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MAC Berkeley - Art & Entertainment
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Any large college town worth its salt features a constant variety of things to see, hear and do. Mix in the particular multicultural soup that is Berkeley, and you have a world-class entertainment scene, both on campus and off. (Failing all else, of course, San Francisco's right across the Bay. But trust us, the traffic's a killer on Saturday night.)

U.C. Berkeley/Cal Performances

Cal Performances (www.calperfs.berkeley.edu) puts on a September-May calendar of world-class dance, music and theater. The Russian National Orchestra, the Gate Theatre of Dublin, Steve Reich, David Sedaris, Sonny Rollins, Dawn Upshaw, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Burhan Ocal & The Istanbul Oriental Ensemble were just a few of the performers who grace the stage of U.C. Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall. Additionally, the university offers master classes, lectures, demonstrations and symposia by these visiting artists and scholars to U.C. Berkeley students and often to the public.

U.C. Department of Music

Cal's Department of Music sponsors free noon concerts and other performances, which are complemented by Hertz Hall's perfect acoustics. Recitals are frequently held in the intimate setting of Morrison Hall's Elkus Room (125 Morrison). For further information, call +1 510 642 4864 or go to http://ls.berkeley.edu/dept/music/calendar.html

NCAA Athletics

A founding member of the Pac 10 Conference, Cal fronts teams in every major sport played at the American collegiate level—or at least those sports not requiring the presence of ice or snow.

The California Golden Bears, as its teams are known, play football at Memorial Coliseum and basketball at the Haas Pavillion. Pac 10 competition includes big names like UCLA, Washington, Arizona, USC and, of course, hated rival Stanford. Further information about sports at Cal is available at http://calbears.fansonly.com.

During Cal's long history, just about every team has won an NCAA championship at one time or another (or in the case of the football Bears, the Rose Bowl). There is one sport, however, in which Cal has always been dominant: water polo.

Off Campus: Music



Classical

The Berkeley Symphony Orchestra is one of the best-kept musical secrets in the country. Conducted by rising star Kent Nagano, the Berkeley Symphony puts on an adventurous program of works by contemporary composers like John Adams, leavened with Brahms, Beethoven and Bruckner. Nagano's reputation attracts the highest echelon of soloists. The Berkeley Symphony performs at Zellerbach and Hertz Halls on the U.C. campus, as well as in San Francisco. Further information can be found at www.berkeleysymphony.org.

In Oakland, the Oakland East Bay Symphony is drawing very favorable notices under Maestro Michael Morgan. OEBS concert-goers' risk/reward ratio is sweetened considerably by the venue: the completely renovated Paramount Theater is an art deco temple—a feast for the eyes, inside and out. The OEBS' schedule is available, along with other information, at www.oebs.org. The Berkeley-based Chamber Symphony of the West performs a classical and baroque repertoire, often in conjunction with the San Francisco Choral Society and other area choruses, at the First Congregational Church, at 2345 Channing Way. The First Congregational Church also regularly plays host to other top-notch regional ensembles, like San Francisco's noted Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (+1 415 252 1288, www.philharmonia.org) and the Sonos Handbell Ensemble (+1 510 531 4780, www.sonos.org).

The epicenter of the Period Instrument movement is in North Berkeley: MusicSources (the Center for Historically Informed Performances) puts on a series of concerts highlighting period instruments and performance styles. MusicSources is located at 1000 The Alameda (+1 510 528 1685, www.sfems.org/musicsources). A number of other chamber performances and recitals are held throughout the week at local venues such as the Berkeley Piano Club (+1 510 845 8488), Universalist Church of Berkeley (+1 510 525 0302) and the Crowden School (+1 510 644 2299).

Jazz, Rock and Folk

The place for jazz in the East Bay—and, in fact in the Bay Area—is Yoshi's, located in Oakland's Jack London Square. The one club to consistently book top-drawer East Coast talent like Joshua Redman, McCoy Tyner and Arturo Sandoval, Yoshi's may also be the only jazz club in the country where you can have sushi served at your table.

The spring and fall San Francisco Jazz Festival has uncovered Oakland's Paramount Theater, the perfect Jazz Age venue for larger ensembles with flashier staging. The SFJF draws jazz luminaries from across the country and around the world. Emeryville's Kimball's East features soul-jazz, R&B and blues legends like Jimmy McGriff and Nancy Wilson. Grittier Oakland blues can be dug at Eli's Mile High Club. The Ivy Room (in Albany, just to the north of Berkeley) also books great local blues talent. Downtown Berkeley jazz clubs Jazzschool and Jupiter pack 'em in on weekends. Jupiter, with its garden court, is particularly popular on summer and late autumn evenings.

