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, July 22, 2014

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

Batman Day, Science Laughs, Loud Ass Rock Fest #5, Senior Safari Walkabout, Concert in the Redwood Grove, Everyday Cheesemaking Book Release Party, Foglandia, Splathouse Double Feature: The Sadist and Eegah!, Sail on the Alma, Moby Dick - Rehearsed, Hick: A Love Story, Sweet Maladies, Dracula Inquest, TOUGH, Goddess of the Month: Arianrhod, East Bay Pagan Meet and Greet, Astrology in Magic: Powerful Allies for Successful Results, Vintage Invasion, Downtown Martinez Ghost Walk, Not-So-Simple Living Fair, Bridging The Visible And Invisible Worlds, Day Out with Thomas, Othello, Block Printing on Fabric, Online Art of Tarot with Rabbit, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, Litha Faire, TheurgiCon, Doctor Who Day, Sinners and Saints: Saloons Bars and Cocktail Lounges, Psychological Diversity: Introduction to Jung's Eight Types of Awareness, Ferment!, Crafts for Kids On Board the Balclutha, Make Salsa, Obon Festival, Island Heart Fest, An Intimate Evening at Dunsmuir, Tomas Jay, Dark of the Moon Practice for Hermes and Hekate, Mujeres Divinas Y Poderosas, Berkeley Kite Festival, Park Street Art and Wine Festival, Time Travel Weekends, Waterfront Festival, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, WPA Berkeley Walk, Organic Gardening for the Second Half of the Year, Family Day at Sienna Ranch, Shiny Side Up Bicycle Festival, Silicon Valley Bikes: Passion Innovation and Politics Since 1880, SoulCollage, Introduction to the Alexander Technique, Intro to Pointed Pen Calligraphy, The Witch's Garden: Magical Apothecary Workshops, Witches' Tea Party!, Mare Island Obtainium Cup Contraption Rally, Filmmakers Actors Writers Mixer and Pitch Networking Extravaganza, Monsignor Romero: A Unity Song, Tea and Tarot, Interfaith Reception with Covenant of the Goddess, Lake Merritt Pagans, Nerd Nite East Bay #21: Easter Climate Change and Mental Illness, International Tiger Day, Pagans All Meeting, Everyday Nut Milks and Cheeses, Colorful Creatures, Lughnasadh Games and Campout, Sonoma Ant Wars 2014, CAYA’s Festival of Heart and Harvest!
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Batman Day
Wednesday, July 23, 10:30AM-7:00PM
The Escapist Comics, 3090 Claremont Avenue, Berkeley
Free

“Holy Calendar! Batman Day!

The caped crusader turns 75.
Come celebrate 75 years of Batman with us at the Escapist Comic Bookstore!

Free copies of the Detective Comics #27 Special Edition
(first appearance of Bob Kane Batman) while supplies last!
Free Batman Masks
Free Batman bookmarks”
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Science Laughs
with Norm Goldblatt
A production of Wonderfest
Wednesday, July 23, 7:00-9:00PM
SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th Street, San Francisco
Free, please register at the website below

“Come laugh with Dr. Norm Goldblatt, physicist and laser engineer. He’ll take us on a tour of his crazy world that unites left and right brain. Come one, come all, young or old. NOT for geeks only. Everyone will enjoy thinking and giggling. Laugh AT him or WITH him; he doesn’t care.

Norm divides his time between working with light and making light of his work. He has performed at all the local comedy clubs as well as conferences and corporate events. His quips have been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, both in the late great Herb Caen and Leah Garchik columns. His work has been published in prestigious journals such as the ever-popular Physics Today and the Journal of Irreproducible Results. He has appeared on Public Radio’s Science Friday as well as at Wonderfest and the US Science and Engineering Festival in Washington DC. Norm has written jokes for several comics, most notably Jay Leno.”
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Loud Ass Rock Fest #5
Wednesday, July 23, 8:00-11:30PM
The Foundry Gallery, 835 Carleton Street, Berkeley
$10, 21+

“Loud Ass Rock Fest #5
LARF with us this Wednesday! Get your loud ass rock on a Wednesday night. Yeah.

1. Solaris
2. James Rabbit
3. LFZ
4. Spencer Owen Timeshare

$10 at the door
21+
non-accessible
Free earplugs n stuff”
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Senior Safari Walkabout
Thursday, July 24, 9:00-10:00AM
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, 1300 Senter Road, San Jose
Exclusively for ages 50 and over, Free Admission and Parking

“Happy Hollow is not just a place for kids! Introducing our early morning Senior Safari Walkabout. Get some exercise while enjoying the beautiful sights and sounds of Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. Seniors are invited to challenge their minds, get a little (or a lot) of exercise, and gain unique knowledge into the wonders of the natural world in an atmosphere sure to make you feel like a kid again!

Animal Meet and Greets, highlighted routes for the 10,000 Step Program, and see the Zoo wake-up. Healthy breakfasts will be available for purchase.

Thursdays, July 24, August 28, and September 25, 9:00-10:00AM
Free Admission and Parking - and stay for the day!”
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Concert in the Redwood Grove
featuring Sean Hayes
Thursday, July 24, 5:30-7:30PM (and every Thursday through August 28)
“Doors” open at 5:00PM  
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley
$18
Please register online at the website below
for more information, e-mail garden@berkeley.edu

“Join us this summer for a series of concerts in our beautiful Redwood Grove!

If there were a map of Sean Hayes’ 20-plus year career, it would be circuitous. A tangled criss-crossing of backroads and blue highways denoting place, influence, and trajectory. You can hear it in the deep-roots syncopation, in the dusty folk-stomp and in the biorhythmic pulse that ebbs and thumps throughout his soul-tinged songs.

Ticket includes admission to the Garden before 5:00PM. BYO picnic and non-alcoholic drinks welcome.”

Thanks to Pixie for letting me know about this event!
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Everyday Cheesemaking Book Release Party
with author K.Ruby Blume
Thursday, July 24, 7:00-9:00PM
Ecology Center, 2350 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley
Free, donations accepted for tasting

“Join us for the release of Ruby's new book, Everyday Cheesemaking: How to Succeed Making Dairy and Nut Cheese at Home. There will be a goat milking demonstration on the sidewalk at 7:00PM, followed by a cheesemaking demonstration and storytelling by the author, Q and A and homemade cheese tasting. A sampling of Ruby's cheeses will be available, as well as some cheese from local homesteading friends - plus we welcome you to bring your own homemade dairy and vegan cheeses for a community taste-off!  Compare notes with other local cheesemakers or simply join in the fun!”
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Foglandia
presented by Un-Scripted Theater Company
Thursday-Saturday, July 24-26, 8:00PM
playing through August 2
Un-Scripted Theater Company, 2nd floor, 533 Sutter Street, San Francisco
$20

“People may tell stories about the quirky folks who inhabit Portland, but they write songs about San Francisco. Come leave your heart at Un-Scripted Theater Company as we bring you our musical love letter to the City by the Bay.  Each night, the cast of Foglandia explores the world of techies and hippies, hipsters and homeless, Burners, movers, and shakers as they create a one of a kind, full length, fully improvised musical inspired by audience suggestion that will leave you wanting to wear flowers in your hair.”
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Splathouse Double Feature: The Sadist and Eegah!
Thursday-Saturday, July 24-26, 8:00PM,
playing through August 9
Impact Theatre at La Val's Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Avenue, Berkeley, 510-224-5744
$20 in advance, $25 at the door

“This summer, Impact Theatre proudly presents Splathouse Double Feature: The Sadist with Eegah! Two rousing re-creations of cult cinema classics presented together on one hot ticket. It's part movie, it's part live performance, it's totally boss.

