Scary things are happening this Friday, Oct. 31 at April & George Art Gallery and Wine Bar in downtown Raleigh. For instance, costumed patrons who visit the venue will find themselves shot (shot I say!) for a measly 15 bucks. Really, though, it’s not what you’re thinking. The holiday event is actually a literacy benefit for the Raleigh-based organization Motheread (www.motheread.org), a group which assists illiterate parents in learning to read to their kids. And the “shooting” we speak of is an instant B&W portrait, courtesy of photographers Paul Dagys and Ellen Giamportone, who will gladly trade you a photo for your donation, from 7 p.m. to midnight. Lovers of literacy and art unite: it’s for a frightfully good cause. 414 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh. 828-9082 for information.