Halloween
Fright Fest 2001, an eerie nighttime tour through Asylum Gardens (Adult Trail), takes place at Largo Central Park from 6 to 11 p.m. Oct. 19, 20, 26-31. There is also a Children's Trail, full of terrifying scenes to frighten the little ones. Also for the kids is Boo Bash, featuring storytelling, games and Halloween contests. Advance tickets cost $9.95, $4.95 for children over 4. Largo Central Park is at 400 Central Park Drive, Largo (727-586-5423).
Ghost Ship The SS American Victory is transformed into a Ghost Ship to celebrate Halloween and help raise funds for restoration of the ship into a mariner's museum and memorial. The Ghost Ship includes goblins, ghosts, a pirate invasion and a maze to test the navigational skill of all visitors. The event takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 18-20, 25-27 and 31. Tickets cost $20, $10 for children under 12. The SS American Victory is at 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-383-5218).
Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens' startling landscape of fright, features encounters with ghouls and goblins, along with five new haunted houses: Escape from Insanity, Curse of Tut's Tomb, Screaming Reality, Creeper's Crypt and Night Stalker in 3-D. The event takes place from 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. (7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays and Sunday) Oct. 19, 20, 25-28 and 31. Admission costs $34.95. Busch Gardens is at the corner of Busch Boulevard and 40th Street in Tampa (813-987-5082).
Nightmare on Second Street, a haunted house sponsored by the City of Safety Harbor, takes place Oct. 24-27. This haunted house is one of the best in Pinellas County, and has scary surprises for both kids and adults. Hours are 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission costs $4. The haunted house is at the Rigsby Recreation Center, 605 Second St. N., Safety Harbor. Call 727-724-1545.
Zoo Boo, at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552). Zoo Boo, the zoo's annual family friendly Halloween event, takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 19-30. Get spooked in the new Haunted Mansion and enjoy the zoo's decorative transformation, which includes a special area for kids' games, storytelling and haunted hearse rides. The zoo's 1,500 exotic animals are also on display until dusk. General admission is $7 for adults and $5 for ages 3-11.
Visual ArtsOpenings
Centre Gallery, in USF's Phyllis P. Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-5464). From Here to Breath is an installation by Nazanin Arandi. The work is an abstract piece that aims to evoke a sense of constant evolution. A reception takes place from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, and the exhibit runs through Nov. 9. Sentiment & Sentimentality is an intercollegiate event exhibiting the artistic talent of graduate students from national and international universities. The show runs through Oct. 19. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Clayton Galleries, 4105 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-3753). Robin Cody — Recent Work is just that, an exhibit of new paintings by the Sarasota artist. Cody, who received an MFA in painting from Queens College in New York, is currently an instructor at the Ringling School of Art and Design. A reception takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, and the exhibit runs through Nov. 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Purple Moon, 833 Douglas Ave., Dunedin (727-738-1540). This bar and regular music venue plays host to the Feel Good Art Series, featuring the works of local artists from noon to 8 p.m. the third Sunday of every month. On Sunday, Oct. 21, Misha offers Electronic Paint, an exhibit of fantasy-theme prints. Admission is free. Call 727-738-1540.
