Daily Loaf

If AC/DC has fired its last cannon in Florida, the fans at Amway Arena in Orlando enjoyed a raucous final salute on November 19.

The 35-year rock veterans with Hall of Fame credentials put on a fast-paced two-hour set — no room for ballads at an AC/DC show — featuring classics (four songs from 1977’s Let There Be Rock and four from 1980’s Back In Black) and newer songs (four from last year’s Black Ice). And although they’ve been on tour for more than a year, the band seemed no worse for wear: Guitarist Angus Young was a blur as he ran from the stage to the catwalk and back again, legs pumping to the rhythm provided by the near-motionless Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Cliff Williams on bass and Phil Rudd on drums. If not for their occasional strolls forward to sing some background vocals before retreating back into the shadows, you’d think AC/DC was a two-man operation.

If Young was all sweat, lead singer Brian Johnson was all smiles — shaking hands, pumping his fists and belting out classics with a sharper growl than he had at last year’s show in Tampa. There were no angry scowls on stage; the mood was more of a friendly gathering or a reunion of sorts. And by the looks of greybeards with dated concert gear mixed with younger fans wearing new purchases from the souvenir stands, it was clear that many in attendance had seen the band before. No doubt they had heard them many times, as nearly every song had the entire arena helping out with the chorus. Not so with openers Megaphone, a local band that performed a capable set and probably deserved a bit more recognition than they received from the crowd. Read the rest of this entry »

When you’re trying to stay within a budget, you have to weigh your entertainment options. Is it worth the money? Can I afford to bring a date, or go with a group of people?

None of that is a concern tonight. Read the rest of this entry »

We have a lot of museums in the area, but they’re not all cheap to visit. Admission costs vary, but even the less expensive admissions add up if you’re taking the family. Even if you want to go, sometimes the budget doesn’t allow taking everyone to an exhibit.

But you can’t use that excuse today. Read the rest of this entry »

ZooBoo is an annual tradition at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Avenue. It’s also one of their biggest fund-raisers, and a great way for a family to get into the Halloween Spirit. Read the rest of this entry »

While the Rays are wrapping up their season and the Buccaneers kicked off their year this past Sunday, another pro team is gearing up for another year. The Tampa Bay Lightning has opened its training camp, and that means freebies for fans. Read the rest of this entry »

How do you feel about didgeridoos? Have you ever seen one up close? Have you ever heard one? Do you have any idea what they are? Read the rest of this entry »

The crowd cheers as a tattooed man with shaggy hair and a British accent belts out Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath tunes. An hour later, a blonde singer tears through a set of Motley Crue classics while his bandmates pound their instruments into submission. An hour after that, a grown man in a schoolboy outfit duck-walks across the stage and his cohort growls from under his cap while AC/DC riffs blast through the speakers.

Is this a dream team concert lineup of rock ‘n’ roll legends? Not quite, but the crowd is enthusiastic and it sounds pretty close to the real thing. In fact, the only part that’s completely unrealistic is the price, since admission to see all the bands ($10) cost less than parking at major rock concerts.

On June 20, three tribute acts performed at Jannus Landing at the Monsters of Mock show while fans sang along to the familiar sights and sounds. It’s not the real thing, but according to Martyn Jenkins, frontman for AC/DC tribute act Highway to Hell (and the evening’s headliners), the next best thing is pretty satisfying in its own right Read the rest of this entry »

If you want to see AC/DC in concert, be prepared to shell out about $100. For Motley Crue, you’re looking at another $50-$100. And if you want to see Ozzy Osbourne…good luck. He hasn’t toured since 2007 and “Ozzfest” was cancelled this year.

Highway to Hell

So you could probably see two of those bands for around $150 per person, not counting service charges—assuming they were playing in the same city around the same time.
Or you could see a reasonable facsimile of all three for about $10. Which options sounds better to you?

