Thursday 6.14

Offshore Renovations With much fanfare, The Florida Aquarium has officially opened Sea Hunt, one of its largest additions to date. Commanding the huge space previously known as Offshore Gallery, Sea Hunt features more than 200 ocean predators from around the world, including zebra and black tip sharks, wolf eels, butterfly fish and a giant Pacific octopus. Admission costs $13.75 for adults, $8.75 for kids. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the aquarium's at 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Call 813-273-4000.

Rock the Casbah Smokers are probably aware of a certain cigarette giant's 7 Pleasures of the Casbah parties. But for you nonsmoking goody-two-shoes out there, here's the deal: Around 9 p.m., The Orpheum hosts Elixer, one of seven Casbah-themed parties. We envision exotic drinks, hookahs all around (please!) and other Turkish delights. Thinking Day Rally, Ashes of Grisum and Mark McManus are on the stage. Admission costs $5 (ask how to get in free) and the party's 21-and-up only. The Orpheum's at 1902 Republica De Cuba, Ybor City. Call 813-248-9500.

Friday 6.15

The Journey Continues It's a helluva night for arena rock, when the USF Sun Dome features radio-friendly icons Journey, along with Peter Frampton and John Waite. Having been around since the '70s or earlier, none of these talents need explaining. Plan to hear memory-inducing tunes from your adolescence during the 7 p.m. show — Don't Stop Believing, Do You Feel Like I Do? and When I See You Smile. Tickets range from $29.75 to $45. The dome's on the USF-Tampa campus, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813-287-8844.

Diamond Dolls Baseball fans and theater lovers are as unlikely a pairing as Russell Crowe and Roseanne, but if anything can bring them together, it's Silver Meteor. At 8 p.m., the avant-garde gallery presents Anthony Clarvoe's Let's Play Two. Named after a quote by baseball legend Ernie Banks, this romantic comedy finds two opposites coming together thanks to a road trip and an ardent love of baseball. Tickets cost $10, and the gallery's at 2213 E. Sixth Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-765-1486.

Good Ol' Boys The hard-working Edwin McCain brings his Far From Over Tour to Jannus Landing for some laid-back jammin'. The rootsy, Charleston, S.C., singer/songwriter treats the crowd to his traditional American rock, tinged with jazz and soul. Opening act Gibb Droll offers a powerful acoustic combo of blues, jazz and pop. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $15 for this 21-and-up show. Jannus is at 16 Second St. N., St. Petersburg. Call 727-898-2100.

Saturday 6.16

Comic Violations Check this out: if you've received a ticket for any sort of traffic violation and have the option of taking a class to avoid points on your license, head to The Improv. That's right. The Improv's next Driving School class takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Frank Mondara. This ex-comedian is licensed to teach a humorous — but legitimate — version of driving school. Four hours, $39.95 and no points on your license. Is that the coolest thing ever or what? The Improv's at 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-864-4000.

Making a Splash Hot enough for ya? Yuk, yuk. Smack me later, but for now, get to Cypress Gardens for some Wacky Water Summer Fun. The gardens' brand-spanking-new water attractions are up and running, with kiddie pools, slides, body flumes — the whole bit. And because they love you, the gardens offer a Family Fun Pack, which means two adults and every kid in the house get in for $65. Individual tickets cost $32.95 for adults, $16.95 for ages 6-12. Cypress Gardens is on State Road 540 West in Winter Haven. Call 800-282-2123.

Double Your Pleasure For a lesson in milking your birthday for all it's worth, check out Flash Gordon's 16th annual Gemini Birthday Bash at Club More. Starting around 9:30 p.m., the evening offers highly danceable retro-swing courtesy of Blue Plate Special, jams by the Flash Gordon Band (the first gig for Flash's first project since The Pundits) and one of the Bay area's best acoustic gurus, Dave Hardin. Admission costs $5 (free for Geminis) and the club's at 703 Franklin St., Clearwater. Call 727-466-MORE.

Sunday 6.17

Marriage Kills Don't you hate it when you arrive at a friends house for a party, only to find the host covered in blood? Kinda kills the whole festive vibe. That's the scenario presented at Masque Theatre's 2 p.m. production of Rumors, at the Lightfoot Center. This Neil Simon farce finds four couple gathering to celebrate their friends' 10th anniversary, only to find the husband bleeding, and the wife and maid on the missing list. Tickets cost $14, and the center's at 10901 N. 56th St., Tampa. Call 813-980-3321.

No Electro If you've been wondering what happened to Dan Electro and The Silvertones, well … Dan moved to Europe. His band, however, has gotten itself a new singer, and you can check out the new group, Jennifer & The Venturas, at Skipper's Smokehouse. The 5 p.m. show features a combination of jazz, swing, big band and blues, including originals, covers and a large selection of instrumentals. Lace up your dancing shoes and come on out. Admission costs $5, and Skipper's is at 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. Call 813-971-0666.

Monday 6.18

Faux Fighting Let's be honest, in the case of wrestling, several million people can be wrong. But whatever floats your boat, man. For all you WWF fans out there, the Ice Palace presents Raw is War at 7:45 p.m. All the popular muscle men are in attendance — including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, Undertaker and Kane — prepared to give you a night of chair-swingin', head-bustin' action. Tickets range from $18 to $40 (costs a lot to keep those guys in Spandex) and the palace is at 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Call 813-301-6900.

Tuesday 6.19

Swanky Sippin' Sometimes you just wanna feel posh, you know? Seeing as how this is Tampa Bay, our options are rather limited, but you can feel superior at the Renaissance Vinoy's Afternoon Tea. From 2 to 5 p.m., you and your homies can be kickin' it in the phat Vinoy, sipping gourmet teas and noshing on mini-pastries while enjoying the spectacular view of sun-speckled Tampa Bay. Beats Hi-C and Fritos. Afternoon Tea costs $10, and the Vinoy's at 501 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg. Call 727-894-1000.

Wednesday 6.20

Shaking Off the Bad Vibes If you're a New Agey-type, you probably subscribe to the theory that we're surrounded by good and bad energy 24/7. You're probably also worried about everyone sucking up your good vibes, while leaving their skanky-ass negativity behind. Not to worry: Purple Moon's Working With Your Psychic Energy workshop has got your back. At 7 p.m., Rev. Patricia Daly-Lawn offers strategies to keep you centered and empowered in difficult situations and unpleasant atmospheres. Admission's $20, and Purple Moon's at 833 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. Call 727-738-1540.

This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2001.