Top Tickets: July 22-28

Diablo's picks for the can't-miss events of the coming week: Dave Eggers in Oakland, Hot Summer Nights, Taste of Terroir, Splashdown on the USS Hornet, Chevron Family Theater Festival, and the California in Relief exhibit.

It’s a particularly awesome week for events in the East Bay. Meet Buzz Aldrin and Dave Eggers, drool over classic cars, sip Livermore wines, and more.  Here are your Top Tickets…

July 23: Dave Eggers
San Francisco author (and former Berkeley resident) Dave Eggers stops by A Great Good Place for Books to discuss his latest nonfiction book, Zeitoun, about a Syrian immigrant who stayed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Best known for his breakthrough memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genious, Eggers has written many fiction books as well as the screenplay for Away We Go, which is now in theaters. Learn more in Lynn Carey’s latest Books, Etc. blog. A Great Good Place for Books, 6120 LaSalle Ave., Oakland, 1 p.m., free, (510) 339-8210, ggpbooks.com.

July 23 and August 20: Hot Summer Nights
Classic cars invade downtown Danville for this annual street party. You’ll drool over muscle cars, hot rods, and vintage rides dating back to 1969, and live music will keep you rockin’ to your favorite ’50s and ’60s songs. Plus, downtown stores and restaurants are open for shopping or a cold brew. For a preview, check out Diablo’s 2007 feature, Start Your Engines. Hartz Avenue, Danville, 4–9 p.m., free, (925) 437-3649, ci.danville.ca.us.

July 23: Taste of Terroir
Food and wine lovers rejoice! The Livermore Valley’s annual food and wine experience is back. Savor 16 pairings created by area winemakers and chefs, enjoy live music and a silent auction, and cast your vote for the event’s People’s Choice Award. Must be 21 to attend. Palm Event Center, 1184 Vineyard Ave., Pleasanton, 6–9 p.m., $75, (925) 447-9463, lvwine.org.

July 24–26: Splashdown
Meet Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and celebrate the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon aboard the USS Hornet, the recovery ship for NASA’s Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 missions. Weekend events include artifact and memorabilia exhibits, guest speakers, educational programs, and activities for kids such as building model rockets and seeing actual moon rocks. USS Hornet Museum, 707 W. Hornet Ave., Pier 3, Alameda, event times and prices vary, or $145 for weekend pass, (510) 521-8448, uss-hornet.org.

July 25: Chevron Family Theatre Festival
Bring the whole family to the Lesher Center for a day of nonstop family entertainment. Enjoy musical and theater performances by The Sippy Cups and Fantasy Forum Actor’s Ensemble, as well as puppeteers, acrobats, dancers, drummers, and storytellers. And don’t miss Karaoke Family Idol! Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $5 per performance, activities free, (925) 943-7469, lesherartscenter.org.

July 25–September 20: California in Relief
View more than 100 wood and linocut prints spanning a century of Golden State art history at Saint Mary’s. The exhibit covers eight areas, including the Arts and Crafts and Asian influence—and features artists such as Robert Arneson, Wayne Theibaud, and members of the San Quentin Artists in Corrections program. Art lovers shouldn’t miss an exhibition panel discussion on July 26 at 2 p.m. Hearst Art Gallery, 1928 Saint Mary’s Rd., Moraga, Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m., $3, (925) 631-4379, stmarys-ca.edu/arts.

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

Posted at 12:45 AM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink