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Out on the Town

Puppet Mastery 

     Spend Feb. 14 with stand-up comedian-ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his entourage of funny and lovable dummy friends — grouchy Walter, sidekick Peanut, José Jalapeño on a Stick and Achmed the Dead Terrorist. A zany night is predicted. 5 p.m., $45.50. Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way,
Oakland, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

JANUARY

1–17  •  The Threepenny Opera. Performed by Berkeley’s Shotgun Players, it’s the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill masterpiece, directed by Susannah Martin, with musical direction by David Moschler. Seething with immoral decadence and debauchery, the lowly citizens of Brecht’s beggar’s opera make poverty a glorious art.
Times and prices vary. The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, (510) 841-6500, shotgunplayers.org.

1–3  •  ZooLights. Turn on your holiday spirit with a visit to the Oakland Zoo. Holiday music will fill the air as you mingle among 120 lighted animal structures.
5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m., $4.50–$7.50. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, (510) 632-9525, oaklandzoo.org.

8  •  Disney Live! Rockin’ Road Show. Mickey Mouse and many of his cohorts, including Minnie, Goofy and Donald, go on a road trip and meet adventure and other Disney characters along the way. Expect a lot of singing, dancing and all-around fun. You don’t want to miss Buzz and Woody from Toy Story, Cinderella or Tigger.
3:30 p.m., 7 p.m., $20–$60. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, (510) 465-6400, paramounttheatre.com.

10  •  Garrick Ohlsson. Piano recital with selections from Chopin.
3 p.m., $34–$56. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave., Berkeley (510) 642-9988, calperformances.org.

14–16  •  Madea’s Big Happy Family. Writer, producer, director Tyler Perry is taking his hilarious, pistol-toting Grandma on the road and spending this weekend in a new stage show at the Paramount Theatre.
8 p.m., with a 3 p.m. Saturday matinee, $55–$75. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, (510) 465-6400, paramounttheatre.com.

15–Feb. 28  •  Coming Home. Award-winning South African playwright Athol Fugard’s family drama directed by Gordon Edelstein.
Times vary, $16–$86. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley, (510) 647-2949, berkeleyrep.org.

16  •  The Whispers and The Temptations Review. R&B vocal group, The Whispers, performs with Dennis Edwards, the former (and legendary) lead singer of The Temptations.
8 p.m., $49.50–$79.50. Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (800) 745-3000, thefoxoakland.com.

17  •  In the Name of Love Enjoy a soul-filled and cultural musical celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 17. In its eighth year, the concert features Grammy nominees, vocalist Ledisi and percussionist John Santos, with the John Santos Sextet, as well as the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and the Oakland Children’s Community Choir, backed up by the Oaktown Jazz Workshops. Brian Copeland, author, comedian, and radio talk show host, will act as the emcee. Archival footage of King highlights the evening, along with the presentation of the fifth Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award to an outstanding individual working to make a difference.
7 p.m., $12, (children under 12 free), Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, (510) 287-8880, mlktribute.com.

22  •  Notes From Armenia. Michael Morgan conducts the Oakland East Bay Symphony through the exotic rhythms and musical arrangement of works from Mozart’s Prague Symphony and Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto.
8 p.m., $20–$65. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, (510) 465-6400, paramounttheatre.com or oebs.org.

24  •  Alameda Theatre Lecture Learn the architectural details of the Alameda Theatre while sitting in it. Therese Poletti will give a talk, with an accompanying slide show, about San Francisco architect Timothy Pflueger, on Jan. 24. The majestic theater is one of his designs, along with Oakland’s Paramount Theater and several other projects throughout the Bay Area. Sponsored by the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society and based on Poletti’s book, Art Deco San Francisco: The Architecture of Timothy Pflueger, the evening also will include information on the $15.2-million Alameda Theatre restoration project.  
6 p.m., $5, blog.timothypflueger.com.

23-24  •  The World is a Tumbling Stage The famous and top-notch Peking Acrobats from the People’s Republic of China juggle, cycle and tumble their way to the Cal Berkeley Campus on Jan. 23-24. The entire family can enjoy their ancient folk art, which has wowed audiences for centuries, because kids 16 and younger are half price for all performances.
2 p.m. Jan. 23, 3 p.m. Jan. 24, $24–$46. Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, (510) 642-9988, calperformances.org.

22–Feb. 28  •  The First Grade. World premiere of a play by Chicagoan Joel Drake Johnson; directed by Tom Ross. It’s a family story of the chaotic life of a woman, a class of first-graders, her depressed daughter, her physical therapist, her Ritalin-addicted grandson and an ex-husband with whom she still shares a home.
Most shows at 8 p.m.; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sun., $34–$55. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley, (510) 843-4822, auroratheatre.org.

23  •  Music Before 1850. World-renowned Baroque orchestra Europa Galante performs, directed by founder Fabio Biondi, who also plays violin, a selection of music by Telemann, Sammartini, Nardini, Corelli and Locatelli.
8 p.m., $52. First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, (510) 642-9988, calperformances.org.

23  •  Eddie Izzard. Stand-up comedian and actor performs “The Big Intimacy Tour: Stripped Too” at the arena.
8 p.m., $50, $75. ORACLE Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, (510) 569-2121, oraclearena.com.

23, 24  •  A Celebration of A Life: Tribute to Norton Buffalo. Musicians and friends gather at the Fox Theater in Oakland to honor and celebrate the life of American harmonica player Norton Buffalo. The late artist was a member of the Steve Miller Band for 33 years and played with most of the featured acts, including the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, George Thorogood, Elvin Bishop, Roy Rogers, Charlie Musselwhite and The Knockouts.
7 p.m., $49.50–$125. Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (800) 745-3000, thefoxoakland.com.

23, 24  •  Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival. Presented by The Renaissance School in Oakland, the second annual festival offers two days of high-quality family-friendly films from around the world. This year’s program showcases international children’s films, as well as Academy Award–nominated films and filmmakers, with the opportunity to chat with filmmakers and producers. Sarah Shaffer of Sarah’s Science will offer hands-on educational experiments. And children 6 and older can participate in an animation workshop with Pixar storyboard artists. Healthy and organic food will be available from local farmers markets, restaurants and stores.
11 a.m., $10 (free under 3 years). Michaan’s Auctions,2700 Saratoga St., Alameda, baicff.com.

FEBRUARY

1  •  Author Dave Eggers in conversation with columnist Jon Carroll. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Carroll will guide the conversation with the best-selling author Dave Eggers, through Eggers’ journey as a writer and as an advocate for aspiring writers. Eggers’ most recent work includes the film adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic Where the Wild Things Are, and a teen version of the book called The Wild Things. He is the founder of the independent publishing house McSweeney’s and co-founder of 826 Valencia, a nonprofit writing center for youth. His first book was the best-selling, and much-awarded memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Proceeds benefit the academic and financial assistance programs at Park Day School in Oakland.
7 p.m., $30. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley, (510) 653-0317, parkdayschool.org.

11  •  Alice In Chains. A rock band that emerged out of the grunge era alongside such greats as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden keeps playing. The set list will include classic hits and new favorites, such as “Your Decision.”
8 p.m., $39.50. Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (800) 745-3000, thefoxoakland.com.

13  •  STS9. It stands for “Sound Tribe Sector 9,” and it’s a collective of musicians and artists with a unique musical style that’s been described as intricate, melodic with a deep groove, working with instruments real and simulated.
8 p.m., $27.50. Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (800) 745-3000, thefoxoakland.com.

13-14  •  Valentine’s Day Love Missions. What could be more romantic than a trip to the Red Planet? (It gives “To the Moon, Alice!” a whole new meaning.) In this simulated expedition, couples are stranded on a spacecraft and need teamwork to fix it and continue to Mars. The Mars package includes admission to hands-on exhibits and a planetarium show, some chocolate, a fizzy Martian beverage and a souvenir of the trip into space.
1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. $80–$85 per couple. Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland,(510) 336-7300, chabotspace.org.

13–28  •  Two Weeks of Musical Cal Performances. The university arts program offers a series of concerts during this two-week span. Shows include Masters of Persian Music (13), Takács Quartet Chamber (14), Russian National Orchestra (19), international jazz singer Angélique Kidjo (20), violinist Joshua Bell (21) and the Swedish Radio Choir (28).
Times and prices vary. Concerts take place on the UC Berkeley campus, Hertz Hall, Bancroft Way at College Ave., or Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, (510) 642-9988, calperformances.org.

20, 26, 28  •  Don Giovanni. Berkeley Opera’s 2010 season opens with Mozart’s opera buffa conducted by Alexander Katsman and directed by Mark Streshinsky. In Italian with English supertitles.
8 p.m. and 2 p.m., $25–$65, adults; $15–$32, 17 and younger. Wheelchair seating is $25. Performing Arts Theater at El Cerrito High School. 540 Ashbury Avenue, El Cerrito,(510) 841-1903, www.berkeleyopera.org.

