It's become a local institution in its own right, and the Bricks of Ybor 4th Anniversary is throwin' down in Ybor with a block party all afternoon and evening. The Skatepark of Tampa-owned bar, eatery, art gallery and live music venue, will be closing down the block with art, skate demos and music from Florida's own Surfer Blood. Read here for more details. Read more about what's going in live music tonight here.
The anniversaries don't end. Cheers to George Medeiros and Scott Durfee, who celebrate 6 years of their unique tribal-upcycle-futuristic wearable art dynasty — Spathose — by inviting everyone to their big Spathalicious party tonight at the StationNumberThree in South St. Pete. Read Megan Voeller's Visual Arts feature for more about these iconic Bay area artists.
If you're headed to St. Pete, pop in on the galleries open late for the Beach to Bay Second Saturday Art Walk. Spots like ARTicles, Feathered Serpent, Soft Water Studios, Creative Clay, Duncan McClellan Glass — and several more galleries — have new shows. (We highly recommend Pop Secret: 9:00-5:00.) Plus, Bluelucy's Toons art exhibit has traveled from the gallery's Ybor City location to the downtown St. Pete venue for its final weekend, Saturday 5-10 p.m.
Enjoy some art in Tampa too tonight. The Tampa Tattoo Convention continues to stick it to the man – and woman — at the Tampa Convention Center. Workspace premieres its Boxed group show Saturday night, showcasing 40 artists, some of whom you can mingle with at the reception 6-10 p.m. and an after party at the Independent Bar & Cafe in Tampa. Some notable artists will be appearing in the show, including Daniel Mrgan, Ed Templeton, Don Pendleton, Krystal Ralph, Laura Spencer and Lauren Rasch (pictured at top).
Metro Tampa Bay’s festive fund-raising Wild Gala promises to be a wild time with host with the most, Matthew McGee, and guests of honor Rep. Kathy Castor and Equality Florida founder Nadine Smith. Features exotic food and an open bar, live music by bossa nova greats O Som Do Jazz, performance artists, a silent auction and more. Dress in jungle attire and/or dress to impress. $100. Sat., Sept. 13, 7-11 p.m. One Progress Plaza, 200 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. metrotampabay.org.
Not only will there be taste-y offerings prepared by Dunedin’s acclaimed restaurants, the Taste of Dunedin on Sunday also features live music in Pioneer Park throughout the afternoon and arts and crafts booths and demonstrations along Main Street. Everyone who purchases tickets for Taste of Dunedin will have an opportunity to register to win prizes, including a three-day, two night stay in the Penthouse Suite at Beso Del Sol Resort. Tickets start at $20 for 10 samples. Purchase at tasteofdunedin.com/tickets.
Honorable mention: Ira Glass is sold out at the Mahaffey tonight, but he and WUSF Public Radio both deserve a shout out for bringing a little of This American Life to St. Pete. Read my interview with the radio icon here.
This article appears in Sep 11-17, 2014.