Romeo Art and Design Gallery, 1515 Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-247-1010). Easy Access is an exhibit of works by talented local artists Jim McCarthy, Karen Pauline, Joe Draye and Randy Alvarez. As the show's title hints, the cost of these pieces, the artworks themselves and the gallery's location are all easily accessible. The gallery, run by third-generation Ybor City artisan Walter P. Romeo, features original paintings, pottery, stylish European furniture as well as modern furniture designed by architects. A reception takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and the exhibition continues through Dec. 1. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Silver Meteor Gallery, 2213 E. Sixth Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4500). Twelve features a dozen of Charles D. Doan's most recent two-dimensional and relief painting. A reception takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, and the exhibit runs through Nov. 18. Gallery hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Syd Entel Galleries, 247 Main St., Safety Harbor (727-725-1808). A reception takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, for Sally Chastain Evans and Jay Miller, whose latest works are on display through Nov. 7. Evans, an expressionist, and Miller, an impressionist, are both accomplished painters. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Vincent William Gallery Inc., 320 Corey Ave., St. Petersburg (727-363-1334). Keep it Together is an exhibit celebrating the gallery's eighth anniversary. Artists on display include Australian silver jeweler Jose Nunes and Canadian bronze artist Andrew Benyei. The gallery also includes works by more than 120 local, national and Canadian artists. The exhibit opens Friday, Oct. 19, and runs through Nov. 23. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ongoing
531 Central Fine Arts, 531 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2787). Shades of Autumn is an exhibit of both traditional and abstract works by five artists: Chris Goertz, Arturo Guerrero, J.P. Monange, Robert Palevitz and Vera Tuns. The exhibit continues through Oct. 20. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.531central.com.
9 Gallery, 902 N. Rome Ave. (corner of Cypress and Rome), Tampa (813-258-1694). Love Mangled Brain is an exhibit of deconstructionist metal installations by artist Public Hairs. The show runs through October. Hours are by appointment only, and the gallery owner invites artists to call for info on showing their works.
Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Pete (727-822-7872). The Arts Center's Fall Focus on Photography includes work by William Eggleston, Robyn Voshardt and Sven Humphrey, Herb Snitzer and Janice Garrin. Eggleston's prints are acclaimed for his use of dye-transfer color printing and his concept of art from the obvious. Voshardt and Humphrey are collaborative artists working in large-scale color prints, documenting objects of personal significance. Herb Snitzer's exhibit is a documentary of Winky Wright and the St. Pete Boxing Club, conveying the duality of boxing's violence and grace. Garrin's images are of teens, giving voice to young people by showing their lives and portraying their concerns. The exhibit runs through Oct. 26. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, through Saturday.
Baisden Gallery, 442 Grand Central Ave., Suite 100, Tampa (813-250-1511). Pictorial Horizon is an exhibit of landscapes featuring works by Alison Burnett, Scott Duce, Jim Draper and Matt Larson. The exhibit presents a cross section of media and landscape themes. The exhibit runs through Nov. 17. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and by appointment.
Brad Cooper Gallery, 1712 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-6098). International Voices features works by 10 artists from as many different nationalities. The artists include Eva Lobreis, Peter Mitchev, Roberto Rodriguez, Posoon Sung and Larie Wickenkamp. The exhibit continues through Oct. 31. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and by appointment.
Covivant Gallery, 4906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa (813-232-3283). The October Surprise, in Gallery A, features projects, proposals and ongoing works by that mysterious Florida Avenue art group, Experimental Skeleton. The group's ever growing Genetic Archive is included in the show, as well as their answer to Ybor's face-recognition software cameras. Characters, in Gallery B, features location photos of Tampa Bay locals by commercial and fine art photographer Justin Smith. The exhibits run through Oct. 20. 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). Return to Sender is the Center's sixth anniversary celebration, at which patrons are able to choose from more than 500 black-and-white, postcard-size line drawings by students from Creative Clay's daily arts programs. All pieces cost $20. The show runs through Oct. 30. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.
EastWest Gallery & Framery, 529 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-823-9629). Flower Power is an exhibit of acrylics on canvas by Susan Supper. The metaphorical works show flora emerging from cityscapes. The exhibit is on display through Dec. 1. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment.
