Halloween
Bats, at Boyd Hill Nature Park, 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg (727-893-7326). Come see live bats from the Florida Bat Center and learn the truth about these nocturnal hunters. The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29. Cost is $1 (kids under 15 free with paying adult). Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot.
Boo-Ha-Ha, at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-987-6300 or 813-987-6100). MOSI teams up with Radio Disney and The Minute Maid Company to put on a Halloween event for kids from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. Trick or treaters can enjoy treats and activities, including a Frightful Back Woods hike, a Mad Scientist Theater show and Creepy Crafts. 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.
The Come & Die Club, at the Improv Comedy Theater at Centro Ybor, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City (813-864-4000). The Improv has been transformed into the Come & Die Club, an abandoned 1899 theater that plays host to spirits and demons, played by more than 50 actors. Visitors enter the theater's upper level, descending along dark corridors into the surreal past before realizing they're being followed by the Seventh Avenue Stalker, a modern-day Jack the Ripper. It's an experience not recommended for children. The Come & Die Club opens at 7 p.m. Oct. 25-31. Admission costs $10.
Clumsy Custard Horror Show and Ice Cream Clone Review, an original comedy by William Gleason, plays at the Royalty Theatre at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31. Admission costs $10, $8 for seniors, and $5 for ages 12 and under. The Royalty Theatre is at 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater (727-441-8868).
Fright Fest 2001, an eerie nighttime tour through Asylum Gardens (Adult Trail), takes place at Largo Central Park from 6 to 11 p.m. Oct. 26-31. There's also a Children's Trail, full of terrifying scenes to frighten the little ones. Also for the kids is Boo Bash, featuring storytelling, games and Halloween contests. Advance tickets cost $9.95; $4.95 for ages 4 and older. The park's at 400 Central Park Drive, Largo (727-586-5423).
Ghost Ship The SS American Victory is transformed into a Ghost Ship to celebrate Halloween and help raise funds for restoration of the ship into a mariner's museum and memorial. Expect goblins, ghosts, a pirate invasion and a maze to test your navigational skills. The ship's open from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 25-27 and 31. Tickets cost $20, $10 for children under 12. The ship's docked at 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-383-5218).
Halloween Oldies Dance Tommy and the Saints and DJ Grant Hemond play classic oldies at the Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 26. The party gets started with a costume contest at 7:30 p.m., with a grand prize of $500. Tickets to the BYOB event cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. The Coliseum is at 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-5202).
Halloween Party Gymboree Play & Music holds its annual Halloween party (or several, actually) at 3 and 6 p.m. for ages 3-14, and at 4 and 7 p.m. for kids 15 months through 4. The parties promise creative, tyke-size entertainment. Non-scary pumpkins, witches and ghosts abound. The cost is $16 per child (must be accompanied by an adult). Gymboree is at 1220 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-254-9626).
Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens' startling landscape of fright, features encounters with ghouls and goblins, along with five new haunted houses: Escape from Insanity, Curse of Tut's Tomb, Screaming Reality, Creeper's Crypt and Night Stalker in 3-D. The event takes place from 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. (7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays and Sunday) Oct. 25-28 and 31. Admission costs $34.95. Busch Gardens is at the corner of Busch Boulevard and 40th Street in Tampa (813-987-5082).
Hyde & Shriek, Old Hyde Park Village's annual Halloween festival, takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. The event includes trick-or-treating throughout the village, a costume contest for children and activities hosted by the Hillsborough County Fire Fighters. Old Hyde Park Village is located two miles west of downtown Tampa, at Swann and Dakota avenues (813-251-3500).
Is Tampa Theatre Really Haunted? Find out on a balcony-to-backstage tour of Tampa's famous, historic movie theater, one of America's best preserved examples of grand movie palace architecture. The tour takes place at noon Tuesday, Oct. 30, and should last about an hour and a half. A suggested $5 donation benefits the theater's continuing restoration and operation. Tampa Theatre is at 711 Franklin St., Tampa (813-274-8286).
