Visual Arts
Openings
Adrian Howard Galleries, at the Suncoast Resort Hotel, 3000 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-865-6906). Just Around the Bend begins Friday, June 1, and continues through July 1. A wide variety of media is showcased at this exhibition, including multicolored glass mobiles by Steven James, metal sculptures by Mark Perhot, water fountains by David McClure, ink and graphite drawings by Budapest-based artist Patu, and acrylic on plastic canvas by Cristobal Sanchez. 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.
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, June 1. 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. Jeanne Boone, Tawny & Scott and, direct from Hawaii, Pacific Harmony II, supply the tunes, and Dan Bricker from the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club gives you a view of the night sky through his handmade telescopes.
HCC-Ybor Gallery, in the Performing Arts Building, Palm Avenue at 15th Street, Tampa (813-253-7674). Recent works by HCC's art department faculty members are on display, beginning with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 5. The wide range of media includes items by Chad Bryan, Suzanne Camp Crosby, Susan Gott, Stephen Holm and Carolyn Kossar. The exhibition continues through Aug. 5. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Hyde Park Fine Arts, 937 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-258-8883). Momente, featuring the latest works by Thomas Murray, begins with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 1, and continues through June 30. Roughly a year ago, Murphy pulled up his Tampa stakes and high-tailed it to New Mexico to pursue a masters in fine art at UNM. The series of works at HPFA, consisting of paintings and hand-pulled lithographs, is the product of the artist's first year in his new locale. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Old Hyde Park Art Center, 705 Swann Ave., Tampa (813-251-3780). The center's annual Oil and Acrylic Open Competition begins Tuesday, June 5, and continues through June 30. An awards reception for the competition begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14. An open juried competition, Pastel, Pen, Pencil and Charcoal, also continues through June 2. Also on June 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the center offers a "Pull Up a Chair" workshop. Bring a chair, drop cloth, acrylic paints and your own lunch, and spend the afternoon painting your chair at the center. The $5 fee doubles as registration for the competition, if you want to enter your chair. Hours are noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
St. Pete Beach Art Institute, 3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-3818). Makin' Art, featuring the works of Nancy Wallace Gable, begins with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 2, and continues through July 6. Snowbird Marie Bonenfant also shows off her vivid portraits and floral works through May 31, alongside works in a variety of media by SPBAI members. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Visit www.suntanartcenter.com.
Unsupervised, featuring works on paper by Hugo S. Porcaro Jr., hangs at The Globe Coffee Lounge from Tuesday, June 5, through July 7. As part of its Art Shots series, The Globe features Porcaro's easy, fun works on paper, in addition to a series of darker works that are rather out of the norm for the happy-go-lucky artist. This makes for an interesting mix of acrylics on paper portraying everything from flowers, cakes and coffee, to meditations on attracting violence and broken relationships. Stop by the artist's reception, 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 7, and try your hand at the coloring sheets Porcaro has created for the occasion, guaranteed to please both the left- and right-brainers. The Globe's at 532 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Call 727-898-5282.
Ongoing
531 Central Fine Arts, 531 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2787). Next Stop: St. Petersburg; The City in the 21st Century, along with a group show by the gallery's resident artists, are both featured through June 2. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.531central.com.
9 Gallery, 902 N. Rome Ave., Tampa (813-258-1694). This brand-spanking new gallery presents Public Hair's Posters & Propaganda through May 31. Public Hair, performance artist, jazz singer and comedian, fills the gallery with his show posters, which touch upon politics, sex, religion and law. Hours are by appointment only, and gallery owner Doug Attalla invites artists to call for info on showing their works in this sick new space.
