Other events include a Karla Cornejo Villavicencio book talk and a screening of a documentary about the Studio Guild Cinema
![Avatar photo](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i0.wp.com/newspack-berkeleyside-cityside.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Iris-Kwok-headshot-square.jpg?fit=791%2C792&ssl=1)
Iris Kwok
Iris Kwok covers the environment for Berkeleyside through a partnership with Report for America. A former music journalist, her work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, KQED, San Francisco Examiner and San Francisco Classical Voice, among other publications. In her spare time, you can find her petting street cats or playing cello. She joined Berkeleyside in June 2022.
La Peña Cultural Center is facing a financial crisis
The South Berkeley hub for music, art, and activism has been in “emergency mode” since COVID-era grant funds ran out. It’s hoping to raise $50,000 by September
Around Berkeley: Hear an Oakland cowboy sing, put ducks to sleep at Tilden’s Little Farm
Other events include a city-run block party for National Night Out and a talk with Los Angeles artist Young Joon Kwak, who makes their solo museum debut this week at BAMPFA.
Around Berkeley: Vine street block party, music at Strawberry Creek Park, literary trivia
Other events include a book talk with the memoirist Catherine Harrington about her divorce and a screening of Al Jazeera’s documentary on the Israeli siege on Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital
Don your old ‘hippie threads’ and watch a Shakespeare comedy set in the Summer of Love at a Berkeley park
A new production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” set in 1967, is coming to John Hinkel Park starting Saturday.
Around Berkeley: Watercolors of the city, dance party, campus architecture walk, history of tea
Other events include a summer wellness event at Teance Fine Teas and screening of the original Japanese version of Miyazaki’s “Kiki’s Delivery Service.”
Foams, foraged fruit, and clear ice: How an Emeryville food scientist found her passion making gourmet kakigori
After she was laid off, food scientist Ting Lin began concocting intricate shaved ice creations at home. Now, she sells her colorful kakigori at pop-ups across the East Bay.
City installs 2 new bus stop benches outside North Berkeley Senior Center
After a months-long guerrilla campaign by transit activists to put benches at bus stops, the city has now added three permanent benches. It says more will come next year.
Around Berkeley: American blues and rock legend Elvin Bishop, chair yoga, Bastille Day pig roast
Other events include a teen production of the “Mean Girls” musical at the Berkeley Playhouse and a documentary screening Other events include a teen production of the “Mean Girls” musical at the Berkeley Playhouse and a documentary screening on the dismantling of Russell City
Berkeley restaurants routinely go uninspected, finds jaw-dropping new audit
Due to short staffing, only 55% of Berkeley’s restaurants and food facilities were inspected in 2023, compared with 97% in Alameda County, the report says. The city was found too slow in response to most foodborne illness complaints.
There’s a union push at another Peet’s Coffee in Berkeley
Employees of the Peet’s on Fourth Street say they’ve filed to unionize. Workers at the Southside Berkeley Peet’s, as well as the coffee chain’s Temescal and Piedmont locations, voted to unionize in 2023.
Berkeley approves fleet of Lime rental e-scooters
Lime can now offer up to 200 scooters on Berkeley streets. A competitor, Veoride, is also approved by the city to rent scooters and e-bikes. Lyft offers e-bikes in Berkeley via a regional program.