Things to Do in Castro Valley

The shelves at Color Me Mine’s four studios teem with whimsical bisque-pottery pieces—pony and princess figurines, piggy banks, and kitty-cat mugs—each stark white and waiting for the brush strokes of a budding artist. That artist might be a birthday boy at a party with up to 50 of his friends, or a grown-up unwinding at a girls' night out. No previous experience is required, as the studio staff dispenses plenty of painting tips, stencils, and artistic inspiration. Afterwards, the staff will fire the resulting pieces, which can then be used as décor or dinnerware thanks to Color Me Mine's lead-free, food-safe, paints.

In addition to open painting and private parties, the studio hosts after-school enrichment programs, field trips, and activities that inspire adults to design their own kitchenware or to turn that pile of rocks in the backyard into a pile of multicolored rocks.

Using audience suggestions as a creative springboard, Made Up Theatre’s quartet of resident performers conjures chortles with fully improvised scenes, games, and musical numbers every Saturday night at 8 p.m. Free two-hour classes grant guests of varying performance backgrounds an opportunity to sample the art of improv before climbing through three ranks of classes that emphasize quick responses and structuring longer-form scenes. Made Up Theatre also totes its trick bag to the corporate world with team-building seminars that draw upon improv’s communicative foundation to improve group interactions and send stress off to take up residence in rant-fueled standup comics.

The two grand exhibition rooms at the Institute of Mosaic Art show off the textured tile work of its staff and visiting artists, with more works displayed outside in its lush garden. Within, more than 80 classes and workshops for all skill levels cover a wide range of topics and techniques, including working with glass, smalti, and tiles, as well as projects such as jewelry and exterior decorations. Visiting artists conduct special workshops, giving students insight into their creative processes and suggestions on the best brand of car windshield to smash for supplies.

The institute also houses Mosaic Studio Supply, which fills its homey halls with materials and manuals for all projects. Mosaic makers can browse the stock of a la carte supplies, from colorful tiles to tools and adhesives, as well as kits full of color-coordinated pieces.

Conectando Latinos Social Club organizes events in the Bay Area to celebrate and bring awareness to Latino culture. Their events are open to professionals age 25 and up and cultivate a social atmosphere with organized ice breakers for singles, couples, and frozen explorers recently returned from the Arctic. Some of their affairs include courses on preparing Latin cuisine, which are usually supplemented by traditional cocktails and group dining. Dance classes celebrate heritage with movement, and weekend getaways via international cruises give members a firsthand glance at the lands where these traditions were born.

Bay Area Wedding Fairs assembles exhibitors from all areas of wedding planning for intimate and fun gatherings at various Bay Area grand-hotel ballrooms. Ranging from photographers to florists to the elves that carve the tiny bride-and-groom cake toppers, the fairs' exhibitors find time to discuss their services thoroughly during the unhurried, casual events. Additionally, each Wedding Fair organizes complimentary events, which may include bridal-gown and men's-formal-wear fashion shows, bridal seminars, food-and-wine samplings, and in-booth personal services such as makeup applications.

Originally founded in 1970 to give high-school and college students a chance to hone their onstage skills, TheatreWorks dedicated itself early on to promoting new work that grappled with America's changing social landscape. Exploring the experiences of ethnic and cultural minorities, the group built a following throughout the subsequent decades, growing to its present size of 41 permanent staffers, an annual budget of $7 million, and 8,000 subscribers. Its New Works Initiative continues to seek out up-and-coming voices from around the country, helping new playwrights find their footing and prompting embittered older writers to test new pseudonyms.