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. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26-31. There is also a Children's Trail, full of mildly 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 skills of all visitors. The event takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 11-13, 18-20, 25-27 and 31. Tickets cost $20, $10 for children under 12. The SS American Victory is at 705 Channelside Drive (behind the Aquarium), Tampa (813-383-5218).
Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens' startling landscape of fright, features encounters with ghouls and goblins plus 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. Thursday and Sunday) Oct. 12, 13, 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).
A Trick for the Treaters, a Crazy Cat theatrical production, plays from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14, at the Catherine A. Hickman Theater of Gulfport. This tale is for the whole family and includes guest stars: The Mean Crimpy Old Witch, Blood Sucking Dracula, Zombies and The Head With No Body. Admission costs $9; $6 for children; $1 for ages 2 and under. The theater's at 5501 27th St. S., Gulfport. Call 727-562-6036.
Zoo Boo, at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552). Zoo Boo, the Lowry's annual family friendly Halloween event, takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 12-14 and 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 kids 3-11.
Visual Arts
Openings
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 opening reception takes place 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, and 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. A reception takes place 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, and 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.
Glass Canvas Gallery, 146 Second St. N., St. Petersburg (727-821-6767). The gallery celebrates the grand opening of its new location from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Refreshments are available, as well as registration for a $1,000 shopping spree. New hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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 (neoplasticism painter and founder of De Stijl magazine). Shield, who received her MFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, works primarily in oil on linen. A reception takes place 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and by appointment.
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. A reception takes place 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, and 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 opens Thursday, Oct. 11, and 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.
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. A reception takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, and 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.
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, Oct. 13, 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. Among the participants are Crystal Mirage Gallery, The Glass Canvas Gallery, Florida Craftsmen Gallery and Studio Encanto. For a complete list of galleries and addresses, contact The Glass Canvas Gallery at 727-821-6767.
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. A reception takes place 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, and 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.
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. The artists are 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., 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 gallery owner Doug Attalla 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 the work of Alison Burnett, Scott Duce, Jim Draper and Matt Larson. The exhibit presents a cross section of media and landscape themes, and 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 is an exhibit of work 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.
Centre Gallery, in USF's Phyllis P. Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-5464). 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). Clayton Galleries opens their fall schedule with a two-person show, featuring the work of Jeff Whipple and Virginia Derryberry. The show runs through Oct. 13. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
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 exhibit runs through Oct. 20. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment.
Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin (727-298-3322). Three exhibits of painters whose works depict the meeting of land, sea and sky run through Oct. 14. Drawn to Light is an exhibit of seascapes by eight contemporary artists. Melbourne artist Harry Leach shows a selection of his impressionistic Florida landscapes. Sarasota painter and teacher Roy Nichols presents a selection of his academic landscape/seascape works. 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.
Elliott Gallery, at Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Pete (727-864-8297). Masks, a collection of masks from the collection of James G. Crane, runs through Nov. 2. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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 Florida 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 non-profit 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 is an exhibit of 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.
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).
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. 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 displays 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.
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 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 Encanto, 209 First St. N., St. Petersburg (727-821-2959). Studio Encanto presents an exhibit of paintings by Edin Gutierrez through Oct. 11. Gutierrez has studied at the Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts in Havana, and his technique uses highly textured mixed media. 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.
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). The aquarium's latest exhibit, Sea Hunt, includes colorful predators from the world's oceans. The aquarium also features over 10,000 aquatic plants and animals in three galleries: Wetlands, Bays and Beaches, and Coral Reefs. Enjoy behind-the-scenes and audio tours, dive shows, a touch-tank with sharks and rays, and special exhibits like No BoneZone, Frights of the Forest and Dragons Down Under. 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. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 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 recently installed A Bestiary, an environmental artwork by Canadian artist Jocelyne Belcourt Salem. The work is an installation of eight bronze markers bearing the images of eight 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 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.
Pier Aquarium, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-895-7437). The Aquarium, a nonprofit marine education resource center, is home to fabulous exhibits that include California sharks, invertebrates and coral reefs. Tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is $1. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Teachers, call about special field trip rates and tours.
St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. N.E. (on The Pier approach), St. Pete (727-894-1052). 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.
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). 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, he 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). 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 opens Sunday, Oct. 14, and 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, at the Tampa Museum of Arts. 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.)
About the Author, an Alley Cats premiere of the comedy written and performed by Ned Snell, takes place at the Silver Meteor Gallery. A full-length, one-actor comedy, it explores how writers create an image of themselves for the reader (Snell himself is a published author). Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12-14. Tickets cost $7, $5 for students and seniors, and are available only at the door. The Silver Meteor Gallery is at 2213 E. Sixth Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-417-4555. (See Performance for a review.)
