COMEDY
The Alpocalypse is coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall! Weird Al Yankovic performs parodies from his first album in five years. At his show you'll hear parodies of Taylor Swift ("TMZ") and T.I. ("Whatever You Like"), plus the requisite polka medley, "Polka Face," which features accordion-driven versions of tunes by Justin Bieber, Lady Antebellum, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Thursday, Oct. 6, at 8 p.m. rutheckerdhall.com.
Witness the mock-Reality TV sensation that's become a cult fave for American Netflixers. Canada's Trailer Park Boys make a stop at Tampa Theatre for the Ricky Julian and Bubbles' Drunk, High and Unemployed Tour. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 8 p.m. tampatheatre.org.
Emmy Award-winner, Daily Show correspondent John Oliver shares his charming and eviscerating witticisms at the Straz in October. Oliver has been a writer and correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart since 2006. He also appears in a recurring role in the NBC series Community. Friday, Oct. 21, 8 p.m. at the Straz Center's Ferguson Hall. strazcenter.org.
MUSEUMS/MULTIMEDIA
This might be just the ticket for one of Tampa Bay's most sparsely attended museums: Out of This World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television at the Tampa Bay History Center. See the duds of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Captain Kirk, Klingons, The Terminator and Ghostbusters. Oct. 1-Jan. 7, tampabayhistorycenter.org.
The Square One Fourth Annual Fall 2011 Creative and Performing Arts Showcase hits the Ritz in November. The showcase of more than 75 local artists includes other venues in the Ybor district. See performances by VYB Dance Company, Jeremy Gloff, a debut fashion show by Ricky Lindsay and more. Fri., Nov. 18-Sat., Nov. 19, Ritz Ybor, SquareOneFlorida.com.
CLASSICAL/JAZZ
The Florida Orchestra goes for broad audience appeal with two events: Pops in the Park (Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg, Oct. 22) and Cirque de la Symphonie, a combo of live classical music and acrobatic artistry from Cirque du Soleil veteran performers (Nov. 4-6, at Straz, Mahaffey and Ruth Eckerd Hall).
FESTIVALS/SPECIAL EVENTS
WMNF's 32nd Birthday Bash Week. Julie Dexter and the Open Mike 101 (a poetry open mic hosted by Kwabena Dinizulu) perform at The Palladium Theater Side Door on Sept. 14. The film Brian Eno — 1971-1977: The Man Who Fell To Earth screens Sept. 15 at the WMNF Studio. Bob Schneider, The Ditchflowers and Monica da Silva perform at Skipper's Smokehouse on Sept. 16, and the Two Man Gentlemen Band, plus The Lambasters, Amandla Tunesmith plus Sista Otis plus TBA at Skipper's on Sept. 17. wmnf.org.
The Loafies. Creative Loafing's annual Best of the Bay bash moves to Czar this year, with music by Rise of Saturn, Sons of Hippies, Geri X, Living Arches, B.C., Infinite Skillz, DJ Blenda, DJ Mega and DJ Casper (Ol' Dirty Sundays) — plus the Big Reveal of who got voted best (and worst) by CL's readers and contributors. Wed., Sept. 21, 7 p.m., Czar, 1420 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, $10, $15 at the door, cltampa.com/Loafies2011.
La Dolce Vino. Che bello! The 10th annual Winefest, benefiting Tampa Theatre, features a wine-pairing dinner at Mise en Place on Friday, an exotic evening of wine tasting, local restaurants and a silent auction on Saturday night at the theater, and new this year, a Sunday brunch at the theater caps it all off. Sept. 23-25, Mise En Place and Tampa Theatre, tampatheatrewinefest.org.
Ringling International Arts Festival. The Ringling Museum's invaluable partnership with NYC's Baryshnikov Arts Center brings un-missable cutting-edge performance to Sarasota in a range of genres, this year including avant-garde theater pioneers The Wooster Group doing Hamlet, Doug Elkins & Friends' dance-tastic sendup of The Sound of Music, innovative practitioners of Irish step dance and Argentinian tango, a 12-piece marching band, a piano quartet and Ethiopian-influenced jazz. Oct. 11-16, Ringling Center for the Arts, RinglingArtsFestival.org.
Brews by the Bay. More than 80 beers and food from 15 area restaurants including Datz Deli, Timpano’s Chophouse, 400 Beach and others fill The Florida Aquarium. Fri., Oct. 14, brewsbythebay.com.
Bicycle Bash. Fun day to celebrate bicycling, enjoy music and eat food at the lush and serene Flatwoods Park in northern Hillsborough County. Sunday Nov. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For info, contact Alan Snel at [email protected].
The 38th Annual Temple Terrace Community Arts Festival. Juried Fine Arts and Crafts Show set in the city’s most scenic park under a canopy of oaks along banks of the Hillsborough River. Riverhills Park, 405 S Riverhills Dr, Temple Terrace, Sat., Nov. 12-Sun., Nov. 13.
