Daily Loaf

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 »

Don’t panic: The dinos in the Walking with Dinosaurs arena show aren’t going to reenact a scene from Jurassic Park and start eating audience members, but the animatronics in this arena show are so life-like that it almost seems like a possibility. The award-winning epic is based on the BBC series of the same name, and includes life-sized replicas of 10 dino species that collaborate with actors for an entertaining show that explores native dino habitats throughout the history — from the splitting of the continents to the Triassic and Jurassic periods, finally ending with the extinction of these creatures that have fascinated humans for centuries. Oct. 14-18, 7 p.m. Weds. -Fri., 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Sat., 1 and 5 p.m. Sun., St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa, $17-$62, 813-223-1000, dinosaurlive.com. – Franki Weddington

Best of the Bay winning Café Hey is celebrating its two-year anniversary with Monster’s Ball, a not-so-spooky night of music, art, and partying. Super Secret Best Friends, Florida Night Heat, SOG and DJ’s SowsDef and Pocket Chomper stop by to drop some live music in your ears, and lotsa local artists — like Chad Mize and Phillip Clark of BlueLucy, Anthony Zollo (another BOTB alum), Josh Pearson and more – showcase an array of awesome art. Don’t let the artists and musicians have all the fun, though — there’s body plastering for anyone who wants in on the action, and fire spinning for those who prefer spectator sports. Sat., Oct. 17, 8 p.m.-midnight, Cafe Hey, 1540 N. Franklin St., Tampa, free, cafehey.com. – Franki Weddington

After the break: Get the mess scared out of you by the Woman in Black, the Florida Orchestra plays for free at Pops in the Park, shake your moneymaker at Block Party Parranda and more. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, award-winning local actress Sharon Scott debuts Mahalia, Just As I Am, her new musical about the life and times of gospel great Mahalia Jackson. The powerhouse vocalist was the first artist to be awarded a Grammy in gospel, but everything wasn’t coming up roses – the show follows her continued struggle with segregation in the South in the midst of Mahalia’s rise to fame. (Pictured: Sharon Scott as Mahalia Jackson) Oct. 16-25, 8 p.m. Fri.-Sun.; preview performance, Thurs., Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m., The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, $15-$25, 727-895-6620, studio620.org. – Franki Weddington

Meet the author and pick up your autographed copy of Paul Abercrombie’s Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and Other Totally Green Cocktails, along with two tickets for drinks detailed in the book. Visit inkwoodbooks.com for more info. Thurs., Oct. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Restaurant BT, 1633 W. Snow Ave., Tampa, $30.

The Visiting Artists and Scholars Series continues with Lance Winn, the director of the University of Delaware’s MFA program. Winn discusses form and formlessness, using a series of smaller images to create what appears to be one large image from far away — his interpretation of “how personal experience fit into the overall picture of society.” Contact Ashleigh Gallant at agallant@arts.usf.edu for more info. Thurs., Oct. 15, 7-9 p.m., USF Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, free.

After the break: Writers at the U,  Almost Maine at the library, and the Dali and Beyond Film Series. 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 week, the Dali Museum outdoes itself once again with its focus not only on art, but also a dedication to interesting events that keep even native ‘Burgians coming back.

On Saturday, Gala’s Half-Dressed Carnivale is a costume party in honor of the halfway mark to the new Salvador Dali Museum’s completion, which is scheduled to open in January 2011. Keeping with the half-finished theme, half-dressed models work the floor while costumed waiters serve sur-really delish cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at this “Gala” event the likes of which Salvador and Gala Dali would surely appreciate. After all, the man wore one of the most famous moustaches in history – he had a flair for the dramatic. Speaking of drama, prepare yourself for the purported “drama and intrigue that culminate with the arrival of a special guest.” Arty events continue on Thursday with Read the rest of this entry »

