Thursday 3.22
Sweet Charity The Downtown Corps, which folded in the '90s, has regrouped, and its first event is in — Ybor City. Never mind the geographic inconsistency, A Red Carpet Affair is still a great time, with food, music and tons of fun at Barley Hopper's, Centro Ybor's newest eatery. The 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (recognized by SmartMoney magazine as one of 17 charities that won't waste your contributions). Admission costs $10, and Centro Ybor's at Eighth Avenue and 16th Street. Call 813-274-8694.
Masterful Piano At 8 p.m., conductor Thomas Wilkins leads the Florida Orchestra and guest pianist Awadagin Pratt through the next Masterworks concert, Awadagin Pratt Plays Grieg. Pratt, frequently acclaimed as one of tomorrow's superstars, offers renderings of Stravinsky, Grieg and Nielsen pieces at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. A pre-concert discussion with Wilkins begins at 7 p.m., and tickets range from $20 to $38. There is also a performance on Friday at 8 p.m. TBPAC's at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.
Friday 3.23
Adultery Theater UT theater students educate us (and how) with their production of, Arthur Schnitzler's controversial La Ronde. Originally titled Reigen (1897), the 10 dramatic dialogues in this performance depict the heartlessness of men and women in the grips of lust. Schnitzler was renowned for dissecting Viennese bourgeois life with his psychological dramas (this English-language translation is set in jazz-era, urban America). Tickets cost $10, and the play's at 8 p.m. at Falk Theater, 428 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Call 813-253-3333.
Sounding Off Human sound effects machine Michael Winslow wows the Side Splitters crowd with his prodigious pipes at 8 and 10:30 p.m. This "Man of 1,000 Voices" was the only saving grace for seven out of seven Police Academy movies in the '80s, emulating sirens, machine guns and helicopters throughout the series. These days, movies are on the back burner as Winslow sticks to what he does best — stand-up. Tickets cost $16 and $18. Side Splitters is at 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa. Call 813-960-1197.
Some Ecstatic Evening Fun, Ybor City's newest den of DJs and their disciples, offers a 10 p.m. show with the newest member of the Astralwerks family, Uberzone. Touted by Spin magazine as one of six producers to create "the biggest beats ever," Uberzone mastermind Q blends chunky beats, techno and acid house for your glo-stick-wavin' pleasure. Simply Jeff starts the show, and admission cost $15 before 11 p.m., $20 after. Fun's at 1507 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-247-4225.
Saturday 3.24
Going to a Garden Party In the words of Kermit, it's not easy being green, but Greenfest 2001 can help. Today and tomorrow, University of Tampa's Plant Park is all about flora, featuring plants, garden tools and furniture, and everything else you need to create your own private slice of Eden. Demonstrations and kid's activities are also on the agenda, along with speakers, like Susie Coehlo, host of HGTV's The Surprise Gardener. The event's free, and the park is on campus, at 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Call 727-298-8353.
Perennial Punk Giving us more mosh for our money, the State Theatre offers a raucous 7:30 p.m. show with the likes of The Swinging Utters, Lars Frederikson and The Bastards, Reach the Sky and Boston hardcore punk outfit The Dropkick Murphys. Heavily influenced by British bands, like the Clash (with traces of The Pogues), the Murphys offer aggressive, angst-ridden rock. Give 'em an "Oi." Tickets cost $12, and the theater's at 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Call 727-898-2100.
Big and Beautiful If you're in for a bit of camp, Skipper's is featuring the very large and in charge Candye Kane, at 8 p.m. Before the music bug bit, Kane showed off her ample attributes in '80s porn flicks. Now, backed by The Swingin' Armadillos, Kane dazzles with a bawdy, high-energy extravaganza full of uninhibited humor and rousing rockabilly, blues, jazz and the occasional country tune. Tickets cost $7 in advance, $10 at the door, and Skipper's is at 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. Call 813-971-0666.
Sunday 3.25
Hey, Hey La Femme It's estrogen on parade when the Cuban Club hosts the Women's Music Now Festival. From 1 to 9 p.m., a mere sample of the sisters who are doing it for themselves include the Laura Love Band, Saffire The Uppity Blueswoman, Laura Fuentes Y Calicanto and The Women's Blues Revue. Musical styles run the gamut, from folk and world-beat to blues and jazz. Tickets cost $18 in advance and $22 at the door, and the club's at Palm Avenue and 15th Street in Ybor City. Call 813-238-8001.
Hollywood Hooplah If you've dreamed of walking a red carpet as screaming fans hound you for autographs, look no further than Tampa Theatre, host to Oscar Night America Tampa Bay. Officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, this 7 p.m. fete offers limousine arrivals, food and drink, prizes and a larger-than-life viewing of the Oscars on the big screen. Glitz and glamour not required (but why not go with it?). Tickets cost $40. The theater's at 711 Franklin St., Tampa. Call 813-274-8286.
Monday 3.26
Queen of Soul Do you really need a reason to see Aretha Franklin at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center? OK, how about this: 20 No. 1 R&B hits (10 Top 10 between '67 and '68 alone), 15 Grammy Awards and the distinction of being the first woman ever to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In short, she kicks much ass. Tickets cost $43, $56 and $66. TBPAC's at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.
Tuesday 3.27
Waddling Around St. Pete Have you seen the huge, bright-yellow vehicle cruising around St. Petersburg lately? It's a World War II Army Amphibious DUKW troop landing vehicle, now being used for Duck Tours. The 80-minute ride offers a historic land tour of the downtown area, before wading into the water for a lovely float along the waterfront. Ingenious use of old equipment, we think. Tours begin at 10 a.m. at The Pier, and cost $18.50 for adults. The Pier's at 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Pete. Call 727-432-3825.
Wednesday 3.28
Ode to Emily At 8 p.m., the Mahaffey Theater features five-time Emmy winner Julie Harris in the Bay's only performance of The Belle of Amherst. Depicting one of America's greatest literary figures, the play was gleaned from the poems, letters and diaries of 19th century poet Emily Dickinson. Despite being reclusive, Dickinson was a vivacious woman who, as portrayed in this production, used poetry to "dwell in possibility." Tickets range from $27.50 to $47.50, and Mahaffey's at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. Call 727-892-5767.
This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2001.