Ambiance Galleries, 1535 Ninth St. N., St. Petersburg (727-821-8331). Interior Reflections continues through June 2. Charla and Joel Gaglio fill the gallery with oil, ink, mixed-media and textile works for this show. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Pete (727-822-7872). The center celebrates Latin heritage with four new shows through June 29: Places in the Heart features paintings of homelands and other significant places by Andrea Carreno, Luis Vega, Gustavo Acosta and Angel Hurtado; El Cinco de Mayo combines the works of sculptors Felipe Packard and Ricardo de la Vega with paintings by Dodie O'Keefe; The Daily to the Divine offers oil and acrylic abstracts by Alekxey Sabido; and Colors of the Sun highlights Dr. Ludner Confident's vivid, allegorical paintings. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, through Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Brad Cooper Gallery, 1712 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-6098). Mysteries, featuring the works of contemporary artist Peter Mitchev, continues through July 21. Mitchev, one of the most successful and productive Bulgarian painters, offers works that are slightly Byzantine and reminiscent of the works of Gustav Klimt. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and by appointment.
Centre Gallery, in USF's Phyllis P. Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-5464). (un)Focused, a photography exhibition by Claudia M. Sanchez, continues through May 31. The artist's extreme close-up shots of the human body remind us that physical identity shouldn't be limited to the face alone. Sanchez captures everything from strands of hair to stretch marks to goose bumps. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Covivant Gallery, 4906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa (813-232-1267).The group show Menagerie, featuring works by Mandy Greer, Kristen Morgan, John DeFazio, Joe Bova and others continues through June 3. 98 Works, featuring paintings and sketches by Edgar Sanchez Cumbas, continues through June 1. Real Life, offering paintings by Eva York, continues through June 1. And Las Cosas de Ninos: 21st Century Learning Centers After School Program highlights works by B.T. Washington Magnet and Ferrell Magnet middle schools through June 1. A closing reception (the last of the gallery's season) takes place from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 1. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment.
EastWest Gallery & Framery, 529 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-823-9629). The gallery celebrates its first anniversary with Journey to Joy. This show, which continues through June 30, features the giclee prints of artist Stuart Tang, whose works are filled with imagery from mythological tales. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave., downtown St. Pete (727-821-7391). Ground Cover: Contemporary Quilts continues through June 22. This in-depth exploration of the landscape through textiles (both metaphorical and concrete) features the works of six cutting-edge quilt artist, including Nancy Crow, Michael James and Pauline Burbidge. 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 gallery's spring art show continues through May 31. Boldly boasting "the world's most beautiful studio-quality art glass," the show features works by more than 350 glass artists around the world. 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.
Grossman Gallery, 1111 Swann Ave., Tampa (813-258-4441). USF alumnus Marc Grossman owns this new gallery in Hyde Park. Promising a fun place to see art (i.e., no intimidation or elitism), Grossman includes the works of impressionist painter Greg Cartmell and abstract oils by Sikrat for his first show. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Painted Fish Gallery, 350 Main St., Dunedin (727-736-0934). The owners/artists of Painted Fish celebrate the gallery's sixth anniversary with new artworks and fine crafts reflecting contemporary Florida themes. Works on display include watercolors by Bill Renc and Cindy Jednaszerski, calligraphy by Linda Renc and wheel-thrown pottery by Ira Burhans. The show continues through July 1. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (extended to 7 p.m. on Friday).
Shapiro Studio and Gallery, 538 Central Ave., St. Pete (727-894-2111). Treasured Boxes continues through June 7. Stop by the gallery and take in these unique creations by artists from around the country, including functional, decorative and intricate boxes in wood, clay, glass and metal. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday and by appointment.
Sidler Studio/Gallery, 641 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-867-2213). A new show of oil paintings by Juan Arroyo and Hani Sidler are on display through June 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Snooty Judy's Gallery for the Open Mind, 514 Skinner Blvd., Dunedin (727-734-9835). Visions, Games & Fantasies continues through July 10. This show features the mixed-media works of Boo Ehrsam, as well as the "Dreamcastings" of Nancy and Steve Eggert. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. See the gallery at www.openmindart.com.
