Visual Arts
Openings
Adrian Howard Galleries, at the Suncoast Resort Hotel, 3000 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-865-6906). As Seen Through an August Moon is an exhibit of a variety of media by artists Andreij Kroslak, Michael Harris, Packard de la Vega, Steven James, Alexander DeLorka, Mark Bebermeyer, Vesna Anderson and Robin Gary Wood. The exhibit runs Friday, Aug. 3, through Sunday, Aug. 26. Hours are 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 1 p.m. to midnight Friday; and 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday.
Artists Unlimited, in the Channel District, 223 N. 12th St., Tampa (813-229-5958). Endangered Species is an exhibition in conjunction with the Florida Printmakers Society. It's a collection of more than 40 prints featuring endangered species shown through a variety of printmaking techniques and styles. The exhibit opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, and continues through Sept. 28. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Gulfport Gallery Walk, in the Gulfport Art Village, South of 28th Avenue on Beach Boulevard South, Gulfport (727-321-0830). The village's monthly Gallery Walk takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. Wine and dine at one of Gulfport's restaurants or pubs, then check out the latest paintings, pottery, sculptures, glass, antiques and more during extended hours at over a dozen galleries. Pete Patterson and The Soul Mates supply live tunes, and Dan Bricker from the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club offers free viewings of the night sky through his handmade telescopes.
Ongoing
African Art Gallery, 1711 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-737-5312). This gallery features the finest in hand-carved African art, as well as other collectibles imported from West Africa. Paintings by Hargraves Nutkwana and Cecile Boswell Brown are also on display, along with the Benya Collection of never to be found again ancient artifacts from different African tribes. The West African Fofole Collection of modern, handcarved furniture rounds out the collection. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and by appointment on Sunday.
Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin (727-298-3322). Bear's Paw features quilts with strong design, color and innovation while paying homage to the traditional craftsmanship of quiltmaking. Star Search: 2001 Challenge of the Quilter's Crossing features workss by 25 members of the Quilter's Crossing utilizing the star block assigned to them. And the Quilts of Mildred Dort showcases the creations of this highly respected quilt artist, demonstrating her versatile designs. The three exhibits continue through Aug. 26. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visit the center at www.DFAC.org.
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave., downtown St. Pete (727-821-7391). Clay Rocks is an exhibit surveying new works by some of Florida's best ceramic artists. The exhibit features creations by several locals, and continues through Aug. 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Galerie du Soleil, formerly the Thomas Kinkade Spring Gate Galleries, 727 S. Dakota Ave., Tampa (813-249-5880). This gallery in the heart of Hyde Park not only continues to carry the beautiful works of Kinkade, but also stunning pieces by impressionists Leonard Wren, Royo and Stephen Shortridge, realist Chao Young, serigraphs, giclees and oils by Don Hatfield and actress Jane Seymour, and more.
Glass Canvas Gallery, 233 Fourth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-821-6767). The new summer show presents recent acquisitions from Eastern Europe and the United States. The show runs through Aug. 31. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Gold Dragon Gallery, 3508 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa (813-832-2755). Florida Fantasies, a summer exhibit curated by Patt Fosnaught, continues through Sept. 8. The Gold Dragon specializes in original paintings, limited edition prints, pottery, sculpture, blown glass, stained glass and custom framing using only conservation techniques. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Graphicstudio, 3702 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 100, Tampa (813-974-3503). Visual/Verbal is an exhibit featuring word and image works by artists including William S. Burroughs, Kiki Smith and John Scott. Nudes is a collection of works by 14 artists, including Robert Mapplethorpe, Philip Pearlstein and Jim Dine. Both exhibits run through Sept. 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
HCC-Ybor Gallery, in the Performing Arts Building, Palm Avenue at 15th Street, Ybor City (813-253-7674). Recent works by HCC's art department faculty members are on display through Aug. 5. The wide range of media includes items by Chad Bryan, Suzanne Camp Crosby, Susan Gott, Stephen Holm and Carolyn Kossar. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lemon Studios and Gallery, 1601 N. Marion St., Tampa (813-251-4192). This is Tampa's newest alternative gallery and artist-run studio space. Four local artists (Ryan Berg, Linda Chumley, Mandy Greer and Chuck McGee) renovated the 600-square-foot space to provide themselves a place to work and display their art. Call for hours.
