Visual Arts
Openings
Clayton Galleries, 4105 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-3753). Hot Summer Show II, a group show featuring 19 gallery artists, runs Thursday, July 12, through Aug. 11. Artists include Peter Brown, Jeanne Cameron, Robin Cody, Lynn Davison, Cassandra James and Susan Klein. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Crystal Mirage Gallery, at The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-895-1166). In conjunction with the Downtown Art Association's Art Walk on Saturday, July 14, there's a reception for Life's a Beach, a gallery show of tropical fish, shells and other sea life created in glass. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Gold Dragon Gallery, 3508 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa (813-832-2755). The opening reception for Florida Fantasies, a summer exhibit curated by Patt Fosnaught, provides an opportunity for visitors to meet the artists. The Gold Dragon specializes in original paintings, limited edition prints, pottery, sculpture, blown glass, stained glass and custom framing using only conservation techniques. The reception takes place 6-9 p.m. Saturday, July 14. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Posh, 3120 Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa (813-839-1882). This regular salon/spa, known for its facials and oxygen treatments, presents Indulgence, an art exhibit of oils and acrylics by Jim Hulett. The reception takes place 7-10 p.m. Friday, July 13. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
SoHo Gallery, 2105 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2280). Visual artist Aurora M. Heuple's show, The World of Man, opens with a reception from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 14. Heuple creates works based on her experiences growing up a native of Mexico City, as well as from her studies of Indian cultures. The exhibition continues through Sept. 1. The reception is free and open to the public. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
St. Petersburg Downtown Art Association's Art Walk, taking place on the second Saturday of each month, runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 14, on Central Avenue, Beach Drive and a few downtown side streets. Nearly two dozen galleries expand their hours each month for strollers to check out their latest exhibits. The Arts Center, EastWest Gallery, Florida Craftsmen Gallery, Red Cloud Indian Arts, Studio Encanto and T.W. Curtis Studio and Gallery are among the participants. For a complete list of galleries, contact The Glass Canvas Gallery at 727-895-1166.
Tampa Gallery Association Third Thursday Event takes place on July 19. Members of the association support the art scene by offering extended hours (5 to 8 p.m.) on the third Thursday of each month. Galleries include the African Art Gallery and Museum, Artsiphartsi, Brad Cooper Gallery, Gold Dragon Gallery, Old Hyde Park Arts Center, Nuance Galleries, Tampa Museum of Art and Studio Gallery on Azeele. Call 813-875-0511 for a complete list of participating venues.
Ongoing
Brad Cooper Gallery, 1712 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-6098). Mysteries, featuring the works of contemporary artist Peter Mitchev, continues through July 21. Mitchev, one of the most successful and productive contemporary Bulgarian painters, offers works that are slightly Byzantine, and reminiscent of Gustav Klimt. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and by appointment.
Centre Gallery, in USF's Phyllis P. Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-5464). Splinters Pearls, a multimedia exhibition of sculpture and prints by Yudit Naage, runs through July 12. Yudit's work started out as imaginary explorations of small openings in the ground and broadened to include body spaces and exteriors. The Potato Years, an exhibition of paintings by Bradikus (Brad Kokay), also continues through July 21. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Covivant Gallery, 4906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa (813-232-3283). Black Out, a showcase of works by Bay-area artists, features Ryan Arcieri, David Greg Harth, Thomas Raymond Hipschen, Polly Holt, Jon Karl Holm and SKI. The exhibition continues through July 29. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment.
Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center, 176 Fifth Ave., Safety Harbor (727-723-8638). Independence, Freedom and Justice For All, an exhibit of freedom-themed art, continues through Aug. 17. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.
Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin (727-298-3322). A reception is being held 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 13, for three new exhibits: Bear's Paw Quilts, Star Search and The Quilts of Mildred Dort. Bear's Paw features quilts with a strong strength of design, color and innovation while paying homage to the traditional craftsmanship of quiltmaking. Star Search: 2001 Challenge of the Quilter's Crossing features quilts by 25 members of the Quilters' Crossing utilizing the star block assigned to them. And the Quilts of Mildred Dort showcases the quilts of this highly respected artist, demonstrating her versatile design. The exhibitions continue through Aug. 26. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visit the center at www.DFAC.org.
