What do you wish for?

Do you base our choices on what you want, or what you think you're supposed to want? Let yourself feel what you feel and want what you want, THEN engage your mind in the process. The best wishes are born from your heart.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Molly Blue Dawn's List of Events for the Week starting Wednesday, April 23, 2014

World Book Night, Lighten Up About Growing Older, Vortex Journeys Earth Day Meditation, Handmade Box, Shakespeare’s Birthday, Tibetan Sound Healing, Bard Birthday Party and Macbeth Read Through, Fashion Revolution Day 2014 - Who Made Your Clothes?, Woodland Crown, Healing Foods Basics, Macrame Plant Hanger Workshop, History Mystery Tour, Shatner’s World, Pearls Over Shanghai, Geoff Hoyle's Geezer, Arbor Day, Salute to Education: Alameda’s Premier Event Celebrating Public Education, Goddess of the Month: Amaterasu and Uzume, East Bay Pagan Meet and Greet, New Deal Film Festival: Saving America from the Great Depression, Pagan Movie Night: Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Downtown Martinez Ghost Walk, Vintage Invasion, Gamble Garden Spring Tour: Details and Inspirations, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, Bay Area Dance Week, Ruddigore or The Witch’s Curse, Plant Exchange, Watership Down, Alameda's Earth Day Festival, John Muir Birthday - Earth Day Celebration, Cob Oven Workshop, Petaluma Butter and Egg Days, California College Of The Arts Spring Fair, Sheep Shearing Day at Forest Home Farm, Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration, SkyJam Festival, Feminine Radiance, CAYA Pagan Picnic, Witches’ Social and Networking Gathering, Lose Your Lawn, Lather 101, Crafts for Kids On Board the Balclutha, Azerbaijani Art Music Live: Jeffrey Werbock's Mugham Program, Deep Fun Dreamwork, 8th MMTB Producers and Directors Challenge Film Fest, CAYA’s Festival of Bliss and Blessings, Persephone and The Soul’s Quest, Voyager: Interstellar Music and Science, Gaskell Ball, Tomas Jay, Gamelan X and Fanfare Zambaleta, Dancing With Change Trance Dance Activation, Hexenfest, Re-Storying the Self: A Writing Workshop, Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Festival, Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Sunnyvale Museum Spring Tea, Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale, Sheep Shearing Day at Ardenwood, Family Day at Sienna Ranch, Visioning Circle, Druid Beltaine, Drip Irrigation: Occupy the Flow!, All About Avocados, Festival of the Silk Road, Maharishi Light Therapy with Gems, ukiaHaiku Festival, Body Mudra: Kinetic Arts Workshop, Open House at PLACE for Sustainable Living, Witches' Tea Party!, Tea and Tarot, Oracular Seidh, Lake Merritt Pagans, Dark of the Moon Practice for Hermes and Hekate, Nerd Nite East Bay, Baking 101:Scones As A Way of Life, Of Single Mind and Fractured Heart: A Night of Absurd Storytelling
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World Book Night
Wednesday, April 23

“World Book Night is an annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading, person to person.  Each year on April 23, tens of thousands of people in the U.S. go out into their communities and give a total of half a million free World Book Night paperbacks to light and non-readers.

Each year, 30 books are chosen by an independent panel of librarians and booksellers. The authors of the books waive their royalties and the publishers agree to pay the costs of producing the specially-printed World Book Night U.S. editions. Bookstores and libraries sign up to be community host locations for the volunteer book givers.

After the book titles are announced, members of the public apply to personally hand out 20 copies of a particular title in their community. World Book Night U.S. vets the applications, and the givers are chosen based on their ability to reach light and non-readers. The selected givers choose a local participating bookstore or library from which to pick up the 20 copies of their book, and World Book Night U.S. delivers the books to these host locations.

Givers pick up their books in the week before World Book Night.  On April 23rd, they give their books to those who don’t regularly read and/or people who don’t normally have access to printed books, for reasons of means or access.”
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Lighten Up About Growing Older
A LifeFire Laughter Yoga session with Annie Goglia
Wednesday, April 23, 6:00-7:00PM
The Lake Merritt Senior Living, 1800 Madison Street, Oakland
Free

“As we know, growing older has many challenges! How we decide to handle them can make all of the difference. Laughter Yoga can help us take them more lightly. Started by a medical doctor, it combines simple breathing exercises with group activities that simluate and stimulate laughter. In this interactive session, participants learn easy and fun exercises which reduce stress, increase health, and spark connection. The session includes the benefits of Laughter Yoga, a physical warm-up, and tips for applying Laughter Yoga in your everyday life.

Annie Goglia, Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, loves to serve as a joyful guide into the world of Laughter Yoga. Annie leads dynamic and fun team building and stress reduction presentations for businesses and organizations, as well as training others to become Laughter Yoga leaders. Annie founded the Oakland Lifefire Laughter Club in 2007, featured in Oakland Magazine, the East Bay Medical Guide, and on CBS Bay Sunday. Much of her over 20 years in the human service field focused on working with elders. She created and facilitates workshops, such as Lightening Up About Growing Older, which she has produced locally as well as on the East Coast. A skilled facilitator, Annie has a Masters of Art in Teaching, and is trained as a Life Coach and InterPlay Leader.”
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Vortex Journeys Earth Day Meditation
Wednesday, April 23, 6:30-8:30PM
The Crossroads, private land in Santa Rosa, RSVP for address
Free, donations welcomed
PLease RSVP to 707-542-4928 or beyondbeliefs@vortexjourneys.com

“We gather in Earth Vortex Energies for two hours to Give Gratitude to our Mother the Earth, to her Sister, Mother Nature, all the Elements and People who offer Service and Honor Earth with Love and Respect.”
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Handmade Box
with Camden M. Richards
Wednesday, April 23, 7:00-9:00PM
Handcraft Studio School, 5885 Doyle Street, Emeryville, 510-332-6101
$80, limit 10 students

“Join us to make a custom box to store photographs, love letters, postcard collections or whatever you deem precious enough to be held in a handmade box! During this evening workshop we will make a hinged lid box using pre-cut book board, decorative papers and book cloth. All tools and materials necessary to construct the box will be provided, but if you have any special decorative paper or other paper ephemera that you might like to use, please feel free to bring them along.

Note: we will make a roughly 8" x 5" x 2" box, but if you have a need for a specially sized box, please let us know the dimensions in advance via email and we will do our best to accommodate.

Camden M. Richards is a local artist, graphic designer, and printmaker who specializes in the design, craft and experimental creation of artist books and prints, incorporating various fine arts methods such as bookbinding, papermaking, printmaking, illustration, design, letterpress printing, and collage. Her books and prints have been included in local and national exhibitions as well as featured in national and international collections. In addition to making art under her imprint Liminal Press + Bindery and design/letterpress printing with Studio Ephemera, she loves to teach workshops and spread her passion for book - and printmaking with children and adults alike.”
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Shakespeare’s Birthday
presented by Livermore Shakes
Wednesday, April 23, 7:00PM
Swirl on the Square, 21 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore
$35, please register in advance at the website below

“Join Livermore Shakes for an intimate event in downtown Livermore!

Celebrate the Bard’s 450th Birthday with Livermore Shakes! A few Livermore Shakes Associate artists will present some of Shakespeare’s beloved sonnets and monologues. Join in the fun and brush up YOUR Shakespeare during the open mic segment. Come prepared with your favorite piece or choose from a selection of sonnets that we will make available that evening. No need to participate in order to celebrate… the open mic segment is optional!

Price is $35 per person and includes the staged reading by Livermore Shakes artists, a glass of wine and a delicious and hearty Tapas Sampler plate.”
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Tibetan Sound Healing
with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30-9:00PM - final session
Sacred Stream Center, 2149 Byron Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
$20 in advance, $25 at the door (may sell out)
For more information, please e-mail info@sacredstream.org

“One of the world's oldest unbroken spiritual traditions is the Bon Buddhist tradition of Tibet. This wisdom path has survived thanks to the efforts of a handful of dedicated lamas, such as Bon lineage holder Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. In this series of teachings, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche gives us the tools to access wisdom and compassion, and to use the vibration of sacred sound to purify our body, connect with our inherent perfection and completeness, and awaken spiritual virtue.

You can come to any one of the talks or all of the talks. If you miss one of the earlier ones, you will still benefit from attending later ones.

This lecture series benefits the Tibetan's Children's School and the Tibetan Association of Northern California.”
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Bard Birthday Party and Macbeth Read Through
with We Players
Wednesday, April 23, 8:00-10:30PM
Aboard the Balclutha, Hyde Street Pier, 499 Jefferson Street, San Francisco
$10

“Wednesday April 23, 2014 is William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday!

Help us celebrate the Bard and kick off We Players’ Macbeth 2014 adventure!