MacArthur Galleries, 100 E. Madison St. (corner of Ashley Street), Tampa (813-221-5343). Figurative Dialog features drawings and oils by Edgar Sanchez Cumbas and Michael Madzo. Cumbas' work is also currently on display in underCURRENT/overVIEW 5 at the Tampa Museum of Art. The show continues through Thursday, Aug. 9. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Merrick Gallery, 330 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg (727-896-2787). Contemporary Masters II can currently be seen at the gallery, all discounted in honor of the gallery's second anniversary. Continuing through August, the show features works by Crash, Hirst, Rosenquist, Rauschenberg and Warhol. Gallery resident artists (Gerhard Birkhoffer, Rocky Bridges, Antonio Caparello, Leslie Neumann and David Williams) also contribute works. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Nancy Markoe Gallery, 3112 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach (727-360-0720). The work of premier jeweler Patricia Daunis is on display through Aug. 12. Daunis is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and winner of a DeBeers award, among others. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Nuance Galleries, 720 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-875-0511). Nuance and 3-D pop artist Charles Fazzino have teamed up for an exhibit benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Fazzino is best known for his brightly colored serigraphs of New York City, but his images vary from classic films to sporting events. The exhibit runs through Sept. 1, with a percentage from the art sold benefiting the MDA. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Painted Fish Gallery, 350 Main St., Dunedin (727-736-0934). The gallery's new show presents hand-colored etchings by Tampa artist John Costin, whose latest show, Vista, concentrates on herons and egrets in their natural habitats. The exhibit runs through Sept. 2. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (extended to 7 p.m. on Friday).
Romeo Art and Design Gallery, 1515 Seventh Ave., Tampa (813-247-1010). The gallery of third generation Ybor City artisan Walter P. Romeo features stylish furniture and original art by local artists Dennis Johnson, Greg Latch, Ray Paul, Guillermo Portieles, Tomas Marais and Alex Espalter-Torres. The exhibition continues through Sept. 1. Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7-10 p.m. Thursday.
SoHo Gallery, 2105 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2280). The World of Man is a collection by visual artist Aurora Heuple, whose works are based on her experiences growing up a native of Mexico City and her studies of Indian cultures. The exhibition continues through Sept. 1. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Something Fishy 913 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater (727-461-FISH). Attention to Details is an exhibit featuring pottery by Jan Richardson, sconces by Karen Kozak and wood carvings by Jim Good. The exhibit continues through Aug. 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Studio Gallery on Azeele, 3707 Azeele St., Tampa (813-875-5160). Metaphor in Abstraction, an exhibit of three Florida women (Nancy Sykes Cockerham, Fern Samuels and Rebecca Skelton), runs through Aug. 30. Hours are 2-4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, noon-4 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, or by appointment.
TECO Public Art Gallery, 2623 704 N. Franklin St., Tampa (813-251-3688). Art teachers from the Hillsborough Art Education Association are exhibiting their artwork through Aug. 31. The exhibit consists of 30 works that include paintings, photographs, ceramics and fabric sculptures. All created by teachers in the Hillsborough Public school system. 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 kids age 3-12 and free for children under 3. Visit www.flaquarium.net.
Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S., St. Petersburg (727-820-0100). Women of Ravensbruck: Portraits of Courage continues through Aug. 19. This show features images by Julia Terwilliger, who immortalized the faces of triumphant women who survived Ravensbruck, the major Nazi concentration camp for women. Working Through the Past: 1946-2000, The Art of Samuel Bak also continues through Aug. 19. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $6 for general, $5 for seniors and college students, $2 for ages 18 and under and members get in free.
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.