Galerie du Soleil, formerly the Thomas Kinkade Spring Gate Galleries, 727 S. Dakota Ave., Tampa (813-249-5880). This gallery in the heart of Hyde Park not only continues to carry the beautiful works of Kinkade, but also stunning pieces by impressionists Leonard Wren, Royo and Stephen Shortridge, realist Chao Young, serigraphs, giclees and oils by Don Hatfield and actress Jane Seymour, and more.
Gallery Enormous, 540 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-551-9865). The gallery's first show, Enormous Talent: A Taste of Things to Come, features works by those artists who will be represented by the gallery throughout its first year. The debut show continues through July 13, and artists include Theo Wujcik and Frank Strunk III. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and by appointment.
Glass Canvas Gallery, 233 Fourth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-821-6767). The new summer show presents recent acquisitions from Eastern Europe and the United States. The show runs through Aug. 31st. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Graphicstudio, 3702 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 100, Tampa (813-974-3503). Nudes, a collection of works by 14 artists, including Robert Mapplethorpe, Philip Pearlstein, Jim Dine, Judy Chicago and Joel Peter Witkin, runs through September. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Grossman Gallery, 1111 Swann Ave., Tampa (813-258-4441). The first show includes the works of impressionist painter Greg Cartmell and abstract oils by Sikrat. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
HCC-Ybor Gallery, in the Performing Arts Building, Palm Avenue at 15th Street, Tampa (813-253-7674). Recent works by HCC's art department faculty members are on display through Aug. 5. The wide range of media includes items by Chad Bryan, Suzanne Camp Crosby, Susan Gott, Stephen Holm and Carolyn Kossar. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Hyde Park Fine Arts, 937 s. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-258-8883). Influx, a group paintings exhibition, continues through Aug. 11. This show highlights the works of four emerging artists, Kathryn Jill Johnson, Roxie Veasey, Joanna Coke and Hector Del Campo. Each artist, all of whom trained in the USF Fine Arts Program, includes dark, nostalgic elements (sometimes with hints of eroticism) in their works. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
MacArthur Galleries, 100 E. Madison St. (corner of Ashley Street), Tampa (813-221-5343). Figurative Dialog, drawings and oils by Edgar Sanchez Cumbas, who was recently accepted into the Tampa Museum of Art's UnderCURRENT/OverVIEW fifth annual exhibition. Collage works on paper by Michael Madzo, who lends texture to his images by tearing montages apart and sewing them back together, are also included. The show continues through Thursday, Aug. 9. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Merrick Gallery, 330 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg (727-896-2787). Contemporary Masters II can currently be seen at the gallery, all discounted in honor of the gallery's second anniversary. Continuing through August, the show features works by Crash, Hirst, Rosenquist, Rauschenberg and Warhol. Gallery resident artists (Gerhard Birkhoffer, Rocky Bridges, Antonio Caparello, Leslie Neumann and David Williams) also contribute works. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Painted Fish Gallery, 350 Main St., Dunedin (727-736-0934). The gallery's new show presents hand-colored etchings by Tampa artist John Costin, whose latest show, Vista, concentrates on herons and egrets in their natural habitats. The exhibit runs through Sept. 2. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (extended to 7 p.m. on Friday).
Purple Moon, 833 Douglas Ave., Dunedin (727-738-1540). This bar and music venue plays host to the Feel Good Art Series, featuring local artists the third Sunday of every month from noon to dusk. Barbara Thomason, M.S.A. exhibits her works of water and gouche Sunday, July 15. Admission is free. Call 727-738-1540.
Romeo Art and Design, 1515 7th Ave., Tampa (813-247-1010). Third generation Ybor City artisan Walter Romeo has returned, and along with fellow artist Dennis Johnson, presents a new art space featuring work by local artists (Guillermo Portielles, Alex Espalter-Torres, Tomas Marais), stylish furniture and coffee. Hours are noon-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Studio Encanto, 209 First St. N., St. Petersburg (727-821-2959). There is a reception for the artist David Lach from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, July 14. Lach is best known for his murals that decorate the subway and Citibank building in Mexico City. His work is on display through July 21. A two-man show featuring the works of Dragoslav Milic and Andrej Kroslak continues through July 12. Milic's bold works range from florals to landscapes to portraits, while Kroslak shows off his Lady Bug floral series. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Susan Benjamin Glass Etc., 247 Main St., Safety Harbor (727-725-1808). Pate de Verre Vessels, glasswork by Keith and Deanna Clayton, are pieces cast using an ancient glass technique, which translated from the French title means paste of glass. The couple's pieces have been collected across the country. Their show, which is free and open to the public, runs through Aug. 2. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Syd Entel Galleries, 247 Main St., Safety Harbor (727-725-1808). Women in the Arts is a collection of well-known artists from across the country, including Jean Richardson, Rodo Boulanger, Dawn Marie, Lori-Ann Latremoille, Patricia Nix, Marsha Hamel and Clearwater's own Sally Evans. The exhibit continues through Aug. 2. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
TECO Public Art Gallery, 2623 Jetton Ave., Tampa (813-251-3688). TECO exhibits the paintings and sculptures of Ronald Jaco throughout the month of July. The exhibit consists of 20 acrylic paintings and bold 3-D sculptures of familiar subjects with subtle artistic interpretations. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Museums and Attractions
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater (727-441-1790). This nonprofit organization is dedicated to education, research and the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine animals. Drop by to visit the dolphins, sea turtles and river otters, and to touch a stingray or two. Admission costs $7.75 for adults and $5.25 for kids. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-273-4000). Using shovels, brushes, sifting boxes and other tools of the trade, participants in Underwater Archaeology unearth fossils left behind by ancient marine animals as well as artifacts of Florida's Native Americans. The excavation takes place 10 a.m. to noon at Spa Beach and The Education Station on Saturday, July 14. The outing is free, but donations are appreciated. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets cost $13.75 for adults, $12.75 for seniors, $8.75 for kids age 3-12 and free for children under 3. Visit www.flaquarium.net.
Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S., St. Petersburg (727-820-0100). Women of Ravensbruck: Portraits of Courage continues through Aug. 19. This show features images by Julia Terwilliger, who immortalized the faces of triumphant women who survived Ravensbruck, the major Nazi concentration camp for women. Working Through the Past: 1946-2000, The Art of Samuel Bak also continues through Aug. 19. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $6 for general, $5 for seniors and college students, $2 for ages 18 and under and members get in free.
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo (727-518-6833). Pinellas County High School Survey, an annual student art exhibit, is on view through Aug. 6. John Henry: Wandering Spirit, continues through Aug. 27, offering Henry's sculptural installation in the Sculpture Garden. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (extended to 7 p.m. on Thursday), noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission costs $3 for adults (free on Thursday). Visit www.gulfcoastmuseum.org.
Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-254-1891). Simple Pleasures: America's Love of Pond Yachts continues through Dec. 23. This show features vintage pond yachts and their rigging, historical memorabilia and photographs. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $5.
Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552). Summer Safari Nights, the zoo's annual summer series, returns Friday, July 20, 6-8:30 p.m., featuring the zoo's main exhibits as well as live swing and reggae bands. Admission is free for zoo pass holders. General admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children age 3-11 and free for children under 3. Call 813-935-8552.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Pete (727-896-2667). Beyond Adornment: Beads from Around the World continues through Aug. 26. Admission costs $6 for adults, and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-987-6300 or 813-987-6100). The museum's highlights include BioWorks Butterfly Garden, an engineered ecosystem that emulates natural wetlands; the Back Woods, 40 acres of special water conservation elements and outdoor exhibits; and the Saunders Planetarium. The IMAX Dome Theater features an 82-foot hemispherical movie screen (see Movie Marquee for schedule). The Museum's combo admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $9 for ages 2 to 13. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call the info line at 813-987-6100 for IMAX show times.
Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Pete. (727-823-3767). A Disarming Beauty: The Venus de Milo in 20th Century Art continues through Sept. 9. This show explores our culture's continued fascination with the mass-produced Venus through surrealist and contemporary artists who incorporate the icon into their works. Admission costs $10 for adults. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Hours extend to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, when admission is half off. Visit www.salvadordalimuseum.org.
