Want to know what a world-famous chef peruses in the comfort of her own home? If so, rush down to the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library’s store on Channing for its annual cookbook sale. Mollie Katzen, who shot to fame with her “Moosewood Cookbook,” and who has since written almost a dozen others, including 2013’s “The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation,” donated about 400 books for the sale. They are cookbooks for which Katzen has written a foreward, has reviewed, and maybe, just maybe cooked from. There are even some of her own cookbooks. And, as usual, the prices are “ridiculously low.” The Friends of the Library store is at 2433 Channing Way and is open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (There is also a Friends store in the Central Branch but it does not have Katzen’s books)
Berkeley has many fabulous theater companies: Berkeley Rep, Aurora, Shotgun Players, Berkeley Playhouse, and several more. One of the best kept secrets is the UC Berkeley Department of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies, whose students perform excellent plays throughout the year. This weekend TDPS offers a two-fer: a production of a play written by an alumnus. On Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m,. the department will put on Aulis: An Act of Nihilism in One Long Act by Christopher Chen, who won the Glickman Prize for a previous play, The Hundred Flowers Project. “In this humorous, absurdist take on Euripides, King Agamemnon faces a heart-wrenching choice: Sacrifice his beloved only daughter to the gods, or condemn the entire Greek army to defeat before ever reaching Troy.” The play runs March 6-7 and 13-14 at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Playhouse at Bancroft and Telegraph avenues on the Cal campus. Sunday performances are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15-20.
PREVENTING TRANSGENDER SUICIDE On Saturday, people who either are transgender or are related to the transgender community will gather to discuss their experiences around transgender issues in hopes of preventing more suicides. “You are not alone: Preventing Transgender Suicide” will also be helpful for those learning to be an ally. There will be sign-ups for speakers starting at 2:30 p.m., and the event will start at 3:00 p.m. Speakers can either do a speech or something creative, like a poem. If there is time, there will be a Q&A session after everyone has spoken. Saturday March 7, 2:30-5 p.m. Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. (at Bonita). Suggested donation $10. No one turned away for lack of funds. Wheelchair accessible.
JAY CAMPBELL AT CROWDEN Hear Crowden School alumnus and cellist Jay Campbell, and pianist Conor Hanick, perform as part of Crowden’s Sundays @ Four chamber music series on Sunday. Campbell, who has performed as concerto soloist in the world’s most prestigious halls, began his cello career at Crowden, as an eight-year old beginner. He made his debut with the New York Philharmonic this past season performing the music of Tan Dun. The program will be Debussy Violin Sonata, Stravinsky Suite Italienne (after Pulcinella), Elliott Carter Elegy, David Fulmer new work for cello/piano, and Brahms Sonata No. 1 in D major. Sunday March 8, 4-7 p.m. Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Cost: Free to $25.
GODARD’S TELEVISION COMMERCIALS On Sunday Berkeley’s Pacific Film Archive is screening a selection of Jean Luc Godard’s highly unconventional TV advertisements which range from Schick After Shave, featuring Juliet Berto as one half of a couple arguing over a report on Palestine but agreeing that Schick makes you feel better in your skin; to a commission for the anniversary of Figaro magazine for which Godard excavated the final words of a series of fictitious French celebrities. Le rapport Darty is a daring deconstruction of consumerist behavior featuring Miss Clio Darty, with a voiceover by Godard and Anne-Marie Miéville– this philosophical “report,” like so many of Godard’s commissions, was rejected by its funders. Pacific Film Archive Theater, 2575 Bancroft Way.
Don’t miss these other events featured on Berkeleyside:
In Berkeley, it’s a woman’s woman’s woman’s world
“The Lyons” at the Aurora Theater: dark, but bitingly funny
For more events in and around Berkeley, check out Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar. And submit your own events there — the calendar is free and self-serve.
