Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.: Em Tea Coffeecup Café, the first venue in Buffalo to present spoken word poetry and host poetry slam events, and Pure Ink Poetry jointly present the 26th anniversary celebration for Em Tea Coffeecup Café and the 14th anniversary of Pure Ink Poetry with a poetry slam and open mic hosted by Brandon Williamson, the founder of pure Ink Poetry. Pure Ink Poetry Slam is always an open slam without specific themes or requirements other than the general rules of slam. Sign up begins at 6:30 p.m. Open mic and slam starts at 7 p.m. $5 for slammers, $10 for spectators. Cash prize for the first , second, and third place winners. Visit the website www.pureinkpoetry.com for more information.

Location: Em Tea Coffeecup Café, 80 Oakgrove Ave., Buffalo, NY.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.: CFI Literary Café Series themed open reading, “Opening the Heart: A Valentine for the World—Love, Compassion, Unity, Diversity,” hosted by poet Ryki Zuckerman. Center for Inquiry, 1310 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 9 p.m.: Poetry Night at Caffe Aroma, biweekly open mic reading series hosted by Brigid Hannon and Ashley M. Hardy. 957 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.