St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. N.E. (on the Pier approach), St. Pete (727-894-1052). Souvenirs of Florida – From Tasteful to Tacky continues through Sept. 15. The exhibit traces the earliest souvenirs from the 1880s, made of naturally occurring materials, such as alligator teeth and palm fronds, through the dreadful kitsch of the 1960s. On permanent display is the Walk through Time and Try History on For Size galleries, where visitors can see themselves in vintage costumes through mirrors creating the illusion of wearing period clothing. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for ages 7-17, and free for kids 6 and under. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Sunken Gardens, 1825 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg (727-551-3100). East Meets West, a festival of Japanese and exotic fruits, offers fruit tasting, a fruit garden, Asian food vendors and presentations on Bonsai and Ikebana. The festival takes place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15. Admission costs $6 for adults, $2 for children 3 to 11. The gardens house 6 acres of tropical mini-rain forest, fish ponds and more. Every Sunday, the gardens also offer a free concert on the Wedding Lawn. Admission costs $4 for adults, $3 for ages 55 and up, and $1 for ages 3 to 12. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.
Tampa Bay History Center, in the Tampa Convention Center Annex, 225 S. Franklin St., Tampa (813-228-0097). The center highlights Tampa Bay's rich heritage and diverse culture by highlighting the area's milestones. Exhibits feature artifacts and photographs from the early Timucuan Indians and European explorers through the Civil War and both World Wars. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.
Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, in Old Hyde Park Village, 746 S. Village Circle, Tampa (813-251-1800). Tampa's latest museum, the first devoted solely to the art of photography, holds over its Masters of Black and White exhibit, due to popular demand, through July 29. Admission's free, and hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.tgpa.org.
Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813-274-8130). Nota bene: The Museum is offering $1 admission to all Florida residents for the month of July. Arte Contemporanea di vetri (Contemporary Art in Glass) continues through October. The American Experience: 20th Century Prints from the Berkman Foundation continues through July 22; James Rosenquist: The Florida Years, 1976-2001, through Aug. 5. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (extended to 8 p.m. on Thursday) and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission ranges from $3 to $5; free 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
USF Contemporary Art Museum, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Cam 101, Tampa (813-974-4133). Contemporary Art from Cuba: Irony and Survival on the Utopian Island continues through July 14. Sixteen Cuban artists use their works to explore irony and humor as a survival technique for their country's political difficulties. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Ybor City State Museum, 1818 Ninth Ave., Ybor City (813-247-6323). As We Heard It: Three Generations of Ybor City News continues through Sept. 30. This show pays tribute to the Manteiga family, founders of La Gaceta, the nation's only trilingual newspaper. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Visitors may see the Museum and the Casita (worker's home) for $2 per person.
Theater/Performance(See Classifieds for auditions.)
Beauty and the Beast The Gorilla Theatre presents a family production of this classic French fairy tale, adapted by Steve Mountan, the theater's managing director. The cast features Joanna Sycz as Beauty and Jon Middlesworth as the Prince transformed into a beast. The performance takes place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, July 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at the Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa (813-879-2914). All seats are $5.
Blown Sideways Through Life, an award-winning play by Claudia Shears, opens with the Southeastern premiere at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Hinks and Shimberg Playhouse. Shears' play runs through July 22, with showtimes at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. Ticket prices range from $10 to $15.50. The Playhouse is located at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Falsettos, a pop-rock opera, traces the journey of a family preparing their son's bar mitzvah, while the child deals with his parent's divorce and his father's relationship with a man living with AIDS. The musical runs July 13-Aug. 5 at the American Stage, 211 Thirds St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-7529). Single tickets cost $20-$28. Call for showtimes.
Forever Plaid, a hit Broadway musical set in the '50s, is the story of a quartet of teenage singing hopefuls called The Four Plaids. The show runs through Aug. 12 in the Jaeb Theater of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827). Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $24.50 to $29.50.
