Visual ArtsOpenings
Feed Your Senses, an evening of art, music and wine, begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the Clearwater Arts Studios. Check out the works of painter Alexander Kozloff and sculptor Charles Sharrod Partin, while enjoying gourmet desserts, fine vintages from Wines by Morrell, and relaxing tunes by the Zephyr Woodwind Trio. This monthly events is hosted by The Arts Project. Admission costs $10 (reservations are a good idea), and the studio's at 101 N. Ft. Harrison Ave., Clearwater. Call 727-639-8070.
HCC-Ybor Gallery, in the Performing Arts Building, Palm Avenue at 15th Street, Tampa (813-253-7674). The 27th annual Juried Student Art Exhibition begins with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 20, and continues through May 23. An extensive range of media is featured at this show, including black-and-white photography, digital imagery, graphic arts, painting and sculpture. All works were created by students in HCC-Ybor's Visual and Performing Arts curriculum. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mainsail Arts Festival, the 26th annual event, takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, in North Straub Park. This juried show features works in 12 categories, including ceramics, fibers, metal, glass and mixed-media. Throughout the weekend, visitors can check out art at more than 200 booths, enjoy plenty of delicious culinary delights and hear tunes by Pocket Change, The Cigar Store Indians and The Thrusters. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission's free, and the park's at Fifth Avenue and Bayshore Drive Northeast in St. Petersburg. Call 727-892-5885.
Monthly Saturday Stroll, in the Gulfport Art Village, takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Gulfport galleries are open late for visitors to pop in and inspect items like pottery, jewelry, sculptures, glass, collectibles and more. The village's latest attractions include Hula Hula, which specializes in tropical art, antiques and accouterments, and Beyond the Sea, which highlights shell mosaics and coastal art. This month's entertainment comes courtesy of acoustic folk trio Liaison. The village is just south of 28th Avenue on Beach Boulevard (55th Street) in downtown Gulfport. Call 727-321-0830.
Szilage Gallery, 600 Ninth St. S., St. Pete (727-896-5504). One, featuring a new work by JSG Boggs, begins with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21, and continues through May 31. This show features a piece by Boggs that will later appear at the prestigious Pierwalk, at the Chicago Art Fair. The gallery's 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.
Tampa Gallery Association Third Thursday Event, otherwise known as an evening of extended hours, takes place on April 19. In their continued efforts to hip everyone to the local art scene, many members of the association offer extended hours (5 to 8 p.m.) on each month's third Thursday. Some hot spots include the African Art Gallery and Museum, Artsiphartsi, Brad Cooper Gallery, Gold Dragon Gallery, Old Hyde Park Arts Center and Studio Gallery on Azeele. Call 813-875-0511 for a complete list of participating venues.
USF Teaching Gallery, in the Fine Arts Building on the USF Tampa campus, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-2301). Behind the Mask: Africa in Tampa begins Monday, April 23, and continues through May 18. This show addresses and explores the many misconceptions and stereotypes about Africa and its people, the impact of the culture on our country, and the African communities in Tampa today and in the past. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Ongoing
531 Central Fine Arts, 531 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2787). Perceptions of the Heart, a one-man show by Jacques Ousson, continues through May 9. This French artist shares impressionistic oil paintings, pastels and more depicting landscape scenes from his home on the Loire River in the village of Ousson. A reception for the artist takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 20. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.531central.com.