Berkeley has long been a mecca for folkies. In West Berkeley, The Starry Plough and the Freight and Salvage clubs feature acoustic talent from around the country. Nearby on San Pablo Avenue, Ashkenaz goes a bit more in the folk-rock direction, while Blake's On Telegraph offers the full range of rock, jazz-rock and folk-rock. La Pena Cultural Center books an eclectic mix of Latin rhythms, blues, and uncategorizable but always danceable sounds from all over the world.

Rock headliners play the Berkeley Community Theater or the Greek Theater. Acts on the scale of the Rolling Stones play the Oakland Coliseum.

Theater

Many critics consider the award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre (or Berkeley Rep, as it's commonly known) to be the finest theater company in the Bay Area—some feel it's the best outside of New York. Since 1968, the Rep has been rewarding audiences with challenging, contemporary drama, and has become possibly the largest performing arts organization in Northern California. The theater is at 2025 Addison Street in Downtown Berkeley (+1 510 204 8901, www.berkeleyrep.org/index.htm).

Other, smaller ensembles round out the Berkeley theater scene: in North Berkeley, the Actors Ensemble Theater plays at the Live Oak Park Theater. The Aurora Theater's polished productions regularly sell out the Aurora Theater in the dowdy Berkeley City Club. The Aurora plans to move to a new theater of their own at 2071 Addison, near the Berkeley Rep, for the 2001-2002 season; newcomer TheaterFirst's recent stagings of Death and the Maiden and The Ladies of the Camellias have drawn good notices at the Julia Morgan Theater in The Elmwood; and the scrappy Shotgun Players have moved their high-energy repertoire out of cramped LaVal's Pizza and into new digs at Adeline and Alcatraz. U.C. Berkeley's Dramatic Arts Department stages student productions every year, as well. For more information, call +1 510 601 8932.

Film

The Pacific Film Archive at the Berkeley Art Museum on Bancroft, puts together often obscure but consistently riveting programs at their 234-seat theater, and has a great little cafe to boot. Down the street, the UC Theater is a revival house's revival house. One screen, 1,300 seats, faded art deco flourishes—if only the sound system were better. Factoid: the UC (not connected with the university) showed the Rocky Horror Picture show every Saturday night for 25 years.

Berkeley is one city where downtown movie houses are thriving. The Fine Arts, the Landmark's Act One and Two, the California, the Shattuck, and the UA Berkeley form a four-block, 25-screen phalanx, but it's still not enough to keep shows from selling out. Quick and fun downtown eateries make it a great scene for a cheap date.

The Oaks and the Albany are reliable old favorites for North Berkeleyites. The Elmwood Cinema has slightly cheaper tickets for last month's best movies and is located within a stone's throw of a dozen restaurants. The Dolbyized neo-Deco Emery Bay 10, right off the freeway in nearby Emeryville, provides movie-goers with a multitude of dinner choices in the Emery Bay Market's international food court.







Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Berkeley Art Museum


Classic
 2626 Bancroft Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
United States
+1 510 642 0808
http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 		This museum has been bringing culture, diversity, fine art and whatever is "out there" to Berkeley since 1970. BAM houses an impressive and ever-changing collection of fine art, sculpture and artefacts that span ages and cultures, countries and places. Find the masterpieces from the 18th century on, from the Impressionists to the Surrealists, to 20th-century Post-modernists. Past exhibits have included a collection of mandolins from Tibet from the 15th century, as well as the paintings of lesbian artist Romaine Brooks. There's always something here that captures the imagination, challenges thought and establishment, and entertains as much as it intrigues.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Berkeley Art Museum photo by artwitness
Photo: artwitness
Berkeley Art Museum photo by insidestory
Photo: insidestory
Berkeley Art Museum photo by Stanley L.
Photo: Stanley L.
Berkeley Art Museum photo by Gus Guibert
Photo: Gus Guibert
Berkeley Art Museum photo by Garin Fons
Photo: Garin Fons
Berkeley Art Museum photo by Francis Shepherd
Photo: Francis Shepherd
Berkeley Art Museum photo by Cassiano Bonjardim
Photo: Cassiano Bonjardim
 

