Keep up your lifelong education with local events
Alameda’s calendar always offers opportunities to learn something new, but this week’s schedule is chock full of educational events. April is National Arab American Heritage Month, and our local library system is hosting several events this week and beyond, including Take and Make Kits for mosaic tiles, self portraits inspired by Helen Zughaib, and more. On Sunday, April 6, or Saturday, April 12, join the Alameda Post for Part 1 of our Bay Farm history walking tour series. Three other educational opportunities await you on Sunday, April 6: Get ready for a beginner-friendly introduction to dragon boats at the Jack London Aquatic Center with KP Dragons, enjoy a Modern Calligraphy for Beginners class at Alameda Brewing, or head over to the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter South Shore office for a trap-neuter-return workshop. Happy learning!
National Arab American Heritage Month at Alameda Libraries
Events throughout April
April is National Arab American Heritage Month, and our Alameda libraries are hosting several events during the month to commemorate. Check out the schedule:
- Take and Make Kits: Beginning April 1, design your own mosaic tile with Take and Make Kits! Just head over to the West End Library, 788 Santa Clara Avenue, to grab your free kit while supplies last. This activity is designed for children ages 8 and up.
- Helen Zughaib Inspired Self Portraits: On Friday, April 4, visit the Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak Street, to create self portraits inspired by Helen Zughaib and her book, Stories My Father Told Me. The event is scheduled from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and designed for children ages 6 and up. Registration is required; call the Children’s Desk at 510-747-7705 or email [email protected]. Full directions are online.
- Arab Architecture Art Activity with MOCHA: The Museum of Children’s Art Oakland (MOCHA) will host a special art activity at the Leydecker Event Center, 3221 Mecartney Road, on Saturday, April 12, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. MOCHA staff will guide participants through projects on a drop-in basis. This free event is designed for children ages 5 and up, and no registration is necessary.
- Author Talk – Dena Takruri: Join local author Dena Takruri on Friday, April 18, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., at the Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak Street, to discuss her book They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl’s Fight for Freedom. This free event is designed for adults, and no registration is required.
History Walking Tour: Bay Farm, Part 1
Sunday, April 6 & Saturday, April 12
The Alameda Post’s popular History Walking Tours are in full swing! Grab your friends, family, and well-behaved dogs for Part 1 of our Bay Farm Island tours on Sunday, April 6, or Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. The tour begins and ends at Harrington Park, 123 Aughinbaugh Way.
Like the name suggests, Bay Farm was once covered in farmlands. Join award-winning historian Dennis Evanosky for a leisurely walk to discuss influential Bay Farm families, cash crops, oyster farmers, and even oyster pirates. Discover famous author Jack London’s ties to the area as we comb through pieces of the past.
An optional, supplementary online lecture will be available prior to the tour. History Walking Tours generally last about 90 to 100 minutes and cover one to two miles. We suggest that you wear comfortable shoes and bring water and sunscreen. Tickets are $20 each, and kids under six are free. Grab your ticket for Sunday, April 6, or Saturday, April 12 online.
Learn How to Dragon Boat!
Sunday, April 6
Your opportunity to dip a toe into the world of dragon boats has arrived! Join KP Dragons on Sunday, April 6, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. for a beginner-friendly introduction to dragon boats. Head over to the Jack London Aquatic Center, 115 Embarcadero, to get started.
Dragon boat racing has a rich cultural history beginning in China, and it’s now practiced around the world. Established in 2001, KP Dragons is a nonprofit dragon boat team based in the Oakland-Alameda Estuary. The organization welcomes “diverse members from all ages and backgrounds who want to have fun, promote a healthy lifestyle, and enjoy getting on the water to paddle.” You might have seen them decked out in holiday cheer at the Lighted Yacht Parade!
No prior experience is necessary to participate in this event, and all ages and fitness levels are welcome. KP Dragons will provide instruction, paddles, and personal flotation devices. Participants are advised to wear athletic clothing, bring a water bottle, and place their phones and personal items in a ziplock bag. Please RSVP and complete forms online before you attend. The first three trial practices are completely free. After the trial period, members must pay a $150 fee for the full season.
Modern Calligraphy for Beginners
Sunday, April 6
Let’s learn calligraphy! Join Sip & Script® at Alameda Brewing, 1716 Park Street, for their Modern Calligraphy for Beginners class on Sunday, April 6, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Arrive early to grab a parking spot and a drink. Of course, you’re welcome to stay after class to try more of what Alameda Brewing has to offer.
Tickets for the class are $75 per person. Each participant will receive a beginner’s calligraphy kit, which contains two nibs, a black ink pot, two letter guides, tracing paper, a straight pen holder, and paper to write on. This class is designed for students who have never taken a calligraphy class before, and lefties are welcome!
“Sip & Script® strives to cultivate creativity through the arts of calligraphy and hand lettering, giving people access to a fun and supportive environment in which to learn and hone their craft,” the organization shares on their website. If you can’t make it this weekend, don’t dismay! Check out the Sip & Script® online calendar for future events.
Beginning Trap-Neuter-Return Workshop
Sunday, April 6
Join Full Circle Cats for an educational trap-neuter-return (TNR) workshop at the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter administrative office, 2217 South Shore Center, Suite 210. This free workshop is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, from 1 to 3 p.m.
The workshop will explain the benefits of TNR for community cat management and teach you how to begin trapping in your own neighborhood. “Full Circle is about stopping the cycle,” the Full Circle website states. “…There will never be enough resources and homes for all the cats born on the street unless we take action and prevent it from happening in the first place.
Please register online in advance for this workshop. When you arrive at South Shore plaza, walk between Trader Joe’s and Trabocco, and look for the signs for Restrooms and Security. Enter the building, take the elevator to the second floor, and go to Suite 210.
What else is going on in Alameda?
All these events and more, in Alameda and beyond, are always posted on our online Events Calendar. Post yours, too, for free!
Amanda Laird is the Content Manager and Events Editor of the Alameda Post. Reach her at [email protected].