First, it's The Sadist (1963) - psychopath Charlie Tibbs holds the lives of three teachers hostage in an abandoned junkyard on the hottest day of the year. Giggling, dancing, and violence ensue.

Then comes Eegah! (1962) - Roxy just wants her daddy and her best boy to know that she hit a caveman with her car but they, like, totally don't believe her! High adventure, moon pies, and ONSTAGE DUNE BUGGY ACTION that is not to be missed!

Featuring Sarah Coykendall, Mike Delaney, Joseph Mason, Michael Garrett McDonald, and Cassie Rosenbrock.

With Paul Callis, Miyaka Cochrane, Luisa Frasconi, Maro Guevara, Maria Marquis, Brandon Mears, Jimmy Snell, Rose Sutton, and Nick Trengove.”
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Sail on the Alma
Thursday, July 24 and Saturday, July 26, boarding at 12:30PM, returning to Hyde Street Pier at 4:00PM
board at Hyde Street Pier, 499 Jefferson Street, San Francisco
Adults $40, Seniors 62 and over $30, Children 6-15 $20, Ages 5 and under Free
pre-registration recommended

“Haul lines to raise the sails with National Park Service Rangers as you explore the Bay aboard the historic 60 foot Alma! Take in dazzling views and San Francisco's riveting history: Native Americans, Spanish explorers, the Gold Rush, lighthouses, the Barbary Coast, Fisherman's Wharf, earthquakes, shipbuilding and more! Before highways and bridges, hundreds of scow schooners like Alma plied San Francisco Bay, hauling goods as the ‘flatbed trucks’ of their day. The last of her kind, Alma will transport you to a long ago era on this unique, hands-on, educational sailing program with the National Park Service.

Be prepared for cold, wind, spray, and bright sun. Life jackets and flotation devices are provided. Bring water (no alcohol permitted), snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen, layers of clothing, closed toe active footwear, camera, binoculars, and a sense of adventure! Trip may be cancelled due to weather, or other safety concerns, at the discretion of the captain.

Sailing runs on selected Thursdays and Saturdays from June to November.”
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Moby Dick - Rehearsed
presented by Stanford Repertory Theater
Thursday-Sunday, July 24-27,
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
playing through August 10
Pigott Theater, Memorial Auditorium Complex, 551 Serra Mall, Palo Alto
$25

“Stanford Repertory Theater’s 2014 Orson Welles Festival features a production of Moby Dick - Rehearsed, Welles’ extraordinary blank-verse adaptation of Melville’s masterpiece. A stunning invocation of the sea, the hunt, the infectious mania of Captain Ahab, and the collective energy of live performance, Moby Dick - Rehearsed harnesses the power of the theater to turn shadow into substance and imagination into reality.

We are thrilled to have Bay Area treasure Rod Gnapp take on the role of Ahab, joining SRT’s acting ensemble that includes Peter Ruocco (Wanderings of Odysseus), Courtney Walsh (Happy Days), and David Raymond (Importance of Being Earnest). The original score by New York composer Michael Keck (our 2009 Electra Festival) mixes Puritan hymns, sea chanties, and the haunting songs of the humpback whale.

SRT’s brings Moby Dick - Rehearsed to its theatrical life in a highly physical, deeply engaging, Melville and Welles-worthy production!”
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Hick: A Love Story
presented by Crackpot Crones
Thursday-Sunday, July 24-27 - final week
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 3:00PM
Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco
Free, reservations recommended

“Eleanor Roosevelt wrote 2,336 letters to the great love of her life, Lorena Hickok.  Inspired by those letters, The Crackpot Crones present Terry Baum in a solo play:  Hick: A Love Story, by Terry Baum and Pat Bond.

Lorena Hickok was the most famous woman reporter of her day, when she was assigned to cover Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR's wife, during the 1933 Presidential campaign.  Hick and Eleanor fell in love.  It was the best and worst thing that ever happened to Hick.  she chose to sacrifice her own career and happiness to support the woman she loved, who became the greatest American woman of the 20th Century.

In developing Hick, pioneer lesbian playwright Terry Baum researched her papers at the FDR Library and talked to people who knew her.  Baum uses ER's letters and Hick's own writing to recreate Hick's life.   She also includes an excerpt from the late Pat Bond's play about Hick.  This is a powerful part of our lesbian history - an astonishing and unexpected love story that we all should know.”
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Sweet Maladies
presented by Brava! for Women in the Arts
and Black Artists Contemporary Cultural Experience
Thursday-Sunday, July 24-27,
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 3:00PM
playing through August 3   
Brava Theater, 2781 24th Street, San Francisco
$15

“Sweet Maladies
by Zakiyyah Alexander
Directed by Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe

With Lisa Porter and Brit Frazier (from last year’s In A Daughter’s Eyes), Kehinde Koyejo and Stefanee Martin.

Two years into Reconstruction, four girls contemplate a future and their place in the new post-slavery society. Deftly written with a sly humor, Sweet Maladies illuminates the possibilities that have existed between races since slavery’s abolition and confronts the baggage that mitigates those possibilities.  As the four girls - three sisters and their former mistress - grapple with power and place, secrets are revealed, betrayals become potent, resulting in a shocking and bittersweet conclusion. Based on the Jean Genet classic, The Maids.

Zakiyyah Alexander is a resident playwright at New Dramatists since 2004. Current plays include 10 Things To Do Before I Die (Second Stage Uptown), Sick? (Summer Play Festival), The Etymology Of Bird (Hip Hop Theater Festival; Providence Black Repertory Company), Blurring Shine (Market Theatre, Johannesburg), and Sweet Maladies (Darius Rucker Riverside Theatre). She has received developmental support from Bristol Riverside Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Hartford Stage, The Providence Black Repertory Company, 24/7 Theater Company, Hip Hop Theater Festival, Vineyard Theatre, the Women’s Project, La MaMa E.T.C., Greenwich Street Theatre, and more. Awards include, Helen Merrill Award, ACT New Play Award/Lorraine Hansberry Award, Stellar Network Award, the Theodore Ward Prize, Jackson Phelan Award, Drama League New Directors/New Works, New Professional Theatre Playwriting Award, Young Playwrights Inc., etc. Her work is included in the current edition of New Monologues for Women by Women, featured in the book of essays, Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, and Game on: The Humana Festival ‘08 Anthology. Zakiyyah has also written for Grey’s Anatomy.  A graduate of the Yale School of Drama (MFA in playwriting), she is currently on faculty at Bard College where she teaches undergraduate playwriting.”
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Dracula Inquest
Thursday-Sunday, July 24-27,
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 5:00PM
playing through August 17
The Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Street, Berkeley
Thursdays pay what you can, regular performances sliding scale $15-$28

“Dracula Inquest brings Bram Stoker’s iconic tale of horror to life, and promises to scare the hell out of you!

‘I sometimes think we must be all mad and that we shall wake to sanity in strait-waistcoats.’ - Bram Stoker

The year is 1895. Detective Avery Sly from Scotland Yard arrives in the bowels of an eerie asylum for the criminally insane. He has come to interrogate four inmates about the disappearance of a mysterious nobleman from Transylvania.

