Local Events Not to Miss
January 2019
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS:
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Moraga Art Gallery’s End-of-Year Show: “Holiday Magic in Porcelain and Paint”
Now through January 5, Rheem Shopping Center, 522 Center Street, Moraga
In the spirit of the season, the Moraga Art Gallery presents “Holiday Magic in Porcelain and Paint” a colorful new show featuring the works of two of Lamorinda’s most celebrated artists: Lafayette’s Donna Arganbright and Orinda’s Maria SantoStefano. The gallery’s show, which also includes work by its 14 member artists, runs through January 5. The gallery is located in the Rheem Shopping Center, 522 Center Street, Moraga. Extended December hours are from 10:00 to 6:00 daily through December 24th. For more information, visit
http://www.moragaartgallery.com or call 925-376-5407.
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Help a Foster Child Get Back to Being a Kid. Become a CASA Volunteer.
You have the powerful opportunity to impact the life of a vulnerable foster child when you volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Contra Costa County. CASA volunteers work one-on-one with a foster child to ensure that foster children and youth receive needed health, education and therapeutic services, positive social and recreational opportunities, and consistent support.
Learn more.
Sign up
to attend in-person Informational Session.
Friday, January 4, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Richmond Chamber
Monday, January 7, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., DVC-IEC
Friday, January 11, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., DVC-IEC
Friday, January 18, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Pittsburg Chamber
Monday, January 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., DVC-IEC
Friday, January 25, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., DVC-IEC
DVC-IEC, 2151 Salvio St., Ste. 299, Concord
Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, 985 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg
Richmond Chamber of Commerce, 3925 Macdonald Ave., Richmond
You must be 21 years or older to volunteer.
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Urban Farmers Community Harvest
Saturday, January 5, 10am-1pm, Springstone School parking lot, 1035 Carol Lane
Join The Urban Farmers as they harvest fresh backyard fruit for donation to local soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and the food bank. Typical harvests take about 3 hours and travel no more than 25 miles from the starting location. They provide all the necessary equipment, including buckets, picking-poles, ladders, clippers, and crates with us.
Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for the expected weather conditions of the day. Come prepared to be outdoors for 4 hours. Other items to consider are: water, snack, hat and sunglasses, gardening gloves, brown bag to take some fruit home. To reserve your spot,
click here. For other local harvest dates and locations, see
theurbanfamers.org.
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Crab Feed Fundraiser for Sentinels of Freedom
Saturday, January 5, 5:30pm-11:30pm, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette
The Sentinels of Freedom mission is to provide life-changing opportunities for men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have suffered severe injuries and need the support of grateful communities to realize their goals and dreams. Money raised will go towards a Sentinel Scholarship. This is a 2-4 year commitment that is uniquely tailored to the specific needs of the scholarship recipient. Through their scholarships, these Veterans have access to financial assistance through housing subsidies, financial coaching and planning, a mentoring program, networking opportunities, and employment assistance.
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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A Roadmap to Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten
Thursday, January 10, 6pm-7pm, Burton Valley Elementary Multi-Purpose Room, 561 Merriewood Drive
Join the Lafayette School District for a parent presentation on Kindergarten readiness and expectations; schedule and typical day; partners in education, transitional kindergarten, Q&A. Questions? Contact Lafayette School District (925) 927-3500.
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“A Sense of Place” at the Moraga Art Gallery
Saturday, January 12, 5pm-7pm, Rheem Shopping Center, at 522 Center Street, Moraga
Wenda Pyman’s latest exhibit of beguiling landscape photographs entitled “A Sense of Place” kicks off the new year at the Moraga Art Gallery. Calling to mind the camera work of Galen Rowell and Eliot Porter, Wenda captures the luminous and timeless splendor of places like Mt. Diablo, Morro Bay, SF’s Baker Beach, and the Florida Keys. The show, which includes paintings, ceramics, jewelry, fused glass, other photographs and more by the gallery’s fourteen member-artists and several guest artists, runs from January 9th to March 16th. The public is invited to a free opening reception on Saturday, January 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Use the occasion to meet the artists, enjoy a glass of wine accompanied by light snacks and live music. The Moraga Art Gallery is located in the Rheem Shopping Center, at 522 Center Street, Moraga. Its hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit
www.moragaartgallery.com or call 925-376-5407.
