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Sugar Plum Spectacular

    The Oakland Ballet presents The Nutcracker, a Christmas music and dance extravaganza that has enchanted audiences for 36 years. Ronn Guidi directs all six matinees and an evening show, Dec. 18–24, with Michael Morgan conducting the Oakland East Bay Symphony. A nonperishable food offering for the Alameda County Community Food Bank will garner a 20 percent discount for adults and $10 tickets for kids. Performance times vary, $15–$50, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, (510) 465-6400, www.paramounttheatre.com, www.ticketmaster.com.

—By Patsy K. Eagan
—Courtesy of Marty Sohl

Events

    Jalisco Holidays
    The Grammy Award–winning Mariachi Los Camperos, known for recording and touring with Linda Ronstadt, ring in La Posada, the traditional reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem. Directed by Jalisco-born musician Nati Cano, the Feista Navidad program includes seasonal sing-along favorites, including “Noche de Paz” (“Silent Night”). On Dec. 21, watch mariachi’s finest perform their boisterous song set. 3 p.m., $24–$38, Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue, (510) 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.

    Temescal Library’s 90th Birthday (Dec. 1, 6, 10) Join the Oakland Public Library in honoring its Temescal branch, built nearly a century ago. “It’s one of five city libraries built by Andrew Carnegie,” says Jeff Norman, neighborhood historian, who will curate a photo exhibit for the occasion. With the help of former Temescal librarian Martha Bergmann, Norman and Shared Ground present before and after images of the library, both in its more rural days, and as a literary oasis in these urban times. Alan Leon conducts a Short Order Poetry workshop 6 p.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 1; Nancy Elliot leads a collage workshop 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Dec. 6; public reception and celebration 6 p.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 10; free, Temescal Public Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave., (510) 597-5049, www.oaklandlibrary.org.

    Body Music Festival (Dec. 2–7) Body music pioneer and 2008 Guggenheim Fellow Keith Terry brings international talent to this weeklong marathon of concerts and workshops for those who stomp, clap and sing to make music. Terry weds the local celebrities of Body Slammin’ with groups from all over the world, including Barbatuques from Brazil, KeKeÇa of Turkey and Inuit throat singers from Canada. The shows jump between Oakland and San Francisco for the duration; catch them on this side of the Bay at the Oakland Museum of California, Oakland’s Club Anton and Destiny Arts Center in Emeryville. Performance times vary, $5–$25. For tickets show information, visit (510) 601-9797, www.crosspulse.com.

    Open Studios (Dec. 6–7, 13–14, 20–21) More than 100 East Bay artists fling open their doors for the 18th annual Berkeley Artisans Holiday Open Studios. Crafts people and fine artists of all stripes will be on hand to talk with you about their handmade collections. Art made with an array of media—ceramics, blown glass, textiles, jewelry, prints—are for sale at many of the studios. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Dec. 6–7, 13–14, 20–21. A map of participating studios is available by mail: Send a SASE to Berkeley Artisans Map, 2547 Eighth St., Suite 24 A, Berkeley, CA 94710. For more information, call (510) 845-2612; to download a map, visit www.berkeleyartisans.com.

    Holidays at Dunsmuir (Weekends, Dec. 8–23) The clock falls back to Edwardian times as the Dunsmuir Estate celebrates Christmas. Visitors can see the 37-room mansion all decked out for the holidays with a two-story tree, enjoy holiday teas for kids and adults, hear carolers, ride the 50-acre grounds in horse-drawn carriages and breakfast with Kriss Kringle. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; $12 adults, $11 seniors, $7 juniors, $10 each for members and individuals in groups of 10 or more, free for children under 6; Dunsmuir Historic Estates, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, (925) 275-9490, www.dunsmuir.org.

    The Secret Nutcracker (Dec. 12–14) For those with smaller children and tighter coin purses, Ronn Guidi produces this off-Broadway version of the classic ballet. The smaller, more intimate Regents Theatre at Holy Names University sets the stage for both professional and up-and-coming dancers. $20, matinee and evening performance times vary, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd, (510) 530-7516, www.rgfpa.org.

