Visual Arts
Openings
Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, 1130 Cleveland St., Clearwater. An exhibit of works by five members of The Exhibiting Society of Artists is on display from Friday, Nov. 16, through Dec. 27. The artists are Gloria Agnese, Mary Silvia, Nicholas Soldo, Sheri Salin and Kyu Yamamoto. The exhibit is open during Chamber business hours. Call 727-768-0744.
Gallery Enormous, 540 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-551-9865). Art in the House, a weekend show and sale to benefit Habitat for Humanity, takes place Nov. 16-18, with a catered reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. The multimedia exhibit includes works by potter David Greenbaum, industrial artist Frank Strunk III, painter Joanna Coke and wood artisan Kerry Hudson. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and by appointment.
Michael Murphy Gallery, 2722 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-902-1414). Florida landscape master Peter Pettegrew exhibits new works that capture the everyday beauty of Florida's wilderness. The exhibit opens with a reception from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, and runs through Dec. 7. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Purple Moon, 833 Douglas Ave., Dunedin (727-738-1540). This bar and regular music venue plays host to the Feel Good Art Series featuring local artists the third Sunday of every month. From noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 18, the featured artist is Dunedin resident Dortha Forrester, who'll exhibit her works in acrylic and oil. Admission is free. Call 727-738-1540.
Snooty Judy's Gallery for the Open Mind, 514 Skinner Blvd., Dunedin (727-734-9835). The Fourth Annual Owners' Show features sculpture and photography by Judy Vienneau, steel works by Rick Tuisku and paintings by the couple's daughter, Alexandra Tuisku. A reception takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. 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.
Ongoing
531 Central Fine Arts, 531 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2787). Landscapes of the Mind is a special retrospective exhibition honoring the work of deceased St. Petersburg native Richard Protovin. The show features Protovin's oil paintings and watercolors, and a video display of several of his animated films. The show runs through Dec. 5. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.531central.com.
Adrian Howard Galleries, at the Suncoast Resort Hotel, 3000 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-865-6906). The Heart and Art of America is a group exhibition featuring works by Ron Jacobson, Thomas Bouchelle, Michael Chestnut and Ron Reams. The exhibit runs through Nov. 30. 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). Life in Stone is an exhibit of more than two dozen hand-carved sculptures by artists from Zimbabwe, Africa. The exhibit runs through Jan. 30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Pete (727-822-7872). Three shows open the Arts Center's holiday season: Celebrations, the Center's annual holiday show; Full Circle, a solo exhibit of new collages by Josette Urso; and Dangerous Curves, sculptural works by Paul Larned. The holiday show displays works that make great gifts, including photographs by Ric David, pottery by Charlie Parker and limited edition hand-printed holiday cards. Urso's new works are circular collages made of cut, patterned and textured paper. Larned's hot-sculpted glass works incorporate wood and metal, and capture a primal look and brittle beauty. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, through Saturday.
Centre Gallery, in USF's Phyllis P. Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-5464). Breeder's Playground, an installation by Michelle Rehrig, runs through Nov. 30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Davidson Fine Art, 725 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-827-1888). The Beat Generation, an exhibit of collectibles and 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, has also been published broadly in newspapers and literary journals (most recently The Chicago Review) and has edited five anthologies of folklore, poetry and fiction. The show runs through Jan. 10. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin (727-298-3322). Wheels: Artists and Automobiles examines America's obsession with wheels, and addresses the artistry, mystique and cultural impact of the automobile. The exhibit runs through March 3. 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.
E. Walter Galleries, 449 Central Ave. Suite 100, St. Petersburg (727-898-7500). A two-person exhibit of works by Shawn Arnow and Milt Rochman runs through Dec. 8. Arnow, who's new to the area, has sold her Picasso-like paintings and drawings independently for the past 10 years. Rochman's work has been seen throughout the area for the past 10 years, and the artist was recently the subject of articles in several national magazines, including ArtTrends and Art Business News. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
EastWest Gallery & Framery, 529 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-823-9629). Flower Power is an exhibit of acrylics on canvas by Susan Supper. The metaphorical works show flora emerging from cityscapes. The exhibit is on display through Dec. 1. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment.
