Or, well, beer. The line-up of events this weekend include the brewery's Liter Release and Appreciation night on Thursday, and a huge party on Friday and Saturday that spills out onto the streets from Dunedin's tasting room. "Notoriously German food" and live music accompany the constantly flowing beers. Brews by the Bay, Sat., Oct. 3, 8 p.m.-midnight, The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Dr., Tampa, $50 in advance, $60 at the door, 813-273-4000 or flaquairum.org; OktoBEERfest, Thurs.-Sun., Oct. 4, Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, 727-736-0606 or dunedinbrewery.com. – Brian Ries
The busy bees at the Best of the Bay-winning [5]art Gallery live up to the title this week, and we enjoy the sweet reward of their work with two interesting interdisciplinary events. On Friday, the gallery debuts cumbas:echeverry:torres, a collection of recent works from Tampa-based artists: paintings by Edgar Sanchez Cumbas (also a BOTB winner); new media and printmaking by UT professor of art Santiago Echeverry ; and drawings by Alex Torres. A one night-only exhibit at the opening reception also includes mini-masterpieces from 5by5 that you can own for just $20 a pop. These small works on paper lets even those of us on a Ramen noodle budget take home original art by hometown heroes like Allen Hampton, Rebecca Skelton, April Childers and many more. Our other local artisans – of beer, that is – from Cigar City Brewing provide suds and hors d’oeuvres. [5]art keeps the art party going on Saturday night, when they host the Sleep of Reason Cinema Series at the Cuban Club. The feature film, Goodbye Victoria, was shot largely in Tampa and Ybor City by directors Diran Lyons and Matthew Potter, and goes on to screen at Manhattan's Chashama Film Festival later this month. A short film precedes the main event and, in keeping with the arty theme of the evening, a multitude of black and white prints are available to purchase (or just enjoy) in the lobby. Cumbas:echeverry:torres on display through Oct. 23, opening reception, Fri., Oct. 2, West Tampa Center for the Arts, 1906 N. Armenia Ave., #211, Tampa, 813-245-1034, five-art.com; Sleep of Reason Cinema Series, Sat., Oct. 3, 6 p.m. $5. Cuban Club, 2010 Republica De Cuba, Ybor City. 813-248-2954. – Franki Weddington.com.
Even leather-clad biker baddies have a soft spot for the cute, cuddly pups and kittens up for adoption at the Humane Society, and proceeds from today's bike run, Cruising for Critters, go toward ensuring that the pets are well cared for until they find a forever home. The 40-mile poker run includes motorcycles of all styles -- and a few four-legged friends come along for the ride. Registration and kick-off are at Eve's Family Restaurant, with stops along the route at Captain Jack's Sunset Grill, Danny's Food and Spirits, and Fletcher's Harley Davidson. The final destination is Quaker's Steak and Lube, where the non-bikers among us can also join in the fun with raffles, giveaways, prizes for best and worst hand, and live music by a Rolling Stones tribute band. If you wanna get in on the action but don't have a hog, cars are also invited on the run. Visit humanesocietyofpinellas.org for more info and registration. Sat., Oct. 3, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Eve's Family Restaurant, 3150 Tampa Rd., Oldsmar. -- Franki Weddington[image-1]
The Doctor Is In! is C. David Frankel’s adaptation of Moliere’s 17th century French farce, The Doctor in Spite of Himself -- and both poke fun at the gullible patients who swallow anything the good doctor shoves down their throats (useless pills and wild diagnoses included). This kick-off to TheatreUSF’s season promises a “contemporary American never-never land where anything can happen – including the transformation of a simple fishing-camp owner into a miraculous physician capable of curing…well, anything.” Oct. 1-11, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., USF College of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre II, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, $12 in advance, $15 day of show; students and seniors $8 in advance, $10 day of show, arts.usf.edu. – Franki Weddington
The newly-opened gallery debuts its first ever collection, Three From Korea, with a focus on its goal of becoming"a haven for outstanding contemporary ceramics and 2D art." The exhibit includes ceramic sculptures, drawings and prints by Sunkoo Yuh, Sung Jae Choi and Kang Hyo Lee. Visit mindysolomon.com for more info. On display Oct. 3-Nov. 13. Mindy Solomon Gallery, 124 Secind Ave. NE, St. Petersburg.
It's nearly time to start decorating for Halloween -- this year, ditch the cobwebs and fake blood and go for some truly spooky seasonal art at the Haunted HeART Sale, with dreadfully devilish doodads by Coralette Damme (aka the Crafty Hag), BoogieBead, Michelle Crash, Ginger Dead, Melissa Hates You, Natty Moss Bond and The Occasional Bat, who offer scads of creepy creations to sate any ghoul's hankering for horror (cue evil laugh). Visit craftyhag.com for more info. Sun., Oct. 4, 12-4 p.m., 875 5th St. N., St. Petersburg.
This weekend’s Women Taking Care of the World conference is an empowering event that unites women in an effort to make a change. The day-long conference includes inspirational speakers, artists, musicians, and more than 100 exhibits that offer lady-centric products and services. Speakers include Pulitzer-nominated journalist, Fawn Germer; author, television host and financial coach, Michelle Boudreau; minister and motivational speaker, Temple Hayes and more. Headlining the evening concert is Lisa Lavie, whose music fuses sounds of pop, R&B and jazz. The ever-impressive Lynda Lyday is the Mistress of Ceremonies. This special affair has it all, ladies: celebrate the beauty of life and join strong, passionate women to support the effort to bring peace and aid to women in need. A portion of proceeds benefits CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) and Earth Charter. Sat., Oct. 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. conference, 7:45 p.m. concert, edit event Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, $29-$49 concert, $49-$69 conference, $75-$99 combo package, 727-892-5767, iammoxywomen.com. — Lily Reisman
