Daily Loaf

The City of Tampa’s fiendish plot to have you get up at an insanely early hour of the morning and groggily lace up your sneakers continues this Saturday with Keeping Tampa Fit. The biannual event is devoted to increasing awareness of personal health and the city’s numerous parks, while also offering the chance to keep up stride-for-stride with Mayor Pam Iorio (pictured, center), who plans on strolling four miles. As if that weren’t incentive enough, the first 200 registrants will receive a free T-shirt commemorating the event, which participants can then proudly wear to showcase their dedication to receiving free T-shirts. Sure you’d rather sleep in on what is likely your day off, but just think how good that coffee and artery-hardening cheesy omelet are going to taste when you reward yourself for forsaking a few extra hours of peaceful slumber. No pain, no gain, right? Sat., Nov. 7, Rowlett Park, 2501 River Hills Drive. Registration starts at 6:30 am, the walk begins at 7:30 am. Call the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department at 813-274-8615 for more info. – Anthony Salveggi

As tempting as it is to place labels like ‘minimalist’ or ‘landscape’ on Vicky Colombet’s work, such qualifiers don’t do justice to the profound mysteries the French artist creates with a stroke of the pen or brush. Perpetually exploring the limits of what will read as landscape, Colombet’s unique style of abstraction transcends its link to the natural world, offering ethereal geographies of rumination instead. On Friday, Tampa Heights printmaking atelier Bleu Acier debuts an exhibition of recent drawings and small paintings by Colombet, who is currently working with the studio to produce a series of etchings. An opening reception offers an opportunity to view working proofs of the series (as well as the paintings and drawings) and to meet the artist. Vicky Colombet: Terres de Brume / A New Geography runs Nov. 6-Jan. 16 with an opening reception Fri., Nov. 6, 6-9 p.m., Bleu Acier, 109 W. Columbus Dr., Tampa, 813-272-9746, bleuacier.com. – Megan Voeller

No, a tattoo-faced, ear-chompin’ Mike Tyson isn’t going to guest star at this shindig: the Boxer Bash is a fundraiser for the Florida Boxer Rescue, which has saved more than 3,000 homeless or abused pups since its inception in 2000. Bid on a Bucs Game Day package, Big Cat Rescue tickets and baked goodies (for people and pooches!) in the auction, let your furry friend compete in the agility contest or the Boxer and Friends pet parade, create a keepsake at the pawprint painting station, visit the boxer kissing booth for a big, sweet, slobbery smooch, and, best of all, feel good about lending a helping paw to a pup in need. Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa, 813-740-0045, flbr.org/BoxerBash2009.html. – Franki Weddington

If strings are your thing, The Florida Orchestra’s Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is the show for you. The concert, under the baton of James MacMillan, also includes Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No.4 and the East Coast premiere of the conductor’s own composition, The Sacrifice: Three Interludes. The performance graces several stages this weekend: Fri., Nov. 6, 8 p.m., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa; Sat., Nov. 7, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg; and Sun., Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. Visit floridaorchestra.org for more info. $20-$67.

We don’t need special incentives for a scenic stroll through the hills of St. Pete’s Historic Roser Park, but this weekend there’s even more reason to check out the bungalows, brick-lined streets and moss-draped, overgrown oaks that shade the roads: the Historic Roser Park Art Festival brings together more than 70 artists from all over the country who line the streets with their displays of paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, photography and craftwork. If you’re looking for a little culture but want to enjoy the sunshine instead of being cooped up inside, take a walking tour of Roser Park’s breezy outdoor museum, 28 placards chock full of historical info on the area that run the length of the neighborhood.  Local bands grooving onstage include The Karen Benjey Trio, the Henry Ashwood Jr. Duo, Paul Wilborn & Blue Roses and Acho Brother. Nov. 7-8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., Roser Park Drive, St. Petersburg, $1, free for children under 12, roserpark.net for full schedule of events. – Franki Weddington

If your idea of a special day includes big dresses, big boobs and bigger hair, the Evolution of Drag is for you. More than 25 dressed-up, down ‘n’ dirty divas take over GaYbor to dance, sing, and swing their way through this fantastic cabaret created by the local queen bee of drag, Daphne Ferraro (pictured). The naughty ‘n nice double feature offers a PG show in the afternoon and a dirrrty display at night. Expect cameos from cross-dressing characters like Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Dionne Warwick, Wynonna Judd and many others, who take audiences on a trip through the “Evolution of Drag,” complete with a Big Ole Gay finale. Meet the cast for photos at the cocktail hour (what’s a cabaret show without a cocktail?) an hour before each show. Proceeds benefit the Ybor Coalition. Sun., Nov. 8, 4 and 8 p.m., The Honey Pot, Ybor City, $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

There’s nothing cozier than a handmade quilt on a cold winter night, but these blankets with humble beginnings have been elevated to the upper echelons of art at the Florida International Museum. Rooted in Tradition: Art Quilts includes dozens of diverse works from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, which incorporate visual rather than practical elements like found objects, canvas, paper and paint. Sew – It’s Art! is a collection of quilts from Pinellas County’s quilt guilds that explores local history via the traditions, subjects, techniques and materials that combine to create our own colorful local quilt. On display Nov. 6-Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., 244 2nd Ave N., St. Petersburg, $8, $6 seniors and military, $5 students, 727-821-1448, spcollege.edu/FIMuseum. – Franki Weddington

Jorge Acosta returns from NYC (probably to escape to a warmer climate) to grace American Stage’s After Hours Series stage with From Havana To Hell’s Kitchen: A Latin Cabaret. The not-so-well-known Broadway selections are bolstered by Latin favorites and art songs. Mix in a dash of rum and a twist of lime, mix well, and enjoy the show. Visit americanstage.org for more info. Nov. 6-8, 8 and 10 p.m. Fri., 7 and 9 p.m. Sat., American Stage, 163 Third rd Street N., St. Petersburg, “pay what you can” admission, americanstage.org. – Franki Weddington

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