Susan Weber. Weber is the associate artistic director of the Berkeley Ballet Theater. Independence Day. As a Berkeley resident, I take pride in knowing that the free-speech movement began in my city. Similarly, as an American-Muslim, I feel great pride for my country this Independence Day because of the ideals America embodies. America has given me the freedom to practice my faith freely, without the fear of any persecution. Additionally, Islam and America — and Berkeley — espouse the freedom of belief, conscience, and speech.
“An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris Hadfield, Recommended by Phil Plait, Bad Astronomy blogger, Moustachioed Canadian space traveler Chris Hadfield’s book is an engaging read by someone who has achieved the near-unachievable, packed with stories and great advice for attaining your own less-than-cosmic goals, It’s a pretty good thing to have your feet on the ground when your head’s above the clouds, “You Don’t Know Me but You Don’t Like Me: Phish, Insane Clown Posse, and tory burch caterina ballet flat My Misadventures With Two of Music’s Most Maligned Tribes” by Nathan Rabin..
Jasmine Johnson, whose grandparents founded Marcus Books in San Francisco’s Fillmore district more than half a century ago, has started an online petition determined to put a stop to the app and Amazon’s tactics. “Amazon’s Price Checker app goes beyond simple competition in a free marketplace,” she wrote in the petition. “It represents an ugly race to the bottom that might provide short-term benefit for bargain hunters, but will lead to long-term pain for communities in the form of lost jobs and tax revenues.”.
Details: 7 p.m, Oct, 4, Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $15-$96; 510-841-2800, berkeleysymphony.org, FALLETTA RETURNS: When Symphony Silicon Valley opens tory burch caterina ballet flat its season this weekend, it will be with a very special guest, JoAnn Falletta, making a rare Bay Area appearance, conducts the orchestra in performances Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, In recent years, there’s been a long overdue push to program music by women composers, but Falletta was way ahead of the curve, As music director of the Women’s Philharmonic from 1986 to 1997, she regularly led programs consisting entirely of works by women; the San Francisco-based orchestra’s concerts featured some of the only Bay Area performances of music by Chen Yi, Lili Boulanger, Clara Schumann, Tania Leon, Florence Price and Ethel Smyth..
Laurel Street Fair. The 14th Annual Laurel Street Fair features an amazing music and dance stage, DJ booths, a huge kids land, a classic car cruise, creative crafts and merchandise, fashion shows, info booths, a variety of food vendors, and more. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 10. Laurel District, 3500 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Free. www.laureldistrictassociation.org. Shakespeare at Peralta Hacienda. Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park performs “King Lear” on the lovely grounds of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park. Picnic style seating. Bring a blanket to sit on. No chairs provided or allowed, handicapped section excepted. 1 p.m. Aug. 10 and Aug. 11. Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. Free. 510-532-9142, www.facebook.com/Vallejoshakespeareinthepark.