    Let the Music Ring (Dec. 13) The Oakland Youth Chorus puts on its 34th annual Winter Choral Concert, featuring singers ages 5 to 25. The holiday program’s varied repertoire keeps with its mission to teach the music of many cultures and movements. American Idol contestant Latoya London credits her successes to her OYC training. Locally-grown music artists Bryan Dyer (of Body Slammin’) and Goapele also sang with the group. 7 p.m.; adults $20 reserved, $15 at the door; students and seniors $15 reserved, $10 at the door; First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St., (510) 287-9700, ext. 110, www.oaklandyouthchorus.org.

    World Food Tasting (Dec. 14) La Peña Cultural Center brings the community to the table with this fundraiser feast. Local chefs, artists, activists and musicians prepare their favorite entrée, side dish or dessert. Some cuisines represented at the table are Argentinean, Japanese, Italian, Turkish and Texas vegan dishes. Music and no-host beer, wine and coffee are provided, as well as a small artists’ bazaar in the lobby. 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m., $15, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 849-2568, www.lapena.org.

    Oakland Poetry Slam (Dec. 18) Spoken word artists battle for best of set every third Thursday and invite you to be the judge. First up is an open mic at 8 p.m., and then at 8:30, one of original “Punany Poets,” Mahogany Brown, performs. Before it arrived at HBO, the Punany slam subgenre was spawned in Oakland, preaching its sexual health mandate with “sensual, theatrical science.” These ladies preceded The Vagina Monologues and leave no topic untouched. Those 21 or older may stick around for the after-party hosted by Oakland Renaissance. 8 p.m., $10, the Oasis Restaurant & Bar, 135 12th St. (510) 763-0404, www.oaklandslam.com.

    Annual New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop (Dec. 31) At the Chabot Space and Science Center, kids can cheer in 2009 before their bedtimes. Chabot ushers in the New Year with hundreds of balloons—many filled with prizes—that drop from the ceiling of the rotunda. Children ages 5 and younger are invited to their own balloon drop in the Discovery Lab, where they can learn about spinning planets and time zones. Advance reservations required, and kids should line up 15 minutes before each drop at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets for the balloon drop are $3 per child plus museum admission: $13 adults, $10 seniors and students, $9 youth. Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., (510) 336-7373, www.chabotspace.org.

Film

   Helvetica (Dec. 3) More than 50 years ago, a Swiss designer created a sans-serif typeface that would later become one of the most recognized fonts in the world. But why? Documentary filmmaker Gary Hustwit seeks answers in his directorial debut. Screening followed by discussion. 6 p.m., free, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., (510) 238-2200, www.museumca.org.

   Mary Poppins (Dec. 26) The nanny with a “spoon full of sugar” mantra arrives just in time for the holidays as part of the Paramount Theatre’s Movie Classics series. Disney’s 1964 production stars Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Arrive 60 minutes before the show to hear Jim Riggs play tunes on the mighty Wurlitzer organ. Pre-show perks include a newsreel, cartoon, previews and a prize give-away game, “Dec-O-Win.” 8 p.m., $5, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, (510) 465-6400, www.paramounttheatre.com.

Theater

    Jingle Arts
    The Jingletown Arts and Business Community is sponsoring its third annual Holiday Art Walk, Dec. 7. In a neighborhood named after the factory workers who, decades ago, would jingle their daily earnings in their pockets, more than 25 artisans will open their studio doors to the public. The defunct canneries of Jingletown—between the Park and Fruitvale street bridges and bordered by the estuary separating Oakland and Alameda—are live/work artist communities, and house such budding entities as the Institute of Mosaic Art and Float Gallery. 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m., free. For a list of artists and locations, visit www.jingletown.org.

    Well-Bee-Hived
    If you liked the Sweeney Sisters of Saturday Night Live, chances are you’ll swing to the Coverlettes. But unlike their televised counterparts, these ladies have big voices to go with the big hair. In The Coverlettes Cover Christmas, running Dec. 16–23 at the Aurora Theatre, Bay Area vocalists Carol Bozzio Littleton, Darby Gould and Katie Guthorn draw on the legacy of the Shirelles, Chiffons and Ronettes, singing tunes that celebrate the season, covering everything from “My Boyfriend’s Back” to “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Randy Craig directs. 8 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 7 p.m. Sun., $25 general, Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley, (510) 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org.