Nightmare on Second Street, a haunted house sponsored by the city of Safety Harbor, takes place through Oct. 27. This haunted house is one of the best in Pinellas County, and has scary surprises for both kids and adults. Hours are 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission costs $4. The haunted house is at the Rigsby Recreation Center, 605 Second St. N., Safety Harbor. Call 727-724-1545.
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, possessed by 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 are 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.
Zoo Boo, at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa (813-935-8552). Zoo Boo, the zoo's annual family-friendly Halloween event, takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 25-30. Get spooked in the new Haunted Mansion and enjoy the zoo's decorative transformation, which includes a special area for kids' games, storytelling and haunted hearse rides. The zoo's 1,500 exotic animals are also on display until dusk. General admission is $7 for adults and $5 for kids 3-11.
Visual ArtsOpenings
531 Central Fine Arts, 531 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2787). Landscapes of the Mind is a special retrospective honoring the work of deceased St. Petersburg native Richard Protovin. The show features Protovin's oil paintings, watercolors and a video display featuring several of his animated films. The show opens Saturday, Oct. 27, and 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.
Art of Cocktails, sponsored by the Tampa Museum of Art, are lush get-togethers hosted by Avant Garde, the museum's group of young art lovers. Artist Don Yoder is the center of attention from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, when the group meets at Velvet. The club's at 1430 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Admission is $5 at the door. For information about Avant Garde, call the museum: 813-274-8130.
Graphicstudio, 3702 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 100, Tampa (813-974-3503). Judith Kickliter's Masters in Fine Arts thesis, an exhibit of artist books and handmade papers, is on display Oct. 29-Nov. 6. Kickliter's oral defense takes place at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, with a reception to follow from 5 to 7 p.m. The events are free and open to the public. Graphicstudio hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Old Hyde Park Art Center, 705 Swann Ave., Tampa (813-251-3780). An exhibit featuring water media opens Tuesday, Oct. 30, and runs through Nov. 30. The show offers works by Sue Allen, Jane Cheek, Anne Drewery and Betty Rankin. A reception takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. Hours are noon-3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 3-8 p.m. every third Thursday.
St. Pete Beach Art Institute, 3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-3818). Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a judged members show depicting Hispanic themes. A fiesta reception takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and the exhibit runs through Nov. 3. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Visit www.suntanartcenter.com.
Ongoing
9 Gallery, 902 N. Rome Ave. (corner of Cypress and Rome), Tampa (813-258-1694). Love Mangled Brain is an exhibit of deconstructionist metal installations by artist Public Hairs. The show runs through October. Hours are by appointment only, and the gallery owner invites artists to call for info on showing their works.
Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Pete (727-822-7872). The Arts Center's Fall Focus on Photography includes work by William Eggleston, Robyn Voshardt and Sven Humphrey, Herb Snitzer and Janice Garrin. Eggleston's prints are acclaimed for his use of dye-transfer color printing and his concept of art from the obvious. Voshardt and Humphrey are collaborative artists working in large-scale color prints, documenting objects of personal significance. Herb Snitzer's exhibit is a documentary of Winky Wright and the St. Pete Boxing Club, conveying the duality of boxing's violence and grace. Garrin's images are of teens, giving voice to young people by showing their lives and portraying their concerns. The exhibit runs through Oct. 26. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, through Saturday.
Baisden Gallery, 442 Grand Central Ave., Suite 100, Tampa (813-250-1511). Pictorial Horizon is an exhibit of landscapes, featuring works by Alison Burnett, Scott Duce, Jim Draper and Matt Larson. The exhibit, representing a cross section of media and landscape themes, runs through Nov. 17. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and by appointment.
Brad Cooper Gallery, 1712 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-248-6098). International Voices features works by 10 artists from as many different nationalities. The artists include Eva Lobreis, Peter Mitchev, Roberto Rodriguez, Posoon Sung and Larie Wickenkamp. The exhibit continues through Oct. 31. 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). From Here to Breath is an installation by Nazanin Arandi. The work is an abstract piece that aims to evoke a sense of constant evolution. The exhibit runs through Nov. 9. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Clayton Galleries, 4105 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-3753). Robin Cody -Recent Work is just that, an exhibit of new paintings by Robin Cody. The Sarasota artist is currently an instructor at the Ringling School of Art and Design. The exhibit runs through Nov. 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center, 176 Fifth Ave., Safety Harbor (727-723-8638). Return to Sender is the Center's sixth anniversary celebration, at which patrons are able to choose from more than 500 black-and-white, postcard-size line drawings by students from Creative Clay's daily arts programs. All pieces cost $20. The show runs through Oct. 30. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.
