May 12 Thursday
WIPE OUT This weekend, Palm Harbor resident Arsen Broztek releases his debut surf documentary, Jungle Juice: Surfing Adventure In Costa Rica's Southern Zone. The 45-minute film follows three friends as they pack up their boards and head to Costa Rica for some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. An assortment of family and friends join them shortly after they arrive, and collectively, the group explores several of the most bio-diverse ecosystems found on the planet, while appreciating some pretty incredible scenery and discovering the perfect wave. As far as surf films go, Jungle Juice offers a different perspective, focusing less on the surfing itself and more on the adventure of getting to the destination. You can see the film at two screening events, which also feature prize giveaways, guest appearances and more. The theatrical release occurs tonight at 8:30 p.m. $10, Beach Theater, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727-360-6697; a special night club screening takes place tomorrow night at 8 p.m. $10, Boomerz Boiler Room, 6990 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, 727-391-7066.
May 13 Friday
PLACE YOUR BIDS In many cases, property seizure law works like this: A drug dealer's house gets raided; illegal narcotics are seized; and if authorities believe the suspect's property has been used in connection with a drug crime, or purchased with tainted money, odds are that the property will be confiscated for a public auction, with most of the proceeds benefiting law enforcement agencies. "Night of a Thousand Thieves" (catchy title, ain't it?) is a more fitting fundraiser. The auction does include upscale jewelry and various other items impounded by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Tampa Police Department. However, proceeds help to fund local drug treatment programs at DACCO, a Hillsborough County nonprofit drug treatment and prevention agency that aids over 25,000 people annually. The auction also includes things like travel and vacation packages donated by individuals and area businesses. For more information, call 813-231-1340 or e-mail laurat@dacco.org. 7 p.m. $50 per person (includes a dinner buffet). The Tampa Club, Bank of America Building, 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.
May 14 Saturday
BLUE FOR YOU Out of the Blue Festival of Art, one of the area's newest cultural events, is an exhibit and sale showcasing a variety of Florida artists in an informal Clearwater setting. Last year, the fest debuted to great success, attracting thousands of enthusiasts with its solid roster of talent. This year seems just as promising. The jury has selected 62 artists to participate in the show and attendees can expect to see a diverse assortment of media, including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, drawings, printmaking, wood, fiber, glass, jewelry and paper. In addition to presenting their work for sale, the artists compete for $10,000 in cash awards, with winners selected by two distinguished judges: Sandra Blain, professor emeritus at University of Tennessee and director emeritus at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts; and Cynthia Hollis, director of art exhibitions and programs at Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. The fest is presented by the Professional Association of Visual Artists (PAVA) in partnership with the City of Clearwater. For more information, visit www.outoftheblueartshow.com or call 727-736-2466. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., May 14-15. Free. Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater.
MULTIPLE IDENTITIES Sean Sexton leads a fascinating, almost surreal existence. The native Floridian operates a 600-acre cattle ranch near Vero Beach, which was originally pioneered by his grandfather, Waldo Sexton, in the 1940s. His days are a combination of mending fences, herding, feeding and birthing cattle … activities that differ greatly from his other passions: drawing and painting. Sexton begins by filling hundreds of sketchbooks/journals with interior and exterior sketches of his rural life. In the studio, Sexton transforms his drawings into representational paintings; his landscapes depict Florida's serene, pastoral settings, while his elaborate still lifes feature tables decorated with a range of harvest fruits and vegetables, tools and parts of machinery, collections of animal skulls and bones, and pictures and memorabilia from his past. Together, all of Sexton's images capture his vigorous lifestyle as a rancher, and you can view them in A Pastoral Life Inside/Out at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. The opening reception's from 7 to 9 p.m. this evening. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat. and noon-4 p.m. Sun.; the exhibit runs through June 26. $5 adults/$4 seniors/$3 for students. 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo, 727-518-6833.
May 15 Sunday
A RACE OF PINT-SIZED PROPORTIONS Pathfinder, Inc., is a nonprofit organization with 12 years of experience helping students, educators and parents build a positive and fully engaged learning environment. Pathfinder promotes an increased social and personal responsibility through more than 70 programs, which cover teambuilding, leadership development, environmental education, personal wellbeing and cultural diversity. Today, the organization hosts Fun Fest & Fin Flotilla, a fundraiser where participants donate money (a minimum of $10) to "adopt" a toy turtle, dolphin or alligator. The toy animals are then launched in a watery race at Ft. DeSoto's North Beach Park and the grand prize winner takes home $1,000 cash. If you're not up to joining, you can still observe the excitement and enjoy the other diversions, including music by the Urban Gypsies, a live Reptile Review show, and games and activities for the whole family. Proceeds from the fest benefit Pathfinder's new Outreach Scholarship Fund. For more information or to find out how to adopt a toy animal, call 727-328-0300. Noon-3 p.m. 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde.
May 18 Wednesday
CATCH OF THE DAY Witness the oceanic adventure of the inquisitive clownfish Nemo, his cautious-to-the-point-of-paranoia dad, Marlin, and the spacey yet lovable Dory, as Disney on Ice presents Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo at the St. Pete Times Forum. This iced-up version of the animated film features the same plotline and characters, but falls under the direction of Emmy- and Tony Award-winning talents. Lighting designer Peter Morse creates an underwater feel with brilliant colors and special effects that accompany the newest Disney On Ice addition – a 25-by-32-foot rear digital projection screen. The screen sets the environment for each scene, and unlike sculpted scenery or a painted backdrop, it's designed to enhance the lighting effects by adding depth and dimension. Meanwhile, production designer John Arnone establishes the vastness of the ocean and its lively inhabitants with an effective use of space and the incorporation of large-scale props. Ultimately, the lighting, digital projection and set all work in different capacities to achieve the same result – an underwater fantasy that will keep audiences spellbound. 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sat.; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sun., May 18-22. $18-$41. 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 813-301-6600.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2005.