Bay Area events
Just because you may be stuck at home during the pandemic doesn’t mean you can’t explore the greater world. Here’s a sampling of family-friendly in-person and virtual Bay Area shows, concerts, activities and other events over the next several weeks.
‘Babes in Ho-Lland’: Jan 20-23, 27-30, Feb 3-6, 9-12, (live streaming Jan. 27 and Feb. 3; video on demand Feb. 9-20) Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. While attending a predominantly white college, two Black students create their own bubble of self-discovery, music and sanctuary in their dorm room. $22-$25. shotgunplayers.org
Berkeley Symphony Chamber II Concert: 4-6 p.m. Sunday, 801 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont. Enjoy a mix of classic and contemporary works performed at the Piedmont Center for the Arts. $35. berkeleysymphony.org/events/chamber-ii/
‘Big, Scary Animals’: Feb. 5-19, Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. A hilarious collision of race, sex, guns and sports. Ticket information to be announced. www.aeofberkeley.org
‘Excavations’: Through Jan. 31, Crescendo Gallery inside the Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. View paintings by San Francisco artist Karen Johnson by appointment only. throckmortontheatre.org/december21gallery
50th Golden Jubilee Revival Fungus Fair: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 23, 28 Orinda Way, Orinda. Organized by the Mycological Society of San Francisco, this fair includes family-friendly events and activities, mushroom species displays, identification tutorials, cooking demonstrations and more. Free-$15. mssf.org/ fungus-fairs/index.html
Harpsichordist Arthur Omura: 7 p.m. Jan. 29 and online, 1924Trinity Ave., Walnut Creek. Enjoy a solo harpsichord performance and post-concert Q&A session with Omura. $10 to $20. stpaulswc.org/ concert-series
Historical Walking Tours of History Park: A museum guide will lead small groups of visitors through San Jose’s History Park discussing the historical and architectural background of each building. 1 p.m. (by appointment only) Tuesdays and Thursdays. $0 to $12. historysanjose.org
Isaac Mizrahi’s Cabaret Show — Moderate To Severe: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Albert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall (Bldg F), 3921Fabian Way, Palo Alto. Backed by a six-piece jazz band, Mizrahi shares his hilarious musings on everything from politics to dieting to his latest Instagram obsessions. $90. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3Jovpaj
Japanese-American Internment at Tanforan — Photographs by Dorothea Lange: Feb. 1 through April 10, San Mateo County History Museum, 2200Broadway in Redwood City. During World War II, Japanese Americans were sent to the Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno, where they spent months until permanent internment camps were built in remote locations. Lange was hired by the federal War Relocation Authority to document this forced evacuation. Admission $4to $6. historysmc.org
Let Us Entertain You — Vintage Amusements from Earlier Eras: Through Feb. 13, Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. moah.org
Men on Boats: Live Jan. 14-30 (streaming ondemand Jan. 27-30.), Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. See this 19th century adventure story about 10men, four boats and two rivers. $20 streaming, $27-$57 live. Paplayers.org
Sawyer Rose — Carrying Stones: Through Jan. 23, New Museum Los Gatos, 106 E. Main St. in Los Gatos. Browse an exhibition of sculpture and photography. numulosgatos.org Shadelands Ranch Free Events — Classic Car Show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 5. Enjoy live music, vendors, food trucks, raffles, prizes and a display of cars from the past century. Summer Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31. This outdoor market features more than 40 vendors, food trucks, music, and entertainment. Oktoberfest, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 1. Get in the Oktoberfest spirit with live music, dancing and German beer and cuisine. 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. wchistory.org
‘The Who’s “Tommy” ’: Through Feb. 6, Novato Theater Company, 5420 Nave Drive, Novato. A rock opera that tells the miraculous story of the deaf, dumb and blind kid who achieves stardom as The Pinball Wizard. $15-$30. novatotheatercompany.org
28th Festival of Women Authors: 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 5, DoubleTree by Hilton, Berkeley Marina, 200 Marina Blvd., Berkeley. Enjoy a continental breakfast, luncheon, book purchases and book signings by authors including Melanie Valentine, Martina Reaves, La Rhonda Crosby-Johnson and Karen Grassle. $95in person, $35 virtual. Reservations and payment by Monday. ywcaberkeley.org
Yamato — The Drummers of Japan: Jan. 29-31, 101 Zellerbach Hall, #4800, Berkeley. A powerhouse program of traditional taiko drumming, playing massive drums built from animal skins and ancient tree trunks. $36. Cal Performances: bit.ly/3z5GGYa
VIRTUAL EVENTS
BATS Improv Online Shows: This San Franciscobased improv group will stream free shows each week to bring a little improv magic into homes via Zoom. At 7:30 p.m. on the night of each show, click the link next to the show you want to see to connect to the BATS virtual theater. improv. org/online-shows
Bay Area Children’s Theatre Creativity Corner: This virtual “playborhood” offers kids stories that unfold via video, plus follow-up activities they can do on their own, inspired by the make-believe they’ve seen. Parents can submit their children’s creations to BACT, which is planning to share examples online. bactheatre.org
Beat the Lock Escape Room: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Solve a virtual escape room with your friends via an audio/video call and live feed that lets you play by instructing a game master to search for clues. $25. beatthelock.com
Bringing BADM to You: Bay Area Discovery Museum offers a series of fun, engaging learning experiences to enjoy as a family. Explore three different themes — science and math; body and brain; and talk and play — designed to develop skills for children to succeed in school and life. Within each theme, you’ll find step-by-step videos and activities with instructions written out. bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/bringingbadm-to-you
Broadcast Platform, Marshstream: 7:30 p.m. nightly. Programming varies by night with offerings, including short performances, book/writer discussions, singalongs, storytelling, game nights and more. Find more information online at themarsh.org.