As the inquest unfolds, some very unsettling questions begin to emerge: was Count Dracula really a demonic vampire, as the inmates claim? Or was he, in fact, the innocent victim of a bizarre and ritualistic murder conspiracy?

A Central Works Method Play developed in collaboration with Joe Estlack, John Flanagan, Vanessa Ramos, Gregory Scharpen, Megan Trout,  Joshua Schell, Kenny Toll and Jan Zvaifler. Written by Gary Graves, Directed by Jan Zvaifler.”
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TOUGH
A One Woman Show by Chris Black
Thursday-Saturday, July 24-26, 8:00PM
playing through August 9
Z Below, (downstairs at Z Space), 470 Florida Street, San Francisco
$20 Thursdays, $25 Fridays and Saturdays

“The Isadora Duncan and Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award winning Chris Black hits the stage at Z Below with a punchy one-woman performance inspired by the life of famed boxer John L. Sullivan. Traveling throughout the US from 1881 to 1892, Sullivan would signal his arrival and willingness to mix it up with ‘My name is John L. Sullivan and I can lick any son-of-a-bitch in the house.’

While Sullivan’s background, rise to fame, dominance and decline motivate TOUGH, Black’s real interest lies in what means ‘to be strong’ and tapping into the special something that both performers and athletes harness in order to become extraordinary. As well as how they confront what she calls ‘the onset of can’t’ that occurs in the career of every athlete and dancer when relied upon talents and endurance begin to flag.

Black - whose work runs the gamut from serious to funny and poignant - will begin TOUGH by throwing her hat into the ring accompanied by the announcement of ring rules, all while enjoying some good whiskey. In the show, Black sports a custom suit designed and produced by Kipper Clothiers, a San Francisco company that specializes in well cut menswear for the LGBT community. The suit, especially made for the performance, incorporates the five foot ten, two hundred and twenty pound hell raiser into Black's own diminutive but sinewy five foot one, one hundred and five pound frame.”
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Goddess of the Month: Arianrhod
with Phoenix LeFae
Friday, July 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.

This July, we invite the Celtic Star Goddess Arianrhod. Mother of the Silver Wheel, whose home is in the Aurora Borealis, we invite Her in to show us our connection to the energy of the Stars, Moon, and deepest recesses of space.  

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, July 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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Astrology in Magic: Powerful Allies for Successful Results
a five week course
with Susan Diamond
Friday, July 25, 7:30PM,
and four more Fridays through August 22
Serpent's Kiss, 2015 N Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 831-423-5477
$30 per class walk in, $125 for whole series advanced registration

“This is a five week introduction to Astrology geared toward the magical worker.

Most people work with the Moon phases in their magic but rarely go beyond that to explore the many powerful relationships forged over centuries between magic worker and the heavenly bodies. These powerful forces can either facilitate your success or block it. The ancients knew this and so can you!

The first week we will working with the Planets.

No experience necessary.”
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Vintage Invasion
Friday, July 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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Downtown Martinez Ghost Walk
Friday, July 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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Not-So-Simple Living Fair
Friday-Sunday, July 25-27
Mendocino County Fairgrounds, 14400 Highway 128, Boonville
see website for admission details

“One Thousand Modern Homesteaders Will Gather For Boonville's Fifth Annual Not-So-Simple Living Fair.

Once again, the scenic Anderson Valley gears up for three days of practical DIY skills, fun, music and the building of a community.

The Anderson Valley Foodshed Group is again at work filling presenter slots for the Not-So-Simple Living Fair in a packed schedule that spans Friday through Sunday, July 25th through 27th at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville, CA.  Beginning in 2010, local homesteaders, farmers and experts in their various fields have been presenting hands-on workshops and demonstrations on topics as diverse as giving seaweed facials to working with draft horses.  Workshops in six different subject areas will be taking place around the fairgrounds simultaneously, as well as ongoing demonstrations, scheduled round table discussions in the Conversation Cafe, a curated Tool Show and Tell, kid’s activities and various local food and craft vendors.  Main topics covered at the fair include homesteading, farming and gardening, animal husbandry, wild food foraging and hunting, food processing, creating shelter and other practical living skills.

Melissa Meader, a founding member of the Valley Trail Coalition and local yoga instructor expressed the current need for the fair.  ‘As human beings, we have increasingly become disconnected from these hands-on skills.  The Not-So-Simple Living Fair is a way to not only learn these methods that have been forgotten, but also to experience them.’  Melissa points out that she's attended the last four years of the event, and one year she volunteered to teach a goat milk soap making workshop and lead a roundtable discussion in the Conversation Cafe.  This year she looks forward to being an attendee in order to take advantage of the more than seventy or so workshops.

The event is entirely run by volunteers, organizers and presenters alike. Sophia Bates, a local farmer and event organizer pointed out, ‘It's about education for the sake of learning and building skills, not education for profit.  It costs less than taking your friend out to lunch, less than half a tank of gas, and you get dinner, and a band.’”
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Bridging The Visible And Invisible Worlds:
Uniting Body And Soul With Nature And Cosmos Through The Intuitive Arts And Shamanic Practices
with Chris Zydel and Francoise Bourzat
Friday-Sunday, July 25-27
Mountain Home Ranch, 3400 Mountain Home Ranch Road, Calistoga
$550 includes workshop and all art supplies; food and lodging separate, see below

“There is something inside all of us that is hungry to explore the unknown realms of our souls and psyches.  We know on some very deep level that we are much bigger and contain more magic and mystery than our daily lives of taking care of business allows us to experience.  And without regular opportunities to dive into those altered states of mystical otherworldliness, where we can be nourished by the truth of our divine nature and connection to our creative source, we become parched and withered. Dried up like an old bone. Cranky and crabby. Dissatisfied and unfulfilled without really knowing why.  And ultimately disconnected from the joyfully, ecstatic sense of wonder and openness to the worlds wild beauty that is our birthright.

We crave the extraordinary.

We are pioneers, always searching for the edge of the frontier, carving new territories outside as well as inside of ourselves.  Exploring the vastness of our mind’s potential is thrilling. Experiencing the intrinsic movement of energy in our physical systems is profoundly healing. Touching the everlasting flow of spiritual transcendence is exquisite. Perhaps in the explorations of our inner worlds, we have encountered the holy grail; the inner eternity of our Spirit and our infinite belonging to the unspeakable unity of life.  There are a number of different spiritual practices that encourage us to answer this call to adventure by opening the secret portals that allow us to step into the rich territory of those invisible interior landscapes that are in many ways our truest home.  One of these practices is the intuitive painting process which uses the non-verbal language of image, shape and color to awaken you to the luminosity and vastness of your essential self through authentic and unvarnished creative self expression.  

Another set of very ancient liberation practices is Shamanism, which is rooted in centuries of earth-based wisdom. These potent rituals and time honored methods offer many theories and techniques that emphasize expanded and altered states of consciousness as a central tool to attain balance in the totality of the psyche and wholeness in life. In these shamanic traditions, the guided journey to our inner worlds is always accompanied with a preparation before the experience and an integration afterwards.

Chris Zydel and Francoise Bourzat have devoted their professional and personal lives to understanding and teaching these respective practices of inner freedom, healing insight and spiritual growth to hundreds of people over the past 30 years. They are both highly experienced at creating safe and sacred containers that allow natural processes of change to unfold as well as being compassionate guides on the wisdom path to inner knowledge and radiant healing and have found that bringing intuitive art and shamanism together as a two-pronged practice adds a depth and a richness to both that invites your being to step into a delicious, life affirming experience of opening and awakening to your full creative and spiritual potential.