Visiting Mr. Green, a comedy by Jeff Baron, chronicles the relationship of two men; Mr. Green, a curmudgeonly elderly man firmly anchored in traditional Judaism, and Ross Gardiner, a young up-and-comer with more modern values. The play runs Friday, July 13-Aug. 5. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $20-$28. The play takes place at the American Stage, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-7529).
West Coast Theatre Auditions, for the 2001-02 season of the Florida West Coast Alliance of Professional Theaters, requires applicants to prepare and perform two contrasting, one-minute monologues (preferably one classical, one contemporary), or one one-minute monologue and 16 bars of song. An accompanist is provided. The auditions are held from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 16, at American Stage, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-1600).
Comedy
Brewmaster's Steak House, 401 Second St., Indian Rocks Beach (727-515-8059). Comedian G. David Howard entertains the bar crowd at one of the latest alternative venues for stand-up comedy, at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Cover varies.
Coconuts Comedy Club, at Howard Johnson, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-360-JOKE). Nick Arandes performs at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, through Sunday, July 15. Open mic night features Steve Epstein at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 18. Cover charge varies (two-drink minimum). Reservations are suggested.
Coconuts Comedy Club, at the Cinema Cafe, 24095 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater (727-797-JOKE). Leslie Norris performs Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14. Show times are at 9:30 p.m. Cover varies (two-drink minimum). Reservations suggested.
Drew Street Station Comedy Night, 1717 Drew St., Clearwater (727-441-3350). From 9 to 11 p.m. every Thursday, the Station lets up-and-coming comedians cut their comedy teeth on the club clientele. Each week, six comedians contribute to the all-you-can-stand smorgasbord of laughs. The evening, like every other at Drew Street, imposes no cover charge or drink minimum.
Improv Comedy Theater, at Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City (813-864-4000). Roman Murray performs July 17 on Phat Tuesday, a weekly feature of comedians seen on BET comedy shows. Girard hits the stage Wednesday, July 18. Both shows are at 8 p.m. Tickets to see Murray are $10, while Girard's show is $8. All prices are advance purchase, and cost $2 more at the door. (Get a ticket recently? Call about the Improv's Driving School. No kidding.)
Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-960-1197). Ken Whitener, The Master Hypnotist, spellbinds audiences and doubles them over with laughter through July 15. Regular admission ranges from $5-$12 (depending on the night). Show times are 8:30 p.m. weekdays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Literary & Libraries
Barnes & Noble-Brandon, 122 Brandon Town Center Drive (813-661-9883). The next Poets and Artists meeting takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 13. Bring a poem to share on superstition, spiritualism or any related topic for a celebration of Poems of the Spirit. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday.
Inkwood Books, 216 Armenia Ave. S., Tampa (813-253-2638). Tim Dorsey reads and signs his newest comic mystery, Orange Crush, at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 12. Dorsey, a former Tampa Tribune reporter, skewers Florida politics with his darkly hilarious perspective. Joanie Willis discusses and signs her book, The Cancer Patient's Workbook: Everything You Need to Stay Organized and Informed, her acclaimed guide to everything from pain management and fighting fear, to what to bring to chemo treatments. Willis' reading takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 18. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, extended to 9 p.m. on Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Kid's Summer Programs, at darn near every library in the land, begin in June and continue through August. Without a doubt, kids rule the stacks throughout summer. Beginning in June, young minds stay active thanks in part to reading programs, computer camps, game days and all sorts of other fun stuff designed to help kids retain what they learned the previous year. Call your local library for a summer schedule, or call John F. Germany Public Library (main branch) at 813-273-3652.
Powerful Online Resources, for the technically challenged, takes place at many Tampa-area libraries each month. Ask your local branch about appointments to receive one-on-one training on the library's extensive electronic resources, as well as basic e-mail instruction. Call Tampa's main library, John F. Germany, for your nearest branch at 813-273-3652.
Tarpon Springs, 138 E. Lemon St., Tarpon Springs (727-943-4922). The library's Summer Reading Program introduces and discusses a bevy of animals every Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday nights (7 p.m.) in addition to readings and other fun stuff, kids can check out a variety of birds, iguanas and snakes. On Thursday mornings (11 a.m.) plays and magic shows commingle with various animals, reptiles and the occasional huge cat from WildLife on Easy Street. All events are free, but reservations are a good idea. Call the library for more details.