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave., downtown St. Pete (727-821-7391). The Exotic and the Esoteric is an exhibit surveying new works by 16 of Florida's finest artists working in the medium of wood. The exhibit includes such works as wall sculptures by Cape Coral artist Dennis Elliot, and hand-carved trompe l'oeil quilts and hats by Tampa's Fraser Smith. The exhibit runs through Oct. 26. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Gold Dragon Gallery, 3508 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa (813-832-2755). The Gold Dragon exhibits work by clients of Project Return, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for adults with mental illness through educational and vocational services. The exhibit runs through Nov. 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Hyde Park Fine Arts, 937 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-258-8883). Toys in Babeland features works by the Peters family: Brandt Elling-Peters, Kathie Peters-Olivas, Karen Peters and Michael Peters. The four Tampa talents consider themselves revisionary artists, recycling nostalgic images and popular icons in order to tell different versions of the past. The exhibition runs through Oct. 27. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Lemon Studios and Gallery, 1601 N. Marion St., Tampa (813-805-7487). Trajectories is an exhibit of works by Chicago artist Carrie Shield that pays homage to Piet Mondrian. Shield, who received her MFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, works primarily in oil on linen. The exhibit runs through Dec. 31. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and by appointment.
Merrick Gallery, 330 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg (727-896-2787). Sign Language is an exhibit of new works by Steve Carlisle, a mixed-media artist whose images deal with the use of signs to persuade and manipulate people. A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, Carlisle incorporates photography, digital printing and screen printing into his work. He has been a photographer for the St. Petersburg Times, worked in offset printshops and collected imagery for 30 years. The exhibit runs through Nov. 25. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Painted Fish Gallery, 350 Main St., Dunedin (727-736-0934). To Fish or Not to Fish is an exhibit of current ceramic works by Ira Jon Burhans, who has made pottery professionally in the Palm Harbor area for the past 21 years. The exhibit runs through Nov. 18. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Plainsmen Gallery, 2450 Sunset Pt. Road, Suite A, Clearwater (727-726-5100). Symbols of America is an exhibit of works depicting America's strength and pride, featuring bronzes by Montana artists Frank DiVita and J.W. Muir. The exhibit runs through Nov. 3. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Quilt Exhibit, an exhibit of fabric works by Anthony Jones, is on display through Oct. 31 at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center. Jones is a housing manager for the Pinellas County Community Development department, and he also teaches quiltmaking at fabric and craft shops throughout the Bay area. Admission is free. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Tarpon Springs Cultural Center is at 101 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs (727-942-5605).
Realty Executives, 2861 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-867-9600). An exhibit of paintings by Ludner Confident, a Haitian-born artist/anesthesiologist, hangs in this unlikeliest of galleries. The artist, known as Ludy, paints female portraits enveloped in such themes as love, sports, the tropics and music. The exhibit is on display through Dec. 31. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. www.confidentart.com
Scarfone/Hartley Galleries, corner of North B Street and Brevard Avenue on the University of Tampa campus (813-253-6217). The Biennial Alumni-Faculty Exhibition features the work of Hoang Van-Bui, Lew Harris, Rebecca Skelton, Gil DeMeza, Carl Cowden and others. One of Van-Bui's pieces is a documentary of a beggar woman on a street in Vietnam. Other works include painting, sculpture, computer-generated images and mixed-media installations. The exhibit runs through Oct. 20. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Snooty Judy's Gallery for the Open Mind, 514 Skinner Blvd., Dunedin (727-734-9835). Joe Draye displays his surrealist oil paintings and Ron Michael Kelley offers his steel sculptures in an exhibit that runs through Nov. 13. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. See the gallery at www.openmindart.com.
SoHo Gallery, 2105 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2280). Autumn's Arrival is an exhibit of a variety of artwork by local artists Geneen Hemmer, Sandra Greigg and Jean Scott. The exhibit is on display through Nov. 3. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Something Fishy 913 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater (727-461-FISH). Just in Time is an exhibit of new clocks by Pamela Corwin, on display through Oct. 26. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
St. Pete Beach Art Institute, 3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-3818). Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a judged members show depicting a variety of Hispanic themes. The exhibit runs through Nov. 3. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Visit www.suntanartcenter.com.