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave., downtown St. Pete (727-821-7391). Season of Lights, an exhibit of fine contemporary crafts designed for gift giving, and A Show of Cups, an installation of handmade cups and mugs, are on display through Dec. 29. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
The Gallery of Owen Sweet Design, 16701 Gulf Blvd. N., Redington Beach (727-392-6936). Language of the Heart is an exhibit of oil and acrylic paintings by local artist Dragoslav Milic. The exhibit is on display through Dec. 28. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
HCC-Dale Mabry Gallery, located in the Social Science Building, 4001 Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa (813-253-7560). Ireland On Sight is an exhibit of oil paintings by Josette Urso. Urso has painted on fellowship throughout Ireland and created the art awards for this year's Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts. The exhibit runs through Dec. 8. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
HCC-Ybor Gallery, in the Performing Arts Building, Palm Avenue at 15th Street, Ybor City (813-253-7674). The gallery features an exhibit of new mixed-media sculpture by Lutz artist Susan Livingston. Created from fossils and clay, the pieces represent the process of fossilization. The exhibit is on display from through Dec. 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lemon Studios and Gallery, 1601 N. Marion St., Tampa (813-805-7487). Trajectories is an exhibit of works by Chicago artist Carrie Shield that pays homage to Piet Mondrian. Shield, who received her MFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, works primarily in oil on linen. The exhibit runs through Dec. 31. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and by appointment.
Merrick Gallery, 330 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg (727-896-2787). Sign Language is an exhibit of new works by Steve Carlisle, a mixed-media artist whose images deal with the use of signs to persuade and manipulate people. Carlisle incorporates photography, digital printing and screen printing into his work. The exhibit runs through Nov. 25. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Muse Gallery, 2465 Drew St., in the Fine Arts Building of the St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus (727-791-2685). Color With Out Color is an exhibit of new works by St. Pete College photography students. The show runs through Dec. 7. Hours are 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Old Hyde Park Art Center, 705 Swann Ave., Tampa (813-251-3780). An exhibit of professional watermedia runs through Nov. 30. The exhibit features works by Sue Allen, Jane Cheek, Anne Drewery and Betty Rankin. Hours are noon-3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 3-8 p.m. every third Thursday.
Salt Creek Artworks, 1600 Fourth St. S., St. Pete (727-894-2653). The galleries of Salt Creek host an exhibit of mixed-media works by German-born artist Joachim Johannes Domschke in the Grey Gallery, and in the Green Gallery, the digital photography of John Gladman of Lawrence, Kan. The exhibit runs through Dec. 7. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Scarfone/Hartley Galleries, corner of North B Street and Brevard Avenue on the University of Tampa campus, Tampa (813-253-6217). An exhibit of more than 20 artworks by Stacy Rosende, an emerging Tampa artist, are on display through Nov. 30. Rosende received her master's of fine arts degree from Boston University in '96. The exhibit consists of large, brilliant paintings with layers of textured paint, and several monoprints that she's created with inks and mixed media, scrubbing and reworking the canvas surfaces. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Silver Meteor Gallery, 2213 E. Sixth Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4500). Twelve features a dozen of Charles D. Doan's most recent two-dimensional and relief painting. The exhibit runs through Nov. 18. Gallery hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
St. Pete Beach Art Institute, 3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-3818). Reflections, a three-woman show, features artworks by potter Ann Sackett, painter Gayle Woodley and multi-media painter Gay Womack. The show runs through Dec. 29. 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). The Echo Effect, an exhibit of mixed media by Vesna Vojnovic Anderson, runs through Dec. 6. 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.
Synthesis Fine Arts, at Tampa City Center, 201 N. Franklin St., Tampa. Lure of Color, recent works by Yvette Galliher, is on display in the mezzanine; and On the Edge, a group show of paintings and sculptures by more than a dozen local artists, is on display in the lobby. The exhibits run through Jan. 12. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For details on the show, call the gallery's second location, at 1-877-SYNTHESIS.
Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, 101 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs (727-942-5605). Brief Images of Time is an exhibit of paintings by Harry Farmlett, who worked as a New York design consultant for many years before retiring to Florida. He now devotes much of his time to painting. The exhibit runs through Nov. 28. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Vincent William Gallery Inc., 320 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-363-1334). Keep it Together is an exhibit celebrating the gallery's eighth anniversary. Artists on display include Australian silver jeweler Jose Nunes and Canadian bronze artist Andrew Benyei. The gallery also includes works by more than 120 local, national and Canadian artists. The exhibit runs through Nov. 23. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museums and Attractions
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater (727-441-1790). This nonprofit organization is dedicated to education and 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. 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 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.
Lowry Park Zoo, at 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552). The zoo features more than 1,500 exotic animals, all on display until dusk. The zoo's interactive exhibits include Stingray Bay, Lorikeet Landing and the Petting Zoo. General admission is $7 for adults and $5 for ages 3-11.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Pete (727-896-2667). Americanos: Latino Life in the United States is an exhibit of 120 images by 30 prize-winning photographers. The documentary photographs cut across economic groups and tell the story of an array of Latinos, from portraits of celebrities, like Carlos Santana and Sammy Sosa, to children playing chess to physicians at work. The show runs through Jan. 6, and is complemented by numerous educational programs. Admission costs $6 for adults, and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-987-6300 or 813-987-6100). Museum highlights include BioWorks Butterfly Garden, an engineered ecosystem that emulates natural wetlands; the Back Woods, 40 acres of special water conservation elements and outdoor exhibits; and the Saunders Planetarium. The IMAX Dome Theatre features an 82-foot hemispherical movie screen (see Movie Marquee for schedule). The Museum's combo admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $9 for ages 2 to 13. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call the info line at 813-987-6100 for IMAX show times.
Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Pete. (727-823-3767). A retrospective of paintings by the French artist Jacqueline Lamba (1910-93) is currently featured at the museum. Lamba is best known for having inspired artistic contributions to the surrealist movement. The exhibition brings together 25 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. The museum also features one of the best collections of Salvador Dali's works in the world, including several masterworks. Admission costs $10 for adults. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Hours extend to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, when admission is half off. Visit www.salvadordalimuseum.org.
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 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 runs through Jan. 13. Craft is a Verb is a survey of the history of the American craft movement from the late 1950s to the present, drawn from the collection of the American Craft Museum in New York. The exhibit runs through Dec. 30. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (extended to 8 p.m. on Thursday) and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission ranges from $3 to $5; free 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
USF Contemporary Art Museum, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Cam 101, Tampa (813-974-4133). Lucy Orta: Nexus Architecture & Connector IV is an exhibit of Orta's projects, which includes collaborations with Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa and a new architectural infrastructure for a modular social space. The exhibit runs through Dec. 8. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. 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). Using historical photographs and artifacts, the Ybor City Museum Society's new exhibit, Matriarchs and Mantillas: the Women of Ybor, reveals the unique character of the women who settled the city and created a culture of their own in this immigrant community. These women are remembered as hardworking and business-like, yet also for representing femininity, illustrated by their lace mantillas and Spanish fans. The exhibit runs through March 31 at the Ybor City Museum State Park. 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.)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas This charmingly naughty musical comedy is based on the remarkable true story of Edna Milton and the closing of her Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange, Texas, in 1973. The plot centers on Miss Mona and her girls as they fight hypocritical politicians and a puritanical TV reporter who demands the closing of the ranch. Screen star Ann-Margret (Carnal Knowledge, Grumpy Old Men, Any Given Sunday) makes her theatrical debut as Miss Mona. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas plays at Ruth Eckerd Hall through Nov. 18, with show times at 8 p.m. through Nov. 16, at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. Tickets range from $35-$55. REH is at 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater (727-791-7400).