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.
Elliott Gallery, at Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg (727-864-8297). Masks, a showcase of face covers from the collection of James G. Crane, runs through Nov. 2. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Gold Dragon Gallery, 3508 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa (813-832-2755). The Gold Dragon features works by clients of Project Return, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for adults with mental illnesses through educational and vocational services. The exhibit runs through Nov. 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Hyde Park Fine Arts, 937 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-258-8883). Toys in Babeland is an exhibit by the Peters family: Brandt Elling-Peters, Kathie Peters-Olivas, Karen Peters and Michael Peters. The four Tampa talents consider themselves revisionary artists, recycling nostalgic images and popular icons in order to tell different versions of the past. The exhibition runs through Oct. 27. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
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. A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, 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; 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Painted Fish Gallery, 350 Main St., Dunedin (727-736-0934). To Fish or Not to Fish features ceramic works by Ira Jon Burhans, who has made pottery professionally in the Palm Harbor area for the past 21 years. The exhibit runs through Nov. 18. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Plainsmen Gallery, 2450 Sunset Pt. Road, Suite A, Clearwater (727-726-5100). Symbols of America is an exhibit of works depicting America's strength and pride, featuring bronzes by Montana artists Frank DiVita and J.W. Muir. The exhibit runs through Nov. 3. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday , Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Realty Executives, 2861 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-867-9600). An exhibit of paintings by Ludner Confident, a Haitian-born artist/anesthesiologist, hangs in this unlikeliest of galleries. The artist, known as Ludy, paints female portraits enveloped in such themes as love, sports, the tropics and music. The exhibit is on display through Dec. 31. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. www.confidentart.com
Romeo Art and Design Gallery, 1515 Seventh Ave., Tampa (813-247-1010). Easy Access is an exhibit of works by talented local artists Jim McCarthy, Karen Pauline, Joe Draye and Randy Alvarez. As title hints, the cost of the pieces, the artworks themselves and the gallery's location are all easily accessible. The gallery, run by third-generation Ybor City artisan Walter P. Romeo, features original paintings, pottery, stylish European furniture as well as modern furniture designed by architects. The exhibit runs through Dec. 1. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Silver Meteor Gallery, 2213 E. Sixth Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4500). Twelve offers 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.
Snooty Judy's Gallery for the Open Mind, 514 Skinner Blvd., Dunedin (727-734-9835). Joe Draye displays his surrealistic oil paintings and Ron Michael Kelley offers his steel sculptures in an exhibit that runs through Nov. 13. 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.
SoHo Gallery, 2105 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-2280). Autumn's Arrival features a variety of artwork by local artists Geneen Hemmer, Sandra Greigg and Jean Scott. The exhibit is on display through Nov. 3. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Studio Szabries Gallery, 2109 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-895-2444). A Figure, A Place is an exhibit of figurative clay sculptures by Joshua Margolis. The works explore such issues as alcoholism and anti-Semitism. The exhibit runs through Nov. 10. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Syd Entel Galleries, 247 Main St., Safety Harbor (727-725-1808). The latest works by Sally Chastain Evans and Jay Miller are on display through Nov. 7. Evans, an expressionist, and Miller, an impressionist, are both accomplished painters. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
TECO Public Art Gallery, 702 N. Franklin St., Tampa (813-251-3688). Karen Phillips exhibits her watercolor paintings through Oct. 31. Her work ranges from traditional views of flowers to close-up, snail's-eye views of Florida's aquatic landscapes. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Vincent William Gallery Inc., 320 Corey Ave., St. Petersburg (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. 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. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $6 for general, $5 for seniors and college students, $2 for ages 18 and under and members get in free.