Great Explorations, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-821-8992). The whole family can learn art and science concepts at this interactive museum. Exhibits include Music!Music!Music! and SSSnakes, SSSpiders and SSScorpions, as well as the new VETerinary Office and ZOOMzone. Admission is $4 for everyone ages 3 and up. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo (727-518-6833). Pinellas County High School Survey, an annual student art exhibit, is on view through Aug. 6. John Henry: Wandering Spirit, continues through Aug. 27, offering Henry's sculptural installation in the Sculpture Garden. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (extended to 7 p.m. on Thursday), noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission costs $3 for adults (free on Thursday). Visit www.gulfcoastmuseum.org.
Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-254-1891). Simple Pleasures: America's Love of Pond Yachts continues through Dec. 23. The hobby of pond yachting reached its height of American popularity in the 1930s. This show features vintage pond yachts and their rigging, historical memorabilia and photographs. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $5.
Kid City, 7550 N. Boulevard, Tampa (813-935-8441). This tot-size city features better streets than the big people drive on, along with peddle cars and air conditioning in the museum's 14 child-size buildings, which include a fire station, grocery store, bank and city hall. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4, members and children under 2 get in free.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Pete (727-896-2667). Beyond Adornment: Beads from Around the World continues through Aug. 26. Admission costs $6 for adults, and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-987-6300 or 813-987-6100). Museum highlights include BioWorks Butterfly Garden, an engineerd 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.
Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History, 329 S. Bayshore Blvd., Safety Harbor (727-726-1668). Longrifles, an exhibit of early American weapons that have evolved into a unique art form, is on display through Dec. 31. The weapons featured are modeled after those used by settlers, soldiers and militia in the United States from the 1770s to about 1820. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission costs $2 for adults and $1 for ages 12 and under.
Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Pete. (727-823-3767). A Disarming Beauty: The Venus de Milo in 20th Century Art continues through Sept. 9. This show explores our culture's continued fascination with the mass-produced Venus through surrealists and contemporary artists who incorporate the icon into their works. Admission costs $10 for adults. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Hours extend to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, when admission is half off. Visit www.salvadordalimuseum.org.
St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. N.E. (on The Pier approach), St. Pete (727-894-1052). Souvenirs of Florida – From Tasteful to Tacky continues through Sept. 15. The exhibit traces the earliest souvenirs from the 1880s, made of naturally occurring materials, such as alligator teeth and palm fronds, through the dreadful kitsch of the 1960s. On permanent display is the Walk through Time and Try History on For Size galleries, where visitors can see themselves in vintage costumes through mirrors creating the illusion of wearing period clothing. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for ages 7-17, and free for kids 6 and under. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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.tampabay historycenter.org.
Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813-274-8130). UnderCURRENT/overVIEW 5 features works by 15 artists who've achieved a certain level of expertise, offering a wide range of innovative forms of expression and artistic concerns. The exhibit runs through Sept. 16. Arte Contemporanea di vetri (Contemporary Art in Glass) continues through October; James Rosenquist: The Florida Years, 1976-2001, through Aug. 5. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (extended to 8 p.m. on Thursday) and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission ranges from $3 to $5; free 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Veterans Memorial Museum and Park, 3602 U.S. 301 N., at the Tampa Bypass Canal, Tampa (813-744-5502). Permanent exhibits include Florida Soldiers Walk Through Time: 1590s-1990s, featuring Florida soldiers and American history from the 1590s through Desert Storm, and a Spanish-American War exhibit. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
Ybor City State Museum, 1818 Ninth Ave., Ybor City (813-247-6323). As We Heard It: Three Generations of Ybor City News continues through Sept. 30. This show pays tribute to the Manteiga family, founders of La Gaceta, the nation's only trilingual newspaper. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Visitors may see the Museum and the Casita (worker's home) for $2 per person.
Theater/Performance(See Classifieds for auditions.)
