrence Radecker, and Michelle Talgarow.”
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Lilith The Night Demon In One Lewd Act
presented by Veretski Pass
in collaboration with San Francisco Choral Artists
Thursday, May 1, 7:30PM
Kanbar Center, Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, 415.444.8000
$30-$39
Saturday, May 3, 8:00PM
JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, 510-848-0237
$30
Sunday, May 4, 4:00PM
Menlo-Atherton High School Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton
$39
“Veretski Pass and San Francisco Choral Artists collaborate to present Lilith, the Night Demon in One Lewd Act, a magical folk opera based on the bawdy alternate Jewish story of creation. In association with City of Menlo Park.
The often bizarre and humorous libretto draws on texts gleaned from Jewish superstitions, omens, dreams, and curses. The score to Lilith, composed by award-winning composer, Josh Horowitz, features both choral and instrumental ensembles. Michael Wex will appear as Narrator, with Anthony Russell as Adam and Heather Klein as Lilith. Magen Solomon conducts the chorus.
An ensemble of virtuosic multi-instrumentalists, Veretski Pass brings together Jewish and non-Jewish sounds from across Europe, offering a unique combination of pure musicianship and raw energy that has excited concertgoers across the world. The trio plays Old Country Music with origins in the Ottoman Empire, once fabled as the borderlands of the East and the West, in a true collage of Carpathian, Jewish, Rumanian, and Ottoman styles. The group's CDs have repeatedly been on the 10-best recording lists of journalists.
San Francisco Choral Artists, a chamber ensemble of 24 professional-level singers under the baton of Artistic Director Magen Solomon, is widely recognized as one of the finest choral ensembles on the West Coast. SFCA has premiered over 190 works and recently won ASCAP's Award for Adventurous programming. SFCA performs unaccompanied and also cultivates unusual collaborations, performing with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, The Alexander String Quartet, and Composers Inc, among others.
Michael Wex (Narrator), columnist, bon vivant, and raconteur, has been called ‘a Yiddish national treasure’. He is author of Born to Kvetch, the best selling book ever written about Yiddish, and was hailed by The New York Times as ‘wise, witty and altogether wonderful.’ Wex has worked in virtually every area of contemporary Yiddish.
Heather Klein (Lilith) performs across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, both as a soloist and with musical groups and opera companies, though her passion has been Yiddish classical song. She has played the role of Rosie in the world premiere of Ravensbruek Project, a cabaret opera based on the Holocaust, before a sold-out theater in Boston.
Anthony (Mordechai Tzvi) Russell (Adam) works primarily in the field of opera in the San Francisco Bay and New York Metro areas, and is one of the 20th century's most prolific performers of cantorial music, Chassidic nigunim, and Yiddish art song. He has appeared on stages of the JCC in Manhattan, Symphony Space, the Ashkenaz Festival and Ideacity Conference, KlezKanada in Laurentians, and the Montreal Jewish Music Festival.
Lilith is the ‘alternate’ Jewish story of creation, its earliest appearance being from the Babylonian Talmud, with references from Mesopotamia and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Created out of dust at the same time as Adam, Lilith refused to be subservient and was forced to flee, becoming a demonic woman, a killer of children and seductress of young men.
The composition uses biblical, mystical, magical, and structural elements from medieval works as well as from the Kamea (Hebrew ‘amulet’), ritual objects in which charms against Lilith abound. The music weaves together ancient and modern motifs and explores some of the lesser-known facets of Jewish mysticism and superstition, integrating them into a new composition that uses traditional East European Jewish music as well as modern compositional and improvisatory elements. A complete annotated, illustrated libretto by the renowned artist Phil Blank will be made available at the concert.”
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Grow Your Own Medicine Series
with Leslie Gardner and Bryan Bowen
an eight week course from California School of Herbal Studies
Friday, May 2, 11:00AM-3:30PM,
and seven more Fridays through June 27 (no class on May 23)
Emerald Valley, 9309 Highway 116, Forestville
“Take your medicine into your own hands and learn to grow it! Herb suppliers all over the country are overwhelmed with demand. Learn to grow and harvest your own medicines. Herb and kitchen gardens have been our medicine chests since ancient times. In this eight class series, you will learn to grow herbs from seeds and cuttings, grow your own soil, create your own soil and cutting mixes, compost making, seed germination skills, tricks of the trade in growing herbs, common germination and growing problems, fertilization, compost teas, growing in small places and more. Each participant will take home seedlings and plants for their gardens. The series will be a mixture of hands on class work, working in a 30 year-old herb garden with over 400 species, and touring local herb farms and gardens such as the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm, Napa Valley Botanicals, and OAEC (Occidental Arts and Ecology Center).”
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Bike Night
a Free First Friday event at Museum of Art and History
Friday, May 2, 11:00AM-9:00PM, and the first Friday of each month
Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, 831-429-1964
Free
“Join us for Bike Night this First Friday, which will kick-off the celebration of Ecology Action’s 27th Annual Santa Cruz County Bike Week. This night will feature a Bike Week art contest winner show and a local artists bike themed art fair, with art and crafts for sale directly from the artists themselves. In addition, renowned local bike builders will be hosting a meet-and-greet opportunity, showcasing their newest creations. Come check out bamboo bikes, family friendly cargo bikes, and wood mountain bikes - just to name a few!
Bike Night is a family-friendly event for community members to come learn about local bike resources and celebrate biking in Santa Cruz.
Celebration activities include spin bike art, bike decorating, and group bike rides organized by People Power of Santa Cruz County. Watch local stunt rider Matt Meyer dazzle the crowds by performing live bike trials jumps at 5:30PM, 6:30PM, 7:30PM, and 8:30PM. Take off on group bike rides leaving from Abbot Square at 7:00PM and 8:00PM. Treat yourself to Bike powered ice cream provided by Spokesman Bicycles, free bike safety checks by the folks from the Bike Church, or a refreshing bike powered smoothie, all while hanging out with other bike enthusiasts in our community.”
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Unexpected Landscapes
an Art Reception for Jan Watten and Ginny Parsons
Friday, May 2, 6:00-9:00PM
“Featuring photographs by Jan Watten and paintings by Ginny Parsons, the exhibition pairs two Alameda artists using color, form, pixels and brushstrokes to capture unexpected moments in the natural world.
A master of black and white photography, Jan Watten has added color to her latest series Unexpected Landscapes, as she juxtaposes traditional black and white prints with images taken with her iPhone.
An intuitive painter using everything from castoff house paint to peanut butter, Ginny Parsons' recent work focuses on Lincoln Park with a spectrum of texture, slathered with brushstrokes and oozing with drips.”
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Goddess of Love Sensorium: A Creativity Retreat
with Danielle Saunders
Friday, May 2, 6:00-9:30PM
Creative Juices Art Studios, 432 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, 510-325-7194
$50 for one participant, or $80 for two
“Expand your creative potential with my Goddess of Love Sensorium and Painting! I will awaken your senses through a delightful play of materials and lead you through a painting experience you won’t want to miss! Bring a dessert to share.”