Art Expo Gallery, 355 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-360-2953). Mixed Millennium, featuring mixed-media abstract-expressionist paintings by Nan Griffin and Kas Turner, continues through April 30. These two women, who have studied together, approach the abstract canvas with their own unique styles. Griffin's textural canvases offer an interesting contrast to Turner's vibrant studies of Cayo Costa's Gumbo Limbo tree. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Centre Gallery, in USF's Phyllis P. Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-5464). Crossroads and Echoes, a multimedia exhibition, continues through April 27. This show includes works inspired by the artists trip to Paris last summer. Audi Banny, Rebecca Brice, Kandra Jones, Duncan Neal and others have contributed everything from paintings to sculpture to photography. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Covivant Gallery, 4906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa (813-232-1267). Menagerie and the USF Annual Photography Exhibition both continue through April 29. Menagerie, in Gallery A, is a traveling ceramic group show, featuring works by Ryan Berg, Mandy Greer, Thomas Muller, John DeFazio, Margaret Meehan and a host of others (Meehan also acts as curator). The clay sculptures in the show exemplify the range of subjects and questions inspired by animal imagery. Gallery B's photography show includes fresh works from students influenced by USF photography professors Lou Marcus, Victoria Hirt and Christopher Weeks. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment.
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave., downtown St. Pete (727-821-7391). Contemporary Craft from Costa Rica, the next exhibition in the gallery's Costa Rican Exchange Program, continues through April 20. Four Costa Ricans, papermaker Grace Herrera, printmakers Alberto Murillo and Luis Paulino Delgado, and jeweler Julia Villalobos, mix their works with those of 14 Florida artists for this cultural show. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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.
MacArthur Galleries, 100 E. Madison St. (corner of Ashley Street), Tampa (813-221-5343). The gallery features the whimsical paintings and prints of Leonard Filgate through April 19. Filgate's works depict the cute-as-a-button Rip Squeak, the main character in a children's book, The Roaring Adventures of Rip Squeak, written by the artist's wife, Susan. 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). Renewal, featuring new paintings by Leslie Neumann, continues through April 22. Inspired by beautiful places, Neumann's paintings convey feelings and essence, rather than actual physical details. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Myths and Metaphors, featuring the works of Antonio Caparello, continues through April 21 at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center. The son of Italian immigrants, Caparello was invited to Norman Rockwell's studio at the age of 15, who sent the teen to study under impressionist painter William Shultz. In 1988, the artist began working with James Rosenquist, which continued for 10 years. These days, Caparello paints for himself, using imagery, color and composition to reflect adversity, counterbalanced by images of hope or redemption. Viewing hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the center's at 101 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. Call 727-942-5605.
Positive Expressions, 2435 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-328-8932). Reggie & Me, a video installation celebrating the gallery's eighth anniversary, continues through May 5. The multimedia installation includes video, prints, projections and mixed media produced by Tampa filmmaker and artist Edward Isin, along with PE member artist Reginald Brown. Hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
SoHo Gallery, 2105 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2280). Spring Fling continues through May 5. This seasonal show features works by Francoise David, Nancy Wallace Gable and Marva Simpson. 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). Color Me Crazy continues through May 31. This exhibit puts the spotlight on Femo artist Harriet Smith, of New Orleans, the pottery of Lynette Phillips and accessory pieces by Boston's Jasmine Keane. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
St. Pete Beach Art Institute, 3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-3818). Rocks in My Head, featuring works by Doug Strutz, continues through April 28. This 78-year-old artist creates abstracts that range in media, from clay sculpture to acrylic paintings. Most of the works are inspired by nature. 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). Two shows continue through May 10: Cuban artist Alberto Donat offers paintings influenced by his early exposure to the Afro/Cuban culture. Sana Doumet's jewelry, created with sterling silver, 18 and 24-carat gold, and semi-precious stones, is also up for grabs. 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.
Studio Szabries Gallery, 2109 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-895-2444). Bodies of Light: A Celebration of the Human Form continues through May 11. 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.
Museums and Attractions
Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-273-4000). The aquarium 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). Celebrate Yom Hashoah, the Jewish day of remembrance, at the museum by taking in the current show and attending "Women in the Holocaust," a lecture by the exhibit's curator, Rochelle G. Saidel, Ph.D. The commemoration begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22. 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). Current exhibits include The Cuban Missile Crisis ($6.95 for adults); The Kennedy Collection ($9.95); Countdown to Destiny, an exhibition of photos of Martin Luther King Jr. ($3.95); and Habana Esperando: Photographs by Margaux Ravis (free), which continues through Sept. 4. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. All-inclusive day passes cost $11.95, and annual passes go for $13.95.
Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552). This 41-acre zoo, which sits within a 100-acre, city-owned park, features more than 1,500 animals and 2,000 species of plants in five main exhibit areas: the Florida Manatee and Aquatic Center, Native Florida Wildlife Center, Asian Domain, Primate World and Children's Zoo. Admission costs $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for seniors and $5.95 for ages 3 to 11. Regular hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Pete (727-896-2667). H.A. Sigg: Recent Work begins Sunday, April 22, and 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. Curator Margaret Mathews-Berenson offers a 3 p.m. lecture on Sigg's works on April 22. 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 Amazon through May 24, and Ocean Oasis through Aug. 30. MOSI also offers badge workshops for boy and girl scouts, camp-ins, day camps, Toddler Time, The Saunders Planetarium, SkyWatch and more. 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). Roman Polanski's primeval adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth is the latest flick in the museum's film series. Not for the faint of heart, Polanski's version was filmed after the death of his wife, Sharon Tate, and remains a notorious but compelling interpretation. The show starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 19, and is free with museum admission. 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.
Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa (813-274-8130). The American Experience: 20th Century Prints from the Berkman Foundation begins Sunday, April 22, and continues through July 22. This show features 83 works on paper from the early 20th century to the present, by such artists as Isabel Bishop, Reginald Marsh and Rockwell Kent. The Defining Moment: Victorian Narrative Paintings from the Forbes Magazine Collection continues through April 22. And James VanDerZee: Seattle Sampler: Work by 12 Studio Glass Artists from the Collection of Dr. Richard and Barbara Basch continues through June 10. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission ranges from $3 to $5 and is 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). Union begins Monday, April 23, and continues through May 6. This group show features works by five artists, Heather Cushman-Dowdee, James Dowdee, Jason Irwin, Carole Loeffler and Shane Richardson, that include personal, cultural and invented mythologies combined with wry playfulness. Salt, vacu-formed plastic, water, multicolored tape and breastmilk all find their way into the show. A reception for Union begins at 7 p.m. Friday, April 27. An artist's walk-through begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, and a discussion about the exhibit takes place immediately after. The 25th annual Juried USF Student Exhibition continues through April 20. This juried exhibit showcases works in all media by USF graduate and undergrad students. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
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 tri-lingual newspaper. Photos of founder Victoriano, along with successors Rolando and Patrick Manteiga, are featured, as well as Rolando's famous red phone, which perpetually reserved his table at La Tropicana. Rolando's typewriter and paintings of Victoriano and Rolando by Ybor artist Ferdie Pacheco are also included. 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.)
An Evening of Broadway, presented by the Best Little Playhouse in Tampa Inc., begins Friday, April 20, and continues through April 22. The playhouse presents a spirited evening of Broadway entertainment, including excerpts from West Side Story, The King and I, Phantom and Rent. Friday's 6:30 p.m. opener, a benefit for the Make a Wish Foundation, cost $100 per ticket and includes cocktails and a silent auction. Remaining times and costs are $8 p.m. Saturday ($28), and 2 p.m. Sunday ($22). The theater's at 711 Franklin St., Tampa. Call 813-287-8844.
Asher Dance Eclectic, Tampa's only dance company featuring both able-bodied and wheelchair-bound dancers, offers a dynamic program of jazz and modern dance at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21, as well as 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Monroe Middle School. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. The school's at 4716 Montgomery Ave. W., Tampa. Call 813-786-6291 or visit www.madtheatre.com.
Dance Theatre of Harlem, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in Carol Morsani Hall. This troupe performed a sold-out performance at TBPAC in 1996, and now it's back for a much-awaited encore. The repertory includes Return, a throwback to the '60s Motown era incorporating popular dance with contemporary ballet, and South African Suite, a tribute to and celebration of South Africa (based on the troupe's 1992 tour to that country). Tickets range from $18.50 to $48.50, and TBPAC's at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.