Evilyn Myne The Gulfport Community Players perform this two-act thriller by Vernon Troutner at the Catherine A. Hickman Theater through Nov. 18. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 15-17, and at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 18. Tickets cost $7. The theater's at 5501 27th Ave. S., Gulfport (727-323-8739).
The Immigrant, based on the experiences of playwright Mark Harelik's grandfather, introduces audiences to Haskell Harelik, a Russian Jew who immigrates to the United States to escape persecution in the early 1900s. Harelik arrives in rural Hamilton, Texas, with hopes of tapping into the American Dream and laying a hearty foundation for his wife and future family. An American Stage premiere, performances take place through Dec. 2, with show times at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range from $20 to $28 (depending on the night); $30 on opening night. American Stage is at 211 Third St. S., downtown St. Petersburg (727-823-7529).
The Mousetrap The St. Petersburg Little Theatre presents this Agatha Christie classic. A group of strangers are stranded in a boardinghouse during a snowstorm when a murder is committed. The play is populated with a typical Christie cast of oddball suspects. The Mousetrap plays at 8 p.m. Nov. 15-17 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 18. Tickets cost $13; $7 for students. The SPLT is at 4025 31st St. S., St. Petersburg (727-866-1973).
The Nutcracker The West Florida Ballet performs this perennial holiday favorite at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Tickets range
from $16.95-$25.95. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.
Side Show Nominated for four Tonys in '98 (Best Actress, Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Musical Score) Side Show is a story about the Hilton sisters' search for love. The Siamese twins were a vaudeville sensation in the 1930's. The show plays at Gorilla Theatre through Nov. 18, with show times at 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $25; $20 for students and seniors. The Gorilla Theatre is at 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa (813-879-2914).
The World Goes Round The University of Tampa's departments of speech, theater and dance present this musical revue by John Kander and Fred Ebb through Nov. 18. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 15-17 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 18, in the Falk Theatre, located across from the UT campus at 428 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Admission costs $10. Call 813-253-6243.
You Can't Take it with You, a comedy by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, plays at Masque Theatre Nov. 16 and 17. Show times are at 8 p.m. Friday, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $14; $12 for students and seniors. The theater is at 10901 N. 56th St., Tampa, (813-935-8634). For more info, visit www.masquetheatre.org.Classical Music
Blue Jeans Classics The Florida Orchestra perform the first in a series of informal concerts at the Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. Enjoy great music like Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in a setting as relaxed as your living room. Tickets cost $16. The Coliseum is at 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-5202).
Tour of Italy The Sunstate Opera opens its 2001/02 season with a Tour of Italy, featuring favorite arias from famous Italian operas, such as Tosca, La Boheme and Rigoletto. Sunstate Opera is comprised of local artists of all ages whose experience ranges from aspiring students to accomplished international performers. Admission costs $12; $10 for those 55 and older; and $8 for those 22 and younger. The performance takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Palladium theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-822-3590).
USF Percussion Ensemble The program, directed by Robert McCormick, celebrates the ensemble's return from their first international tour to South Korea. Admission costs $4 for adults, $3 for students and seniors. The performance takes place at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov.
19, at University Theatre I (TAT), USF-Tampa, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813-974-2323.
Comedy
Coconuts Comedy Club, at Howard Johnson, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-360-JOKE). Brian Schmidt performs Nov. 15-18. Open mic, featuring Dow Thomas, takes place Nov. 21. Show time is 9:30 p.m. Cover charge varies (two-drink minimum). Reservations are suggested.
Coconuts Comedy Club, at the Cinema Cafe, 24095 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater (727-797-JOKE). Michael Mack performs Nov. 16 and 17. Show time is 9:30 p.m. Cover varies (two-drink minimum). Reservations suggested.