The “Monsters of Mock” concert on Saturday night at Jannus Landing, 16 2nd St. N., features tribute acts Highway to Hell (AC/DC), Carnival of Crue (Motley Crue) and Bark at the Moon (Ozzy Osbourne), as well as openers Hangman Jury. They look and sound like the bands you love without the Read the rest of this entry »

I’m going to let you in on a secret: I’ve never seen “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
I know; it’s a classic with a compelling message and memorable characters. I know it’s supposed to be great. I just never got around to seeing it. I could just go rent it and watch it, of course. But I have a much better idea: I’m going to see it today at Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., as part of their Summer Classic Movie Series. That way I’ll see it on the big screen with other people who already love the movie. The theater itself is a pretty special place (I’ve mentioned the tours they offer regularly) so why not see a classic movie in a classic setting? Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, it’s been awhile since the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory in early 2003. But if you’ve spent a long time in Tampa, you remember all the years before that—orange uniforms, jokes and double-digit years of double-digit losses. Right now the team is competitive and missing the playoffs last year was a disappointment. I remember when a winning record—playoffs or not—was grounds for a parade. Expectations are higher because the team is better.
So if you’re ready for some football, the team’s annual Fan Fest event is this Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »

A Taste of Pinellas technically started yesterday (sorry), but you still have the rest of the weekend to enjoy the music and activities. They even have a Kids Zone so it’s a family-friendly event. Best of all, most of the fun is absolutely free. Read the rest of this entry »

The Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., is a fun way to spend a few hours. They have a number of interactive exhibits and the IMAX theater is an impressive place to watch a movie. The problem is that it’s not cheap to go: A trip to the museum and a standard IMAX movie will run you about $20.
Unless you go today, of course. Read the rest of this entry »

Memorial Day is more than an extra day off (if you’re lucky). It’s an opportunity to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for their country. At the same time, it’s a chance to show appreciation for those active and retired service personnel who make daily sacrifices as well. And one way to show appreciation is to send some free stuff their way. Fortunately, some local businesses have put together a few nice entertainment options on Monday that are totally free for active and retired military. Here are a couple of good ones: Read the rest of this entry »

Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., is an impressive local attraction. It’s rated the best zoo in the United States according to Parents Magazine. It has more than 2000 animals. It has activities for both children and adults to enjoy.

And it costs $20 to get in. Unless, of course, you know when to go. Read the rest of this entry »

Some people think it’s a bad idea to hunt for Mother’s Day bargains. After all, if there’s anyone who should get an expensive outing, it’s mom, right?

Wrong. Didn’t you learn anything from your mom– the one who told you to be smart with your money? Doing something with your mother—within the constraints of a sound budget—shows her that you actually listened when she tried to teach you the value of a dollar. There are plenty of things you can do on Mother’s Day weekend that offer both quality time for families and a great value: Read the rest of this entry »

Tampa Theatre, located at 711 Franklin Street in downtown Tampa, is the kind of place you visit while focusing on something else– a movie or a concert or whatever. But this historic landmark could be a destination in its own right. The architecture alone makes it special, and it would be interesting just to check it out and learn about its history without anything else going on. Read the rest of this entry »

Isn’t it nice to look up at the sky on a clear night and admire the moon and constellations? Maybe, but the truth is you won’t get to see much detail even if you have perfect eyesight. Plus, most people don’t know all that much about astronomy, so aside from picking out the Big Dipper (which I can’t even find) do you even know what you’re looking at?
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a place with high-powered telescopes to guarantee vivid images, and maybe experienced people around to tell you what to look for and exactly where to find it in the sky? Oh, and all this should be free, of course. Read the rest of this entry »

In order to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week (which I didn’t know existed until recently), Saturday is Teacher Appreciation Day at the H.B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. The former Tampa Bay Hotel and National Historic Landmark is offering a special deal for teachers on May 2. So if you are (or you know) a teacher, you’ll want to check it out. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a good weekend if you’re looking for free things to do. Since that’s pretty much what I look for, I’m happy to present two different opportunities to have fun without spending a dime.

The first is the Wesley Chapel Celebration of the Arts, held at 28211 Paseo Drive. Now, to be honest, I didn’t even know that Wesley Chapel had an art event until pretty recently. But apparently a lot of people know, because they’re expecting about 2,000 people this weekend. They’ll have a great deal of art on display from about 60 artists in various booths (the juried show includes a $1,000 grand prize). They also have a student’s art display and an area reserved for children’s activities. There’s a lot to experience, including music. They’ll have jazz performances Saturday evening on the stage. You can buy VIP tickets if you want, but the concerts are absolutely free as well.

