eyeopeners
Your guide to what’s hot
JULY 27 Norm MacDonald lands in San Jose
You never know what to expect from the offbeat, acerbic Norm MacDonald — and that explains this comedian’s long-lived appeal. He’s known for everything from anchoring “Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update segments to starring in his own sitcom to personifying the iconic Colonel Sanders on KFC commercials. Now he’s on a stand-up tour that comes to San Jose Improv this week. Details: Five shows, Thursday through Saturday; $25; sanjose.improv.com. — Linda Zavoral, Staff
A prized director’s ‘Women’s Troubles’
Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar’s works are known for their passionate, evocative, uninhibited and sometimes downright strange portrayals of people dealing with myriad obstacles. A new series devoted to the filmmaker shines a light on many of his female protagonists. “Women’s Troubles” runs at the Berkeley Art Museum/ Pacific Film Archive today through Aug. 31, featuring such gems as “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” (7p.m. today), “Julieta” (Aug. 5), “All About My Mother” (Aug. 19), “Talk to Her” (Aug. 25) and “Volver” (Aug. 31). Details: Screenings are $12; full schedule, more information and tickets are at http://bampfa.org. — Randy McMullen, Staff
JULY 28 John Mayer brings his “Search” to Bay Area
John Mayer put his solo career on the back burner for a few years while he concentrated on singing and playing guitar in the popular Grateful Dead spin-off Dead and Company. He’s still working in Dead and Co., but he’s also reignited his solo career with the contemplative album “The Search for Everything,” his first since 2013’s “Paradise Valley.” Sporting a more mature persona these days, Mayer brings his solo tour to the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View Saturday. Details: 7 p.m.; $36-$150; www.livenation.com. — Jim Harrington, Staff
Reggae legends tour the Bay
Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare were already respected Kingston session musicians when they teamed up in the mid-1970s and changed the Jamaican musical landscape with hard-hitting rockers and rub-a-dub grooves. From Peter Tosh and Gregory Isaacs to Black Uhuru and Beanie Man, from the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan to Serge Gainsbourg and Herbie Hancock, the rhythm section tandem transformed the sound of reggae and reached far beyond Jamaica via hit-making collaborations. They’re touring with Marcia Griffiths, who was present at the birth of reggae and spent eight years working with Bob Marley in the IThrees. Details: 9 p.m. Friday at Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz; $25-$30, 831-479-1854, www.moesalley.com; 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Ashkenaz, Berkeley; $30-$35; 510525-5054, www.ashkenaz.com. — Andrew Gilbert, Correspondent
The bell tolls in San Jose
Given the runaway success of “Les Miserables” on stage and screen, you could hardly blame Disney from forging a musical from another one of Victor Hugo’s famed stories, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” First came the animated film in 1996and now there is a stage show, too, which is getting its Bay Area premiere by Children’s Musical Theatre’s Mainstage Troupe. It opens Friday at Montgomery Theatre in San Jose. Details: Through Aug. 6; $20-$25; sanjosetheaters.org, http://www.cmtsj.org. — Randy McMullen, Staff
Go fly a kite
The breezy Berkeley Marina makes the perfect venue for the annual Berkeley Kite Festival, with its giant kites as large as houses and team kite-flying demos. For first-timers, there will be kite-making demos, plus crafts and other children’s activities, live music and plenty to eat and drink. Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; parking available at Golden Gate Fields ($15) with shuttle service; www.berkeleykitefestival.com. — Linda Zavoral, Staff
Art, wine, music and more
The East Bay’s summer festival scene switches to Alameda and Benicia this weekend. Bay Area artisans and varietals will dominate at the Alameda Art & Wine Faire from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Park Boulevard downtown. Farther east, the annual Benicia Waterfront Festival will celebrate on the First Street Green 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with live music and a children’s activity alley. Details: www.downtownalameda.com; www.beniciamainstreet.org. — Linda Zavoral, Staff
JULY 30 A Diamond anniversary
Neil Diamond released his debut album, “The Feel of Neil Diamond,” back in 1966. A half century later, the legendary performer is still going strong and delighting fans with such popular songs as “Solitary Man,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue” and, of course, “Sweet Caroline.” We expect that Diamond will perform these and other hits when he brings his 50 Year Anniversary World Tour to SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. Details: 8 p.m.; $39.50-$149.50; www.ticketmaster. com. — Jim Harrington, Staff
AUG. 2 Birbiglia’s ‘New One’ hits Berkeley
Comedian/storyteller Mike Birbiglia’s unabashedly personal solo stage shows have become the stuff of legend. Works such “Sleepwalk With Me,” “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” and “Thank God for Jokes” (also released on Netflix) have played to sold-out houses and had critics erupting in praise. He’s touring with the new show, “The New One,” which has already sold out the first week of its run at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The show has been extended, but you would be wise to score your tickets now. Details: Aug. 2-20 (shows through Aug. 6 are sold out); Berkeley Rep’s Peet’s Theatre; $45-$60; 510-647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org. — Randy McMullen, Staff