 
Blake's On Telegraph


Brews and food
 2367 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
United States
+1 877 488 6533 		Since 1940, Blake's has been a fixture of Telegraph Avenue. Starting as a joint for beer and a quick bite by Larry Blake, it evolved into a jazz club, then a blues venue as well as a casual restaurant serving a mix of tasty bar food with some surprisingly good variations, all very reasonably priced. It serves food at all hours, has a full bar and dining section on the main floor, a bar and performance stage downstairs, and a third service bar and lounge area on the third floor. It offers approximately 15 imported, domestic and microbrew beers on tap, as well as an ample stock of fine wine and premium liquor. Choose from pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salad, pastas and wraps that are reasonably filling and affordably priced. Performers at Blake's have included the likes of Otis Rush, Etta James, Boz Skaggs and Greg Allman; it also now books alternative sounds like Third Eye Blind. On any given night you may hear ska, funk, jazz, rock or world music. Blake's is the second destination of the Raleigh's-Blake's-Kip's-Bear's Lair Cal Berkeley college bar crawl; expect a predominantly student crowd most nights.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Blake's On Telegraph photo by Anthony M. Warnack
Photo: Anthony M. Warnack
Blake's On Telegraph photo by Shannon Kokoska
Photo: Shannon Kokoska
Blake's On Telegraph photo by Natalie Villalobos
Photo: Natalie Villalobos
 

 
Downtown Berkeley


 Berkeley
United States
 A mere block from campus, downtown Berkeley has been trying for years to shake off the brown-brick fustiness of a college-town mercantile district. Its retail clout has been outstripped by the far hipper Fourth Street Shopping Area. The city's cultural and civic nerve center, and home to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, downtown Berkeley seems to be finding its stride again as an entertainment and dining center. In truth, it has long served that function; the grand old movie houses along and just off Shattuck have made a successful transition to multiplexes, drawing crowds every night. Cheery, casual dining, particularly on Center Street, is the style here. Around the corner on Shattuck, successful brew pub Jupiter packs crowds on weekends with live music. As Berkeley's main east-west thoroughfare, University Avenue makes up in sheer traffic what it lacks in style.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Downtown Berkeley photo by Kai Schreiber
Photo: Kai Schreiber
Downtown Berkeley photo by Kanaka Pacifica
Photo: Kanaka Pacifica
Downtown Berkeley photo by Yvonne
Photo: Yvonne
Downtown Berkeley photo by David Vignoni
Photo: David Vignoni
Downtown Berkeley photo by Kai Schreiber
Photo: Kai Schreiber
Downtown Berkeley photo by Michael Patrick
Photo: Michael Patrick
Downtown Berkeley photo by Stephen Coles
Photo: Stephen Coles
Downtown Berkeley photo by Tiff (o) Knee
Photo: Tiff (o) Knee
Downtown Berkeley photo by Chris Plummer
Photo: Chris Plummer
Downtown Berkeley photo by Jcesar.com
Photo: Jcesar.com
Downtown Berkeley photo by Hunter Hubby
Photo: Hunter Hubby
Downtown Berkeley photo by Robert R. Byler Esq.
Photo: Robert R. Byler Esq.
Downtown Berkeley photo by shaohan
Photo: shaohan
Downtown Berkeley photo by Max Pictures
Photo: Max Pictures
Downtown Berkeley photo by XLhead
Photo: XLhead
Downtown Berkeley photo by Green Chaos
Photo: Green Chaos
Downtown Berkeley photo by Kunal Mukherjee
Photo: Kunal Mukherjee
Downtown Berkeley photo by Melanie Lee Chang
Photo: Melanie Lee Chang
Downtown Berkeley photo by reverse palindrome
Photo: reverse palindrome
Downtown Berkeley photo by Chad Gregory
Photo: Chad Gregory
Downtown Berkeley photo by snackiepoo
Photo: snackiepoo
Downtown Berkeley photo by Keith Cotterill
Photo: Keith Cotterill
Downtown Berkeley photo by Kenji Yamada
Photo: Kenji Yamada
Downtown Berkeley photo by Brandon M. Hirsch
Photo: Brandon M. Hirsch
Downtown Berkeley photo by Sarah He
Photo: Sarah He
Downtown Berkeley photo by Eric Gillet
Photo: Eric Gillet
Downtown Berkeley photo by eijsr
Photo: eijsr
Downtown Berkeley photo by Walker Olesen
Photo: Walker Olesen
Downtown Berkeley photo by Sarah L. Gillett
Photo: Sarah L. Gillett
 

