Daily Loaf

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week, a three-day interactive multi-media art event, 11:11 – Let There Be Light, Art, Sound, is a celebration of the creativity that molds our communities and keeps us from falling prey to the everyday tedium of mainstream mediocrity.

The star of the event is Alex Grey (pictured), who, along with his artist wife Allyson, leads today’s psychedelic/spiritual/visionary/postmodern art movement. Alex’s most well-known works are his glowing “x-ray” paintings of human bodies, which offer detailed, anatomical-style examinations of his subjects’ physical and metaphysical anatomy. On Thursday, Alex stages a reading from his book, Art Psalms. Afterwards, he’s joined Allyson for the first two hours of a six-hour painting demo, which is paired with video projection painting by Johnathan Singer, and live multi-sensory music by Scott and Anne Kennedy. During the Friday night “Alex Grey Gala Event,” Read the rest of this entry »

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 Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next weekend, you can shuffleboard boogie it down at the St. Pete Shuffle or get crazy with a few rounds of Bingo at your community theater in Tampa. The average age of Florida citizens might be rising higher than the heat index, but the youth of Tampa Bay are reclaiming these traditionally geriatric activities for their own. Next weekend, theater-goers young and old alike can enjoy a game of Bingo while they see the story of Babe and Sis unfold onstage in The Queen of Bingo.

The two sisters are polar opposites: Read the rest of this entry »

Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday.

Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays October-May; 10 am-2 pm. The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food & gourmet products. The mission of the Tampa Downtown Market is to serve as a community-gathering place where local farmers, producers, and artisans can offer fresh agricultural and related products to generate a sense of local pride and further the economic development of Downtown Tampa. With a strong focus on sustainability, the Tampa Downtown Market intends to provide a vehicle to educate the community on the importance of good health as we create more business opportunities and residential benefits. Located in Lykes Gaslight Square- Tampa St. & Kennedy Blvd., Downtown Tampa.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturdays; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers’ Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in “green” natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a better environment. Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75).

St. Pete Saturday Morning Market- Every Saturday; 9 am to 2 pm. Downtown St. Petersburg in the Al Lang Stadium parking lot /1st Ave. S and 1st St. Open October 3 through May 29.

Land O’Lakes Saturday Market- Every Saturday; 9 am-2 pm. The Land O’Lakes Saturday Market is a weekly community event with live music and a threefold mission: 1. To foster a healthy and productive lifestyle of “buy fresh, buy local” by facilitating the connection of local food producers with local consumers.; 2. To promote the development of local green businesses, as well as artists and craftsmen.; 3. To bring our community together for networking and fun in a relaxed atmosphere. Land O’ Lakes Saturday Market donates profits to the Heritage Park Foundation and the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank. We are located at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, on the west side of US 41 – Land O’ Lakes Blvd., three miles north of SR 54 (across from the Land O’ Lakes Post Office- Directions). website: www.lolsaturdaymkt.com; email: lolsaturdaymkt@aol.com
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Dr. John’s stage persona (pictured), “The Night Tripper,” is as big and colorful as the Big Easy — he embodies the culture and heritage of his hometown of New Orleans, and his latest project is a tribute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer. Dr. John and the Lower 911 take the stage with “The Sauce Boss” Bill Wharton. Visit mypalladium.org for more info. Thurs., Nov. 5, 8 p.m., Palladium Theater, $45.

This week’s installment in the Dalí and Beyond Film Series of shocking and surreal cinema is  5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, a live-action Dr. Seuss adaptation about Bart, who hates his piano lessons with Dr. Terwilliker and is dragged to a dream world where his piano professor is ruler and the students become his subjects. Visit salvadordalimuseum.org for more info. Thurs., Nov. 5, 6 p.m., Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, $5 after 5 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Those of you seeking your Jack Hanna fix, here it is. Next weekend, the renowned animal expert and frequent guest on Late Night With David Letterman will appear not once, not twice, but four times at Busch Gardens to regale you with stories of his adventures in the wild and drop some knowledge about the world’s exotic beasts.

