Festivals/Events
Fifth Annual Downtown Dunedin Art Festival Tampa Bay's first art festival of the year brings in artists from around the country with works of various media. Musical entertainment is provided by pianist Jeffrey Michaels, sitarist Stephen Miles, steel drummer Doug Walker and keyboardist Kayte Wolf. Jan. 12-13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. On Main Street between Edgewater Drive and Broadway Street. 813-962-0388.
Upstairs/Downstairs This weekly program of theatrical portraits brings to life the staff and one famous guest of the historic Tampa Bay Hotel. The featured characters are: Maggie, laundress at the hotel, 1891-1930; Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, hotel guest and First Lady, 1901; Otis Freedman, The Bishop, head waiter at the hotel, 1905; Pauline Polly Smith-Jones, telegraph operator at the hotel, 1913; and Arthur Schleman, hunting guide at the hotel, 1915. One character performs approximately 30 minutes each week. The production is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of Hillsborough County. Sundays, 2 p.m. Continues through May 5. The performances are complimentary with admission, which costs a requested donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. The Henry B. Plant Museum, University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 813-254-1891.
Ybor City Fresh Market Inc. The market's up and running 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. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Centennial Park, Eighth Avenue and 18th Street, Ybor City.
Attractions
Duck Tours of Tampa Bay Take a land and sea adventure in a genuine World War II amphibious vehicle. The historical and entertaining tours are fully narrated and last approximately an hour and 20 minutes. The St. Petersburg Duck Tour departs daily from The Pier beginning at 11:15 a.m. The Tampa/Ybor City tour departs Wednesday through Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. from Newk's Cafe in Downtown Tampa. Admission costs $18.50 for adults, $16.50 for seniors and military, $9.95 for ages 3-12 and free those 2 and under. The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg. 727-432-3825.
Lectures & Seminars
Antique Firetrucks The museum has 11 antique firetrucks and lots of memorabilia on display, as well as a playground facility. Kids can learn fire safety tips, watch a safety video and get some free memorabilia. Mon.-Thur., 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Continues through Jan. 30. Admission is free; donations are encouraged. Kid's Firehouse Museum, 9510 Kids Firehouse Ave., Largo. 727-585-1300.
Dinosaurs, Butterflies, IMAX and More MOSI, a not-for-profit educational institution, is the largest science center in the Southeastern United States. Two diplodocus dinosaur skeletons put the museum on the map as one of a handful of museums in the world to display the largest articulated dinosaurs ever discovered. 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 IMAX Dome Theatre, which features an 82-foot hemispherical movie screen. Mon.-Thur., Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Continues through Dec. 31. The Museum's combo admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $9 for ages 2 to 13. Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-987-6300.
Faculty Forum on Academic Freedom USF faculty who are concerned by the implications of the recent dismissal of USF Professor Sami Al-Arian have invited Ellen Schrecker — Professor of U.S. History at Yeshiva University in New York and one of the nation's foremost authorities on the Red Scare — to speak. Schrecker's speech, Academic Freedom: A Historical Perspective, is to be followed by discussion. Schrecker's lecture, which takes place in the Behavioral Sciences room 103 (BEH 103), is sponsored by the USF Faculty Group for Phi Beta Kappa, the United Faculty of Florida's USF Chapter, the USF Department of History and the USF School of Library and Information Science. Fri., Jan. 11, 3-5 p.m. University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-974-3371.
Heart & Hands: Musical Instrument Makers of America Eighty-six framed Iris prints by photographer Jake Jacobsen depict craftspeople from 30 states. The portraits are accompanied by research by Trisja Malisoff. The exhibit has been organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services. The following exhibits continue indefinitely: The Cuban Missile Crisis; The Kennedy Collection; and U2: The Spy Plane. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 30. All-inclusive day passes cost $12, and annual passes go for $20. Florida International Museum, 100 Second St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-822-3693.
Learning About Islam This three-week series is designed to promote understanding through discussion. The series has been created in response to the requests from church members who wanted to know more about Islam in the wake of Sept. 11. It brings in distinguished speakers, who explore many aspects of the influence of Islam in our society. Jan. 10, 7 p.m.; Jan. 17, 7 p.m. Open to the public. St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, 140 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-822-4173.