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PeaceJam
with Faith Rivera
Friday, May 2, 6:00-10:00PM
Heart and Soul Center of Light, First Floor, 1001 42nd Street, Oakland
General $15, VIP $25
“Amazingly talented, Emmy-award winning musician Faith Rivera is throwing a Peace Jam at Heart and Soul Center of Light. Friday May 2, from 6:00-10:00PM. VIP tickets at $25 gets you a seat in the first two front rows and food. Regular admission tickets are $15.”
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Project YouthView: 10th Annual Film Screening and Awards Night
Friday, May 2, 7:00PM
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland
Adults $20, Youth 2-19 $7
“Tickets are now on sale for Alternatives in Action’s tenth annual, one-of-a-kind youth film festival, which will screen at Paramount Theatre, Oakland on Friday, May 2. Project YouthView, presented by Comcast and sponsored by HBO, showcases select youth-created film shorts from across the Bay Area, and the featured 2013 Sundance-winning Documentary, Rich Hill.
Our Youth Filmmakers
A big *Thank You* to all who sent in film shorts for consideration! We are pleased to present a wonderful selection of twelve youth films from the Bay Area. These films are in the running for the Audience Choice Award and the Judges’ Choice Award, selected by industry notables and experts, including Russell Simmons, Pauley Perrette, and Terence and Rachel Winter.
Try Project YouthView VIP-Style
For a $125 VIP sponsorship, you will receive two seats to experience the evening in special section of the theatre. As a VIP, you will have the opportunity to talk with our youth leaders who helped plan the event, with Bay Area youth filmmakers whose pieces will be showcased, as well as enjoy a private catered reception.
Buy Your Tickets Today
We’re anticipating a sold-out audience this year, so be sure to buy your tickets as soon as possible. We hope you will share this invite with friends who would also be interested.”
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Downtown Benicia Ghost Walk
Friday, May 2, 8:00PM, and the first and third Friday of each month
meet at 90 First Street, Benicia
$25, reservations required.
Ages 10-16 must be accompanied by adult.
For more information, please call 707-745-9791
“Paranormal history of Downtown Benicia are revealed on this exciting, interactive and fun Ghost Walk led by paranormal investigator Devin Sisk. Each tour is limited to 20 people and lasts approximately 2 hours, depending on what entity you encounter along the way! Walking shoes and flashlight recommended. No children under ten years of age permitted on tours. Ages 10-16 must be accompanied by adult. $25 per person. Prepaid reservations required by calling 707-745-9791.”
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Being Brave: Is Enlightened Society Possible?
A Meditation Retreat with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Pema Chodron
Friday-Sunday, May 2-4,
Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way South, Richmond
$300-$450
“Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Pema Chodron - two of the world’s beloved spiritual leaders - come together again to offer one of their renowned Meditation Retreats. Drawing on the depths of Shambhala and Buddhist teachings, Being Brave will explore how meditation practice develops a greater sense of interconnectedness, and rouses strength to cultivate enlightened society. How can we apply inner peace and bravery to develop outer compassionate action? Global spiritual wisdom speaks to an inner and outer transformation. When we open our hearts to meet fear with bravery, we can begin to connect with the fundamental practice of compassion and the recognition of our shared humanity.
Being Brave will be host to Pema Chodron’s only public teaching on the West Coast in 2014. Guest speakers include Buddhist scholar Acharya Adam Lobel and Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California.”
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Ruddigore or The Witch’s Curse
Presented by Role Players Ensemble
Friday-Sunday, May 2-4,
Friday-Saturday, 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
playing through May 10
Village Theatre and Art Gallery, 233 Front Street, Danville, 925-314-3463
$20-$28
“What do you get when you combine a witch's curse, a haunted castle, and a chorus of professional bridesmaids? Gilbert and Sullivan, of course! Following the enthusiastic response to our innovative take on the Mikado, RPE will be diving into the fantastical world of the haunted Ruddigore Castle with its absurd residents, both living and dead.
Full of the delightful music of Arthur Sullivan and the silly characters of W.S. Gilbert, Ruddigore is a comic feast for the senses.”
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California Bookstore Day
Saturday, May 3
see website for local events
“California Bookstore Day is a statewide party on May 3, 2014 as big and varied as the state itself. It’s more than 90 stores in more than 80 zip codes putting their bells on and throwing out the welcome mat. Think Record Store Day, but for book nerds.
Each store will have its own party. The headline attraction are the just-for-us books you cannot get on any other day at any other place. But there will also be readings, and prizes, and things to eat and drink. In some cases there will be famous authors and artists, and people writing live poetry.
Your neighbors will be there, your friends will be there, your kids will be there.
You should definitely be there too.
Just what are we celebrating?
Independent bookstores are not just stores, they’re community centers and local anchors run by passionate readers. They are entire universes of ideas that contain the possibility of real serendipity. They are lively performance spaces and quiet places where aimless perusal is a day well spent.
Indie bookstores, whether dusty and labyrinthine or clean and well-lighted, are not just stores, they are solutions. They hold the key to your love life, your career, and your passions. Walking the aisles of a good bookstore means stumbling upon a novel from India that expands your heart. It’s encountering an art book that changes the direction of your life. It’s the joy of having a perfect stranger steer you toward the perfect book.
In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism. They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year. And they are at your service.”
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Free Comic Book Day
Saturday, May 3
find your local comic shop at the website below
“Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores.”
A selection of specific comics are created to be given away on this day. See a list of this year’s available free comics here: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/981
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World Labyrinth Day
Saturday, May 3
find local Labyrinths and events at the website below
“World Labyrinth Day is a day that brings people from all over the planet together in celebration of the labyrinth as a symbol, a tool, a passion or a practice.
World Labyrinth Day can be whatever you’re inspired to make it. A day to inform and educate the public, host walks, build permanent and/or temporary labyrinths, create labyrinth art and more.
If there are only right ways to walk a labyrinth, it follows that there are only right ways to celebrate World Labyrinth Day. We enthusiastically encourage you to find your way.”
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20th Annual Petaluma River Cleanup
Saturday, May 3, 8:30AM-2:00PM
Petaluma Marina, 781 Baywood Drive, Petaluma
Free, please register at the website below
“This spring marks the 20th anniversary of the Petaluma River Cleanup. In 1994, a concerned group of citizens came together to mobilize the community around the amount of garbage littering our waterways. Since that date, community efforts have removed over twenty tons of trash and debris from our Watershed. In 2013, Friends of the Petaluma River took up the torch to lead the Spring River Cleanup and continue the grassroots efforts begun twenty years earlier.
Join us on May 3 and help us carry on this important tradition helping to conserve the Petaluma Watershed. In honor of this anniversary, we plan to celebrate the community’s longstanding efforts with a BBQ, live music, giveaways and a Watershed Fair to showcase local activities on the River.
8:30AM: Registration Begins
9:00AM: Safety Talk and Instructions
12:00PM: Watershed Fair and BBQ
Bring your boots and gloves if you have them and be prepared to get a little muddy. Please also bring a reusable water bottle - we are working to make this a zero waste event!
