BERKELEY BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION Berkeley’s third annual Black History Month Celebration takes place Sunday, Feb. 28, 2-5 p.m. at the Ed Roberts Campus. The theme this year is “History Makers” and throughout the day people and events important to Berkeley’s history will be acknowledged and celebrated. The program includes a workshop at 2 p.m., “Violence in the Black Community: Cause and Strategy,” facilitated by Cal State East Bay sociology professor Benjamin Browser; and a panel presentation with Black Lives Matter members Barbara Ann White, Spencer Pritchard and Marcel Jones, discussing the rationale for the organization, operating principals, and the group’s work and activities. There is also a premiere showing of Fair Legislation: The Byron Rumford Story, a documentary about the second African-American assemblyman elected to the California State Legislature. A reception and Q&A with producers and cast members will follow the 3:30pm screening. There’s live music by Soul Progression; gospel mime group Double Portion of Praise; and six-year old singing sensation De’Or — as well as RJ Reed’s “Black Inventions Display”, created to teach children about the contributions of black American inventors. Berkeley Black History Month Celebration, Sunday Feb. 28, 2-5 p.m. Doors open at 1:30pm. Admission is free and open to the public. Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline St. (opposite Ashby BART).
JOHN RYBAK AND FRIENDS Join John Rybak & Friends for a fun night of music at Caffe Trieste in West Berkeley Saturday Feb. 27, 8-10 p.m. Rybak will be joined by good friend and singer/songwriter Lisa Graciano, as well as fiddler extraordinaire Perry Spinali. Expect a great night of acoustic roots and blues numbers planned for your listening enjoyment. All ages, free show. Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley.
AUTRIS PAIGE IN CONCERT Back by popular demand, the baritone singer/actor who brought us Paul Robeson, Renaissance Man returns for a concert of American composers Sunday Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. at the Central Library. Paige will sing works by Harry Burleigh, Duke Ellington, James Weldon Johnson, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin and John W. Work, accompanied by pianist Othello Jefferson. A Bay Area native, Paige is a versatile performer who has sung grand opera at the San Francisco Opera and appeared on Broadway with Eartha Kitt. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. Autris Paige concert, 3rd floor Community Meeting Room, Berkeley’s Central Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Berkeley.
POCKET OPERA’S ‘MARTHA’ Two high-born, sheltered (and frightfully bored) young ladies are unexpectedly swept into the rude current of life and find it most exhilarating, in Pocket Opera’s production of Friedrich Von Flotow’s Martha at the Hillside Club Sunday Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. The production is directed by Nicolas Aliaga Garcia and stars Jennifer Ashworth as Lady Harriet Durham and Tania Mandzy as her servant. Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley. Details and tickets at Pocket Opera.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BACKYARD CHICKENS BioFuel Oasis is holding this workship, one of its urban farm class series, at Sticky Art Lab Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Expect to learn everything from setting up a brooder for baby chicks to the essentials of water, feed, and coop requirements for a thriving backyard flock. Instructor Rebecca Daun-Widner will run through topics including keeping your chickens happy and healthy, planning your coop, protecting against predators, winter time care, best breeds, nutrition, and optimum egg production. Sticky Art Lab, 1682 University Ave. (at McGee), Berkeley. Cost: $40. Details at BioFuel Oasis.
Don’t miss these other events featured on Berkeleyside:
Berkeley Playhouse’s ‘Bridges: A New Musical’ is a winner
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘A War’
Nightscapes: Ira Serkes’ show at the French Hotel
Want to know what else is going on in Berkeley and nearby? Visit Berkeleyside’s new-look Events Calendar. Submit your own events for free if they aren’t there already — and give them featured status for just a few dollars a day.