Take a Serengeti Night Safari, where Hanna will share his tales on the African continent, or bring your pj’s and the kids for a fun-filled Family Sleepover Featuring Jack Hanna at an on-site dorm.  In the morning, fill up on tasty eats at Breakfast With Jack Hanna, which comes with priority seating at the first showing of Meet Jack Hanna, a conservation-themed show in the Moroccan Palace. Serengeti Night Safari Featuring Jack Hanna, 6:30-9 p.m., Nov 13, and 7:30-10 p.m., Nov. 14, $60 per person; Family Sleepover Featuring Jack Hanna, 6 p.m. to 9 a.m., Nov. 13 and 14, $78 per person; Breakfast With Jack Hanna, 8:30 a.m., Nov. 14 and 15, Crown Colony restaurant, $16.95 adults, $10.95 children; Meet Jack Hanna, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m, Nov. 14 and 15, Moroccan Palace. Go to buschgardens.com to purchase tickets and find out about discounts for Passport members or call 1-888-800-5447 (call 1-877-BGT-CAMP for the Family Sleepover). – Anthony Salveggi

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. 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 shut down the streets with their displays of paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, photography and craftwork. Read the rest of this entry »

Comedian Roy Johnson has been beefing up his funny resume since his first-ever open mic at Tampa Improv in 2000. A year later, he headlined and produced his first homegrown showcase of local talent (eight followed) and the Improv eventually hired him on as the house MC in 2002. He continued to carve a name out for himself on the road, got a ringing endorsement from standup legend David Brenner (who said Johnson “is absolutely brilliant and is destined to be a world class headliner”), won the Maxxim/Bud Light-sponsored Real Men competition and enjoyed a cushy gig opening for Charlie Murphy, Joe Rogan and John Heffron on the Read Men of Comedy Tour, released a CD, Love Notes From the True Romantic, and triumphed in the I-4 Comedy War against the best comics of Tampa and Orlando. Johnson is headed to LA and performs one more night of his observational comedy at Roy Johnson’s Hollywood or Bust – about anything from his experiences living in Florida and dealing with hurricanes and redneck neighbors, to the follies of romance and life after marriage – tonight at his farewell show. See him off, buy him a beer, and be prepared to laugh your ass off. Wed., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., Tampa Improv in Centro Ybor, Ybor City, $8, tampaimprov.com. – Leilani Polk Read the rest of this entry »

Two nationally-acclaimed exhibits are in their final days at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art: Epitaph / Roadside Memorials in America is a collection of 33 photographs taken on artist Angelo Mantas’ travels in the United States — and a stark reminder of the frailty and transience of life. One World / One People is a  collection of 50 photographs by Arnold Newman, depicting “national and international Jewish public figures who have made a significant impact in their respective careers,” including Mark Chagall, Woody Allen, Saul Bellow and many more. (Pictured: “Leonard Bernstein,” 1968 by Arnold Newman) On display through Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, 600 E. Klosterman Rd., Tarpon Springs, $5 adults, $4 seniors, free for children, members and students, spcollege.edu/central/museum. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. No, a tattoo-faced, ear-chompin’ Mike Tyson isn’t going to guest star at this Saturday’s 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. (Pictured: Secret, a boxer up for adoption at the Florida Boxer Rescue) 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 

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. 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, which debuts two new quilt collections on Friday.

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. (Pictured: French Braid Mountain Tops by Betsy Schobert) On display Nov. 6-Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., Florida International Museum, 244 2nd Ave N., St. Petersburg, $8, $6 seniors and military, $5 students, 727-821-1448, spcollege.edu/FIMuseum. – Franki Weddington

After the break: From Havana to Hell’s Kitchen: A Latin Cabaret Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. For one night only, the Roaring Twenties are back, so grab your flapper dresses and fedoras and head out for a night at the theater.  Next weekend’s event features the 1920’s silent film Souls for Sale, about an ordinary girl’s rise to Hollywood stardom. There are also vaudeville acts, a 1920’s costume contest (for those of you who didn’t get enough of dressing up at Halloween) and raffle prizes.