After registration, volunteers will choose a destination where they will work for the morning. Needy sites include East Washington Creek, Lynch Creek, areas of the main channel, Adobe and Corona Creeks. We also welcome you to get a group together for your neighborhood creek. Or if you know of a location that is in need please let us know so we can add it to our list.”
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Marble and Molding: Architecture Tour at Meek Mansion
Saturday, May 3, 10:00AM
Meek Mansion, 17365 Boston Road, Hayward
$15
“This fascinating tour focuses on the architecture of Meek Mansion. Learn about different architectural styles, decor and details of the Victorian and other eras.
Space is limited and advance reservations are required.
Contact Heather at (510) 581-0223 xt. 131”
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School of Rock
part of the Popcorn Palace series at the Balboa Theatre
Saturday, May 3, 10:00AM
The Balboa Theatre, 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco
$10 includes popcorn and a drink
“School of Rock (also called The School of Rock) is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, written by Mike White, and starring Jack Black. The main plot follows starving rock singer and guitarist, Dewey Finn (portrayed by Black), who is kicked out of his band No Vacancy and subsequently disguises himself as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After witnessing the musical talent in his students, Dewey forms a band of fifth-graders to attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands and pay off his rent. The picture's supporting cast features Joan Cusack and Sarah Silverman.”
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Upcycling with the Textile Mavens: Pillows, Runners, Purses, Mats, Coasters, and Quilts!
with the Textile Mavens
Saturday, May 3, 10:00AM-1:00PM
Mothership HackerMoms, 3288 Adeline Street, Berkeley
$20
Affordable childcare available for kids 8 months-5 years. Older kids can join the workshop.
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-upcycling-workshop-pillows-runners-purses-mats-coasters-quilts-tickets-11094186009
“Hack your old clothes and fabric scraps! Turn your old sweaters, shirts, jeans, ties, t-shirts and even furs into something new and fabulous for you or your home! In this workshop, seasoned quilters, textile wizzes, and Berkeley mamas Fern and Catherine will help you upcycle your old textiles into something new and funky: a pillow, a table runner, a purse, a set of coasters, or even the start of a quilt! The workshop will start with a brief intro to upcylcling and a trunk show of samples of upcycled projects. Before diving into the nitty gritty, the Mavens will help you clean your sewing machine! The remaining time will be devoted to making (and finishing!) your project (unless it’s a quilt, of course…). The Mavens will provide ideas, inspiration, suggestions, and technical help as you craft something new and fabulous out of your old scraps. Participants should bring a sewing machine (if possible - contact the Mavens if you don’t have one but want to participate) and textile scraps, old clothes, and any other supplies (for example, a pillow form if that’s your desired project).
Catherine Durand delights in using old fabrics from her native France, embroidered pieces from Mexico and salvaged materials. She has led workshops across the country and enjoys the sense of community that comes from working with diverse groups. She currently teaches at the Community Quilting Project at Harbor House in Oakland.
Fern Royce has been sewing since she was 10 and quilting for 17 years. She enjoys quilting history, studying vintage blocks and quilt tops, and using unconventional fabrics in her quilts. She has studied with Roberta Horton, Mary Mashuta, Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston.”
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Monthly Open Village Celebration - Beltane!
at Green Valley Village
Saturday, May 3, 10:00AM-8:00PM
Green Valley Village, 13024 Green Valley Road, Sebastopol
RSVP required; please e-mail gvv.events@gmail.com
Donations accepted
Check website for each month’s details
“Here is a sample of the schedule for a typical Second Saturday Event: (remember that this is just a sample schedule and you should check the website for the actual schedule before each event!!)
10:00AM: Community Work Party - One of the best ways to get to know our Village Members is to work with us!! Get your hands dirty by helping us with a project. Past work parties have included garden work, firewood chopping, building projects, event set-up and more.
1:00PM: Community Lunch - Work party participants are welcome to join us for our Saturday community lunch. Eat fresh produce grown right on our farm and prepared by the loving hands of Village members. If you just show up for lunch (without the workparty involvment), please feel free to bring a potluck dish to share.
2:30PM: Eco-Village Tour - Led by a seasoned Village member, you can get a lay of the land and find out more about the projects we have going on at Green Valley Village!!
3:30PM: Skillshare - Cultivate a new skill!! Past Skillshares have included African Dance and Drumming, Basket-weaving, Drum and Instrument Making, The NorthBay Burner Skillshare, Building with On-Site Forestry Resources, Building a Hohlzenhaus, and More.
6:00PM: Potluck Dinner - Our Village provides some simple dinner dishes, but the bulk of this food share is left up to luck, and the kindness our visitors bringing a dish to share!!
7:00PM: Evening Entertainment - Our Village event coordinator always makes sure there is something fun for us to do together at the end of the long day!! Past evenings have included Live Performances by The Easy Leaves, Afia Walking Tree and Friends, Liz Boubion, The Dandelion Dance Theatre, Queen Hollins, Debbie Nargi-Brown, Copperwoman, The Hobo Goblins as well as our own Green Valley Village Annual Variety Show, and our Free Store Fashion Show.
We generally request a small donation for the day's events!!
Remember that by giving to Green Valley Village you are supporting the continued existence of this evolving Eco-Village!!
We also have Handmade Eco-Village Products and Services Available!!
These products and services support the right livelihoods of members of our Village. Look at the Village Marketplace section of our website to find out more about the products and services offered at our Eco-Village.
Thank you for your support of and interest in our Village!!”
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Lose Your Lawn
Sunday, May 3, 10:30AM-1:00PM
Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Drive, Berkeley
Free
“Learn how to remove your lawn without tearing it out! These how-to talks are given by Bay-Friendly Qualified Landscape Professionals, who provide design and plant selection advice as well as walk you through converting your lawn without breaking your back, or your wallet. There will be a hands-on demonstration of sheet mulching - an innovative technique of layering materials on top of your lawn, allowing you to plant right into it!
Each hour and a half talk is followed by an hour of tabling, where you can get one-on-one advice from a garden design expert. All events are free and open to the public, and no prior registration is required.”
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Allied Arts Guild Open Studios
Saturday, May 3, 11:00AM-4:00PM
and Saturday, May 10
Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park, 650-322-2405
Free
“Open Studios - Free Admission and Demonstrations
Since 1929, Allied Arts Guild has been a peninsula landmark. Since its inception, it has been a place for artists to come together and share their wares. Today, the Guild’s artists use their studios not only for creating, but also as retail space for the public to view and purchase their beautiful art. Our artists today range from jewelry designers to fashion designers to interior designers and everything in between.
Our stunning gardens are beautiful to walk through, and docent-led tours are available Monday through Saturday. Docents discuss not only the gardens, but the history of the Guild and its art and architecture.
The complex is owned and operated by the Allied Arts Guild Auxiliary. Our mission, along with the six other auxiliaries, is to raise funds to support uncompensated care at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. The Artisan Shop at Allied Arts is staffed entirely by our volunteers, and all our profits are donated to the hospital.”