Something Fishy 913 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater (727-461-FISH). Fabulous Florals continues through June 30. This show features pottery, handmade soaps, floral accessories and furniture. Color Me Crazy also continues through May 31. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Studio Szabries Gallery, 2109 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-895-2444). Bodies of Light: A Celebration of the Human Form is held over through June 29. This show offers Fred Szabries' latest paintings on aluminum and acrylic. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Szilage Gallery, 600 Ninth St. S., St. Pete (727-896-5504). One, featuring a new work by JSG Boggs, continues through May 31. This show features a piece by Boggs that will appear at the prestigious Pierwalk, at the Chicago Art Fair. A second outdoor installation, Possible Transportation to East Indiaman Ridge, continues through May 31. New York artist David Greg Harth, a regular on the Tampa Bay art scene, is the sole artist in this show. Harth's works run the gamut of media, from photography and film, to digital art and site-specific installations.
TECO Public Art Gallery, 2623 Jetton Ave., Tampa (813-251-3688). Other Visions, featuring works by Project Return members, continues through May 31. Project Return, a mental health facility in Tampa, improves the quality of life for adults with mental illness through various programs, including art. This show includes works by about 20 members, and offers landscapes, portraits, abstracts and more. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Museums and Attractions
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.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Pete (727-896-2667). H.A. Sigg: Recent Work continues through July 1. Largely unfamiliar to American audiences, this Swiss artist uses color and form to suggest spiritual exploration and transcendence. This exhibit includes 18 acrylic paintings, eight sculptures and 11 collages from the one-time farm boy. Beyond Adornment: Beads from Around the World also 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). The IMAX Dome Theater features Journey Into Amazing Caves and Ocean Oasis through Nov. 15 and Aug. 30, respectively. MOSI also offers The Saunders Planetarium, SkyWatch and more. The new exhibit Aero Adventure, exploring the science of flight, begins Friday, June 1. 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 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. 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). Capturing Florida Culture: From Kitsch to Collectibles continues through Sept. 30. This fun show details the long and illustrious history of Florida's tackier tourist items, like coconut and alligator teeth items, postcards, palm frond creations and more. 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 Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813-274-8130). Landscape/Land Use, a contemporary landscape photography show, continues through July 8. The museum also features The American Experience: 20th Century Prints from the Berkman Foundation through July 22; Tampa Public Art: A Selection of Recent Projects, through July 8; James VanDerZee: Seattle Sampler: Work by 12 Studio Glass Artists from the Collection of Dr. Richard and Barbara Basch, through June 10; and 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.
USF Contemporary Art Museum, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Cam 101, Tampa (813-974-4133). Contemporary Art from Cuba: Irony and Survival on the Utopian Island continues through July 14. Sixteen Cuban artists use their works to explore irony and humor as a survival technique for their country's political difficulties. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Theater/Performance(See Classifieds for auditions.)
A Couple of Blaguards, presented by American Stage, continues through June 10. Written by Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes, this play has two brothers sharing memories of mischief-making in the old country, their Irish-Catholic upbringing and the wayward way they came to America, all while downing pints in the local pub. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $20-$28, and American Stage's at 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg. Call 727-823-PLAY.
Fractured Folk Tales-St. Pete, presented by the St. Petersburg Little Theatre, continues through June 1 at the Palladium and SPLT. Back after a sold-out run last year, this wildly comedic musical is entertaining enough for the whole family. Little Red Riding Hood, The Spider and the Fly and other tales are told through a wide variety of music, ranging from '50s rock to opera. Show times are 8 p.m. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $4 for kids. SPLT's at 4025 31st St. S., St. Pete. Call 727-866-2059.
Fractured Folk Tales-Tampa, presented by the St. Petersburg Little Theatre, takes place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at Gorilla Theatre. If you missed SPLT's production of this play at its own venue, here's your second chance. Tickets cost $5, and the theater's at 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa. Call 813-354-0550.
Let's Play Two, by Anthony Clarvoe, begins Friday, June 1, and continues through June 16, at Silver Meteor Gallery. Skip Volkle directs this romantic comedy, which finds two complete opposites (Phil and Grace) united through their love of baseball. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and tickets cost $10. Silver Meteor's at 2213 E. Sixth Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-865-1486.
