The Florida Institute for Community Studies is well-known for the excellent services it provides to Latino and immigrant populations, its lively center in Town N' Country a hive of creativity and youthful energy. Case in point: today's FICS Multicultural Food and Art Show. Adult artists Joanne Osborn, Vivian Fisk, Guillermo Portieles, Aldo Gamez and Tamara Nemirovsky will show work along with 25 of the center's youth artists, with half of the art sale proceeds to go to the artists and half to the center's summer programs. DJ Teknique handles the sounds, Rafael "El Shakiro" sings, and the center's Capoeira students and breakdancers perform. But the biggest draw might be the food: an international array of dishes from Peru, Colombia, Mexico and more, all provided by center parents, plus offerings from Maggiano's and Chili's. And all this for just five bucks! A good chance to party and do some Mother's Day shopping, all at the same time. (Pictured at left: A still from one of Tamara Nemirovsky's stop-animation video pieces about Argentina.) Fri. May 8, 4-8 p.m., 6704 Hanley Rd., Tampa, 813-249-8100, ficsinc.org, $5. —David Warner
The Florida Orchestra's Free Pops in the Park concert series continues this weekend, with attendees encouraged to bring canned food donations for Tampa Bay Harvest’s food bank services. Guest conductor Stuart Chafetz leads a program of symphonic and pop hits, including Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, the Bacchanale from Saint-Saen’s Samson and Dalila, Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien, John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare, and selections from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s My Fair Lady. Fri., May 8, 7:30 p.m., Lowry Park, 7525 N. Boulevard, Tampa; and a Mother’s Day "Symphony of Life," Sun., May 10, 7:30 p.m., Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, 105 N. Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor. —LP
This article appears in May 6-12, 2009.