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. 11-14, 18-21 and 25-28. Tickets cost $16 reserved; $12.50 each for groups of 10 or more; $6 students. The center's at 105 Central Park Drive. Call 727-587-6793.
Dance Exchange Express, a dynamic combination of stories told through movement, incorporates a modest number of dancers (Peter DiMuro, Elizabeth Johnson, Celeste Miller and Marvin Webb) in its artistic pieces. Choreographer Liz Lerman founded Dance Exchange in 1976, and has been widely recognized for revolutionizing conventional dance concepts. Express performs Oct. 12-14, in the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Shimberg Playhouse. Tickets cost $12.50 and $19.50. Show time is 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
An Evening With Groucho Actor/playwright Frank Ferrante re-creates his PBS portrayal of comedian Groucho Marx in this fast-paced, two-act comedy. The show is a collection of the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs, including, Hooray for Captain Spalding. Pianist A. Paul Johnson accompanies Ferrante on stage. Tickets cost $15. Performances take place at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Palladium Theater, 235 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-822-3590).
Falling Within Moving Current, a Tampa collective of contemporary dancers, perform an evening of contemporary dance at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13, in the HCC-Ybor campus theater. The performances feature guest artists Nathan Dryden, a professional aerialist, and Ali Fischer. Admission costs $12, $6 for students and seniors. The theater is in HCC's Performing Arts Building at Palm Avenue at 14th Street in Ybor City. Call 813-237-0216.
Gaslight The Carrollwood Players perform this Victorian thriller by Patrick Hamilton. In a house in London's Pimlico district in 1880, 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 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 through Nov. 3, at Plantation Plaza, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Call 813-265-4000.
Japanese Storyteller Kuniko Yamamoto uses mime, masks and magic to share Japanese culture, seemingly casting a spell over the audience as the stories unfold. Admission costs $12, $10 for students. The performance takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs. Call 727-942-5605.
Riverdance, the highly acclaimed celebration of Irish music, song and dance, is at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Carol Morsani Hall through Oct. 14. The show's performers include principal dancers Michael Patrick Gallagher and Tara Barry, the Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe, the Riverdance traditional Irish band and singers, Flamenco firedancer Rosa Manzano Jimenez, the Moscow Folk Ballet Company and baritone soloist Kirk Walker. Performances take place 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $23.50-$65.50 advance. The TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Spunk, the Obie award-winning work by Zora Neale Hurston, re-conceived by George C. Wolfe, runs through Oct. 14 at American Stage. Hurston is remembered as a famed author of the Harlem Renaissance who died in obscurity. Wolfe has adapted three of her most passionate tales for the stage: Sweat, Story in Harlem Slang and The Gilded Six Bits. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $20-$30, depending on performance and time. American Stage is at 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-7529).
Classical Music
Octubafest, a concert featuring USF music faculty and tuba and euphonium students, takes place at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the Music Recital Hall (FAH 101), USF-Tampa. The program includes Ragtime by Rolf Wilhelm, Sonatina for Tuba by Frank Ferriano and Monolog Number 9 by Erland von Koch. (Octubafest includes another performance on Oct. 22.) Tickets cost $4, $3 for students. The Music Recital Hall is on campus, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-2323).
Shostakovich's Blazing Fifth The Florida Orchestra, with Musical Director Jahja Ling conducting and featuring cellist Daniel Lee, performs Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, as part of the Masterworks Series. The program also includes Dvorak's Cello Concerto. The concerts take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Ferguson Hall; 8 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Mahaffey Theater; and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets cost $20-$38. The 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).
USF Symphony Orchestra, whose repertoire runs the gamut of great orchestra standards, perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, in University Theatre II. The program consists of Vier Kleine Stucke fur Streichorchester, by Karel Husa and The Planets, Op. 32, by Gustav Holst. Admission costs $4, $3 for students and seniors. The Music Recital Hall is on campus, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-2323).
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). Tom Simmons performs Oct. 11-14. Open mic night, featuring Costaki Economopoulos, takes place Wednesday, Oct. 17. Show times are at 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). Danny Bevins performs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13. Show times are at 9:30 p.m. Cover costs $10 (two-drink minimum). Reservations suggested.
Improv Comedy Theater, at Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City (813-864-4000). Comedian Gary Owen, once voted Funniest Black Comedian in San Diego, has hosted the highest-rated season of BET's Comic View and appeared as a redneck deputy alongside Jamie Foxx in the movie Held Up. A one-time military police officer, Owen credits his success to his early stand-up stints in San Diego's hood, where he says he was embraced for his honesty. He performs through Oct. 14 at the Improv. Phat Tuesday takes place at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10-$16 depending on the night. All prices are advance purchase, and cost $2 more at the door.