Open Mic
Beaux Arts Gallery and Folk Coffeehouse, 2635 Central Ave., St. Pete (727-328-0702). Beaux Arts' open mic takes place from 8 to 11:30 p.m. every Saturday. Art films are shown at 8 p.m. Friday, and 2:30 and 8 p.m. Sunday. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. daily, extended from 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and 7 to 11:30 p.m. Saturdays. A donation of $2 to $5 is suggested at the door, but coffee and tea are free.
Big Kahuna's, 450 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach (727-447-7088). Every Thursday, the Big K hosts a music-oriented open jam at 9 p.m. Admission costs $4.
Bitter Shot, at Joffrey's Coffee Shop, 1616 Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-5282). This spoken word and open mic night takes place at 9 p.m. every Wednesday, complete with background music. Admission is free.
Brass Mug, 1441 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa (813-972-8152). The Mug offers an open jam night every Monday. Beginning at 9:30 p.m., the event allows musicians to take the stage and show off their chops. As extra incentive, all musicians can down 75-cent drafts throughout the evening. A full P.A., sound and drums are provided.
Center of Radical Empowerment, formerly the George Orwell Resource Center, hosts an open mic from 8 to 11 p.m. every Monday. Music, poetry, spoken word, performance art … whatever floats your boat is OK by the progressive folks at C.O.R.E. Admission's free but donations are accepted. Call 727-821-2673.
Cool Tunes Coffee Bar, formerly Java Lounge, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater (727-799-3788). Open mic takes place from 9 to 11:30 p.m. every Wednesday, and guitarist Paul Reynolds plays from 9 to 11:30 every Thursday. Open mics are free. Hours 9 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday.
Corrigan's Irish Pub, 4685 28th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-528-0711). Poets, musicians, comedians and everybody else can have their 15 minutes at Open Mic Night every Monday from 7 to 11 p.m. The Dough Boyz Duo host the show and play a few ditties of their own in between the amateurs.
Cruzin' 66, at 66th Street and 50th Avenue in Pinellas Park (727-547-0230). Richie Vee and Dread, White & Blue host an 8 p.m. open blues jam every Sunday. Join in the jam, learn a few new tricks and maybe meet your new bandmates.
Gatorz Southern Rock Cafe, 509 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon (813-662-1557). Mike Childs hosts a Wednesday open jam at Gators, which begins at 10 p.m. Dillon G. helps Childs host the event, which is geared toward musicians but open to poets as well.
Insomnia Coffee House Gallery, 32884 U.S. 19, Palm Harbor (727-789-3771). Musicians, poets, comedians, magicians and anyone else can perform at the 9 p.m. open mic events every Tuesday, hosted by Big Rick (sign-up starts at 8 p.m.). Hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday and Monday.
James Joyce Irish Pub, 1704 1/2 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-247-1896). Tuesday's female singer-songwriter night has become an open mic for all musicians, 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. every Tuesday, hosted by Rebekah Pulley and Jerry Provost. The pub also offers a variety of live, acoustical music nightly. Call for hours.
Joffrey's Coffee Shop, 5165 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-946-7622). Doris Yates hosts a poetry/spoken word open mic at 3 p.m. every Sunday. Sign in by 2:30 p.m. if you want to read. Also, Stazji (yeah, we can't pronounce it either) hosts a poetry slam the first Sunday of each month, with prizes for the winners. Call 727-449-0597 or e-mail to stazja@aol.com.
Market on 7th, 1816 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-2356). If you miss Vince Longo's Wednesday Open Mic at Yeoman's Road, schlep on down to the market where Longo and John Meats host yet another, this one from 8 p.m. to midnight each Thursday. The event is mostly musical, but any appreciable talent is welcome.
Rockwell's Corner Pub, 10801 Starkey Road, Suite One, Largo (727-398-1055). The Blue Team hosts an 8 p.m. to midnight open mic every Thursday. Musicians are welcome to come on down and jam with the band during this highly improvisational evening of blues tunes.