 
Greek Theater


Amphitheater al fresco
 Off Gayley Road
(U.C. Berkeley Campus)
Berkeley, CA 94704
United States
+1 510 642 9988 		Built at the turn of the 20th century, this theater has played host not only to the University's graduation ceremonies, but has also been one of the premier venues in the city for live shows, and one of the only under the open sky. Designed like a classical Greek amphitheater with its tiered concrete seating and immense stage, it seats 8,000, every seat is a good one, and the acoustics are fantastic. Since it is outdoors, be sure to bring a coat or sweater as it gets chilly even during the summer, and a blanket if you want to sit on the grass before the stage. Call to have a schedule sent to you. Prices depend on the show.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Greek Theater photo by khtoo
Photo: khtoo
Greek Theater photo by Allison Gore
Photo: Allison Gore
Greek Theater photo by Keira Heu-Jwyn Chang
Photo: Keira Heu-Jwyn Chang
Greek Theater photo by Jon Bauer
Photo: Jon Bauer
Greek Theater photo by Cameron Walters
Photo: Cameron Walters
Greek Theater photo by Preeti Pradhan
Photo: Preeti Pradhan
Greek Theater photo by artnfilm
Photo: artnfilm
Greek Theater photo by Joe Grubb
Photo: Joe Grubb
Greek Theater photo by fiveinchpixie
Photo: fiveinchpixie
Greek Theater photo by Marc Abramowitz
Photo: Marc Abramowitz
Greek Theater photo by Jordan Klein
Photo: Jordan Klein
Greek Theater photo by theninthcloud
Photo: theninthcloud
Greek Theater photo by Jan Richards
Photo: Jan Richards
Greek Theater photo by Benjamin Pender
Photo: Benjamin Pender
Greek Theater photo by UCLAcyc
Photo: UCLAcyc
Greek Theater photo by lauraespence
Photo: lauraespence
Greek Theater photo by ListenToTheRain
Photo: ListenToTheRain
Greek Theater photo by balikye
Photo: balikye
Greek Theater photo by Jonathan Krop
Photo: Jonathan Krop
Greek Theater photo by Sarah M
Photo: Sarah M
 

 
Jupiter


Is it a church or a bar?
 2181 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
United States
+1 510 843 7625
http://www.jupiterbeer.com/ber... 		This hip little jazz club and brewpub has taken post-modernism to the extreme by adopting an original, if not heretical, approach to its décor. Inside you will find pews, fixtures, and other bits and pieces from a local Berkeley church. But sit back, relax, and enjoy one of its three dozen beers on tap, and nibble on gourmet sandwiches like roast chicken, and mozzarella and basil, as well as freshly baked pizzas (most items around $8). Local bands are featured on Thursday through Saturday nights, and the crowd, though mostly students, is rather mixed.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Jupiter photo by Emily Price
Photo: Emily Price
Jupiter photo by Jonathan C
Photo: Jonathan C
Jupiter photo by Jennifer Shankey
Photo: Jennifer Shankey
Jupiter photo by Jennifer Shankey
Photo: Jennifer Shankey
Jupiter photo by Matthew Lock
Photo: Matthew Lock
 

 
Paramount Theater


Classic films and live performances
 2025 Broadway
(at the corner of Franklin Street)
Berkeley, CA 94612
United States
+1 510 465 6400 / +1 510 893 2300
http://www.paramounttheater.com 		Oakland's 1931 art-deco movie palace is dominated by the impressive, 110-foot-tall mosaic over its marquee. The theater offers a wide variety of events, such as the Oakland Ballet and revivals of classic Paramount films. Striking decor and a sumptuous auditorium make for a great retro evening out. A behind-the-scenes tour happens the first and third Saturday of the month. Call for information. Note: Credit card acceptance varies by event.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Paramount Theater photo by Ron Gilbert
Photo: Ron Gilbert
Paramount Theater photo by Gwen Harlow
Photo: Gwen Harlow
Paramount Theater photo by Misha Bittleston
Photo: Misha Bittleston
Paramount Theater photo by HoboElvis
Photo: HoboElvis
Paramount Theater photo by Mike Rengel
Photo: Mike Rengel
Paramount Theater photo by patrick siemer
Photo: patrick siemer
Paramount Theater photo by claudine gossett
Photo: claudine gossett
Paramount Theater photo by martha breed
Photo: martha breed
Paramount Theater photo by Rupert Scammell
Photo: Rupert Scammell
 

 
Starry Plough


Even Sean Would Approve
 3101 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
United States
+1 510 841 2082 		This favorite is full of congenial spirits (both the drinks and the regulars), fish and chips and some of the best in local and Irish bands. Enjoy over two dozen beers on tap, including an impressive selection of local brews and ales, as well as the usual suspects (Guinness, Rolling Rock). Almost every night it features the best in local and Irish bands. There is a small dancefloor that fills up during live performances, but also features locals who jump on in for folk dancing. Traditional Irish dance lessons are held on Mondays, and Happy Hour lasts from opening to 7p.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Starry Plough photo by Kenn Christ
Photo: Kenn Christ
 

