[image-1]With the glorious weather we’ve been having, it’s prime time for major outdoor events — provided Mother Nature doesn’t get all hormonal on us.
In Tampa, you can get yer Irish up at the annual Rough Riders St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sat., March 12, at 8 p.m. The green-clad marching spectacle swathes Seventh Avenue-Ybor with beads, bands and boobies (for more info, visit tampa-roughriders.org).
For something more refined, trek south to the Downtown St. Petersburg Monthly Gallery Walk, where several art houses will be opening shows. Notable picks for the evening include Mindy Solomon Gallery’s opening of its irreverent new exhibition, Florida Souvenirs: Sand, Surf and Sin from the Sunshine State (including “Greatest Generation” by Matthew Shaffer, pictured left). Drop in from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and stay late for ArtPool’s Where the Wild Things Art, the gallery’s next art, body art and fashion art party showcase (7 p.m.-midnight, $10, artpoolrules.com). The parade and gallery walk are both on Sat., March 12. The gallery walk is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Event spans 30th Street to the waterfront on Central Avenue the second Saturday of every month. For participating galleries, visit stpetearts.org.
[image-2]Take some time during St. Pete's Downtown Gallery Walk to visit Peace/War, Survival/Extinction: An Artist’s Plea for Sanity, featuring the artwork of Richard Notkin, on view Fri., March 11–Mon., May 30 at the Florida Holocaust Museum. The exhibition is one of many this weekend held in commemoration of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), taking place for the first time in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area (March 30 – April 2). The event is a major event in the national art scene and will draw thousands of visitors to bay area. (See also exhibits at Florida Craftsmen, Old Hyde Park Art Center and Mindy Solomon's event above). The exhibition’s focus is to provide social commentary on war, human rights violations and genocide, and to encourage dialogue about the avoidance of conflict. Richard Notkin’s tile murals, teapots, sculpture and installations will be included in the exhibition.
[image-3]Lá ‘le Pádraig is just around the corner (or at the end of the rainbow), which means more green beer, shamrocks, kissing the Irish — and St. Patty’s Day fun with your doggie. Celebrate the holiday with your four-legged bff at the Dubliner’s St. Puppy’s Day in Citrus Park this Saturday.
The festivities begin with the most important meal of the day, a traditional Irish breakfast along with some lunch favorites. Break out the green canine couture for the Puppy Costume Parade at 3 p.m. Awards goes to the “Most Irish Dog.” Besides heaps o’ cuteness, the event offers live music, a performance by the Irish Dancers, giveaways and prizes. And if you’re running low on shillings, you can bring a 6-pound-or-more bag of dog or cat food, and chug down a free Guinness in return. Sat., March 12, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. 12836 Henderson Road, Tampa. 813-300-2076. For more St. Patrick’s themed events, click here .
[image-4]If you and our four-legged pal want to make a weekend of it, Pet-A-Palooza takes over Clearwater’s Coachman Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sun., March 13. The barkin’ blowout, presented by Play 98.7 (WSJT-FM) and Verizon, features the Animal Based Charities adopt-a-thon alley with dogs and cats, food, vendors and interactive booths. The rockin’ Palooza part of the name comes at ya via performances by American Idol winner Kris Allen, Ryan Star and Matt Hires. Coachman Park is at 301 Drew St., Clearwater. Tickets are available at through Ticketmaster or at Coachman Park on the day of show for $10. For every ticket sold, $1 will be donated to Animal Based Charities. Visit play987.radio.com/shows/pet-a-palooza for other details. (Ernestina Xavier contributed to this report.)
[image-5]Oh, Robert, how did we go from the oh-so-wholesome dad on Full House to the foul-mouthed hooligan we have before us today? It seems like only yesterday when the former host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, Bob Saget, proffered g-rated quips about granddads getting socked in the crotch. Now he waxes pornographic about crotchless panties. No matter, Bob’s still tops, and we will cringe with delight when he returns to paint the room blue. Saget has appeared on numerous TV shows and comedy specials. His current tour, the “Rated R-ish: Bob Saget Live,” makes its Florida debut on Sun., March 13, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa. 8 p.m., $40; I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue. 813-627-ROCK (7625), seminolehardrocktampa.com. —JG
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Also, briefly ...
Fri 11 Pecka Kucha Japanese for chitchat, the open mic social and forum features local cultural leaders, such as Jobsite’s David Jenkins and artist Joe Griffith, among others. 7 p.m. $5. CL Space. pecha-kucha.org.
Sat 12 Walk MS Evening jaunt at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. Get fit and help fight an all-too-prevalent disease. Option of 1-mile or 2-mile treks. Registration, 4:30 p.m.; walk, 5:30. walkms.org.
Sun 13 Mountain Dew Family Day at the Strawberry Festival Last day of the fest. Soda can gets you $5 off ride off $25 ride wristband. Lady Antebellum at 7:30 p.m. flstrawberryfestival.com.