This special celebratory event includes:
Macbeth read aloud by 2014 cast members, and introduced by Founding Artistic Director, Ava Roy, and Managing Director, Lauren D. Chavez
Interested guests invited to read parts alongside company actors (Contact Us if interested in playing a part!)
Sumptuous birthday cake!
A champagne toast!”
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Fashion Revolution Day 2014 - Who Made Your Clothes?
Thursday, April 24
Turn your clothes inside out

“We believe in a fashion industry which values people, the environment, creativity and profits in equal measure, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that this happens.
Fashion Revolution Day has been initiated by a global board of industry leaders, campaigners, press and academics from within the sector and beyond, who see the tragedy at Rana Plaza in Bangladesh as a metaphorical call to arms.   
This annual appointment on the anniversary of the disaster will help to raise awareness of the true cost of fashion, show the world that change is possible, and celebrate all those involved in creating a more sustainable future. The victims of Rana Plaza and all other tragedies that have occurred in the name of fashion must never be forgotten, and so we will now take this energy and channel it into a longstanding campaign.

Fashion Revolution Day will celebrate fashion as a positive influence, and all those who contribute to making it so.  It will be a truly global movement which brings together both the fashion community at large and the entire fashion supply chain.

We will use the day to ask questions, to raise standards, to make a difference and to set an example to the rest of the industry that change is possible.  We will celebrate the big stories and the small stories, from farmers to factory workers, brands to buyers, consumers to campaigners.

The theme of the first Fashion Revolution Day is Who Made Your Clothes?

With one simple gesture #insideout, we ask you to question who made your clothes (and no, we don't mean which brand… we mean ‘who?’, literally!) Imagine the thread from the garment, to the machinists who sewed it, all the way down to the farmer who grew the cotton.

We hope that this will initiate a process of discovery, raising awareness of the fact that buying is only the last click in a long journey involving hundreds of people: the invisible workforce behind the clothes we wear.
We will use the power of fashion to catalyse change and reconnect the broken links in the supply chain.

#insideout - tweet it, link it, like it, share it
We want you to wear an item of clothing inside out because we want people to change the way they look at the clothes they wear. Be curious.
We want you to start asking 'who made my clothes?' in order to initiate human connections throughout the supply chain. Find out.
We want hundreds of thousands of people to make that gesture which will, in turn, raise awareness within the fashion industry that they need to continue the process of change. Do something about it.”
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Woodland Crown
crafting workshop with Caron Dunn
Thursday, April 24, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Castle in the Air 1805 Fourth Street, Berkeley, 510-204-9801
$105 includes materials
register in advance - class limited to 8 students

“What person, young or old, doesn’t want to be a princess or prince of the wild wood? Caron will teach you how to fashion a delicate woodland crown from florist wire and birch twigs, then demonstrate how to adorn it with handmade felt leaves, vintage millinery flowers, acorns, and lace. A particularly charming embellishment is the delicate butterfly you will make in class using silk and glass beads.”
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Healing Foods Basics
with Thais Harris
Thursday, April 24, 6:00-8:00PM
Ceres Community Meeting Room, 7351 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol
sliding scale $10-$35
No one turned away for lack of funds; please call or email for scholarships.

“Make the connection between your health and the food and lifestyle factors that influence it. This class offers an overview of Ceres’ nutrient-rich approach to healthy eating while providing a fun environment and loving community.

Whole food nutrition basics
Shopping strategies
Foods to add and to avoid
Eating well on a budget
Healthy lifestyle choices

Healing Foods Basics is open to the public.
Space is limited, so please register early.”
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Macrame Plant Hanger Workshop
with Emily Katz
Friday, April 24, 7:00-10:00PM
Gravel and Gold, 3266 21st Street San Francisco, 415-552-0112
$100, limited to 10 participants
Pplease pre-register at tomra@gravelandgold.com or 415-552-0112

“Join us for an evening of making your own 1970s-inspired cotton macrame plant hangers. I learned how to make these beautiful hangers from my mother, who sold them at a salon when she was a teenager so she could buy her first guitar. And now I’m happy to pass on knowledge of the basic macrame stitches required to make an assortment of styles. We provide the cream-colored cotton rope and the brass hoop in a sweet screen-printed tote bag, as well as a small pot and a little plant to go into it! Perfect as a gift or for yourself. There will also be Macrame kits to purchase!

Light snacks and PG-13 beverages will be provided.

Emily Katz is currently traveling the world teaching macrame workshops, learning about energy healing, art directing, styling photo shoots, hosting events, collaborating on interior design projects and products, and dreaming up the next adventure.

She Attended Maryland Institute College of Art, with a focus on printmaking. Her success in the fashion industry began in 2003 with her line Bonnie Heart Clyde, and then her self-named sustainable clothing line. She lives in Portland, OR.”
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History Mystery Tour
on board the USS Hornet
Friday, April 24, 7:00-10:00PM
USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Avenue, Pier 3, Alameda, 510-521-8448
must be age 12+
$35, must book in advance at the website below

“Is the USS Hornet really haunted? Come and see for yourself! Do you dare explore Hornet after hours?

Beat the crowds and receive a special tour of areas onboard Hornet that have not yet been opened to the public or have been reported to host unseen visitors:
Combat Information Center (CIC)
Message Center (Radio Central)
Mess Deck
Sidewinder Missile Assembly Room
Brig
Catapult Machinery Room
Sick Bay
Captain and Admiral’s In Port State Rooms
Flight Deck and Island
Focsle and Secondary Con

Upcoming dates:
Friday, May 30, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Friday, August 15, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014

The three-hour guided tour is 7:00-10:00PM.
Everybody must bring their own flashlight. Hornet does not supply individual lights.
Cameras are welcome, but must have a neck strap.
Tour participants must wear comfortable shoes. Heels and open-toed shoes are not allowed.
Tour participants must be in good physical health as there will be lots of walking and climbing.
Due to safety reasons, children 12 and under are not allowed on History Mystery Tours.
The USS Hornet reserves the right to cancel a tour if less than 8 people sign up. Tours may be rescheduled or a refund will be issued.”
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Shatner’s World
live broadcast presented by Fathom Events
Friday, April 24, 7:30PM
see website for local theaters
$15

“A larger-than-life presentation of William Shatner’s critically acclaimed one-man show PLUS a special welcome from the man himself.

Fathom Events and priceline.com are thrilled to bring one of the most recognizable actors of our time, William Shatner, to select cinemas nationwide for a hilarious one-night event on Thursday, April 24.

Shatner’s World, the critically acclaimed one-man show, takes audiences on an exhilarating behind-the-scenes voyage through his storied life and career. With an energetic mix of personal anecdotes, laugh-out-loud humor and poignant moments, William Shatner shares his phenomenal journey from classically-trained Shakespearean actor to internationally-known cultural icon, all the while illuminating the unique persona of his most important character, himself.

In addition to a spectacular show, cinema audiences will be treated to an exclusive welcome from the man himself!

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Shatner’s World larger-than-life on the big screen!”
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Pearls Over Shanghai
presented by the Thrillpeddlers
Thursday-Saturday, April 24-26, 8:00PM
The Hypnodrome, 575 10th Street, San Francisco
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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Geoff Hoyle's Geezer
Thursday and Saturday, April 24 and 26 - final week
Thursday 8:00PM, Saturday 5:00PM
The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley
Sliding scale, Thursdays $25-$35, Saturdays $30-$35

“The Marsh is thrilled to announce the return of Geoff Hoyle’s hit solo show, Geezer.

From a hysterical riff on life in a nursing home to The Venerable Bede’s meditations on the meaning of life, from delightful reminiscences of his youth in England and young manhood in America to ruminations on aging and mortality, Hoyle brings his irrepressible sense of comedy and trademark physicality, as well as a certain elegiac wistfulness, to this tour-de-force performance about what it is like to grow old.

Geoff Hoyle trained with Marcel Marceau’s teacher, Etienne Decroux, in Paris, developing his unique physical bravura comic style, a combination of the court jester, vaudeville and English music hall. He made his mark in the Bay Area as the Pickle Family Circus’ beloved clown, Mr. Sniff. Later, he created the critically acclaimed Feast of Fools, featuring masked Commedia Dell’Arte characters including the libidinous and elderly Pantalone (Hoyle claims he will no longer need to use a mask for this one,) Il Dottore and the pratt-falling Arleccino. It is a depiction of Everyman striving for dignity in the face of a multitude of struggles, big and small, that is not unlike Hoyle’s own search for meaning in Geezer. His award-winning shows The Convict’s Return (about taking Feast of Fools to Broadway and its mixed reception there,) (Geni(us) and The First Hundred Years (an improbable history of comedy) have been seen in San Francisco, Paris, London, Berlin, Taiwan, New York, England and the former Soviet Union.

Regional theatre appearances include Berkeley and Seattle Repertory Theatres, A.C.T. and La Jolla Playhouse. He was the original Zazu in the Broadway cast of The Lion King and appeared off-Broadway in Bill Irwin’s Mr. Fox and in Tony Kushner’s and Maurice Sendak’s adaptation of the children’s opera Brundibar. His many film appearances include Popeye, during which his son, Dan, was born. Last summer, he performed his fabled three-legged dance in the oldest theatre in Italy, the Teatro della Pergola, built in Florence in 1656. Critics have remarked at the sheer joy Hoyle’s character finds in mastering his extra limb!”
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Arbor Day
Friday, April 25

Today is a day to plant, tend, appreciate and celebrate trees!
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Salute to Education: Alameda’s Premier Event Celebrating Public Education
Friday, April 25, 6:00-9:00PM
Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda
$30 includes one drink ticket and a commemorative glass.