We have created a weekend immersive retreat experience at the gorgeous and nurturing Mountain Home Ranch where we will be weaving together the magic of intuitive painting and shamanic practice, taking you on fantastic voyage into the many layers of YOU!  You will get to hang out in an honest to goodness painting studio filled to the rafters with more gorgeous eye-popping paint colors and reams of paper and buckets of brushes than you will know what to do with.”
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Day Out with Thomas
Friday-Sunday, July 25-27, 10:00AM-3:00PM,
and one more weekend, August 1-3
Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, 831-335-4484
see website for schedule admission details

“Thomas The Tank Engine is back at Roaring Camp for Day Out With Thomas. Watch your child’s favorite Tank Engine jump off the screen and onto the tracks of Roaring Camp Railroads!

Since Thomas the Tank Engine left the depot more than 65 years ago, this Really Useful Engine and his Island of Sodor friends have chugged their way into the hearts of preschoolers and grownups worldwide. Based on The Railway Series of classic stories authored by a father who loved trains and wanted a shared experience with his son, Thomas and Friends is a rite of passage that inspires the imagination while teaching the life lessons of friendship, exploration and cooperation.

A ticket for Day Out With Thomas includes the train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, and a variety of Thomas and Friends themed entertainment, including Storytelling and Video Viewing, Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station with Arts and Crafts and other great activities. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of the Railway on the Island of Sodor.

Join us for an unforgettably fun day and make memories that will last a lifetime at Roaring Camp Railroads.”
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Othello
presented by Shady Shakespeare
Friday-Sunday, July 25-27, 7:00PM
playing through August 29
Sanborn-Skyline County Park, 16055 Sanborn Road, Saratoga
Free, donations welcome

“Shady Shakespeare Proudly Presents Shakespeare San Jose - Free to the public!

For the first time, Shady Shakespeare will bring one of Shakespeare's most complex and emotionally vivid tragedies to the stage with the story of Othello, a brave general who is revered, respected, but never truly accepted by the people of his adopted home. Enter the treacherous Iago, who exploits this state of otherness to distort Othello's tender love for his young wife, Desdemona, and bring about his heart-rending destruction. Set in a Venice and Cyprus overflowing with all of the vibrant, clashing cultures of the Mediterranean, this production will home in on all of the passion, betrayal, rage, devotion, and soul-crushing jealousy that have kept breathless audiences on the edge of their seats for over 400 years.

Bramhall park features a natural amphitheater covered in grass. Bring a blanket or a chair no higher than 25". To ensure the best possible experience for all guests, chair height will be rigidly enforced. Seating is first come - first served. Picnics are welcome. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.

No tickets are required. The actors will pass the hat at the end of the performance. A $10 donation per adult is recommended and very welcome, but not required.”
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Block Printing on Fabric
with Jen Hewett
Saturday, July 26, 9:30AM-3:00PM
Handcraft Studio School, 5885 Doyle Street, Emeryville, 510-332-6101
$125, limit 12 students

“Have you ever wanted to print your own fabric for your craft and DIY projects? In this class, and with a few, simple tools, you will learn how to carve printing blocks and transfer your designs onto fabric. You’ll leave with your own, custom-printed fabric, and the knowledge and tools to work on more projects at home.

The class fee covers all the special tools you’ll need to get started, as well as a yard of cotton muslin fabric. You are welcome to bring additional, plain, fabric made from natural fibers to print on, as well. Because sharp tools are used, this class is limited to adult students.

Jen Hewett is a San Francisco-based printmaker and surface designer whose work is sold in boutiques across the country, and to customers around the world. Jen and her brightly-printed bags have been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, and Anthology Magazine’s blog.”
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Online Art of Tarot with Rabbit
a six class series
Saturday, July 26, 10:00AM-11:30AM - final session
online via video conference
$35 per class
Please register in advance to reserve your place for this class.

“Rabbit brings one of her most popular classes online, specifically designed to help you learn to tune in and trust your own intuition as a reader.

Sure, you can look in the books at the traditional meaning of the cards, but in order to truly be a reader you must learn to listen carefully to the whispered secrets that underpin the surface meanings. This class will get you OFF the book and help you turn ON your own personal intuition.

Rabbit's self-styled methods will help you offer accurate, compassionate, helpful readings after your very first class, as long as you are willing to develop the ability to listen to your inner voice. Practical exercises and demonstration readings take place in each class, so you have the opportunity to give and receive practice readings, trouble-shoot areas of insecurity, and begin to build your internal reference library of tarot symbolism.
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Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
part of the Popcorn Palace series at the Balboa Theatre
Saturday, July 26, 10:00AM
The Balboa Theatre, 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco
$10 includes popcorn and a drink

“Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Mike Newell and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. The film, which is the fourth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, was written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman. The story follows Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwarts as he is chosen by the Goblet of Fire to compete in the Tri-wizard Tournament. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. It is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and is followed by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”
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Litha Faire
Saturday, July 26, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Quaker Meeting House, 225 Rooney Street, Santa Cruz
$7, children under 12 free

“Litha Faire Midsummer Magic Psychic and Craft Faire

Welcome to Litha Faire!
A Summer Solstice Celebration to Honor the Enchantment of Midsummer

Greetings Litha Faire Participants and Guests!
Litha Faire is committed to the service of humanity and giving back to those who serve our community. We are pleased to announce that the Community Bridges Meals on Wheels program will be receiving all the proceeds from this year's raffle. Wonderful prizes have been donated!

The Litha Faire Group is a coalition of local artisans, psychics, healers, performers, and people who care about healing the planet.

The Litha Faire project was borne out of a need to unite people of like mind in a positive way. The economic downturn in our country has had negative repercussions for all of us. Many of us are feeling downtrodden due to the recent cycle of events.
Our group has chosen to approach these challenging times from a positive perspective and view it as an opportunity for a spiritual renaissance!

Although it feels as if Pandora’s box has been opened and unleashed in the world once again, Litha Faire is here to remind all of us of the one thing left in the box after all the calamity had passed… and that was…
HOPE

We may not be able to change the world instantaneously, but we can change the way we live in it.

Come celebrate the enchanted life with us this summer solstice.”
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TheurgiCon
Saturday, July 26, 10:30AM-5:30PM
Bay Area Thelemic Temple, 130 E 12th Street, Oakland
$30

“What is Theurgy?
It is the use of magick to contact the One or a particular God by use of appropriate signs and symbols and thereby achieving information or enlightenment. Personal spiritual development and happiness are generally the goals. The West Coast has many practitioners of magick; our goal is to provide a place for practitioners to exchange ideas and strategies for accomplishing the Great Work.

The  price includes coffee and tea and some snacks. There are several good places to get lunches nearby. (We’ll possibly call in sandwich orders and get a runner to pick them up.) If you plan to pay at the door, we ask that you let us know so we have an idea for attendance.

Questions? email glenn@ancientways.com

We are still working on what the program will be, however it is going to start at 10:30AM, going to 5:30PM, after which we will likely order pizza or other food to be delivered according to how many stay to schmooze and eat.”
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Doctor Who Day
Saturday, July 26, 10:30AM-7:00PM
The Escapist Comics, 3090 Claremont Avenue, Berkeley
Free

“Is there a doctor in the house?

What?... Doctor Who Day!