Studio Szabries Gallery, 2109 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-895-2444). A Figure, A Place is an exhibit of figurative clay sculptures by Joshua Margolis. The works explore such issues as alcoholism and anti-Semitism. The exhibit runs through Nov. 10. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
TECO Public Art Gallery, 702 N. Franklin St., Tampa (813-251-3688). Karen Phillips exhibits her watercolor paintings through Oct. 31. Her work ranges from traditional views of flowers to close-up, snail's-eye views of Florida's aquatic landscapes. 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). WTVT-Ch.13's Bill Murphy makes an appearance to promote the sale of pre-publication copies of More One Tank Trips, a follow-up to One Tank Trips, both of which have been drawn from Murphy's popular series of feature reports. The reports spotlight one-of-a-kind destinations that take one tank of gas or less to reach. The event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18. Copies of the book cost $9.95 plus tax. Regular aquarium hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets cost $13.75 for adults, $12.75 for seniors, $8.75 for ages 3-12 and free for children under 3. Visit www.flaquarium.net.
Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S., St. Petersburg (727-820-0100). On the Edge of the Abyss is an exhibit of 93 drawings by Ella Liebermann-Shiber of the horrors she witnessed in Nazi captivity. Ella's family was taken from Berlin in 1938, and she eventually ended up in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Her father and brothers were killed, but she and her mother survived due to Ella's artistic ability (she painted portraits for the Germans). The exhibit continues through Feb. 24. Fragments is an exhibit of 120 16-by-20-inch photographs of Florida Holocaust survivors by Jason Schwartz. The commissioned collection is on display through March 10. 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.
Florida International Museum, 100 Second St. N., St. Petersburg (727-822-3693). The following shows continue indefinitely: The Cuban Missile Crisis ($6.95 for adults); The Kennedy Collection ($9.95); Countdown to Destiny, an exhibition of photos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ($3.95); and Habana Esperando: Photographs by Margaux Ravis (free). Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. All-inclusive day passes cost $11.95, and annual passes go for $15.95.
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo (727-518-6833). Maria Emilia Castagliola exhibits In Praise of Federico Garcia Lorca, a body of work inspired by and devoted to the great Spanish writer, and Randy Batista exhibits American Eyes — Cuban Heart, a photo-documentary of his visits to Cuban relatives. Both exhibits continue through Nov. 11. The museum has also recently installed A Bestiary, an environmental artwork by Canadian artist Jocelyne Belcourt Salem. The work features eight bronze markers bearing the images of critically endangered species native to the Gulf coast of Florida. 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 $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students (free on Thursday). Visit www.gulfcoastmuseum.org.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Pete (727-896-2667). Americanos: Latino Life in the United States is an exhibit of 120 images by 30 prize-winning photographers. The documentary photographs cut across economic groups and tell the story of an array of Latinos, from portraits of celebrities, like Carlos Santana and Sammy Sosa, to children playing chess and physicians at work. The show runs through Jan. 6, and is complimented by numerous educational programs. 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). Museum 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 Theatre 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). This museum features one of the best collections of the Spanish painter's works in the world, including several masterworks. 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.
Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, in Old Hyde Park Village, 746 S. Village Circle, Tampa (813-251-1800). TGPA exhibits a one-man show by Herb Snitzer entitled, Faces and Places: New York, Paris, London 1958-1962. Snitzer's career spans 40 years, during which he worked for such publications as Life, The Saturday Evening Post and Metronome. The author of five books, Snitzer also maintains a studio in St. Petersburg. The exhibit runs through Oct. 28. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.
Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813-274-8130). Art After Dark, always the third Thursday of the month, allows visitors late admission to the museum, from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18, to engage in thought and socialize with colleagues and friends. The night's featured exhibit includes works by glass artist Dale Chihuly, and a 5 p.m. screening of the 90-minute video Chihuly: River of Glass, by Michael Barnard. A View into Antiquity, pottery from the collection of William Suddaby and David Meier, consists of 52 examples of ancient Greek and Italian ceramics from the Late Bronze Age to the Classical Period. The exhibit runs through Jan. 13. Craft is a Verb is a survey of the history of the American craft movement from the late 1950s to the present, drawn from the collection of the American Craft Museum in New York. The exhibit runs through Dec. 30. 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.
Theater/Performance(See Classifieds for auditions.)
