Friday, Nov. 11

The Island Poets will host their free monthly poetry reading Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St. 

Artwork and artists can have a great influence on their communities. Teen artists are invited to create drawings, paintings, doodles and other works of art that will inspire Alamedans to read. The art will be displayed in the Homework Center in the Main Library.

Let’s be honest. We all judge books by their covers. Sometimes readers pick up books because they have a cool photograph or an interesting pattern on the cover. Other books are just as easily passed by because of an outdated, faded, or just plain ugly cover.

Are old toys collecting dust in your closet or attic? Come to the Library Laboratory and bring them to life again. Turn old stuff into freaky, Frankentoy creations by taking old items apart and sewing, gluing and taping them to other destroyed toys.  

A new show of artwork by self-taught Alameda artist Cheryl Harawitz opens this Saturday, Oct. 1, with the specific purpose of raising funds to Save Our Elephants, which is also the show’s title. The show opens at Alameda Island Brewing Company, 1716 Park St., from 6 to 9 p.m.