Festivals/Events
Christmas at Pinewood: Songs of the Season Pinewood, designed by architect Charles Waite, is on the National register of Historic Places, and has been showcased in Home & Garden Television's Christmas Castles. Each of the Mediterranean Revival-style villa's 20 rooms are decorated to portray a favorite holiday song. Fine linens, intricate tile, antique furnishings, sterling silver and crystal adorn the rooms. Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 7. Admission costs $11 for adults, $6 for children ages 5-12. Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales. 863-676-1408.
Poinsettia Festival — Festival of Trees The 11th annual Poinsettia Festival includes 30 lavishly decorated Christmas trees in partnership with the Greater Winter Haven Junior League Festival of Trees celebration. The exhibit features traditional red, white and pink poinsettias, as well as marbled varieties, painting a lovely holiday scene. Mon.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Continues through Jan. 6. Admission costs $16.95-$32.95. Cypress Gardens, 2641 S. Lake Summit Drive, Winter Haven. 863-324-2111.
Three Kings Feast Angelica Diaz and John F. Ames IV present a night of traditional, family-oriented Mexican epiphany celebration that includes a five-course dinner, music, pinatas, art activities and games for the children. Sun., Jan. 6. 6-9:30p.m. Vive La Frida, Cafe Y Galeria, 5901 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. 813-231-9199.
Winterland This celebration of lights is a drive-thru luminary park created along a mile-and-a-half route through the southwest corner of the USF-Tampa campus. Animated lights depict holiday scenes, such as Reindeer, Candy Land and The 12 Days of Christmas. Huge Oak trees also bear thousands of lights. And to complement the visual effects, vehicles passing through the park can tune in to Holiday music played over the FM band. More than 20,000 cars visited the site during the course of last year's 40-day event. The entrance is at Spectrum Boulevard, just north of Fowler Avenue, off Bruce B. Downs. Mon.-Thur., Sun., 6-10 p.m.; Saturdays, 6-11 p.m. Continues through Jan. 6. Admission costs $20 per vehicle. University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-974-2323.
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. Continues through May 1. Centennial Park, Eighth Avenue and 18th Street, Ybor City.
Attractions
Bok Tower Gardens 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales. 863-676-1408. Christmas at Pinewood: Songs of the Season. Pinewood, designed by architect Charles Waite, is on the National register of Historic Places, and has been showcased in Home & Garden Television's Christmas Castles. Each of the Mediterranean Revival-style villa's 20 rooms are decorated to portray a favorite holiday song. Fine linens, intricate tile, antique furnishings, sterling silver and crystal adorn the rooms. Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 7. Admission costs $11 for adults, $6 for children ages 5-12.
Cypress Gardens 2641 S. Lake Summit Drive, Winter Haven. 863-324-2111. Poinsettia Festival — Festival of Trees. The 11th annual Poinsettia Festival includes 30 lavishly decorated Christmas trees in partnership with the Greater Winter Haven Junior League Festival of Trees celebration. The exhibit features traditional red, white and pink poinsettias, as well as marbled varieties, painting a lovely holiday scene. Mon.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Continues through Jan. 6. Admission costs $16.95-$32.95.
Lectures & Seminars
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. The series' first date is Thursday, Jan. 3. Dr. Mohammed Sultan, director of the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay, is giving a speech titled, Islam: Worship, Custom and Culture, an overview of Muslim belief and practice. Thu., Jan. 3, 7 p.m. Open to the public. St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, 140 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-822-4173.
Sports & Recreation
Coed Volleyball 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. Tuesdays, 7:30-10 p.m. Forest Hills Recreation Center, 724 W. 109th Ave., Tampa. 813-977-0892.
Guided Hike Grab the bug spray and a few good friends before heading out to Brooker Creek (Tarpon Springs) for a free guided tour of the grounds. Reservations are a must. Saturdays, 9-11 a.m. 813-943-4003.
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. Ice Sports Forum, 10222 Elizabeth Place, Tampa. 813-684-7825.
