This Saturday, Feb. 3, marks the fourth year of the Alameda Spelling Bee. The contest to prove the best student speller in town takes place at 9 a.m. at Otis Elementary School, 3010 Fillmore St., and is open to Alameda students in grades 4 through 9.

Island City Opera has attracted St. Petersburg, Russia, native Lidiya Yankovskaya to conduct its latest pair of operas by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. 

A full 50 years have passed since Motown’s heyday, yet the “Sound of Young America” still excites and thrills listeners of all ages.

One of the fine amenities of the West End is Washington Park. Located at 740 Central Ave. the park is defined by “upper” and “lower” areas. The areas were designated historically. 

The Seven Naughty Sins paid 
a visit to St. Nick,
They wanted to entice him, see which naughty sin he’d pick.
Greed pushed and shoved the others, was first to Santa’s lap.
Envy yanked her out, gave old Greed a little slap.

Yard Work
A curved man steps on the porch,
His saggy pants cause him to lurch,
Of danger he is unaware,
So while descending he declares:
My step is slow,
My hands do shake,
But every fall,
I work the rake. 

The crowds were out on Thompson Avenue, ahem, excuse me, Christmas Tree Lane again last Saturday, to start off one of the Island City’s treasured annual holiday traditions.

Rhythmix Cultural Works continues its mission of bringing fascinating elements of music and culture to the Island City when it hosts three of the world’s top accordion acts this Saturday, Dec. 9: Those Darn Accordions, Jet Black Pearl and Big Lou the Accordion Princess.