Less than a year after their last appearance at Clearwater’s stately Ruth Eckerd Hall, New York-based blues rockers The Black Crowes return for another round of fiery jams marked by the finger-licking prowess of North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson. The tour supports the release of the band’s eighth studio effort, Before the Frost…Until the Freeze, a different sort of double album recorded before a live studio audience at Levon Helm’s Woodstock, N.Y. studio. The CD (Before the Frost) includes 11 new songs and a download code for Until The Freeze, a complementary collection of eight more original Crowes’ tunes and a cover of Stephen Stills’ classic “So Many Times.” Truth & Salvage Co. open. (Pictured: Rich and Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes) Wed., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater, $40.50 and $68. — Leilani Polk Read the rest of this entry »

The Morean Arts Center and The Studio@620 continue to bring current art and issues to the community — this time, with a month’s worth of advance screenings of Art21-Art in the Twenty-First Century, the national TV series with a focus on contemporary art. After the show, the host of WMNF’s “Art in Your Ear,” JoEllen Schilke, moderates a panel discussion on the episode’s themes. Visit art21.org or studio620.org for more info. (Pictured: Art:21 production still of artst Oliver Herring at work) Thursdays through Oct. 23, 7:30-9:30 p.m., The Studio@620,  620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, free.

If local craft brew floats your sudsy boat, then the ninth annual OktoBEERfest is your cup of tea. Or, well, beer. The line-up of events include the brewery’s Liter Release and Appreciation night, and a huge party that spills out onto the streets from Dunedin’s tasting room. “Notoriously German food” and live music by Bump accompany the constantly flowing beers. Visit dunedinbrewery.com for more info. Thurs.-Sun., Oct.1-4, Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. 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 »

The city closes down two blocks of Central Avenue for the third edition of Creative Clay’s now-annual fundraiser, FolkFest St. Pete. The free two-day street party celebrates all things folk with food and drink, art booths spotlighting the works of a range of local artisans, and a solid lineup of music throughout. Florida’s finest singer-songwriters,  folk and blues artists join national talents on the outdoor stage. South Carolina kicks off the music on Saturday, with sets by Dave Hardin, Green Grass Boys and TC Carr, Sarasota Slim and Nitro, Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets, Ben Prestage, and The New Familiars of Charlotte, S.C. to follow (and in that order). The Sunday bill features Veronica Jackson, Ella Jet, a “Tribute to Woodstock,” Have Gun Will Travel and the main headliners and a big score for the fest – NY’s Donna the Buffalo (pictured), their folky, rootsy jams marked by elements of zydeco, old time fiddle music and three-part harmonies. Sept. 26-27, beginning at 10 a.m. both days, Central Avenue, between 11th and 13 streets N., St. Petersburg, free admission. –Leilani Polk

Time to start mapping a route that hits every major museum and attraction this side of the Bay: ArtsAlive 2009: Free Museum Day includes the Salvador Dali Museum, the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum, Florida International Museum, Great Explorations, the Fine Arts Museum, the St. Pete Museum of History, the Morean Arts Center, the Pier Aquarium, the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, the Florida Craftsmen Gallery and more. Visit stpete.org/artsalive for museum hours and more info. Sat., Sept. 26.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you thought Warped Tour was over, think again. For one night only, movie theaters across America screen the Vans Warped Tour 15th Anniversary Celebration, a two-hour tribute to the beloved music fest and its talented artists. Warped Tour is often associated with punk music and culture, but this showcases the diverse bands that have not only played the outdoor concert, but become known because of it. The screening includes live performances, red-carpet clips and behind the scenes footage from artists like NOFX (pictured), Bad Religion, Blink-182, Ice T, Katy Perry, All-American Rejects, The Aggrolites, Underoath and more. Warped fans can get a glimpse into the lives of their favorite bands, and all in the comfort of air conditioning. Now that’s what I’m talking about! Thurs., Sept. 17, 8 p.m., Citrus Park Stadium 20, 7999 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa, 12.50, visit fathomevents.com for a full list of participating theaters. – Lily Reisman Read the rest of this entry »