The Fiddler on the Roof, presented by the St. Petersburg Little Theatre, begins Thursday, April 19, and continues through April 29. This endearing musical, directed by Jorge Acosta, introduces audiences to Tevye, a poor, Jewish milkman trying desperately to instill his old-world values and traditions into his rebelling daughters. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $16, and SPLT's at 4025 31st St. S., St. Pete. Call 727-866-2059.
Love's Labour's Lost, the 16th annual Shakespeare in the Park production, continues through May 12, at Demens Landing. This American Stage production portrays the King of Navarre, who, along with three young lords, makes an extremely unsuccessful attempt at celibacy. The 16th century play is updated to 1930s Europe. Tickets cost $7 (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday) and $10 (Friday and Saturday) for blanket seating, and $22 for reserved chairs. All shows start at 8 p.m., and the park's at First Avenue South and Bayshore Drive in St. Petersburg. Call 727-823-PLAY.
The Meat Bush, by Jeff Whipple, begins Thursday, April 19, and continues through April 29, at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Whipple, a playwright from Sarasota, has written and directed what promises to be a completely original play, to say the least. The Meat Bush follows the zany genetic engineering antics of a scientist, Dan, who turns his companion, Tom, into a plant. Did we say original, or what? This production is part of the Playwright's Process, a statewide competition that gives the winning play a workshop and production. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $10, and REH is at 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. Call 727-791-7400.
Opera Master Class, presented by Sherrill Milnes, takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center. Milnes, a world-renowned baritone, offers experience and wisdom to six opera students. Guests can hear their favorite arias while Milnes helps the students improve through words, body language, imagery and demonstration. Tickets cost $15, and TSPAC's at 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs. Call 727-942-5605.
Typecast, presented by student writer/director Christopher Pardal, takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at SPJC's Clearwater Arts Auditorium. This single-run play follows a student director (what a coinky-dink!) as he tries to cast his first play, complete with conflict concerning race, appearance, gender, etc. Admission's free, and the auditorium's at 2465 Drew St., Clearwater. Call 727-
Waiting on Sean Flynn, presented by Jobsite Theater, continues through April 22, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. It's the eve of Saigon's fall to North Vietnam, and this mature play introduces us to war reporter Lee, who must decide whether to flee for her life, or stay on and cover one of the most unforgettable moments in history. Flashbacks portray Lee's Vietnam experiences while in Flynn's company (Flynn, war photographer and son of Errol, disappeared in 1970 after entering a combat zone). Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $15, and TBPAC's at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Call 813-229-STAR.
The War of the Currents, presented by the Gorilla Theatre, continues through April 22. Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla face off in this new play by Aubrey Hampton, which whisks the audience from Fort Myers to France. Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $17, $14 for students and seniors, and the theater's at 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa. Call 813-879-2914.
Comedy
Coconuts Comedy Club, at Howard Johnson, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-360-JOKE). Larry Myles gives you something to laugh about Friday, April 20, through April 22. 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). Proving it really does specialize in comedians no one has heard of, Coconuts welcomes Al Freeman on Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21. 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). Vince Morris and Pauly shore are in the house this week. Morris offers curse-less stand-up at 8 p.m. shows through April 19, as well as 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Tickets range from $8 to $14. Shore, he of MTV, Son-in-Law, Biodome and a host of other cheesy movies, busts up his fans Thursday, April 19, through April 21. Tickets range from $23 to $28 (slightly cheaper in advance). Dak Rakow begins a short stint on Tuesday, April 24, and continues through April 28. Tickets range from $8 to $14. Show times are at 8 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday; and 7 (nonsmoking), 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-960-1197). Jimmy Dore entertains through April 22. Regular admission costs $5 on Tuesdays; $8 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; $12 on Fridays and Saturdays. Show times are 8:30 p.m. weekdays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and nonsmoking shows are 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 p.m. Friday.