     Macbeth (Dec. 4–Jan. 11) Award-winning playwright Mark Jackson directs this new interpretation of the Shakespeare classic. Hipsters, rather than royals, perform on a modern set. Company members Dan Bruno, John Mercer and Reid David, among others, star in this Shotgun Players production. 8 p.m. Thu.–Sun., 5 p.m. Sun. $18–$30, 1901 Ashby Ave., (510) 841-6500, www.shotgunplayers.org.

    The Piano Lesson (Dec. 5) The Fusion Theater Company of Laney College presents Pulitzer Prize–winner August Wilson’s fourth play in his Pittsburgh cycle. In question is whether to keep an engraved piano that’s been with the family for generations, through slavery and over state lines during the Great Migration. Director Michael Torres says that the play’s issues around African–American displacement in the 1930s are still relevant today. Lead actor Donald A. Lacy commends the playwright for his rendering of the era, saying, “August Wilson is a true hero for capturing the experience of African Americans in the 20th century.” 8 p.m., $10 general, $5 students, Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., (510) 464-3543, www.myspace.com/laneyfusiontheater.

    Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Through Dec. 14) The Berkeley Repertory Theatre produces the late August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, a tale set, like most of Wilson’s plays, in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Penn. It follows the journey of Harold Loomis from his spot on a chain gang to a boardinghouse in quest of his family during the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. Directed by Delroy Lindo. 8 p.m. Tue., Thu.–Sat.; 7 p.m. Wed. and Sun.; 2 p.m. Sun. (and Dec. 4); $13.50–$71, Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley, (510) 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org.

    The Arabian Nights (Through Jan. 4) Director Mary Zimmerman returns to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre with her interpretation of A Thousand and One Nights. Perhaps best known for her Tony Award–winning play Metamorphoses, Zimmerman’s transposes mythology into the sublime onstage. Performance days and times vary, $13.50–$71, Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley, (510) 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org.

    Paul Mooney (Dec. 27–31) Comedian and creator of such TV characters as Homey the Clown (In Living Color) and Negrodamus (Chapelle’s Show), Mooney returns to the Black Repertory Group for a holiday bash. He’ll perform material from his Showtime special, Jesus Is Black, in his typically irreverent style. 8 p.m. Dec. 27–30 and 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Dec. 31, $25–$100, 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley, (510) 652-2120, www.blackrepertorygroup.com.

    Hot Monday Nights (Ongoing) You may know Oakland-grown actor Mark Curry from his title role in the sitcom Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, or his appearance sporting an A’s hat in the Too $hort music video “I Ain’t Trippin’.” Now this Apollo Theater–trained host brings the comedy to Oakland every Monday night. Curry’s vision for the series is to feature both established headliners and new comics who want to try their material on audiences. Enjoy a new lineup each week, and a no-host bar. 7:30 p.m. $20, members $18, James Moore Theater, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., (510) 433-9800, www.museumca.org, www.markcurrycomedy.com.

Music

    Pomegranates and Figs: A Feast of Jewish Music (Dec. 20) Two groups commemorate Yiddish and Sephardic music in this concert of local and global talents. Nikitov hails from the Netherlands to perform its compositions in voice, violin, guitar and double bass. Bay Area–based Teslim features violinist Kaila Flexer and Gari Hegedus on oud and other strings. Arrive at 7:30 p.m. for a pre-show discussion led by Francesco Spagnolo, head of research at the Judah L. Magnes Museum. 8 p.m., $20, $26, $32, Zellerbach Hall A, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue, (510) 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.

    Let Us Break Bread Together (Dec. 14) The Oakland East Bay Symphony leads several groups in a choralpalooza. The Oakland Symphony Chorus and Terrence Kelly & the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir are just two of many ensembles that sing spirituals, classical and sing-along favorites. Latin roots band Los Cenzontles will also contribute to the festivities. 4 p.m. $15–$40 for adults, $10 for kids under 18, Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, (510) 465-6400, www.paramounttheatre.com.