Come out for an night of fun and contribute to the community by making a $5 donation or bringing three nonperishable foods or dried goods to benefit RCS Food Bank. Thurs., Nov. 12, 6-9 p.m., St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus Teaching Auditorium, 2465 Drew St. Clearwater; contact honors.college@spcollege.edu for more info. Sign Language interpreters provided.

The Peace Couture celebrity fashion show — with catwalk sashays by Pat Burrell of the Rays, Miss Florida Rachael Todd, Wendy Ryan of ABC Action News, Ryan Nece (pictured left), Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett and more — also includes red carpet interviews by ABC Action News, in-house spa treatments courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue and haute cuisine from Ruth’s Chris, 717 South, Square One, Bamboozle Cafe, Datz Deli, Raw Bar Sushi and more. Proceeds benefit The Spring of Tampa Bay, which works to end domestic violence. Visit thespring.org for more info. Mon., Nov. 2, 6-9 p.m., Saks Fifth Avenue, Westshore Plaza, Tampa, $50-$75.

Read the rest of this entry »

Beware of artists…they’re out in droves for ARTGORE, armed with paintbrushes, pencils, paper and canvas, and there’s no telling whether they’re going to draw you or draw blood. More than a dozen artists from the ARTCORE collective have works on display — among them Cheeta, Chainsaw Chuck, Casey Ryan Hall, Ben Apple, Bean Spence (work pictured right) and more. DJ Sense and Anna Gavin kick out the jams. Of course, you’ve gotta get creepy and creative with your costume, too — there are cash prizes for the top three. Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Karma Bar, 206 N. Morgan St. Tampa, free, myspace.com/ArtcoreArt. – Franki Weddington

Members of the Cheap Little Punks troupe act out the ultimate Halloween cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show while the movie version plays onscreen. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a bisexual, transsexual scientist from Transylvania, invites Brad Majors (an asshole) and Janet Weiss (a slut) into his creepy castle when their car breaks down. Chaos and myriad musical numbers ensue when Frank-N-Furter reveals his creation: Rocky, an Adonis who only wants to learn about how his life began. You can also check out the less well-known Repo! A Genetic Opera. It’s just what is sounds like: scientists are comin’ fer yer vital organs! Visit tampapitchershow.com for more info. Oct. 30-31, Repo shows Fri., Oct. 30, 11:30 p.m.; Rocky Horror shows Sat., Oct. 31, 8 and 11:30 p.m., Tampa Pitcher Show, 14416 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa,  $15 for two shows, tampapitchershow.net. – Franki Weddington

After the break: Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe, A White Halloween: Creepy Doll Show and Rock Your Horror at the haunted Centro Asturiano Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re already worn out on Halloween, check out our picks for non-ghoul-related weekend events. (But if you’re still looking for something to do for Halloween, check out our comprehensive listings here)

At Star Wars: In Concert, you can hear all six of John Williams’ epic soundtracks played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, narrated live by Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO in all six films. Specially edited footage, projected on a three-story tall, high-def LED superscreen, adds to the spectacle. A collection of costumes, props, artifacts, production artwork and behind-the-scenes videos from the Lucasfilm Archives — many that have never before left Skywalker Ranch — accompany the tour. Visit StarWarsInConcert.com for more info. Sun., Nov. 1, 4 p.m., St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, $32. 25-$72. 25, stpetetimesforum.com.

See director Bruce McDonald’s Pontypool, the latest installment in the International Cinema Series, if you like weird Canadians and French subtitles. Shock jock Grant Mazzy discovers a strange phenomena during his daily broadcast, and begins to suspect that his own words may be causing the virus infestation causing Pontypool’s townspeople to become eerily violent. Visit eckerd.edu/ic for more info. Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Eckerd College Miller Auditorium. St. Petersburg, free.

