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Local artist Cathy Raingarden\u2019s sketches made at local rallies, marches and overpass demonstrations will be featured in an exhibition at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists from May 3 to June 6, 2026. Credit: Cathy Raingarden<\/p>\n
Never miss local events!\u00a0Sign up for Berkeleyside\u2019s arts and culture newsletter, The Scene<\/a>. And check out our\u00a0roundup of affordable things to do anytime in Berkeley<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa8 The Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists will be hosting an exhibition of local artist Cathy Raingarden\u2019s sketches made at local rallies, marches and overpass demonstrations such as the Tesla protests on Fourth Street. Exhibition opens on May 3 and closes on June 6. Cedar St. and Bonita Ave. FREE<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcda Bay Area cartoonist Julia Wertz celebrates her new book \u201cBury Me Already (It\u2019s Nice Down Here),\u201d the follow-up to her acclaimed 2023 graphic memoir \u201cImpossible People.\u201d She\u2019ll be joined in conversation and cartooning by award-winning Oakland graphic memoirist Briana Loewinsohn, author of 2023\u2019s \u201cEphemera\u201d and 2025\u2019s \u201cRaised By Ghosts.\u201d Thursday, April 30, 7 p.m. Pegasus Books Downtown. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\udea7 A few protests tied to the national May Day Strong mobilization<\/a> against Trump administration policies are planned this Friday, May 1, including a rally organized by Berkeley High students<\/a> in Civic Center Park with a goal to \u201cabolish ICE, end fascism, tax billionaires.\u201d It starts at 11:45 a.m and will be followed by a march to UC Berkeley\u2019s California Hall. See a list of May Day protests scheduled in and around Berkeley<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf0d If Elon Musk\u2019s level of influence is a mystery to you, join authors Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff for a talk on their latest book, \u201cMuskism: A Guide for the Perplexed.\u201d Slobodian and Tarnoff will discuss how Musk\u2019s background in apartheid South Africa, Silicon Valley, and the internet can be a guide towards understanding his techno-futurism and deglobalization movement. Friday, May 1, 4 p.m. 820 Social Sciences Building at UC Berkeley. FREE<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83e\uded6 Unwind at the end of the week by bringing a craft project of your choice to enjoy some tea with community at Teance\u2019s CrafTea Club. Friday, May 1 and May 15, 5 p.m. 1036 Grayson St. $8.50-$15 sliding scale\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2615 Test your barista skills at Jaffa Coffee Roasters\u2019s first annual latte art throwdown. The competition will be a single round elimination, with five-minute pours using whole milk. Friday, May 1, 6:30 p.m. 1701 University Ave. $15 entry for competitors, FREE for spectators<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc76 Celebrate Children\u2019s Day and Asian American Heritage Month with Imasala Collective, where they will have local artisans, brands, food, performers, author read-a-loud, arts and crafts, and more for the community. Saturday, May 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 1714 San Pablo Ave. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc83 Luna Dance & Creativity hosts the May Day Gathering & Bazaar, a free, family-centered event transforming the blocks behind Luna\u2019s studio into a vibrant, ADA-accessible block party for dance, artmaking, connection and commerce spotlighting 25 local artists and entrepreneurs. Saturday, May 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Potter Street (between 7th and 9th streets). FREE\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \u26c5 Ride a dragon boat, take a guided tour, watch kids cavort in Adventure Playground or simply bask in the glories of the waterfront at the Berkeley Bay Festival. Saturday, May 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Shorebird Park. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0\ud83d\udcda Award-winning Berkeley author Jeff Chang discusses his recent biography \u201cWater Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America,\u201d which draws on thousands of personal documents (including letters, diaries, and rare photos) and exclusive, in-depth interviews with Lee\u2019s inner circle (including his first love, close friends, and early fighting mentors). (Read more on Berkeleyside<\/a>.) Saturday, May 2, 3 p.m. Berkeley Library South Branch. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfbb The Young People\u2019s Symphony Orchestra\u2019s presents \u201cAmerica 250 Festival: Celebration of American Music\u201d featuring both chamber and orchestral works by American composers including Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, John Adams and Jessie Montgomery. Saturday, May 2, 7 p.m. First Church Berkeley. $20-$30<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfb9 American Bach\u2019s Gabriel Benton and Corey Jamason present a concert detailing the variety of ways that Bach composed for the harpsichord, whether as a solo instrument (Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue), a chamber music colleague (Sonata No. 5 in G Major for Obbligato Harpsichord and Violin), a shining star (Concerto in A Minor for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, and Strings), or even a nimble interlocutor in conversation with itself (a rare performance of Bach\u2019s Concerto for Two Harpsichords). Saturday May 2, 7 p.m. St. Mark\u2019s Episcopal Church.