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STEM for Girls
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 6:30pm-8pm, Lafayette Library Community Hall
CA Executive Director of Techbridge Girls Bunmi Esho will speak on preparing girls for a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)-related career. Techbridge Girls provides STEM programs to girls and supports teachers and others with training and STEM resources. Information will be available on AAUW’s Tech Trek camp for 7th grade girls, AAUW-OML’s STEAM conference at Saint Mary’s College for middle school girls and AAUW-OML college scholarships for young Lamorinda women. Presented by: American Association of University Women, Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Branch. Admission: Free
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Jump start your Valentine’s Day Shopping at Super Valentine’s Boutique
Sunday, January 27, 11am-3pm, Hilton Concord Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd.
Valentine’s Day comes early with the ultimate local shopping experience at the 3rd annual free Super Valentine’s Boutique on Sunday, Jan. 27, in the elegant Hilton Concord Golden Gate Ballroom. Shoppers will be able to pamper themselves and buy gifts for their Valentine’s Sweethearts.
The free indoor fair allows shoppers to get their special Valentine’s outfit and Valentine’s gifts for family and friends from over 60 arts and crafts vendors, home-based businesses and commercial exhibitors. Clothing for women, teens and kids, makeup, jewelry, purses, candles, soaps, candy, fashion accessories, candy, coffee and tea, home goods, bath and body, kitchenware and cooking products, baked goods and so much more will be available.
There will be free eyebrow waxing and free chair massage plus free demonstrations and workshops at the Boutique. The Hilton Concord will have a wine and cocktail bar open at the Boutique for shoppers to relax during and after they shop. The first 250 shoppers through the door will receive a Valentine’s Gift Bag. Each attendee will receive a free raffle ticket for numerous Valentine’s-themed prizes including a romantic stay and dinner at the Hilton Concord. Donation of food to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano will earn the donor another raffle ticket for each can donated.
Visit
www.SuperValentinesBoutique.com for more information and to register for free $2 Sweetheart Buck to be used at the Boutique and automatic entry in the raffle. Super Valentine’s Boutique is free to the public with ample free parking at Hilton Concord.
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Home Expo 2019
Sunday, January 27, 10am-4pm, Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Are you in need of home improvements? The 8th Annual Home Expo will be held Sunday, January 27th, 2019 at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building located at 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. This event is open to the public 10am-4pm. Come and meet some of the top home improvement professionals in the bay area and conquer those home improvement tasks!
http://homeexpoevents.com/
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Diablo Ballet presents Balanchine and Beyond
February 1 & 2, 8pm; and February 2, 2pm, Del Valle Theatre, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek
This February, Diablo Ballet opens the new year with the second program of its 25th Anniversary season, Balanchine and Beyond, which features the classic masterpiece, Apollo by George Balanchine; the lyrical From Another Time by Diablo Ballet alumna and choreographer, Tina Kay Bohnstedt, composed and performed by Justin Levitt; and the classical Paquita, staged by Diablo Ballet regisseur Joanna Berman and featuring the entire company in a bravura finale. Immediately following each performance, ticket holders are invited to stay for a post-performance Q&A with our dancers, choreographers and musicians followed by a dessert and coffee reception where you can meet and mingle with the dancers. Tickets $15-$47, (925) 943-7469;
www.lesherartscenter.org,
www.diabloballet.org
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16 glass artists from the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California
Opening Night and Artist Reception: Feb. 7, 6:00 - 8:00pm; Exhibit up through March 2, 2019; Discussion with artists and jurors Feb. 9th, 4pm; 3620 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette
Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery (JPG) is proud to present an exhibition featuring 16 glass artists from the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California (ACGA). This exhibit features a variety of wall and pedestal art glass, sculptural- conceptual, and decorative. One notable sculpture depicts a polar bear walking out of an ice block. The work was juried in by gallery owner Jennifer Perlmutter and guest juror Myrna Kimmelman, Executive Director of Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) and a glass collector. 5% of all sales proceeds in the exhibit will be donated to LPIE to support our schools arts and education programs.
ACGA was founded in 1945 and boasts over 400 clay and glass artists, supporters, collectors and corporate sponsors. ACGA artists exhibit all over the country and most notably at the prestigious ACGA Clay and Glass Festival in Palo Alto, CA.
jenniferperlmuttergallery.com
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Spectacular Special Needs Parties
February 9, 2019, March 16, 2019, April 20, 2019, June 1 , 2019, 2pm-4pm
SEED Lafayette invites all local special needs families to Spectacular Special Needs Parties at the Lamorinda All-Access Playground at Moraga Commons. Party entertainment, snacks and birthday cake await you! No RSVP needed. Just show up! These parties are FREE and made possible by SEED's generous donors.
https://seedlafayette.org/
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Ruby Slippers, There's no place like home
Saturday, February 9, 6pm, Blackhawk Auto Museum, Danville
Contra Costa Interfaith Housing presents a gala benefiting local homeless and at-risk families. Cocktail attire, ruby shoes encouraged. Emceed by Frank Malicoat from KTVU. Entertainment provided by David Martin's House Party. Tickets $150.