Florida International Museum, 100 Second St. N., St. Petersburg (727-822-3693). The following shows continue indefinitely: The Cuban Missile Crisis ($6.95 for adults); The Kennedy Collection ($9.95); Countdown to Destiny, an exhibition of photos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ($3.95); and Habana Esperando: Photographs by Margaux Ravis (free). Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. All-inclusive day passes cost $11.95, and annual passes go for $15.95.
Great Explorations, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-821-8992). The whole family can learn art and science concepts at this interactive museum. Exhibits include Music!Music!Music! and SSSnakes, SSSpiders and SSScorpions, as well as the VETerinary Office and ZOOMzone. Admission is $4 for everyone ages 3 and up. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo (727-518-6833). Maria Emilia Castagliola exhibits In Praise of Federico Garcia Lorca, a body of work inspired by and devoted to the great Spanish writer, and Randy Batista offers American Eyes – Cuban Heart, a photo-documentary of his visits to Cuban relatives. Both exhibits continue through Nov. 11. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (extended to 7 p.m. on Thursday), noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission costs $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students (free on Thursday). Visit www.gulfcoastmuseum.org.
Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-254-1891). Simple Pleasures: America's Love of Pond Yachts continues through Dec. 23. The hobby of pond yachting reached its height of American popularity in the 1930s. This show features vintage pond yachts and their rigging, historical memorabilia and photographs. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $5.
Kid's Firehouse Museum, 9510 Kids Firehouse Ave., Largo (727-585-1300). The museum has 11 antique firetrucks and memorabilia on display as well as a playground facility. Kids can learn fire safety tips, watch a safety video and get some free memorabilia. Admission is free; donations are encouraged. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays.
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.
Pier Aquarium, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg (727-895-7437). The Aquarium, a nonprofit marine education resource center, is home to fabulous exhibits that include California sharks, invertebrates and coral reefs. Tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is $1. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Teachers, call about special field trip rates and tours.
Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History, 329 S. Bayshore Blvd., Safety Harbor (727-726-1668). Longrifles, an exhibit of early American weapons that have evolved into a unique art form, is on display through Dec. 31. The weapons featured are modeled after those used by settlers, soldiers and militia in the United States from the 1770s to about 1820. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission costs $2 for adults and $1 for ages 12 and under.
Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Pete. (727-823-3767). This museum features one of the best collections of the Spanish painter'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 Gallery of Photographic Arts, in Old Hyde Park Village, 746 S. Village Circle, Tampa (813-251-1800). TGPA offers a one-man show by Herb Snitzer titled, Faces and Places: New York, Paris, London 1958-1962. Snitzer's career spans 40 years, during which he worked for such publications as Life, The Saturday Evening Post and Metronome. The author of five books, he maintains a studio in St. Petersburg. The exhibit runs through Oct. 28. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.
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 Oct. 27-Dec. 8. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Theater/Performance(See Classifieds for auditions.)
And Then There's Bea, Bea Arthur's uncensored evening of story and song, is sometimes naughty, sometimes bawdy and always hilarious. She performs at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Ferguson Hall through Oct. 28, with show times at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $19.50-$39.50. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
Briefs & Longjohns '01, a staged reading by the B&L award winners, takes place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25, at HCC's Ybor Theater. Arthur McMasters reads Prisms, a story of relationships needing a catalyst of tragedy to find a form of resolution. Kyle Bostian reads Hospitality, the tale of a young migrant couple whose infant dies due to medical malpractice. Admission costs $5, $3 for students and seniors. HCC Theater is on the corner of 15th Street and Palm Avenue in Ybor City. Call 813-258-6757.
Carousel Eight O'Clock Theatre celebrates its 20th season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, in the Tonne Playhouse at the Largo Cultural Center. The story takes place in a small New England town in the late 1800s, and centers on star-crossed lovers Julie Jordan (Heather Farley) and Billy Bigelow (Rand Smith). Performances take place at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25-28. Reserved tickets cost $16; $12.50 for groups of 10 or more; and $6 for students. The center's at 105 Central Park Drive, Largo. Call 727-587-6793.
