June 30 Thursday
PICTURE THIS Fans of fine photography have just a few more weeks to catch two outstanding shows at the Tampa Museum of Art. Bud Lee: Picture Maker features a career retrospective of 60 compelling visual narratives by the film-flinging photojournalist that were taken from 1965 through the early 1990s. Originally produced for a range of noteworthy publications, these images have been secured by the museum and are a valuable addition to its permanent collection. ¡Fotografia! Arte 2005: Latin American Photography offers works by a handful of contemporary, internationally recognized Latino artists that include Vik Muniz, who transforms famous images into visual puzzles using household materials like sugar, cotton, thread and chocolate syrup; Alfredo Jaar, who creates photographic installations that fuse the aesthetic with the ethical to reveal the world's various injustices; and Liliana Porter, who juxtaposes quirky, kitschy objects to examine the boundaries between reality and representation. Also on display are the haunting, sepia-toned portraits and still life images of Luis Gonzales Palma, and a series of politically-charged photographs on the human condition by world-renowned photojournalist Sebastião Salgado. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $3 for students with I.D., and free to children 5 and younger (free for everyone from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays). ¡Fotografia! is on display through July 3; Bud Lee, through July 10. 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, 813-274-8130.
July 01 Friday
AWARD-WINNING HISTORY Just in time for Independence Day weekend, the Carrollwood Players opens 1776, a musical by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards that brings a seminal event in American history to vivid life. Far from just a history lesson, 1776 depicts the distinct personalities of the Second Continental Congress through lively vocals and dancing, fleshing out the feelings and flaws of the country's founding fathers (and mothers). The amusing songs include "Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve" and "Egg," in which Jefferson, Franklin and Adams liken the birth of the fledgling nation to "waiting for the egg to hatch on this humid Monday morning/ In this congressional incubator." Carlyn Postle directs the local production with assistance from choreographer Marcy Rodriguez and musical director Mike Walker. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., July 1-23. $14 adults/$12 seniors and students with I.D. Carrollwood Playhouse, Plantation Plaza, 4333 Gunn Highway, Tampa, 813-265-4000.
July 03 Sunday
CRAVING FASHION? A few years back, my best friend talked me into going to a fetish show in Ybor City. Actually, she didn't have to do much in the way of persuasion - the prospect of dressing up in striped stockings and black leather appealed to a part of me that screamed to be in someone else's shoes (or, really, someone else's cherry red, patent leather stilettos). So, we caked on dark eyeliner and smeared crimson lipstick so as to appear suitably slutty, donned expressions of sullen disillusionment to match our carelessly torn attire, and set out to become our sassy alter egos. Needless to say, we had an absolute blast and I enthusiastically encourage anyone seeking a little adventure to attend this weekend's fetish happening in St. Petersburg. CRAVE offers interested parties (21 and older) the opportunity to enjoy all the diversions a fetish playground has to offer, from kissing booths to suspension and flogging demonstrations. The centerpiece of the event is a three-part fetish fashion show, which features exotic styles by Torrid Plus Sizes and Hot Topic on models that include members of The Beauvilles, Knowing Stu and The Glitter Guns, as well as a few Emerald bartenders, some reluctant Planet staffers, and various other local hipsters. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Tampa Bay AIDS Network. 9 p.m. $10. The Bank Nightclub & Concert Venue, 1919 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-898-4488.
SONS OF THE SOUTH There's certainly no shortage of jam bands that boast a broad range of musical styles. But the real challenge for bands of the genre is to bring the various elements together cohesively. In this regard, Moonshine Still unquestionably succeeds. The Macon, Ga.-based sextet effectively blends elements of Southern rock 'n' roll and swampy funk with jazz, electronica, gospel, reggae, folk, a touch of bluegrass and a dash of metal. The resulting sound pairs spacey explorations with percussion-heavy grooves, free-flowing jams, funktabulous key work, trippy synths, raunchy riffs and vocals that move from soulful to soaring. Moonshine Still began cultivating a fan base in 1996 but things really didn't get going until they started touring in 1997, a crucial year that also marked the release of two albums and the addition of three band members. The touring continued and the band nurtured a Georgia fan base while branching out to play other Southeastern regions, eventually securing a respectable enough following to sell out two consecutive New Year's Eve shows at the infamous Georgia Theatre in Athens. This evening, Moonshine Still headlines Freedom Fest II, a day-long festival of music at Java Junction that also features The Freed, The Human Condition, Freshwater Collins, The Ethereal Plane and Triple Threat. 2 p.m. $10 (all ages). 705 Franklin St., Clearwater, 727-799-1100.
July 06 Wednesday
AIR JAMS Skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk first unveiled his vision of a traveling road show of extreme sports in 2002. With a multi-million-dollar customized ramp/track system, musical stage and state-of-the-art video, audio and lighting systems, the event was almost an inevitable success. Now in its third year, Boom Boom HuckJam continues to flaunt its status as the first national arena tour to headline skateboarders, BMXers and motocross riders. The 2005 tour rolls through town tonight, and Bay area folks can see these high-flying athletes attempt a variety of risky feats at the St. Pete Times Forum. This year's "dream team" features skateboarding mavericks Andy MacDonald, Lincoln Ueda, Sergie Ventura, HuckJam newcomer Rune Glifberg and, of course, Tony Hawk. The BMX roster consists of Mat Hoffman, Dennis McCoy, Chad Kagy and Kevin Robinson; the Moto X freestyle team includes Drake McElroy, Ronnie Faisst, Brian Deegan and Dustin Miller. These thrill-seekers perform halfpipes, no-handed back flips and other stunts on a more intricate ramp system than in years past, which features a 30-foot roll-in that launches the athletes 42 feet through the air over the vertical ramp, only to shoot them off the top of a 20-foot-tall quarter pipe. DJ Aero provides the soundtrack. For more information, visit www.BoomBoomHuckJam.com. 7 p.m. $23.25-$83.25. 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 813-301-6500.