“The Alameda Education Foundation is proud to present Salute to Education on April 25, 2014. Salute to Education presents an opportunity for business partners, teachers and parents to celebrate the innovation that goes on in our public schools. Rhythmix’s Cultural Center provides a sophisticated and urban setting for an evening of wine, good food and conversation.”
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Goddess of the Month: Amaterasu and Uzume
with Phoenix LeFae
Friday, April 25, 7:00-8:30PM, and the fourth Friday of every month
The Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, 510-444-9355
Free
Women only

“Together we will gather once a month and listen to the words of the Great Mother. We will do this through song, dance, trance, storytelling, and joyful community celebration.

Each month we will learn about and dive into the energy of a different Goddess from around the world. Our hope that is by meeting these different energies you will find one that resonates with your heart and you will walk away with the potential for a greater relationship with a Divine One.

Our Goddess of the Month gathering for April will bring in the energy of not one, but two Goddesses; Amaterasu and Uzume will help us to acknowledge our own beauty and learn to laugh at the joys in life. These Japanese Goddesses will share the limelight this month because their stories are so intertwined that one cannot be learned about without the other; reflecting our own interconnections to each other.  

Phoenix LeFae is an eclectic magickal practitioner, Tarot reader, and professional Priestess, who has been walking the path of the Witch for many years. She is driven by a love for myth and Deity, working to help people connect to the Mysterious Ones in their daily lives. She believes that magick and ritual can transform our inner landscapes and change the world. Phoenix teaches in the Reclaiming Tradition of Witchcraft and she is the founder of Brigid's Hammer Mystery School. Above all else, Phoenix is a spiritual seeker looking for ways to deepen her practice every day.

Ella is a Reclaiming witch and life coach, helping people to change their lives by finding their path and true calling. She works with mystery in a myriad of forms and embodies magic in every cell of her being. She has a spark of energy that infuses her magick and inspires those around her. Ella recognizes that there is magick in even what seems mundane and helps others to see this for themselves.”
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East Bay Pagan Meet and Greet
at The Mystic Dream
Friday, April 25, 7:00-8:30PM, and the fourth Friday of every month
The Mystic Dream, 1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925-933-2342
donations accepted

“Come and join other witches, warlocks, and pagans as we come together in community to some food, and maybe a few laughs. Come and meet some of the other magically minded people in the East Bay area. Coffee and tea will be served. Feel free to bring a small food item to share.”
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New Deal Film Festival: Saving America from the Great Depression
sponsored by Save the Berkeley Post Office
and the National Post Office Collaborate.
Friday, April 25, 7:00PM
BFUU, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley

“The New Deal Film Festival shows us films from the 1930s of federal works that improved lives of Americans during the Great Depression.

On Friday, April 25, at 7:00PM, films show New Deal artists at work in Post Offices and many public buildings. They include Bernard Zakheim's Coit Tower murals and other New Deal artists who were interviewed when they were alive. Many became famous in later years.  At 9:00PM, films about Hope for the Future and the building of community - people engaged in cooperative farming in Texas and Alaska, building new homes, and their experience with rural electrification. Dick Powell sings the grand finale.

The New Deal Film Festival is a fundraiser for the National Post Office Collaborate and the Save the Berkeley Post Office Committee.  They are working to keep our Berkeley Post Office and other historic post office buildings from being sold by the US Postal Service.  The Collaborate was successful in saving one through legal action when a preliminary injunction was issued against the sale of the historic Stamford, CT Post Office. We may have to pursue legal action to save the Berkeley Post Office.  Unfortunately, legal action is quite costly and funds must be raised to continue.  For information call 510-486-8010.”
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Pagan Movie Night: Bedknobs and Broomsticks
presented by Community Seed
and SubRosa Cafe
Friday, April 25, 7:30PM
SubRosa Cafe, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz
Free

“Pagan Movie Night! How much fun is that??

A co-production of Community Seed and SubRosa Cafe, the Pagan Film Series is a great way to build stronger relationships between Santa Cruz’s various radical/witchy communities,
kickstart broader conversation on Pagan history and practices for those unfamiliar with it, and encourage exploration of and discourse on Pagan spirituality.
Also, a helluva lotta fun.

This monthly series of features will be preceded by a few bizarre and entertaining short subjects and will be followed by a lively Q and A with David Espinoza and our own Alisa.

Drinks and snacks are available from the Subrosa Cafe for nominal donations.

Dates and Films:
Sorceress, Friday, May 16

Doors at 7:30PM, Showtime 8:00PM.”
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Downtown Martinez Ghost Walk
Friday, April 25, 8:00PM, and the fourth and fifth Friday of every month
tour starts at Main Street Martinez, 649 Main Street,  Suite 106, Martinez
$25

“Take the 90 minute guided walking tour through Historic Downtown Martinez to discover the hidden past, little known facts and tales of days-gone-by.

Tours conducted by Central Valley Paranormal.

Tours are limited to 25 people. Advanced ticket purchase recommended. No children under 12 years allowed. Teens 12-17 years must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a flashlight, wear comfortable shoes. Bring jacket and wear comfortable clothing.”
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Vintage Invasion
Friday, April 25, 8:00PM-Midnight and the fourth Friday of each month
The Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut Street, berkeley
$7

“Vintage Invasion - where the old dances invade a new generation
Our crowd is growing and thriving... a really positive atmosphere!

Have you ever waltzed to Metallica or danced a polka to Lady Gaga? Yes?  Then you know what a great time it is, and we will see you there!  No?  Well it's never too late to start.  Since we have hundreds of years of waltz music to choose from, the variety makes a wonderful, festive evening.  This is a casual, neighborhood party: a chance to meet people, bounce around, and generally make merry.  We'll have a potluck; you are welcome to bring snacks if you like.  Your hosts always bring the punch and water.  No alcohol, please, as we sometimes have dancers under 21 attending.

All are welcome for the lesson, so we can get you moving and ready to sail across the floor.  If you're new to dancing we promise to be patient with you, and if you have waltzed before we will improve your technique.  After class, during the dance party, we will still be available to help you with what we taught you, and introduce you to some of our regulars.  They are well skilled, but don't be shy about asking them to dance with you too.  They'll probably be happy for the chance to show off. :)

8:00-9:00PM = Lesson in Vintage Waltz - no partner or experience needed
9:00PM-Midnight = Dance to Persephone and guest DJs playing lots of waltzes, and a little bit of many other partner dances.”
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Gamble Garden Spring Tour: Details and Inspirations
Friday-Saturday, April 25-26, 10:00AM-4:00PM
Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley Street, Palo Alto
$35 in advance $40 on the day

“5 Private Gardens, Marketplace, Plant Sale

It's often the little details that make a garden so special.  Join us as we open another five wonderful gardens this year.  Each one of the gardens is filled with inspiring details and ideas that you can bring home to your own garden.

Before or after your Tour, visit Gamble Garden for the Marketplace and Over the Garden Fence to shop for unique garden-related gifts, accessories, jewelry, and household treasures. The Plant Sale will highlight items found in the Tour gardens, plants propagated by volunteers, seeds, and water-wise plants. You will also find very special items and events in the Silent Auction.”
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Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
film screening
Friday-Sunday, April 25-27,
Friday 7:30PM, Saturday 5:00PM and 7:30PM, Sunday 2:00PM and 5:00PM
The Magick Lantern, 125 Park Place, Point Richmond, 510-234-1404
regular showings $7, Sunday 2:00PM matinee $5

“Over 20 years of existence can buy a lot of pop culture real estate in the hearts and minds of fans. Alan Partridge has conquered the world of radio, television and publishing, but with the release of the character’s first film, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, few may be scratching their heads thinking ‘who is Alan Partridge?’ Luckily, the comedic fabrication of actor Steve Coogan and comedy guru Armando Iannucci (creator of The Thick of It, Veep, In The Loop) stands on its own while still retaining every hilarious nuance of the character.”
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Bay Area Dance Week
Friday-Monday, April 25-May 4
see website for local events all over the Bay Area

“Bay Area Dance Week is a 10-day festival of free public dance events. The 2014 festival will feature 500+ free events including classes, performances, open rehearsals, lecture demonstrations, and the return of the wildly popular Kick-Off Event on Friday, April 25, 2014 in Union Square Park, SF.

As a celebration of our local dance community’s extraordinary diversity, BADW provides an opportunity for dance-lovers of all ages and experience-levels to take a grand tour of the many movement styles, including Argentine tango, classical Indian, jazz, hip hop, ballet, traditional hula, fire dance, Samba, modern, Chinese classical, belly dance, aerial dance, West African, contact improvisation and more.”
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Ruddigore or The Witch’s Curse
Presented by Role Players Ensemble
Friday-Sunday, April 25-27,
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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Plant Exchange
Saturday - April 26, 10:00AM-1:00PM
Campbell Library,77 Harrison Avenue, Campbell, 408-866-1991
Free

“Find a home for your extra plants and score some new additions for your garden. Free! No registration is required.

Bring your plants, bulbs, cuttings or seedlings for trade or giveaway. All types of plants are welcome.

Label your plants with plant name, height, and whether it needs sun, shade or partial. Pick up labels at the Campbell Library information desk. Labels will also be available on the day of the plant exchange.

