ballet slipper / shoe charms

Libraries Outside Family Nature Club. Explore low tide at Crab Cove as part of the Libraries Outside event series. The whole family will enjoy this easy walk through the mud and water. Prepare to get your feet wet. 11 a.m. July 10. Crab Cove Visitors Center, 1252 McKay Ave, Alameda. Free. 510-747-7713, www.alamedaca.gov. Blood Drive. American Red Cross holds a blood drive that rewards your good deed with a chance to win a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm or Cedar Fair theme park. Noon to 5 p.m. July 12. Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak St., Alameda. Free. 800-733-2767, www.redcrossblood.org.

The Walnut Creek-based health service operates a service called Caring Hands, whose volunteers help elderly, isolated clients in variety of practical ways such as driving them to a ballet slipper / shoe charms doctor’s appointment or the grocery store or simply taking them for a walk in the park, Prospective volunteers must undergo a background screening and interview, after which they will receive training on how to be as effective as possible, The next training session will be 8:45 a.m, to 3:30 p.m, Jan, 31 at John Muir Outpatient Center in Brentwood..

Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration: March 16-18, Dublin. Green and White Gala, 6 p.m. March 16, Shannon Community Center; Pancake Breakfast, 7 a.m. Fire Station #16; Dublin Lions Club Parade, 9:30 a.m. March 17, Dublin Boulevard at Amador Plaza Road; Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 17-18, Dublin Civic Center and Shamrock 5K Fun Run/Walk, 8:30 a.m. March 18, Dublin Boulevard at Civic Plaza. http://dublinca.gov/293/St-Patricks-Day-Celebration/. Vintage Paso – Zinfandel Weekend: March 16-18, various Paso Robles locations. This festival features 100 wineries, a zin seminar and a Z After Party that pairs zins with dessert and live jazz. $40-$70. http://bit.ly/2t4aIxb.

When a much younger cousin of Mitch turns up in Reykjavik with a friend for a fast 24 hours, Mitch turns it into a grand adventure, sending the backpacking grad students off with his credit card to buy clothes suitable for a night on the club scene, For all of his suggestive teasing, there is something so harmless about it that you immediately know he’s all talk, The trip begins ballet slipper / shoe charms in earnest when the guys head out to explore rural Iceland, which is most of Iceland, There are mishaps and magical encounters and more incredible shots of the countryside, but mostly there is Mitch and Colin’s running conversation, Casually, the issues both men are working through begin to seep in..

3rd of July fireworks: The Oakland A’s will shoot off fireworks one night early, July 3, after their 6:05 p.m. game against the San Diego Padres  www.mlb.com/athletics. 4th of July BBQ Block Party: Noon-5 p.m. Jack London Square. Featuring live music, beer/cider garden, barbecue, shopping and kids zone. Beer pass, $35-$50. www.jacklondonsquare.com. Fourth of July Patriotic Picnic: Noon-3:30 p.m. Pardee Historic Home Museum, 672 11th St. Burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, cold drinks and other treats. Performances by pianist Frederick Hodges and singer Ann Gibson, known for their ragtime music. Raffle. $0-$15. www.pardeehome.org.