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Castles and Kites Festival
Saturday, May 3, 11:00AM-4:00PM
Doran Regional Park, 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay
Free event, parking $7 per vehicle
“Castles and Kites is our annual celebration of sandcastle building and kite flying at Doran Beach in Bodega Bay. Beginners and experts join in the fun, creating simple and elaborate castles. For sandcastle building, Regional Park representatives are on hand with tools and molds to help you create your own. Or you can sit back and watch the artistry of experts who build huge, elaborate castles. For kite flying, you can bring your own kite or watch stunt kite demonstrations. Plus, local kite shops will be at the beach with some incredible kites. Castles and Kites is a spring tradition!”
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Insect Illustration
with Tim Manolis
Saturday, May 3, 12:00PM
Lake Merritt Rotary Nature Center, 600 Bellevue Avenue,Oakland
“Bring your drawing supplies along for this event! Tim Manolis is a naturalist and professional scientific illustrator who has illustrated three books in the California Natural History Guides series: Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions, Dragonflies and Damselflies of California (which he wrote and illustrated), and the recently published Field Guide to the Spiders of California and the Pacific Coast States.
Tim will go over some insect illustration basics, then with the help of the Insect Sciences Museum of California (ISMC,) we’ll catch live insects in the Lakeside gardens to observe and draw. We’ll release the insects at the end of the walk- no bugs will be harmed in the making of our sketches!
Things to bring include drawing supplies, a hat, water, and snacks. Nets, loupes (magnifiers), and clear collection containers (i.e. baby food jars) are good to bring if you have them, but the ISMC will also be bringing some along to share.
We’ll meet at noon in front of the Rotary Nature Center at Lake Merritt.”
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San Quentin Healing Ceremony and Fundraiser for the San Quentin News
Led by sacred women and men of Seven Sisters Mystery School and beyond
Saturday, May 3, 1:00-4:30PM
San Quentin Prison, Ring Mountain gate, Paradise Drive, Tiburon
$20-$100 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds
Please register at the website below.
“Are you disturbed by the WAREHOUSING of men in a prison right under our noses?
Do you ever flash on what kind of suffering might be going on there in the heart of sunny Marin?
Did you realize that some of those men sit on the only death row in California?
Do you want to HELP, but don’t know how or feel overwhelmed by the tragic fact that ‘hurt people hurt people?’ and that most incarcerated men are people of color?
Come with us for a hearted afternoon ceremony designed to send healing intentions and energies to inmates and staff of San Quentin prison.
In cooperation with Califoirnia’s only prison-based newspaper, the San Quentin News, the event will also double as a FUNDRAISER to help the paper expand to reach all of the state’s inmates.
No one turned away for lack of funds, but you MUST REGISTER to participate. Please consider a generous donation within your means, EVEN IF YOU CANNOT JOIN US IN PERSON.
This will be a POWERFUL, real and evolutionary form of ‘healing through walls’ to help a ‘Shadow’ community in our midst.
DURING THIS SACRED CEREMONY, WE WILL:
Walk up Ring Mountain together, starting at 1:00PM (if you can’t make 40-minute uphill hike, we will have another group you can be part of at the bottom of the mountain).
Circle by the Grandfather Rock, from which San Quentin is clearly visible.
Call upon the Ancestors of the Land and Stars, and Great Spirit.
Drop deeply into the energies of healing and forgiveness - for self and others.
Be led through hearted visualizations to send healing energies and intentions to those inside the prison, as we also reflect on the social (in)justice elements involved.
At 3:00PM, raise the energies by drum to send them out to the prison, as Native American inmates simultaneously drum in their special circle, and interested inmates are led in a meditation to receive.
Dance, sing and tone the healing prayers out to the world for peace, reconciliation and the healing of the wounded Masculine.
AS A RESULT OF THIS CEREMONY, YOU WILL:
Find out how to receive a subscription to the San Quentin News so you can learn more about the real lives of inmates.
Learn of other opportunities to bring healing gifts and resources to incarcerated men.
Feel confident that your money is going to a cause that promotes communication and greater consciousness among men who carry the greatest wounding in our society.
Know you have spearheaded an evolutionary form of healing that will have unseen ripples for those who carry the pain of our society.
Foster connections with those in your local community who care and want to DO something.
COST TO PARTICIPATE:
Suggested donation: sliding scale, anywhere between $20-$100, according to your means. No one turned away for lack of funds, but you MUST REGISTER to participate. Please consider donating generously within your means to support this effort.
Half of the net proceeds will go to the San Quentin News fundraising campaign so they may expand their reach to all 31 California prisons (the other half goes to support Seven Sisters Mystery School).
This is a rare opportunity to make a difference in the lives of men. Your generosity is appreciated!
A donation of $70 or more gives you a subscription to the San Quentin News.”
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South Bay Circles Beltane
Saturday, May 3, 2:00PM
private home in Palo Alto, RSVP for address
$5-$10 suggested donation
“We will be at a private residence in Palo Alto. If you are interested in going please email me (Jason) directly and I will be happy to give you the address. Just chime in that you heard about the ritual here and put ‘Beltane’ somewhere in the subject line. panmankey@gmail.com
This is going to be a fantastic ritual and a lovely afternoon celebrating the May and the start of summer. We'll have a traditional maypole dance, and a fantastic Wiccan-style ritual with all the bells and whistles most people associate with Beltane. Please join us!
Upcoming Schedule: Midsummer June 21
Lughnassa August 9
Bring: A donation of five to ten dollars to help cover the cost of future South Bay Circle expenses. Also, please bring something substantial to share for the potluck and a beverage for yourself.
Guidelines for Potluck:
For many folks the potluck is the highlight of an SBC Ritual. It's a time for food, fellowship, family, frolic, and fun. In order to have as much frolic, food, and fun as possible we'd love to see a wide variety of different foods at our feasting. We aren't ever going to tell you what to bring, but if you are waffling a little bit, the guide lines below are designed to help bring about multi-faceted feasting. You are in charge of your own beverage needs, but if you want to bring some drinks to share, that's great too! If you were born in March, April, or May, please bring a main dish (meat or vegetarian). If you were born in June, July, or August, please bring some dessert
If you were born in September, October, or November, please bring some sort of fruit and/or vegetable, or a salad. If you were born in December, January, or February please bring along some good carbs - like bread or mac and cheese or something made with potatoes.
Please bring enough to serve at least 10 people, and please make sure it is ready to serve. There will be no one there to cut up a whole chicken or slice a loaf of bread.
Remember to mark your bowls, platters and utensils. Unmarked and abandoned serving pieces will be considered a donation to South Bay Circles.
If possible, please label your food so those with food restrictions will know what's in it.”
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Community Seed Beltane Ritual
Saturday, May 3, gather at 2:00PM, Ritual begins at 3:00PM
40 Thieves Picnic Area, De Laveaga Drive, 850 Branciforte Avenue, Santa Cruz
suggested donation of $8-$20, no one turned away for lack of funds
“Just as we celebrate the flex of the wild, beginning summer, in all its power and beauty, so we shall celebrate the whole beautiful power and awesome wonder of each of us. Join us and celebrate in dance and song the incredible glory and divinity of YOU!
