Chanukah Menorah Lighting:
Civic Park
1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Sunday, December 21st, 2014
4:00pm – 6:00pm | FreeMusic, Red Panda Chinese Acrobat show Doughnuts, Dreidels, Latkes and more…
Chanukah Menorah Lighting:
Civic Park
1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Sunday, December 21st, 2014
4:00pm – 6:00pm | FreeMusic, Red Panda Chinese Acrobat show Doughnuts, Dreidels, Latkes and more…
Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek
Thursday, December 18th – Sunday, December 21st, 2014
$14Did you send your letter to Santa? Then why has he not received it? No letters – No Christmas. Join the fun and laughter as Tucker the elf and the toys set out to save Christmas.
Photo by Bilha Sperling
2014 Holiday Party at Steinway Piano Gallery:
Steinway Piano Gallery
1605 Bonanza St, Walnut Creek
Saturday, December 20th, 2014
7:00pm – 9:00pm | $50Diablo Ballet will have you ringing in the season with a night of dance led by ballerina, Rosselyn Ramirez, and your beloved Nutcracker characters –
with food, wine tasting provided by Buon Vino in Walnut Creek, and punch & cookies for children. You will sing-a-long to your favorite holiday songs accompanied by renowned pianists Aaron Pike & Justin Levitt.With a tax-deductible donation of $50, you’re welcome to join us Diablo Ballet December 20th!
All contributions support Diablo Ballet and its Performing Arts Education & Enrichment for Kids (PEEK) Program, which has reached 65,000 under-served students since 1995, providing in-school movement and free performances.
Saturday Morning Speaker Series: Golden Gate Road Races: 1952-1954:
Blackhawk Automotive Museum
3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville
Saturday, December 13th, 2014
10:30am | Free with admissionBetween 1952 and 1954, during a time before racing settled into purpose built tracks, there were a series of races that ran through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Fast cars, tight turns, and spectators lining the road—an era of racing that has gone forever.
The idea was simple: “Put a bunch of high-powered sports cars in the middle of Golden Gate Park, and have an all-out road race, with 100,000 spectators standing inches from the speeding Ferraris and Jaguars.” (Michael Taylor, SFGate)
An ardent automobile enthusiast and historian, Robert Devlin is a very active member of the Ferrari Club of America, having held several national positions with that organization and serving regularly as a judge at both regional and national events. Robert will be giving a presentation on the Golden Gate Road Races and will be on hand for a question and answer session immediately following.
There will be a question and answer session following the presentation. The speaker series is Free with admission to the restaurant and is Free to Museum Member.
Sounds of Portugal: Fado Performance:
Walnut Creek Library
1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek
Monday, December 15th, 2014
6:30pm – 7:30pm | FreeCalled “a rising star in World Music” by the San Francisco Examiner, Ramana Vieira and her ensemble have been performing around the bay area for over 15 years. Her ensemble offers a contemporary take on fado music and has had standing room only performances at libraries, clubs, festivals and venues such as the Freight and Salvage and the Great American Music Hall. Vieira has solidified her place as an artist who understands the tradition of fado and yet continues to creatively construct a path into the future by combining new musical textures and original compositions. Join us for an evening featuring this unique world music at the Walnut Creek Library on Monday, December 15th at 6:30 p.m.
For information about Ramana Vieira, her ensemble and her music, visit http://www.ramanavieira.net/.
Photo by Flickr user ennev
Explore Infrared Landscape Photography:
Lindsay Wildlife Museum
1931 First Ave, Walnut Creek
Friday, December 12th, 2014 – Monday, April 13th, 2015
$8.50Explore black and white infrared photography of California landscapes at Lindsay Wildlife Museum’s new exhibition: Invisible Light of Nature Landscape Perspectives, featuring photography by Bill Helsel.
The photographs reflect landscapes absorbing and reflecting invisible wave lengths of infrared light, with greenery, blue skies and shadows all strongly rendered in this display of more than 20 infrared photographs.
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play:
Town Hall Theatre Company
3535 School St, Lafayette
Saturday, December 6th – Saturday, December 20th, 2014
$25 – $32
We’ve got to have faith in each other.One of the greatest stories ever told gets a new twist as this beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he faces great challenges one fateful Christmas Eve.
Science Cafe: What was the Star of Bethlehem?:
Lafayette Library and Learning Center
3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Wednesday, December 10th, 2014
7:00pm – 9:00pm | $5Join Saint Mary’s College’s astrophysicist, Ron Olowin, to reinvestigate this popular symbol of the Christmas season. Science Cafe’s conversation will combine current historical scholarship and astronomical facts in an effort to provide explanations, religious interpretations, review methods of determining the year the historical Christ was born and depictions of the event in art and popular culture. Q&A to follow.
Boxed meals available at the Bookmark Cafe, call (925)283-9999 to order. Menu available at boookmarkcafe.com/eventsTickets $5.00 at the door.
Register at: tinyurl.com/Sciencecafebethlehem
Shadelands Art Center
111 N. Wiget Ln, Walnut Creek
Friday, December 5th – Sunday, December 7th, 2014
10:00am – 6:00pm | FreeThis will be our BIGGEST holiday sale ever — almost twice as many artisans are selling as in previous years! This year we’ve combined efforts with the Clay Arts Guild. Browse and buy ceramics, prints, photography, fiber & glass arts and *much* more … all unique and locally made. Support local artisans and give one-of-a-kind holiday gifts this season! Free and open to the public.
FRIDAY 12/5: Opening Night Gala — music, munchies, Holiday Sale Kick-off, 5-9 pm
SATURDAY 12/6: Holiday sale, 10 am-6 pm
SUNDAY 12/7: Holiday Sale, 10 am-6 pmCheck out our event on Eventbrite: www.2014artistmarket.event
brite.com Celebrate the season and support local artists … we will see you there!
Authors & Athletes – Marissa Irvin Gould & Lisa Alipaz:
Lafayette Library
3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Sunday, December 7th, 2014
3:00pm – 5:00pm | $5Marissa Irvin Gould, tennis player, NCAA Champion, school teacher, wife, mother and author of A Magical Racquet Ride, Journey to the Four Grand Slam Tournament of Tennis. Marissa and Lisa Alipaz, the Head Womens Tennis Coach at Saint Mary’s College, will discuss the incredible journey from a child tennis player to a college competitor, and the challenges of turning pro.
Tickets $5 at the door