Coffee with a Curator is a monthly in-depth discussion and tour with a Dalí expert and docent. Today, Bethany Mead leads a discussion on Dalí’s Hispanic heritage, a subject that informs many of the surrealist’s masterworks. Sip complimentary Starbucks coffee before beginning the theme-oriented tour of the gallery, which houses the largest collection of Dalí’s works outside of Spain, including six of eighteen of his prized, large-scale masterworks. Weds., Sept. 2, 10:15 a.m., Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, free with museum admission of $17, free for museum members or with USF ID. Read the rest of this entry »

Friday, August 28: Mazzarro’s Italian Market
Weekly Wine Tastings. This week’s selections include domestic wines like red and white Rhone-style blends and Viognier.  Free. 1-5 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-321-2400)

Friday, August 28: Datz Deli
Friday Night Winedown. Sommelier Patti Kuhl leads a free tasting and workshop to help shake off those work week blues, while Rebekah Pulley brings her folky tunes to the stage. Free. 5-7 p.m., 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-7000)

Saturday, August 29: Mazzarro’s Italian Market
Enjoy a selection of wines from the Piedmont region, including Barbera and Moscato and Pinot Noir from California. Free. 1-5 p.m., 2209 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-321-2400) Read the rest of this entry »

In the ’90s, cult-TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 turned trashing a flick into an art form. Despite the show’s cancellation, former host Michael J. Nelson just can’t leave the bad movies of the world alone. Nelson is the driving force behind Rifftrax.com, a variation on MST3K’s shtick, only now you download the audio commentary tracks and synch them yourself. Rifftrax has done well enough that they’re taking the show on the road — sort of. Local theaters host  a live airing of Rifftrax: Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space (pictured) from the Belcourt Theater in Nashville, Tenn. Joining Mike for the cutting commentary are MST3K staples Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett. Visit fathomevents.com for ticket prices and info. The show screens at two local theaters, including: Citrus Stadium Park Mall 20, 7999 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa; and Regency 20, 2496 Brandon Blvd., Brandon. Thu., Aug. 20, 8 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »

He’s an impressionist, but not like Monet. See, Pablo Francisco does vocal impressions of people, and he brings his imitation tricks to Tampa Improv this weekend. Francisco has starred in seven comedy specials dating back to 1994 and has appeared on numerous shows – MADtv, FrankTV and Comedy Central’s Mind of Mencia as “the Voiceover Guy,” among others. And his sporadic on-stage antics, which include loads of self-made sound effects and beat-boxing, do not disappoint and are interspersed with plenty of improv. In addition to stand-up, Francisco owns the Internet; his Myspace comedy page is one of the most visited stops on the entire networking site. He’s also a favorite on YouTube with his impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger and R2D2. Fans will likely see some of their favorite characters brought to life during the comedian’s weekend sets. June 25-28, 8 p.m. Thurs., 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fri., 7:30 and 10 p.m. Sat., 7 p.m. Sun., Tampa Improv, Ybor City, $20, 813-864-4000, improvtampa.com. —Matt Wiley

Curator of Education at the Salvador Dalí Museum Peter Tush presents Surrealism in the 1930s, a multimedia tour of the International Exposition of Surrealism in 1938 and the evolution of the Surrealist movement in the years before WWII. 7 p.m. Thu., June 25, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, St. Petersburg College-Tarpon Springs Campus, 600 Klosterman Road, Palm Harbor, $8, $5 LRMA members, free for students, 727-712-5762, www.spjc.edu/central/museum.

Your Thursday won’t be complete unless you see the events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Time is running out to see these two great art events — catch ‘em both before they hit the road.

