The cultural-fringe godfathers and godmothers of Tampa, aka the Artists and Writers Group, present an informative, whimsical array of visual arts, film, poetry, theater, cuisine and history.

The renamed Cuban Sangwiche Show continues the tradition and celebrates the broken-English phonetic spelling that’s all too common if you grew up in a household with an Italian- or Spanish-speaking parent.

Events include a documentary about colorful Tampa journalist Dudley Clendinen and his struggle with ALS on April 2 at 7 p.m. ($5); First Fridays Seminole Heights arts exhibition, music and readings, 6-11 p.m., April 3 ($5); live poetry with Melissa Fair, Silvia Curbelo and Rhonda Nelson ($5). Much more to come (see events listed below!).

Visit facebook.com/CubanSangwicheShow for updates. All events at Grownman Brand Studios, 6412 Central Ave., Tampa.  

This is the only festival where art is unrestricted. Participants of all ages and mediums are encouraged to showcase their work, especially those wishing to give lectures on the history of Tampa and its culture.

The miniature feast kicks off April 1 with Tampa Fool's Party. For $5, guests can join in the opening night celebration with a themed visual arts exhibition from 6 pm-10 pm. If you're feeling a little famished afterward, your ticket is also good for free hors d'oeuvres and a drink.

Can't make it opening night? No worries, the gallery is open to the public at 6 pm on April 2, 3, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, and 17 until the event scheduled for that day begins. On weekends, it opens at 11 am and is free until the scheduled event begins.

Art mingles with performance on April 3 with an art exhibit, live music, and readings from 6 to 11 pm. This event is $5.

Guests can learn how to make the illustrious Historic Tampa Cuban Sangwich on April 5, by Cuban Sandwich Expert Professor Dr. Q. U. Bunn. Ingredients will be provided and participants will be able to eat their creations afterward — a true dinner and show! Local storytellers will also share some of Tampa's infamous tall tales during this event. Seating will be limited, due to the popularity of this event. Reserve your seat (and your sangwich) now for $10.

Tampa's getting a free education during City Council Member Yoli Capin's presentation of Chewing the Fat: the Surprising History of Swine in Florida April 8, at 7:30 pm. This event is open to the public and is free.

From 6 to 10 p.m. on April 10, exhibiting artists will talk about their motivation, philosophy, and techniques behind their Tampa-themed artwork. This event is free and is a must-see for any art enthusiast in the Bay Area.

Poet Giddy Perez and her Slam Team will shake the stage during their Spoken Word Slam next Saturday, April 11. This event starts at 8 p.m. and is $5.

Know someone who loves garlic so much they'll eat it on a first date? Then tell them not to miss the Yum Yum Garlic Feast — a celebration of all things garlic! Film critic Bob Ross will host the event. Prepare to sample dishes by home cooks and chefs alike. There will also be a homage to Mr. Bank's documentary Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers. All participants are encouraged to bring their own garlic dish to share (which will earn them free admission). If cooking isn't your forte, entry is only $10.

Glenn Gover, otherwise known as “the devil himself,” will perform a stage-reading of The Root by CL theater critic Mark E. Leib on April 13, 14, and 15, at 8 p.m. A lively discussion will follow the performance. This event costs $5.

On April 17, pay homage T-town's rock style with The Tampa Sound and its Influence on Rock 'n' Roll, presented by Ray Villadonga and will feature musicians involved in Tampa's '50s and '60s music scene. This event starts at 7:30 p.m. and costs $5.

An encore of A Good Short Life will be shown on April 18. The event details are the same as those on April 2, except for the addition of a “special screening of The Beatles at Shea Stadium 1964.” You won't want to miss it.

The Cuban Sangwiche Show comes to a close on April 19.

Excerpts from Tampa-born filmmaker Les Blank's documentary, All in This Tea, will be shown on the final day of celebration. The documentary, which searches for the finest handmade teas in the world, is sure to excite tea-purists and casual tea-drinkers alike. After the film, guests can watch Don Haynes as he demonstrates the proper way to make tea — and you will even get a few sips of his tea samples. This event is $5.

All events listed above will be held at Grownman Brand Studios, at 6412 North Central Ave, Tampa.

The Cuban Sangwich Show was created in 1991 by Gordon and Denise Myhre, and held in the creators' Ybor studio. Since then, the event has become a staple of Tampa's colorful culture. It has been held “sporadically, at many different venues throughout Tampa” for the past two decades.

However, two things about the event have never changed; its love for Tampa, and its motto: “All Tampa. All Art. No Mayo.”

This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2015.