{"id":216669,"date":"2026-03-12T16:58:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T16:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/216669\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T16:58:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T16:58:08","slug":"birding-talk-berkeley-poetry-festival-sunset-hike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/216669\/","title":{"rendered":"Birding talk, Berkeley Poetry Festival, sunset hike"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"An acorn woodpecker photographed by Bob Lewis will share ornithological photos from his travels to Madagascar, Borneo, Hawaii, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and Cuba at the Brower Center on Thursday, March 12.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc26 A board member of the Farallon Islands Foundation, Bob Lewis has taught birding classes in the Bay Area for over 25 years. In his \u201cAround the World in 80 Birds\u201d presentation, he shares ornithological photos from his travels to Madagascar, Borneo, Hawaii, Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and Cuba. Thursday, March 12, 7 p.m., the Brower Center. FREE (registration required)<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude97 Berkeley residents who drive can take a survey from the City of Berkeley to help shape a variety of proposals for how the City would manage on-street parking near transit stations, on its busiest streets and in business districts. Survey is accepting responses<\/a> from now to Wednesday, March 18 at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc89 The City of Berkeley is hosting a free measles vaccine clinic for children who qualify for the Vaccines for Children Program, including those who are uninsured, underinsured, Alaska Native and\/or Native American. RSVP is required, as spots are limited. Thursday, March 12, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. West Berkeley Family Wellness Center. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf07 Spring and its later sunsets are here; go on a hike to soak up the rays! This staircase sunset hike will take you on ten paths and through five city parks. Friday, March 13, 5:30 p.m. Hike starts at the bottom of Indian Rock Path at the northeast corner of Solano Ave. and The Alameda. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc79 With an original score and libretto by Philip Glass inspired by Jean Cocteau\u2019s classic 1946 film \u201cLa Belle et la B\u00eate,\u201d Nicole Paiement\u2019s Opera Parall\u00e8le makes its Cal Performances debut with a dreamscape production that blurs the line between cinema and opera. Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, 8 p.m., Zellerbach Hall. $49-$110<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf38 The Claremont Library hosts a monthly cozy craft session with all materials provided. This month, learn to create bookmarks with dried pressed flowers. Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m.-noon. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 Queer Berkeleyans and allies can connect with Portland readers in a monthly online LGBTQIA+ book club, featuring prominent queer characters and themes in a variety of genres. This month\u2019s book selection is \u201cHot Girls With Balls\u201d by Benedict Nguy\u1ec5n. Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Zoom link is available after registration. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcd8 Author Nadine Takvorian will speak about her first and latest autobiographical graphic novel, \u201cArmaveni: A Graphic Novel of the Armenian Genocide.\u201d Takvorian illustrates how her mom would love to tell her stories as a child, except the story of how Takvorian\u2019s parents escaped the Armenian genocide \u2014 until one fateful day. Saturday, March 14, 6:30 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway\u2019s Bookstore. FREE (RSVP encouraged)<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb6 Jazz mandolinist and vocalist Tom Bekney returns to the Tipsy Yeti restaurant with guitarist Chris Grampp, Fred Johnson on drums and vocals, and special guest Jeff McNish on bass. Saturday, March 14, 7 p.m., Tipsy Yeti, 2512 San Pablo Ave. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udeb2 Waterside Workshops will have a day-long celebration to launch a new community-centered cycling initiative, Street Level Cycling Club. Activities will include group bike rides, youth bike programming, a tsunami preparedness education session hosted by the City of Berkeley and remarks by Mayor Adena Ishii. Saturday, March 14, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf31 Community-led farm Spiral Gardens will host a workshop where you can create biodegradable paper embedded with marigold seeds \u2014 just in time to welcome the spring. All supplies will be provided, and RSVP is not required. Sunday, March 15, 1-3 p.m. 2850 Sacramento St. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb6 Belt your heart out at a sing-along to dozens of multi-generational classics \u2014 from \u201cBlowin\u2019 in the Wind\u201d to \u201cWe Shall Overcome\u201d \u2014 and get a kick out of inspiring backstories and fun pop quizzes. All ages are welcome! Sunday, March 15, 1-3 p.m. The Freight. $35-100<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf1 Focusing on musical traditions from Mali, along with songs from Israel and Egypt, this intriguing triumvirate features Malian innovator Mamadou Sidibe on n\u2019goni and vocals, Eliyahu Sills on bass, ney, bansuri, oud and vocals, Kele Nitoto on percussion and vocals, and special guest vocalist Ashel SeaSunz and others. Sunday, March 15, 7 p.m., The Back Room. $29-$35<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb8 Now based in Greensboro, NC, Berkeley-reared guitar wizard Charlie Hunter has become a major force in the studio, producing acclaimed projects by artists like Jubu Smith, Candice Ivory, and Ella Feingold, while leading and co-leading various groove-steeped combos. As part of a West Coast tour he returns to Berkeley with a wide-ranging trio featuring drummer Marcus Finnie and saxophonist Nate Clark. Sunday, March 15, 7 p.m. The Freight. $39-$44<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd25 The Persian Center\u2019s 22nd Annual Chaharshanbeh Suri, a pre-Norooz celebration of fire and renewal harkening back directly to Iran\u2019s Zoroastrian roots, takes on added weight this year as the community gathers to remember lives lost during the ongoing conflict, while affirming the belief that light, life and dignity will ultimately prevail. Tuesday, March 17, 6-10 p.m., Persian Center. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcda Novelist and disability studies scholar Brian Trapp discusses his new book \u201cRange of Motion,\u201d a novel that follows two twin boys from infancy to the cusp of adulthood, in conversation with Oakland author and Berkeley City College instructor Tomas Moniz, whose debut novel \u201cBig Familia\u201d was a finalist for a 2020 PEN\/Hemingway Award. Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 p.m. Pegasus Books Downtown. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa4 The 2026 Berkeley Poetry Festival<\/a> presents a Nazelah Jamison-emcee\u2019d open mic and poetry reading with featured readers including Darius Simpson and Wendy S. Thompson. Wednesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m., Pegasus Books Downtown. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcd8 As part of its Culture Makers event series, Berkeleyside\u2019s sister newsroom The Oaklandside is hosting a conversation that\u2019s sure to quench the thirst of local bibliophiles featuring local authors Jasmine Guillory and Carolina Ixta, and longtime publisher and Nomadic Bookshop founder J.K. Fowler. Thursday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. New Parkway Theater. $17.85 for early-bird tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f\u00a0See more things to do\u00a0in\u00a0Oakland<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Richmond<\/a>.\u00a0And check out our big list of\u00a0affordable things to do<\/a>\u00a0anytime in Berkeley.\u00a0Sign up for our\u00a0weekly arts and culture newsletter<\/a>, The Scene.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s an event you\u2019d like us to consider for this roundup, email us at\u00a0the-scene@berkeleyside.org<\/a>. The deadline to submit events for Around Berkeley is end-of-day Monday. If there\u2019s an event that you\u2019d like to promote on our calendar, you can use the self-submission form on our\u00a0events page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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