No time to re-pot your donations? No problem: bags and newspaper will do.

If you would like to simply drop off your plants, the library will be accepting plant donations from April 21-April 26, 2014.”
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Watership Down
part of the Popcorn Palace series at the Balboa Theatre
Saturday, April 26, 10:00AM
The Balboa Theatre, 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco
$10 includes popcorn and a drink

“Watership Down is a 1978 British animated adventure drama film written, produced and directed by Martin Rosen and based on the book of the same name by Richard Adams. It was financed by a consortium of British financial institutions. Originally released on 19 October 1978, the film was an immediate success and it became the sixth most popular film of 1979 at the British box office.[1] It was one of the first animated feature films to be presented in Dolby.

It featured the voices of John Hurt, Richard Briers, Harry Andrews, Simon Cadell, Nigel Hawthorne and Roy Kinnear, among others, and was the last film appearance of Zero Mostel, as the voice of Kehaar the gull.

The musical score was by Angela Morley and Malcolm Williamson. Art Garfunkel's hit single Bright Eyes, which was written by songwriter Mike Batt briefly features.”
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Alameda's Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 26, 10:00AM-3:00PM
Washington Park, 740 Central Avenue, Alameda
Free

“Come Celebrate the planet with Alameda.

As part of the celebration, the goal is to present simple lifestyle changes to help the environment.

Enjoy free activities for kids, Earth Day games and exhibits.  
Learn about building a clean, healthy, sustainable world for generations to come.
Visit the Farmer's Market stands.
Youth activities led by Scouts from Alameda troops.

Get involved with the Earth Day Beach Clean-up:
Contact Crab Cove Visitor Center at 510-544-3187.”
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John Muir Birthday - Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 26, 10:00AM-4:00PM
John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez
Free

“John Muir Birthday-Earth Day Celebration
A Centennial Celebration of John Muir's legacy

Keynote Speaker, Bruce Hamilton, Deputy Executive Director, Sierra Club

We will present our 36th annual John Muir Conservation Awards to the 2013 recipients

Photo opportunities with ‘John Muir’ and his 130-year-old giant sequoia tree.

National Park Service Horticulturalist Keith Park talks about the cloning of Muir's famous sequoia.

John Muir inspired people all over the world to ‘keep close to nature’s heart.’ In this spirit, we celebrate John Muir’s April 21st birthday at his former home, along with Earth Day, which brings us closer to knowing our planet and practical ways to help it thrive.

Bring the family for fun-filled activities and entertainment:
Exhibitors with activities for everyone
Live music
Recycled Fashion Show
Silent auctions
Self-guided tours of the 1882 historic home and the drought-tolerant California Native Plant Garden
Junior ranger projects with National Park Service rangers
‘John Muir’ shares stories and birthday cake
Much more!

Food and beverages are available for purchase. This event will be held rain or shine - dress for the weather.”
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Cob Oven Workshop
with Miguel Elliott of Living Earth Structures
Saturday, April 26, 10:00AM-5:00PM  
Chimera Arts Center, 6791 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol
$50, please RSVP at the website below

“We will be building an oven at this new Maker Space conveniently located across from Guayaki Tea and the Community Market.  Come learn the art of using local Earth to build an oven which can be used to bake bread, veggies, cookies, and of course, the best tasting pizza EVER!

Children are welcome to attend.  We will also be making adobe bricks this day and little house models which children can help with.  

Cost for the workshop is $50.  If you like, you may bring a sample of Earth from your property, and you can learn how to test if it is suitable for building.”
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Petaluma Butter and Egg Days
Parade and Celebration
Saturday, April 26, 10:00AM-5:00PM, Parade starts at 12:00PM
B Street and South Petaluma Boulevard, Historic Downtown Petaluma
Free

“Petaluma’s Butter and Eggs Parade and Celebration is in its 33rd year,and has become a tradition in Downtown Petaluma, celebrating the region’s rich agricultural history as one of the premier dairy regions in the country.

Together with The Petaluma River, eggs and dairy products created an economy that turned Petaluma into one of the most prosperous communities in the state in the early 1900s. The event typically draws over 25,000 attendees.

The community parade showcases the best of Petaluma and Petaluma’s history. The 100-unit parade features over 3,000 participants, more than a hundred volunteers and supports every aspect of community life.

Activities before, during and after the parade include four blocks of exhibit space for arts and crafts exhibitors, food vendors offering a wide variety of festival foods, sponsor booths, community and non-profit booths and a large area to entertain youngsters with inflatables, rides, and hands-on activities. Don’t miss this great opportunity to participate in one of the North Bay’s largest events.

To request accommodations for persons with disabilities or if you have communication needs such as large print, braille or sign language interpreters, please call 1-800-310-6563 or fax us at 415-456-6436 at least three weeks prior to the event.”
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California College Of The Arts Spring Fair
Saturday, April 26, 11:00AM-3:00PM
CCA Oakland Campus, 5212 Broadway, Oakland
Free

“CCA's idyllic Oakland campus becomes a bustling arts bazaar for a day. The public is invited to shop for one-of-a-kind, handmade, affordable gifts created by the CCA community:
paintings
drawings
prints
cards
jewelry
ceramics
hand-blown glass
clothing
photography
textiles
and more!

Discover unique gifts while enjoying live jazz music and tasty treats.”
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Sheep Shearing Day
at Forest Home Farm
Saturday, April 26, 11:00AM-3:00PM
Forest Home Farm, 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, San Ramon
$7 Adults, $5 Child, Under 2 Free

“The San Ramon Historic Foundations presents Sheep Shearing Day 2014 at Forest Home Farms Historic Park.

Sheep Shearing is one of the San Ramon Historic Foundations largest annual events, drawing over 1000 people to the farm.  It is an opportunity for community members of all ages to come together and enjoy a day on the farm while learning and having fun.

Over 100 sheep will receive their annual haircut and provide an opportunity for us to demonstrate how sheep are sheared.  You will see how their wool is removed; cleaned and spun into yarn all while the sheepdogs are herding the next sheep in line to get their haircut.

During your day on the farm you will have an opportunity to browse around the historic buildings and you will observe wool spinners, quilters, entertainment, refreshments, tractor rides, train rides and the valley’s largest display of ‘Hit and Miss’ irrigation engines.  The kid’s area will keep your children entertained with crafts and games.  

Don’t forget to stop by the Foundation Gift Shoppe to pick up a souvenir from your special day on the farm.”
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Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 26, 11:00AM-3:00PM
South end of Stinson Beach, Marin County
see website for directions
Free

“Celebrate Earth Day by creating art on the beach! Join in as community members, professional artists, and passers-by construct sculpture using sand, rocks, shells, seaweed and other beach treasures. In past years, we've stacked rock towers, made spirals from seaweed, planted a forest of ‘trees’ made of driftwood, and created dragons, fairies, and abstract designs. During this playful event, participants work alone and in groups, transforming the beach into an evolving outdoor sculpture gallery. The intention behind the event is to create an experience that will inspire and energize people to care for and protect the earth not only on Earth Day, but throughout the year. The event starts with beach cleanup. We supply bags and gloves.

Musicians, dancers, and other artists also participate in the event, inviting collaborative expression in service to the earth. You are invited to bring along small percussion instruments such as shakers, bells, or palm-sized drums to join in the musical creation.

Instruction in sand globe making will take place periodically throughout the event, and we'll use the globes in our creative endeavors.

Bring a picnic lunch. The gathering will take place rain, shine, or fog. Come any time from 11:00AM-3:00PM. All ages. Sorry, no dogs allowed at this end of the beach. Consider carpooling and public transportation. The event is at the south end of the beach (to the left as you face the ocean).”
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SkyJam Festival
Saturday, April 26, 11:00AM-4:00PM
Skytown Preschool, 1 Lawson Road, Kensington
$5 per person, children under 2 free

“Skytown SkyJam
A great event for the younger crowd and their families!

Admission $5, kids 2 and under FREE!

Activities for the entire family with special performances by The Bubble Lady and more!

The bouncy house will be jumpin' all day. It will be a great time, bring the whole family and all of your friends! Have a great time and don't forget to check out the Silent Auction, you could walk away with some really great stuff. Family friendly food and drinks will be on offer, plus beer and wine.

Proceeds benefit Skytown Preschool, a parent-run cooperative preschool located in the East Bay hills, near Berkeley.”
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Feminine Radiance
with Sharon McDaniel
sponsored by LoveJourney
Saturday, April 26, 11:00AM-6:00PM
private retreat center in Sebastopol, address given when registered and paid
$90 per Woman, $130 per Couple or Pair

“A Day of Renewal, Radiance, Fun, and Connection

Yoga, Dance, Sound Healing, Meditation, Healing Touch, Pampering and Nurturing Tools and the Power of a Women’s Circle

All to Help You Open and Connect with Your Most Radiant Divine Feminine Self.

Get Your Glow On and Enjoy:
Yoga and Dance to Relax, Recharge, Release and Have Fun
Awaken your Senses with Aromatherapy and Various Nurturing Tools
Give and Receive Pampering Sessions with Lavender Foot and Head Rub
Feel More Feminine, Nurtured, Attractive, Connected and Energized
Enjoy Community with Your Sisters and Energize Your Intentions

Bring: Water Bottle, Towel or Mat to Sit on, Flowing Scarf, Bag Lunch, and Jacket.
Dress or Bring Beautiful Adornments to Express your Feminine Self.

