Local Event

Throughout the event, Talbot expressed immense respect for the unhoused members of the audience — and it was clear the feeling was mutual.

For guests new and old alike, there’s no denying the sense of magic in the event’s simple formula — and, as it turns out, it doesn’t need a physical space to work that magic, either.

Eastwind Books of Berkeley hosted a virtual book talk to feature “Chinatown Pretty,” a book that is part of a larger project to share the style and stories of Chinatown’s senior residents.

Comedian, actor and Berkeley-local Andy Samberg was the latest guest on “Reading Is Instrumental,” the virtual musical storytime series created by the Berkeley Public Library Foundation and the Berkeley Symphony.

Hong Kingston and Kingston both brought animated facial expressions and hand gestures to the reading, which additionally enlivened the performance. 

Wong, the founder of the Disability Visibility Project and editor of the “ADA 30 in Color” series, said she had wanted to “recenter the work and the wisdom” of the disabled BIPOC community.

Geffen described how the impacts of COVID-19 have forced many to confront how tenuous existence is at both the individual and organizational levels.

“Ben and I found a lot of nuance in our performance and a lot of new things to add to the performance since the first time we did it in San Francisco, so we’re really excited to bring it back to San Francisco with everything we’ve learned in the U.K.,” Monsoon said.

The urgency of Redmonde’s words was echoed by everything each speaker had to say, their presentations centering around both the personal and broader significance behind a bookstore that also has an active political presence in Berkeley and elsewhere.

Each ensemble showcased the magnificence of its musical traditions and created a wonderful environment to get the audience grooving, providing an enticing sneak peek of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival to come.