TREKKING IN BERKELEY Get a taste of the high mountains of Asia at The Himalayan Fair, started 29 years ago by mountain climber Arlene Blum. Eat momos and other Tibetan dishes, browse art, jewelry, clothing and collectibles from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Burma and other countries, and watch amazing dance and music performances. The fair runs Saturday May 19 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday May 20 10 am to 5:30 pm at Live Oak Park.
LET WORDS INSPIRE For more than 10 years the WriterCoach Connection has brought one-on-one writing support to thousands of middle school and high school students in Berkeley and beyond. The organization is hosting its annual Read-and-Write-a-thon at King Middle School on Saturday to raise funds for operations and to expand to Richmond next year. For 10 hours, an ever-changing cast of teachers and students will read poetry, prose, drama and fiction. Go listen to their amazing work. If you can’t go, you can donate here.
HEAR THE DRUMS Taiko master Kenny Endo and jazz drummer Akira Tana are among the musicians performing this weekend at the 63rd annual Satsuki Bazaar and Arts Festival at the the Berkeley Buddhist Temple, 2121 Channing Way. The bazaar will feature a variety of Japanese, Hawaiian and Asian foods, including sushi, udon noodles, loco moco, kalua pork, curry rice, shave ice and American fare such as hot dogs, hamburgers and Portobello mushroom burgers. The festival runs from 3:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturday, May 19 and from noon to 7:00 pm on Sunday May 20.
ARTISTIC INFLUENCES Only seven artists graduate each year from UC Berkeley’s Masters of Fine Arts program, a number that illustrates its selectivity. This year’s graduates work in a number of different mediums, and their art will be on display at the Berkeley Art Museum until June 10 in an exhibit titled “The 42nd Annual University of California, Berkeley Master of Fine Arts Graduate Exhibition.” The museum curators admit they use such a bland title because their artists’ projects are so diverse. The recent graduates will also talk about their art and creative process at 3:00 pm on Sunday May 20 at the museum.
A JAZZY SUNDAY The Fourth Street shopping district will be filled with the sounds of jazz on Sunday at the 17th annual Jazz on Fourth outdoor music festival. Merchants set up booths, restaurants cook gourmet fare, and accomplished musicians sing and play — all to benefit the legendary Berkeley High School Jazz program. There will be performances by the Dick Conte Quartet, Lady Bianca, Rumbache, and the Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble. (Read our feature report on the popular event.) Noon to 5:00 pm on Sunday May 20.
To find out about more events in Berkeley and nearby, visit Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar. And go ahead and submit your own events.