Osprey Bay Kayaks Aside from a variety of classes, Osprey also offers regular outings, including Sunset and Full Moon Paddles, Weekday Get Always (Clearwater Bay, Caladesi Island, etc.) and fishing trips. Call for a full schedule of events, costs and other information. Osprey Bay Kayaks, 17910 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater. 727-524-9670.
Comedy
Coconuts Comedy Club-St. Pete Beach Ken Evans. Jan. 3- 6, 9:30 p.m. 6100 Gulf Blvd., Howard Johnson, St. Pete Beach. 727-360-5653.
Improv Comedy Theater A.J. Jamal. Discovered by colleagues while working as an IBM computer engineer, Jamal's brief career has already found him making appearances on MTV's 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour, In Living Color and HBO's Def Comedy Jam. His intelligent, PG-rated material is refreshingly clean, not to mention good. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Fri., Sat., 10:30 p.m.; Jan. 6, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Continues through Jan. 6. Tickets cost $8-$14, depending on the night, and cost $2 more at the door. 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Centro Ybor, Ybor City. 813-864-4000.
Side Splitters Ron Schock. Schock may not look it, but he has a checkered past that includes boosting cars, gambling and other assorted professions. But having been a bit crooked around the edges did one thing that benefits him on stage: He's a smooth storyteller. His TV appearances include The Tonight Show and Comic Strip Live. Wed., Thur., Sun., 8:30 p.m.; Fri., Sat., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. Continues through Jan. 6. Admission costs $8-$14 (depending on the night). 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa. 813-960-1197.
Museums
Florida Aquarium Dragons Down Under. The aquarium's popular Sea Dragon exhibit features some new inhabitants. Approximately 45 new animals from six species have been added, and the enhancement more completely portrays the underwater life of subtropical and tropical Australian reefs. The aquarium also features more than 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 and a touch-tank with sharks and rays. Mon.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through May 1. Tickets cost $13.75 for adults, $12.75 for seniors, $8.75 for ages 3-12 and free for children under 3. 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813-273-4000.
Florida Holocaust Museum On the Edge of the Abyss. This exhibit of 93 drawings by Ella Liebermann-Shiber captures 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). Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., Sun., 12-5 p.m. Continues through Feb. 24. Admission is $6 for general, $5 for seniors and college students, $2 for ages 18 and under, and members get in free. 55 Fifth St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-820-0100.
Florida International Museum 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. 100 Second St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-822-3693.
Gulf Coast Museum of Art Outside the Box. This exhibit highlights 11 international MADI artists, including Carmelo Arden Quin and Volf Roitman, who founded the MADI Research Study Group in Paris in the early 1950s. Madi is an idealistic international art movement founded in Argentina in 1946. Focusing on geometric and abstract forms, the movement's aesthetic is expressed through paintings, sculptures, books and other three-dimensional objects. Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Jan. 27. Admission costs $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students (free on Thursday). 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo. 727-518-6833.
Kid's Firehouse Museum 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. 9510 Kids Firehouse Ave., Largo. 727-585-1300.
Museum of Fine Arts Collecting for the Community: 20 Years of Treasures. The Museum's comprehensive collection has more than doubled during the 20-year tenure of director Michael Milkovich. This exhibit features major works from the nearly 4,000 objects he helped to acquire. The collection contains significant works by Rembrandt, Monet, Gauguin, Renoir, Cezanne and O'Keefe. Milkovich, who recently retired, now holds the title of Director Emeritus. Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 6. Admission costs $6 for adults. 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg. 727-896-2667.
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) 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. 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-987-6300.
Salvador Dali Museum Jacqueline Lamba Retrospective. French painter Jacqueline Lamba (1910-93) is best known for inspiring artistic contributions to the surrealist movement. This exhibit brings together 25 of her paintings produced between 1938 and 1988, including a portrait of her husband, the poet and writer Andre Breton, and a number of non-objective surrealist works from the 1940s. Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sundays, 12-5:30 p.m. Continues through Jan. 30. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for students. 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-823-3767.
Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts War and Peace: World War II. Images loaned by Nicholas Orzio, General Douglas MacArthur's personal photographer, dominate TGPA's new exhibit, a collection of World War II photographs. Orzio, who traveled occupied Japan during 1948 and 1949, has documented the war crimes trials, the people, the earthquakes and volcano activity. His images detail the physical struggle of the Japanese people and provide a glimpse into the moods and emotions of the men, women and children recovering from a devastating war. Sundays, 12-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fridays, 6-9 p.m. Continues through Jan. 27. Free. Old Hyde Park Village, 746 S. Village Circle, Tampa. 813-251-1800.
Tampa Museum of Art A View into Antiquity. This exhibit of 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. Also on display, Self-Adornment/Self-Esteem. Twenty-four at-risk high school students, engaged as junior curators, have created this exhibit, which explores why people adorn themselves and how it reflects that individual's self-image. The exhibit covers cultural traditions and explores contemporary practices, such as body piercing, scarification, plastic surgery and tattooing. The students researched the subject, wrote wall copy and planned the arrangement of the exhibit, which serves as a backdrop for youth groups and museum visitors to enter into a dialogue examining the self. Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 1-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 13. Admission ranges from $3 to $5; free 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. 813-274-8130.
Ybor City State Museum Matriarchs and Mantillas: the Women of Ybor. Using historical photographs and artifacts, this exhibit reveals the unique character of the women who settled Ybor City and created a culture of their own in this immigrant community. These women are remembered as hardworking and business-like, yet also for their femininity, illustrated by their lace mantillas and Spanish fans. Mon.-Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through March 31. Visitors may see the Museum and the Casita (worker's home) for $2 per person. 1818 Ninth Ave., Ybor City. 813-247-6323.
Spoken Word
Beaux Arts Gallery and Folk Coffeehouse 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. on Sunday. A donation of $2 to $5 is suggested at the door, but coffee, cake and tea are free. 2635 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-328-0702.
Cajun Blues Cafe Black on Black Rhyme This intense spoken word event takes place every Tuesday night, featuring the We Take No Prisoners Poetry Troupe. The troupe challenges the spoken word artists to weekly battles on various topics — men versus women, for instance. The event takes place at 8 p.m. every Tuesday. The cover is $5. 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. 813-242-4364.
Computer Port Cafe Open mic. This cafe offers Internet access in addition to exotic coffees, tea and an assortment of gourmet baked goods. And every Friday and Saturday, from 7 to 11 p.m., the venue plays host to an open mic for musicians, comedians, poets, etc. 432 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach. 727-441-2667.
Hollywood Java Coffee House & Bar Open mic. This new hangout is in Bay Street at the International Plaza. Hollywood Java features Open Mic Nite every Wednesday for musicians, poets and comedians. Two mics, a P.A. and a guitar amp are provided. Sign-up begins at 7 p.m. 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa. 813-348-1415.
Insomnia Coffee House Gallery Words Awake. This spoken word open mic takes place at 8 p.m. every Thursday. An open mic for musicians, poets, comedians (anyone) also takes place at 9 p.m. every Tuesday, hosted by Big Rick (sign-up starts at 8 p.m.). 32884 U.S. 19, Palm Harbor. 727-789-3771.
Joffrey's Cybercafe Broad Stroking. Doris Owens Yates hosts this weekly open mic poetry reading at 3 p.m. every Sunday. All poets are welcome. Kelly Green hosts Two for One Tuesday, an open mic for any and all artists, from 8 p.m. to midnight every Tuesday. 5165 34th St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-865-0605.
Realm Coffeehouse Open Mic. 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. Realm's schedule of events features a poetry slam on the first Thursday of the month, a Tuesday open mic for music and sporadic appearances by guest DJs. Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m.; First Thursday of every month, 9:30 p.m. Continues through May 1. 937 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-821-5608.
The Tavern on Bayboro Shana's Open Mic Night. Hosted by Pete Gallagher, this open mic for musicians and poets takes place every Wednesday night. A different featured guest plays a 30-minute set each week. This week it's diva music from Shana and the Shanatones. The event takes place every Wednesday from 8 to 11:30 p.m. 121 Seventh Ave. S., St. Petersburg. 727-821-1418.