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 such venues as the Apollo Theatre, and shared billing with the likes of Bill Bellamy, Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock. Locally he's been in productions by The Center Theatre Company and performed at the Improv. Tickets costs $12 or $20 for two.
Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-960-1197). Brian Bradly, who's appeared on Seinfeld and A&E's Comedy on the Road, performs through Oct. 14. Show times are 8:30 p.m. weekdays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Regular admission costs $8-$14 (depending on the night).
Wacky Weaver's, located inside the Brandon Brew House, 779 W. Lumsden Road, Brandon. (813-661-5527). Jack Kearney performs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13. Show times are at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Admission is $10. Reservations are recommended.
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.
Black on Black Rhyme Lloyd's Cajun Cafe in Ybor hosts an intense spoken word event every Tuesday, featuring the We Take No Prisoners Poetry Troupe. These weekly poetry slams feature guest readers, followed by an open mic. Sign-up is at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. The cover is $5, and Lloyd's is at 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4364).
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, tea 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). A free open mic takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Local acts play every Friday, 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 open mic, takes place at 8 p.m. every Monday. 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 acoustical music nightly. Call for hours.
Realm Coffeehouse, 937 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-821-5608). Realm's schedule of events features singer-guitarist Chucky Luv on Mondays, an open mic for musicians on Tuesday, an open mic for poets on Thursday and a Friday drum circle. All events happen around 9 p.m. Hours are 6:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Thursday, and 6:30 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
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
Yeoman's Road Pub, 236 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa (813-251-BRIT). Vince Longo hosts an open jam every Wednesday, featuring an eclectic mix of performers from the Bay area's music scene. And for good measure, there's another open mic on Sunday from 7 p.m. until close. All events are free and subject to change when there's a band scheduled.
Special Events
Fall Plant Sale, at the USF Botanical Gardens, takes place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14. Over 60 plant vendors are participating, offering a wide assortment of pants, such as ferns, orchids, begonias, bamboo, bonsai, fruit trees, cactus and palms. This annual event is also a good place to look for tools, books and other garden supplies. The sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $2. The Botanical Garden is on the USF-Tampa campus, at the corner of Pine and Alumni drives. Call 813-974-2329.
Grass War, a documentary film by Cliff Welch and Tony Perrine, tells of the struggle of 800 Brazilian peasant families to retain control of their remote farms in 1959. The film is being screened at noon Friday, Oct. 12, in 478 Cooper Hall, USF-Tampa. USF is located at 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813-974-3547.
A Jazzy Night at Jackson's, an annual wine and beer tasting event hosted by Friends of Lifepath Hospice, takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at Jackson's Bistro on Harbour Island. The evening features fine wines, exotic brews, creative cuisine, live jazz bands, and both live and silent auctions. Tickets cost $50 in advance, $60 at the door. Jackson's is at 601 S. Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa. Call 813-877-2200.
Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the 12th annual event, takes place through Oct. 14 at Tampa Theatre. The festival's feature length films include The Girl, a sensual neo-noir film set in Paris, and Canadian Oscar-nominated Perfect Son, showing Oct. 11 and 12 respectively. The festival also features programs of short films, including work by local filmmakers and youths from around the world. (Check Movie Marquee for a complete listing.) The festival ends with a street fair from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 14. Single event passes cost $7 and six-ticket packs cost $35. Tampa Theatre is at 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa (813-274-8981).
The Manatee Ball and Auction, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Parrot Heads Club, is a benefit for the Save the Manatee Club's (SMC) manatee protection programs. Tickets include dinner and live music from Patrick Foy. Items to be auctioned include travel packages, original artwork and signed Jimmy Buffett paraphernalia. Tickets cost $40. The event takes place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Holiday Inn City Center, 111 W. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813-741-9345.
Trinkets and Treasures, the Junior League of Tampa's 38th annual thrift sale, takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Tampa Convention Center. With more than 100,000 items for sale, the JLT expects this year's thrift sale to be its largest ever. Admission is free, and a donation of $5,000 from the sale's proceeds is being made to the Junior League's Disaster Relief Fund. The center's at 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa. Call 813-254-1734.
Ybor City Fresh Market Inc., in Centennial Park, is up and running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday. Guest Chef Julie Feeley offers a free, continuous demonstration on how to make an extraordinary vegetable wreath from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 13. 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 11-17, 2001.