Briefs '01, presented by Stageworks, features performances of five original short plays, four by Florida playwrights and one by a Chicago playwright. Casts include Shanen Armstrong, Ginger King, Linda Favjan, Isabel Natero, Jennifer Neumann and Cher Tanner. Tickets cost $12, $10 for seniors and $7 for students. The last performance takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, at HCC's Performing Arts Hall, 15th Street and Palm Avenue, Ybor City (813-251-8984).
Falsettos, a pop-rock opera, traces the journey of a family preparing for its son's bar mitzvah, while the child himself deals with his parents' divorce and his father's relationship with a man living with AIDS. The musical runs through Aug. 5 at American Stage, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-7529). Single tickets cost $20-$28. Call for show times.
Forever Plaid This hit Broadway musical set in the 1950s features a quartet of teenage singers called The Four Plaids, trying to reach The Beatles' level of fame. The problem? The group was killed in a collision with (what else?) a busload of screaming Beatles fans, and now have to hit the big time as a type of, er … heavenly talent. The show runs through Aug. 12 in the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center' Jaeb Theater, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827). Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $24.50 to $29.50.
Let the Stories Move, performances of amazing stories played by the local women who lived them, is sure to inspire. Performances take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, and at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Shimberg Playhouse. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. The Performing Arts Center is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Spike Heels, a play by Theresa Rebeck, tours the minefield of contemporary relationships and class conflict. Performances take place Aug. 3-5, 10-12 and 17-19 at the Silver Meteor Gallery, 2213 E. Sixth Ave., Ybor City (813-247-6653). Shows begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $7, $5 for students and seniors.
The Two Mrs. Thorpes, by local playwright Marc S. Sanders, is a tale of sex, drugs, violence and rock 'n' roll between a man, a woman and another woman. The play is directed by Sanders and Miguel E. Rodriguez. Performances take place Aug. 3-18 at the Carrollwood Playhouse, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa (813-960-0664). Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets cost $10 and $8 for students.
Visiting Mr. Green, a comedy by Jeff Baron, chronicles the relationship of two men; Mr. Green, a curmudgeonly elderly man firmly anchored in traditional Judaism, and Ross Gardiner, a young up-and-comer with more modern values. The play runs through Aug. 5. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $20-$28. The play takes place at the American Stage, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-7529).
Comedy
Coconuts Comedy Club, at Howard Johnson, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-360-JOKE). Carl Faulkenberry performs Thursday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 5. Open mic night features Mike McCarthy on Wednesday, Aug. 8. 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). Tha Berry Boyz perform Friday and Saturday, Aug. 3 and 4. Show times are at 9:30 p.m. Cover varies (two-drink minimum). Reservations suggested.
Drew Street Station Comedy Night, 1717 Drew St., Clearwater (727-441-3350). From 9 to 11 p.m. every Thursday, the Station lets up-and-coming comedians cut their comedy teeth on the club clientele. Each week, six comedians contribute to the all-you-can-stand smorgasbord of laughs. The evening, like every other at Drew Street, imposes no cover charge or drink minimum.
Improv Comedy Theater, at Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City (813-864-4000). Etta May performs through Aug. 5. She has appeared in Jeff Foxworthy's Greats of Country Comedy and was named '99 Female Comic of the Year. Tickets cost between $8 and $14. All prices are advance purchase, and cost $2 more at the door. (Get a ticket recently? Call about the Improv's Driving School. No kidding.)
Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-960-1197). Happy Cole, as seen on Comic Strip Live and Caroline's Comedy Hour, performs through Aug. 5. Show times are 8:30 p.m. weekdays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Regular admission costs $5-$12 (depending on the night).
Snaps Comedy Club, (formerly Tropix) 810 E. Skagway Ave., Tampa (813-935-7576). A mixed bag of comedians from BET and Def Comedy Jam troupe through Snaps each week, having worked their way up from the Miami comedy joints. Show times are at 8 p.m. Thursday, as well as 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission costs $10 (two-item minimum).
