Thursday 10.4

Out of the Celluloid Closet The 12th annual Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival takes place through Sunday, Oct. 14, at Tampa Theatre. The festival opens with a party at 6 p.m. in front of the theater at TECO Plaza on Franklin Street, where partiers can meet several stars of the festival, enjoy food from area restaurants ($5 donation) and a cash bar. The opening film, Iron Ladies, starts at 7:30 p.m. The festival's feature length films include Bruce Weber's Chop Suey, Canadian Oscar-nominated Perfect Son and The Girl, a sensual neo-noir film set in Paris. The festival also features programs of short films, including work by local filmmakers and youth from around the world. (Check Movie Marquee for a complete listing.) The festival ends with a street fair from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 14. Single event passes cost $7, $35 for admission to six events and $95 for Crown Circle Passes ($175 for two) which include some special perks in addition to admission to all events. Tampa Theatre is at 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa (813-274-8981). For a critical perspective, see the Film column.

Friday 10.5

The Art of Culinary War The St. Petersburg Museum of History hosts Battle of the Bay, a cooking competition inspired by the popular Japanese TV show Iron Chef, as the featured event celebrating East Meets West: From St. Petersburg to Takamatsu. The event marks the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between St. Petersburg and Takamatsu, Japan. Participating chefs include Eric Neri, executive chef of Maritana Grille, and Joe Chouinard, chef and owner of Pacific Wave and executive chef of Redwoods in downtown St. Pete. Admission costs $15. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the museum, at 335 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-894-1052).

Only the Lonely Singer/songwriter Jeremy Gloff plays the Orpheum upon releasing his latest album, America is Lonely Tonight. Members of notable local bands like Ashes of Grisum and Thinking Day Rally accompany him on the album. Also playing are True North, The Adult Party and others. The $5 show starts at 9 p.m. The Orpheum is at 1902 Republica de Cuba, Ybor City (813-248-9500).

Saturday 10.6

Art in the Park The 11th annual Old Hyde Park Village Art Festival returns Oct. 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Artists from across the nation show works in a variety of media. Many attending this year's festival are pioneers in their medium, such as Barry Howe of Key Biscayne, who specializes in Cibachrome, a unique style of photography. Other artists include Raku potter Sally White and ceramist Juozas Saldaitis. Admission is free. Old Hyde Park Village is two miles west of downtown Tampa, at Swann and Rome avenues near Bayshore Boulevard. Call 813-962-0388.

Reenacting History Veterans Memorial Museum & Park host a Civil War Living History Weekend, with an encampment of up to 100 reenactors through Oct. 7. The period military camps demonstrate the hardships of America's Civil War veterans, which includes blank-firing skirmishes at 1 p.m. both days. The encampment ends at 3 p.m. Oct. 7. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and park hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The museum and park are at 3602 U.S. 301 N., at the Tampa Bypass Canal, Tampa (813-744-5502).

Sunday 10.7

From Tampa with Love Pianist Eugenia Pilyavina, a Tampa resident originally from Russia, performs an accomplished selection of classical piano sonatas at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. The concert includes Beethoven's Tempest Op. 31 No. 2 in D minor and Chopin's Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1 in C minor, passionate pieces that are by turns placid and stirring. Pilyavina has studied piano since age 6, first at the Kiev Conservatory, later at the Manhattan School of Music, and is the recipient of several awards, one of which resulting in her New York debut at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. The concert begins at 3 p.m., and tickets cost $14, $12 for students. The center is at 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs (727-942-5605).

New York and New Jerseys The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' fourth annual Shirts Off Our Backs promotion and Fan Appreciation Day take place when the Rays host the New York Yankees at 1:15 p.m. at Tropicana Field. The promotions are held on the final home date of the season and benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The promotion has raised $57,000 for MDA the past three years. To be eligible to win a Rays jersey, fans must enter a drawing by purchasing chances from volunteers for a $1 donation to the MDA. Winning entries are to be announced in the 6th and 7th innings, and after the game the winners are allowed on the field to claim their prizes. Tickets start at $4 and go up to $195. Tropicana Field is at 1 Stadium Drive (off 16th Street at First Avenue South) in downtown St. Petersburg (727-825-3250).

Monday 10.8

Caffeine Dreams Insomnia Coffee House Gallery plays host to Words Awake!, a spoken word open mic that takes place at 8 p.m. every Monday. It's a great place to pick up sensitive, wired, sleep-deprived dates. Hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday; to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and to midnight Sunday and Monday. Insomnia is at 32884 U.S. 19, in the Palm Lakes shopping center, Palm Harbor (727-789-3771).

Tuesday 10.9

Interracial Appeal Comedian Gary Owen, once voted Funniest Black Comedian in San Diego, has hosted the highest-rated season of BET's Comic View and appeared as a redneck deputy alongside Jamie Foxx in the movie Held Up. A one-time military police officer, Owen credits his success to his early stand-up stints in San Diego's hood, where he says he was embraced for his honesty. He performs through Oct. 14 at the Improv. Tickets cost $10-$16 depending on the night. All prices are advance purchase and cost $2 more at the door. The Improv is at 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City (813-864-4000).

Wednesday 10.10

Faceless Beauty After five albums (Lateralus, Salival, Aenima, Undertow, Opiate) Tool has set out on an arena tour, a dubious undertaking for a band better known for bleakly surreal videos starring claymation organisms than their own grim mugs. But Tool's facelessness allows fans to instead see their music, its color and texture. The opener is none other than Tricky, the dark prince of trip-hop. Tickets cost $35 advance. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. at the USF Sun Dome, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-3002).

This article appears in Oct 4-10, 2001.