Vandana Shiva
First Congregational Church (Berk)
9/2, 7:30 p.m.
$12 – $15
Renowned environmental activist, physicist and author, Vandana Shiva, joins the International Forum on Globalization, Navdanya (an Indian-based non-governmental organization which promotes biodiversity conservation, organic farming, the rights of farmers, and the process of seed saving), and KPFA Radio for a talk entitled “Soil not Oil: Securing Food in Times of Climate Change.” Shiva is a big deal in progressive academic circles. She “will offer her energetic and insightful solutions for solving the global problems of climate change and food insecurity through the localization of food production.”
Art and Soul Oakland
Downtown Oakland (adjacent to the 12th Street/City Center BART station)
8/30 – 9/1, noon – 6pm
$10 (12 and under free)
An art festival with art to purchase, create (“An eight-year Art & Soul tradition continues as budding artists are invited to grab a brush and participate in the community mural project guided by Oakland artist Fred Alvarado.”), and view as well as 6 concert stages featuring 60 bands. The headliners are: Indigo Girls, Stephanie Mills (played Dorothy in the award-winning Broadway musical, The Wiz, and then went on to record a successful R&B career), The Matches (local pop-punk outfit), Bobby Hutcherson (easily one of jazz’s greatest vibraphonists), Rose Royce (R&B), Walter Hawkins (Gospel)
Slow Food Nation ’08
8/29 – 9/1,
Civic Center Plaza
Taste Pavilion: Saturday, August 30; 11am – 3pm; 5pm – 9pm | Sunday, August 31; 11am – 3pm; 5pm – 9pm | Cost: $45 – $65: “The Taste Pavilions present an unprecedented opportunity to sample the regional foods of America, with products from every state hand-picked by ‘curators’ who are nationally recognized experts in a particular type of food. This bounty will be organized into 15 distinct pavilions within the 50,000 square foot pier at Fort Mason. Each pavilion will offer two types of food plates, flights and snacks, and connect visitors with the artisans’ process via unique displays and demonstrations.”
Marketplace: “Community and cuisine come together in the marketplace, where a farmers’ market and urban garden set the stage for discussion about food.”
Food for Thought Speaker Series: Friday, August 29, 9am – 4:30pm | Saturday, August 30, 12:00pm – 10:00pm | Herbst Theater and Milton Marks Auditorium: “Learn about good food citizenship at Food for Thought. This speaker series features leading thinkers, community organizers, journalists and activists in conversation about current food issues, from policy and planning to education and climate change. Please note, panelists are subject to change.”
Victory Garden: “Inspired by the self-sufficiency efforts of World War II America, the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden in Civic Center will be a vibrant testament to the power of a strong community to feed and support itself.”
Slow Food Rocks: Saturday, August 30, 11am – 7pm | Sunday, August 31, 11am – 5:30pm | Great Meadow at Fort Mason Center | Venue opens at 10:30am: Advanced Tickers: $59 ; tickets at door: $79: two-day outdoor music festival featuring Gnarls Barkley, Ozomatli, The New Pornographers, Medeski Martin and Wood, Phil Lesh and Friends, G Love and Special Sauce, and John Butler Trio.
Jane Monheit
Yoshi’s SF
8/20, 8 & 10 p.m.
$20
Yoshis writes that “Monheit is a stunning, raven-haired beauty. As the ten standards that filled the impressive disc made immediately obvious, Monheit, with her crystalline voice and buttery phrasing, was (and remains) impossible to pigeonhole, simultaneously suggesting the smarts of a seasoned jazz artist and the cunning storytelling skills of the finest cabaret performers…Two of her recordings have received Grammy nominations, and she has known the sweet satisfaction of chart-topping success (several of her discs have debuted at number one).”
D.L. Hughley
Cobb’s
8/28: 8 p.m., $30.50
8/29 – 8/30: 8 & 10:15 p.m., $35.50
8/31: 7 p.m., $32.50
One of the original Kings of Comedy (troupe with Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and Bernie Mac), he had his own show, The Hughleys, on ABC from 1998 to 2002, and has also done some acting. He currently stars in his own one-hour special for HBO, “Unapologetic.”
Brazilian Percussion Celebration
Yerba Buena Gardens Esplanade
8/31, 1 p.m.
Free
“Experience a wild ride through the diverse world of Brazilian percussion. Carnaval styles feature large drum-based ensembles such as samba-batucada and samba-enredo from Rio de Janeiro, maracatu and coco from the Northeastern state of Pernambuco, and samba-reggae from Salvador, Bahia. Smaller ensembles include samba de mesa/pagode from Rio de Janeiro and the traditional samba de roda from Bahia. The stage will also be graced by the sacred rhythms from Candomblé de Ketu, an Afro-Brazilian religion that cultivates Yoruba deities, the Orixás. To round out the afternoon of drumming, there will be an exhilarating demonstration of the Afro-Brazilian martial arts dance, capoeira.”
Sausalito Art Festival
Bay Model Visitor Center
Friday August 29th · 6:00pm · Gala Premiere
Saturday August 30th · 9:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday August 31st · 9:00am – 6:00pm
Monday September 1st · 9:00am – 5:00pm
$20
“Over one million visitors from throughout the world have experienced the Sausalito Art Festival since its inaugural event in 1952. The best local, American, and International Artists bring their combined perspectives, virtuoso skills, and more than 20,000 original works of art — including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, fine glass, woodwork, mixed media, and photography. Enjoy nonstop entertainment on three stages or gourmet delights with champagne and fine wines.”
James Blunt
Fillmore
8/27, 9 p.m.
$39.50
Soft rocker James Blunt had a hit single with “You’re Beautiful” in 2005, and then again with the single “1973” from his sophomore album in 2007. He was nominated for 5 Grammys in 2006.
Bobi Cespedes
Yoshis Oak
8/29 – 8/31, 8 & 10 p.m.
$22
“Gladys “Bobi” Cespedes is an acclaimed folkloric singer, dancer and percussionist. She makes and plays a variety of authentic folkloric percussion instruments, including the Chekere, a beautiful beaded calabash gourd. As a storyteller, she weaves the tales of the Orisas – deities of the Yoruba pantheon – in fluid word and gesture and illustrates the poetic, reverent vision of God and nature that is her ancestral heritage. As a dancer, she gives color, form and exuberant life to the intricate, polyrhythmic music of the Caribbean.”