Subterranean Digs, an open poetry event, takes place every other Tuesday at Atomic Age Cafe. This event begins with sign-up at 9 p.m., followed by the open mic at 9:30 p.m. Admission's free, but donations (money, clothes, non-perishable, etc.) are always collected for Metropolitan Ministries. The cafe's at 1518 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-247-6547, or visit http://sybil.org/dig.
Tavern at Bayboro, on the USF St. Pete campus, 121 Seventh Ave. S., St. Petersburg (727-821-1418). Hosted by Shana, this open mic takes place from 8 to 11:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Cool feature performers show up every week, musicians, poets and performance artists are welcome and visual artists are encouraged to bring out their works as well. Arrive early to reserve your spot.
The Pharm, 941 Huntley Ave., Dunedin (727-735-9019). The Pharm's growing Open Mic has moved from Mondays to Wednesdays from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Host Ben Bryant, a talented musician himself, keeps things moving, while a wide variety of performers grace the stage. www.pharmreport.com.
Triple Talent Showcase, at the – Ybor campus courtyard, located at Eighth Avenue and Republica De Cuba in Ybor City (813-973-0528). Sanman's Pure Poets Society is back, offering an 8 to 10 p.m. open mic event every Wednesday. Poets of all skill levels are welcome to share their works, but a $3 donation is requested prior to performing.
Tycoon's, 526 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-826-6716). Keyboardist Kevin Wilder hosts an open jazz jam from 6 p.m. to midnight every Sunday. Players from around the Bay area join Wilder for this weekly improv session. Admission's free.
Yeoman's Road Pub, 236 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa (813-251-BRIT). The open mic line-up at Yeoman's includes a blues jam every Tuesday with Mike Tozier, Weekly Planet's 2000 Best Acoustic Act winner. Vince Longo also hosts an open jam every Wednesday, featuring an eclectic mix of performers from the Bay's music scene. And, for good measure, an open jazz jam takes place every Thursday. All events are free and start at 9 p.m. (or thereabouts).
Sports & Nature
Boyd Hill Nature Park, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg (727-893-7326). Common Scents: the Art and Science of Aromatherapy, a series of five sessions demonstrating the benefits of aromatherapy, offers topics ranging from personal hygiene, gardening, natural pest control and uses in the home, to benefits for the outdoor enthusiast. The sessions continue through July 30. The cost is $5 per session. Guides offer night hikes, bird hikes, nature walks and wildflower walks for free.
Laser Tag at the Ice Sports Forum Already a popular ice skating venue, the Tampa Bay Lightning's practice facility has opened a 3,300-square-foot, space-themed laser tag facility able of handle up to 40 players at once. Competition levels vary from fun-seekers to experienced, all-out players, welcoming walk-ons and offering leagues. Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday. The Ice Forum is located at 10222 Elizabeth Place, Tampa (813-684-7825).
Osprey Bay Kayaks, 17910 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater (727-524-9670). Aside from a variety of classes, Osprey also offers regular outings, including Full Moon Paddles, Weekday Get Aways (Clearwater Bay, Caladesi Island, etc.) and fishing trips. For a full schedule of events, costs and other information, call the above number or visit www.ospreybay.com/trips.htm.
Special Events
Downtown Palm Harbor Craft Festival, Palm Harbor's third annual arts and crafts festival, takes place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15. Palm Harbor plans to line Florida Avenue with vendors and artisan tables for this event, which includes food courts and live music. Local crafters participating this year include Glenn Cryer, Cathy Decator and Theresa Kresge. For more information, call 813-962-0388 or go to the event's Web site: www.ARTFESTIVAL.com.
Duck Tours of Tampa Bay, a historical and entertaining tour of Tampa Bay by land and sea in authentic World War II amphibious vehicles (Ducks), lasts approximately an hour and 20 minutes and is fully narrated. The Tampa/Ybor tour departs from Newk's Cafe, 514 Channelside Drive (813-310-3825) and the St. Petersburg tour departs from The Pier, 800 Second Ave., NE (727-432-3825). Adult tickets cost $18.50, $16.50 for seniors and military, $9.95 for children 3-12. www.DuckToursOfTampaBay.com.
This article appears in Jul 18-24, 2001.