26  •  Views of America. This performance of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, conducted by Michael Morgan, takes the audience on a journey through the country. Featuring music from composers Charles Ives and Duke Ellington, listeners will roam (with a jazzy beat) from the heartland to Harlem, with some Carribbean added for flavor.
8 p.m., $20–$65. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, (510) 465-6400, paramounttheatre.com or oebs.org

27  •  Monster Jam. Big trucks, fat tires, lots of dirt. Need we say more?
7 p.m., $15–$125. Oakland Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

ONGOING

Art/Galleries/Museums

Joyce Gordon Gallery. The gallery exhibits art and photography that reflects the social and cultural diversity of the Bay Area and international artists. Shows: Jan. 8–Feb. 8, “Amor Fati” and Len Speir photography. Feb. 12–March 28, “For Colored Girls Only,” an all-women group show.
Open 12 p.m.–7 p.m. Wed.–Fri.; 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Sat.–Sun. The gallery is also available by appointment for private events and showings. 406 14th St., Oakland, (510) 465-8928, joycegordongallery.com.

African American Museum & Library at Oakland. AAMLO explores, protects and shares the historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in California and the West with impressive archives, an extensive reference library and a museum with traveling and original exhibits.
Through Feb. 27, “Access to Life,” a photographic exhibition celebrating lives in the fight against AIDS. 659 14th St., Oakland, (510) 637-0200, oaklandlibrary.org.

Oakland Aviation Museum. Learn about aviation history related to North Field at Oakland International Airport, Oakland and the Bay Area at this nonprofit museum that displays aircraft and aviation artifacts. Includes exhibits, a History Flicks room, a research library and an aircraft restoration work area.
10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wed.–Sun., $9 adults, $8 seniors, $7 military/teens, $5 kids (free 5 and younger). 8252 Earhart Road, Bldg. 621, Oakland, (510) 638-7100, oaklandaviationmuseum.org.

USS Hornet Museum. The aircraft carrier museum traces the ship’s role in two of the greatest events of the 20th Century — World War II and the Apollo 11 manned space mission. Many events are listed at uss-hornet.org, such as the three-hour guided “History Mystery After Hours Tour” on Jan. 22 while the ship is illuminated in the red lights used for “night ops.”
7 p.m., $35. 707 W. Hornet Ave., Alameda, (510) 521-8448.

USS Potomac. Nautical nuts can soak in history by touring or cruising on the “Floating White House,” FDR’s presidential yacht and a National Historic Landmark with something of a checkered past. Prices vary. Docent-led dockside tours Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays; frequent special events; chartering available.
Docks at Oakland’s Jack London Square, 540 Water St., (510) 627-1215, usspotomac.org.

Alameda Museum. Permanent displays of Alameda history, along with a gallery showcasing local Alameda artists and students. Also, souvenirs, books and videos.
Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave., Alameda,(510) 521-1233, alamedamuseum.org.

Alameda Naval Air Museum. Climb into a cockpit, inspect the ammo, hear some stories from the volunteers who staff the place and generally step back in time.
Open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat. and Sun. 2151 Ferry Point, No. 77, Alameda, (510) 522-4262, alamedanavalairmuseum.com.

Oakland Art Murmur. The Art Murmur is a group of downtown galleries that have openings every first Friday of each month. There also are performances on 23rd Street, sidewalk display tables and a very hip crowd.
7 p.m.–9 p.m. Check with the individual galleries to make sure your favorite gallery is open. The list is at oaklandartmurmur.com.

Oakland Artisans Marketplace. Local artists present their handmade crafts at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza on Fridays and Jack London Square on Saturdays and Sundays.
(510) 238-4948, oaklandartisanmarketplace.org

Estuary Art Attack. Explore the “bohemian, multicultural and esoteric arts” of Alameda and Oakland’s Jingletown on the second Friday of every month with galleries and some participating restaurants promising new exhibits each time.
6 p.m.–9 p.m. estuaryartattack.com or autobodyfineart.com.

Lucky Ju Ju Pinball. Among the more unusual gallery spaces, Lucky Ju Ju is a place where Magic, Karma, Zeitgeist and Skill are infused into a collection of vintage pinball machines. Rotating exhibits, too. New hours: Tues. through Sun., 2 p.m. – 9 p.m., closed Mon. Open until midnight Fri. and Sat. Admission now includes the Pacific Pinball Museum wing with over 40 more machines in one large room.
Adults, $15; kids under 12, $7.50, 1510 Webster St., Alameda, (510) 769-1349, ujuju.com.