The Comedy of Errors Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, a small company of Shakespeare traditionalists, put on a demonstration/lecture on The Comedy of Errors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, and perform the classic itself at 8 p.m. The lecture, tickets to which cost $7, is meant to help the audience better relate to the performance, which is presented much like the plays were originally: on a simple stage, surrounded by an audience that shares the same light as the actors. Tickets to the performance cost $15. Both events take place at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs (727-942-5605).
Gaslight The Carrollwood Players perform this Victorian thriller by Patrick Hamilton through Nov. 3. In a house in London's Pimlico district in 1880, the handsome Mr. Manningham is torturing his wife into insanity under the guise of kindliness. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday, at Plantation Plaza, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa. Call 813-265-4000.
Hansel & Gretel The Sunstate Opera Society and dancers from the St. Petersburg Festival Ballet collaborate to perform this delightful fairy tale. The choreography is set to the English libretto of Humperdink's score for Hansel & Gretel, performed under the direction and accompaniment of Brent Douglas. The show takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Palladium Theater. Tickets cost $12, $9 for seniors and $7 for children. The Palladium is at 253 Fifth Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-3590).
House on the Cliff, a mystery by George Batson, plays at the Francis Wilson Playhouse from Oct. 25-Nov. 4. Show times are at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $12, $8 for students. The Francis Wilson Playhouse is at 302 Seminole St., Clearwater (727-446-1360).
Landscape in Motion, the autumnal concert of the USF Dance department, premieres five works and the restaging of a 1992 work. The program is a mix of dance repertoires, including classical ballet, modern jazz, African dance and flamenco. Performances take place at 3 p.m. Oct. 28, and 8 p.m. Oct. 26, 27 and Nov. 1-3. Admission costs $10, $5 for students and seniors. Performances take place in Theatre I at USF-Tampa, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813-974-2614.
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 search for love by the Hilton sisters, Siamese twins who were a vaudeville sensation in the 1930s. Performances take place at the Gorilla Theatre Oct. 25-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).
Trailer Trash Tabloid!, a zany adult comedy, centers on the 12 cartoonish residents of New Drawl City Mobile Home Village & Putt-Putt Golf, in Skoal County, Ga. The action takes place on The Lamont Lazarus Hour, a newsmagazine TV show covering the mysterious death of Frank Forkenberg, the Velveeta-King magnate. Each of the New Drawl City residents tell their side of the story, and through these interviews the farcical history of the city and its inhabitants unfolds. The play runs through Oct. 28, with show times at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Jaeb Theater. Tickets cost $26.50. TBPAC is at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-7827).
See Performance for review.
Classical Music
The Tampa Bay Symphony opens its 16th season with three performances featuring guest soloist/basoonist Mark Sforzini. Sforzini has played with the Cleveland Orchestra and is on the faculty of the Pinellas County Center for the Arts. The 8 p.m. performances take place at the following locations: Friday, Oct. 26, at the Mahaffey Theater; Monday, Oct. 29, at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; and Tuesday, Oct. 30 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets cost $10. Mahaffey's at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg (727-892-5798). TBPAC's at 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa (813-229-STAR). REH's at 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater (727-791-7400). For information, call 727-319-8383.
Comedy
Brewmasters, 401 E. Second St., Indian Rocks Beach (727-515-8059). G. David Howard performs every Friday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Cover varies and there's a two-beverage minimum.
Coconuts Comedy Club, at Howard Johnson, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-360-JOKE). Vancouver-based comedian Darryl Lenox performs Oct. 25-28. Lenox has appeared on A&E's An Evening at the Improv, opened for Chuck Berry and Maxi Priest, and recently signed a development deal with HBO. Open mic night takes place Sunday, Oct. 28. 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). Costaki Economopoulos performs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27. Show time is 9:30 p.m. Cover varies (two-drink minimum). Reservations suggested.
Lloyd's Cajun Cafe, (formerly Blues Ship) 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4364). Actor/stand-up comedian ranney performs at 8:30 p.m. every Thursday. He has performed at such venues as the Apollo Theatre, and shared billing with such talents as Bill Bellamy, Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock. Admission costs $12 or $20 for two.
Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-960-1197). Dom Irrera, as seen on numerous HBO specials, performs Oct. 26-28. Ventriloquist Willy Tyler and his wooden pal, Lester, who've played at top clubs for 40 years, perform Oct. 31-Nov. 4. 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). Bob Smith performs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27. Show times are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Admission is $15 advance, $17 day of. Reservations are recommended.