Improv Comedy Theater, at Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City (813-864-4000). Survivor Comedy, a Survivor-style stand-up/improv competition takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. Eight comics, the winners of the Improv's monthly open mic nights, compete to see who will survive and who will be asked to leave the island (stage). Jim Breuer (see Top Pick) is also staying over Sunday, Nov. 18, to host a benefit for local comedian Lou Angelwolf, who was seriously injured in a car wreck. Breuer will be joined on stage by six other comedians in an effort to help their fellow comic. The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $22, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the door benefiting Angelwolf. Thomas Brown, a Tampa native who's toured with Jeff Foxworthy, performs Nov. 21-25 , with show times at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $8-$14 depending on the night. All prices are advance purchase and cost $2 more at the door.
Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-960-1197). Ken Whitener, a hypnotist known as the Wizard of Comedy, performs through Nov. 25. 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). Rick Stepinsky, seen in clubs nationwide, performs Nov. 16 and 17. Show times are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Admission is $15 advance, $17 day of. Reservations are recommended.
Poetry & Prose
Barnes & Noble-Brandon, 122 Brandon Town Center Drive (813-661-9883). Two authors sign copies of their books from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. The authors are Diane Chechik, author of Journey to Justice and There's Nothing Like a Breast, and Erika Nargo, author of The Practice of My Calling: Retired Nurses Tell Their Stories. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday.
Barnes & Noble-Carrollwood, 11802 N. Dale Mabry (813-962-8097). Joyce Spizer signs copies of her newest book, The Cross Country Killer, a true crime book about convicted murderer Glen Rogers, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11
Inkwood Books, 216 Armenia Ave. S., Tampa (813-253-2638). Authors Virgil Suarez and Ryan Van Cleave read and sign their poetry anthology, American Diaspora: Poetry of Displacement, featuring selections from 130 poets, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. Suarez and Van Cleave are widely published poets themselves, and teach creative writing at Florida State University and the University of Wisconsin, respectively. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, extended to 9 p.m. on Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Waldenbooks, in International Plaza, 2223 N. Westshore, Tampa (813-353-0292). Novelist William Kerr signs copies of his action/adventure series from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. The books are Death's Bright Angel, The Collector and Judgement Call. The series' hero, Matthew Berkeley, is an archaeological agency's security chief.
Open Mic
James Joyce Irish Pub, 1704 1/2 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-247-1896). An open mic for all musicians takes place from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every Tuesday, hosted by Rebekah Pulley and Jerry Provost. The pub also offers a variety of live, acoustical music nightly. Call for hours.
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 music on Tuesday, an open mic for poetry on Thursday and a Friday drum circle. All events happen from 9 p.m. to midnight. Hours are from 6:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Poetry on the Edge Poet Diana Browning hosts the final Poetry on the Edge event of the year at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Borders-Tampa. As always please leave the kiddies at home to allow poets complete artistic freedom of expression. The ever-encouraging Browning also reminds poets that those too shy to read aloud should feel free to ask any of the regular hams, and they'll be more than happy to read your work for you. POE meets, as always, the third Friday of the month (except December). Borders-Tampa is at 909 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-874-5722).
Sports & Nature
Avon Walking & Running, an event to promote wellness and benefit St. Joseph's Women's Hospital, features a women-only 10k race, a 5k run/walk and a kid's dash. The event also includes the Avon Wellness Village, where attendees can receive free manicures and massages, sample health products, try on RYKA shoes and get free screenings by St. Joseph's staff members for cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and body mass. The event takes place from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at USF-Tampa's main parking lots. USF is at 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813-963-6289, or visit the event's web site: www.avonrunning.com.
The Road to the Gold, a Christian Wrestling Federation event, is being taped live at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Florida Wrestleplex in St. Pete. The main event is a heavyweight title match between Rastaman and Chaos, with an undercard of matches featuring guys with great names like Devin Nash, Frankie Capone, the Kamikaze Kid, Jet Jaguar and Special Ed. Tickets cost $8. The Florida Wrestleplex is at 4055 35th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-526-6778).
Sports Illustrated at USF Sports Illustrated, along with a posse of companies with strong college demographics, are bringing a slew of promotional games to the Business Lawn at USF-Tampa at 10 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 19 and 20. The good times include the Hershey Basketball Challenge, the Nokia Rock Climbing Wall, the Nutrageous Gladiator Joust and the ReeseSticks Surf Simulator. USF is at 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. For more info, call 813-974-5202.