For any Questions, please contact Sharon at 808-419-1197 or hwgoddess@yahoo.com

Contact LoveJourney at 707-824-1117 for any Overnight Accommodations.

Led by Sharon McDaniel who is Certified in Yoga Meets Dance, Massage and Life Coaching. She has been a Bodyworker and Healing Facilitator for 20 years. She loves helping people open up their energy flow and increase spirit, fun, and connection.”
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CAYA Pagan Picnic
Saturday, April 26, 12:00-4:00PM
Neptune Picnic Area, Washington Park, Crab Cove Entrance,
1252 McKay Avenue, Alameda
Free

“We know how it is. May is coming and you're eager to spend a day in the park celebrating the return of Spring and warmth with your fellow pagans. But where to go? Join your friends in CAYA at Crab Cove Park in Alameda on Saturday, April 26th for a pagan picnic! Dress in your fun festival finery and plan to sing, chat, and explore the park with us! Bring picnic fare for you and yours; if you'd like to grill, we'll have one ready for the first few hours! Enjoy the day, and then join us in the evening for our Festival of Bliss and Blessings Sabbat, nearby at the Home of Truth Spiritual Center in Alameda! We look forward to celebrating with you all!

BYO - Whatever you'd like to eat and drink! (Beer/Cider/Wine allowed, but please drink responsibly!)”
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Witches’ Social and Networking Gathering
hosted by Northern California local council of Covenant of the Goddess
Saturday, April 26, 1:30PM
Fireside Room, upstairs at BFUU, 1606 Bonita Avenue, Berkeley
Free

Glenn Turner says:
“Merry Meet my friends,

You and members of your coven or circle are invited to a Witches’ Social and Networking Gathering on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 1:30PM at the BFUU (Unitarian hall) near Cedar at 1606 Bonita Avenue in Berkeley. We have the Fireside Room, which is upstairs in the back building. (Sorry about the stairs for the less able.)

We (Northern California local council of Covenant of the Goddess) are hosting this as an act of service for our community.  Our intent for this gathering is to provide a space for us to introduce our groups, covens or ourselves as fellow Witches and covens of the Greater Bay Area. We are interested in what you are doing and how we can help each other by exchanging ideas and what activities we are doing.

This invitation is intended to reach the many, many individual Witches and covens of this area.  If you know of other Witches that may not have received this invitation, you may invite them for us. We hope to meet again in a few months to allow those who can’t come to this meeting to come to a later one. In the past, smaller parts of the Bay Area have formed networking groups, for example South Bay Circles, but we wish to hold a meeting that is for the greater Bay Area.  If we make an e-list, we can exchange info on invitational/public Sabbats and possibly help guide new seekers to training covens or just open Sabbats.

I have taken the liberty of using the many email addresses I’ve collected over the years and through PantheaCon.  Your email will only be used this time. So if you want to stay in touch with this e-list, please respond that you are coming to our gathering.  (Also, let me  know if you can’t attend, but would like to be included in future invitations.)

Blessed be,
Glenn Turner,
Organizer of PantheaCon, owner of Ancient Ways shop
Current Covenant of the Goddess Membership Officer for Northern California Local Council”
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Lose Your Lawn
Saturday, April 26, 1:30-3:00PM
Hayward Public Library, 777 B Street, Hayward
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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Lather 101
with Serena Bartlett
Saturday, April 26, 2:00-5:00PM
North Oakland , RSVP for address
$35-$65 sliding scale, plus $10 supply fee to be paid in cash on day of class

“Making soap is so much fun! Join Serena Bartlett, travel author and DIY maven, to learn the cold process method for making soap. You'll learn about the different types of bar soaps, how to balance your fats and alkalines with solid ratios, attributes of different plant oils, and fun things to add for various benefits like exfoliation or extra moisturizing. Then we'll walk through the process of making a batch of soap. We'll learn techniques for measuring and mixing, how to safely work with sodium hydroxide (lye), options for molding and details of the curing process . As an extra bonus, we'll see how to turn these cold process bar soaps into liquid hand soap or shower gel, and you'll go home with samples and a cool recipe zine. Make a bar for Mother's Day!”
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Crafts for Kids On Board the Balclutha
Saturday, April 26, 3:00-4:00PM, and the fourth Saturday of every month
Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco
included with Balclutha admission, Adults $5, 15 and under free
For more information, please call 415-447-5000.

“Learn about life at sea and have fun making a maritime craft. You could walk away with your own sailor's necklace that spells your name in ship Signal Flags! Appropriate for ages 3-12, but everyone is welcome! Meet inside the ARK houseboat at the entrance to Hyde Street Pier.”
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Azerbaijani Art Music Live: Jeffrey Werbock's Mugham Program
Saturday, April 26, 5:00-7:00PM
Silk Road House, 1944 University Avenue, Berkeley, 510-981-0700

“For the second time at the Silk Road House, to our great satisfaction, Jeffrey Werbock will present a program of instrumental solo improvisations based on traditional Azerbaijani mugham, played on oud - fretless wood face short neck lute; tar - fretted skin face long neck lute; and kamancha - skin face spike fiddle.

Azerbaijani mugham is monophonic modal music, highly microtonal, meter free, densely ornamented, composed of complex melodic lines that are somewhat improvised according to certain traditional rules, and conveys a mix of sorrow and joy, exaltation and lament, and an overall sense of both antiquity and otherworldliness.

Mr. Werbock is Chairman of the Mugham Society of America. The mission of Mugham Society of America is to promote awareness of Azerbaijan and its traditional art culture in the English-speaking West.

Mr. Werbock has been giving presentations for well over three decades and has performed often at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, Asia Society, World Music Institute, and presents lecture demonstrations at colleges and universities all over the English speaking world. He has been awarded an honorary degree by the National Music Conservatory of Azerbaijan, in Baku, and was recently sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan to perform a solo concert.

Silk Road House events are sponsored by the Silkroad Foundation.”
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Deep Fun Dreamwork
with Joan Bechtel
Saturday, April 26, 5:00-7:00PM,
and the five more Saturdays through May 31
The Mystic Dream, 1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925-933-2342
$30 per session

“Dreams are invitations to creative discovery. They horrify, stump and delight us. They ask us to come out and play! From the vast creative well of the unconscious, they deliver just the medicine we need! But unveiling their many layers of meaning can be challenging for the individual alone. Dreams come alive in a supportive group setting. Especially if we do not limit our experience to the verbal, but dialog with them in their own language through expressive arts. Our series will be based in Jeremy Taylor’s dreamer-centered approach. Limit of 6 participants. Join us for six weeks of DEEP FUN.

Joan Betchel  is a psychotherapist, writer, performer and artist devoted to sharing the joy of healing through creative expression and playful dreamwork. She uses her therapy and art backgrounds combined with her six decades of life experience to create a safe, supportive and creative environment for personal and group discovery.”
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8th MMTB Producers and Directors Challenge Film Fest
presented by MMTB - Movie Making Throughout the Bay
Saturday, April 26, 6:30-10:00PM
Rheem Theatre, 350 Park Street, Moraga
$10, Please Register In Advance, This Showing Will Sell Out!!!!!

“Doors open at 6:30PM, please arrive early- if you miss any films in any category set you can't vote for that section of voting, even if it's only the first film in the set.

Films start at 7:00PM, end at 10:00PM - voting is throughout the screening

Films screening tonight Films Made at our Feb Directors Challenge Event and
All Producer's Challenge Contestants + Bonus Bay Area Films Screened and Voted On!

Winners of this Screening will be played again on our next MMTB Film Fest and given awards.

The Rheem Theatre was built in the late 1950s by Donald Rheem, and was originally a single-screen movie palace with a large stage and dance floor, which the theatre retains and often uses to this day. It was closed during the 1970s, and reopened as a performing arts venue in the 1980s. During a remodel in the in the late 1990s, three additional screens were added, thus making the Rheem Theatre a four-screen multiplex. Though the theatre has been consistently updated, it still retains its original art deco feel, with Zodiac Style art in each house.”
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CAYA’s Festival of Bliss and Blessings
presented by CAYA Coven’s Ekstasis Guild
Saturday, April 26, 7:00PM
The Home of Truth, 1300 Grand Street, Alameda
$10 donation requested

“The ecstatic expression of bliss brings blessings upon the whole community, honors the balance between civilization and wildness, and reconnects to your wild self to nature.

Join us as we answer the Call of the Wild, celebrate the ripe Blessings of Dionysus and Thyone, and revel in the Bliss of it All. Now is the time to dance the ecstatic dance and sing the joyous song! Come! Come! Dare to hope and laugh and sing and play!

Please bring voices to sing, dancing hearts, plus rattles, shakers, drums, bells, flutes, and the like to make some mighty fine music.