Poetry & Prose
Book Signing/Pot Luck Activist, philosopher and journalist Derrick Jensen speaks about the complexities of violence, the nature of responsibility, and the power and necessity of expression. Jensen is the author of A Language Older than Words, and is signing copies provided by Inkwood books, with a potluck following. The event takes place at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at Sweetwater Organic Farm, 6942 W. Comanche Ave., Tampa. Call 727-538-9050.
Inkwood Books, 216 Armenia Ave. S., Tampa (813-253-2638). Inkwood is celebrating its 10th anniversary by offering a 10-percent discount for 10 days, Oct. 28-Nov. 6. Please note: Kelly DuMar has canceled her reading of Before You Forget: The Wisdom of Writing Diaries for your Children Thursday, Oct. 25. 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.
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 7:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A donation of $2 to $5 is suggested at the door, but coffee, tea and cake 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.
Computer Port Cafe, 432 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach (727-441-2667). Every Friday and Saturday night, Computer Port plays host to an open mic from 7 to 11 p.m. for musicians, comedians, poets, etc. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays and until util 3 a.m. on weekends.
Cool Tunes Coffee Bar, 2551 Drew St., Clearwater (727-799-3788). Open mic takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Open mics are free. Local acts play Fridays, check Soundboard or call for schedule. Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Insomnia Coffee House Gallery, 32884 U.S. 19, Palm Harbor (727-789-3771). Words Awake!, a spoken word event, takes place at 8 p.m. every Thursday. Musicians, poets, comedians, magicians and anyone else can perform at the 9 p.m. open mic every Tuesday, hosted by Big Rick (sign-up starts at 8 p.m.). Hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday and Monday.
James Joyce Irish Pub, 1704 1/2 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-247-1896). 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.
Joffrey's Cybercafe, 5165 34th St. S., St. Petersburg (727-865-0605). Doris Owens Yates hosts Broad Stroking, a weekly open poetry reading, at 3 p.m. every Sunday. All poets are welcome. Kelly Green hosts a music open mic from 8 p.m. to midnight every Friday. Hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Limey's Pub, 1492 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg (727-895-2094). Come share your talent at Limey's open mics, hosted by Ted Wray, held every Monday from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m., and every Tuesday from 9 to 1 p.m.
Lloyd's Cajun Cafe, 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City (813-242-4364). Black on Black Rhyme, an intense spoken word event, takes place every Tuesday, featuring the We Take No Prisoners Poetry Troupe. Show organizers challenge artists to a battle on weekly topics, like men vs. women, for instance. The events feature guest readers followed by an open mic. Sign-up is at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 8:30. The cover is $5. Lloyd's also hosts an open mic jam, featuring blues/jazz-guitarist David DeBlois, from 9:30 p.m. to close every Wednesday.
Realm Coffeehouse, 937 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-821-5608). Realm's schedule of events include singer-guitarist Chucky Luv on Mondays, an open mic for musicians on Tuesday, an open mic for poetry on Thursday and a Friday drum circle. All events take place from 9 p.m. to midnight. Hours are 6:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Seabreeze on Sunset Beach, 9546 Gulf Blvd. W., Treasure Island (727-360-1398). The Blues Jam, a jam night and open mic for blues-oriented singer/songwriters, takes place from 8 p.m. to midnight every Wednesday.
The Pharm, 941 Huntley Ave., Dunedin (727-735-9019). The Pharm's open mic takes place Wednesdays from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. A wide variety of talented musicians and performers grace the stage. www.pharmreport.com
Triple Talent Showcase, in the Ybor Room at HCC, located at Ninth Avenue and Republica De Cuba in Ybor City (813-973-0528). The Pure Poet's Society hosts this open mic poetry event every Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. Readings are videotaped for an upcoming public access program. Poets of all skill levels are welcome to share their works.
Yeoman's Road Pub, 236 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa (813-251-BRIT). Vince Longo hosts an open jam every Wednesday, featuring an eclectic mix of performers from the Bay's music scene. And for good measure, there's another open mic on Sunday from 7 p.m. until close. All events are free and subject to change when there's a band scheduled.
