Welcome to Radar, where we run down the up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a fundraising dance party at St. Pete's trendy new art spot, Nova 535.
This weekend, Nova 535 art lounge hosts the life of Dr. John Barnett and raise funds for CLIP, the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Lately, Nova has received accolades for everything from best new art space to it’s world-class restrooms (the birch and travertine-covered restroom suites offer a “luxurious, no-touch bathroom experience,” often necessitating bouncers to enforce the, uh, “no-touch” part of the experience when randy couples discover those private bathrooms). Nova’s recent shindigs include the indie kid-approved Size Matters art show and the American Idol-esque Big Bang Gong Show — and tonight promises to continue the tradition of rockin’ events. Whether you dig disco, dance or rock 'n' roll, DJ CK kicks out the jams to keep you on the floor. (Pictured: The crowd mingles at Nova's most recent art show, Size Matters, by CL contributor Denis Baldwin) Aug. 8, Sat., 9 p.m., Nova 535 Art Lounge, 535 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg, $35, nova535.com. — Franki Weddington
This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2009.