Feel free to bring an offering for cakes and ale, which we will share in the Home of Truth Cottage after the ritual has concluded.”
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Persephone and The Soul’s Quest
with Maya Spector
an event for women
part of the Persephone Rising Cycle
Saturday, April 26, 7:00PM
private home, 685 1/2 Fairmount Avenue, Oakland
$20 in advance, $30 at the door
Pre-registration required as space is limited.
Please call 650-329-1415, or email: mayaspector@hotmail.com

“Maya Spector Presents: The Persephone Cycle
Persephone and The Soul’s Quest
An evening of storytelling, poetry and ritual for women
In this ancient tale of soul-making, Psyche must complete four arduous tasks, the last of which is to descend to the underworld to ask Persephone for her help.  Her story will be our focus.”
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Voyager: Interstellar Music and Science
presented by Wonderfest and Salon97
Saturday, April 26, 7:30-9:30PM
Variety Screening Room, 582 Market Street, San Francisco
Free, please RSVP at the website below

“Join Salon97 and Wonderfest for an unforgettable evening of cosmic music and science! Voyager: Interstellar Music and Science offers a peek into the science behind Voyager I and II and the Golden Record. Explore your love of music and science with experts as your guide!

Featured speakers/presentations include:
Jeff Cuzzi, NASA scientist and Voyager Imaging Team Member
Timothy Ferris, science writer and original Golden Record producer/editor
Multi-media presentation of Daniel Gilliam‘s The Aggregate of our Joy and Suffering
Performance of music from the Golden Record by Solenn Seguillon, violin.

Space is very limited for this event, so we ask that you only reserve a ticket if you will be able to join us April 26.”
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Gaskell Ball
Saturday, April 26, 7:30PM
Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland
$20

"Ye Gaskell Occasional Dance Society has been sponsoring Victorian Ballroom dances for over 20 years. We currently sponsor 6 balls a year at the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland.

We have live music played by the Brassworks of San Francisco, a group of 5 brass horns and a drummer led by Frank Davis. The dances feature Victorian Waltzes, Polkas, Schottisches, Mazurkas, and set dances such as the Sir Roger de Coverley and the Congress of Vienna.

The general format of the dance is three 40 minute and one 30 minute sessions of live music, with three 20 minute breaks. We also occasionally have other entertainment during the breaks such as Morris dancing. The first set starts at 8:30 PM, with the last set ending at Midnight. Starting at 7:45 PM is a dance workshop where members of the Society quickly cover the basics of waltzing, polkas and the schottische.

Of course, the usual 19th, 20th and 21st century formal wear is always welcome.

Dress is 19th, 20th, or 21st Century Formalwear
Admission may be refused for those inappropriately dressed.

Refreshments are potluck finger food with the Society providing both fruit punch and ice water.

Special Guest Performance!

Our friends at Dance Libre will be performing during the first intermission.
Danse Libre, one of the nation's premier vintage dance performance groups! Danse Libre is an organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated to the lively exhibition of vintage social dances. Danse Libre performs a variety of breathtaking pieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries in authentic period costume.

Upcoming dates:
June 21, 2014
August 16, 2014
October 25, 2014
December 13, 2014"
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Tomas Jay
in concert
Saturday, April 26, 8:00PM
Avanova, 417 Avon Street, Oakland
$10-$15 sliding scale, please RSVP at the website below
http://avonovamusic.com/tomas-jay-2

“Please join us on Saturday, April 26 when Avonova welcomes vocalist Tomas Jay for his return engagement.  The show starts at 8:00PM and admission is $10.  Doors open at 7:15PM.  Tomas will be joined by Bob Zucker (guitar), Hiroshi Murakami (Bass), with Drums/Percussion TBD.

Tomas Jay’s unique voice is both soulful and accomplished. His singing takes the listener on an emotional, even healing journey. An Alumnus of the New England Conservatory of Music, and the San Francisco School of the Performing Arts. His range includes gospel, jazz, R and B, pop classics, musical theater, classical songs, and spoken word. Tomas was featured on a national PBS special broadcast, and he has performed with the Boston Pops, Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee in Boston, House of Blues in Cambridge, 13th Annual Bayard Rustin Breakfast at the JFK library and Museum, and many other popular venues. These impressive credentials, however, can’t begin to express the powerful sound of his voice - for that, you need to hear him for yourself.

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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Gamelan X and Fanfare Zambaleta
Saturday, April 26, 8:00PM
Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda
$15 in advance, $20 at the door

“Drawing its inspiration from the clove and incense-scented air of Bali, Indonesia, Gamelan X explores the sonic landscape of contemporary beleganjur gamelan to offer a wildly unique expression of both East and West. From the resonating sound of the gongs to the explosive drum beats and interlocking cymbals, Gamelan X remixes the ritual of Balinese procession with a decidedly west coast twist. The ebb and flow of the energy of performance will transport you on a journey that will take you from dancing ecstatically through moments of reflection and wonder.

Gamelan X’s set will include commissioned works by Balinese composers and current band members for a world fusion of gamelan, electronics, and various hand-drums. Even if you've seen GX recently, you know that every show is different. Come see the spin they put on the set for this magical double bill with Fanfare Zambaleta and their resident Sundanese Kendang player Ed Garcia.

Fanfare Zambaleta was incubated in the Zambaleta Music and Dance School in San Francisco and has emerged as a fully-formed juggernaut of a band featuring some of the Bay Area's most exciting young players and seasoned veterans. Emulating the great Balkan brass bands of the past and present, they play Romani, Serbian, Macedonian and Greek brass band music with passion and dedication. FZ's potent musical concoction of wild improvisation, meticulous ensemble coordination, earth-shaking low brass, thunderous drumming and jubilant vocals will move your feet and lift your soul.”
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Dancing With Change Trance Dance Activation
Celebrate the Cardinal Grand Cross Alignment
with Axis Mundi TranceFusion
Saturday, April 26, 8:00PM-Midnight
Bhakti Mandir (House of Devotional Ecstasy), 6225 Doremus Avenue, Richmond
$15 at the Door

“Celebrate Spring & the Cardinal Grand Cross appearing in the heavens aligning Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto, creating a cosmic wave of dynamic change and transformational energy. To ride the crest of this wave, we must Dance with the Change.  It's the perfect moment to join us for Trance Dancing and Shamanic Journeying to World Beat Devotional
Kundalini Chant, Crystal Bowls, Ritual & Invocation, and Sound Healing.

Hosted Savory Edibles Served - veggie and omnivore
BYO Libations and Contributions of Savory or Sweet Snacks Welcomed!

Wear your EXOTIC and FESTIVE FINERY and have a warm layer to enjoy Full Moon Gazing from the beautiful 3 level outdoor deck!”
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Hexenfest
A Festival of Magick-based Music and Dance
Saturday, April 26, 8:00PM-1:30AM
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
$20 in advance, $25 at the door

“Hexenfest is a music and arts festival dedicated to myth, magic, folklore, fairytale, and the numinous.  We feature artists who are exploring the wild archetypal through their art; musicians, dancers, visual artists, and crafters who find their inspiration in the realms of myth and dream and reflect their visions into our world.

Hexenfest has a flair for the darkly exotic. Gothic, Pagan, and Tribal belly dance themes are featured prominently, evoking the forbidden forest more than than the enchanted wood. If you feel at home in dark fairytales, join us in the realm!”
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Re-Storying the Self: A Writing Workshop
with Helen Klonaris
Friday, April 26,
and six more Fridays through June 6
private home in the Berkeley, address given upon registration
$295, must register a week in advance. The workshop is limited to 12 persons.
For more information, or to register, please e-mail thegaulinproject@gmail.com

“We are living in changing times. Old regimes and old stories are losing their hold. New ways of being and new stories are emerging in our psyches and in the world. It is a perfect time for us to use language and our imaginations to explore the old stories inhabiting our individual psyches, lay them to rest, and allow new stories to rise up in their place.

Re-storying the Self is a seven-week creative writing workshop that will take participants on a journey through old stories - oppressive narratives that have become the invisible frameworks of our lives - into new stories, narratives that open up new spaces (in ourselves, in the world) in which to imagine and live.

Through movement, active imagining, and writing exercises, as well as exploration of a diverse array of writings, we’ll use the alchemy of the narrative storytelling craft to talk back to and transform our own particular old stories, all the better to re-story our lives and the world/s in which we are living.

We will meet at a private home in the Berkeley Hills (wheelchair accessible).

The cost of Re-Storying the Self is $295. Registration for the course requires payment at least one week in advance of the start date of the course. Participants may pay this in the following ways:

a. Full payment in advance of the start date of the course

b. Partial payment in advance of the start date of the course, and regular installments as agreed upon by facilitator and participant

c. Refer a friend and receive $45 off your course tuition”
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Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Festival
presented by the Caledonian Club of Sacramento
Saturday-Sunday, April 26-27, 9:00AM-5:00PM
Yolo County Fairgrounds, 1125 East Street, Woodland
$15 for one day, $20 for both days, some discounts apply, see website for details

“Experience traditions of the Scottish Highlands! Two days of Celtic music and dance, heavy athletics, history, genealogy, Clans and cuisine at the Yolo County Fairgrounds. Saturday night Ceilidh. Non-stop entertainment includes the Wicked Tinkers, Molly’s Revenge, Men of Worth, Culann's Hounds, Scottish fiddlers, Celtic harps, and (of course) top-notch bagpipe and drum bands.