Potluck to follow after the ritual. Please bring a dish to share and label the ingredients.
Earth signs - Greens, Air Signs - Main Dish Meat,
Fire Signs - Main Dish Vegetable, Water Signs - Dessert
Drinks will be provided
This is a child friendly event. All CS events are Clean and Sober.”
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Johnny Harper and Carnival
in concert
Saturday, May 3, 3:00PM
Avanova, 417 Avon Street, Oakland
$15, please RSVP at the website below
“Please join us on Saturday May 3, when Avonova hosts the return of Johnny Harper and Carnival. The program is a tribute to The Band, called Life is a Carnival. The shows starts at 3:00PM and the admission is $15. Doors open at 2:15PM. The band consists of Johnny Harper, guitar and lead vocals, Patrick McKenna, bass, Neal Roston, keyboards and Rick Alegria, drums. The group will be previewing their new album, soon to be available everywhere.
Johnny Harper is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, band leader, and record producer of many years’ standing in the Bay Area music scene. Johnny brings his band to Avonova for your listening and dancing enjoyment. They will commemorate The Band’s legendary debut performance at Winterland, San Francisco, in 1969 - 45 years ago, featuring 18 of The Bands classic songs. Cooking grooves, hot guitar and piano solos, and rich 3-part vocal harmonies. A fun time is guaranteed for all!
Welcome to Avonova. We are a house concert venue in Oakland, California dedicated to making top quality live music available to listeners in an informal and comfortable setting.”
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Once Upon a Time: A Fairy Tale Masquerade Ball
presented by PEERS
Saturday, May 3,
Doors Open 6:45PM, Dance Lesson: 7:00PM, Dancing Begins: 8:00PM
Masonic Lodge of San Mateo, 100 N Ellsworth Avenue, San Mateo
$20
“Dance in the May with us at Once Upon a Time: A Fairy Tale Masquerade Ball. Whether you are a Dancing Princess, a Prince Charming, a Princess Bride, a dangerously attractive witch, wise woman, or wizard, a Dread Pirate, one of the Fae, a craftsman who can spin straw into gold, or just a young man or woman out to seek your fortune, you are welcome at our ball.
Fairy Tale and folk tale characters from any tradition, Eastern or Western, are welcome, and either period costume, fantasy costume or even the modern dress of Once Upon a Time will be appropriate for this event. By all means feel free to mix and match historical period styles, as our favorite Disney Princesses have always done. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Two costume caveats: Weapons, no matter how beautiful, must be peace-bonded and we respectfully ask our winged Faerie guests and dragons to be careful not to display too large a wingspan since this could make the ballroom a bit too crowded for comfort, especially during the whirling rotary waltzes and polkas!
The truly enchanting vintage dance ensemble Bangers and Mash plays a variety of ballroom dance music - from the elegant country dances of the 17th and 18th centuries to glorious Victorian and Neo-Victorian waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, schottisches, quadrilles, reels, and waltz mixers, including, of course, such fairy tale favorites as The Congress of Vienna Waltz, The Sleeping Beauty Waltz, The Bohemian National Polka, The Duke of Kent's Waltz, and Sir Roger de Coverley. (All set dances will be briefly taught and called at the ball). .
A no host bar and light snack buffet will be offered throughout the evening (Your potluck contributions to Granny's kitchen will be most welcome!).”
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Rite of the Dancing Flowers
presented by The Bloodroot Honey Priestess Tribe of CAYA Coven
Saturday, May 3, 7:00PM
Terra’s Temple, 3051 Adeline Street, Berkeley
$20 donation requested
Clothing is optional, this ritual is for self-identified women
“Note: This ritual will be addressing bodies, the vulva, and general sexuality that some may find uncomfortable.
It is not often that we, as women, are able to celebrate and revel in our bodies and sexuality, rarer still to do so on our own terms. Tonight we celebrate the body of woman. With our sisters we stand, each perfect in our bodies, reflecting the beauty of the Goddess upon the world. In the safety of sisterhood, under the watch of the Goddess, we break free of the taboos and claim our right to pleasure on our terms. Ours to boundary or flaunt as we see fit.
Join us in revelrous dance, as we honor the goddess Hathor and the divinity of woman!
Lady of the Vulva, goddess of beauty, love, and sex… in the respite of her golden gaze we celebrate. In joy and delight we dance for our pleasure and raise our spirits in song and dance, her sacred means.
At this night’s rite we will be using a song written by our amazingly talented sister Szmeralda Shanel.
Important Note: We will be using incense during this ritual.
Nurturing the Future Unfolding...
The Bloodroot Honey Priestess Tribe is excited to announce that we will now be arranging the collection of donations at each of our Goddess Sabbats to charities and organizations that benefit women and the community at large.
For this sabbat we will be collecting donations for MISSSEY; a local community-based organization focused on Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting and Serving Sexually Exploited Youth. In support of Misssey we will be gathering monetary donations as well as anything you’d like to donate from their wishlist. Specifically we will be accepting any of the following:
Clothing
New, youth-appropriate seasonal clothing and shoes
New undergarments
Hygiene supplies
Scented lotions
Deodorant
Tampons (with applicator)
Pads
Dental hygiene products
Hair care products
African American hair care products
Lip balm / Lip gloss
Shaving lotion
Re-useable razors and replacement heads
For more information about MISSSEY and the real work they are doing to better the lives of children in our community please visit their website: www.misssey.org
We are so very grateful to be able to create this container of betterment for the world around us, and we thank you for the support that makes it possible!”
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MMTB Production Office Grand Opening Party
presented by MMTB - Movie Making Throughout the Bay
Saturday, May 3, 7:00-11:30PM
MMTB Production Office, 3607 Clayton Road, Concord
Free, please RSVP at the website below
“Come Check Out and Celebrate Our New MMTB - Movie Making Throughout the Bay! Inc. Production Office and Enjoy some Food, Drinks, and Music While Networking and Enjoying Like-Minded Industry Folks!
LIMITED SPACE - MUST REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME
Food, Drinks etc while supplies last and Depending on Donations. Come Early to Enjoy.”
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Psychotronic Film Show and Horror Hall of Fame Awards
Saturday, May 3, 7:00PM
The Historic Bal Theatre, 14808 East 14th Street, San Leandro
$9.99
“Celebrate the wild, bizarre, wacky and always entertaining b-movie sub-culture events that have ruled the Bay Area on stage and TV for decades, through clips and scenes from Creature Features, Thrillville, Cinema Insomnia, Captain Cosmic, Nerve Wrackin' Theater, Bay Area Film Events, Creepy KOFY Movietime and more! Combined with the strangest mix of psychotronic shorts you will ever see! Commerci-als, Trailers, Newsreels, Cartoons, Scopetones and other 16mm films that will boggle the mind! We will also present the 2014 Bay Area Horror Hall of Fame Award.”
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Giving Motherhood a Microphone: Listen To Your Mother San Francisco
Saturday, May 3, 7:00PM
Brava Theater, 2781 24th Street, San Francisco
$20
“Listen To Your Mother is a series of live readings taking place in 32 cities nationwide in celebration of Mother's Day.