$44-$111<\/a><\/p>\n \u2695\ufe0f Learn about the history of MDMA research and the drug\u2019s use in psychotherapy today \u2014 thanks to the work of biochemist Alexander \u201cSasha\u201d Shulgin \u2014 in an evening exhibition of Shulgin\u2019s artifacts from his lab and psychedelic art and music. Saturday, May 2, 7:30 p.m. Berkeley Alembic, 2820 Seventh St. $35<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd41 Curated by Berkeley pianist, flutist and composer Erika Oba, this monthlong series focusing on the Bay Area\u2019s Asian America jazz scene kicks off with two trios led by drum great Akira Tana (whose father, Daisho Tana, led the Berkeley Buddhist Temple in the late 1930s and early \u201940s), with the first featuring ace bassist John Wiitala and saxophonist Wayne de Silva and the second Wiitala and pianist Rumi Abe. Saturday, May 2, 8 p.m. The Jazzschool. $25<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfbaAfter a day of workshops and a panel discussion the 25th Herdeljezi Romani Festival, presented by the Bay Area group Voice of Roma, swings into high gear with the annual springtime celebration of Balkan Romani music, dance and culture featuring Macedonian clarinet star Ismail Lumanovski (leader of the NY Gypsy All Stars) with accordionist Chris Bajmakovic, vocalist Hristina Ilioska, trumpeter Benji Rifati, percussionist Rumen Sali Shopov and vocalist Janie Cowan. The opening evening set features local favorite Ensemble Meraklii. Saturday, May 2, 8 p.m. Ashkenaz. $30-$35<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf0 Acclaimed performer Nina Wise presents three special performances of her caustic, ripped-from-the headlines review of the day\u2019s events, \u201cWhat Just Happened?\u201d a critically acclaimed improvisational series that inspired the New York Times to describe her as \u201ca metaphysical vaudevillian for the new millennium.\u201d Saturdays, May 2\u201316, 8 p.m. The Marsh. $25-$100<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0\u2721\ufe0f \ud83d\udcda The second edition of the Magnes Jewish Arts & Bookfest brings together a range of Jewish writers and artists, including comedian Samson Koletkar discussing his life as a Jewish Indian stand-up comic (and performing a set). Other highlights include talks about Torah imagery in Tarot cards, Soviet history and more. Sunday, May 3, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. The Magnes. $40<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf75 Kopi Bar and Bakery presents Vinyl on Brew, where music will be spinning while you can stay and enjoy a coffee and\/or treat. Sunday, May 3, 1-4 p.m. 2155 Center St. inside of BAMPFA. FREE (we recommend supporting by buying a drink)<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfb6 The Gilman Jazz Festival will feature two local jazz bands \u2014 including Cal State East Bay\u2019s \u2014 and one internationally touring band for a night of casual and not-too-loud music. Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m. Gilman Brewing Company. $10-20<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfad A dark comedy that places our contemporary political divisions in a summer camp, Theatre Lunatico\u2019s production of Skylar Fox\u2019s and Simon Henriques\u2019 \u201cThe Grown Ups\u201d is directed by core company member Devon deGroot, creating an immersive experience that evokes sunscreen and bug spray. Saturday, May 2, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 3, 3 p.m. (through May 17). La Val\u2019s Subterranean Theater. $15-$50<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcda Author Josie Iselin and illustrator Ellen Litwiller mark the release of their new book \u201cThe Mysterious World of the Bull Kelp Forest\u201d with a conversation and slideshow of images from the book capturing the underwater forests that make the waters of the North Pacific coast a wondrous habitat. Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m. North Branch. FREE<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcd8 If you\u2019ve ever wanted an insider\u2019s look into Jessica Mitford, prolific author and rebel sister of the aristocratic Mitford family of the early 1900s, join editor Peter Y. Sussman in a lecture on his book \u201cDecca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford,\u201d which chronicles and footnotes the letters she wrote to loved ones and fellow social justice activists. Wednesday, May 6, 7 p.m. Berkeley City Club. $5-10<\/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 We know that most readers don’t get to the end of the article. But you did! To support our in-depth, rock-solid reporting, please consider making a donation to our nonprofit newsroom today. 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