Briefs & Longjohns '01, two staged readings by the award-winners, takes place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25, at the HCC-Ybor Theater. Arthur McMasters reads Prisms, a story of relationships needing a catalyst of tragedy to find a form of resolution. Kyle Bostian reads Hospitality, the tale of a young migrant couple whose infant dies due to medical malpractice. Admission costs $5, $3 for students and seniors. HCC's theater is on the corner of 15th Street and Palm Avenue in Ybor City. Call 813-258-6757.
Carousel Eight O'Clock Theatre celebrates its 20th season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, in the Tonne Playhouse at the Largo Cultural Center. The story takes place in a small New England town in the late 1800s, and centers on star-crossed lovers, Julie Jordan (Heather Farley) and Billy Bigelow (Rand Smith). Performances take place at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18-21 and 25-28. Reserved tickets cost $16; $12.50 for groups of 10 or more; and $6 for students. The center's at 105 Central Park Drive. Call 727-587-6793.
Gaslight The Carrollwood Players perform Patrick Hamilton's Victorian thriller set in a house in London's Pimlico district in 1880, where the handsome Mr. Manningham is torturing his wife into insanity under the guise of kindliness. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, through Nov. 3, at Plantation Plaza, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Call 813-265-4000.
Memory's Caretaker Writer-performer Paul Bonin-Rodriguez offers this one-man show on his personal life and experiences visiting his maternal grandmother. The play runs at TBPAC's Shimberg Playhouse Oct. 19-21, with performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $15.50. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.
South Pacific, the timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein musical of wartime romance in an island paradise, runs through Oct. 21 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Carol Morsani Hall. The musical's Tony Award-winning score includes such unforgettable standards as, I'm Going to Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair and Some Enchanted Evening. Tickets cost $20.50-$62.50. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Trailer Trash Tabloid!, a zany adult comedy, centers around the 12 cartoonish residents of New Drawl City Mobile Home Village & Putt-Putt Golf, in Skoal County, Ga. The story takes place on The Lamont Lazarus Hour, a newsmagazine TV show covering the mysterious death of Frank Forkenberg, the Velveeta-King magnate. Each of the New Drawl City residents tells their side of the story, and through these interviews the farcical history of the city and its inhabitants unfolds. The play runs through Oct. 28, with show times at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Jaeb Theater. Tickets cost $26.50. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Where'd That Come From?, a production by St. Petersburg's own improvisation troupe, The UNProfessionals, plays at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at The Largo Cultural Center. The UNProfessionals, a seriously unserious troupe of eight men and women, have grown out of an improv workshop by former Second City player Dick Schaal. The troupe has been performing regularly at area cabaret theaters, including Bayboro Tavern and the Garden Restaurant in St. Petersburg. Tickets cost $10, $8 for groups of 10 or more. The center's at 105 Central Park Drive, next to the Largo Library. Call 727-587-6793.
Classical Music
Octubafest, the last in a series of three concerts, features internationally recognized euphonium and tuba player Adam Frey. At 24, Frey has established himself as one of the best young euphonium soloists in the world. The last three years have seen him perform in Europe and Japan, and as a featured soloist in broadcast on BBC Radio. The concert takes place at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, in the Music Recital Hall (FAH 101), at USF-Tampa. Tickets cost $4, $3 for students. The Music Recital Hall is at 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-2323).
Shostakovich's Blazing Fifth The Florida Orchestra, with guest conductor Jahja Ling and cellist Daniel Lee, performs Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, as part of the Masterworks Series. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Carol Ferguson Hall; 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Mahaffey Theater; and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets cost $20-$38. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827). Mahaffey's at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg (727-822-7872). REH is at 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater (727-791-7400).
Comedy
Brewmasters, 401 E. Second St., Indian Rocks Beach (727-515-8059). G. David Howard performs every Friday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Cover varies and there's a two-beverage minimum.
Coconuts Comedy Club, at Howard Johnson, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-360-JOKE). Costaki Economopoulos performs Thursday, Oct. 18, through Oct. 21. Open mic night, featuring Darryl Lenox, takes place Wednesday, Oct. 24. Show time is 9:30 p.m. 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). Denny Bevins performs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20. Show time is 9:30 p.m. Cover varies (two-drink minimum). Reservations suggested.
Lloyd's Cajun Cafe, 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4364). Actor/stand-up comedian ranney performs at 8:30 p.m. every Thursday. He has performed at venues such as the Apollo Theatre, and shared billing with such talents as Bill Bellamy, Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock. Tickets cost $12 or $20 for two.
Wacky Weaver's, located inside the Brandon Brew House, 779 W. Lumsden Road, Brandon. (813-661-5527). Jimmy J.J. Walker, from the '70s sitcom Good Times, performs Oct. 18-20. Show times are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance, $17 at the door. Reservations are recommended.
Poetry & Prose
Barnes & Noble-Carrollwood, 11802 N. Dale Mabry (813-962-8097). Cancer survivor, patients' rights activist and author Vickie Girard signs copies of her cancer survival guide, There's No Place Like Hope. The signing takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Borders-Tampa, 909 N. Dale Mabry (813-874-5722). Poetess Diana Browning hosts an evening of Poetry on the Edge at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19. The ever-encouraging Browning reminds poets that those too shy to read aloud should feel free to ask any of the regular hams, and they'll be more than happy to read your work for you. POE meets, as always, the third Friday of each month (except December).
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 7:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A donation of $2 to $5 is suggested at the door, but coffee, tea and cake are 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.
Computer Port Cafe, 432 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach (727-441-2667). This cafe offers Internet access in addition to exotic coffees, teas and an assortment of gourmet baked goods. Every Friday and Saturday night the venue plays host to an open mic from 7 to 11 p.m. for musicians, comedians, poets, etc. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays and until 3 a.m. on weekends.
Cool Tunes Coffee Bar, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater (727-799-3788). Open mic takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Open mics are free. Local acts play Fridays, check Soundboard or call for schedule. Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Insomnia Coffee House Gallery, 32884 U.S. 19, Palm Harbor (727-789-3771). Words Awake!, a spoken word event, now takes place at 8 p.m. every Thursday. 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). An open mic for all musicians takes place from 9:30 p.m. to 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 Cybercafe , 5165 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-865-0605). Doris Owens Yates hosts Broad Stroking, an open mic poetry reading at 3 p.m. every Sunday. All poets are welcome. Kelly Green hosts a new music open mic from 8 p.m. to midnight every Friday. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Lloyd's Cajun Cafe, 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4364). Lloyd's hosts Black on Black Rhyme, an intense spoken word event, every Tuesday, featuring the We Take No Prisoners Poetry Troupe. These weekly poetry slams begin with guest readers, followed by an open mic session. Sign-up is at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. The cover is $5. Lloyd's also hosts an open jam featuring blues/jazz guitarist David DeBlois from 9:30 p.m. to close every Wednesday.
Market on Seventh, 1816 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-2356). Vince Longo hosts a mostly musical open mic at 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18. Any appreciable talent is welcome.
Realm Coffeehouse, 937 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-821-5608). Outfitted with an outdoor patio for smoking, this coffee hangout offers drawing supplies at the bar and patrons are always welcome to bring musical instruments in for a jam. Realm's schedule of events includes singer-guitarist Chucky Luv on Mondays, an open mic for music on Tuesday, an open mic for poetry on Thursday and a Friday drum circle. All events happen from 9 p.m. to midnight. Hours are 6:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Seabreeze on Sunset Beach, 9546 Gulf Blvd. W., Treasure Island (727-360-1398). The Blues Jam, a jam night and open mic for blues-oriented singer/songwriters, takes place 8 p.m. to midnight every Wednesday.
Shana's Open Mic Night, at The Tavern on Bayboro, 121 Seventh Ave. S., St. Petersburg (727-821-1418). Hosted by Pete Gallagher, this open mic for musicians and poets takes place at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24. Cool feature performers often show up, 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 open mic takes place Wednesdays from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. A wide variety of talented musicians and performers grace the stage. www.pharmreport.com.