The show will be emcee'd by co-directors, Kirsten Patel and Kim Thompson Steel and include readings from local writers in celebration of Motherhood.
A portion of ticket sales will support Chicks In Crisis.”
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Igudesman and Joo: And Now Mozart
Saturday, May 3, 8:00PM
Flint Center for the Performing Arts, 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino
$35-$75
“Need we say more? The funniest classical music duo in the universe is back with their completely fresh, absolutely drop-dead hilarious spectacular - And Now Mozart. And yes, you're going to laugh til you cry.
Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo are two classical musicians who have taken the world by storm with their unique and hilarious theatrical shows, which combine comedy with classical music and popular culture. With over 30 million hits on their YouTube channel to date, worldwide fan base and unlimited amount of energy for every show, the duo have collaborated with many of the world’s top orchestras and soloists, performing in front of sold-out crowds from classical concert halls to stadiums in front of crowds of 18,000.”
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2014 Hoodoo Heritage Festival
Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4
Missionary Independent Spiritual Church, 6632 Covey Road, Forestville
see website for detailed schedule and registration information
“Hands-On Conjure Training Workshops
For the seventh consecutive year, Missionary Independent Spiritual Church is sponsoring our annual Hoodoo Heritage Festival in Forestville, California.
These classes in African American folk magic, root work, and hoodoo will teach you practical tricks and tips to take your conjure work to a new level of confidence and knowledge. In addition to spell casting, we also showcase the mystery and magic of world-wide folk religions.
Make your travel plans now to attend this unique 2-Day Festival of Hoodoo Heritage, African American Folk Magic, and Spiritual Spell-Casting!”
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Holt Ceramics Spring Sale
Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 10:00AM-5:00PM,
and May 10-11
Gary Holt Pottery Studio, 1449 Fifth Street, Berkeley
Free admission
“Annual Holt Ceramics Spring Sale
New work, good food and great prices on seconds. Don't miss it!!
I've been a studio potter in Berkeley, California for over 30 years. An early and strong interest in Asian ceramics has combined over the years with an equally strong interest in abstract painting, and gradually I've evolved a way of working that includes elements of both. You'll probably see evidence of this progression as you look at the past and present examples of my work on this site, particularly in the pieces done with water-soluble metal salts.”
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Homestead Apothecary Spring Plant Sale
Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 11:00AM-4:00PM
Homestead Apothecary, 486 49th Street, #C, Oakland, 510-495-6549
Free
“Drop by our second annual Spring Plant Sale the first weekend in May! We'll have all of your favorites like Calendula, Chamomile and Tulsi as well as harder to find plants like Hopi Tobacco and Vitex. We look forward to geeking out on the plants with you!”
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Cob Oven Building Workshop
with Miguel Elliott of Living Earth Structures
Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, Come for one or both days
Suchernova Farm, 900 West Sierra Avenue, Cotati
$80 per day, $120 for the whole weekend, Children Free, Lunch included
Please call 707-320-3609 for more information and to sign up.
“Come learn the valuable craft of sculpting your own cob wood fired oven using Earth right from your property. Workshop will be lead by Miguel ‘Sir Cobalot’ Elliott of Living Earth Structures who has been building ovens, benches, saunas and huts around Sonoma County and the world for the past 15 years. Miguel has extensive experience leading workshops, and teaching cob building in schools.
Saturday, May 3:
1. Learn how to build a foundation for your oven.
2. We will be using adobe bricks to make the base of the oven, and will leave a space for wood storage below.
3. Insulate and set the bricks for the floor of the oven
4. Build the thermal mass layer shell of the hearth
5. Discussion of how to identify proper Earth for building. Bring a sample of Earth from your home
Sunday May 4:
1, Learn how to insulate the oven for maximum efficiency
2. Sculpt the oven into its final shape
3. A discussion of plastering and sealing”
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World Laughter Day
Sunday, May 4
Dr. Madan Kataria, the creator of Laughter Yoga, says:
"World Laughter Day is a very special day celebrated worldwide on the first Sunday of every May. Our mission is to bring Good Health, Joy and World Peace through laughter. The way Laughter Yoga has grown across 65 countries without marketing and advertising leaves me with no doubt that this new concept is widely accepted among different cultures and countries and is truly universal."
Local Laughter Event
with Lydia Gonzalez
Sunday, May 4, 1:00-3:00PM
Sue Bierman Park, Washington Street and Drumm Street, San Francisco
Lydia says:
“Hi and Hahahaha!
Sunday May 4th is World Laughter Day!!
We are celebrating in San Francisco with many fun folks!!
Last year 2013 we were at a DIFFERENT LOCATION than in years past.
It worked out well, so let's do it there again!!
We will be Kitty corner (north) of the Ferry Building at Sue Bierman Park on the GRASS!!!
next to Embarcadero 4.
Take MUNI, BART or the FERRY!!! and you're right there
(or at least within spittin' distance!! HAhahahaa!!
Event is from 1:00-3:00PM woo hoo!! Bring water and your giggle.
So, take it upon yourself to make up flyers and give them out!
Encourage people from your Laughter Groups to be involved and tell all of their friends!
Let's keep it simple and make this even bigger than last year!
Till then… miles of giggles, Lydia. 510-390-4105.”
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May The Fourth Be With You
Sunday, May 4, 10:00AM-8:00PM
West Sacramento Galleria Hall, 1110 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento
see website below for registration details
“Join us May 4 for this out-of-this-world, community/fan-run convention! It's also a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation, the City of West Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation's children's programs, and other local not-for profit community organizations.
Featuring vendors, artists, exhibits, light sabers, costume characters (including the 501st Legion Central California Garrison, Rebel Legion, SVRF, and Mandalorian Mercs), costume parade, art, contests, comedy by Critical Hit Geek Comedy Troupe and Retrocrush, live entertainment including a saber battle by SaberCombat.com, games, kid's activities, arts and crafts, and more!
Family-friendly 10:00AM-5:00PM; followed by PG-13* shows 5:00-8:00PM (please note, no children under 13 will be allowed in the Blackbox Theatre after 5:00PM).
Also in the works are special day-before (Saturday May 3) activities including an art gallery reception, Old Sac Pub Crawl, and separate-ticket saber combat workshops. Check the sacgeeks.com calendar!”
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Mead Making Workshop
with William Bostwick
Sunday, May 4, 11:00AM
Homestead Apothecary, 486 49th Street, #C, Oakland, 510-495-6549
$75
“Explore the mysteries of honey wine and make your own delicious herbal mead. Sample curious and rare varieties of this ancient drink, including one made with bee venom. Learn the art and science of fermenting with honey and herbs, and take home a custom-designed mead-making manual and a few choice bottles of our special herb-infused brew, just in time for Spring.
In this workshop, we'll explore:
the magical lore of honey wine: from Zeus to Beowulf, the Aztecs to Queen Anne.
metheglin, cyser, pyment, melomel, hippocras, and other honey-based beverages
the health properties of honey and mead, and how one man lived to be 120 years old surviving on honey alone.
how to infuse your mead with fruits, spices, and medicinal herbs.
