January 20 – Thursday

Green Thumbin' It
Monet once said that he owed his career as a painter to flowers, and while the loveliness of an orchid may not make you feel creative, you can appreciate its many variations this weekend at the Tampa Bay Flower Show. Tropicana Field hosts the huge happening, an early preview of spring and all of the fresh, fragrant blossoms the season has to offer. Themed "Tropical Splendor," the show, now in its second year, features an array of colorful tropical gardens with plants that range from gingers to bromeliads to peace lilies. Gardening pleasures are abundant; aside from perusing the stunning displays and exhibits by area institutions, you can find out how to improve or restore your landscape from celebrity experts, view floral arrangements by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and Ikebana International, stroll along the Garden Marketplace to find that perfect something for your garden, expand your gardening horizons with seminars and valuable demonstrations, and much more. For further information, call 727-596-1204 or go to www.flowershow.com. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thu.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Jan. 20-22. 727-596-1204; $10 admission/$5 parking. Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, 727-596-1204.

January 21 – FRIDAY

Old School Jewels
Today, Florida International Museum opens A Century of Jewelry & Gems 1785-1885: The Collection of Nancy and Gilbert Levine. This exhibit features 300 pieces of late 18th- and early 19th-century jewelry made and worn during a period of great changes in European society and fashion. The different designs demonstrate how the bling of these eras was used to express social status, love, and even remembrance and grief. The Levines gathered this collection over four decades of extensive European travel and the sparkling result is a show that includes jewelry of the English Gentry, gold filigree work, William IV jewelry, pieces from the Bourbon Restoration, early and late Victorian pieces, Revivalist jewelry, French Second Empire jewelry, Italian micro-mosaics, translucent enamels and expertly carved cameos, and jewelry with religious symbolism. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., and noon-5 p.m. Continues through June 5. Sun. $10 adults/$8 ages 65 and up/$5 ages 6-18 (free to kids under 6). 100 Second St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-821-1448, www.floridamuseum.org.

Orphans with a Brighter Future
In 1983, Canadian missionaries Gary and Marilyn Skinner established an English speaking church in the heart of Kampala, Uganda. Almost 10 years later, they initiated Watoto Child Care Ministries, an organization providing support to Ugandan children who lost one or both of their parents to AIDS or to civil war. The "Concerts of Hope" by the Watoto Children's Choir (comprising a small portion of these orphaned youths) is WCCM's primary method of raising funds while also increasing awareness of the AIDS crisis in Africa. The choir is a living example of the human spirit's ability to triumph over tragedy, and Bay area folks have two separate opportunities this weekend to witness what I've been told is a wonderfully joyous performance of native African rhythms, contemporary gospel music and ethnic dance. Free-will offerings are accepted but not expected. For more information, go to www.watoto.com or call 866-948-4343. Tonight at 7 p.m., St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, 502 Druid Hills, Temple Terrace, 813-988-6483; and 10:30 a.m. Sun., Jan. 22, at Morning Star Church (Sickles High School), 7950 Gunn Highway, Tampa, 813-948-0444.

January 22 – SATURDAY

Pyramid of Happenings
The Pier is abuzz with the sounds of yapping youngsters, classic car engines, strolling entertainers and startling mental processes. The fun begins at 11 a.m. with The Pier Aquarium's Scavenger Hunt, where kids can spend a few hours tracking down hidden treasures for groovy prizes. Strolling entertainers like Tropical Tom and face painter Heather Flower supply further diversions, and the excitement peaks with a special appearance by a character from the Fritzy Brothers One-Man Circus (1-4 p.m.). The Charity Auto Show features a display of all sorts of classic cars in the courtyard from noon to 8 p.m., with proceeds benefiting the Children's Miracle Network. To register your car, call 727-418-0628. Finally, Crystal Mirage Gallery presents the Second Annual Psychic Fair, where you can "pier" into the future from noon to 5 p.m. with tarot card readers, palm readers and rock readers; 20-minute appointments are available for $15, with part of the proceeds benefiting the Downtown Arts Association. Please call The Pier for more information. 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-821-6443.

January 24 – MONDAY

And Here's to You, Ms. Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild takes a turn as the sultry, demanding Mrs. Robinson in Terry Johnson's touring adaptation of The Graduate, which stops at Ruth Eckerd Hall for a single performance this evening. This coming-of-age comedy depicts the trials and tribulations of Benjamin Braddock, a college graduate who returns home uncertain about his future. Naive and confused, he falls victim to the wiles of Mrs. Robinson, a family friend whose overworked and inattentive husband has left her sexually frustrated and hungry for relief. To confuse matters further, Benjamin becomes infatuated with Mrs. Robinson's vibrant young daughter, prompting an avalanche of uncomfortable situations and comic hijinks. This should now read: Fairchild, an actress whose resume spans over two decades, has portrayed everyone from a lipstick lesbian to a scheming temptress. Now in her mid-50s, she tackles one of the most celebrated roles for sexy, older actresses. This production includes nudity and is recommended for adult audiences only. 8 p.m. $34-$65. 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-791-7400.

January 25 – TUESDAY

Back to the Basics
This year marks the 22nd anniversary of Stageworks, Tampa's venerable and widely recognized theater company. Besides receiving a heap of praise by local critics (including the Planet's own pundit of all things dramatic, Mark Leib), Stageworks is also the force behind Longjohns, a series of staged readings that showcases the talents of Florida playwrights. Since 1987, Longjohns has produced over 50 of these readings and tonight, treading, and tonight thehe season opens with Leslie Heidt's The Exchange. The script follows an old, homeless woman and a suicidal young man as they struggle to find meaning in their lives, a struggle, I'm told, that reflects the nature of human relationships while experimenting with the concepts of time and aging. I can't make any promises as to whether or not the play is any good – it hasn't been published, let alone performed. I can tell you, however, that it was originally written in verse and was only changed to prose because Heidt felt that this was the more powerful medium. See if it works and let the playwright know what you think at a talk back following the reading. 7:30 p.m. $5 adults/$3 students. Shimberg Playhouse – Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, 813-251-8984.

This article appears in Jan 19-25, 2005.