MUSICIANS FOR STANDING ROCK Madeline Tasquin is leading a musical celebration of Leonard Cohen on Sunday night that includes a raft of Bay Area-based musicians, including Heather Normandale, Graham Patzner, Zena Carlota, Annie Bacon, Mariajose Montijo, Papa Bear and Peter Whitehead. All of the musicians’ proceeds from the evening will be donated to Oceti Sakowin Camp, the frontline of resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. For those who can’t attend, the program will be livestreamed on Tasquin’s website. Sunday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m., Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave.
ALMOST HANUKKAH KLEZMER HAPPY HOUR Hanukkah actually starts on the evening of Dec. 24, but that shouldn’t stop you having a good time. The Hanukkah Klezmer Happy Hour is actually three hours of dancing, music, food, drink and kids activities at Chochmat Ha Lev. The afternoon kicks off with Zaide Makes Latkes: puppets with Jen Miriam & Alon (aimed at young children) and storytelling with Joel Ben Izzy (aimed at older children and adults). That’s followed by belly dancer Elisabeth Strong before concluding with a dance party featuring the “shtetl-rocking” klezmer of Kugelplex. Also promised: artisan-crafted cocktails by Maggid Jhos Singer, including the Latketini, a deconstructed latke-in-a-glass “that will spin your dreidel.” Sunday, Dec. 18, 3-6 p.m., Chochmat HaLev, 2215 Prince St.
AMOR DOLOR FLAMENCO Oakland-based Flamenco artist and instructor Melissa Cruz presents her fourth annual showcase at La Peña, featuring a cast of over 15 dancers and musicians. Entitled “Amor Dolor Flamenco,” (Love Pain Flamenco) the program is partially curated by her dancers, who have created pieces expressing a wide range of emotions, including feelings surrounding the current political climate. Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave.
LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, leads the California-based rock band, Promise of the Real on Saturday night at the UC Theatre. Founded in 2008, the band has gained steadily in popularity. Last year, they were the backing band on Neil Young’s 36th studio album, The Monsanto Years, and the accompanying tour. The concert is a benefit for Berkeley-based Seva Foundation, which works to prevent blindness. The concert will be hosted by Wavy Gravy and also includes Poor Man’s Whiskey and Corinne West. Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m., The UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave.
THREE COLORS The Pacific Film Archive’s current series features world trilogies. They’ve already shown Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy and the month concludes with Marcel Pagnol’s Fanny trilogy. This weekend it’s your last chance to see Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Three Colors trilogy at BAMPFA. Three Colors: Blue will be shown on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m., Three Colors: White at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, and Three Colors: Red on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. BAMPFA, 2155 Center St.
Don’t miss this other event featured on Berkeleyside:
‘946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips’ at Berkeley Rep
Spreading the love: Lilan Kane; Peter Apfelbaum’s Sparkler
Big Screen Berkeley’s favorite films of 2016
Ever wonder how Berkeleyside compiles its weekly It List? We rely on event organizers to tell us about their events (email editors@berkeleyside.com) and we also select events listed by organizers on the Berkeleyside Events Calendar — submissions are self-serve and free, so be sure to use it!