Lysistrata, presented by The Center Theater Company, begins Thursday, May 31, and continues through June 17, at the Tampa Bay Performing Art Center's Shimberg Playhouse. How would the Peloponnesian War have ended if women were in charge? Very quickly, especially since the gals in Lysistrata stage a "sex strike" until the squabble ends peacefully. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $15.50 to $21.50, and TBPAC's at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.
Rose Weiss: Mother of Miami Beach, presented by Carrie Sue Ayvar, begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, at the Golda Meir/Kent Jewish Center. This free performance has storyteller Ayvar bringing the colorful character of Rose Weiss to life. Weiss, after arriving in Miami Beach in 1919, fought prejudice, created jobs, helped the needy and generally guided Miami from its earliest days. The center's at 1955 Virginia St., Clearwater (corner of Greenbriar Boulevard and North Hercules Avenue). Call 727-736-1494.
Rumors, presented by Masque Theatre, begins Saturday, June 2, and continues through June 16, at the Lightfoot Center. Four couple gather to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a married couple in this hilarious Neil Simon play. Everything's great until the couples arrive to find the husband bleeding, while the wife and maid are nowhere in sight. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $14, and the center's at 10901 N. 56th St., Tampa. Call 813-980-3321.
Write Me a Murder, presented by the Carrollwood Players, begins Friday, June 1, and continues through June 23. Frederick Knott's suspense thriller, a mixture of romance, greed and deceit, keeps the audience guessing as a young writer plots the perfect murder. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $12, and the Carrollwood Playhouse is at 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Call 813-265-4000.
Comedy
Coconuts Comedy Club, at Howard Johnson, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-360-JOKE). Tom Simmons entertains the crowd Friday through Sunday, June 1, 2 and 3. Open mic starts at 9:30 p.m. each Wednesday. 25. All 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). Jack Kearney helps you get your giggle on during Friday and Saturday shows, June 1 and 2. The incorrigible Charming Hooligans improv troupe performs every Friday at midnight. Admission costs $5. Show times are at 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). Cuban/Puerto Rican comedian Angel Salazar is right at home in Ybor through June 2. The funny guy/actor hits the mark with ethnic wisecracks, risque humor and physical comedy. Tickets range from $8 to $14. Tom Simmons offers a couple quickies on Wednesday and Thursday, June 6 and 7 ($8 and $10, respectively). The Charming Hooligans perform at 10 p.m. each Thursday. Tickets cost $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday; and 7, 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-960-1197). Lance Montalto, the "Rajun Cajun," continues through June 3. Jimmy Shubert, who's been seen in Go!, Coyote Ugly and a ton of TV shows, appears from Tuesday, June 5, through June 10. Regular admission ranges $5-$12 (depending on the night). Show times are 8:30 p.m. weekdays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Wacky Weaver's, located inside the Brandon Brew House, 779 W. Lumsden Road, Brandon. (813-661-5527). The zany Carl Guerra brightens your life on Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2. Admission is $10, and reservations are recommended.
Poetry & Prose
Barnes & Noble-Carrollwood, 11802 N. Dale Mabry (813-962-6446). Molten Mike performs the blues at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 2. The following romance authors are signing their books, en masse, at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 3: Julie Klapka (Heat); Sandra Bricker (Change of Heart); Christine Cameron (Wild Highland Rose and Christmas Kisses); and Ann Josephson (Coming Home and Enduring Love). Ann Kramer signs and discusses her book, Life Puzzle for Teens, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 6. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Harmony Books & Gifts, 2517 W. Henry Ave., Tampa (813-872-0295). Aside from a spiritual cafe, psychic readers, aura video cameras and compatibility charts, this unique book/gift shop offers a variety of workshops and classes. A Beginning Spiritual Development class takes place at 7 p.m. every Tuesday, while Advance Spiritual Development begins at 7 p.m. each Thursday. Each class costs $10. Harmony also offers a Spiritual Mingle, from 7 to 9 p.m., on the third Friday of each month.
Peace Bookstores Inc., 14851 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-265-9433). Ongoing discussion groups at this metaphysical bookstore include: A Course In Miracles group at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, as well as 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, each week. A Course In Miracles In Spanish at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday. The Celestine Prophecy group meets at 7 p.m. Friday, and Joseph Campbell's Transformations Of Myth Through The Ages is discussed at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday. The Joseph Campbell discussion costs $5 per week; all others are free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (most groups meet after store hours).
