Thursday 6.21

Art After Dark Technically it's art after dusk, but that doesn't sound as romantic. Tampa Museum of Art leaves its doors open late again, as they do the third Thursday of every month for patrons to enjoy the exhibits, tours and refreshments 5-8 p.m. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m.; photographer Wally Wilson, chairman and professor of art at the University of South Florida, discusses Landscape/Land Use, referencing personal insights into the exhibit's topographical design. Admission is free for museum members and $2 for others. TMA is at 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. Call 813-271-8130.

Catch T.D. Comedian Tommy Davidson that is, performing tightly-wound stand-up at the Improv through Sunday. The original In Living Color cast member has parlayed the show's success into acting roles in movies like Bamboozled and Booty Call, and his stand-up is tight as ever, a seamless mix of improvisation, impersonations and routines. Davidson's four-night stand begins at 8 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. and 10:30 Friday; 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Saturday; and 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets vary from $16 to $20, depending on date. The Improv's at 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-864-4000.

Mad Drama Gorilla Theatre presents four original one-act plays written by local teens: Mad Libs by Jennifer Malnic, Picture in Picture by Andrew Romaner, Anonymous by Chris Rutherford and Waiting Room by Makenzie Condon. The Gorilla's Young Dramatists Project, as sponsor, has awarded these full productions to the high school playwrights in further promoting their talents. The plays run June 21-24 at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $12, $10 for students. The Gorilla Theatre's at 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa. Call 813-354-0550.

Friday 6.22

Splish Splash Bathe in the warm reggae sounds of Democracy, Bahama Breeze's own Clarence Brown and the voice of the islands Matthew Joseph at the Splash Music Series, from 6-10 p.m. at the Florida Aquarium. Joining the festivities are two models from Hawaiian Tropic, on hand to register attendees to win prizes, everything from a gift basket to a weekend retreat. Oh yeah, and you can see the fishies too. The evening is free to aquarium members, $5 otherwise. The Florida Aquarium is at 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Call 813-273-4000.

Manuscript Manhandling The process of refining a first draft into publishable copy and targeting the right editors with a winning cover letter requires more than running spellcheck and licking a stamp. For those industrious enough to endeavor, publishing consultant Connie Brown is teaching a six-month series on how to prepare a manuscript and approach publishers. The first workshop, The Business of Book Publishing, starts at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 213 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa. Call 813-871-2228. The seminar is free and will be held on the last Monday of every month.

Saturday 6.23

The Word When Philadelphia's Arpeggio Jazz and Music Ensemble bring their Po/Jazz Connection tour to town, spoken word artists from throughout the state converge to record a compilation CD at the show. Arpeggio is a seven-piece band that creates live, original music, weaving their instrumentation as poets read, recite and freestyle. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the University of Tampa's Falk Theatre and lasts until the music ends. Poets taking part include James Tokley, Myron Jackson, the Irritable Tribe of Poets and anyone interested in performing during open mic for possible inclusion on the compilation. Admission is $12 advance, $15 night-of. The Falk Theatre's at 428 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Call 813-253-6243.

Smooth Operator Smooth Jazz wouldn't be much of a genre without reedsmith Najee, whose artistry on saxophone and flute over the past decade has earned him recognition among the musical legends with whom he's worked (Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Patti LaBelle). Najee combines original compositions and unique interpretations of classic tunes in his concerts. Tickets for his 8 p.m. show at the Coliseum are $30 reserved, $25 general admission in advance and $30 at the door. The Coliseum's located at 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Call 727-892-5202.

Underdog Undercard The Tampa Bay Mutiny, last place in the Central Conference of MLS, vs. D.C. United, last place in the Eastern Conference, pits two talented yet struggling soccer clubs in a match-up that ought to see some frustration being vented. Rather than accepting a last place finish, expect the Mutiny to fight out the rest of their season, hopefully with a minimum of red cards. The 7 p.m. game is at Raymond James Stadium; tickets cost $10-$20. Ray-Jay's at 4201 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa. Call 813-350-6500.

Sunday 6.24

Noir Matinee Based on a melodramatic, hard-boiled novella by James M. Cain, and adapted by director Billy Wilder and novelist Raymond Chandler, Double Indemnity is told in past-tense voice-overs, a great and sleazy tale of a lecherous housewife and a duplicitous insurance salesman locked in an unholy love and an almost perfect crime. Showtime's at 3 p.m., and adult tickets are $6.25. Tampa Theatre is at 711 Franklin St., Tampa. Call 813-274-8286.

Bring on the Poise The Women Musicians' Alliance hosts a brown-bag dinner workshop on stage presence, presented by Mindy Simmons, a performing songwriter who's been a musician for more than 20 years. The workshop costs $5 and takes place at the Fellowship Hall of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, 2612 12th St. N., St. Petersburg. Call 727-821-3029.

Monday 6.25

Aspera Ad Orpheum Austin ambient band Aspera — formerly Aspera Ad Astra, formerly-formerly Stars of the Lid — rock you to sleep with dense experimental orchestrations. Their songs take subtlety to an extreme, but don't require detailed listening to be appreciated. Spacious International and Showmen's Rest open the show ($5), starting at 9 p.m. at The Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba, Ybor City. Call 813-248-9500.

Tuesday 6.26

Double Header Tampa natives and authors Lance and Robin Auken discuss and sign copies of their book, Play Ball: The Story of Little League Baseball. The Van Aukers have created a richly illustrated history — the first history — of Little League, packed with quotes, sidebars and childhood pictures of famous Little Leaguers, like Kevin Costner and Mark McGwire. Takes place at 7 p.m. at the Carrollwood Barnes & Noble, 11802 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa. Call 813-962-8097.

Wednesday 6.27

Kids and Needles Acupuncturist Dr. Christy Giallourakis, AP presents a free lecture, Pediatrics, on understanding and enhancing your child's development and growth through massage, diet, exercise and environment. The lecture does not involve acupuncture for children, but covers such alternative well-being practices as breathing techniques and seasonal herbs. Takes place at 7 p.m. at Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Call 727-443-6703.

This article appears in Jun 21-27, 2001.