Liam O'Brien's BUTTERFLIES OF THE BAY AREA In Store Event and Book Signing

Schedule

Wed Oct 08 2025 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Mrs Dalloway's | Berkeley, CA

Advertisement
O'Brien shares his knowledge of California butterflies through a treasure trove of stories and 700 gorgeous, hand-drawn illustrations.
About this Event

Join us at Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore on Wednesday, October 8 at 7:00 PM when local author Liam O'Brien comes to present his new book Butterflies of the Bay Area and (Slightly) Beyond: An Illustrated Guide. Liam will discuss his book, and will sign copies after the presentation.

Click here to order a copy of Butterflies of the Bay Area prior to the event.

An illustrated obsession, a guidebook, a kaleidoscope of life on the wing.

"If you live in the Bay Area and wish to know the butterflies, this is the only field guide you'll ever need." —Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift

Liam O'Brien has spent three decades chasing, learning about, protecting, occasionally catching, and always loving butterflies. Here, he shares his capacious knowledge of California butterflies through a treasure trove of stories and 700 gorgeous, hand-drawn illustrations—featuring both adult forms and caterpillars—of the 135 species that live in the greater Bay Area. This sumptuous book also shares practical tips for finding and identifying all the butterflies who call the Bay Area home. Learn which plants nurture Silver-spotted Skippers, which trail to hike to see Swallowtails flitting creek-side, and why so many butterflies cluster on hilltops. Share in the joy that O'Brien brings to the study of butterflies, and join the community scientists contributing to our understanding of Monarchs, Metalmarks, and Marbles—and what they need to survive and thrive in our busy Bay Area.

LIAM O'BRIEN is a self-taught lepidopterist and illustrator. He used to be a professional actor, having appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway, but shifted his powers of observation towards nature several decades back. He’s fascinated not only by butterflies but also by our relationships to them. He surveyed the county of San Francisco, where he lives, for which butterfly species remained in 2007 and 2009 and has been involved in the preservation and restoration of several local species throughout the Bay Area. O’Brien was the recipient of Bay Nature magazine’s Local Hero Award for Environmental Education in 2014. He lives in San Francisco. For more of his work, follow him on Instagram @robber_fly.

THIS EVENT is free but registration is requested. Registration ends at 6:00 pm on October 8.

BECAUSE SEATING is limited, please register only if you plan to attend.

DUE TO SPACE limitations, we may not be able to accommodate every person at an event, so early registration is encouraged.

WALK-INS will be accommodated only if space allows.

WE ASK that attendees arrive between 6:45 and 7:00 PM for the event.

PLEASE leave your non-support companion animals at home.

OUR shared restrooms are not accessible after 6:30 PM, please plan accordingly.


Event Photos
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Mrs Dalloway's, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 0.00

Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore

Host or Publisher Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Berkeley

Texas Is the Reason at The UC Theatre
Tue, 07 Oct at 08:00 pm Texas Is the Reason at The UC Theatre

The UC Theatre

ART THEATRE
Duke Blue Devils at California Golden Bears Mens Basketball at Haas Pavilion
Tue, 07 Oct at 11:59 pm Duke Blue Devils at California Golden Bears Mens Basketball at Haas Pavilion

Haas Pavilion

CONTESTS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
2025 Safety Net Innovation Summit
Wed, 08 Oct at 11:30 am 2025 Safety Net Innovation Summit

Ciel Creative Space - Studio 5

BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
Los Caligaris at Cornerstone
Wed, 08 Oct at 08:00 pm Los Caligaris at Cornerstone

Cornerstone

Los Caligaris in Berkeley
Wed, 08 Oct at 08:00 pm Los Caligaris in Berkeley

Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Louisville Cardinals at California Golden Bears Mens Basketball at Haas Pavilion
Wed, 08 Oct at 11:59 pm Louisville Cardinals at California Golden Bears Mens Basketball at Haas Pavilion

Haas Pavilion

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
LaMP - Russ Lawton  Scott Metzger & Ray Paczkowski
Thu, 09 Oct LaMP - Russ Lawton Scott Metzger & Ray Paczkowski

Cornerstone - CA

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Free Yoga Classes
Thu, 09 Oct at 04:30 pm Free Yoga Classes

West Berkeley Family Wellness Center, Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA, USA

HEALTH-WELLNESS WORKSHOPS
Aisha Muharrar's LOVED ONE In Store Author Event And Book Signing
Thu, 14 Aug at 07:00 pm Aisha Muharrar's LOVED ONE In Store Author Event And Book Signing

Mrs Dalloway's

ART LITERARY-ART
Author Talk: Peter Goodman on Eclair Pastries Berkeley bakery
Sun, 17 Aug at 03:00 pm Author Talk: Peter Goodman on Eclair Pastries Berkeley bakery

Hillside Club

ART LITERARY-ART
Mini Creative Writing Adventure with Rip The Page! author Karena Benke
Mon, 25 Aug at 04:00 pm Mini Creative Writing Adventure with Rip The Page! author Karena Benke

Mr.Mopps Children's Books

ART LITERARY-ART
Elizabeth Partridge's IMOGEN In Store Launch And Book Signing
Tue, 26 Aug at 07:00 pm Elizabeth Partridge's IMOGEN In Store Launch And Book Signing

Mrs Dalloway's

ART LITERARY-ART
Cleyvis Natera's THE GRAND PALOMA RESORT In Store Event and Book Signing
Fri, 29 Aug at 07:00 pm Cleyvis Natera's THE GRAND PALOMA RESORT In Store Event and Book Signing

Mrs Dalloway's

ART LITERARY-ART
August 2025 Picture Book Club for Grown Ups
Sun, 31 Aug at 03:30 pm August 2025 Picture Book Club for Grown Ups

Mr.Mopps Children's Books

ART LITERARY-ART
End Solitary Confinement
Thu, 04 Sep at 06:30 pm End Solitary Confinement

St. John’s Presbyterian Church

ART LITERARY-ART
Emily Meg Weinstein's TURN TO STONE In Store Author Event And Signing
Thu, 04 Sep at 07:00 pm Emily Meg Weinstein's TURN TO STONE In Store Author Event And Signing

Mrs Dalloway's

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ART
Write Together - September
Sat, 06 Sep at 10:30 am Write Together - September

2508 San Pablo Ave

FESTIVALS ART
Bobby Podesta's NORTH FOR THE WINTER In Store Launch Event And Book Signing
Fri, 12 Sep at 07:00 pm Bobby Podesta's NORTH FOR THE WINTER In Store Launch Event And Book Signing

Mrs Dalloway's

KIDS ART
Townsend Center for the Humanities Berkeley Book Chats
Wed, 17 Sep at 12:00 pm Townsend Center for the Humanities Berkeley Book Chats

Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes

Mary Catherine Starr's MAMA NEEDS A MINUTE! In Store Event and Book Signing
Wed, 17 Sep at 07:00 pm Mary Catherine Starr's MAMA NEEDS A MINUTE! In Store Event and Book Signing

Mrs Dalloway's

ART LITERARY-ART

What's Happening Next in Berkeley?

Discover Berkeley Events