Libraries
78th Street, 7625 Palm River Road, Tampa (813-612-9123). Mouse Skills for New Users takes place from 8:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 4. Call for hours.
Bruton Memorial, 302 McLendon St., Plant City (813-757-9215). Linda Young spends time teaching you how to make that all important purchase, a computer, at 7 p.m. Monday, June 4. Call for hours.
College Hill, 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa (813-273-3681). Katie McGill discusses Customer Service in the Workplace during the next Let's Talk Support Group, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 2. Susan Hallenbeck tells you how to plan for college, and make it affordable, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 6. Call for hours.
Jimmie B. Keel Regional, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa (813-264-3831). Printmaker Daniel Lewis talks about his woodblock and lino-cut works from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 2. Lewis' exhibition, Contemporary Visions and Timeless Words, is on display throughout June. Call for hours.
John F. Germany, 900 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813-273-3652). Library tours, which include the computer lab, Men's Cancer Resource Center and a glimpse of the Burgert Brother's photo archives, take place at 2 p.m. every Saturday though June. Ask a Genealogist teaches you how to root out your roots at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 2. Call for hours.
Kid's Summer Programs, at darn near every library in the land, begin in June and continue through August. Without a doubt, kids rule the stacks throughout summer. Beginning in June, young minds stay active thanks in part to reading programs, computer camps, game days and all sorts of other fun stuff designed to help kids retain what they learned the previous year. Call your local library for a summer schedule, or call John F. Germany Public Library (main branch) at 813-273-3652.
New Tampa, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa (813-903-2280). The Master Gardening Series touches upon the general topic of Florida yards and gardens at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 31. Call for hours.
Science Library at MOSI, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-987-6378). Learn e-mail terminology, etiquette and how to open your own account during Introduction to E-Mail, at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 4. Call for hours.
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.
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.
Come but Once a Lifetime, a "poet's epiphany" at Lloyd's Cajun Cafe, takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 31. Presented by The 3rd Muse, Mistress Pamela hosts this open mic event featuring guest poets Myron Jackson, Angela Martin and Ralph Brooks. David "Lips" Stewart and Chris Cabera provide musical accompaniment, and admission costs $5 (first 20 people to bring this mention can usher a friend in for free). Lloyd's is at 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Call 813-242-4364.
Female Singer/Songwriter Night, at James Joyce Pub, 1704 1/2 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-247-1896). This chicks-only event, hosted by Rebekah Pulley, takes place at 9 p.m. every Tuesday. All talented females are welcome to come out and network, perform or just make new acquaintances at this free event.
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 slide and e-mail to [email protected].
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.
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. The next gathering takes place on June 5. 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.
Tavern at Bayboro, on the USF St. Pete campus, 121 Seventh Ave. S., St. Petersburg (727-821-1418). Hosted by Shana, this open mic takes place from 8 to 11:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Cool feature performers show up every week, musicians, poets and performance artists are welcome and visual artists are encouraged to bring out their works as well. Arrive early to reserve your spot.
Triple Talent Showcase, in 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 open mic event from 8 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday. All poets are welcome to share their verse, but a $3 donation is required of performers. Or you can go to one of the billions of free open mics around town.
Yeoman's Road Pub, 236 E. Davis Blvd., Davis Islands (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 Boyd Hill Nature Park, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg (727-893-7326). Staff and volunteers offer tram tours, limited to seven people each, at 1 p.m. daily. Other guides offer night hikes, bird hikes, nature walks and wildflower walks for free. 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.
Bud Light Beach Volleyball, the 10th anniversary season, includes stops at Treasure Island on Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, on the beach in front of the TI Holiday Inn. Sit back and watch or join in the fun at one of the country's oldest volleyball tournaments. The event's free for spectators, $50 per two-person team by Friday, June 1, $60 after 5 p.m. Friday, and $80 at the event. Four-person teams pay $70 in advance, $100 at the event. The Holiday Inn's at 11908 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island. Call 888-376-7767 or sign-up online at www.digthebeach.com.
