COLLECTOR ART SHOP ARTIST RECEPTION The Collector Art Shop on College Avenue is hosting an artists’ reception and gallery show Friday night. Work by local artists Lois Cantor, Jana Bouc, Susan Erickson, Darril Tighe, and Christina Song will be on display, and their creators will answer questions and discuss their collections. Light refreshments and live music will be on the scene as well. The event takes place Friday, Aug. 9, from 6-8 p.m. at Collector Art Shop, 2950 College Ave.
BERKELEY SPARK The art sculptures and “mutant vehicles” of Berkeley’s artists and engineers will be on display at Civic Center Park Saturday, Aug. 10, before they head out to Burning Man in the Nevada desert. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Berkeley Spark will bring playa culture to downtown Berkeley with performances, DJs and interactive art projects, as well as “burn-friendly” clothing and jewelry vendors. The free event calls itself “a place for radical self-expression, inclusivity, transformation and mutual respect.” Those who work up an appetite while making and exploring the art can grab a bite from the farmers market, directly adjacent to the park. Civic Center Park is on Martin Luther King Jr. Way between Allston and Center streets. Read more about Berkeley Spark.
SAN FRANCISCO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Don’t worry, Berkeleyans: When we say we’ll give you five things to do in Berkeley, they’ll be in Berkeley. The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival has locations across the East Bay, including the California Theater on Kittredge Street near Shattuck Avenue. The SFJFF — the first and largest Jewish film festival in the world — has screened 1,300 films over the 32 years of its existence. The festival showcases documentaries, tragedies, comedies and dramas, in live action and animation. For a list of films, dates, times and locations, visit the website. The festival runs until Aug. 12.
FEMINIST TENDENCIES What do you get when you cross a comedian and a feminist? Why, Feminist Tendencies, a stand-up act created by Karinda Dobbins, Nina G., Kelly Annekan and Queenie TT. The four comedians will be joining forces for a show — while celebrating their birthdays at the same time — on Friday, Aug. 9, at 8 p.m. at NextSpace Berkeley downtown. Although the four have worked together in different combinations for years, in acts like Cup Cakes and Curves, Femikaze and the Comedians with Disabilities Act, this show will be their first collaboration as a full team. According to Nina G., their show aims to “[represent] women in positive ways” and be relatable to audience members. The event is free, but those who plan to come should sign up here. The event takes place Friday, Aug. 9, at 8 p.m. at NextSpace, 2081 Center St.
SUNDAYS ON TELEGRAPH BIKE DAY As part of the weekly Sundays on Telegraph fair, this Sunday’s theme is bicycles. So Telegraph’s Bike Day will include tuneups by the Bike Mobile, bike-powered smoothies, a prize for the person who bikes the farthest to Telegraph (with proof, of course) and more. You can give your input about making Berkeley a more bicycle friendly city as well: the city plans to update its Bicycle Plan in 2014, and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition wants feedback on how to make Berkeley “the most bike-friendly city in the US.” The event takes place Sunday, Aug. 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Telegraph between Durant Avenue and Haste Street.
Don’t forget these events previously featured on Berkeleyside:
Dina Maccabee: A string queen departs (08.08.13)
Berkeley architects, Berkeley home featured on East Bay tour (o8.08.13)
Berkeley Spark to provide a taste of Burning Man (08.08.13)
Big Screen: ‘Hannah Arendt’ is superior biopic (07.30.13)
Announcing Uncharted: The Berkeley Festival of Ideas (07.25.13)
Eden Teller, a graduate of Berkeley High School, is a summer intern at Berkeleyside. She will be attending Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, next year.
To find out about events in Berkeley and nearby, visit Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar. We also encourage you to submit your own events.