Rhythmix Cultural Works. A fantastic addition to the Alameda/East Bay art scene, with a fine gallery anchoring a vibrant education program.
2513 Blanding Ave., Alameda, (510) 865-5060, rhythmix.org.

Frank Bette Center for the Arts. Self-described on its Web site as “a place for meetings, readings, showings and other creative doings.” There are several classes scheduled for 2010, check the site for details.
1601 Paru St., Alameda, (510) 523-6957, frankbettecenter.org.

La Peña. This “gathering place” is a nonprofit community cultural center where people can experience art and culture from Latin America and around the world. Here, community groups involved in both domestic and international issues can organize cultural and educational programs to foster respect and understanding among the diverse peoples of the world. In addition to public events, La Peña offers classes in music and houses Café Valparaiso, which offers a Latin American menu and beverages and provides a “second stage” for more intimate cultural gatherings.
3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 849-2568, lapena.org.

The Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA). The museum is a bustling place for artists of all ages. The first Saturday of each month, MOCHA uses art-making to foster literacy, with authors discussing the use of art in their work. MOCHA also offers a multitude of weekend workshops. Drop in at the MOCHA studios for engaging art activities with rotating weekly themes (18 months and up). MOCHA provides all the materials and experienced teaching artists guide children in creative projects.
538 Ninth St., Oakland, (510) 465-8770, mocha.org.

Music/Performance

Freight & Salvage Coffee House. In a new location, the venue is filling Berkeley nights with music. Come listen, just about a new show every night of the week from just about every genre. Here’s one example: Glen Phillips and Grant-Lee Phillips, the front men of bands Toad the Wet Sprocket and Grant Lee Buffalo on Jan. 14.
Shows start at 8 p.m., prices vary.
2020 Addison St., Berkeley, (510) 644-2020, thefreight.org.

Yoshi’s Jazz Club. Oakland’s premier sushi restaurant and music venue has some hot jazz on tap.
Check the Web site for details. 510 Embarcadero West,
(510) 238-9200, yoshis.com.

Central Works at the Berkeley City Club. Playhouse with three new plays slated for 2010.
2315 Durant Ave., (510) 558-1381, centralworks.org.

The Uptown Club. Indie rock, garage, punk, experimental, pop, folk, rockabilly music — you can probably hear some iteration of it here at Uptown’s eponymous destination live music club.
Cover, times vary. 1928 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (510) 451-8100, uptownnightclub.com.

Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden. This small, intimate venue routinely invites musicians, artists, speakers and authors, bringing a touch of creativity to Alameda.
1223 Park St., Alameda, (510) 865-2385, juliestea.com.

University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. The University’s visual arts center has a mission to inspire the imagination and ignite critical dialogue through art and film.
2625 Durant Ave.,
Berkeley, (510) 642-0808, bampfa.berkeley.edu.

Families

Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire. This vintage antique fair is one of the biggest outdoor antique fairs in the Bay Area and happens every first Sunday of the month at Alameda Point at the former Alameda Naval Air station.
$5–$15. (510) 522-7500, antiquesbythebay.net.

The Oakland Zoo. Founded in 1922 by naturalist Henry A. Snow, the Oakland Zoo is an 85-year-old regional treasure. The nonprofit East Bay Zoological Society took over the zoo in 1983 and offers many different programs through the year.
9777 Golf Links Road, (510) 632-9525, oaklandzoo.org.

Children’s Fairyland. Grab the kids and some sun block (or an umbrella) and head to historic Children’s Fairyland for 10 acres of storybook fun all year long. Check the Web site for information about special performances and the puppet and children’s theaters.
The park is open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wed.–Sun. (weather permitting). $6 per person. 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, (510) 452-2259, fairyland.org.

Farmers Markets

Fresh, local and organic produce is ready for the picking at a farmers market near you. Savor good health and slow food at one of these outdoor markets. Tuesdays: Alameda Farmers Market Wednesdays: East Oakland Senior Center Fridays: Old Oakland, Oakland Kaiser and East Oakland Farmers Market Saturdays: Alameda Farmers Market, Laurel District, Grand Lake Farmers Market, Mo Better Food Farmers Market, Merritt (College) Farmers Market, Alameda Farmers Market Sundays: Jack London Square, Fruitvale Village, Montclair Farmers Market, Temescal Farmers Market.