Saturday Night Ceilidh - dinner and entertainment start at 5:30PM in the Crown and Thistle Pub and White Heather Stage area. Add to your adventure by planning to go to our Ceildh!
The Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Festival is the third-oldest Highland Games in the U.S. and the second-largest in the western states, and this will be our 138th festival. The Sacramento event is known as ‘the friendly games,’ with a family atmosphere where everyone is welcome. It draws drum majors, musicians, dancers and athletes from around the world, including well-known competitors and performers from Scotland and Ireland. The Sacramento Games are open to all who regularly compete in heavy athletic events (the caber toss, hammer throw, etc.). British food, Celtic art and merchandise, sheepdog trials, the Hennigan Spinning Frisbee K9s, and other animals typical of the Scottish Highlands round out the variety of fun.”
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Mad Hatter's Tea Party
Saturday-Sunday, April 26-27, Tea sittings at 12:00PM and 3:00PM
Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Avenue, San Rafael, 415-485-3328
$27.50 for adults, $22.50 for children  
ages 3 and up
reservations required - please call 800-838-3006
This event will sell out!

"Make a date for tea with Alice, the March Hare, Dormouse and Mad Hatter for a decidedly unique and unorthodox tea complete with tea sandwiches, hot chocolate, and desserts. Enjoy the theatrical company of characters in original costumes from the Stark Ravens Historical Players, as they entertain and cause smiles and giggles in Falkirk's elegant Victorian setting.

This event sells out; please make your reservations early! Includes goodie bag for child. Bring your camera for great photos!"
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Sunnyvale Museum Spring Tea
Saturday-Sunday, April 26-27, 2:00PM
and Sunday, May 4
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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Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale
Saturday, April 27, 9:00AM-2:00PM
Botanical Garden at UC Berkeley, 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley
free admission

“Welcome to our 37th annual Spring Plant Sale! Since 1975 we have been known for offering a choice selection of intriguing plants to Bay Area gardeners. We propagate plants chosen from the Garden's own global collection and provide discerning gardeners rare and uncommon plants that will thrive in local gardens. This is a wonderful opportunity to add something special to your own garden while supporting the UC Botanical Garden.

Admission to the sale is free. All proceeds benefit the Garden.”

Thanks to Pixie for letting me know about this event!
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Sheep Shearing Day at Ardenwood
Sunday, April 27, 11:00AM-3:00PM
Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, Fremont
adults $6, children and seniors $5, under 3 free

“Spring has sprung and it is time for our sheep’s annual haircut. Watch as the farm’s sheep
get sheared; then, try your hand at wool carding and see the transformation from fiber to yarn at the spinning wheel. Kids will enjoy stories about sheep and making their own wooly lamb to take home.”
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Family Day at Sienna Ranch
Sunday, April 27, 12:00-4:00PM, (and the last Sunday of every month)
Sienna Ranch, 3232 Deer Hill Road, Lafayette, 925-283-6311
$85 includes up to five people, advance registration required - see website

“On the last Sunday of each month, Sienna Ranch will open its doors for a special family and community day.  Come enjoy the activities, good company, healthy food, and the wholesome environment at Sienna Ranch.  Family Day is fun for all ages.  

Horse and pony rides, sustainability education and projects, archery, hayrides, survival skills activities, and more.  Bring your own picnic lunch or buy from one of our healthy food vendors.  

Family Days are on Sundays, 12:00-4:00PM.  
Family Day Pass is $85.

With the purchase of a family pass, you will get
admission to Sienna Ranch family day for up to 5 people
3 horse ride tickets
3 archery tickets
5 hayride tickets
participation in the featured hands-on sustainability or survival skill activity
unlimited animal visits to goats, sheep, chickens
special demonstrations, entertainment, or hands-on projects (vary from month to month)

Note: Food and special services offered at an additional cost.  For additional archery and horse ride tickets, please purchase a second family pass.

Family Days are limited to 40 families, so register soon!”
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Visioning Circle
at The Home of Truth
Sunday, April 27, 12:30-1:15PM, and the fourth Sunday of each month
The Home of Truth Spiritual Center, 1300 Grand Street, Alameda
Free
For more information, please contact Rev. Ouida at 510-350-6249 or revouida@yahoo.com

“The Visioning Process as founded by Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith allows us to tap into the Divine for insights, answers and awareness. As THOT is moving into this new phase, I invite the community to come together as we ‘catch the vision’ of what THOT is, and can be. What is the highest vision for THOT? What does that feel like? Who/what must we become? Visioning allows us to catch the highest possibilities.
We will also have time for personal visioning. What are you calling forth? What is the highest vision for your Life? This process is a meditative one that invites us to go within, listen, and receive insights about our Heart's desires.
Please join us!”
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Druid Beltaine
with the San Jose Pagan/Magick Meetup Group
and FoDLA’s Grove of the Bay
Sunday, April 27, 12:30PM
Golden Gate Park, JFK Drive-Lindley Meadows Site 5, San Francisco
$2

“FoDLA will hold our Beltaine celebration on Sunday, the 27th of April. FoDLA is a Celtic-focused, American style, polytheistic Druidism fellowship celebrating the Three Kindreds of nature spirits, ancestors and deities. Come celebrate the coming of summer, the time of flowers, and the god of summer, Aonghus Mac Oc.  In the old days the Beltaine fire was lit at Uisneach in Ireland, inaugurating the bright half of the year. Join us for a druid fire and worship in the Lindley Meadow in magical Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco.

There will be an opportunity for those who wish to make offerings.  Offerings can be food, flowers, beverages, poems, songs, music… We will share a potluck after the rite, so bring something to share (optional). Bring coats, as the weather can be unpredictable. This is a child-friendly event, but adults must be 100% responsible for their children at all times and adults should also assume responsibility for their own safety.  Location: Golden Gate Park, Lindley Meadow (site 5). This is off JFK Drive* (where 30th Avenue ends). Time: assemble at 12:30PM. Ritual promptly at 1:00PM. The liturgist is Druid Finnchuill. *Part of JFK is closed on Sundays. The section by Lindley is open and has plenty of parking. Best way in, if driving, is to head west on Fulton and left on 30th to JFK. The area is MUNI accessible. For specific questions contact tadhg04@yahoo.com.

The Meetup fee is $2 to help pay for the Meetup site but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Let’s honor the gods, get to know each other and have some relaxing fun.”
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Drip Irrigation: Occupy the Flow!
with Jeremy Watts
Sunday, April 27, 1:00-4:00PM
South Berkeley, RSVP for address
$35-$65 sliding scale

“In times of drought it is more important than ever to use water wisely and get it exactly where it needs to go. A drip irrigation system delivers more water to the roots of plants and wastes less through evaporation. In this class we will cover options, parts and installation of a drip irrigation system. Starting with how to assess your water flow we’ll learn about timers, gallons per hour, how to deal with plants that have different water needs, how to create zones and how all those bits and pieces fit together. Learn how to set up an initial system that can change as your garden changes and how to maintain an existing system. As a bonus we'll learn the benefits of using mulch - both to cover all those black plastic drip lines and to keep the water in the soil where it belongs. We'll be working hands on to set up a simple drip system on site using traditional drip irrigation components as well as a few household items that can be used for some cool DIY hacks.”
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All About Avocados
with Jillian Steinberger
Sunday April 27, 1:00-5:00PM
Tour starting in Oakland, RSVP for location
$40-$70 sliding scale

“In this class you will learn that yes, you can grow avocados. We’ll be carpool caravaning on an adventurous driving tour to visit vigorous avocado trees in the East Bay. Some people have planted with success and others have inherited established trees when they bought their property. Some established trees have 2’-3’ diameter trunks, are over 40 feet tall, and produce hundreds of pounds of fruit which can lend itself to neighborhood sharing and gleaning. We’ll address why so few have been planted here, and why experts are now recommending planting more. We’ll discuss best planting and growing techniques. We’ll also talk about the many varieties we can grow here -0 from Hass to Reed and many more - including which are hardiest for our microclimates, and how to plant for a year round crop. We’ll learn about pollination, cultivation, fertilization, pruning and harvesting. We’ll also talk about health benefits and culinary and cosmetic uses for avocados, and share recipes.”
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Festival of the Silk Road
Sunday, April 27, 1:00-6:00PM
Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Road, San Jose
$30 for morning and evening concerts,
outdoor events free

“Afsaneh Art and Culture Society/Ballet Afsaneh proudly presents the 6th annual Festival of the Silk Road - 2014 on Sunday, April 27 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater in San Jose.

Concerts with star performers, International Foods, Folk Dance Mania, Costumes and Art!
Dance, music and poetry from the Silk Road including Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, China, India, Azerbaijan, Egypt, the Balkans, the Roma and more…

Ticketed concert performances in the luxurious 500 seat theater feature master performing artists from across the Bay Area and around the world. One ticket price for an all day pass to All Theater Concerts!  General admission $30, and $100 Gold Circle (reserved seating), Kids and Seniors $20

1:00-6:00PM: Garden Fun Activities and Folkdancing - Free for ALL!
Family fun starts at 1:00PM in the beautiful gardens and lobby of the plaza theater with an International Food Court including Halal favorites, costume exhibits, and a Silk Road Bazaar offering traditional clothing, jewelry and art, dance and music workshops, storytelling. Performances and folk dancing all afternoon with many special guests and live music by Edessa, Armenian dancer and vocalist Hasmik Harutyunyan, and more. Come picnic on the lawn under the palm trees with family and friends! Admission to the gardens is complimentary - FREE!