After the break: Pig Roast Gone Sassy, In the Heights, Stride for Strays, Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra and more Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. 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, which you can see for yourself at the exhibit opening next Friday.

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 and respiration instead. Next Friday, Tampa Heights printmaking atelier Bleu Acier debuts an exhibition of recent drawings and small paintings by Colombet, who is currently working with Read the rest of this entry »

Here are this weekend’s cream of the crop in Halloween events, but if you can’t find something frightening enough for you here, chances are you’ll find it in our comprehensive listings.

If you have the kids in tow, Guavaween is an oversized, daytime block party where kids can safely trick-or-treat, compete in costume contests, win pumpkins, hear spooky stories and more. But let’s be honest: Guavaween’s big draw is the night parade, when the Queen of Halloween takes over Ybor for a night of debauchery. This year’s evilly impressive line-up includes performances by Sevendust, Nonpoint and Soulidium; a house party at the Honey Pot; a show by local boys Thomas Wynn & the Believers, Basic Rock Outfit and The Trunk Band at Gaspar’s Grotto; and the usual (actually, really  unusual) mix of horse-drawn zombie parades,  jugglers, contortionists, vampire models, appearances by the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins and WWE wrestlers, and more erotic, quixotic stuff than we feel comfortable writing here — you really have to see it for yourself. There’s also the traditional Mama Guava Stumble parade and the final, vital aspect of Guavaween entertainment — you. Prepare to be mocked and jeered if you come in street clothes — this festival is all about being someone — or something — else for an evening, and there’s two grand up for grabs for the best overall costume. There are also prizes for best couple, best cross-dresser, best kink, and best body — so if you’re wearing something revealing (this especially goes for all the Bruno impersonators out there) fit a couple extra crunches into your workout routine. Sat. Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. day parade, 5 p.m. night parade., $17 after 2 p.m., visit guavaween.com for complete schedule of events and participating venues. – Franki Weddington

After the break: Vampire parties, Monster’s Ball, kid-friendly Halloween at the Tampa Theatre and American Victory Ship, Witchstock and more. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday.

Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays October-May; 10 am-2 pm. The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food & gourmet products. The mission of the Tampa Downtown Market is to serve as a community-gathering place where local farmers, producers, and artisans can offer fresh agricultural and related products to generate a sense of local pride and further the economic development of Downtown Tampa. With a strong focus on sustainability, the Tampa Downtown Market intends to provide a vehicle to educate the community on the importance of good health as we create more business opportunities and residential benefits. Located in Lykes Gaslight Square- Tampa St. & Kennedy Blvd., Downtown Tampa.

Ellenton Farmers Market- Saturdays; 8 am – 1 pm. Ellenton Farmers’ Market will be the largest year-round market in florida that specializes in “green” natural, organic and environmentally friendly products that makes for a healthier lifestyle and a better environment. Located just North of the Prime Outlet Mall in Ellenton, Florida (exit 224, Old Exit 43, off I – 75).

St. Pete Saturday Morning Market- Every Saturday; 9 am to 2 pm. Downtown St. Petersburg in the Al Lang Stadium parking lot / 1st Ave. S and 1st St. Open October 3 through May 29.
Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. 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 next 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, who plans on strolling four miles. As if that weren’t incentive enough, the first 200 registrants get a free Read the rest of this entry »

The University of South Florida’s School of Theater and Dance Fall Dance Concert, which kicks off tonight, offers a veritable So You Think You Can Dance episode’s worth of styles.You can see everything from modern to flamenco-fusion to ballet and swing (albeit no krumping), which puts these students and choreographers on our Hot Tamale Train. In celebration of USF’s Day of Dance, the Nov. 5 performance also includes contributions from high school and college students from around the state, who visit to pay tribute to the art of expression through motion. (Pictured: Cathryn Lacy rehearses for the USF Fall Dance Concert. Photo by Kyle Scharf) Oct. 29-30, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.; Sun., Nov. 1, 3 p.m.; and Nov. 5-7, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., USF College of Visual & Performing Arts Theatre I, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, $12, $8 students and seniors in advance; $15, $10 students and seniors day of the show, theatreanddance.arts.usf.edu. – Franki Weddington Read the rest of this entry »