We'll sample curious, experimental meads from around the world, including a Viking-style mead made with bee venom. And of course we'll make our own batch of herbal mead! Students will go home with a detailed instructional manual and recipes for brewing their own batches. After a month of fermenting, bottles of the mead we brewed in class will be ready for you to pick up at Homestead.
William Bostwick is a brewer, beekeeper, herbalist, and the beer critic for GQ and the Wall Street Journal. He's been making mead and other fermentables for years, and is writing a book about the great lost beers of history. The Brewers Tale will be published by WW Norton in October.”
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Second Annual Baile en la Calle: The Mural Dances
presented by Brava! for Women in the Arts and Epiphany Productions
Sunday, May 4, performances at 11:00AM, 12:00PM, 1:00PM, and 2:00PM
Tours leave Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center, 2981 24th Street, San Francisco
Free
“Baile en la Calle: The Mural Dances takes over Balmy Alley as the event rolls into its second year. Last year’s Baile en la Calle - featuring 5 performances at 5 murals on the lower 24th Corridor - was attended by more than 600 people. This year, Epiphany Productions, Cuicacalli Dance Company, Cuicacalli Escuela de Danza and Loco Bloco - along with special guests Los Chiles Verdes Salsa Band and Diana Gameros - offer dance interpretations of the murals on a tour guided by docents from Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center, along the Mission’s historic Balmy Alley, home to the most concentrated collections of murals in the city of San Francisco. The alley’s murals feature the common theme of protest of US intervention in Central America and celebration of indigenous cultures of Central America and have inspired similar projects across the country. Baile en la Calle calls attention to the vibrant and visual culture of the Mission District. Joining Epiphany Dance will be guest artist and local favorite, singer-songwriter Diana Gameros who, along with the dancers will offer vocal interpretations of the murals themes of borders, resistance and change. Joining Cuicacalli will be Brava residence youth artists, the renowned Los Chiles Verdes Salsa Band Workshop.”
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How Weird Street Faire 2014: How Weird In Outer Space
Sunday, May 4, 12:00AM-8:00PM
Howard and 2nd Streets, San Francisco
Free, $10 donation encouraged
“Peace - The Final Frontier
Downtown San Francisco, Earth, Sol, Milky Way
On May the Fourth, the How Weird Street Faire, for the 15th time, will fill the streets of SoMa with a celebration of peace and creativity unlike any other. The faire will feature art, music, dancing, performances, technology exhibits, peace activities, unique vendors from around the world, and much more. You are invited to participate in the greatest street faire in the galaxy, and the start of the San Francisco festival season.
May the Fourth be with you in 2014!”
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Sunnyvale Museum Spring Tea
Sunday, May 4, 2:00PM
Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum, 570 E Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, 408-749-0220
$27.50
“Our Spring Victorian Teas are scheduled for April 26 and 27 (Saturday and Sunday) and May 4 (Sunday) at 2:00PM.
The Teas will include a vintage Fashion Show. It will also highlight our new exhibit, Four Generations of a Sunnyvale Family, that will be newly opened for the weekends.
Remember that the Teas make a great early Mother's Day gift for the special women in your life.
If you are interested in reserving a place for this unique experience or setting up a private tea for your organization, please visit the Heritage Park Museum Gift Shop (570 East Remington, Sunnyvale) or call the museum at 408-749-0220 for reservations. Come and partake in this lovely event.”
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Women in Saudi Arabia
with Mary Alsheikh
part of History San Jose’s Fireside Chat series
Sunday, May 4, 2:00-4:00PM
Renzel Room, History Park, 635 Phelan Avenue, San Jose
$5
“Join us as Mary Alsheikh speaks about her life and the life of women in Saudi Arabia.”
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Fancy Fairy and Gnome Homes
with Heather Kramer
Sunday, May 4, 2:00-5:00PM
Handcraft Studio School, 5885 Doyle Street, Emeryville, 510-332-6101
$75, limit 10 students
“It is said that if you build them a home, the fairies, gnomes and elves might just move in. Come craft a whimsical, one-of-a-kind fairy house or gnome home using all-natural items provided by Heather Kramer of Folifa and Little Bee.
All natural supplies will be provided - if you wish to add miniatures or bits of whimsy feel free to bring them.
Heather Kramer, of Folifa and Little Bee (named after her childhood imaginary world and her daughter's nickname), creates one-of-a-kind woodland homes out of natural items that she forages for in the Sierras, combined with miniatures and bits of whimsy. One time on a camping trip, Heather and her friends created a fairy village in the forest. Upon returning home, Heather realized she'd been bitten by the fairy house bug and hasn't been able to stop herself since.”
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North Bay Reclaiming’s Beltane
Sunday, May 4, 4:00PM
Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol
Suggested donations of $7-$21, no one turned away for lack of funds
for more information, please call 707-484-7786 or e-mail northbayreclaiming@yahoo.com
“Intention: Celebrating Pleasure we share our gifts with the world.
Beltane is a time for planting and sowing of seeds. The buds and flowers of early May remind us of the endless cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth that we see in the earth.
Blessed be this day of Beltane,
Wedding day of the Goddess and the God.
Holy day of Sacred Marriage,
Holy night of Sacred Union.
The fertile Goddess of Summer walks through the land
With the Great Horned God of the Forest,
And the dark time of Winter is behind me.
The animals breed and the plants pollinate, as the May Queen and Green Man bestow Their blessings upon the Earth and Earth's creatures.
Reclaiming respects healthy relationships with traditional medicines, but out of respect for those in recovery, all Reclaiming rituals are clean and sober - so please, no recreational drugs or alcohol at or prior to the event.”
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California Revels May Day Celebration
at The Oakland Zoo
Sunday, May 4, 5:00-8:00PM
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland
Adults $40, Children 7-12 $10, Under 6 Free
“Join the California Revels for an American Celebration of community at our annual fundraiser. This important day is full of joy, celebration, music, merrymaking, and, most importantly, you!
Meet the California Revels community of performers, artists, collaborators and supporters.
Celebrate the opening of California Revels 29th Season.
Savor hors d'oeuvres and cocktails specially prepared for your enjoyment.
Bid on beautiful items and wonderful experiences at our Silent and Live auctions.
Experience Revels original style of performance with our favorite ‘down home’ entertainers and our own Solstice Ensemble singing from the American canon of springtime music.
Toast California Revels as we continue to Create Community Through Celebration.
Doors open at 5:00PM and we will close by singing the sun down together at 8:00PM sharp.
Seating is limited. Make your reservation now!
Proceeds from the annual May Day Soiree helps to fund California Revels operations and year round programming. “
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Belly Dance Student Showcase
Sunday, May 4, 6:00PM, and the first Sunday of each month
Suhaila Salimpour Studio, 425 San Pablo Avenue, Albany, 510-527-2400
Free
“Join us the first Sunday of every month at Suhaila’s studio for an evening of live music and belly dance. Free to the public.