3:00-4:30PM: Afternoon Concert
Afsaneh Dance Academy, Niosha Dance, Hala Egyptian Dance, Pezhham Daf Ensemble, Tarangini School of Kathak, Amir Abbas Music School Ensemble, Chichaklar Dance Group from Vancouver, Canada and more.

6:00-8:00PM: Evening Concert
Featuring Dance performances by Ballet Afsaneh, Salar System featuring S.A.R.A. (Sounds and Rhythms of Afghanistan), Michael Nejad of Nejad World Music, Chinese Performing Arts of America, ARAX Dance, Zaryab Persian Music ensemble with Neema Hekmat, dance artist Miriam Peretz, master of Persian percussion Pezhham Akhavass with Mehdi Bagheri on kamancheh.”
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Maharishi Light Therapy with Gems
with Marjie Biller
Sunday, April 27, 2:00-4:00PM,
The Mystic Dream, 1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925-933-2342
Free

“An introductory talk to explain an ancient Ayurvedic Treatment called Maharishi Light Therapy with Gems. This one treatment bathes the body in soft coherent light that passes through diamonds, rubies, emeralds, etc. The orderly crystalline structure of these gems nourishes the subtlest levels of your physiology and strengthens the body’s innate intelligence and ability to heal itself. The talk will explain the Ayurvedic use of gems, including a short demonstration.

Marjie Biller is passionate about preventative health care and has been trained in Auyrvedic modalities since the 1980s. In 2012 she trained in Maharishi Light Therapy with Gems in Holland. Marjie is also a certified T.M. teacher and resides in San Francisco.”
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ukiaHaiku Festival
Sunday, April 27, 2:00-4:00PM
SPACE Theater, 508 West Perkins, Ukiah
Free

“A Celebration And Competition Devoted To The Haiku Form Of Poetry

The ukiaHaiku festival is an afternoon devoted to the haiku form of poetry. A program of music is followed by a presentation of certificates and awards for the winning haiku. Poets of all ages read their winning poems. A reception with refreshments follows, during which the audience has the opportunity to read through an exhibit of selected poems submitted to the festival.”
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Body Mudra: Kinetic Arts Workshop
with Morgen Love
Sunday, April 27, 3:00-5:00PM
Phaneros, 800 Pine Street, #1, Oakland
$25

“Body Mudra is an explorative workshop that offers a diverse set of tools to deepen somatic awareness and awaken the body into presence, grace, and fluidity. This dynamic foundational practice blends evolutionary yoga asana rooted in Shiva Rea's Prana Flow methodology, movement drills with diverse cultural and urban flavors, and fluid combinations that have evolved directly through Morgen's own intuitive movement practice.

Create strong lines, spirals, and waves. Explore the pulse of expansion and contraction. Be fierce, be soft. Be grounded, be weightless. Come explore sacred geometry in motion!

We'll be building on what we explored in the January and February workshops - core cultivation, spinal waves, pulsation, muscle isolations - and diving deeper into fluid transitions in floor work with rolls, glides, and spins to help cultivate more possibilities for expression through the entire body, and to help develop greater strength and confidence in using the floor in your dance.

This workshop requires no formal dance background, however, prior vinyasa yoga experience is highly recommended!”
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Open House at PLACE for Sustainable Living
Sunday, April 27, 3:00-7:00PM
PLACE for Sustainable Living, 1121 64th Street, Oakland
Free

“We are hosting an Open House in order to reconnect with our community, highlight some of our accomplishments, outline the expanded vision and identify the different ways for you to participate.

We are excited to announce that after three years building out PLACE for Sustainable Living, we have secured a new five year lease under our newly formed cooperative, OakLeyVille. This lease enables us to continue building our collective vision of a dynamic educational center for urban sustainability and regenerative practices. We will be celebrating this good news at our upcoming three-year anniversary event: Creating Commons Festival, Saturday, May 10, 2014.

PLACE will continue to serve our educational and sustainability showcase goals, as Oakleyville will grow its membership into a multi-stakeholder cooperative serving its Workers, Makers and the Community at large.  Please join us as we enter the next chapter of this co-creative place.

Schedule:
3:00-3:30PM: Meet and Greet (some snacks and tea)
3:30-4:45PM: Presentations: PLACE, Oakleyville Cooperative, and Affiliate Groups
4:45-5:30PM: Breakout sessions for PLACE Pods*
5:30-6:00PM: Site Tour
6:00-7:00PM: Stone Soup + Report backs from breakouts and next steps”
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Witches' Tea Party!
with The San Jose Pagan and Magick Meetup Group
Sunday, April 27, 3:00-7:00PM
Palo Alto Cafe, 2675 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
$1

“We'll try to have a big red Meetup sign on the table!

Let's get together for another Witches' Tea Party!  The previous three were great fun, so we're doing it again.

Witches, Pagans, Magicians, Asatruarfolk, all ye fine and fun folk, wend your way to this nice little coffeehouse in Midtown Palo Alto.  They have an assortment of tasty teas and coffees, plus yummy sandwiches and plenty of pastries.

We'll take a little breather and enjoy the company of our fellow walkers of the path of the independent spirit.  Relax in the company of those who won't think you're weird for talking with the land-wights or listening to the voice of the Goddess on the breeze!

Feel free to wear your Witchy finery or fancy-wear (but keep'em street-legal, please)!

$1 contribution toward this website requested (not required).”
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Tea and Tarot
with Charlie London and Chas Bogan
Sunday, April 27, 4:00-6:00PM, and the fourth Sunday of every month
The Mystic Dream, 1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925-933-2342
Donations accepted to cover cost of tea

“Tarot lovers of every skill level will enjoy Tea and Tarot. Each month we will explore a new facet of working with the cards, examining multiple meanings, layouts, and learning how to express our insights with others.”
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Oracular Seidh
presented by Fellowship of the Spiral Path
Sunday, April 27, 5:00PM
BFUU, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley
Donations accepted to pay for the space

“Now, as in the ancient North, seers and seeresses find answers to the pressing questions of folk in their communities.

Seidhjallr, the working seidhr group associated with Hrafnar, will be performing this rite at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists (BFUU), located at 1924 Cedar Street in Berkeley. This practice comes from the heathen (Germanic pagan) tradition, but all are welcome.

Questions appropriate to an oracular seidh presentation are any that one might consider appropriate to address to a tarot, rune, or other reader, as well as many questions that work best in the more open, oracular format, including contact with ancestors and gods.”
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Lake Merritt Pagans
Sunday, April 27, 7:00PM
The Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, 510-444-9355
Free

“A group for Pagans of all stripes who live near Lake Merritt to socialize and touch base about life on the lake in all its aspects, practical and spiritual.

Activities may include: full moon lake walks, altar building, volunteering at the city's regular lake clean-ups, and other good ideas you bring!”
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Dark of the Moon Practice for Hermes and Hekate
with Sam Webster
Sunday, April 27, gather at 8:00PM, Ceremony begins at 8:15PM,
and each month within the three day Dark Moon window
The Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, Oakland, 510-444-9355
Donations welcome
“Sam Webster (founder of the Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn, author of Tantric Thelema, and Priest of Hermes and Hekate) hosts an open Dark of the Moon practice at The Sacred Well each month, making offerings to Hermes and Hekate.

The large wooden representation of Hermes, classically called a Herm, was consecrated and worshipped at PantheaCon 2013 by Pagans, Magickians, and spiritual practitioners from many different backgrounds in a large ceremony that drew heavily on classical Greek material.

The Herm now resides at the Sacred Well, and each month we gather to continue this sacred work with Dark Moon ritual for Hermes and Hekate, who were frequently honored at the crossroads together in ancient Greece. The practice that Sam shares in this circle is one he has maintained without fail since the Dark Moon of January 1992.

Upcoming dates:
May 28
June 26
July 26
August 24
September 24
October 22
November 22
December 21

Study with Sam and more formal training in the Priestcraft of Hermes for those who desire to keep this rite are available. Please speak with Sam about this directly when you attend.”
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Nerd Nite East Bay #18: Nuts, Maker Ed, and Race in Comics
Monday, April 28, 7:00PM
The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th Street, Oakland
$8

“The next monthly installment of Nerd Nite East Bay brings many firsts: our first food science talk, the first talk (on modern education methods) based on audience suggestions in our Facebook group, and our first talk about comic books. Megan Fisklements will dig through the two billion pounds of almonds California produces each year and distill the most nutritious and entertaining information about your nuts. Aaron Vanderwerff comes out of the shop to let us know how he's teaching our young about making. Finally, Grace Gipson will show how we paint our superheroes of color in comics and graphic novels.

As usual, DJ Citizen Zain, Rick, and Rebecca will do their best to get the nuts and bolts together. Be there and be square.

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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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

“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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Have an Earthy, Leafy, Crafty, Creative Week!

Molly Blue Dawn

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