    Yoshi’s Jazz Club (Ongoing) This month’s headliners include: Contemporary jazz trumpeter Chris Botti (Dec. 9–14); guitarist Charlie Hunter (Dec. 16–17); and trumpeter Roy Hargrove (Dec. 26–31). Performance times and ticket prices vary; admission for the New Year’s Eve Celebration is $100. Yoshi’s Jazz House, 510 Embarcadero West, (510) 238-9200, www.yoshis.com.

Museums/Galleries/Lectures

     Oakland Art Murmur (Dec. 5) A dozen-plus art galleries stage openings and receptions on first Fridays for the Oakland Art Murmur. Telegraph Avenue and 23rd Street is ground zero, but galleries stretch from 20th to 42nd streets. Most galleries host free receptions, but some charge a fee. Check listings at www.oaklandartmurmur.com.

    Banned Books (Through Dec. 31) The result of a collaboration between the African American Museum and Library at Oakland and the San Francisco Center for the Book, the exhibit Banned & Recovered: Artists Respond to Censorship, curated by Hanna Regev, features the work of more than 50 multimedia artists interpreting censored texts. 12 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Tue.–Sat., free, AAMLO, 659 14th St., (510) 637-0200, www.oaklandlibrary.org/AAMLO.

    Author Dave Weinstein (Dec. 11) The Oakland Heritage Alliance continues its Thursday Lecture Series with Dave Weinstein, author of the new social history, It Came from Berkeley: How Berkeley Changed the World. A regular contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Home & Garden section and longtime Bay Area journalist, Weinstein details with anecdotes and evidence how “The People’s Republic of Berkeley” made nationwide impact on American culture at large. 7:30 p.m., $10 general, $8 members, Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., (510) 763-9218, www.oaklandheritage.org.

Family

    Zoo Lights (Dec. 5–Jan. 4) The Oakland Zoo turns on the holiday spirit at this festival of lights. Larger-than-life displays of the animal residents are posted throughout the park and lit by hundreds of thousands of energy-efficient LED bulbs. Visitors are served hot cocoa and invited to discover each of the park’s 120 structures. Movin’ 99.7 FM provides the music and the train rides are courtesy of the Snowball Express. 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Fri.–Sun., 5:30 p.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Thu., $4.50–$7.50. 9777 Golf Links Road, (510) 632-9525, www.oaklandzoo.org.

    Fungus Fair (Dec. 6–7) Explore the mysteries of the mushroom at the Fungus Fair, presented by the Oakland Museum of California and the Mycological Society of San Francisco. Meet a mycologist and learn to identify savory species; shop for shiitakes, buttons and portobellos at the marketplace; see a science fiction flick, new to the festival, starring animated fungi. Make mushroom ice cream, grow kits, clay models and more for the price of admission. 12 p.m.–4 p.m., $8 adults, $5 seniors and students, children under 6 free, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., (510) 238-2200, www.museumca.org.

    Fairy Winterland (Dec. 12–21) The same park that commissioned Bing Crosby for its song storybooks hosts a white Christmas. With many winter holidays to celebrate, Fairyland creates activities and entertainment that recognize Chanukah, Las Posadas, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Chinese New Year. After sunset, the Festival of Lights parade transforms the park’s 10 acres into a sparkling, enchanted forest. Visitors enjoy complimentary hot apple cider, and Santa Claus visits to hand out goody bags. 12 p.m.–7 p.m., $7, 699 Bellevue Ave., (510) 452-2259, www.fairyland.org.

    Holiday Gifty Art Sale (Dec. 13–14) The Crucible hosts an open house for seasonal shoppers weary of the mall scene. This event takes gift searching to a whole new level, with glass-blowing demonstrations, circus performers, prize drawings, holiday treats and refreshments and a visit from Santa and his entourage. More than 60 artisans vend their unique, affordable gifts in The Crucible’s 56,000-square-foot studio. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., free, 1260 Seventh St., (510) 444-0919. For a complete list of artists, visit www.thecrucible.org.