Today marks the kick-off of the seventh annual Ybor Festival of the Moving Image. Tonight's event schedule includes the opening of Sideshow with Postage Due, a two-person show featuring mixed-media circus banners by Tampa artist Lori Ballard and postal art by Gulfport graphic designer Steve Smith, and a screening of the Buster Keaton classic, The Playhouse, with live accompaniment by Ray Villadonga and Rick Olson. (Pictured below: "Amazing Insecticycles," by Steve Smith.) April 1-5, with a free opening party tonight from 6 to 9 p.m., Performing Arts Building, HCC-Ybor City Campus, Tampa.
Sunscreen Film Festival hosts a "Film and Guest Lineup" launch party in honor of its fourth annual event, which is set to occur April 29-May 3. Locals are invited to come and find out more about the 2009 program — which films have made it in, the schedule of parties, and the roster of special guests, judges and celebrities expected to attend and take part. Attendees can also snag advance passes to the fest, meet filmmakers, and win various prizes throughout the night. 6-10 p.m., Nova 535 Art Lounge, St. Petersburg, free admission.
The new tenant at the historical building that formerly housed Pickford's Sundries has its official grand opening as Custom Creations Café & Bakery today. The new Tampa eatery serves breakfast and lunch, offers a selection of freshly-made bakery items, custom cakes and various desserts, freshly brewed coffee and tea, and features an old-fashioned soda fountain where the drinks are mixed by hand. As part of its opening celebration, Custom Creations presents an exhibit of images by 2006 Photo Laureate Stephen S. Gregor, who photographed the building for his "Disappearing Tampa" project and brought it back into the public consciousness. For more info, click here. 2606 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3755.
In the late 1960s and ’70s, American youth were less exposed and less receptive to nostalgia. As a result, ’50s doo-wop and rock ’n’ roll were largely dismissed. Nevertheless, Sha Na Na carved out a niche as a revival act because they approached the music with a certain humor and irony. They’d taunt the audience with stuff like “We've got just one thing to say to you fucking hippies, and that is that rock ‘n’ roll is here to stay." This year marks Sha Na Na’s 40th anniversary. The group’s most colorful character, John “Bowzer” Bauman, is long gone. 2 and 7:30 p.m., Largo Cultural Center, Largo, $40. (Text by Eric Snider)
This article appears in Apr 1-7, 2009.