Arts & Events

To learn what's happening on Berkeley's arts scene, you can now reach the Berkeley Arts Festival Calendar directly from the Planet. You can then click on an individual date for a full description of every event on that day.

To reach the calendar, click here. -more-

Scholars believe Johann Sebastian Bach must have written many more orchestral works than the four Orchestral Suites that are extant. Scholars are divided over when and where Bach was working at the time he composed the four Orchestral Suites known to us. Some say he must have composed them while at Cöthen (1717-1723), while others, including ABS’s founder and music director Jeffrey Thomas, believe Bach composed them between 1729 and 1740 in Leipzig, where they were likely performed at the Café Zimmerman. In any case, all four of Bach’s extant Orchestral Suites were programmed by Jeffrey Thomas for this May 10-14 weekend’s concerts throughout the Bay Area. I caught Saturday’s performance at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. -more-

Worth Noting:

• May 21, deadline to register to vote in the June 5 primary https://registertovote.ca.gov/ It is not too late to request absentee ballot if you are not already a permanent vote by mail voter
• May 29, ballots on Street Light Assessment and Stormwater fee will be counted. Ballots may be delivered at beginning of City Council meeting to be counted if not already in the mail.
• City Council Agenda for May 29 is published with critical items in BOLD available for comment by emailing council@cityofberkeley.info or calling your council member. Agenda: Consent 5. Commissioners Manual, 14. Secure Storage for homeless, support AB 2308 cigarette filter ban, oppose AB 2923 placing BART in charge of local Zoning, 19. Audit Alameda Co Sheriff office, 21. Declare homelessness as CA State emergency, 24. Support AB 2874 hospital closure & emergency care, Action: 28. Budget update hearing #2, 29. Ballot Initiatives, 31. Vacancy as Condition of Unlawful Nuisance, 32. Police Review Commission Charter Amendment Recommendations. 34. Home Share Pilot Program, 35. Small Sites Program https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2018/05_May/City_Council__05-29-2018_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx

• Monday – Documentary on Wild Fires at the Brower Center followed with Q&A
• Tuesday – Forum on unhoused
• Wednesday – Four commissions - Disaster & Fire, Energy, Human Welfare, Police Review Commission - have important agenda items for our community
• Thursday - Public hearing in Pleasanton – conditional use permits from E&B Natural Resources to inject oil/chemical waste into Alameda Co aquifers being considered