With the writers strike settled, we can now make it official: There will be a televised Oscar ceremony, and there will be an Oscar Night America at Tampa Theatre.The 9th annual party is a program sanctioned and supported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that enables charities to host fundraising screenings of the Academy Awards. Tampa Theatre is the official Bay area host and beneficiary of all event proceeds. At this Sunday's event, guests enjoy limo rides around downtown, photo ops by a gaggle of faux-paparazzi and a special appearance by the Florida Aquarium's tuxedoed penguins. Sun., Feb. 24, VIP Red Carpet Arrival and Reception 6-7:30 p.m., general admission 7:15 p.m., telecast at 8 p.m., 711 Franklin St., downtown Tampa, $130 VIP/$30 general, 813-274-8982, tampatheatre.org.
This article appears in Feb 20-26, 2008.