1. Nosh on cheese and crackers, sip the house wine, then peruse handmade goodies by a few hundred local artisans at Craftsmen House Gallery. In 500 Plates: The Show, an exhibition of functional pottery that coincides with the release of Lark Books' 500 Plates & Chargers, three St. Petersburg potters who are featured in the book present new works: Stephanie Schorr, Jonathan Barnes and Jason Lachtara. On display through Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 2955 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, free admission. Pictured below (from left): plates by Jonathan Barnes, a diamond plate by Jason Lachtara, and a copper red garland server by Stephanie Schorr.
2. Every second and fourth Monday of the month, Nova 535 and Savoy South present an evening of Swing dancing, with a lesson from 7 to 8 p.m. and a dance party from 8 to 11 p.m. to live spins by DJ James. 535 Martin Luther King, Jr. St. N. (Ninth St. N.), St. Petersburg, $7 admission.
3. St. Pete Beach Library hosts a James Bond book party and makes the new Bond novel, Quantum of Solace: The Complete James Bond Short Stories, available to locals one day before its official release. 7 p.m., 356 73rd Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727-363-9238.
4. Gallery AIA opens the Big Picture Photographer Laureate exhibit, the finished portfolio of the City of Tampa’s 2007 Photo Laureate, Connecticut photographer Marion Belanger. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 200 N. Tampa St., Suite 100, downtown Tampa, free admission.
5. The Olympics have finally drawn to a close. Relive the best moments here.
This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2008.