Wacky Weaver's, located inside the Brandon Brew House, 779 W. Lumsden Road, Brandon. (813-661-5527). Uncle Dow Thomas treats the crowd to a few of his hilarious song parodies on Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21. Show times are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. on both nights. Admission is $10, and reservations are recommended.
Poetry & Prose
Author Michael Sterns, creator of the children's book Kokopelli and the Butterfly, signs his debut book at several Bay area bookstores during the next couple of months. This week, parents and children can meet Sterns during a 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. signing at the Waldenbooks in Countryside Mall (727-796-1237). Sterns also offers a storytime from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, April 23, at B&N-Clearwater (727-669-1688).
Borders-Carrollwood, 12500 N. Dale Mabry (813-265-8455). Jazz Soup offers contemporary tunes at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Teacher's Appreciation Weekend, Friday, April 20 through April 22, gives all educators a 20-percent discount on many items in the store (with ID or paystub). The weekend also includes a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 22. A Jewish Book Group meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Borders-Tampa, 909 N. Dale Mabry (813-874-5722). Teacher's Appreciation Weekend takes place Friday, April 20, through April 22. Teachers with an ID or paystub receive 20-percent off certain store items. The weekend includes a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Pacific Harmony offer island grooves at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Inkwood Books, 216 Armenia Ave. S., Tampa (813-253-2638). Lynn Homan and Thomas Reilly discuss their latest collaboration, Black Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19. By the way, Inkwood would like to remind everyone that National TV Turnoff Week begins Monday, April 23, and continues through April 29. Think you can handle that? 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.
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). Learn how to surf the Net at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 23. Phyllis McEwen stops by to read and discuss the poetry of renowned African-American women poets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 24. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Austin Davis, 17808 Wayne Road, Odessa (813-264-3825). The Master Gardening Series tackles poisonous plants at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 19. Financial advisor Joseph Testa teaches you how to maximize your IRA at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 24. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Brandon Regional, 619 Vonderburg Drive, Brandon (813-744-5630). In celebration of National Poetry Month, Silvia Curbelo, Nicholas Samaras and Gianna Russo share their works at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Jimmie B. Keel Regional, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa (813-264-3831). Patrick D. Smith, author of A Land Remembered and the Pulitzer-nominated Forever Island, stops by at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 18. The Florida Artists Hall of Fame inductee discusses his experiences as a writer and highlights from his distinguished career. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Ruskin, One Dickman Drive S.E., Ruskin (813-671-7638). Patrick D. Smith, author of A Land Remembered, shares his writing experiences at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 19. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Seminole Heights, 4711 Central Ave., Tampa (813-273-3669). Phyllis McEwen and Myron Jackson offer an adult-oriented poetry reading at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Open Mic
Albi's, 123 Hyde Park Ave., Tampa (813-253-2771). Suzanne Willett hosts a late-night open mic for poets, musicians and comedians at 11 p.m. every other Wednesday. Call ahead to find out if this is one of the lucky weeks.
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, featuring Wilde (a film about Oscar, that is) on April 20 and 22. 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.
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.
Holiday House Cafe, 2634 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-972-534). Betsy Bolger-Paulet, who thinks there's a lot of talent going unnoticed in the Bay area, hosts Third Thursday Spoken Word, taking place this month on April 19. Sign-up starts at 9 p.m., so if you've got something to say, be there.
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.
Joffrey's Coffee Shop, 5165 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-946-7622). William Martin hosts a poetry/spoken word open mic at 2 p.m. every Sunday. Musicians are also welcome to stop by and jam any night of the week. Joffrey's hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to midnight Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Rockwell's Corner Pub, 10801 Starkey Road, Suite One, Largo (727-398-1055). The Blue Team hosts an 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. 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, at Atomic Age Cafe, takes place every Wednesday. 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 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.
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
Brookesville Songbird Festival Field Trip, with the Clearwater Audubon Society, leaves the Clearwater Mall parking lot at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 21. Join the society for a drive to Brooksville, where you can indulge in bird and nature walks, hear presentations on bird rehabilitation, xeriscaping, gardening and more. The event's free, and the mall's at U.S. 19 and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard (meet behind the Bombay Bicycle Club in the mall's northeast corner). Call 727-734-5196.