Celebrating the release of the new comics from Titan. Titan comics is releasing NUMBER ONE issues for the tenth and eleventh Doctors. Get free Tom Baker Dr. Who greeting cards. Why him? Why not?  We got a million of them. Wear a scarf.

Who? The 10th and 11th Doctors
What? Fun, giveaways, and more
Where? Escapist Comic Bookstore
Why? It's the release of the 2 new Titan Comics series featuring these Doctors
Wear a long scarf on a warm, summer day!”
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Sinners and Saints: Saloons, Bars, and Cocktail Lounges
a walking tour with the Hayward Area Historical Society
Saturday, July 26, 11:00AM
HAHS Center for History and Culture, 22380 Foothill Boulevard, Hayward
Free

“Relive the night life before and after Prohibition.  Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water and sun protection.  Meet at the HAHS Center for History and Culture.”
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Psychological Diversity: Introduction to Jung's Eight Types of Awareness
with Adam Frey
Saturday, July 26, 1:00-5:00PM
The Dream Institute of Northern California, 1672 University Avenue, Berkeley, 510-845-1767
$50

“In his book, Psychological Types, C. G. Jung identified eight types of consciousness - eight different ways of being aware. In this workshop, Adam Frey will lead an exploration of what the eight types of awareness look and feel like and what each can uniquely contribute. Participants will draw on their own life experience and on short, in-the-moment group exercises to learn to recognize the eight types of consciousness in themselves.

Adam Frey, MBA, is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Master Practitioner and president of the Bay Area Association for Psychological Type and Director of Program Planning for the International Association for Psychological Type. He served as a consultant and board member to the C. G. Jung Institute of San Francisco. He has taught psychological types to business and psychology groups in the U.S. and China and has written about psychological types for Personality Type in Depth and the Bulletin of Psychological Type.”
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Ferment! Kombucha, Kvass, Ginger Beer, Whey Sodas, and More
with author K.Ruby Blume
Saturday, July 26, 2:00-4:30PM
North Oakland, address given upon registration
Sliding scale $35-$65 plus $10 supply fee to be paid on day of class

“Learn to brew your own pro-biotic beverages at home. Kombucha, kvass, ginger beer, whey sodas, water kefir and similar drinks are amazingly cheap and easy to make! If you are hooked on these drinks, save hundreds every year by brewing them up yourself. After learning about different types of ferments, health benefits, and how the process works, we'll get down to business in the kitchen tasting and brewing. You'll learn how to catch a wild ginger beer ‘bug’ and develop your own fruit soda recipes. You'll go home with a packets of recipes, several bottles of drink and inspiration!”
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Crafts for Kids On Board the Balclutha
Saturday, July 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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Make Salsa
with Josah Perley
Saturday, July 26, 4:00-6:00PM
Handcraft Studio School, 5885 Doyle Street, Emeryville, 510-332-6101
$60, limit 10 students

“Just like there are hundreds of chilies, there are hundreds of salsa recipes, each one complimenting a different dish in the Mexican cuisine. In this workshop Josah will teach you how to make two different salsas and one garnish, introduce typical cooking and blending materials used in Mexico, and give you ideas of when to use each technique. You will also learn about chilies and how to use them in a variety of ways. Each student will leave with three jars of salsa that we will make during the class and a small recipe book. There will also be a small Mezcal tasting with a bit of information on the agave used and the general process of making Mezcal.

Josah Perley is a cook and salsa maker, selling her salsas and other Mexican condiments and drinks at the Phat Beets Farmers Market in Oakland. She lived in Mexico for nine years, traveling and tasting food wherever she went. Josah found art and culture in the cuisine and works hard at mastering her skills. She aspires to open a business one day with Mexican cooking at the core.”
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Obon Festival
Saturday, July 26, 4:00-8:00PM
Buddhist Temple of Alameda, 2325 Pacific Avenue, Alameda, 510-522-5243
Free admission

“Mini Food Bazaar 4:00PM
Teriyaki, Udon, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers

Cultural Demonstrations
Taiko Drumming 5:30PM
Bon Odori Dancing 7:30PM”
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Island Heart Fest
Saturday, July 26, 6:00PM
Home of Truth, 1300 Grand Street, Alameda
suggested donation $15

“Alameda Wanna Be Here - Share the Love!

Dinner 6:00PM
Concert 7:00PM

R and B, Jazz, Classical, and Folk
Beatles Singalong!

A benefit for The Home of Truth and Midway Shelter of Alameda.”
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An Intimate Evening at Dunsmuir
Saturday, July 26, 6:00-11:00PM
Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland
$40

“Dress Code:  All White

Entertainment:
Martin Luther (featured entertainer)
Ric Alexander
Funky Latin Orchestra
K’ Brick
Destiny Muhammad Trio
Danielle Dubois Flax
Soul Rebel DJs

Take a ride in a charming horse driven carriage or hop on the fun-filled Dunsmuir trolley car to experience an unforgettable evening.
Sample the finest cuisine provided by some of Oakland’s best caterers
Dance under the stars at the South Pond
Coffee and dessert in the Jazz Cafe
Tour the 115 year old Mansion
The Gatsby car exhibit
Main stage entertainment
The Intimate Martini Lounge
Wine tasting
Community Recognitions

Built in 1899, the Estate features a 37-room Neoclassical Revival Mansion set upon 50 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. When Alexander purchased the large estate in the rolling East Bay foothills, the land featured fruit orchards, farms and vestiges of the Spanish rancho days. The elegant mansion was built as a wedding gift for his beloved Josephine in December 1899. Tragically, Alexander became ill and died while in New York on their honeymoon. Josephine returned alone to her new home where she resided until her death in 1901.

In 1906, the estate was purchased by I.W. Hellman Jr. who worked for Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, as a summer home for his family. They dubbed their estate Oakvale Park. By 1913 the mansion was remodeled to accommodate the growing Hellman family and their acquisition from European travels.The Hellmans enjoyed the estate together for fourteen years until Mr. Hellman died in 1920. Mrs. Hellman kept the estate, where her children and grandchildren came for long summer days, until the late 1950s. During the Hellman era, the landscaping at the northern end of the estate was developed, and the swimming pool and Dinkelspiel House were added to the estate.

The estate was purchased by the City of Oakland in the early 1960s with the intent of using the grounds and mansion as a conference center. A non-profit organization was formed in 1971 to preserve and restore the estate for the public benefit. For many years, the non-profit group and the City jointly operated the estate until 2010 when the City of Oakland became the sole proprietor. The Dunsmuir Hellman mansion has been designated a National Historic Site by the United States Department of the Interior and both the Mansion and the Carriage House have been designated Historic Landmarks by the City of Oakland.”
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Tomas Jay
in concert
Saturday, July 26, 8:00PM
Avanova, 417 Avon Street, Oakland
$10-$15 sliding scale, please RSVP at the website below

“Please join us on Saturday, July 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 Vincent Heckard (percussion).

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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Dark of the Moon Practice for Hermes and Hekate
with Sam Webster
Saturday, July 26, 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:
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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Mujeres Divinas Y Poderosas
presented by YBCA In Community and El/La Para Trans Latinas
Saturday, July 26, 8:00PM
Free

“Mujeres Divinas Y Poderosas (Divine and Powerful Women) is a beautifully crafted variety show featuring community members affiliated with El/La Para Trans Latinas. In collaboration with two of the Bay Area’s most beloved artists, DavEnd and Xandra Ibarra, the evening promises a range of comedy, song, dance and sketch performance! And it’s FREE! Please support this collaboration between YBCA In Community and El/La Para Trans Latinas.



