THURSDAY 8.19
Wisecracking Survivors
There's nothing I like better than a good belly laugh and this past season of Last Comic Standing provided me with many. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a sucker for reality television but this show was something special. As luck would have it, the I'm Still Standing Tour rolls into town this weekend and features three of the show's more memorable personalities at the Improv Comedy Theater. First, there's Jay London, a comedian who takes full advantage of his rather unappealing exterior by making fun of himself ruthlessly and consistently. His sharp play-on-words comedy sometimes takes a minute to sink in and the resulting laughter comes in a wave as the audience slowly gets it. Gary Gulman comes from the opposite end of the spectrum, a tall, darkly handsome Jewish guy from Boston who makes hilarious Seinfeld-like observations about everyday, mundane activities. Finally, we have Alonzo Bodden, who's so gosh darn funny that I was actually moved to vote for him in the final competition. (Gary, honey, don't be mad, you know I love you.) Bodden delivers dry, straight-faced humor, using his race as a stepping-stone to the punch line as opposed to using it as the basis for his entire act. All in all, these are three comedians who deserve some attention, so check them out — you won't be disappointed. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thu., 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat., and 7 p.m. on Sun., Aug. 19-22. Tickets: $14-$18. The Improv Comedy Theater & Restaurant, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa. 813-864-4000.
FRIDAY 8.20
Risky Business
In conjunction with its IMAX film Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) presents Risk Factor, a competition involving students from the University of South Florida, from 9:45 to 11 a.m. Volunteer teams compete in four separate events for prizes — rock wall climbing, Twinkie eating, high wire bike riding and bungee flipping. The event also includes an Extreme Sports Fair, with vendors promoting activities such as skateboarding, scuba diving, hot air balloon rides, skydiving and more. To take complete advantage of this fun event, I suggest checking out the movie as well. Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk takes audiences on an amazing journey from great heights and features some truly breathtaking footage of extreme skydiving. The film also focuses on both the biology of risk-taking and the physics that make human flight possible. This is no ordinary visual experience — while you accompany these extreme teams on different adventures, you also learn about the psychological and physiological forces that are at play in extreme risk-taking, and the physics involved in skydiving, base-jumping, parachuting and related activities. For more information, visit www.mosi.org. The public is invited to watch the event and admission is free. Regular admission for MOSI exhibits and the IMAX Dome Theatre is $15.95 for adults, $13.95 for seniors (ages 60 and up), $11.95 for children (ages 2-12), and free for tots under 2. Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-987-6000.
SATURDAY 8.21
Jammin' for Charity
The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) presents its Summer Tech Jam fundraiser this evening in Hyde Park. The event, now in its third year, was created to showcase local bands and businesses while raising money for computer labs that serve underprivileged youth in the region. This year's Summer Tech Jam has a block party theme as guests take over the parking lot, studios and warehouse of Tampa Digital Studios. The party features live music by the Bamboo Social Club, a barbecue buffet from Fred Fleming's Famous Bar-B-Que, and beer from Ybor City Brewing Company. Guests may also participate in a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia and other items. All proceeds from the event go to TBTF's CompuTer-rific Program, which secures equipment and software donations, provides free labor and raises funds for the installation of computer labs in area Boys & Girls clubs. Since the CompuTer-rific Program was launched in 2001, tech community volunteers have raised over $75,000, secured a huge amount of donated equipment and services, and installed a dozen labs in area Boys & Girls clubs. The program's next goal is to complete 16 additional labs in Hillsborough and Pinellas clubs over the next two years. The fun takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. and the $20 entry price includes food and drink tickets. For more information or to register for tickets, go to www.tbtf.org. Tampa Digital Studios, 718 S. Howard Ave., Tampa.
Pet Placement
Seminole Mall is packed with pets waiting for loving homes this weekend at the Super Adopt-A-Thon. The SPCA of Pinellas County presents this event from 10 a.m. to 5 pm., and unites with other animal rescue agencies, shelters and organizations to adopt out their pets. These groups include Pinellas County Animal Services, St. Petersburg Dog Club, Pinellas Animal Foundation, Humane Society of Pinellas, Pet Safe Haven and Save Our Strays. Oldies 104.7 FM hosts the Adopt-A-Thon and a goal has been set to find homes for, at minimum, 104 pets. The Dog Club and the SPCA also provide some incredible animal demonstrations and the Tricky Dog Show returns for an encore presentation. If I didn't live in a box, I would definitely be bringing home a fuzzy buddy. However, I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there who can afford and accommodate a pet, and to those people I say — WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? (If you have allergies or phobias, you're off the hook.) For more information on the Pinellas SPCA, go to www.spcaofpinellas.org or call 727-586-3591. Seminole Mall is located at 11201 Park Blvd. in Seminole (727-392-8174).
Pomp en Regalia
Celebrate one of modern music's greatest composers this evening as Bogus Pomp returns to the Tampa Theatre for a show with its orchestra, conducted by Tom Trapp. If you never had the chance to see Frank Zappa, if your life has felt noticeably deficient of praiseworthy live performances or if you're simply suffering from boredom, get in your car and head out to downtown Tampa to see the show. Guitarist Jerry Outlaw leads the 10-piece band that also features vocals, sax and flute by former Zappa band member Napoleon Murphy Brock. Bogus Pomp plays Zappa's more intricate compositions (from 1966 to 1988), presenting anything from "Peaches en Regalia" to "Evil Prince & Montana" accurately and confidently. These guys are truly amazing and their superb musicianship is unquestionable — they've done their homework and the result is a truly gratifying Zappa experience, minus the legend himself. On a side note, Bogus Pomp encourages taping, which means that if you're very polite and make friends with a taper, you can own a copy of the show for a very low price. 8 p.m. Tickets: $27/$21 for students with ID. Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., Tampa. 813-274-8286.
This article appears in Aug 19-25, 2004.