Play: Santa's Wonderland on 4th Street
Visit Santa & sit in his big red sleigh at 1809B Fourth Street. Whisper your holiday wishes to him any Thurs. thru Sun. ‘til 6 p.m. thru Dec. 23 when he must fly back to the North Pole to tend to his workshop. Donate a new pair of socks filled with small toiletries or an unwrapped kid"s book. Donations benefit Harrison House homeless shelter. Outside, the canopy of trees is filled with dazzling lights and music fills the air while the stores stay open late. www.FourthStreet.com
Now - December 23, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Fourth Street Shops, 1809B Fourth Street, Berkeley

Live: Tear Out Your Lawn Challenge
Drought conditions and water rationing often lead to a proliferation of ugly brown lawns. Now Ploughshares Nursery has a better way of saving water and saving money. The Nursery is offering a "Tear Out Your Lawn Challenge". Participants in the challenge will receive a one time 20% coupon good for the purchase of drought tolerant plants and a free half hour landscaping consultation with a senior staff member. To be eligible you must remove 40% or more of your lawn and provide before and after photos as proof. The offer is good until the end of 2008. Info: 510-898-7811
Through December 31, 2008
Ploughshares Nursery at 2701 Main St. in Alameda
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Live: One Warm Coat Drive
The One Warm Coat program encourages supporters to pass along new and used coats to benefit those in need. Coats will be collected in The Concierge at Broadway Plaza.
Now – December 31
Broadway Plaza, S. Main Street & Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek

Play: Walnut Creek on Ice
Walnut Creek on Ice returns for a fourth season with a new location in Civic Park. The ice rink will be located in the Clay Arts parking lot along Civic Drive - same size rink, new memories to make. Our magical wonderland moves just a little North to make room for the new library. Come see for yourself the magical transformation of Downtown Civic Park into what can only be described as a twinkling Winter Wonderland.
Now - January 25
Walnut Creek On Ice, 1313 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek

Live: All About the Oakland Green Job Corps
Learn about resources and successful strategies for creating meaningful employment in the new green business sector. Presented by The Sustainable Business Alliance. Featuring: Honorable Barbara Lee, 9th Congressional District; and Arthur Shanks, Executive Director, Cypress Mandela Training Center. Presentations by Local Green Companies. Pre-registration required and seating is limited -- RSVP by phone or email no later than December 5. Info: 510-208-0845
December 11, 3:30-5:30pm
James Irvine Conference Center, 353 Frank Ogawa Plaza, near 14th and Broadway, Oakland

Home: Introduction to Urban Permaculture
Hear and see local permaculture designers from the Ecological Division of Merritt College's Landscape Horticulture Department discuss what's possible in a city. Come see what's been incubating at this little 7-acre gem in the Oakland Hills. Christopher Shein will talk about the large food forest and garden built by students and the Permaculture Design Certificate program. Hear about the Regenerative Design Class, and working with biology to purify air, food, water and ourselves. Other classes offered at Merritt include Natural Building taught by Kevin and Marisha Farnsworth and Growing Mushrooms with Ken Litchfield. Our amazing teachers will be on hand to present a quick overview of their classes and what motivates them to live their passions for urban sustainability. Find out where and how to plug-in to the local permaculture scene!
December 11, 7-9pm
Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley
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Live: Make Your Own Bike Bag -- Advanced
Looking for a bag that specifically designed for YOU? Need a bag that's BOTH a pannier AND a backpack? Check out Waterside Workshops' bike bag workshop, and learn to design and build your own bag specifically for your bike lifestyle. We have many different materials to use including recycled signs, vinyl, canvas and different types of nylon. We also have hardware, zippers, buckles, rivets, everything you might need to complete your project. You are encouraged to bring your own materials if you have something specific in mind. Sewing experience is required, but don't worry - we have a NEW CLASS just for beginners. Sign up for both the beginning (12/6/08) and advanced (12/13/08) classes for only $85 (plus the Kit Fee). Visit website for more info and to sign up. Info: 510-644-2577
December 13, Noon - 4pm
Waterside Workshops, 84 Bolivar Drive, (at Berkeley's Aquatic Park), Berkeley