Theater: Openings
The Nerd A buffet is included in the cost of the show, a production by Ed Fletcher and Early Bird Dinner Theatre. Thur., Sat., 11 a.m.; Thur.-Sun., 4 p.m. Continues through Feb. 24. All shows cost $14.95 plus tax. Call for reservations. Bill Irle's Banquet Hall, 1411 N. Ft. Harrison Ave., Clearwater. 727-446-5898.
Visual Arts: Openings
Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce TESA Exhibit. This four-person show features works by Ruth Mabee, Elaine McCormick, Margareta Jacobs and Charles Partin III. All four artists have exhibited their work with TESA (The Exhibiting Society of Artists) for some time. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Feb. 7. 1130 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 727-768-0744.
Lemon Studios and Gallery Trajectories. Chicago artist Carrie Shield displays works that pay homage to Piet Mondrian. Shield, who received her MFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, works primarily in oil on linen. Saturdays, 12-5 p.m. Continues through Dec. 31. 1601 N. Marion St., Tampa. 813-805-7487.
Tarpon Springs Cultural Center The Dodecanese Islands. This exhibit features artifacts, costumes and recreated room settings from the Dodecanese Islands in Greece. John Lulias and Maria Pantelis curate the exhibit. Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Jan. 26. 101 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-942-5605.
Visual Arts: Ongoing
Art House Heavenly Harlots. Meet New York artist Dino Kotopoulis, an award-winning animation director, designer and character sketcher for companies such as Universal Studios, Disney and several major advertising agencies, including Leo Burnett. He's since turned his artistic talents to making whimsical bas-relief caricatures of real people into furniture he calls Egos. Currently he's creating cut metal sculptures, including the Heavenly Harlots series. Wed.-Sat., 12-4 p.m. Continues through Dec. 30. 233 Second St. S., Safety Harbor. 727-724-0122.
Artists Unlimited Life in Stone. The exhibit consists of more than two dozen hand-carved sculptures by artists of Zimbabwe, Africa. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 30. 223 N. 12th St., Tampa. 813-229-5958.
Baisden Gallery A New Wave of Glass II. This exhibit, featuring works by six young glass artists, is the gallery's second annual show highlighting artists who're gaining attention for their glass work. The artists are Jeanne Brennan, Nancy Callan, Mark Morris, Amy Rueffert, Ross Richmond and David Walters. Tue., Thur., Sat., 12-4 p.m.; Wed., Fri., 1-5 p.m. Continues through Feb. 3. 442 Grand Central Ave., Suite 100, Tampa. 813-250-1511.
Clayton Galleries Small Works: A Holiday Group Show. Twenty gallery artists display works in a wide range of media. All the works are smaller than 25 inches. Among the works are ornaments displayed on the gallery's Christmas tree. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Jan. 5. 4105 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa. 813-831-3753.
Davidson Fine Art The Beat Generation. This collection of works by notable beat writers includes original art, manuscripts, letters and books by Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsberg, Corso, Ferlinghetti, Baraka, Creely, Rivers and Bukowski. The show's producer and collection owner, Dr. William Plumley, is a published author himself (most recently in The Chicago Review), and has edited five anthologies of folklore, poetry and fiction. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Jan. 10. 725 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-827-1888.
Dunedin Fine Art Center Wheels: Artists and Automobiles. Wheels examines the American obsession with automobiles, as well as the artistry, mystique and cultural impact of wheels. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Continues through March 30. 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. 727-298-3322.
HCC-Ybor Gallery Blake High School Senior Masters Exhibit. This juried exhibit consists of the best works by Blake High School's senior art students. The exhibit includes various media — painting, photography, glass, jewelry, ceramics and sculpture. Tuesdays, 12-8 p.m.; Mon., Wed.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Jan. 3. In the HCC Performing Arts Building, at Palm Avenue and 15th Street, Ybor City. 813-253-7674.
