Many of us are too broke to shop retail. Here's a great way to enhance your wardrobe on the cheap and help out a charitable organization: the CASA Clothing Swap. CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) is a local non-profit organization providing services to survivors of abuse or violence. All cash proceeds, donated clothing and non-selected garments at the end of the swap will be donated to CASA.
The barter-iffic extravaganza begins 9 a.m. at the Gulfport Fresh Market near The Outpost, 3007 Beach Blvd. S. Participants can bring up to five gently used garments to exchange for vouchers that may be used to select clothing brought in by other participants. Clothing may be for women, men or children. Hangers requested for all garments to be used in the swap. Vouchers to participate in the swap cost $3. For more information, call Daniel Hodge at 727-366-4086 or e-mail dan@igc.org. Rain date: Oct. 12. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 813-228-8118.
Do you express yourself in verse or want to hear real-life poets do their thing? Tonight's a great night to hear provocative and pensive stanzas by local African-Amerian poets and others — or take a crack at it yourself — at Black on Black Rhyme's poetry night. Feedback on the weekly event has been positive; people have reported to feel the love. 9 p.m. at the Good Luck Cafe, 1910 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $5 before 10 p.m., $7 after. Lifeizpoetry.com.
This article appears in Sep 9-15, 2010.