It’s the hardest holiday season in more than two decades. For most, Christmas present budgets just aren’t what they were in years past. So instead of throwing money away on another round of gadgets, why not bring a loved one — or the entire family — to the charmingly ornate Tampa Theatre to watch one of the most spirit-lifting, life-affirming, heart-warming films of all time, Frank Capra’s immortal 1947 classic It’s A Wonderful Life. Sure, you’ve seen the picture umpteen times on television, maybe caught a scene or two, or maybe even watched the entire film — but that was on the small screen, on your sofa, perhaps with conversations from adjacent room cluttering the dialogue. This is an opportunity to view the film in a dark, majestic setting; with popcorn, chocolate and perhaps a glass of cabernet — making Tampa Theatre the ideal place to witness little Zuzu Bailey sweetly utter: “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.” Dec. 20-21, 3 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa, $8, 813-274-8982.
