Top Tickets: July 15-21

Diablo's picks for the can't-miss events of the coming week: The Fire Arts Festival, The Seagull in Livermore, wine stroll in Pleasanton, and dinner with the author of Farm City.

As if it wasn’t hot enough, The Crucible presents their annual Fire Arts Fest, beginning today. Cool down later with a wine stroll, and dinner with Novella Carpenter.  Here are your Top Tickets…

July 15–18: Fire Arts Festival
There’s nothing quite like this spectacular outdoor exhibition of interactive fire art and performance, which Diablo recently honored with a Best of the East Bay award. Hosted by The Crucible, Oakland’s industrial arts foundry, you’ll experience flame-throwing sculptures, fiery flamenco, rock music, and, playing each evening, The Rootabaga Opera. Before you go, check out Diablo’s sneak peek blog here. Fire Arts Arena, Wake Avenue and Engineer Road, Oakland, 8 p.m.–12 a.m., $25–$95, (510) 444-0919, thecrucible.org.

July 16–August 1: The Seagull
Following a successful run at Bankhead Theater, The Seagull returns as part of the Livermore Shakespeare Festival (in repertory with A Midsummer Night’s Dream). The first of Anton Chekhov’s four major plays, The Seagull follows the romantic and artistic conflicts between two actresses and writers. Shakespeare fans will enjoy nods to Hamlet in the dialog. Concannon Vineyard, 4590 Tesla Rd., Livermore, picnic area opens at 6 p.m., shows begin at 7:30, $5–$30, (925) 443-2273, livermoreshakes.org.

July 16: Summer Wine Stroll
Browse the boutiques, galleries, and bakeries along Main Street, where more than 25 Livermore wineries will be pouring their wines. The stroll begins at the Museum on Main, where you’ll pick up a tasting map and commemorative wine glass. This event sells out every year, so if you don’t have your ticket yet, go, go, GO! Museum on Main, 603 Main St., Pleasanton, 6–9 p.m., $25–$30, (925) 484-2199, pleasantondowntown.net.

July 17: Novella Carpenter
Enjoy a locally grown, sustainably raised dinner at Rakestraw Books while Novella Carpenter discusses and signs her new book, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, a memoir about starting a full-blown farm in downtown Oakland. Reservations required. (Also, BTW, Carpenter was recently dubbed a Women to Watch as one of the Biodevas in our May issue, and Rakestraw Books was a reader favorite in Best of the East Bay 2009.) Rakestraw Books, 522 Hartz Ave., Danville, 7 p.m., $25, (925) 837-7337, rakestrawbooks.com.

For even more events happening this week, browse the complete listings on Diablo’s Community Calendar.
 

Posted at 11:27 AM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink