THURSDAY 10.31
Clones that Go Bump in the Night The Museum of Science & Industry opens a special engagement IMAX run of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones at midnight, rivaling Rocky Horror Picture Show for top screening on Halloween. The two films split the dork crowd, so really it comes down to whether or not you"d rather sing along to campy, pseudo-rock tunes about sex, or crane your neck back and stare agog at George Lucas" latest installment in his trilogy. The choice should be easy: computer-generated space adventures on a screen of grand-scale, John William’s score pumping through the monster sound system, Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor. Screenings run through Dec. 24. Tickets cost $13.95. Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-987-6300.
Hellraise the Roof Hallucination Records take their penchant for blood, guts and hardcore electronic beats to Orlando nightclub Tabu for Hellraiser 2. Taking a turn at the turntables are DJs Sandy (a Tabu resident), Monk (of Rabbit in the Moon), CLRH2O, Bamboo, Jungleboy, Cles One and Skandalous. There’s also a video splice-fest of demented imagery by Hallucination on Film. Doors open at 10 p.m. Cover costs $5, $8 for guys 18-20. Tabu, 46 N. Orange Ave., Orlando. 813-241-9295.
FRIDAY 11.1
Claws Proposal The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort hosts the 13th annual Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival, a fete that brings in chefs from as far as Chicago, New York City and California. Participating vinters include Javier Schoendorff of Osbourne, Marc Mondavi of Charles Krug Winery and Michael Terrien of Acacia Vineyards. The idea is to sample some crab claws prepared to perfection with a wine selected to make the tastes really zing. The event runs through Nov. 3. Tickets cost $150 to $195. Suite packages are also available. The Colony, 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 800-426-5669.
Smoke and Mirrored Sunglasses Written and performed by three veteran comedians (all of who know their way around a proto pipe), The Marijuana-logues explores the pungent, sticky subject of dope smoking from a pothead’s perspective. The show, of course, is a play on the off-Broadway hit The Vagina Monologues, in which women give scripted discourse on female sexuality. The writers/performers are Arj Baker, Doug Benson and Tony Camin. Their appearances include late night TV’s big three (Letterman, Leno and O"Brien) and ESPN. Performances take place through Nov. 3. Tickets cost $14-$18. Improv, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Centro Ybor, Ybor City. 813-864-4000.
SATURDAY 11.2
Butcher's Nature Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, a one-room museum, exhibits the first retrospective of Clyde Butcher’s black-and-white photography. For more than 35 years, he’s preserved on film Florida’s untouched areas, capturing some stunning shots. Public Broadcasting has produced a half-hour documentary on him titled Visions of Florida, and a second program of theirs, Big Cypress Preserve: Jewel of the Everglades, featured his work. He gives a workshop on photographic technique ($25) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The show opens runs through Jan. 5. Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, Old Hyde Park Village, 746 S. Village Circle, Tampa. 813-251-1800.
Festive Food Americans have run Halloween into the ground by making the holiday all about candy. Let’s take a lesson from Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, which focuses more on food and community. Casa Tina’s Mexican restaurant carries on the holiday’s traditional festivities with tamale-making demonstrations and samples, traditional drinks, a bit of history about the holiday and a special menu including Pan de Muertos (a round, sweet bread), tamales, moles and Flor de Calabaza (quesadillas filled with pumpkin flowers). Call for reservations. The event takes place from noon to 11 p.m. Casa Tina, 349 Main St., Dunedin. 727-734-9226.
SUNDAY 11.3
Get Your Motor Runnin' Freshen up on your auto slang and pick up some kitschy crap for your garage at the Southern Nostalgia and Muscle Car Shootout. Roam row after row of hot rods and roadsters, shop at the swap meet and take in the stunts and races. Competitions include nitro-burning dragsters, dual-engine dragsters and anything-goes racing. And there’re always those girls you see in the auto magazines draped over the hood of some mint, vintage muscle car, as if steel made a great surface for a nap. The show takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $20, $5 for kids 6-12. Bradenton Motorsports Park, 21000 State Road 64, Bradenton. 941-748-1320.
Stellar Costello Elvis Costello plays Ruth Eckerd Hall, touring in support of his latest album, When I Was Cruel, a complex collection of songs that ranks alongside the British singer/songwriter’s best work. Famous for his songs "Everyday I Write The Book," "Allison" and "Pump It Up," Costello is busy as can be with new projects these days. He’s recently composed his first full orchestral score titled "Il Sogno" and recorded a concert special with Lucinda Williams. He’s also guest starring on an upcoming episode of The Simpsons and working with playwright/director Neil Labute on a film. Somehow he finds time to play shows. Tickets cost $39.95-$75. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. 727-791-7400.
MONDAY 11.4
Innovative, Cooperative Two novelists from Florida State University’s Fiction Cooperative 2 — Lance Olsen and Kate Bernheimer — read, discuss and sign their work. Olsen is a novelist, short-story writer, critic and reviewer who characterizes his own writing as speculative fiction, or avant-pop. His latest book, Girl Imagined by Choice, is a "critifictional" narrative about a couple who find themselves having a make-believe daughter. (Whoa boy.) Bernheimer, a professor and lecturer, has edited Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Women Writers Explore their Favorite Fairy Tales. Her recently published first novel, The Complete Tales of Ketzia Gold is a poetic recounting through folklore and fairy tales of a young woman’s obsessions. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Inkwood Books, 216 Armenia Ave. S., Tampa. 813-253-2638.
TUESDAY 11.5
Dollar Cruise All aboard the 180-foot, $7-million StarShip yacht. Visitors of the St. Petersburg Pier can take a one-hour sightseeing tour any Sunday through Nov. 24 (except Nov. 10) for the cost of $1. Well, almost. Passengers are required to make a purchase at any shop or restaurant at the Pier, for which they’ll receive a coupon. The coupon plus $1 gets you on the boat, where there’s live music, a gourmet cooking demonstration, a marine education seminar and some nice views of St. Pete. Boarding begins at 2:45 p.m., with cruising from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg. 877-744-7999.
WEDNESDAY 11.6
On the Verizon After almost 30 years together, Los Lobos inspires and entertains with their honest mix of rock, Latin sounds, R&B and folk. They play Jannus Landing as part of the Verizon Music Festival, presumably playing tunes from their new, critically acclaimed album Good Morning Aztlan. Commercial success found them when they played the soundtrack for the 1987 hit movie La Bamba. Their 1992 release Kiko signaled a shift in style that won over critics. And as yet there appears to be no end to this prolific quintet. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 day of. Doors open at 7 p.m. Jannus Landing, 19 Second St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-896-1244.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2002.