BVA Clearwater Beach Open, featuring award-winning athletes from around the country, takes place Friday through Sunday, April 20, 21 and 22. Qualification tournaments begin at 8 a.m. Friday for this volleyball tournament, with the main draw beginning at 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Bring your lawn chair and watch the buff bods duke it out for $150,000 in prize money. The tournament takes place on Clearwater Beach just south of Pier 60. Call 813-350-6557.
Field Trip to Fort De Soto State Park, with the Clearwater Audubon Society, begins at 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the park's ranger station. Let the society teach you to locate, identify, observe and appreciate the feathered friends at this wildlife preserve. The tour's free, and the park's at 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde. Call 727-585-3587.
Grand Ole Opry Sort Fishing Tournament, the first annual event, begins Thursday, April 19, and continues through April 21, at the Harborview Center. Anyone with $425 can register from noon to 10 p.m., and attend a Captain's Meeting at 7 p.m., on Thursday. The tourney proper begins at 7:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, with $100,000 up for grabs during the televised event. A portion of proceeds benefits The Angelus, The Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Treasure Island Charities. The center's at 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Call 800-443-7957 or visit www.opryfishing.com.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays, at Tropicana Field, One Stadium Drive, St. Petersburg (813-825-3250). The Rays finish up a trio of games against the Boston Red Sox at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 19. Then the Baltimore Orioles wing to town for a 7:15 p.m. games on Friday, April 20, a 4:15 p.m. match on Saturday, April 21, and a 1:15 p.m. showdown on Sunday, April 22. The Rays take on the Kansas City Royals at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24 and 25, as well as 12:15 p.m. Thursday, April 26. Tickets start at $4 and go up to $195.
Special Events
2001 Heart of Largo Festival, at Largo's Cultural Center and Central Park, begins Thursday, April 19, and continues through April 22. This fun-filled event offers three concerts at the Largo Cultural Center: a 7:30 p.m. show on Thursday, April 19 features Pepper and Freemon (tickets cost $6); Lotaar Bergeest presents Bits of Broadway at 7 p.m. Friday, April 20 ($12.50); and the Spiritual Renaissance Singers of Tampa Bay perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Saturday events include Clowning for the Kids, featuring games, crafts and entertainment in the park beginning at 10 a.m. The center is host to Peter and the Wolf performances at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (free), and the park features free concerts all day by the likes of Sandy Atkinson, Pocket Change, Phil Vassar and the Cigar Store Indians. Call 727-587-6793 for tickets and 727-587-6720 for directions.
Championship Ballroom Dance Competition, at the Gulfport Casino, takes place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Enjoy a day of beautiful music, ballgowns and tailsuits as men and women from the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association dance their way into the winner's circle. Admission costs $10, and the casino's at 5500 Shore Blvd., Gulfport. Call 727-576-1206.
Clearwater Irish Fest, in Coachman Park, takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Raise a pint to your Irish heritage at this event, which includes singers, musicians and dancers from the land of shamrocks, not to mention food, crafts, clothing, jewelry and other Celtic wares. Entertainers include Pat Dunlea (from County Cork, Ireland), James Kelly, and Pooka, a 12-piece, traditional Irish music and dance ensemble. Admission's free, and the park's at 301 Drew St., Clearwater. Call 727-563-4813.
Dixie Doodles, the 45th annual AVSA show and sale by the Dixie African Violet Society, takes place Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21, at the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore. Comprised of growers from 13 Southeastern states, the growers gather each year to show and sell rare and unusual African Violets and other gesneriads, along with growing supplies. Hours are 2:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission's free, and the hotel's at 2225 N. Lois Ave., Tampa. Call 813-681-1910.