 
The Elmwood


 Berkeley
United States
 The commercial face of Elmwood, a genteel alternative to the countercultural hurly-burly of Telegraph Avenue, is confined to a scant three blocks around College Avenue and Ashby Street. The Elmwood's culinary status, however, is out of proportion to its size, with two wildly popular Italian trattorias (Locanda Olmo and Trattoria La Siciliana), a fine Italian deli (A.G. Ferrari), a bakery, a dessert place (Just Desserts), a creperie (Voulez-Vous), a cafe offering hot entrees (Espresso Roma), three excellent Chinese restaurants (Shen Hua, Hai Loon King, and Shin Jin) and a kosher spot (Holy Land)--to name but a few--within two blocks. The quiet side streets of the Elmwood are filled with stately, dark-shingled homes inspired by West Coast Arts & Crafts architects Green and Greene and Bernard Maybeck.

Review © 2007, Wcities
The Elmwood photo by Cem&Andrea
Photo: Cem&Andrea
 

 
The University of California, Berkeley


Golden Bears & Nobel laureates
 At the corner of University Avenue and Oxford Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
United States
+1 510 642 6000
http://www.berkeley.edu 		Perennially ranked among the top universities in the country, the 1,365-acre, 465-building campus offer visitors as well as students museums, libraries, superb views from the campanile, public lectures by Nobel laureates, world class entertainment and NCAA sports. Campus life centers on Sproul Plaza and Sather Gate. A reminder of Berkeley's place in American social history can be found in the form a plaque in front of Sproul Hall, marking the spot where Mario Savio launched the Free Speech movement in 1964. Free tours of campus are given Monday-Friday, leaving from 101 University Hall at the corner of University Avenue and Oxford Street. Saturday at 10a and Sunday at 1p, the tours leave from the Campanile.

Review © 2007, Wcities
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Angelo Mercado
Photo: Angelo Mercado
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Innes M. Keighren
Photo: Innes M. Keighren
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Seth Gaines
Photo: Seth Gaines
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Fugitive in two counties
Photo: Fugitive in two counties
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Luca Zappa
Photo: Luca Zappa
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Mike Wooldridge
Photo: Mike Wooldridge
The University of California, Berkeley photo by oanababy
Photo: oanababy
The University of California, Berkeley photo by knsk
Photo: knsk
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Bengt Mutén
Photo: Bengt Mutén
The University of California, Berkeley photo by John
Photo: John
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Jerry Lindholm
Photo: Jerry Lindholm
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Cheri Mann
Photo: Cheri Mann
The University of California, Berkeley photo by light7wave
Photo: light7wave
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Jacob Erickson
Photo: Jacob Erickson
The University of California, Berkeley photo by basile with an e
Photo: basile with an e
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Kasey Kalis
Photo: Kasey Kalis
The University of California, Berkeley photo by basile with an e
Photo: basile with an e
The University of California, Berkeley photo by l84myflight
Photo: l84myflight
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Steve W. Lee
Photo: Steve W. Lee
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Marcus Sanford
Photo: Marcus Sanford
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Dave Churney
Photo: Dave Churney
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Ingrid
Photo: Ingrid
The University of California, Berkeley photo by giuliana_miranda
Photo: giuliana_miranda
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Chris Emura
Photo: Chris Emura
The University of California, Berkeley photo by Adam Jen Kin Regele
Photo: Adam Jen Kin Regele
 

 
Yoshi's


Great jazz & Japanese food
 501 Embarcadero West
Berkeley, CA 94607
United States
+1 510 238 9200
http://www.yoshis.com 		This superb club is a Bay Area institution. This is the only place in Northern California where you can catch top jazz acts on a consistent basis. It regularly attracts big names like Pat Matheny, Arturo Sandoval and McCoy Tyner. The room is perfectly lit, the acoustics excellent, and there are no bad seats. A one-drink minimum is comfortably enforced and efficiently served. The restaurant is one of the best full-service Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. Shoeless dining, shoji screens and recessed tables create a fun, comfortable and authentic atmosphere. The sushi is made with exceptionally fresh fish.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Yoshi's photo by Erik Gellman
Photo: Erik Gellman
 

 
Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Berkeley - Art & Entertainment"
Berkeley
Berkeley - Historical Background
Berkeley - Neighborhood Guide
Berkeley - Where to Stay
Berkeley - Dining & Drinking

Other nearby cities:
San Francisco (10 miles)
San Jose and Silicon Valley (60 miles)
Napa Valley (63 miles)
Sacramento (108 miles)
Monterey and Carmel (146 miles)
Yosemite (224 miles)
Lake Tahoe (241 miles)
Reno (284 miles)
Los Angeles (568 miles)
Las Vegas (682 miles)

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