THURSDAY 11.25

Thanksgiving Alternative Thanksgiving is a holiday where we spend time with our families, eat lots of turkey and pass out on the couch in a tryptophan-induced haze. However, if you're looking for a change or if you're tired of having to spend the majority of the day in the kitchen, I suggest taking the family to Clearwater to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and a performance at Bill Irle's Early Bird Dinner Theatre. The play, Over the River and Through the Woods, is a warmhearted comedy by Joe DiPietro about Italian-American grandparents coming to grips with the departure of their loyal but independent grandson. Love of family is the repeated mantra, and it works well on a holiday that celebrates family togetherness. Plus, how can you go wrong with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and a show for only $14.95? Dinner seatings occur at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., with the play beginning two hours later (1 and 6 p.m.). Bill Irle's Early Bird Dinner Theatre, 1411 Ft. Harrison Ave., Clearwater, 727-446-5898.

FRIDAY 11.26

Welcome to the Jungle After a brief MTV appearance and a tour that quickly sputtered out, the elusive Axl Rose has once again disappeared into seclusion, although, bizarrely enough, you can hear him featured as the voice of classic rock DJ Tommy Smith on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game. The other former Guns N' Roses members have teamed up with Scott Weiland, leaving little to no chance the band will ever again feature itsoriginal lineup. So, rather than dwelling on GNR's somewhat bitter breakup, play pretend this evening with Appetite for Destruction, a GNR tribute band whose members not only play the songs as well as the band but appear AS the band (lead singer Chad "Axl" Atkins resembles Rose to the point of creepiness). The group plays songs from the entire GNR repertoire — from Appetite for Destruction through Use Your Illusion I and II — and word is they successfully re-create the intensity and energy you'd find at a real GNR show. Tickets: $10. 8 p.m. at The Masquerade, 1503 Seventh Ave., Ybor City, 813-247-3319.

SATURDAY 11.27

Breakfast and a Movie Children can meet, greet and have their pictures taken with Santa at the Museum of Science and Industry's Breakfast with Santa event. The delicious spread features silver dollar pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon, home-fried potatoes, fresh fruit, assorted danishes, juice and freshly brewed coffee. After dining with Saint Nick from 9 to 10:30 a.m., guests are treated to a special presentation of the IMAX film, Santa vs.The Snowman. The creators of Jimmy Neutron produced this 3-D holiday film, which tells the story of a lonely snowman who is swept away by the magical wonders of Santa's Village. Ultimately, envy over Santa's cool gig rears its ugly head, and what ensues is an all-out battle for Christmas, with the Snowman and his minions squaring off against Santa and his elf army, with Santa's toy-making and Christmas Eve-delivery operations at stake. Featuring the voices of Jonathan Winters, Ben Stein and Victoria Jackson. For more information or to make reservations, call 813-987-6000. Admission is $10 per person. Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa.

Dancin' Machines This evening, the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company presents a single, energetic performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The huge cast of dancers is featured in a production that combines European dance styles with Ukrainian folk traditions, showcasing the varied cultures of the country's 25 regions with dazzling costumes, ballet and folk dancing, tricky acrobatics and live musical accompaniment by a 15-piece band. Look for "The Carpathians," a work that recreates the lively folk-dance steps and mannerisms of the Carpathian Mountain people, and "Povzunets," a comical Cossack dance where several male dancers engage in a technically challenging game to see who can perform the most daring tricks while in a squatting position. This is the company's first U.S. tour since 1998, so don't miss out — you may not get the chance to see these dancers again for quite some time. Tickets: $30-$40. 8 p.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-791-7400.

Last (But Not Least) WMNF-88.5 FM celebrates African-American culture with a presentation of the legendary spoken-word artists The Last Poets. The group formed in 1968 at a rally in honor of Malcom X, taking their name from a poem by South African poet Willie Kgositsile about how the written word would be left behind by the looming revolution. The Last Poets helped change the face of black music by combining radical politics with angry, defiant verses, street language and percussion in an artistic form that inspires urban music even now. "A word hasn't been coined to fit what we're talking about," The Last Poets told Rolling Stone in 1970. Today, The Last Poets are recognized as the fathers of rap. After many lineup changes and inner-group conflicts, Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan are the only founding members that remain. Admission is $13 and the show starts at 8 p.m. Falk Theatre, 428 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-253-6243.

MONDAY 11.29

A Street that Leads to Broadway Van Wezel Performing Arts Center continues its 2004-05 Broadway series with 42nd Street, winner of the 1980 Tony Award for Best New Musical and the 2001 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Based on the 1933 movie, the timeless tale of Peggy Sawyer's rise from lowly understudy to Broadway star features several classic Broadway numbers, including "We're in the Money," "You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me" and "I Only Have Eyes for You." The original 42nd Street was delightfully corny and surprisingly clever; and the stage production is reported to be a stunning theatrical spectacle with a cast of 54 people, over 700 costumes and dozens of dramatic stage effects. Tickets: $45-$65. Show times are 4 and 8 p.m. at Van Wezel 953-3366.

WEDNESDAY 12.1

Glass Full of Laughs Comedian Todd Glass is like a really big kid. He likes making fun of the rules and authority figures, although his humor covers everything from little people (that's midgets, not kids) to "realistic" airline commercials to folks who get lost in warehouse stores. Of course, Glass also considers himself a subject of unlimited material ("Do I look like Mel Gibson and Fred Flintstone had an ugly baby?"), and his inventive irreverence serves as a natural springboard for a mockery of stand-up conventions. He's appeared on seasons two and three of Last Comic Standing, guest starred in such shows as Friends, Married With Children and HBO's Mr. Show, and performed stand-up on virtually every late-night talk show more than once. He's an unquestionably funny guy, and you can see his antics this weekend at the Tampa Improv. Note: His show is not politically correct, so leave your scruples at home. Tickets: $14-$16. 8 p.m. Wed. and Thu., 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat., and 7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 1-5, at the Improv Comedy Theater, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, 813-864-4000.

This article appears in Nov 24-30, 2004.