Inline Skating with the Tampa Bay Road Rollers Meet the group at 12th Street Park, on the corner of Cumberland Avenue and 12th Street. The adventure starts at 8 p.m. every Saturday at downtown Tampa's Inline Hockey Arena for an invigorating roll around downtown, Hyde Park, Bayshore Boulevard and Ybor City. If you can't skate 9 to 12 miles in an evening, you might want to wait until you can. There's no cost to join and the Rollers sponsor other events like the Full Moon Skate, Tuesdays on Bayshore and Jackson's Famous Thursday Night Skate. For more information call 813-815-7120, check out the Web site at www.SkateTampa.com, or e-mail [email protected].
Lydick Family Tennis Benefit, at the McMullen Tennis Complex, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 2. Patricia Lydick has been fighting cancer since the age of 9, and anyone who's gone to the doctor for so much as a sore throat knows how expensive medical bills can be. For $30, tennis lovers get court time, T-shirts, lunch and more, along with the gratification that comes from helping someone in need. The complex is at 1000 Edenville Ave., Clearwater. Call 727-724-1570 or 727-669-1919.
Tampa Bay Mutiny, at the Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-289-6811 or 1-888-289-6811). At 7 p.m. Saturday, June 2, the Kansas City Wizards try to put a spell on our darling Mutiny boys. Tickets range from $10 to $20 and discounted group rates are available.
Special Events
Fire Games, a.k.a. the 29th annual Florida Firefighters Physical Fitness Association State Games, takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at Adventure Island. Ladies, get your binoculars. Florida's hottest fire fighters heat up the AI during a beach volleyball competition. Don't know about you, but these guys can spike us anytime. Proceeds benefit the Make a Wish Foundation, and admission to the park costs $25.95. Adventure Island's at 4500 Bougainvillea Ave. (corner of McKinley Avenue) in Tampa. Call 813-987-5660.
Psychic Friday, with Alexandra Solomon, takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 1, at Saffron's Caribbean Restaurant. Nothing's better than a good meal and a glimpse at your future. At least that's what we hear. Stop by Saffron's and let Alexandra read your tarot cards, palm or rune stones, or allow her a glimpse of your past lives. Readings cost $15 and $20. Saffron's is at 1700 Park St. N., St. Petersburg. Call 727-345-6400.
Sports Celebrity Memorabilia Auction, to benefit the Citizens' Commission on Human Rights of Florida along with the Kids Closet, takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 2, in Coachman Park. Meet some of the biggest names in football, including Tony Dorsett, Steve Deberg, Ottis Sistrunk and Curtis Conway, while trying to outbid others for their stuff. Football, baseball, basketball and boxing Hall of Fame items are up for grabs, donated by some of the best players in each league. Admission's free, and the park's at 301 Drew St., Clearwater. Call 727-442-8820, ext. 600.
St. Pete Beach Craft Festival, the seventh annual event, takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, on Corey Avenue. An estimated 15,000 craft lovers peruse this event each year, finding reasonable buys among the candles, woodwork, jewelry, ceramics and more. The Garden and Gourmet Marketplace also supplies a variety of homemade foods and spices, plants and gardening items. Admission's free. Call 813-962-0388 or 954-472-3755.
Ybor City Fresh Market Inc., in Centennial Park, is up and running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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. The park's at Eighth Avenue and 18th Street in Ybor City. Call 813-241-2442.
Ybor City Ghost Walk, an actor-guided tour of Tampa's Latin Quarter, takes place Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, beginning at Centro Ybor. Get to know the Ybor of yore when actors, re-creating historical figures from Ybor's past, lead you through the streets and buildings of Ybor. Admission costs $10 for adults and $8 for ages 8-13. Walks take place Thursday through Sunday by appointment, and times are flexible. Self-guided tours-on-tape are also available in English, Spanish and German. Centro Ybor is at Seventh Avenue and 16th Street. Call 813-242-4600 for appointments.