YBCA In Community is a new program that connects low-income, ethnically diverse, underserved community members, neighborhood organizations, and individual artists around collaborative art-making projects that address the unique needs and cultural traditions of three distinct Bay Area neighborhoods - SOMA, the Mission and Excelsior Districts, and West Oakland.

El/La is an organization for transgender Latinas (TransLatinas) that works to build collective vision and action to promote our survival and improve our quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Because we exist in a world that fears and hates transgender people, women and immigrants, we fight for justice. We respond to those who see us as shameful, disposable, or less than human. We are here to reflect the style and grace of our survival, and to make new paths for ourselves.”
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Berkeley Kite Festival
Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Cesar E. Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina, 11 Spinnaker Way, Berkeley
free

“A Free Event for the whole family - Kites aren't just for kids any more. Experience the excitement and artistry of modern kite flying. You'll find something for everyone, from the Giant Creature Kites as big as houses to the free Kite Making and Candy Drops for kids.”
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Park Street Art and Wine Festival
Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27, 10:00AM-6:00PM
along Park Street, Alameda
Free

“The Park Street Business Association is proud to present the 30th Annual Park Street Art and Wine Faire - a hometown tradition in Alameda. Weekend activities will include art and craft vendors, live music, kids’ area, food vendors, and beer and wine sales.

With more than 250 arts and craft booths located between Encinal and Buena Vista avenues, there is sure to be something for everyone. Festival-goers can even quench their thirst at one of the four beverage booths serving beer, mimosas, and local Rock Wall wines.

Along with all the activity in the street itself, the Park Street District merchants will be open for business. Many of them will be running specials during the weekend so we encourage you to take the time and visit their shops. You just might discover something new!”
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Time Travel Weekends
in Historic Old Sacramento
Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27, 11:00AM-5:00PM,
and every weekend through August 24
Historic Old Sacramento, 101 I Street, Sacramento

“Get ready to step back in time when the past mingles with the present once again in Old Sacramento! Visitors to Old Sacramento will enjoy lively and interactive street theatre as part of the hugely popular Time Travel Weekends. The streets of Old Sacramento will come alive with talented performers who put on spontaneous and elaborate skits and performances. Plus, visitors won’t want to miss the highly entertaining Old West stage shows happening daily, including the much-acclaimed Golden Melodeon Review in the Eagle Theatre.

As you stroll through Old Sacramento on weekends July through August, you might just chance upon historic re-enactments complete with wagons, wild characters with heroes and villains, children’s pioneer craft activities, historic gambling, bowling, juggling, singing, dancing and other forms of musical mastery, military encampments, mining camps, parades, historic events, medicine shows, Civil War cannon firings, and much, much more!”

A lot of the performers in this program are Renaissance Faire and/or Dickens Fair folk!
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Waterfront Festival
Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27, 11:00AM-6:00PM
Benicia Waterfront, 90 First Street, Benicia
$10 Adults, $5 Seniors, Children under 12 Free
Weekend Pass $15 Adults

“The popular summer event is back with a splash! Benicia celebrates its picturesque waterfront locale with two days of live music, microbrew tastings, arts and crafts marketplace, delectable gourmet foods, and kids activity area.”
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
presented by Vallejo Shakespeare In The Park
Saturday-Sunday, July 26-27, 2:00PM
Hanns Park Amphitheater, 198 Skyline Drive, Vallejo
Free

“July 26-27 at 2:00PM
Hanns Park Amphitheater, Vallejo
198 Skyline Drive at Redwood Parkway

August 2-3 at 2:00PM
John Muir Amphitheater, Martinez
115 Tarantino Drive , Waterfront Park

August 9-10 at 2:00PM
Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Oakland
2465 34th Avenue, Fruitvale

Picnic style seating at Vallejo and Oakland - Bring a blanket to sit on. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase one from our food vendor. Arrive early to get a good spot. We recommend wearing a wide brim hat and sun block. No chairs will be provided or allowed in Vallejo or Oakland, handicapped section excepted. Chairs must be set up at the far end of the field. All shows FREE to the public.”
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WPA Berkeley Walk
sponsored by the Ecology Center
Sunday, July 27, 10:00AM
Main Berkeley Post Office, 2000 Allston Way, Berkeley, 510-684-0414
Free

“This walk will explore the ‘New Deal nexus’ in Berkeley that includes Berkeley High School, the Community Theater, Civic Center Park, Post Office art, the old UC Press Building (now being repurposed as the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive), and the old Farm Credit Building. The tour will also include the incredible mosaic mural on the UC Berkeley campus and photographs of the California Folk Music Project, Western Museum Laboratory, WPA prints at the Berkeley Public Library, and WPA projects on the UC Berkeley campus.

Meet at The Main Berkeley Post Office at corner of Milvia Street and Allston Way.”

Thanks to Ximena for letting me know about this event!
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Organic Gardening for the Second Half of the Year
with author K.Ruby Blume
Sunday, July 27, 10:00AM-2:00PM
North Oakland, address given upon registration
Sliding scale $50-$85

“This class will introduce you to gardening basics with a focus on what is happening in the garden from August through the following spring. We will talk about basic soil amending, sheet mulching, Fall and winter garden crops, Bay Area watering issues for summer and Fall and more. hands-on projects. Everyone will go home with couple 6-packs of early season seed.”
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Family Day at Sienna Ranch
Sunday, July 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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Shiny Side Up Bicycle Festival
Sunday, July 27, 10:00AM-4:00PM
San Jose History Park, 635 Phelan Avenue, San Jose
$5

“Behind Bars Inc., co-sponsored by History San Jose, presents California's premier bicycle show! Hundreds of show bicycles of all types, vendors, food trucks, kid zones, entertainment, music, exhibitions and more!”
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Silicon Valley Bikes: Passion, Innovation and Politics Since 1880
Exhibit Public Opening
Sunday, July 27, 12:00-4:30PM
Arbuckle Gallery, Pacific Hotel, San Jose History Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose
Free

“Bicycles have provided both affordable transportation and a social outlet around San Jose for over a century. The growth of clubs and organizations such as the Garden City Wheelmen led to a distinctive cycling culture within the community. Throughout the 20th century, racing events have been held at local velodromes, including the present track at Hellyer Park. Local innovations have enhanced the bicycling industry. In recent decades, community activism efforts, such as support for bike lanes and dedicated paths, have re-introduced cycling as a sustainable transportation method for the future.

Supplemented by objects from private individuals and organizations, Silicon Valley Bikes: Passion, Innovation and Politics Since 1880 will feature selected images and artifacts from History San Jose’s collection, including the 1842 Lefebvre velocipede, the world’s oldest human-powered vehicle.”
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SoulCollage
with Maya Spector
Sunday, July 27, 1:30-5:00PM
private home, 685 ½ Fairmount Avenue, Oakland
$15, all materials provided.  
Space is limited, please RSVP to Maya at 650-329-1415 or mayaspector@hotmail.com

“Please join me for this easy yet profound way to access intuition, have fun, and create your own set of collaged cards. Invite your friends!