Sports & Nature
Brooker Creek Preserve Grab the bug spray and a few good friends before heading out to Brooker Creek for a free guided tour of the grounds. Tours are given from 9 to 11 a.m. every Saturday and reservations are a must. Brooker Creek is located in Tarpon Springs. Call 813-943-4003 for more information and directions.
Coed Volleyball, at Forest Hills Recreation Center, takes place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. every Tuesday. If you want to get your game on without committing to a team or schedule, this is the place. Walk-ins are always welcome at this free, social spike fest. The center is at 724 W. 109th Ave., Tampa. Call 813-977-0892.
Laser Tag at the Ice Sports Forum The Forum, already a popular ice skating venue, has opened a 3,300-square-foot, space-theme laser tag facility capable of handling up to 40 players at once. Competition levels vary from fun-seekers to experienced, all-out players, with walk-ons and leagues welcome. Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday. The Ice Forum is located at 10222 Elizabeth Place, Tampa (813-684-7825).
Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa (813-621-6793). The Last Damn Am, a street and vert contest, is the last qualifier for 50 open spots for skaters that did not compete in the summer series at Skatepark of Tampa, and want to qualify for Tampa Am 2002. The contest takes place Oct. 26-28, with doors opening to contestants at 10 a.m. and events starting at noon. Entry fees cost $25 for series skaters and $50 for first-time competitors. Skatepark of Tampa is at 4215 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa (813-621-6793). www.skateparkoftampa.com
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at Raymond James Stadium, 4042 N. Himes Ave., Tampa. The Jack Daniels Great American Tailgate Judging Crew is searching for the best Bay area tailgater at the Sunday, Oct. 28 Bucs game against the Minnesota Vikings. So who cares that tickets are sold out? Grab some ground-chuck and some buns, a charcoal grill and your favorite JD beverage. Good luck; game starts at 1 p.m.
Special Events
Annual Pumpkin SMAsquerade, to benefit the fight against Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), features the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and takes place from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 26, at the Cuban Club. The Mardi Gras-style party includes food from Lee Roy Selmon's restaurant, fire-breathers, jugglers, party beads and an open bar. Tickets cost $55, proceeds of which go directly to SMA. The Cuban Club is at 2010 Republica De Cuba, Ybor City. Call 813-254-3337.
CraftArt 2001, the fifth annual outdoor exhibit, features works by 125 artists from across the nation, and takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 and 28. Admission costs $3; free for ages 12 and under. The festival takes place in Plant Park, on the University of Tampa campus, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.
Fall Antiques Fair The city of Dunedin hosts this annual event from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. The fair includes live music by the Modern Guitar Quartet from noon to 3 p.m., and features more than 70 antique dealers from throughout the state. The event takes place on the city's closed Main Street, east of Alt. 19 (between Broadway and Douglas Avenue), Dunedin. Call 727-298-3261.
Old Hyde Park Live Music Series The sixth and final concert of the season features a performance by Danny Moore, and takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31. The concert is free and open to the public, with proceeds from beverage sales benefiting the Visiting Nurse Association of Florida. Old Hyde Park Village is located at Swann and Dakota avenues in Tampa (813-251-3500).
Plant City Strawberry Airfest, featuring free airplane rides for ages 8-17, takes place from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27 and 28, at Plant City Airport. The festival includes arts, crafts, ultralight vehicle displays, WWII veteran aircraft exhibits, food and radio-controlled model airplanes. Admission is free; parking costs $5. The airport is at 4007 Airport Road, off I-4, in Plant City (813-752-4710).
Lectures and Discussions(See Classifieds for seminars and classes.)
Vieques Irving Forestier, of the National Boricua Human Rights Network, presents a brief chronology of events regarding U.S./Puerto Rico relations on the island of Vieques. The chronology covers environmental impacts and the colonial relationship. The event is sponsored by the Peace for Vieques Committee of Orlando, and takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in the Grace Allen Room of the USF-Tampa library, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa (813-974-3547).
This article appears in Oct 25-31, 2001.