Yo-Yo Ma, perhaps the most famous man to bring bow to strings, visits to perform Bach’s Six Unaccompanied Cello Suites tonight. One of history’s hardest-working musicians — he has 75 albums under his belt, 15 of which are Grammy winners — and a dedicated advocate of music education, he calls his latest collection, Songs of Joy & Peace, a “universal holiday house party of music uniting different forms of joy.” Visit rutheckerdhall.com for more info. Weds., Oct. 28, 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater, $53-$98.

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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Seems like everything has been ghost and ghoul-related lately, but if you’re in search of a little levity, head to The Tampa Improv to see comedian Roy Johnson next Wednesday.

He’s been beefing up his funny resume since his first-ever open mic in 2000. A year later, he headlined and produced his first homegrown showcase of local talent (eight followed) and the Improv eventually hired him on as the house MC in 2002. He continued to carve a name out for himself on the road, got a ringing endorsement from standup legend David Brenner (who said Johnson “is absolutely brilliant and is destined to be a world class headliner”), won the Maxxim/Bud Light-sponsored Real Men competition and enjoyed a cushy gig opening for Charlie Murphy, Joe Rogan and John Heffron on the Real Men of Comedy Tour, released a CD, Love Notes From the True Romantic, and triumphed in the I-4 Comedy War against the best comics of Tampa and Orlando. Johnson is headed to LA and performs one more night of his observational comedy – about anything from his experiences living in Florida and dealing with hurricanes and redneck neighbors, to the follies of romance and life after marriage – this Wednesday at his farewell show. See him off, buy him a beer, and be prepared to laugh your ass off. Wed., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., Tampa Improv in Centro Ybor, Ybor City, $8, tampaimprov.com. – Leilani Polk

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Most people are headed out for thrills and chills this weekend, but why not enjoy a good ol’ song and dance at Eight O’Clock Theatre’s presentation of Singin’ In the Rain at the Largo Cultural Center?

When “talkies” threaten to take over Hollywood in the 1920s, silent movie star Lina Lamont’s shrilly-screeching voice threatens to become box office poison. Up-and-coming actress Kathy Selden agrees to voice-over Lina’s latest role, but the diva is determined to cause trouble. Meanwhile, stuntman-turned-Hollywood-heartthrob Don Lockwood (famously played by Gene Kelly onscreen) is stuck in the middle of it all in this romantic comedy that offer memorable numbers like “Fit As a Fiddle,” “Make ‘Em Laugh,” “Would You?” and, of course, “Singin’ In the Rain.” Oct. 30-Nov. 15, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Dr., Largo, . $26, $16 students, eightoclocktheatre.com. – Franki Weddington

In the midst of its successful run of Woman in Black, Gorilla Theatre presents a one-night-only staged reading of Stay, a new play by Sheila Cowley, starring Eugenie Bondurant, Christopher Rutherford, Nicole Jeannine Smith, Fred Lasday, and Bridget Bean. Remember in Misery, when Kathy Bates holds her favorite writer hostage, and goes at his ankles with a sledgehammer when he tries to escape? (Sorry in advance to the three of you who haven’t seen it.) Stay takes a closer look at that form of dark, all-consuming obsession that sometimes passes for love. Tues., Oct. 27, Gorilla Theatre, 4199 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa, 813-879-2914 for reservations; no online reservations accepted, gorillatheatre.com. Read the rest of this entry »

The inaugural Tampa Bay Green Business Summit, hosted by Mayor Rick Baker, will be held tomorrow (Tuesday, October 27)  at the Progress Center for the Arts at the Mahaffey Theater in Downtown St. Petersburg. The event will allow the business community to share ideas, strategies and best practices to invest and grow business in the emerging clean technology and green industries.

