Best of the Bay Elder Scene Statesmen, country punk troubadour and friend-to-all Sean "Crash" Mitchell has been hospitalized with complications from pneumonia and hematoma since early October. In spite of it all, he maintains his characteristic humor and Bucs trivia expertise — and has "cheated death twice."
In addition, Crash has endured excruciating pain, an inability to walk and extended stays in intensive care. He has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of him.
To help out with the medical expenses and get Mitchell back on his feet again, friends and bandmates are putting on the Crasheoke tribute show.
The all-stars performance features members of Skull n’ Bone Band and Poetry N’ Lotion, plus singer-songwriters Ronny Elliott, Rebekah Pulley, Ed Lowery and Troy Youngblood, all taking the mic to perform Mitchell's sassy and sharp-witted classics, including “Boobies for My Birthday,” “Businessman” and the anthem “All My Friends are Assholes.” The Crash Mitchell 5 (Paul Catala, keys; Don Butler, bass; Sean “Lumpy” Travis, drums, and K. Paul Boyev, guitar) provides backup. Crash himself is going to temporarily released to attend the event in his honor. Please go show your support and love. 9 p.m.-midnight New World Brewery, 1313 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City, $5, 813-248-4969.
Gallagher, the veteran yukster and smasher of stuff — who, incidentally, attended Plant High School in Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida with a chemical engineering degree in 1970 — performs at North Pinellas' big room this week in support of his Looking for Intelligent Life tour.
8 p.m. $39, $53. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. 727-791-7400.
See comedic stars in the making if you can't afford to go see Gallagher. The students in the Patel Conservatory’s Stand-Up Comedy class perform their original routines in Patel Stand-Up Comedy Showcase tonight in the Jaeb Theater of the Straz Center. Actor-comedian ranney, who is the class instructor, performs. $15. Thu., Nov. 18, 7 p.m. 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827.
GALLERY AIA Bazaarchitect Holiday Shop, the American Institute of Architects' holiday bazaar and free reception offers you an inventive alternative to traditional retail shopping.
The event features a wide array of unique and affordable fine arts and crafts items created by local architects and artists. Peruse paintings, pottery, jewelry, photographs, blown glass, carved wood and stocking stuffers while enjoying holiday cheer and food by Pane Rustica.
5-8 p.m. American Institute of Architects-Tampa Bay, 200 N. Tampa St., Tampa. 813-229-3411.
Here's something worthwhile do on your lunch break: Attend the 16th annual Empty Bowls Thanksgiving Luncheon to help those less fortunate. Feeding America Tampa Bay presents the annual holiday fundraiser at Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendees can choose from a selection of hundreds of bowls handcrafted by local schoolchildren as a take-home memento. Event emcees are WFLA-Ch. 8's Keith Cate and Stacie Schaible. $10 donation includes bread, soup, an apple and water as a before-Thanksgiving reminder that for the hungry, even a modest meal is a feast. Call for corporate/group rates. Lykes Gaslight Park, Franklin Street, downtown Tampa. 813-254-1190.
Give your karma a boost, get in the holiday spirit while scoring entry to the Greatest Show on Earth. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents the fourth annual Drive-thru Food Drive, a fundraiser event that collects food to help stock Metropolitan Ministries’ pantry shelves.
Today only, between 10 a.m. to noon, the circus is offering ticket vouchers to Fully Charged, the all-new 141st Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth, in exchange for non-perishable, unexpired food items.
A donation of 10 food items entitles each consumer to one ticket voucher, with a limit of four vouchers per household. Ticket vouchers are available to those who donate while supplies last and plaza level seating is not available. Vouchers can be redeemed at the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office for the Wednesday, Jan. 5th, 7:30 p.m. opening night performance.
It’s a little early, but not that early for holiday gift shopping. Bypass the big-box stores — at least, for just a bit — to attend I Love Africa, where you can browse an authentic African-style marketplace and enjoy music, dance, and regional cuisine throughout the night. All proceeds benefit One City Ministries. The organization provides workshops, basic nutrition education, hygiene, first aid, support for schools and teachers, and management of a food program for schoolchildren.at Covenant Church, Fletcher and Lake Magdalene avenues, Tampa. 6 p.m. $15 advance, $20 at the door; for more information, visit onecity.ws.