SoulCollage is a process for creating and working with a set of cards that reflect your inner self.  SoulCollage is deeply satisfying and a lot of fun; it’s a fantastic creative exploration that anyone can do.  Although it is highly personal, it is wonderful and most insightful when done in small groups.”
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Introduction to the Alexander Technique
with Kay Hogan
Sunday, July 27, 2:00-4:00PM
The Mystic Dream, 1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925-933-2342
$40

“Live pain free and improve your looks. The Alexander Technique also improves performance in athletics, dance, acting, singing, and playing. Come find out how in this introduction to Alexander Technique.”
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Intro to Pointed Pen Calligraphy
with Diva Pyari
Sunday, July 27, 2:00-5:00PM
Handcraft Studio School, 5885 Doyle Street, Emeryville, 510-332-6101
$135, limit 15 students

“Join us for the ultimate calligraphy class, where you'll learn from the expert everything you need to know to begin your practice!  The class will start with the basics, where you'll be given Diva's acclaimed Calligraphy Starter Kit (wooden dip pen, nib, bottle of ink, and A-Z chart) and learn about the tools of the trade, followed by a comprehensive warm-up. For the next part of the class we'll learn our ABC's, using Diva's renowned style as a guide, along with her invaluable tips and individual attention.  For the last part of the class we'll learn to connect letters, practice decorative motifs, and design monograms for personal stationery. With Diva's guidance and encouragement you will also be given an additional nib (her favorite), more ink colors, and more paper options to use.  In addition you will leave with a workbook of exercises to help you continue to flourish in your practice after the class is finished!  

Diva Pyari, artist and designer from the San Francisco Bay Area, owns LINEA CARTA: eco-lux linens and stationery that inspire your every day.  LINEA CARTA's sustainable linens and stationery are all screen-printed by hand, and her entire line of products has a luxurious look and feel that comes from their high quality and Diva's lovely designs.  Diva also designs exclusive collections for other brands, creates incredible custom wedding invitations, and her work as a sought-after calligrapher is famous in its own right.  Her calligraphy is widely published and often seen in magazines such as Martha Stewart's Weddings and on popular blogs like Once Wed.”
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The Witch's Garden: Magical Apothecary Workshops
with Rabbit
Sunday, July 27, 3:00-5:00PM
The Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, 510-444-9355
$35 registration

“Herbs for Purification and Protection
 
Make your own magical, natural home remedies in our Witch's Garden workshops. Each session is a fun, casual, interactive, hands-on lesson in one facet of practical and magical herbalism. As a general rule, please wear clothes that you can get dirty in as we play with herbs, oils, tinctures, salts, and other potions. Bring a clean, empty glass jar to class so you can bring home some of whatever we have made.
 
The astrological loop-de-loops over the past few months have left, for some, a goopy residue that threatens the fragile bloom of happiness just beginning to peek out and stretch its petals to the light of hope. In this class, we will prepare an herbal bath, an herbal wash, and an herbal talisman to banish the blues, to cleanse and purify psychic stickiness, and protect the good that we are growing in ourselves and in our lives.”
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Witches' Tea Party!
with The San Jose Pagan and Magick Meetup Group
Sunday, July 27, 3:00-6:00PM
Palo Alto Cafe, 2675 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
$1

“Let's get together for another Witches' Tea Party!  The previous ones 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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Mare Island Obtainium Cup Contraption Rally
Sunday, July 27, 3:00-6:00PM
Mare Island, 1085 Nimitz Avenue, Vallejo

“The third annual Obtainium Cup is upon us! On July 27, 2014, experience the adventure as dozens of mutant human-powered vehicles race down and up Vallejo's Mare Island! The road rally is fraught with challenges: Zombies!  Flying Monkeys! More Mad Hatters! ROBOTS! Can our intrepid heroes survive? Come to Vallejo and find out!”
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Filmmakers, Actors, Writers, Mixer and Pitch Networking Extravaganza
Sunday, July 27, 3:00-7:00PM
MMTB Production Office, 3607 Clayton Road, Concord
see website for registration details

“Don't Miss Amazing Informational Bay Area Pitch and Networking Extravaganza!!!!

We have invited Producers, Investors, Filmmakers, Actors, and many of the big players and filmmaking advocates across the entire Bay Area.

Our ultimate goal - bringing financing to the Bay Area Filmmaking Scene, Connecting the Bay and Putting Filmmaking Back on the Map here.

Everyone will have the chance to Either Pitch a Project You are Working on... Show a Trailer... Audition or Do a Monologue… Writers can Pitch A Story… Producers can Introduce themselves and Express what They are looking to produce...

We Want To Match People with Projects
Investors with Producers
Writers with Filmmakers
Actors with Roles>
And Much Much More

Agenda:
3:00PM: Sign Up For Pitching and Auditioning
(First Come First Served until we Run out of time)
3:00PM-4:00PM: Eat, Drink, Network
(Bring Flyers, Biz Cards etc for our Networking Table)
4:00PM-5:00PM: Pitch and Audition Fest
5:00PM-6:00PM: Final Announcements and Networking Exchange
7:00PM: Stay for Comedy Stand Up and Film Fest Night

There will be an Open Drink Station for People with Drink Tickets, Wine Appetizers and Food Buffet will be available, so arriving early makes sense if you want to enjoy some amazing treats (Limited Supply, depending on Donations).

Please dress to impress and bring your marketing materials - biz cards, fliers etc.

For Each $5 Donation you get One Raffle Ticket, so if you donate $50 you get 10 Raffle Tickets and so on (All Tax Deductible) All Donations Are Very Appreciated.”
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Monsignor Romero: A Unity Song
Sunday, July 27, 3:30PM and  7:00PM
Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street, San Francisco
$30-$50

“Celebrate an afternoon filled with music, songs, folklorico dances, beautiful marimba sounds and many more surprises.

Monsignor Romero - A Unity Song represents the labor of hope, love, and unity.

25% of the ticket sales will be donated to the Monsignor Romero Foundation in El Salvador, the funds will help build a statue of Monsignor Romero in Rome. Featuring: Ballet Teatro Mauricio Bonilla - Performing for the first time direct from El Salvador.”
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Tea and Tarot
with Charlie London and Chas Bogan
Sunday, July 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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Interfaith Reception with Covenant of the Goddess
presented by Fellowship of the Spiral Path
Sunday, July 27, 5:00PM
BFUU Main Hall, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley
Donations accepted to pay for the space

“The Covenant of the Goddess is one of the largest and oldest Wiccan religious organizations. Wicca, or Witchcraft is the most popular expression of the religious movement known as Neo-Paganism.  Wicca or Witchcraft is the fastest growing religion in the United States according to the Institute for the Study of American Religion. It's practitioners are reviving ancient Pagan practices and beliefs of pre-Christian Europe and adapting them to contemporary life. The result is a religion that is both old and new, both traditional and creative.”


August 31 Oracular Seidh Seidhjallr
September 28 Open ?
October 26 Liturgy of the Lady to the Wisewoman ?
November 30 Oracular Seidh Seidhjallr
December 28 Spiral Yule president
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Lake Merritt Pagans
Sunday, July 27, 5:30PM
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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Nerd Nite East Bay #21: Easter, Climate Change, and Mental Illness
Monday, July 28, 7:00PM, and the last Monday of each month
The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th Street, Oakland
$8

“We all know that learning is more fun when you’re drinking with friends and colleagues. Thus, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in more than 75 cities across the globe during which several folks give 18-21-minute, fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines - while the audience drinks along.  And there are often bands, acrobats, trivia, and other shenanigans as well.  Imagine learning about everything from math feuds or the science of the Simpsons, to the genealogy of Godzilla or debunking beer myths.  Fun, right?  As nerds and non-nerds like to say, Nerd Nite Is Like the Discovery Channel… with Beer!