The Green Business Summit is a free event open to the public that targets members of the business community seeking to learn about opportunities and risk management of green business in the wake of impending climate change legislation and litigation. The green business revolution offers businesses both challenges and opportunities. This event will identify business strategies for coping with the challenges and taking advantage of the business opportunities.

There will be three panel discussions on green investment and the economy; understanding regulation and carbon markets, and managing sustainable businesses.
Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. For those (three or four) of you looking for something non-Halloween related to do this weekend, check out The University of South Florida’s School of Theater and Dance Fall Dance Concert, which offers a veritable So You Think You Can Dance episode’s worth of styles.

You can see everything from modern to flamenco-fusion to ballet and swing (albeit no krumping), which puts these students and choreographers on our Hot Tamale Train. In celebration of USF’s Day of Dance, the Nov. 5 performance also includes contributions from high school and college students from around the state, who visit to pay tribute to the art of expression through motion. (Pictured: Cathryn Lacy rehearses for the USF Fall Dance Concert. Photo by Kyle Scharf) Oct. 29-30, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.; Sun., Nov. 1, 3 p.m.; and Nov. 5-7, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., USF College of Visual & Performing Arts Theatre I, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, $12, $8 students and seniors in advance; $15, $10 students and seniors day of the show, theatreanddance.arts.usf.edu. – Franki Weddington

Fresh from the success of the Best of the Bay-winning Summer Sunset Cinema Series, The Studio@620 and Push Ultra Lounge once again team up to present a collection of classic films each Monday. Tonight’s selection in the Wilder to Williams Film Series — which includes the best of Billy Wilder and Tennessee Williams — is Williams’ This Property Is Condemned, starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford (pictured). Visit studio620.org for more info. Mon., Oct. 26, 8 p.m., Push Ultra Lounge, St. Petersburg, free.

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11:11, Let There Be Light, Art, Sound This sneak peek of the exhibit (which officially opens Nov. 11) includes live music, artworks from local artists, a drum atrium and a costume contest on Halloween night. Visit studio620.org for more info. Oct. 27-31, noon-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat., reception 7 p.m. Sat., The Studio@620, St. Petersburg, free.

Ghost Ship Spooktacular Under the bay, there be monsters…and a few of them have surfaced for this scary fun tour of the decades-old “haunted” ship. Visit the galley, mess hall, hospital, and radio room, where ghouls, freaks and zombies lurk around every corner. Search for ghosts with the Florida Paranormal Research Group and the White Noise Paranormal Network, and visit the Demon Den Deck for a brew if your nerves get a bit jangled. The kid’s tour is a mite less macabre; bob for apples, play monster musical chairs, run in an eyeball relay race and compete in the costume contest. Visit americanvictory.org for more info. Oct. 29-31, Ghost Ship 7:30-11:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.; Kid’s Spooktacular 2-4 p.m. Sat., American Victory Ship and Museum, Tampa, Ghost ship, $20; Kid’s Spooktacular, $10 adults, $5 kids 4-12.

Hit the break for more on Guavaween, graveyard walks, haunted houses, weird art and more, and check back as we add to the list of spooky spectacles. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Who could deny themselves the opportunity to see a daschund dressed up as a weenie and help combat pet overpopulation? Next Saturday, Animal Coalition of Tampa is hosting Stride for Strays, its ninth annual walkathon to raise money for their non-profit spay/neuter clinic, hoping to end pet overpopulation in Tampa Bay.

