Thursday 8.2
Cinema Surreal The Salvador Dali Museum screens Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a film translation of Hunter S. Thompson's classic novel, an over-the-top tale of a desperate, psychotropic journey to find the American dream. Johnny Depp stars as Raoul Duke, Thompson's alter ego, and Benicio del Toro is brilliant as Dr. Gonzo, Duke's 300-pound Samoan attorney. The film starts at 6 p.m. in the Raymond James Room of the museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-823-3767). The movie is free with admission to the museum (which is half price after 5 p.m. on Thursdays).
Friday 8.3
Don't BlinkYou might miss the heyday of Blink-182. It's not as if anyone's actually missing Blink; they're everywhere, but the boys of Blink won't be boys much longer (what're their ages again?), and the adolescent antics the band's known for — streaking, scarfing burritos and fart jokes — don't exactly make for rock 'n' roll longevity. So see them now, while they're, ahem, hip, Hurley-clad and happening. The show's opener, New Found Glory, hails from Coral Springs, Fla., and is known for an energetic blend of hardcore, emo and rock. The $25 show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice Palace, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-301-6500).
Hot Batch of Blues Bill Wharton is The Sauce Boss, a Gumbo preacher who cooks up not only a mix of blues, swamp boogie and Southern rock but also a big pot of gumbo (served free at show's end). With more than 80,000 served, Wharton has traveled the world spreading the gospel of blues and hot sauce, and has even appeared on the Food Network's Extreme Cuisine. The show takes place at 8 p.m. at Skipper's Smokehouse (where else?). Tickets cost $8 in advance, $12 day of. Skipper's is at 910 Skipper Road, Tampa (813-971-0666).
Saturday 8.4
Going to the Birds The Suncoast Avian Society hosts an Exotic Bird Show at the Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5. The bird show includes free hand-feeding lessons and free wing and nail clipping, seminars and a large selection of vendors offering bargain prices on all species of birds, seed, cages and toys. On Saturday, a sanctioned bird judging takes place in the categories of American cockatiel, American budgerigar, African lovebird, parrot, finch and softbill. On Sunday, judging takes place for pet American cockatiels and parrots. Admission costs $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and free for children under 12. The Coliseum is at 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-5202).
Hide the Folding ChairsFlorida's premier underground wrestling promotion, IPW Hardcore Wrestling, holds Reign in Blood, a high-flying, trash-talking card of title and grudge matches. The IPW, based in Tampa, features many professional wrestlers from the Bay area, providing a loyal local fan base with excellent hardcore wrestling. The show's headlining contest pits Kubiak against Havoc in a Paradise in Hell match, involving such implements as thumbtacks, tables and barbed wire. Other match-ups include Scoot Andrews defending his IPW Heavyweight title against "The Thug" Mike Shane, Quickiemart versus The Southern Posse in a tag-team match and a three-way handicap match between the 400-pound Mr. Biggs, Mark Zout and Luciano "The Gauntlet" Bonetti. The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Florida WrestlePlex, 4055 35th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-526-6778). Admission costs $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
Memory 3 This old-school show features 13 of the area's best resident DJs, brought together for one night to spin sets of their classic tunes. The lineup includes Three (residencies at Simons and Twilo) and Chang (Simons), whose careers have encompassed a wide variety of techno styles, and whose old-school sets are a real treat; Brad Smith (Parthenon, Luna), a flawless mixer who's spun to the delight of innumerable Tampa club-goers; Andy Hughes (Firestone, The Edge), whose tenures at Orlando clubs have made him something of a Florida legend; and Santana (Marz, Fantasy Ranch), a master of old-school with thousands of mix tapes. The show takes place 9 p.m.-3 a.m. at Rain Lounge, 302 S. Nebraska Ave., Tampa (813-229-7246). Adults 18 and older welcome; admission's $12 in advance, $15 the night of.
Sunday 8.5
Storm Season In the 10-year history of the Tampa Bay Storm, the team has yet to post a losing season or fail to make the playoffs. The four-time ArenaBowl champions have an overall record of 101-31, Arena Football's best, and so it seems that the playoffs are just something of a second season for the Storm. With a '01 record of 10-4, the Storm have received a first-round bye and await the outcomes of the Indiana Firebirds' (9-5) and the Orlando Predators' (8-6) first-round games. The Storm plays against the highest remaining seed at 1:30 p.m. at the Ice Palace, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa (813-301-6600). Tickets cost $10-$35. www.tampastorm.com.
Ah, Tortured Love The master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock made his American film debut in 1940 with Rebecca, a compelling mystery about the courtship and marriage of a naive young woman (Joan Fontaine) to a brooding, aristocratic widower (Laurence Olivier). The bride is tormented by the ghostly presence of Rebecca, the deceased first wife, about whom the unnamed heroine hears much from her husband and his housekeeper, but whose character she never fully understands until the film's end. The film — an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 Gothic novel — happens to have won Hitchcock his only Best Picture Academy Award. The matinee starts at 3 p.m. at Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., Tampa (813-274-8286). Adult tickets cost $4.
Monday 8.6
Why Don't We Get Drunk and Sing? Some people do their best singing in the shower. For some people it's while driving home from work. Still some people best hit (or miss) the notes to their favorite songs after a few doubles of tequila ('80s rock stars, for instance). The latter of these individuals may be interested in Wet Willie's weekly karaoke bash at BayWalk, taking place from 8 p.m. to midnight Mondays and Tuesdays. KJ (Karaoke Jockey) Peggy hosts these evenings of debaucherous crooning at this drinks-only club. Wet Willie's is at 171 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-822-5650).
Tuesday 8.7
Dome Away From Home Whenever the Tampa Bay Devil Rays host the New York Yankees, the crowd at the Trop is as much a sea of pinstripes as a sea of prehistoric fish with stingers. The disproportion of fans is no mystery: the Yanks and Rays represent the respective top and bottom of the American League East, the Yanks are reigning World Series champions and their roster includes hometown hero Tino Martinez as well as future Hall-of-Famer Roger Clemens. None of this has any bearing on the outcome of the games, mind you, just which team's T-shirt you wear. Game times for the three-game series are all 7:15 p.m. Tickets start at $4 and go up to $195. Tropicana Field is at One Stadium Drive, St. Petersburg (813-825-3250).
Wednesday 8.8
Mobile Mic The popular Tavern at Bayboro open mic, hosted by songstress Shana Smith, has moved to Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill until the Wednesday following the end of USF's summer break (Aug. 29). Ferg's, named for owner Mark Ferguson, is a former gas station, remodeled into an inviting, multitiered hangout that is both dog- and Rollerblader-friendly. The open mic retains the same format: a featured artist (this week bluesman Woodlawn Fats) performs a 30-minute set, sharing the stage with an eclectic mix of performers. The open mic takes place 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill is at 1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg (727-822-4562).