Hyde Park Fine Arts Winter Salon. This multimedia, salon-style exhibit features the work of more than 20 artists, most of whom are new to the gallery. These new artists include folk painter Kathleen Deasey, ceramist Linda Chumley, and painters Bruce Minney and Marlene London. Returning gallery favorites include Lynn Whipple, Margaret Steward, Jack Barrett and Bask. Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Continues through Jan. 5. 937 S. Howard Ave., Tampa. 813-258-8883.
Merrick Gallery Glass/Painting Exhibit. Merrick's latest exhibit features glass by Florida glass blower Duncan McClellan and new works by Antonio Caparello, who worked for pop art master James Rosenquist as a painter and studio assistant for 10 years. McClellan has created some new pieces with his graal-and-overlay technique. Caparello, a billboard artist for many years, has focused of late on smaller works of oil on canvas. Wed., Thur., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri., Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays, 1-6 p.m. 330 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg. 727-896-2787.
New Heights Gallery Romantic Realists. This two-woman show introduces artists Lou Lair Harton and Beverly Barris to the Tampa Bay area. Harton is a recent arrival from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and Barris is from New York City. Harton's oil paintings are accomplished treatments of Brazilian women, adorned with tropical fruits and flowers. Barris, whose influences gravitate toward Rembrandt, creates atmospheric and figurative charcoals and pastels. Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through Feb. 16. 6310 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-234-9758.
Octagon Arts Center Whimsical Winter Scenes and Frosted Fantasies. All of the works in this show are somehow related to winter, be it in color, content, subject or allusion. The show includes works by mixed-media artists Lee Edgar and Karen Ann Westby, metal sculptor Brandy Stark, landscape/dreamscape painter Boo Ehrsam and photographer Kevin Peters. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Continues through Jan. 9. 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater. 727-531-7704.
The Packinghouse Gallery The Essence of Nature. Barb Collins of St. Petersburg exhibits her fine nature photography. Wed., Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Thur., Fri., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Continues through Jan. 15. 10900 Oakhurst Road, Largo. 727-596-7822.
Realty Executives Confident Art. 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 enmeshed in such themes as love, sports, the tropics and music. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 2861 34th St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-867-9600.
Salt Creek Artworks New Works by Gustavo Llenas and Tiphanie Windsor Perez. This exhibit is curated by Lance Rodgers. Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Jan. 25. 1600 Fourth St. S., St. Petersburg. 727-894-2653.
Suntan Art Center Reflections. This three-woman show features works by painter Gayle Woodley, multimedia painter Gay Womack and potter Ann Sackett. Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 727-367-3818.
Susan Benjamin Glass Etc. All the Glitter of Glass. Fine glass works by artists from across the country are on display in this holiday collection, which includes perfume bottles, paperweights, glass flowers and handblown Christmas ornaments. Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Continues through Jan. 17. 247 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-725-1808.
Syd Entel Galleries Spirits of the Holidays. Atlanta-based oil painter Thomas Arvid is quickly gaining a national reputation as today's premier painter of fine wine images. This exhibit of new works can be appreciated by wine connoisseurs and art collectors alike. Wine Spectator (Nov. 2000) showcased Arvid's work in a handsome profile and U.S. Art Gallery named him one of 25 Artists You Should Know (Aug. 2001). Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Continues through Jan. 17. 247 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-725-1808.
Synthesis Fine Arts Lure of Color. Recent works by Yvette Galliher are on display in the mezzanine, and a group show of paintings and sculptures by more than a dozen local artists is on display in the lobby. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Jan. 12. Tampa City Center, 201 N. Franklin St., Tampa. 877-796-8437.
TECO Public Art Gallery Landscapes/Portraits. Ruth T. Nienhaus exhibits 20 watercolors of landscapes and various portraits. Nienhaus has studied painting at the University of Georgia, and traveled throughout Florida, the Caribbean and Central America. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Dec. 31. 704 N. Franklin St., Tampa. 813-251-3688.
This article appears in Jan 3-9, 2002.