Open Mic
Beaux Arts Gallery and Folk Coffeehouse, 2635 Central Ave., St. Pete (727-328-0702). Beaux Arts' open mic takes place from 8 to 11:30 p.m. every Saturday. Art films are shown at 8 p.m. Friday, and 2:30 and 8 p.m. Sunday. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. daily, extended from 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and 7 to 11:30 p.m. Saturdays. A donation of $2 to $5 is suggested at the door, but coffee and tea are free.
Big Kahuna's, 450 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach (727-447-7088). Every Thursday, the Big K hosts a music-oriented open jam at 9 p.m. Admission costs $4.
Bitter Shot, at Joffrey's Coffee Shop, 1616 Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-5282). This spoken word and open mic night takes place at 9 p.m. every Wednesday, complete with background music. Admission is free.
Brass Mug, 1441 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa (813-972-8152). The Mug offers an open jam night every Monday. Beginning at 9:30 p.m., the event allows musicians to take the stage and show off their chops. As extra incentive, all musicians can down 75-cent drafts throughout the evening. A full P.A., sound and drums are provided.
Center of Radical Empowerment, formerly the George Orwell Resource Center, hosts an open mic from 8 to 11 p.m. every Monday. Music, poetry, spoken word, performance art … whatever floats your boat is OK by the progressive folks at C.O.R.E. Admission's free but donations are accepted. Call 727-821-2673.
Cool Tunes Coffee Bar, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater (727-799-3788). Open mic takes place from 9 to 11:30 p.m. every Wednesday, and guitarist Paul Reynolds plays from 9 to 11:30 p.m. every Thursday. Open mics are free. Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Corrigan's Irish Pub, 4685 28th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-528-0711). Poets, musicians, comedians and everybody else can have their 15 minutes at Open Mic Night every Monday from 7 to 11 p.m. The Dough Boyz Duo host the show and play a few ditties of their own in between the amateurs.
Cruzin' 66, at 66th Street and 50th Avenue in Pinellas Park (727-547-0230). Richie Vee and Dread, White & Blue host an 8 p.m. open blues jam every Sunday. Join in the jam, learn a few new tricks and maybe meet your new bandmates.
Gatorz Southern Rock Cafe, 509 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon (813-662-1557). Mike Childs hosts a Wednesday open jam at Gators, which begins at 10 p.m. Dillon G. helps Childs host the event, which is geared toward musicians but open to poets as well.
Insomnia Coffee House Gallery, 32884 U.S. 19, Palm Harbor (727-789-3771). Musicians, poets, comedians, magicians and anyone else can perform at the 9 p.m. open mic events every Tuesday, hosted by Big Rick (sign-up starts at 8 p.m.). Hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday and Monday.
James Joyce Irish Pub, 1704 1/2 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-247-1896). Tuesday's female singer-songwriter night has become an open mic for all musicians, 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. every Tuesday, hosted by Rebekah Pulley and Jerry Provost. The pub also offers a variety of live, acoustical music nightly. Call for hours.
Joffrey's Coffee Shop, 5165 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-946-7622). Doris Yates hosts a poetry/spoken word open mic at 3 p.m. every Sunday. Sign in by 2:30 p.m. if you want to read. Also, Stazja (yeah, we can't pronounce it either) hosts a poetry slam the first Sunday of each month, with prizes for the winners. For info on the slam, call 727-449-0597 or e-mail stazja@aol.com.
Market on 7th, 1816 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-2356). If you miss Vince Longo's Wednesday Open Mic at Yeoman's Road, schlep on down to the market where Longo and John Meats host yet another, this one from 8 p.m. to midnight each Thursday. The event is mostly musical, but any appreciable talent is welcome.
Rockwell's Corner Pub, 10801 Starkey Road, Suite One, Largo (727-398-1055). The Blue Team hosts an 8 p.m. to midnight open mic every Thursday. Musicians are welcome to come on down and jam with the band during this highly improvisational evening of blues tunes.
Subterranean Digs, an open poetry event, takes place every other Tuesday at Atomic Age Cafe. This event begins with sign-up at 9 p.m., followed by the open mic at 9:30 p.m. Admission's free, but donations (money, clothes, non-perishable, etc.) are always collected for Metropolitan Ministries. The cafe's at 1518 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-247-6547, or visit http://sybil.org/dig.