For Nerd Nite #21:
An Easter talk in July? It isn’t the climate, but because we’re mad.

At July’s Nerd Nite East Bay, Alice Handley will tell us why the days on our calendar fall when they do, Dan Miller will address climate change and some of the technological and policy changes that may address it, and Sharon Osterweil will talk about the history o’ crazy.

And, as usual, DJ Ion the Prize, Rebecca, and Rick will eat the carbon-neutral chocolate bunnies.

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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International Tiger Day
Wednesday, July 29

“International Tiger Day is held annually on July 29 to give worldwide attention to the preservation of tigers. It is both an awareness day and a celebration. It was founded at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010. This was done because at that moment wild tigers were too close to extinction. Many animal welfare organisations pledged to help these wonderful creatures and are still helping to raise funds to reach this goal. The goal of Tiger Day is to promote the protection and expansion of the wild tigers habitats and to gain support through awareness for tiger conservation.”
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Pagans All Meeting
hosted by Ancient Ways and The Pagan Alliance
Wednesday, July 30, 6:30-8:30PM
Ancient Ways, 4075 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, 510-653-3244
Free

“In the spirit of the theme of the 2015 PantheaCon - Pagan Visions of the Future; Spirit of Networks - Building Pagan Safety and Social Net, a discussion of ways to plan infrastructure and events that meet our Community’s needs.

Another meeting will be held on August 16, 1:00-4:00PM, at BFUU, 1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley.”
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Everyday Nut Milks and Cheeses
with K.Ruby Blume
presented by The Institute of Urban Homesteading
Wednesday, July 30, 6:30-9:00PM
North Oakland, address given upon registration
Sliding scale $40-$70 plus $10 supply fee to bring on the day of class

“Learn to make your own nut milks and cheeses! Nuts milks and cheeses are delicious, nutritious and are the perfect alternative for those wishing to avoid gluten, dairy, and soy. Unlike what you buy in the store, these milks and cheeses are also free of preservatives, stabilizers, artificial ingredients or additives of any kind. And, they are totally fun to make! In this class we will learn to prepare non-dairy, raw nut milks, creams, yogurts and cheeses. We'll learn about options for culturing nut based cheeses, including how to make your own rejuvelac, and we'll be making an amazing feast to share using our delicious creations. Your will leave with a recipe packet and resource list.”
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Colorful Creatures
an Art Reception for Sarah Soward
Wednesday, July 30, 6:30-9:00PM
Peninsula Ballet Theater, 1880 S. Grant Street, San Mateo
Free

“My new contemporary wildlife paintings are on display the Peninsula Ballet Theater from July 1 through mid August, 2014.

Poetry, music, and an open mic, featuring Maurine Killough, Dan Swetlik, and Thomas J. Burke.

This event is free to attend.”
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Lughnasadh Games and Campout
presented by Coru Cathubodua
Friday-Sunday, August 1-3
Coyote Hills Regional Park, 8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont
see below for schedule and registration details

“Fun Will Reign at Lughnasadh Games and Campout!

Coru Cathubodua Priesthood Hosting Two Day Lughnasadh Games and Campout in Honor of Ancient Irish Deities and Community

The Coru Cathubodua Priesthood invites all Bay Area Pagans to participate in our Lughnasadh Games and Campout being held Friday, August 1, 7:00PM through Sunday, August 3 at Coyote Hills Regional Park.

Games as Devotion: The Lughnasadh Games and Campout is a celebration of friendship and community, and a weekend to honor the Gods. This two-day event will feature overnight camping, games of skill and athletic competitions for all ages, with ritual, bonfire, and potluck. We encourage Pagans of all beliefs and backgrounds to pitch a tent, bring your friends and family, some food to share, and stay the entire weekend, or compete on Saturday only.

Campout begins at 7:00PM on Friday, August 1 and goes through Sunday, August 3 at 11:00AM.

Games only: 11:00AM-8:00PM on Saturday, August 2

All pricing is for day use and overnight camping.
$50 - Family (2 adults, 1 teen, 2 kids)
$20 -  Adult
$10 -  Child (under 12)
$10 -  Additional camper

NOTE: $5 state parking fee is not included. Free parking is available outside of the park.

Competitions: There will be three tiers of sport: combat arts, field, and bardic. Prizes include a lady's favor, the heroes’ portion at the feast, a handmade prize, and boasting rights.

Competitions include:  

Arts Category: showcase your mental skills with a game of engineering skill, your strategy prowess with a game of chess, and your artistic merit with a bardic/poetry performance.

Field category: we’ll test how fleet footed you are in an over-hill foot race, your aiming skills in the archery contest, and see how well you long jump.

Combat category: you and your friends will prove your mettle in a teams of three Hurley match.

Want to compete?
Sign up with Amelia Hogan, Event Coordinator, at ameliaisaverb@yahoo.com or arrive on-site at 11:00AM on August 2.

About Coru Cathubodua
Service, sovereignty, kinship and warriorship are the values that guide the Coru Priesthood (full name Coru Cathobodua Priesthood). We are Pagan priests on the move, ready to take action to advance our mission to bring about sovereignty and kinship to the world through acts of community and individual service. Guided by our matron the Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of sovereignty, prophecy, and battle, we welcome all who share this vision of service to bringing these values to life for all people.”
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Sonoma Ant Wars 2014
Saturday, August 2, 11:00AM-8:00PM
Chimera Arts and Maker Space, 6791 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol
$7 through July 27, $10 after
Children 12 and under Free

“Fighting Robot Competition at Chimera!

Join us at our second-annual Sonoma Ant Wars miniature fighting robot competition!

Chimera is hosting an all-day miniature fighting robot competition August 2. We will have over 30 mini fighting robots ranging from a few ounces up to a few pounds. These robots may be small, but they pack a serious punch!

This is an all-ages, family friendly event, so bring the kids!”
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CAYA’s Festival of Heart and Harvest!
Please Note - Special Time and Place:
Saturday, August 2, 5:00PM
Live Oak Park, 1275 Walnut Street, Berkeley
$10 donation requested

“Come As You Are to...
Festival of Heart and Harvest!
presented by CAYA Coven’s Cauldron of the Celts

We will be at the Picnic site near the Berkeley Center of the Arts entrance whose address is:
1275 Walnut St, Berkeley, CA 94709

Ritual starts at 5:00PM.

Come out to the beautiful park and join us for a fine potluck feast of community and joy, as we pay honor to the Dagda! The Dagda is one of the Irish chieftain gods, the keeper of the Cauldron of Plenty, Guardian of all Knowledge, Wielder of the Club of Life and Death, and all around Good God. With the Good God’s blessing we look to the future and each other. We give thanks for the many gifts that are present at our table, and recognize that sacrifices were made and must continue to be made, for the betterment of ourselves and the community as a whole. This feast will be made all the grander by your presence and contribution!
IMPORTANT: What to bring?:
This is a potluck feast. So please bring a dish clearly labeled (Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Carnivorous) with enough to share. If you have dietary restrictions please bring a dish that you can enjoy.
To be more environmentally friendly, please consider bringing your own mug/drinking vessel, plate and utensils.
This ritual is outside in Berkeley. The temperature can change dramatically. Please wear layers and bring a coat to fend off the cold.
Your merry self!”
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Have a Sweetly Scientific, Colourfully Unified Week!

Molly Blue Dawn

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