Eat: HEALTHFUL & HUMANE HOLIDAY COOKING & BAKING
We’ll focus on delicious recipes perfect for holiday dining and entertaining. On the menu: Warm Lentil Salad; Pan-Grilled Portabello Mushrooms with Fresh Herb Marinade; Purple Potatoes with Cashew Cream and Toasted Sage and Walnuts; Decadent Chocolate Truffles; Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Cost: $55, plus $5 food/materials fee due on day of class. Register online or mail a check to Compassionate Cooks P.O. Box 18512 Oakland, CA 94619. Deadline to sign up - Thursday, December 11th
December 13, 10-1pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro.
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Eat: The Berkeley Farmers' Market 17th annual Holiday Crafts Fair
Farmers' Market (lots of organic produce) & Local craftspeople selling a wonderful variety of beautiful handcrafted gifts. Live Music all day, every day of the fair. This event is supported in part by the Berkeley Civic Arts Program. A program of the Ecology Center since 1987, the Berkeley Farmers' Markets offer a wide range of mostly organic produce and healthy, locally-produced foods.
December 13, 10am-4pm
Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park, Center St. @ MLK, Jr. Way, Berkeley
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Live: FRENCH BROOM REMOVAL PROJECT
Help restore beautiful Redwood Regional Park. French broom has been displacing the native plants. Volunteers are needed to remove the broom. We provide the tools. Meet at Skyline Gate staging area (8500 Skyline Blvd. Oakland) on the first Saturdays and meet at the Wayside overflow lot off Redwood Road on the second Sundays in Redwood Regional Park. For more information, call Dee Rosario at (510) 482-6024. Meet at the Wayside overflow lot
December 14, 9:30am-1:30pm
Redwood Gate Entrance-Redwood Regional Park

Go: Sunday Family Hikes
Earth and sky unite in an outing that is out of this world. Hike the redwood-laced trails near Chabot to hidden, historic sites. Experience the ecosystem walking through the beautiful, shady paths of the Redwood Regional Park, led by a naturalist from the East Bay Regional Park District. Then explore the cosmos at Chabot with hands-on interactive exhibits and displays and be amazed how your child’s Universe can expand in one excursion! Tickets are $5 plus General Admission to Chabot Space & Science Center.
December 14, 9-11am: Redwoods to Cosmos (8 years & up), 1:30-2:30pm: Little Tike Hike (5 years & up)
Chabot Space & Science Center
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Play: Holiday Kid's Yoga (4 & under)
What better time than now to introduce your little ones to yoga? Kids will stretch, focus, laugh, and play with fun yoga postures! Teach them early about the yogic themes of cooperation, peaceful interaction and acceptance. Perfect for the winter holiday season when kids are cooped up indoors! For kids ages 2-4, with a parent or caregiver. Visit the website for more weekly events.
December 16, 10:30- 11:00 am
Elephant Pharm, Walnut Creek
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Live, Volunteer: Scrub Canoes with Save The Bay
Local non-profit Save The Bay leads canoe field trips on San Francisco Bay for about 5,000 youth and adults each year, teaching people about the ecology and importance of San Francisco Bay to our lives. After a busy Fall season filled with these trips we need help to scrub down canoes, organize education materials and make minor repairs on our equipment. All abilities of volunteers are accepted and needed! Save The Bay educators will provide all instruction, tools and guidance for the cleanup. No experience is necessary. Hosted by the California Canoe and Kayak store. RSVP by phone or email required. You’ll be emailed directions and additional information. Please indicate when you will be able to show up for the cleanup - 4.5 hour shifts acceptable: 8am-12:30pm or 12:30pm-5pm. Info: 510-452-9261 ext. 119, bayevents@savesfbay.org.
December 16, 8am-5pm
Jack London Square, Oakland

Play: Gentle Yoga
Use chairs, the wall, the floor and props to support gentle yoga poses. The perfect class for seniors and yoga beginners. Visit the website for more weekly events.
December 17, 10-11am
Elephant Pharm, Walnut Creek
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Play: EAST BAY GREEN DRINKS
A monthly gathering of people interested in sustainability, including green business, architecture, design, organics, clean energy and other topics. We’re meeting the second Tuesday and third Wednesday of every month in Berkeley , Oakland, and the Tri-Valley. We average 50 souls at these events… You don’t have to drink the brew…sip water! It’s all great fun!
December 17 (every 3rd Wednesday), 5:30-8pm
Bobbie G’s, Berkeley
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Home: Solstice Sale for Ecology Center Members
All Merchandise 20% Off for Members Only! Plus hot cider from Pomo Tierra Farm and Free Gifts. This holiday, give gifts full of possibility, like seeds and cookbooks. A thoughtful purchase from the Ecology Center Store can be the first step down the path of simplicity, sustainability, or self-sufficiency. Our seasonal produce wheel, stainless steel lunch kits, and ziploc bag drying racks make terrific gifts. Give a boost to the faltering recycling industry by buying recycled glass and paper gifts. Stimulate organic agriculture by purchasing clothing made from organically grown fibers. A gift to a friend can also be a gift to the earth.
December 20, 11am - 6pm
Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley
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