The Pharm, 941 Huntley Ave., Dunedin (727-735-9019). The Pharm's growing Open Mic has moved from Mondays to Wednesdays from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Host Ben Bryant, a talented musician himself, keeps things moving, while a wide variety of performers grace the stage. www.pharmreport.com.
Triple Talent Showcase, at the HCC Ybor campus courtyard, located at Eighth Avenue and Republica De Cuba in Ybor City (813-973-0528). Sanman's Pure Poets Society is back, offering an 8 to 10 p.m. open mic event every Wednesday. Poets of all skill levels are welcome to share their works, but a $3 donation is requested prior to performing.
Tycoon's, 526 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-826-6716). Keyboardist Kevin Wilder hosts an open jazz jam from 6 p.m. to midnight every Sunday. Players from around the Bay area join Wilder for this weekly improv session. Admission's free.
Y-Project, at Yeoman's Road Pub, 236 E. Davis Blvd., Davis Islands (813-251-BRIT). The Rev. Roy T. Justice leads this Sunday night event, featuring a collection of stage hoppers from the Tampa Bay open mic scene. The fun begins at 7 p.m. and continues till the group's damn good and ready to quit (or until they get tossed out).
Yeoman's Road Pub, 236 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa (813-251-BRIT). The open mic line-up at Yeoman's includes a blues jam every Tuesday with Mike Tozier, Weekly Planet's 2000 Best Acoustic Act winner. Vince Longo also hosts an open jam every Wednesday, featuring an eclectic mix of performers from the Bay's music scene. And, for good measure, an open jazz jam takes place every Thursday. All events are free and start at 9 p.m. (or thereabouts).
Sports & Nature
Brooker Creek Preserve Grab the bug spray and a few good friends before heading out to Brooker Creek for a free guided tour of the grounds. Tours are given from 9 to 11 a.m. every Saturday and reservations are a must. Brooker Creek is located in Tarpon Springs. Call 813-943-4003 for more information and directions.
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.
It's Our Nature Outings, environmentally and historically informative events, gets you back to nature with hikes, birdwatching, kayak adventures, full moon walks and more on a regular basis. Some events are weekly; some are scheduled; and a full list of activities can be had by calling 727-441-2599 or by checking out www.itsournature.com.
Osprey Bay Kayaks, 17910 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater (727-524-9670). Aside from a variety of classes, Osprey also offers regular outings, including Full Moon Paddles, Weekday Get Aways (Clearwater Bay, Caladesi Island, etc.) and fishing trips. For a full schedule of events, costs and other information, call the above number or visit www.ospreybay.com/trips.htm.
Tampa Bay Mutiny, at the Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-289-6811 or 1-888-289-6811). The Mutiny take on the San Jose Earthquakes at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. Tickets range from $10 to $20 and discounted group rates are available.
Tampa Bay Sierra Club Outings The club is always off hiking, canoeing, biking or backpacking somewhere in the Florida wilds. Give 'em a call and join in the positive energy. Call 813-253-3555 in Tampa or 727-584-8889 in Pinellas.
Special Events
Crape Myrtle Festival takes place at Beckett Lake Nursery, 2251 Montclair Road, Clearwater (727-796-7950). This colorful annual event centers on the deciduous summer blooming of the crape myrtle. The festival takes place 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5. Seminars take place at 1:30 p.m. both days.
In the Garden, a series of presentations, takes place at the Florida Botanical Garden, 12175 125th St. N., Largo (727-582-2124). Horticulturist Allen Cordell provides a hands-on opportunity to create your own windowsill herb garden at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. The presentation and supplies cost $20. Reservations and advance payment are required. Also, registered dietician Nan Jenson guides children through A Fruity World, a hands-on demonstration of making fruit sticks and a discussion about nutritious fruits.
This article appears in Aug 2-8, 2001.