Plastination sounds like a breakthrough boob-enhancement surgery or some sort of science fiction torture tactic, but it’s actually the secret behind the world’s most famous traveling exhibit, Body Worlds. (Plastination is a scientific process that halts decomposition and “cures” the bodies of those who have dedicated themselves to scientific research and education — and post mortem fame). The latest installment in the series, Body Worlds and the Story of the Heart, makes its Florida debut at MOSI this month in all its gory glory. More than 200 human specimens are displayed, taking viewers on a journey through the cardiovascular system and offering insight into human health and disease. The locomotive, reproductive, nervous and digestive systems are each separated into their own sections, with plastinates posed in athletic positions so viewers can see which muscle groups are used in every movement. The grand finale focuses on the heart and how our most miraculous muscle sustains life. Through June 28, Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa, $19.95-$25.95 (includes a standard length IMAX film; reduced after hours admission. (Franki Weddington)

In the hands of a great artist, even the most quotidian object can be transformed into something transcendent. Take the humble book, whose conventions we know only too well. The Salvador Dali Museum presentss visualKultur.cat, an exhibition devoted to books in strikingly unusual form — from surreal contributions by 20th century masters Marcel Duchamp, Antoni Tàpies, Joan Miró, and Dalí to contemporary examples like Jaume Plensa’s accordion-style tome of glass panels or Ramon Prat’s On Barcelona (2005), a volume of color pictures that even includes a pop-out camera. Two venues, the museum and USF St. Pete’s Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, share hosting duties for visualKulture.cat, which showcases artists’ books and graphics by artists native to Catalonia, the Spanish region where Dalí was born. Through June 14, Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg, $15 adults/$13.50 seniors/$10 students, 727-823-3767, salvadordalimuseum.org, and the Nelson Poynter Library, Seventh Avenue S. at Third Street S., St. Petersburg, free admission, 727-873-4123, nelson.usf.edu. (Megan Voeller)

Urban Exploration from Thomas Pregiato on Vimeo.

I left for a week’s vacation right after Creative Loafing’s spectacular Mar. 28 party, Sensory Overload 4.0. But I didn’t want to let too much time pass without congratulating the winners of the two $1,000 scholarships we presented to student artists. A panel of arts professionals chose one scholarship recipient: Thomas Pregiato of Ringling College of Art and Design, whose video (above) translated the theme of “urban exploration” into a compelling interplay between images of a restless sleeper and rapidfire glimpses of a Sarasota dreamscape.

Dan Robinson's winning billboard

The other winner was selected online by readers, who submitted close to 5,000 votes via The Daily Loaf and a live Twitter feed the night of the event. The winner of the popular vote was Dan Robinson of the International Academy of Design and Technology; his witty concept for a billboard (right) sends a mixed message about heaven and music.

The judges who selected Pregiato as best in show were Amanda Cooper, curator of exhibitions at the Arts Center in St. Petersburg; Chance Chanthalansy, post-production director at Pyper Paul + Kenney; and David Meek of Philip Gary Design, aka Illuminations 33701 (who did magical things with light and sound the night of the event). The judges also cited winners in individual categories, recognizing high achievement in a competitive field. They were: Read the rest of this entry »

Though many area cultural institutions are closed on Mondays, doors are open at three of the area’s more distinctive museums.
The Museum of Science and Industry is all heart; not only can you marvel (or cringe) at Body Worlds: The Story of the Heart, you can see the film Van Gogh: Brush With Genius and “dive into the heart of Van Gogh’s paintings in IMAX!” Body Worlds, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; other exhibit galleries, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Van Gogh, 1:15, 3:30, 5:45, 6:45 p.m. MOSI, 4801 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, 813-987-6000. Combo ticket for MOSI/IMAX/Body Worlds/Saunders Planetarium: Adults (13-59) $25.95; Senior (60+) $22.45; Children (2-12) $19.95, with discounts for members and separate pricing for evening-only Body Worlds admission.
The Tampa Bay History Center (pictured above) is the area’s newest museum, and it has already won kudos for its interactive exhibitions on subjects like European exploration and the cigar industry, and for its glimmering $52-million, 60,000-square-foot new home by the water. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 801 Old Water St. (formerly St. Pete Times Forum Drive), Tampa, 813-228-0097. Adults $12; Senior (65+), Students w. ID $10; Children 4-12 $7; Children under 3 free.
The Salvador Dali Museum will also have a new building come next year, but its current home is still a pleasant spot to while away a Monday. The current show, visualKultur.cat, is devoted to books “in strikingly unusual form,” says CL Art Critic Megan Voeller — “from surreal contributions by 20th century masters… to contemporary examples like Ramon Prat’s On Barcelona (2005), a volume of color pictures that even includes a pop-out camera.” Through June 14, 1000 Third St. South, St. Petersburg, $15 adults/$13.50 seniors/$10 students, 727-823-3767.