Tree and Shrub Identification Dunedin Nature Center offers a nature stroll for adults from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. The cost is $2, literature included. The stroll begins in Hammock Park, 1900 San Mateo Drive, Dunedin. To reserve your spot, call 727-298-3271.
Special Events
Brandon Arts & Crafts Festival The Brandon Chapter of Kappa Delta Phi hosts this 27th annual crafts fair to raise funds for nonprofit children's organizations in the Eastern Hillsborough county area. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17 and 18, at Winthrop Village, on Bloomingdale Avenue east of Providence Road in Brandon. Call 813-685-8888.
Dunedin Celtic Highland Festival This third annual event features continuous Celtic entertainment from noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Highlander Park in Dunedin. Performances include the Celtic rock band Seven Nations, the Welsh band Here be Dragons, Atlanta band The Bordercollies, the Sheila Butler Irish Dancers and the City of Dunedin Pipe Band and Dancers. The festival also includes arts and crafts, and authentic Celtic food. Admission costs $12; free for children under 10 with a paying adult. Highlander Park is at Pinehurst Road and Michigan Boulevard in Dunedin. For more info, call 727-734-9515.
Dunedin Craft Festival The ninth annual festival returns Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17 and 18, to Dunedin's Main Street. The event features more than 100 crafters from across the nation, showcasing a wide variety of arts and crafts, and there'll be plenty of food on hand. Award-winning pianist Jeffrey Michael and keyboardist Kayte Wolf provide musical entertainment. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free. For more info, call 954-472-3755.
The Good Community Fair The fair is a showcase of nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay area. Grouped into health, family, culture, neighborhood, nature, education and youth, the event provides one-on-one contact with various agencies and offers an opportunity for citizens to volunteer to serve their favorite group. The event is free and takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa. Call 813-274-8511.
Little Rascals, 532 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-898-5282). The Globe Coffee Lounge is showing six of the Little Rascals' Our Gang short films from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. The afternoon also features a performance by local band Fang-Shooey, a sort of Little Rascals boy band. The event is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Paint-A-Plate, an event to benefit Lifepath Hospice, takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at The Source for the Home, located in South Tampa's SoHo district. Guests pay $50 for paints and a white plate from Rosenthal China. Once painted, the plates are fired and available for pickup by Dec. 14. Special plates up for auction include ones created by local artists Ron Pieniak, Bask, Richard Kind and others. The Source for the Home is at 711 S. Howard Ave., Tampa. To reserve a plate, call 813-259-9999.
Shallow Water Fishing Expo A streamlined, functional, fact-finding show created for shallow-water fishing aficionados, the expo includes just about everything imaginable with one common denominator: light fishing tackle. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Tampa Convention Center. Admission costs $10; children under 14 get in free. The Convention Center's at 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa. Call 813-274-8511.
Simulcast of New York Service for Victims of Sept. 11 Attacks On Sunday, Nov. 18, Tropicana Field opens its doors to those wishing to attend a simulcast of the New York Memorial Service honoring firefighters killed in the World Trade Center attacks of Sept. 11. Parking and admission to the Trop are free. Doors open at 10 a.m. Local dignitaries begin speaking at 10:40 a.m. and the service starts at 11. No food or drink permitted. The Trop is at One Stadium Drive, St. Petersburg. For more information, call 727-743-3108.
Tampa Cigar Heritage Festival This fifth annual, aromatic showcase of hand-rolled cigars features dozens of cigar manufacturers and retailers, along with other lifestyle-oriented vendors and exhibitors. The free family event is also home to many local spectator specials, such as a display of more than 100 meticulously maintained Harley Davidsons. Children's activities and entertainers amuse the little ones, and an array of ethnic dishes being offered are hard to resist. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in historic Centennial Park, located on Ninth Avenue between 18th and 19th streets in Ybor City. For more info, call 813-832-1000.
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2001.