The Celebration of the Arts runs all weekend, so you have plenty of time to check it out with friends, family or whoever appreciates art. It should be a fun event. You can check out all the activities on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (with music afterward) and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, go to www.shopsatwiregrass.com and search under Events.

 The other event is Saturday on Davis Island at Seaplane Basin Park (across from the airport). They also have live entertainment and music, as well as an art show. But they also have free food Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and a British Motor Classic Car Show that will feature nearly 100 different cars. Want to see a Rolls Royce and an Aston Martin? This is the place to go. This is a pretty big British car show, so this is a chance to see plenty of classics up close.

They also have plenty of events for children, including free plane rides. Yes, free plane rides. Last year they took about 150 kids on free trips. That’s pretty cool. They’ll also have static displays featuring fire engines and airplanes, too.

This is the third year of Islands Fest. Last year they had 5,000 people and it should be another good turnout this year. Plus, the whole thing is completely free. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. You can find more information at www.islandsfest.com. 

So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, you have no excuses.

We’re now a few weeks into spring, so if you like plants and flowers this is your season. And if you really like plants and flowers, this is your weekend: The USF Botanical Gardens, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. near Fowler and 30th Street, is holding its Spring Plant Festival this Saturday and Sunday, April 11th and 12th.

The USF Botanical Gardens features more than 3,000 types of plants and 60 species of birds- we’re talking orchids, ferns, fruit trees and just about everything else that grows here. They even have weddings there. There’s a lot to see in the various gardens along the trail, especially if you don’t experience a lot of nature in your daily schedule.

At the Spring Plant Festival, more than 70 vendors will be selling plants and plant-related items. Want to know how to care for a cactus or bamboo? The various societies and growers will be happy to answer your most-obscure questions. They’ll even have workshops on Sunday and a free children’s activity area.

Admission is just $5 for adults, and it’s free for children under 12. This is their fund-raiser, so help support a great local collection of plants, insects and birds. The event is on Saturday, April 11th, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and on Sunday, April 12th, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, call 974-2329 or visit www.cas.usf.edu/garden/.

Okay, this has been a forgettable season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They fired new coach Barry Melrose just 16 games into the season and the team has been eliminated from the playoffs. Vinny Lecavalier even went ahead and had wrist surgery to end his season early. But professional hockey is still fun to watch, and seeing it live is very different from seeing it on television. It’s a great experience.

And now, with the season winding down, you can see the team play Tuesday night for just $5. All you have to do is bring an old phone book to be recycled (do you even use those anymore?) to the PROSHRED truck at the plaza and you get a terrace-level ticket at a bargain price. It’s a great opportunity to see the team in action even if there won’t be any playoff games this year. The games are still fun so why not support the Lightning in one of their last home games? Besides that, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in town and you’ll get to see one of the league’s best players in Sidney Crosby. And did I mention that tickets are $5?

If all that’s not enough, it’s also Fan Appreciation Week. They have posters, special autograph opportunities and bands playing on the plaza. The game starts at 7:30 but the fan events begin at 4. If you’re going to see the team play, it’s the last week and a great price. Give it a try.

For more information, visit lightning.nhl.com.

Tampa Theatre is a local landmark with a rich history, but its impact on the area goes beyond the actual movie theater. Once again, Tampa Theatre offers its Sunset Cinema series, where they show movies in outdoor locations for free. It’s a fun way to experience a family-friendly classic.

Tonight they’ll be showing “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” (clearly the best in the Indiana Jones series) at River Tower Park, 401 E. Bird Street in Seminole Heights. An inflatable, 50-foot-wide screen and powerful sound system provide excellent visual and sound effects. If you’ve been to this event before, you know what I mean. The picture is sharp and the sound is clear. That means you can actually enjoy the movie.

You’ll also enjoy the price, since it doesn’t cost a thing. Just bring your lawn chairs, snacks, pets, Frisbees, coolers or whatever you want, stake out a good spot and enjoy the atmosphere. No alcohol or fireworks are allowed, and they’ll also have concessions on sale if you don’t want to bring your own.

The movie starts at 8, but the gates open at 6. It’s probably a good idea to get there early, find a good spot and just relax for awhile. Other movies in the Sunset Cinema series this year include “Field of Dreams,” “Back to the Future” and “Shrek.” I’ll mention those when they come up, too. But for now, enjoy the outdoor show this evening.

For more information, click here.