Courteous. Warm. Kind. Respectful. 

These are the words Cheryl Kettell and Linda Benson used to describe the people they met in October at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Salt Lake City. 

Altarena Playhouse lights up the East End with its latest offering, Ring of Fire, a musical revue of Johnny Cash tunes that also tells his life story in broad strokes.

The Alameda Free Library will welcome New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen via a live video stream on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Main library, 1550 Oak St.

Alameda Island Poets present the first of 2016’s monthly readings, with two Alameda poets. A poetry reading featuring Julia Park Tracey and Patricia Caspers, with open mic to follow, has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 6.

Donna Eyestone (right) and her 11-year-old daughter, Emma, have created the seventh in a series of Alameda gingerbread replicas. This year’s creation is the Crab Cove Visitors Center on McKay Avenue.

Among the many musical talents that swirl around Alameda’s own Rhythmix Cultural Works, (RCW) is Stephen Schultz, a professor of music at Carnegie Mellon University. Schultz has put together two exciting musical offerings at RCW for the New Year. 
Classical Fridays at Rhythmix

On Dec. 8, Bryan Schwartz released Scattered among the Nations, a collection of photos and stories from the world’s most isolated Jewish communities.

A collaborative project between local photographers, St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County, and the homeless called Visible goes on display this Friday at Redux Studios & Gallery, 2315 Lincoln Ave. in Alameda.

Two productions of the 42nd annual musical song and dance extravaganza by Alameda-based West Coast Dance (WCD) is set for this weekend, Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. Dance to the Music presents a cavalcade of fluorescent colors, pop tunes, and funky fancy footwork.