Earth Day 2001, a celebration in Williams Park, takes place from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Any bets on how much trash will be strewn about the park after this event? A bunch of organizations offer information and education at this event, including Sierra Club, Save the Manatee, Florida Consumer Action Network and the Tampa Bay Wild Life Federation. Local bands, like the Acme Band, Big Brother and Ambush entertaining the crowd. The event's free, and the park's at 350 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Call 727-573-1571.
Earth Day Celebration, at the Florida Botanical Gardens, begins at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 19. Start the day off with a continental breakfast, then stick around to check out a plant sale, nature walks, environmental displays, workshops, a butterfly release and more. A second part to the celebration includes a concert by the On Que Players at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Admission costs $3 for the celebration, $7 for the concert. The gardens' are at 12175 125th St. N., Largo. Call 727-582-2100.
Festival of Cultures, on the Eckerd College campus, begins at 5 p.m. Friday, April 20. The highlight of international activities at Eckerd, this events features two main events: Booths Around the World, representing students' native countries, and a Cultural Traditions Show, with traditional clothes, dance, music and skits. The festival is free to attend, and Eckerd's at 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Call 727-864-7678.
Peace & Tolerance Candlelight Vigil, for the victims of the War on Drugs, begins (when else?) at 4:20 p.m. on (you guessed it) Friday, April 20, at downtown Tampa's Federal Courthouse. Bring a candle and join the Florida Organization for Reformed Marijuana Laws Inc. (FORML) in remembering all the drug offenders who languish in jail for years, while rapists, child molesters and murders are regularly allowed to re-enter society. The courthouse is at 400 Florida Ave., Tampa. Call 813-779-2551.
Save Our Shore Coastal Clean-Up Seven sites full of trash are just waiting for volunteers to make them pretty again from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 21. Gandy Beach, Pinellas Point Park, Lassing Park and Treasure Island Community Beach are among the locations. Anyone interested in helping out can call 727-893-7320 for a complete list of locations.
Spring Tampa Home & Patio Show, at the Tampa Convention Center, begins Friday, April 20, and continues through April 22. Hundreds of exhibits feature the latest home and garden projects, cooking shows, "how-to" clinics, storm damage info and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $6.50, and the center's at 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa. Call 727-563-0502.
Turtle-Riffick Celebration, at Westshore Plaza, takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, near the mall's FAO Schwarz store. Join Horace the WestShoreasaurus in celebrating and learning about Florida's indigenous reptile friend, the Loggerhead Turtle. Kids can enjoy games, prizes, treats, storytelling and a visit with Douglas, a baby Loggerhead from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Held in conjunction with an upcoming Tampa Bay Tour of Turtles, the afternoon also includes artist Josette Urso, who can also be observed as she paints one of the tour's fiberglass turtles in an in-store studio. The plaza's at Kennedy and Westshore boulevards in Tampa. Call 813-286-0790.
Lectures and Discussions(See Classifieds for seminars and classes.)
Architecture Lecture, presented by Antoine Predock, begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, at the Museum of Science and Industry. Predock, who designed MOSI's IMAX Dome, discusses his work on the theater and other large structures (Hotel Santa Fe at Disneyland Paris, the Arizona Science Center, etc.), before greeting guests at a book signing and dessert reception. The lecture's free, and MOSI's at 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813-974-4031.
Direct Action Environmentalism, presented by Paul Watson, takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in Eckerd College's Dendy-McNair Auditorium. Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, discusses the origins, history and future of the environmental movement at this free lecture. Eckerd's at 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Call 727-864-8297.
Nature's Food Patch Lectures The Patch offers three free lectures this week: Kerrie and Bobby Broe discuss Hormones: Clearing up the Confusion of Menopause, PMS, Fertility and Hormone Replacement Therapy, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19; Dr. Jo Anne Whitaker introduces the Bowen Technique (manipulation of muscles, tendons and nerves to alleviate chronic conditions, sports injuries and more) at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 21; and Dr. Christy Giallourakis talks about The Herbal Medicine Chest at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25. The Patch's at 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Call 727-443-6703.
This article appears in Apr 19-26, 2001.