Before the mile-long walk to the park, participants collect donations. Then, furry friends compete in a pet Halloween costume contest. For the humans in attendance, there are prizes for money raised, face painting and shoulder massages. If you want to add to the family, there are on-site adoption services from the Hillsborough County Animal Services’ Mobile Adoption Clinic. Fox 13’s Cynthia Smoot is the master of ceremonies. Sat. Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-noon, Al Lopez Park, 4602 N. Himes Ave, Tampa, strideforstrays.com – Rebecca Wainright

At Thrill the World, St. Pete joins MJ fans across the world in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Simultaneous Dance — in this case, the famous, phantasmic Thriller dance. The Pier hosts music, food, activities and a pre-dance lesson for anyone who needs to learn the monster moves. Then, Michael Jackson achieves what no world leader ever has: a world united – united by zombies. No word on whether Obama’s participating, but we hope to see everyone from the local Blockbuster guy to the Prez paying tribute to the one-gloved man. Come in your most dashing undead duds, and an on-site make-up artist adds scabs and scars to make sure that you thrill and terrify like the real thing. Sat., Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. sign-in, 8:30 p.m. dance, The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, free admission; $5 zombie make-up, thrillstpete.com. – Franki Weddington

Hello voracious readers, welcome to heaven. Seriously, the St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading is a nice reminder that in 2009, people still read theses little things called books. Held on the USF St. Petersburg campus, this lovely celebration of the written word features book signings, panel discussions, entertainment, family activities, refreshments, and various booksellers and exhibitors. There are also book signings by Read the rest of this entry »

Tampa’s first annual Green Halloween event will take place in Old Hyde Park Village this Friday, October 23rd from 3:30pm-6:30pm.

Sponsored by Divine Events of Tampa, their initiative is to create healthier and more eco-friendly holiday events for the people of Tampa Bay.  This green event will include a pumpkin patch cake walk, bobbing for organic apples, best green costume contest, making your own Halloween bag out of old magazines.
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Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

Dunedin Green Market- Every Friday; 8 am- 1 pm. The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday.

Dialogue on Climate Change and Coastal Conservation- Friday, October 23; 9 am-12 pm. On October 23rd, participate and be part of a lively discussion on climate change adaptation strategies and ways to maintain our coasts as places where people and wildlife can thrive. The Dialogue on Climate Change and Coastal Conservation will explore what we must do to prepare for the challenges of a changing coastline. The Dialogue will build on and increase cooperation for protecting natural resources and the economy in response to the effects of global warming. Free event. Seating is limited so please reserve your seats now. Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park, 950 Lake Carillon Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33716.

Tampa Downtown Market- Fridays October-May; 10 am-2 pm. The vision of the Tampa Downtown Market is to provide local residents and businesses of the community with the freshest, highest quality, most nutritious, and most reasonably priced food & gourmet products. The mission of the Tampa Downtown Market is to serve as a community-gathering place where local farmers, producers, and artisans can offer fresh agricultural and related products to generate a sense of local pride and further the economic development of Downtown Tampa. With a strong focus on sustainability, the Tampa Downtown Market intends to provide a vehicle to educate the community on the importance of good health as we create more business opportunities and residential benefits. Located in Lykes Gaslight Square- Tampa St. & Kennedy Blvd., Downtown Tampa.

2009 Audubon Assembly- Friday and Saturday, October 23-24. Come and enjoy two days of Audubon fellowship. Connect with nature and birds on expert-led and self-guided field trips. Celebrate Audubon chapter milestones, too: St. Petersburg Audubon turns 100 and Clearwater Audubon is 50 this year. Deepen your knowledge at exciting learning sessions. And share your stories of how climate change is affecting your life and the places you care about. See the full Assembly schedule. Register here. Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park, 950 Lake Carillon Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33716.