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Soroptimist of 24-680 Crab Feed
Saturday, February 23, Doors open at 5:30pm, Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek
Casual dress, Mardi Gras. $55 includes all-you-can-eat-crab, pasta, salad, bread, dessert. Wine, raffle, auction. For information call (925) 735-1117.
http://www.soroptimist24-680.org/
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7th annual free Camp and School Fair
Sunday, February 24, 11am-2pm, Acalanes High School
The free Contra Costa Camp and School Fair returns to Lafayette for the seventh year on Sunday, Feb. 24, with free activities and over 100 exhibitors allowing attendees to view a smorgasbord of camps, enrichment programs, schools, S.T.E.M. and S.T.E.A.M. programs, performing arts, preschools, cooking, educational, sports and other programs available this spring and summer.
Bay Area Festivals is also presenting four other free fairs: Tri-Valley Camp & School Fair in San Ramon (Feb. 23), Silicon Valley Camp & School Fair in Sunnyvale (Mar. 16), Marin Camp Fair in San Rafael (Mar. 23) and East Bay Camp & School Fair in Berkeley (Mar. 24). Bay Area Festivals produces Bay Area KidFest (30th annual festival May 25-27 on Memorial Day Weekend in Concord), Bay Area Kids’ Book Fairs, Concord Oktoberfest, Super Holiday Boutiques (each December around Contra Costa) and Super Valentine’s Boutique (each January at Hilton Concord). Bay Area KidFest has been voted Best Community Event five consecutive times by readers of Claycord.com. Bay Area Festivals has donated about $80,000 cash to educational, health, sports and youth non-profits this decade.
The first 200 families each day at the Camp and School Fairs receive a free goody bag. There is a free raffle drawing for camps and KidFest tickets. Anyone bringing a can of food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano will receive an extra raffle ticket for each can. Admission is free and there is ample free parking.
Call (925) 408-4014 or visit
www.ContraCostaCampFair.com for more information or to register for a free family ticket. Camps, school, other programs and businesses wishing to exhibit at Camp and School Fair can visit the website to register.
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2019 is the 10th Anniversary year for the Lafayette Library and Learning Center
Sign up for the weekly enewsletter
AdLib to learn about upcoming programs and events at the Library. Recognized as a model for 21st Century libraries, the
Lafayette Library is the heart and central gathering place for the community offering a rich menu of 1,000 programs a year for the lifelong learner in all of us.
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Upcoming Lafayette Chamber Events
Easy Steps to Claim & Optimize Your Google Local Business Profile
Wednesday, January 9, 6pm-7:30pm, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Homework Center
Start your business off on the right foot for 2019 success with this step by step workshop! We'll show you how to claim and keep your Google Local Business Profile optimized! A must for any local business with a brick and mortar location and/or a defined local service area. Speaker: Robin S Fox, Digital Strategist & Online Community Manager.
Register here.
Tuesday Tech Talk - Cyber Networking
Tuesday, January 22, 12noon, Lafayette Chamber Conference Room
Are your sales up - like Cyber Monday Selling - which grew nearly 20% this year over last according to Adobe Analytics? Or are sales down like the old Black Friday sales school of marketing? Stop leaving 20% Growth on the table and start cashing in on Cyber Selling, without spinning your wheels, without spending a bundle spending of time and money and with a high probability of success? Zoom Cyber Communications Expert, Mike Hayes claims he can teach anybody how to use his Media Insider Secret shortcuts to do just that. Learn more and
register here.
Mixer at Bank of the West
Wednesday, January 23, 5:30pm-7pm, 3583 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Yes, we are having a mixer in January! Please join us and don't forget your business cards!
Learn more here.
Business Person of the Year Dinner
Friday, February 1, 6pm-9pm, Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa
Congratulations to Terry Ring - the 2019 Business Person of the Year! A dinner in celebration of this honor and the Mayor's State of the City Address will be held on Friday, February 1. Reservations are required. Social hour will be held from 6pm-7pm, with dinner and presentations 7pm-9pm.Tickets are on sale for the dinner on the
Chamber's website.
Ribbon Cutting at RnR Barbers
[NOTE DATE CHANGE]
Thursday, February 7, 5:30pm-6pm, RnR Barbers, 3557 Mt. Diablo Blvd
Welcome one of Lafayette's newest businesses! Join us for a Ribbon Cutting at
RnR Barbers
, 3557 Mt. Diablo Blvd, and see what all they have to offer!
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Jay Lifson, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
(925) 284-7404
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