Old Florida fun, new milestone: For the past decade, the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club weekly night games paired with live music, food, drink and art displays, which have gone a long way in preserving the historic site while making it relevant to community once again. This Friday marks the St. Pete Shuffe 10-Year Anniversary, and a party commemorates the milestone with music by Nick Boutwell and Rebekah Pulley plus birthday cake, and art by Daniel Mrgan, Natty Moss Bond, Coralette Damme, Phillip Clark, Chad Mize and several others. Party goes until around 11 p.m.
While in the Burg: At Soft Water Studios, Moonscapes, a two-artist show features a retrospective of large paintings by Jules Cozine and a special 3D installation by Katee Tully, explores the simple, yet eternally beautiful, scenes of moonlight peeking through clouds. Click here for more details. (Pictured: Cloudscape Cerulean by Cozine.) Conscious Unconscious: Surrealism Group Show features more than 30 artists who interpret a Freudian surrealism concept in their medium. Musical performances by Low Grade Acid II and UFO Sex Scene. No cover. Free. Fri., April 10, 7 p.m.-3 a.m. BarAt548, 548 Central Ave, St. Petersburg. 727-914-7424.
Some Bunny to Love: The theater world’s most beloved imaginary rabbit, Harvey, hops to freeFall Theatre for a new production directed by James Rayfield. Harvey, a 1945 Pulitzer Prize-winner, follows the ever-enderaring Elwood, whose best friend Harvey is a 6-foot 3-and-a-half-inch-tall white rabbit that no one can see but he. Larry Alexander stars as Elwood, a role immortalized by Jimmy Stewart in the film adaptation. The all-star-local cast that features Richard Coppinger, Kelly Pekar, Mimi Rice, Bonnie Agan, Brian Shea, Cassandra Bissell, Donna Donnelly, John Lombardi, Glenn Gover and Chris Jackson. The play will run April 11 at 8 p.m.–May 3. freefalltheatre.com.
More new professional theater: The Heather, fka Tampa Bay Players, is back with a gritty, unlikely romantic dramedy, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, which eavesdrops on Danny and Roberta, who trade barbs in a combative conversation over a beer. Stars Vincenzo Hinkley and K.D. O’hair. Dahlia Legault, fresh off a brief stint on Walking Dead, directs. Fri.-Sat., April 17-18, 8 p.m. at 8313 W Hillsborough Ave., Suite 250, Tampa. $15 plus service charge; ticket available at brownpapertickets.com.
Mega Art Walk Saturday night: So many gallery shows tomorrow in downtown St. Pete for the Second Saturday Art Walk: Best of the Bay-winning Kick Start My Art returns after a long hiatus to help Trinity Graphics stage its first ever art, music, craft beer and live screen-printing event, simply titled Art & Beer. Zulu Wave performs with works on old wood screen printing frames by Robert Wegmann, Psynner (pictured: “Yep, I’m a Dragon”), Chad Cardoza, Michelle Sawyer, Tony Krol and Deona Fish. Green Bench serves up the tasty suds. April 11, 6 p.m., Trinity Graphics, 1005 19th St. N.; both are free, all ages events. Also, Art Heals at Studio@620 is a powerful exhibition that features artwork created by survivors of sexual violence in partnership with some of St. Pete's artists and art organizations. Other must-sees include Bluelucy's Elements at Black Amethyst, shows at Zen Glass and Duncan McClellan in the Warehouse Arts District and much more.
Mamma mia! The Festa Italiana Weekend celebrates Ybor’s Italian heritage. Don’t be too hungover Saturday morning morning for Festa Italiana’s main gathering, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. The Bocce Ball Invitational will take place there at 11 a.m., and the Italian Club’s Italian Idol sing-off and Homemade Vino Competition add to the fun throughout the afternoon. On Sunday, festgoers who purchase general admission or “Feast Deal” tickets will experience live entertainment, cooking competitions and lessons, grape stomping, fare from more than 35 Bay area food-slingers and the Club Italia Party Tent, set to feature lounge-style drinks, including frozen bellinis and Italian margaritas. Text contributed by Meaghan Habuda; festaitalianatampa.com.
Butterfly kisses: Beautiful butterfly art will be for sale to benefit one of the Bay area's best nonprofits, Community Stepping Stones, at the USF Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Festival, Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m., 2015 Old Seminole Heights Home Tour, Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Gulfport Springfest: The 21st Annual Gulfport Springfest features dozens of vendors and artists who will present themed arts and crafts, garden art and live entertainment. Some of the fest’s to-do’s include a beer garden, a faerie house contest and a costume contest. Free admission. Sat., April 11, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., April 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Clymer Park, 5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport. facebook.com/GulfportSpringfest.
The Rowdies are back! The Rowdies will play Minnesota United FC on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the home opener, and Jacksonville Armada FC on April 25 in the newly renovated Al Lang Stadium. rowdiessoccer.com.
Red carpet time again: We may still be reeling from the Gasparilla International Film Festival, but you have a few minutes to catch your breath for west Central Florida’s biggest film fling, the Sarasota Film Festival. More info at sarasotafilmfestival.com.
