LIVE OAK PARK’S 100TH BIRTHDAY North Berkeley’s first nature park, Live Oak Park, celebrates its 100th anniversary Saturday afternoon. The Live Oak Park Centennial Celebration and Ice Cream Social will include an old-time BYO community picnic and traditional games like croquet and three-legged races. Wavy Gravy and the Berkeley High Jazz Combo will be there. And, at 2:30 p.m., the 100 Dog March will see dogs and their companions ramble around the park’s perimeter. Everyone is encouraged to wear period costume, or at the very least a straw hat! The Berkeley Art Center is organizing outdoor art activities on the bridge that leads to the Art Center. The Live Oak Park Centennial Celebration is on Saturday Sept. 13, noon to 4 p.m., 1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
PACIFIC BRIDGE ART SHOW On Saturday Sept. 13, the ACCI Gallery in Berkeley is holding an artists’ reception for its new show, “Pacific Bridge: Art from Sister Cities.” In the spirit of cultural awareness and friendship, 24 artists from Sakai, Japan and Berkeley have come together to show a blend of the very best of East and West, traditional and contemporary art. The exhibition showcases a mix of media from painting to photography. Eight artists from Japan will be in attendance at the Artists’ Reception: Kyoko Suekane, Hozumi Higashino, Hiroko Yamashita, Keiko Sawada, Masaru Ooya, Masao Fumida, Toyoaki Ikushima, and Junichi Hotta, and there’ll be live music by Yuri Vaughn. The show runs through Sept. 30. The reception is on Sept.13, 6-9pm. ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley.
SOLANO STROLL We feel we hardly feel we need to tell you that the East Bay’s largest street festival is on Sunday Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors to the Solano Stroll, now in its fortieth year, can look forward to a mile-long stretch of attractions, including food, music, rides and live entertainment. The festival, which is hosted each year by the cities of Albany and Berkeley, will feature 500 street vendors, as well as all the businesses and organizations that line Solano Avenue’s 26 blocks, and also boasts 50 entertainers, 50 food booths, 150 government and non-profit agencies, 150 juried hand-crafters, a 75 entry parade, and state-of the-art mechanical rides. Visit the Solano Stroll website for full details.
BERKELEY CAMERA CLUB SHOW PhotoLab in Berkeley is opening a new exhibit by the Berkeley Camera Club titled “Nature in Her Various Forms.” The photographs will be on display at the PhotoLab Gallery from Sept. 13 to Nov. 15, Monday through Friday, 9-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm. Closed Sunday. The Berkeley Camera Club was formed in 1946 and has over 120 members. BCC members, some of whom, like Nancy Rubin are regular contributors to Berkeleyside, are dedicated photographers who strive to increase their knowledge and skills. Skill levels range from basic to masters, and members use cameras ranging from SLRs to point and shoots. The club’s major goal is for members to become better photographers and to have a good time while doing it. The show reception is on Sept. 13, 4-7 pm. Photolab will provide wine, cheese and snacks. PhotoLab, 2235 Fifth Street, Berkeley.
DOWNTOWN BERKELEY MUSICFEST Downtown Berkeley’s MusicFest kicked off on Thursday evening with the New Orleans big-band style of East Bay Brass Band (pictured right) and the Latin dance and funk of Alta California — and the fun continues through Sunday Sept. 14. It’s the seventh MusicFest, which is hosted by Jupiter and the Downtown Berkeley Association with the goal of celebrating the diversity of Berkeley’s rich musical pedigree. Musical acts run the gamut from Latin, jazz, rock, bluegrass, folk, reggae, soul, DJs and children’s pop. Venues include the Berkeley Arts Festival, Berkeley Public Library, Bobby G’s Pizzeria, California Jazz Conservatory, FIVE, Freight & Salvage, Jupiter, Pegasus Bookstore, Revival Bar + Kitchen, and Sliver Pizzeria. For details, visit the MusicFest website and connect with them on Facebook.
Also happening in Berkeley this weekend:
Getting old in Berkeley (Old-Time Music that is)
Movie reviews: ‘God Help the Girl’ and ‘Mobilize’
40th Solano Stroll: one mile of free family fun on Sunday
‘Rapture, Blister, Burn’ fires up Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre
Check out Berkeleyside’s event calendar for many more events, and make sure to post your own community happenings.