Green Halloween- Friday, October 23; 3:30-6:30 pm. Who says Halloween has to be unhealthy? And who says healthy can’t be fun? Green Halloween® is about making Halloween happy and healthy and about creating community traditions we can all be proud of. Divine Events will host Tampa’s inaugural Green Halloween on Friday, October 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Hyde Park Village. Event activities include a pumpkin patch cake walk, bobbing for organic apples, make your own Halloween bag out of old TBPM magazines, “best green costume” contest, and much more! National Sponsors Cascadian Farms, Glee Gum, Larabar & Surf Sweets will be providing healthy snacks for kids. Divine Events will also be collecting used children’s Halloween costumes, in good condition, to donate to The Alpha House of Tampa for use by less fortunate children. Local sponsors include Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine, Seedlings, My Green Home, and Nicole Geller Photography.  To read all about Green Halloween® and find fun events near you, visit GreenHalloween.org/Tampa. You can learn how to get involved locally, sign up for the super nifty newsletter, and share DIY costume ideas, recipes, and more on the new discussion board. There’s even a trick-or-treat bag design contest for kids! For more information visit www.greenhalloween.org/tampa or contact Barbara Keskiner at barbara@divinetampa.com or 727.403.5868.
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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Break out your best duds and take your little piggies to Clearwater Beach next Friday for the Abilities Guild’s Pig Roast Gone Sassy.

The guild needs you to help bring home the bacon for the Abilities Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for programs that serve various needs of persons with disabilities. This isn’t your typical swine and cheese party: You’ll squeal with delight as you pig out on a menu that includes Read the rest of this entry »

See a panel discussion with Lance Armstrong, his coach Chris Carmichael, six-time defending Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) champion Dave Wiens (pictured) and other elite cyclists broadcast before the theatrical debut of Race Across the Sky. This cycle-mentary is about the LT100 race in Leadville, CO, which attracts more than 1,000 entries each year and challenges competitors to run, mountain bike, and scale a 14,000 vertical climb in less than 12 hours, often in grueling snow or hail. Visit fathomevents.com for full list of participating locations. Thurs., Oct. 22, 8 p.m. $12.50.

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Green Halloween This inaugural “eek-o-friendly” event offers a pumpkin patch cake walk, a “best green costume” contest, bobbing for organic apples, making a Halloween goodie bag from recycled magazines, and a sweet-n-scary selection of healthy treats. Visit greenhalloween.org for more info. Fri., Oct. 23, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Hyde Park Village, Tampa.

Zombie Weekend A cadre of creepy films await on Friday, including Night of the Living Dead, Shaun of the Dead (pictured), and a special zombi-fied version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Saturday features more family-friendly (but still freaky) flicks like Ghostbusters, Gremlins, House on Haunted Hill and The Tingler — which, thanks to the shocking power of the theater’s Percepto system, will actually make you tingle! Visit beachtheatre.com for full schedule. Oct. 23-24, Beach Theatre, St. Pete Beach, $5 Friday; free family movies Saturday.

Horror Fest The Sunscreen Film Festival presents a cadre of chilling cinema – and then fills you in on how to get onscreen yourself. At the Horror Fest workshops, acting coach Mark Durso explains his Uta Hagen technique; Twilight casting director Lana Veenker (whose advice you may or may not heed, depending on your opinion of her vapid vampires) explores “How to Break into the Film Biz without Living in Hollywood” and “Auditioning for Film and TV”; and special effects make-up artist John Rusnak leads a horror make-up workshop. Spooky special movie screenings include indie or limited release flicks like Trick ‘r Treat (starring True Blood’s Anna Paquin, appropriately enough), Deadfall Trail, Sauna and Evil Things. A haunted Halloween party follows Saturday’s films. Oct. 23-25, Mark Durso and Lana Veenker Workshops 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun., The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg; Horror Fest Screenings, 7 and 9 p.m. Fri. –Sat., John Rusnak Workshop, Noon, Sat., Muvico Baywalk 20, 151 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg; $8 per movie; $25 four-movie pass and make-up workshop; $125 full access pass, visit sunscreenfilmfestival.com for detailed schedule. – Franki Weddington

Hit the break for more events, and check back as we add to the list of spooky spectacles. Read the rest of this entry »