New Times / Hot Dates

Political satire

Twenty-five years ago, The Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize their bosses. Today, they represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience. In the midst of the current campaign, Cal Poly Arts presents the bi-partisan levity of The Capitol Steps at 8 p.m. at the Cohan Center on May 15. Whether red, blue, left, or right—it’s all fair game when the Steps perform their song parodies and skits, including “If I Were a Black Man,” “Stand by Japan,” “Oh, What a Beautiful Mormon”—you get the idea.

The group has recorded 28 albums, including their latest, Campaign and Suffering. Tickets range from $32 to $44. Info: 756-2787 or www.calpolyarts.org.

Books and images

B-W Gallery and Bookstore invites the public to a benefit for the North County Humane Society to be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 10 and May 11, from noon to 5 p.m. each day. This quaint photography gallery, housed in a private home, will donate a percentage of all sales during the weekend to the society. B-W Gallery is dedicated to the art and craft of black and white photography and represents the work of 10 Central Coast fine art photographers. The current installation features images by Atascadero photographer Douglas Howard in “Poems in a Landscape.” The Gallery also currently represents the fine art photography of Jack Baber and Arthur Tress of Cambria; Dale Reid and Howard Steinberg of San Luis Obispo; David Stroup of Nipomo; Charlotte Whittaker of Los Osos; and Nixson Borah, Joe Schwartz, and A.J. Vincolisi of Atascadero. The gallery’s bookstore specializes in modern first editions, review copies, and signed and collectable fiction and nonfiction.

B-W Gallery is located at 9315 Santa Clara Road in Atascadero. Info, map, and directions: www.b-wgallery.com or 460-9776.

Pot of gold