Spring Training: Yanks vs. Phils. Just a few days left of spring training fun, and today there’s a doozie: The New York “Lo How the Mighty Have Fallen!” Yankees cross the bay to play the Philadelphia “We Won the Frickin’ World Championship!” Phillies (though at 8 wins and 12 losses so far this spring, the mighty Phils seem to have fallen a bit themselves). 1:05 p.m., Bright House Networks Field, 601 Old Coachman Road, Clearwater. Call 727-467-4457 for tickets or buy them here.

Gasparilla International Film Festival returns with a day-long Global Lens Film Series Mini-Fest featuring five foreign films: Opera Jawa (pictured, Indonesia), Kept & Dreamless (Argentina), Let the Wind Blow (India), Luxury Car (China) and The Custodian (Argentina). Sat., Dec. 13, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., University of Tampa-Reeves Theater, $8 one film/$12 two/$15 three.

The Salvador Dalí Museum volunteers, staff and Mayor Rick Baker invite the public to “Surrealize the Dream,” a groundbreaking for the new museum, which will nearly double in size to 66,450-square-feet. After the ceremony, attendees can take a free guided tour of the current museum. Fri., Dec. 12, 10:30 a.m., just south of Mahaffey Theater within the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, First Street S., St. Petersburg.

Rebekah Pulley, Ronny Elliott, Tommy McCoy, Chris Moriarty, and the Sandy Atkinson jam band play a Children’s Home Society of Florida Holiday Benefit Concert at Dave’s Aqua Lounge. Sat., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., St. Petersburg, $5. Read the rest of this entry »

The Salvador Dalí Museum’s latest exhibition, Wilfredo Lam in North America, includes a selection of paintings by the 20th-century Cuban-born artist, who’s known for incorporating Cubism, Surrealism, “primitivism,” Négritude (Black Identity), Afro-Cuban history and the African-derived Santería religion into his art. A related Avant-Garde Lecture Series presentation, “Lam and Contemporary Art & Letters in Cuba,” is led by Noel Smith, Curator of Latin American and Caribbean Art at the USF’s Institute for Research in Art. 6:30 p.m., free with $5 museum admission; the works are on display through Jan. 11. Pictured at right: “Le Sombre Malembo, Dieu du Carrefoure (The Dark Malembo, God of the Crossroad),” by Wifredo Lam, 1943. From the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Rudman, ©2007 Artists Rights Society, New York/ADAGP, Paris; courtesy Miami Art Museum.

American Stage kicks off its latest After Hours production, The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris’ drolly acidic radio essay-turned-one-act, one-man play about his experiences working as a NYC Macy’s Santaland elf during the Yuletide season. 7 p.m., St. Petersburg, “Pay-what-you-can-admission.”

OPUS, University of Tampa’s musical theater ensemble, stages a free concert that includes medleys from Les Misérables and Ragtime, and other solos and duets from Broadway shows as well as a chorus about debauchery from Opera Buffet, and “O Holy Night” with soprano soloist Hein Jung. 7:30 p.m., Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall, free.

The “Stay Wierd” tour brings its bill of heavy experimental music to Tampa; the featured bands are Colorado’s Fear Before, Heavy Heavy Low Low of California, and Illinois-based Dr. Manhattan. 6 p.m., The Brass Mug, $7.