ART HAPPENING It may not be the size of Oakland’s Art Murmur, but Berkeley has its own evening art outing called Second Friday Art Walk. Two cooperative art galleries and a host of cafés and shops will stay open late Friday April 12 and offer artist receptions and food and wine specials. The Firehouse North Gallery, at 1790 Shattuck, will hold a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m, to present “33 years of being Tom Franco” (above). The ACCI Gallery, at 1652 Shattuck, will host a party from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the opening of its 6th Annual Printmaking Exhibition. Nearby, the Vintage Berkeley Wine Shop at 2113 Vine Street will have a wine tasting and art show from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Time Out Quartet will perform at Oggi Restaurant, 1801 Shattuck, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
IT’S ONLY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL The Actors Ensemble of Berkeley opens its 57th season with Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, which first premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2006. The play centers around Jan, a student from Czechoslovakia studying in London in 1968 under his mentor, Max. Jan becomes infatuated with the music of the late 1960s and the freedom and creativity it embodies. In contrast, Max believes rock ‘n’ roll is just another opiate for the masses. The play, directed by Robert Estes, runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from April 12 to May 4 at the Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Ave. There are matinées Sunday April 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for students.
EARTH DAY BY THE BAY The Berkeley Bay Festival, now in its 76th year, showcases activities and environmental education that are available here at the Marina and all around the region. Dozens of exhibitors will have hands on activities. There will be tidepool tours, sailing and dragonboat demonstrations, jugglers and musicians like Gary Lapow and The Bay Area Back Pages. The Adventure Playground will also be open for kids to hammer,saw, paint, and play. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the lawn area of Shorebird Park in front of the Nature Center.
FARMS IN BERKELEY? Berkeley’s foodiness didn’t start with the Edible Schoolyard. The city has a long history of farms, dairies, nurseries and orchards stretching back to the 19th century. The Berkeley Historical Society’s new exhibit “Berkeley: From Farm to Urban Farming 1859-2013,” opens at 2 p.m. Sunday April 14 at 1931 Center Street. The opening coincides with the Society’s annual meeting. The exhibit brings together photographs, maps, objects, and first-hand accounts to tell the story of how Berkeley developed from rural territory in the 19th century into a residential, educational, and manufacturing community in the 20th century, to the thriving urban farm and community garden movement today.” The exhibit hours are Thursdays through Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will run through Sept. 28.
A COMIC TOUCH Lucy Knisley grew up grew up in New York among some of the city’s finest chefs, but when it was time for her to choose a profession, she picked up a pen, not a knife. But a love of food still runs through her, as evidenced by her two graphic novels. The first, French Milk, was about living and eating in Paris with her mother. Her new book, Relish, is about growing up in the food industry. “Her graphic novel memoir is peppered with forthright, funny anecdotes, recipes, and the wisdom that comes from having an open mind and an open pallet.” Knisley will be reading from her book at 3 p.m. Sunday April 14 at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. A book signing will follow at Fantastic Comics, 2026 Shattuck Ave.
Don’t miss these other events previously featured on Berkeleyside:
The elemental Pamela Z: Sculpting sounds in Berkeley [04.11.13]
Shotgun’s Shipwreck: Say you want a revolution? [04.11.13]
Big Screen Berkeley: My Brother the Devil [04.10.13]
Lawrence Wright reinvents the indomitable Oriana Fallaci [03.20.13]
Can do: Odds favor solid Guys and Dolls [03.27.13]
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Still searching for things to do this weekend in Berkeley? Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar is chock full of music, theater, dance, talks and community happenings. We also encourage you to submit your own events.
