Events & Info

Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 3:30pm
Oakland Veteran’s Hall
200 Grand Avenue at Harrison St.
Plenty of free parking

This free concert is dedicated to the Symphonic Works of
African-American composers

James P. Johnson: The charleston, Florence Beatrice Price: The Oak
William Grant Still: Serenade & Danzas de Panama
Quincy Hilliard: Covenant & Variations on an African Hymnsong
Amadeo Roldan: Ritmica No. 5

(Take a look at the bird sanctuary while you are in the area and see the pair of white pelicans. Lots of migrating birds still there.)

Saturday, February 20th 2010. 12:30 to 5pm near 1780 Fourth Street in Berkeley.
12:30 storytelling for the under 12 set
1:30 Martial Arts demonstration
2:30 The Lion Dance (expect lots of excitement and loud noise)
Free!
This is a wonderful event in which local children often take part.

This is a wonderful chance to get up close and personal with wild birds and animals and the people who love them. There are walks, exhibits, artists, films, soundscapes. They have really good organic, vegetarian food as well as the usual non-veggie fare. For walks bring warm clothes, good boots and binoculars/cameras. This festival takes place on the migratory path for many of the wild birds species coming through the Bay Area at this time of year. There is also a chapel with antique Tiffany glass panels which is open during the festival.

February 5 - 7th, 2010
Mare Island, Vallejo, CA
Wildlife Expo, Building 897
Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm
www.SFBayFlywayFestival.com
707 649-9464 or 707 557-9816

On January 23rd 2010 the Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band will be playing at Tiki Tom’s 300-29th Avenue in Oakland from 6-9pm.  This is an ensemble of a dozen musicians who play and sing wonderful Hawaiian music under the leadership of Saichi Kawahara.  Saichi is a bay area treasure who sings true Hawaiian falsetto and has performed and taught here for many years.  It is a good way to enjoy this music and also some very nice happy hour treats.  Children are welcome and there is a happy hour menu until 7 with $2 items.  For more information go to www.kapalakiko.org

Mulan Jr. is a rousing musical that will have you up on your feet with its heartwarming celebration of a fighting spirit, family honor and ancient Chinese culture.  It is also a story with a very strong female character-always a good thing for our girls.

It will be presented at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Avenue Berkeley CA 94704

Friday, Jan. 15 7:30, Saturday Jan. 16 2pm and 7pm, Sunday Jan 17 2pm

Berkeley Playhouse Youth Company Junior ensemble.

Monday, December 21st the California Revels Company will be in Muir Woods to celebrate the longest night of the year.  The celebration is from 3 to 8pm, but come early.  Carpool if possible as parking is limited and this is very well attended.  Park and go through the main entrance.  There will be luminaria along the main path.  The Revels will be performing Abbott’s Bromley, an ancient dance from England done with 6 men with reindeer antlers on their heads and 4 dancers dressed as a man/woman, a boy archer, a hobby horse and a fool with a triangle which he strikes during the dance.  The music is mystical:  One recorder player playing this ancient melody without amplification.  Also, the Revels singers will be sequestered in the groves and you will hear them without necessarily seeing them.  Dress warmly and be aware that this event is free and open to the public.  Bring a flashlight.    Check Winter Solstice in Muir Woods for more information.  You might even see salmon spawning if you come before nightfall.  There will be warming goodies.  Probably a charge for these, but no info on that.

“Let Us Break Bread Together” takes place Sunday, December 13th under the auspices of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Michael Morgan, conductor at 4pm.  $15 for adults, $10 for kids.  Paramount theatre 21st at Broadway, Oakland.

Featuring:  Oakland Symphony Chorus, Terrance Kelly & Oakland Interfaith Choir, Mt. Eden High School Choir, Klezmer band Kugelplex, and women’s vocal ensemble Kitka.  This is suitable for children 4 and over.

Buy tickets at any Ticketmaster outlet or call 800-745-3000.  You can also visit the Paramount Box Office, 21st at Broadway, Oakland (no serv chg at window).  Box office hours are Tues-Fri 11am-3pm, Saturday 11am-3pm.  Box office closed Sun and Mon.  Groups of 10 or more get 20% off.  Call 836-1981 or email grouptix@oebs.org for details.  Visit www.oebs.org for more information.

Sing Out! is appealing for contributions to help with it’s operating debt.  As you might imagine, it is very difficult in this day and age to continue a resource that is built on preserving and promoting traditional folk music.  It has branched out and changed and has grown to include songwriters and more contemporary forms of music as well as music coming from all over the world, both traditional and contemporary.  Anyone who has used “Rise Up Singing” knows the value of that book around campfires and in living rooms everywhere.  I would invite you to go to the Sing Out! website www.singout.org  There is a video from Pete Seeger on the site.

It is a great time to order books and materials from them for yourselves and/or gifts for friends and family.

We will be meeting to light Chanukah candles, sing songs for the winter solstice, Christmas, Kwanza and other traditiions.  If you are now in Sing Thing or have been in Sing Thing or Summer Sing in the past, you are invited to join us.  Bring a goody, sweet or non sweet, or a drink to share.  We will sing from 7:30pm to about 8:20pm and then will break to eat and schmooz. If you know Sing Thing/Summer Sing alumni let them know about this.  (Toni and Sandi will provide warm cider).

** Sorry-this is open only to Sing Thing/Summer Sing families and to our alumni.

Weds. December 16th 824 Curtis St. Albany  (off Solano at the Safeway)

Thurs. December 10th 3461 Laguna Ave Oakland (between MacArthur & Montana off hwy 580)

Laura Sutta is a local photographer who’s work I love.  She has wonderful photos of Oakland and Lake Merritt, the Estuary and the bird life.  Her photos of baby canada geese are heart melting.  She is currently having a show at the Alameda County Law Library (Nov. 1st - Dec. 31st).  There is a reception for her there on Friday, December 4, 2009 from 5 to 7 pm.  The library will be selling the 2010 Lake Merritt Calendar and the reception will include the sale of her fine art prints, custom cards & calendars from her Lake Merrritt series & from Sacred Sites around the world.

Alameda County Law Library

125 12th St.

Oakland CA 94607

M/W/F/ 8:30am - 6pm, T/TH/ 8:30am - 9pm

Contact the library:Claudia Cook 510 208-4830; claudia.cook@acgov.org

or  Laura Sutta:  510-444-3820; sutta@earthlink.net