Triple Talent Showcase, in the Ybor Room at HCC, located at Ninth Avenue and Republica De Cuba in Ybor City (813-973-0528). The Pure Poet's Society hosts this open mic poetry event every Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. Readings are being videotaped for an upcoming public access program. Poets of all skill levels are welcome to share their works.
Sports & Nature
Boyd Hill Nature Park, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg (727-893-7326). See fall's beauty on a wildflower walk, a leisurely guided tour that takes participants through the park's various habitats. The tour takes place at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot.
Coed Volleyball, at Forest Hills Recreation Center, takes place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday. If you want to get your game on without committing to a team or schedule, this is the place. Walk-ins are always welcome at this free, social spike fest. The center is at 724 W. 109th Ave., Tampa. Call 813-977-0892.
Inline Skating with the Tampa Bay Road Rollers The Rollers meet and skate at sponsored events, like the Full Moon Skate at Flatwoods Natural Park, Monday Beginners, Tuesdays on Bayshore, Thursdays in St. Petersburg, Saturdays in Dunedin, Sunday Bladers and Jackson's Monthly Skate. But if you can't skate 9 to 11 miles, you might want to wait until you can. Call 813-855-7120 or visit www.SkateTampa.com.
Laser Tag at the Ice Sports Forum The Forum, already a popular ice skating venue, has opened a 3,300-square-foot, space-theme laser tag facility capable of handling up to 40 players at once. Competition levels vary from fun-seekers to experienced, all-out players, with walk-ons and leagues welcome. 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).
Lightning Action, at the Ice Palace, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-301-6600). The Lightning take on the New York Rangers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Next, the Lightning go up against the Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23. Tickets range from $8 to $150.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at Raymond James Stadium, 4042 N. Himes Ave., Tampa. All tickets are sold out, so high-tail it to your friendly neighborhood sports bar and drink up as the Bucs take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21.
Special Events
Antique Gallery Hop The South Tampa Antique Dealers Alliance, made up of leading antique shops, has put together a gallery hop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The dealers have arranged for Hartline busses to provide trolley service between shops. Participating venues include Van Ling Design, Allie Katz Antiques, Sherry's Yesterdaze and the Henry B. Plant Museum. Event organizers recommend visiting your nearest participating antique dealer, then catching a ride for the rest of the tour. The event's brochure serves as a complimentary trolley pass and lists all stops. The two routes take 30 minutes to complete, with trolleys stopping approximately every 15 minutes. Call 813-251-6444.
Downtown Palm Harbor Craft Festival, a weekend craft affair featuring the unique creations of talented crafters from across the country, takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21. The festival is located on Florida Avenue in Palm harbor, between U.S. 19 and Alt. 19. Admission is free. Call 813-962-0388. www.ARTFESTIVAL.com
Harvest Moon Swing Dance, featuring Johnny Angel and the Swingin' Demons, takes place at The Coliseum from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 19. Johnny Angel brings back the glory days of high-stepping, Big Band, '40s swing. Admission costs $14, $7 for children, and includes a 7 p.m. swing dance lesson. The Coliseum is at 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Call 727-892-5202.
Vant to Suck Your Blood, a joint project of Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and Florida Blood Services, provides discount tickets to the upcoming production of Dracula in order to encourage blood donations. All blood donors receive a ticket voucher, redeemable that day only at the center's ticket office. The blood drive takes place from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at TBPAC, 1010 N. MacInnes Place. Dracula plays in the Shimberg Playhouse Nov. 1-18. Tickets cost $15.50 and $21.50. Call 813-229-7827.
Ybor City Fresh Market Inc., in Centennial Park, is up and running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday. Drop by for a free glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice and check out all the fresh foods and other nifty items the market has up for grabs. Local vendors offer everything from fruits and veggies to plants to hand-made crafts. The park's at Eighth Avenue and 18th Street in Ybor City. Call 813-241-2442.
This article appears in Oct 18-24, 2001.