Daily Loaf

As everyone in the world that possesses a television knows, New Moon, the second installment of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is in a theater near you at midnight tonight. My guess is most fans are going to watch Twilight right before they go see New Moon, just for the thrill of it. However, if they want to do it in the company of other “Twihards” and “Twimoms,” Regal Cinemas University 16 is showing the first film before the opening of the new flick for the Twilight Saga Festival Night. There’s also a Twilight/New Moon costume contest (costumes must have shoes, a shirt and no mask) along with a Twilight poster design contest. Winners of both receive prizes (please let it be Edward Cullen in a box, please let it be Edward Cullen in a box…) Read the rest of this entry »

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.

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Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is another installment in the Dalí and Beyond Film Series, screening next Thursday at the museum.

See Guillermo del Toro’s Cronos, the lastest addition to the Dalí and Beyond Film Series’ collection of sometimes surreal, usually weird movies. This visually striking film retains del Toro’s characteristically creepy style and borrows from vampiric lore to tell the tale of an alchemist who discovers the secret of immortality. Cronos is del Toro’s debut film, paving the way for Hell Boy and Pan’s Labyrinth. Thurs., Sept. 3, 6 p.m., Salvador Dalí Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, $5 after 5 p.m., salvadordalimuseum.org. – Joe Bardi

The air is getting crisp, the leaves as starting to fall, and everywhere you go, the smell of autumn is in the air…oh, no? Wait, we live in Florida, so our sad excuse for a pre-winter season won’t be here for a few months, but that’s not stopping the [5]art folks from debuting a fantastic new fall collection of exhibits, including Fresno G25, which features original works – paintings ranging from abstract to graphic, organic sculpture, wall art and more — by a dozen resident artists of Gallery 25 in California. Next up is a, um, revealing exhibit by Keith Thomas called Haven’t I Seen You Online? It includes large-scale paintings and drawings that explore his “life as a gay boy in the sprawling suburbs of Tampa,” and was inspired by the wide world of internet sex and dating sites. The final exhibit is a one-night-only affair in honor of the opening reception, and includes works by April Childers, whose small-scale sculptures have graced previous [5]art exhibits; photo art by Rion Sabean, and more. DJ Oblivion puts dancers in a trance at the reception, catered by Cigar City Brewing – providing a welcome break from the humdrum of house wines with a selection of microbrews, including Jai Alai IPA and Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale. Pictured: a work from Keith Thomas’ Haven’t I Seen You Online? exhibit) Opening reception, Fri., Aug. 28, 7-10 p.m., Fresno G25 and Haven’t I Seen You Online? on display through Sept. 18, West Tampa Center for the Arts, 1906 N. Armenia Ave., #211, Tampa, free, 813-245-1034, five-art.com. – Franki Weddington Read the rest of this entry »

The Think + Drink Cinema Series focuses on cultural, social and scientific topics. This week’s selection is I’m Your Man, which explores the life and times of Leonard Cohen (pictured, photo by MJ Kim), the prolific musician and poet whose tunes inspired covers by everyone from Rufus Wainwright to Beth Orton, Jarvis Cocker, Nick Cave, Kate and Anna McGarrigle and U2. Cohen’s also slated to visit the St. Pete Times Forum in October. The American Music Series prior to each movie explores the history and icons of the music that have shaped America, and features a live performance by a new local musician each week. Tonight’s live guest musician is Dennis Brock. Music begins at 6 p.m. and films begin at 7 p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 27 unless otherwise noted. Visit southfloridamuseum.org for more info. Thurs., Aug. 6, 6 p.m., Bishop Planetarium, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, $8, $6 students, $5 museum members.

Dalí in New York is a documentary of the artist during the 1965 opening of his exhibit at Huntington Hartford’s Gallery of Modern Art. Dalí devoted himself to making the film as interesting as his art; he staged several avant garde scenes utilizing props like a plaster cast, a thousand ants, and a million dollars in cash. Then, see the psychedelic BBC documentary Hello Dalí, featuring montages of the artist’s paintings and videos, scenes with Salvador and Gala Dalí, and images of Teatro Museo Dalí during its construction. Thu., Aug. 6, 6 p.m., Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg, free with $5 museum admission, salvadordalimuseum.org.

The 18th annual Gourmet Feastival benefits the Tampa Centre for Women, and includes a mouthwatering array of decadent cuisine. Participating restaurants include wine devotees Bin 27, scrumptious sandwich shop Datz Deli, fancy fare from Chez Bryce, fondue from the Melting Pot, and more food and wine purveyors than you can shake a fondue fork at, along with live music and door prizes. Visit centreforwomen.org for more info. Thu., Aug. 6, 6-9 p.m., Tampa Hyatt Hotel, 211 N. Tampa St., Tampa, $50 in advance, $60 at the door.

Art and Design: Proportion is the third in a series of exhibits designed to demonstrate the use of design principles in the works in PMA’s permanent collection, through Aug. 2. In Shelter, the museum presents a selection of works from its permanent collection that express the concept of shelter, which “can be anything from a physical enclosure to emotional security,” through Aug. 23. (Pictured: Impulse by John Gurbacs, from the Proportion exhibit, formatted to fit the screen) Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., $5 general admission, polkmuseumofart.org.

With its seemingly single-minded focus, St. Petersburg’s Salvador Dalí Museum might seem like the kind of place where, if you’ve visited once, you’ve been there and done that. Not so — and three new exhibitions are compelling proof. Though visitors will still have an opportunity to take in the Spanish surrealist’s masterworks (more or less perpetually on display), a video installation by contemporary Catalan artist Mabel Palacín is the latest evidence of the museum’s commitment to commissioning “new work from emerging artists who explore the legacies of the Avant-garde, Surrealism and Dalí,” according to curator William Jeffett. The 23-minute, double-screen video (shot in hi-def) offers viewers an unconventional experience of time through scenes filmed in four locations. Elsewhere, images by photographer Marc Lacroix, who died in 2007, offer insights into Dalí and wife Gala’s personal and creative lives, while an exhibition of glass sculptures afford a glimpse of the artist’s work in that luminous medium. Mabel Palacín: Una noche sin fin [An Endless Night] is on display through Jan. 24, and Dalí at Work and Play: The Photographs of Marc Lacroix and Dalí: Seen Through Glass are presented through Nov. 2, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs., 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Fri., noon-5:30 p.m. Sun., 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, $15 adults/$13.50 seniors/$10 students, 727-823-3767, salvadordalimuseum.org. —Megan Voeller

An arty twist to the beginning of the weekend, S’Real Fridays include a variety of jazz in the cafe, screenings of unusual silent films, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and, of course, access to the country’s largest collection of Salvador Dalí works. Every Friday through Aug. 28 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Salvador Dalí Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg,$8.50.727-823-3767, salvadordalimuseum.org.

Step right up, folks, it’s time for The Future of Music. Come one, come all — and haul all your audio equipment with you, including digital media, CDs, LPs, iPods and laptops. The myriad demonstration stations include: a “nitty gritty LP cleaning station” to ensure that your tunes are in prime condition for ripping to your computer; a lesson on easily integrating your iTunes library with your in-home WiFi system; info on streaming video and the best download methods; tutorials on headphones and headphone amplifiers, tube docks and bookshelf speakers, and more to help you wade your way through the vast sea of new technology available for getting music to your ears. Visit avsouth.com for more info. Sat., July 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Audio Visions South, 3655 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, free.

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