BANNED BOOKS WEEK BIKE PARTY Join the Berkeley Public Library for the second annual Banned Books Week Bike Party on Saturday Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-12 noon. This year, the event takes place at South Branch (1901 Russell St.) for a kickoff celebration featuring bike decorating, music and more. Participants will then ride as a group over to the Central Library (2090 Kittredge) via Russell, Milvia and Kittredge streets for a reading from some of the most frequently challenged books. There will be a raffle off a prize for readers at the end. The ride is about 1 mile long and is perfect for beginning cyclists and kids. Info on the BPL’s website.
WALKING TOUR OF GOURMET GHETTO On Saturday, Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m., Bob Johnson will lead a 3-mile walk through the Gourmet Ghetto — the commercial district that was the birthplace of California Cuisine and that features a lively mix of historic and contemporary architecture. Signed copies of the new book “Berkeley Walks: Revealing Rambles Through America’s Most Intriguing City” by Robert E. Johnson and Janet L. Byron will be available for purchase at $20. (More information on the Berkeley Walks website.) Reserve your spot by writing to info@berkeleywalks.com or call Bob with questions at 510-528-4368.
RHYTHMADDICTS AT ASHKENAZ The musicians of RhythmAddicts, including Wade Peterson, Gabriel Harris, and Ben “ProfessorSlap” Isaacs, have been friends for over two decades and have all played music for their entire lives. They are now honoring their addiction to the Beat and have joined forces with each other and three other stellar musicians – Tom Finch (guitar), Charles Moselle (winds, keyboard, beatboxing), and Anna Pfeifer (bass) – to create an amazing musical journey called RhythmAddicts. Taking traditional drum rhythms from around the world and combining them with super-funky musical inspiration, they create music that is deeply connected to the indigenous cultures it is from, yet both exciting and new. They play Ashkenaz on Friday Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m. along with Piwai & the Zimbabwe Mystics and Bay Area Colombian folkloric dance band Alúna. Visit Ashkenaz for details.
INSIDE THE FREE SPEECH MOVEMENT, PART 3 On Sunday at 3 p.m. the Berkeley History Center presents “Inside the Free Speech Movement, Part 3.” Inside the Free Speech Movement, a film series by Linda Rosen and Jai Jai Noire, features oral history interviews that grew out of the BHS exhibit on the Free Speech Movement. It covers the civil liberties and civil rights issues that led up to and were launched by the FSM. Students of differing points of view came to consensus and successfully convinced the faculty, and eventually the administration and the Regents, to support First Amendment rights. Free, but must call 510-848-0181 for a reservation. Berkeley History Center is at 1931 Center St.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING See the romantic sparks fly between some of Shakespeare’s most vibrant lovers as they negotiate love’s hilarious tricks, truths and consequences at the free performance of Much Ado About Nothing, performed by TheatreFIRST in John Hinkel Park in Berkeley on Saturday Oct. 3 and Sunday Oct. 4 at 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit TheatreFIRST online.
Don’t miss these other events previously featured on Berkeleyside:
The utopian vision of the Ben Goldberg School
Big Screen Berkeley: The Black Panthers
East Side Sushi: Gratifying food film set in East Bay
The full program for Uncharted: The Berkeley Festival of Ideas on Oc.t 16 and 17 in downtown Berkeley is now out! Check out the amazing line-up of speakers and performers. And don’t forget the party, the plentiful food and drink and the fun. One- and two-day early-bird tickets are still available. Get yours here.