Concord Couch Concerts: 8p.m. first Friday of the month. This showcase for local indie bands and artists will be streamed on Facebook Live and YouTube; facebook.com/concordcouchconcerts and youtube. com/c/concordcouchconcerts.
Diablo Symphony Orchestra Virtual Concerts:
First Thursday of each month, featuring works that have been performed and recorded at Lesher Center for the Arts in past years. diablosymphony.org
18 Reasons Cooking School: Check out a slate of new online classes. You may not have everything listed in the equipment and shopping list, but instructors will give you guidance on how to adapt their recipes to what you have access to. Learn new recipes and techniques. 18reasons.org
Festival Napa Valley’s Remote Ensemble Project:
This virtual performance of the “Va, Pensiero” chorus from Verdi’s opera “Nabucco” features instrumentalists and singers from 26 states, eight countries and five continents. They represent two dozen orchestras, ensembles, opera companies and music conservatories. The performance can be seen on Festival Napa Valley’s YouTube channel: youtu.be/jHV9wLvNYxA.
Full Moon Fridays — Live Cabaret Series: 8 p.m. Fridays. Featuring live cabaret style performances. facebook.com/42ndStreetMoon
Funkmode Dance Studio Digital Workouts: Offering free dance videos, including breakdance, hip hop, youth dance party and more. Find the videos at youtube.com/ user/FUNKMODE.
Lamplighters Music Theatre Multimedia:
Lamplighters brings their wit and musicality to the virtual stage with an inside look into the company and the rich history of Gilbert and Sullivan. The monthly assortment includes new interviews and video essays, alongside archival vignettes highlighting the best of the company’s 68-year performance history. Free. lmt. lamplighters.org/patreon
Livermore Shakes Educates: A Shakespeare resource webpage for kids and parents, this is an extension of the company’s “So Wise So Young” program for second, third and fourth graders. livermoreshakes. org/educates
Mount Diablo Peace & Justice Center 2020 Art & Writing Challenge: Middle and high school students in Contra Costa County are invited to submit visual art (any medium), creative writing and essays on the topic of “Our Connected Planet.” No fee. tinyurl.com/mdpjcartandwriting2020
Persian and Central Asian Dance Classes: Take daily classes on Zoom with teachers from nations and regions all over the world including Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China’s Xinjiang region and more. $10to $20. pomegranategardendance.com
School of Rock Remote Lessons: School of Rock is a performance-based music school for ages 5 to adult. Learn to play drums, guitar, keyboard, bass guitar and vocals by putting on seasonal rock shows. Cost varies. schoolofrock.com/ sanramon
Square One Yoga: Stay fit and grounded practicing live, interactive yoga. Check out the schedule of classes available at bayareane. ws/2yfH3oc.
The Escape Game Remote Adventures Virtual Escape Rooms: Your team will communicate with each other and a host at The Escape Game using Zoom. $30per player. theescapegame.com/remote-adventures
The Life of Dr. King: 5 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m.; Monday, MarshStream. The fearless activist comes to life in this exploration of the defining moments of the Civil Rights Movement, where some of the most powerful speeches in American history were made. $15 to $35. themarsh.org