Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley: ‘Bye November, Hi December'

Ah, that satisfying, sometimes lazy feeling one gets after a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley hopes you had an enjoyable holiday (and that you may have been inspired to include some of the eye-healthy dishes that were listed in last week’s blog). So, if you are not into the mad rush of Black Friday, and are not feeling TOO lazy and want get more out of what remains of this holiday weekend, we have a few sights and sounds you can take in. And, as always, they’re all local, so you won’t need to travel far.

If you are feeling some of that post-Thanksgiving laziness we mentioned earlier, wake yourself up tonight by visiting the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse where aptly titled musical farce, “Too Much Coffee Man Opera” will be playing. Written by Emmy Award-winning composer Daniel Steve Crafts, the title says it all in this zanily harmonious ode to the joys of java. The Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse is located at 2020 Addison St. and show time is 8:00 pm. Call (510) 644-2020 for more info and to order tickets, or order online by clicking here.

If you feel like some real activity, treat yourself to a lesson in swing dancing at the Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center tomorrow at 8:00 pm. Ring up (510) 525-5054 to reserve your place and then polish off your dancing shoes and step out and over to 1317 San Pablo Ave. With musical accompaniment from “The Queen of Classic Jazz & Blues,” Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, you can pick up a few pointers in cutting the rug to an authentically tuneful blend of music that has a 1940s and ‘50s flair. After the lesson, stick around for more music with a set that begins at 9:00 pm.

If you want to conclude the Thanksgiving weekend with a truly unique and different event, come down to Spenger’s Fish Grotto (located at 1919 Fourth St.) for the American Alpine Club’s Sierra Nevada Section Holiday Dinner. (To be fair, we must let you know that the dinner reservations will no longer be accepted by time this blog is posted. You may, however, attend the presentation that begins at 7:30 for $10.00). Freddie Wilkinson, noted alpinist and author, will host a multimedia show entitled “Mountain/Story,” where he will recount his adventures in the daring world of mountain climbing. To learn more, call (510) 845-7771, or email Karen Zazzi at zzkarenzz@yahoo.com (and tell her Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley sent you).

And so, we wish you a happy close to November and a hopeful beginning to December in Berkeley, CA. We hope some of the ideas listed above may serve as enjoyable alternatives to end Thanksgiving weekend (as opposed to the stress of trying to go shopping). As we get ready for the winter season, please remember to keep your eyeglasses polished, those contact lenses fresh and sunglasses at the ready to ward off the rays of the sun.

Have fun; keep safe, and your vision strong.