Suhaila Salimpour is a highly acclaimed performer, teacher, and choreographer of belly dance. Schooled from an early age in jazz, tap and ballet, Suhaila began integrating her extensive classical training with the Middle Eastern dance passed on by her mother, Jamila Salimpour. The result was a true artistic breakthrough: a revolutionary foundational technique that has brought the art of Belly Dance to a new level.
The Suhaila Salimpour Format and School of Belly Dance enjoy worldwide success. Dancers who train with The Salimpours quickly realize Suhaila's method of teaching allows them to excel in their art beyond any other training they have received.”
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Off Book, Off Broadway
part of Un-Scripted’s Sunday Revival Series
Sunday, May 4, 7:00PM
Un-Scripted Theater Company, 2nd floor, 533 Sutter Street, San Francisco
$20
“Un-Scripted Theater Company brings back some of our favorite shows on Sundays in 2014!
This Sunday: Off Book, Off Broadway
For years, the Un-Scripted Theater Company has delivered complex, rich improvised theater to San Francisco audiences. In this production, our experienced ensemble of actors brings to life the emotional power and realism of the contemporary musical. Through storytelling skills honed over more than a decade, our improvisors will explore the intricacies of modern life by creating a fun, original, full-length new musical each night. Discover a style of improvisation that has won Un-Scripted Theater Company the award for Best Theater Company in the San Francisco Bay Guardian.”
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The GENDER Book Launch Party!
Sunday, May 4, 7:00-9:00PM
The Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street, San Francisco
Suggested donation $5 to cover the space costs, but no one turned away for lack of funds
“It's a BOOK! The GENDER Book Shower!
Join us in-person for an evening of games, giveaways, activities, coloring book pages, Q and A with the creators, art, movies, and community magic celebrating the birth of the GENDER book.
This is an all-gender, all-ages event, though you should have a parent to keep you away from some of the off-limits reading material if you're under 18. A launch party full of fun, games, and time to mingle and get your books signed!
We saw the need for greater gender understanding in our worlds and wanted to do something about it. And so the GENDER book was born as a guerrilla education tool! We've been incubating this project since 2010, when it started as a 6-page booklet. With your mindblowing community support and hundreds of your voices it has blossomed into a beautiful 90-page full-color hardback. We can't wait to celebrate with you!
Bring $30 if you want to take home your own copy of the GENDER book.”
Thanks to Jaina Bee for letting me know about this event on her Beyond The Binary event list!
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NorCal Trans Partners, Family and Friends Support Group
Monday, May 5, 7:30-9:00PM, and the first Monday of each month
Billy DeFrank LGBT Center, 938 The Alameda, San Jose, 408-293-3040
“Having a family member, child, spouse, partner, or other loved one go through transition can be difficult and comes with a unique set of challenges that most folks don't really comprehend. Come join the Northern California Trans Partners and Family support group at the DeFrank Center the first Monday of each month from 7:30-9:00PM.
To communicate between meetings, we also have a Facebook page and a Yahoo mailing list.”
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Cleansing and Rebuilding Our Bodies: a Chinese Perspective
with with Shad Reinstein
a three week course from California School of Herbal Studies
Tuesday, May 6, 6:00-9:00PM,
and two more Tuesdays, May 13 and May 20
Emerald Valley, 9309 Highway 116, Forestville
“How do our bodies get out of balance and develop toxins? How can we cleanse the body of toxins? How can we best rebuild our body afterwards? Many of our common ailments develop from an imbalance between the liver and the spleen (the digestive system in Western medicine). This imbalance stems from what we eat, poisons we are exposed to, and our entire lifestyle. This course will focus on the function and relationship between these two organs and study how and why we so often get out of balance. In Chinese medicine rebuilding is just as important as cleansing. Once a cleansing has happened we must rebuild and establish harmony in our body. Instruction will cover using both herbs and nutrition to solve these problems and give methods for establishing balance in our body.”
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Children Of The Amazon and Trading Bows And Arrows For Laptops
co-presented by the Berkeley FILM Foundation
featuring a post film Q and A with director Denise Zmekhol
Tuesday, May 6, 7:00PM
“About Children of the Amazon:
Journey with Brazilian filmmaker Denise Zmekhol to the heart of the Amazon rainforest in search of the indigenous children she photographed fifteen years ago. Children of the Amazon invites you to see through the eyes of these inspiring, remarkably resilient people whose lives are transformed by a road carved through their forest home by an outside world. From Chief Amir Surui's embattled efforts to stop illegal loggers to the assassination of legendary rubber tapper Chico Mendes, this poetic and visually stunning film engages our senses and sympathies as global issues take on a profound human perspective.
(72 minutes)
About Trading Bows and Arrows for Laptops:
In 2008, Denise Zmekhol returned to the Amazon to film with the Surui tribe again. This short documents an unique collaboration between the Surui tribe and Google Earth Outreach. The partnership, a result of Chief Almir Surui's request that Google help raise visibility for his tribe, involves training the Surui people to use Internet technology to protect their forest, preserve their culture, and empower their people. (12 minutes)
This special co-presentation with the Berkeley FILM Foundation includes a post-film Q and A with the director of Children of the Amazon and Trading Bows and Arrows for Laptops, Denise Zmekhol!
The New Parkway Theater is a community-centered cinema and pub located in Oakland's Uptown district. Sit back and relax in our cozy couches while watching our new releases, cult classics, and fabulous special programming. Plus, enjoy yummy food and local beer and wine in our café or even delivered right to your theater seat all at affordable prices!
Every week we have something for everyone... from Doc Night to Baby Brigade and Thrillville Theater to Nerd Night, and everything in between. Also, join us on the mezzanine for free, non-film events like Trivia Thursdays, Pop-Up Art Wednesdays, and First Fridays.
The New Parkway = Film. Friends. Food. Fun on Tap.”
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The Mysteries of Sleep
with Matthew P. Walker, Associate Professor of Psychology, UC Berkeley
A production of Wonderfest
Wednesday, May 7, 7:00-9:00PM
SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th Street, San Francisco
Free, please register at the website below
“We spend one third of our lives asleep, yet doctors and scientists still have no complete understanding as to why. It is one of the great scientific mysteries. This talk will describe new discoveries suggesting that sleep is a highly active process, essential for improving brain functions including (1) learning, (2) memory, (3) creativity and (4) emotional regulation.
Our venue is as exciting as our topic. Surrounded by a diverse convoy of gourmet food trucks, we will gather in the enclosed heart of Streat Food Park.”
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Leather Pouch Workshop
with Laura Schoorl
Friday, May 7, 7:00-9:00PM
Gravel and Gold, 3266 21st Street San Francisco, 415-552-0112
$40 includes all materials, limited to 8 participants
“When do you ever have enough pouches, I ask? Pouches for this, pouches for that… never enough. Join Laura Schoorl in making leather pouches! Make the pattern, cut it, stamp it, fasten with rivets, take it home to organize your life! What a blast!
Laura Schoorl is an Oakland-based designer who makes sandals and bags. She is also a fellow Gravel and Gold Girl and can be spotted behind the counter on occasion.”
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Have a Week of Absurd Laughter and Unexpected Enlightenment!
Molly Blue Dawn
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