Book: “Putin’s Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia”: Putin may present himself as the virtuous leader who’s saving Russia from falling back into chaos, but author Karen Dawisha presents compelling evidence that he’s actually running a colossally corrupt nation with the help of mega-rich friends. (Simon and Schuster, 2015). RUSSIA TODAY. Pussy Riot in book and film: Three members of the feminist art collective were tried and imprisoned for their 40-second “punk prayer protest” on the altar of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. Their story became the subject of a 2013 documentary “Pussy Riot: a Punk Prayer” (streaming on Netflix) and “Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot” (Riverhead Books, 2014) by Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen, an openly gay opponent of Putin who left Russia out of concern for her family’s safety. Gessen is also a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books on the nature of autocracy as it could relate to Donald Trump’s administration.

Menorah Lighting and Chanukah Celebration: 5-6:30 p.m, Dec, 9, Bay Street Emeryville, Center Plaza, 5616 Bay St, Enjoy the lighting of a 12-foot Menorah, Chanukah crafts, balloon art and live music, www.baystreetemeryville.com, Holiday Hits: 4-6 p.m, Dec, 9, Gavilan Community College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, South Valley Symphony presents light classical, popular works and seasonal favorites, Free-$25, https://southvalleysymphony.org/, “A Winter Gift,” Celtic Music and Stories for the Season: 7-9 p.m, i heart love ballet svg cutting file w/png - for cricut design space and silhouette studio - commercial use Dec, 10, Arlington Community Church, UCC, 52 Arlington Ave, Three of the premier Celtic harpists in the world will perform Celtic legends, along with Irish and English literature woven together with beloved and rare pieces of holiday music, $10-$20, https://bit.ly/2zi5nD7..

Smuin Ballet. “Xxmas: The Christmas Ballet, 2013 Edition. Dec. 11-15. New choreography from Smuin’s choreographer-in-residence Amy Seiwert and Post:Ballet Artistic Director Robert Dekkers, and others. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. $49-$65. 650-903-6000 or www.smuinballet.org. Bay Pointe Ballet. Bruce Steivel’s “The Nutcracker.” Dec. 14-22. Sets and costumes by Alexandre Vassiliev. San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware Ave., San Mateo. $30-$60 (discounts available). http://baypointeballet.org/season/nutcracker.php.

— Jim Harrington, A son’s story, When Jon Moscone (head of Cal Shakes) was a little boy, he used to worry that something terrible would happen to his father, His worst nightmares came true when Dan White went on his infamous bloody rampage in 1978, Now Jon, son of slain San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, comes to terms with the weight of his grief and how tragedy can shape our destinies in “Ghost Light,” in its world premiere coproduction with Ashland’s Oregon Shakespeare Festival that runs Jan, 6-Feb, 19 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Written i heart love ballet svg cutting file w/png - for cricut design space and silhouette studio - commercial use by Berkeley Rep artistic director Tony Taccone, now making a splash as a playwright, this is a highly anticipated production that riffs on a watershed event in Bay Area history, The personal and the political collide with Kushnerian results in this explosive new drama, $14.50-$73, www.berkeleyrep.org..

SAN JOSE 95134. _______________________________. 78 Mirabelli Cir $535,000 9-25-2014 1139 SF 3 BR San Jose 95134. 460 Navaro Way 112 $520,000 9-30-2014 1134 SF 2 BR San Jose 95134. _______________________________. SAN JOSE 95135. _______________________________. 7930 Caledonia Dr $884,500 9-26-2014 1945 SF 2 BR San Jose 95135. 3243 Foxboro Pl $1,040,000 9-30-2014 2379 SF 3 BR San Jose 95135. 8799 Grape Wagon Cir $556,000 9-24-2014 1415 SF 2 BR San Jose 95135. 3543 Michelangelo Dr $817,000 9-24-2014 1601 SF 3 BR San Jose 95135.