Thursday 3.8

Celluloid Excursions Look out, Cannes; step aside, Sundance; Tampa's sneaking up behind ya with the first annual Tambay Film and Video Festival. Independent film and video artists get screen time at the Tampa Theatre throughout the weekend, beginning with today's lineup of 12 documentaries, shorts and features. Film times range from seven to 120 minutes, with the first — Z, an amusing short pitting mailman against dog — beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5.50, and the theater's at 711 Franklin St., Tampa. Call 813-274-8981.

Big Nose, Big Heart The Aquila Theater Company whisks us to 17th century France for tonight's 7:30 p.m. production of Cyrano de Bergerac, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Cyrano, an excellent swordsman, eloquent poet and all-around good guy, hides his love for the beauteous Roxanne due to one flaw — his huge freakin' schnozz. It's sympathy overload as Cyrano loves Roxanne vicariously through a handsome friend. Tickets range from $14.50 to $24.50. TBPAC's at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.

Friday 3.9

Inventive Acts Do the outrageous — nurture your kids' creative flow by bringing 'em to American Stage's 7 p.m. show, Imagine. This production uses pantomime and clowning to depict a young boy (Madge E. Nation) who must use his imagination to overcome his fears. The one-man show helps kids discover the greatest computer chip of all — their brains. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $7 for ages 12 and under. The theater's at 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg. Call 727-823-PLAY.

Fun With Balls Get ready to laugh when the much-loved Harlem Globetrotters dribble, dunk and dance their way into the Ice Palace for a 7:30 p.m. show. This loony bunch of basketball talents have wowed crowds for 75 years (including viewers of Scooby Doo), and with their current tour, a whole new generation is getting hip to the teams high-tech special effects, amazing trick shots and zany comedy routines. Tickets range from $10 to $60, and the Palace is at 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Call 813-301-2500.

Rollicking Good Riffs Yeeeehaw! Jump in the pick-up and head to St. Pete y'all, it's rockabilly revival time with Southern Culture on the Skids. Startin' 'round about 9 p.m. Atlanta's stompin' Forty Fives will deliver a rousing set of garage R&B. Then SCOTS lets loose with campy, silly, toe-sucking geek-rock at its white-trash best. It's well worth missing your monthly bath. Tickets cost $15, and the show's at State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Call 727-895-3045.

Saturday 3.10

Circling the Globe Tampa Bay's own United Nations, the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society, sends you 'round the world and back again during today's 2001 Folk Fair. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., authentic villages capture the sights, sounds and flavors of each country, with guests enjoying folk music and dance, costumed performers and the Parade of Nations. The fun continues through Sunday, and admission ranges from $3 to $5. The center's at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. Call 727-551-3365.

Chivalry Revival Twenty-first century getting you down? A little escapism to the rescue, courtesy of the 22nd annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival. Starting at 10 a.m. today, this six-week fest is a magical land of adventure. Eight stages offer entertainment; vendors sell eclectic wares (from more than 125 shops) and authentic food; men joust; women dance and everyone has a good ol' time at this 14th-century shindig. Tickets cost $12.95 for adults, $5.95 for kids. The festival grounds are at 400 Central Park Drive, Largo. Call 1-800-779-4910.

Philly Sweetcake There's plenty of tuneage going on tonight, but if you want groovy sounds coupled with great eye-candy, it's Jannus Landing all the way. At 8 p.m., the St. Pete venue welcomes G. Love & Special Sauce. Kicked off by The Meryl Streep (um … 'kay), G.'s show offers soulful funk/blues/rap-style sounds (and the man's dreamy visage). Tickets cost $16.50 in advance, $18 at the show. Jannus is at 16 Second St. N., St. Petersburg. Call Ticketmaster at 727-898-2100.

Sunday 3.11

Dem Bones If artifacts are your bag, the Tampa Bay Fossil Club's got a little something for ya. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Florida State Fairgrounds are overrun by the 14th annual FossilFest. Artifacts, gems and minerals abound at this two-day event, as do games, "touch" tables and guest speakers. Activities also include a silent auction, plenty of prize drawings and games. Admission costs $3, and the Fairgrounds are at U.S. 301 and Orient Road in Tampa. Call 813-909-9358.

Painted Ladies Las Damas de Arte, celebrating women artists, offers its annual Sunday in the Arts. Tonight's 5:30 to 8 p.m. gala opening at Scarfone/Hartley Galleries lets women network while nibbling delicacies from Bay area restaurants and enjoying tunes by the Michael Ross Duo, Molten Mike and Dr. Good Sax. More than 50 artists are also showing off everything from paintings to photography to sculpture. Tickets to the gala cost $25 and $50. Scarfone/Hartley's at the corner of Brevard Avenue and North B Street, on Tampa's UT campus. Call 813-253-6217.

Monday 3.12

Destruction Discussion The University of Tampa continues its symposia series with the necessary topic Holocaust Denial. Unbelievably, thousands of people have actually convinced themselves the Holocaust didn't happen, breeding the kind of ignorance that dooms us to repeat mistakes. At 4 p.m., UT professor and author Dr. Thomas Hegarty discusses the problems of Holocaust denial in the UT library. The lecture's free, and the library's on campus, at 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Call 813-253-3686.

Tuesday 3.13

California Screamin' You've got two choices tonight: You can stay home and clean the lint out of your bellybutton, or you can rock out at The Masquerade's 7 p.m. show. Tonight's trio of talents, California bands all, includes Lagwagon, a punk-pop band with an ever-changing roster of coffee-addicted members, along with the more quirky and campy, not to mention older, hardcore punks The Vandals, and cookie-cutter punk-popsters Ataris. Tickets cost $13 in advance, $15 at the door, and Masquerade's at 1503 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-247-3319.

Wednesday 3.14

Volatile Verse Subterranean Digs, the lovely folks who host biweekly open mics at Atomic Age, host the second annual Not So Slammin' Slam. Sure, doesn't exactly sound exciting, but the night features more than a few people who can turn a phrase as they rant, rave and recite. Sign-up starts at 9 p.m., and admission costs $2, which is divvied up between the night's top three poets (chosen by random judges). The Atomic's at 1518 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-247-6547.

This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2001.