1. Economic Stimulus Productions stages a limited run encore of Another Evening Wasted with the Songs of Tom Lehrer, a New York-style cabaret featuring songs by satirical composer Lehrer, among them, "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" and "The Masochism Tango"; T. Scott Wooten (pictured) directs. Admission is on a "Pay-What-You-Can" basis.
2. Masquerade at the Ritz is a single-night return to the popular '80's Night Thursdays that took place in the '90s and early '00s at The Ritz Ybor when it was known as The Masquerade. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m.; Danza Dance Collective stages a "Vampiress Fashion Show" at 8 and 10 p.m. and DJ's Sirius and Noi provide the retro spins throughout. Attendees are invited to dress in costume (vampires a plus; $25 bar tab prizes for the best get-ups). Admission is free.
3. Reps from The Refuge and The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign talk about problems and solutions during a 7 p.m. "Politics of Poverty" presentation at the Globe Coffee Lounge.
4. The 2008 edition of USF's Octubafest concludes tonight with a free concert of heavy metal music as performed by the USF Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble.
5. Photographer Lori Ballard and poet Gianna Russo stage a collaborative project that pairs a slide show featuring images from Ballard's In Late Day Sun: The Florida Plant Studies series with poetry by Russo; a discussion follows. Proceeds benefit the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2008.