Daily Loaf

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 »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This weekend, 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 [pictured], appropriately enough), and Read the rest of this entry »

X Bash is the ninth annual clothing-optional event that features indie artists, musicians and performers who showcase their talents while they showcase their, um, goods. But what would a naked party be without a foam pit, hot tub, sauna and fire eater? X Bash has that, too. What began as an adventurous young woman’s birthday party has become a much-anticipated networking event for the local arts community — but with more booze and less clothing than your run-of-the-mill mixer. Featured musicians include David “Scary” Perry, Dreddy John, Global Decay, DJ Kaos and more, along with spoken word performances and visual arts displays. Visit xzanthia.com for more info and event schedule. (Pictured: Foam pit revelers at X Bash 2008, courtesy xzanthia.com) July 17-19, The River Boat Club, 6901 Caliente Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, $15 per day, $40 weekend pass in advance; $25 per day, $60 weekend pass at the gates.

Begun last year as an experiment, the Craft Beer Expo has quickly shouldered its way into the hearts and mouths of beer fans across the Bay area. Sure, it’s a benefit for the endangered Gamble Mansion State Park down in Ellenton, but that’s just a side note to the huge line-up of brews poured at the event by more than 25 breweries. Unlike most donate-and-sip charity tastings around town, the Expo also takes the time to educate via a slew of beery seminars that are best enjoyed before you fill your tasting cup 30 or 40 times. Learn the ins-and-outs of beer and food pairing, beer judging, and tips for home brewing. Then, taste away. But remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. July 18, 2-7 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, $30 (tasting)/$50 (tasting and seminars), 727-892-5798, mahaffeytheater.com. —Brian Ries

If your idea of a special day includes big hair and a big dress, 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 fundraiser to send the local queen bee of drag, Daphne Ferraro, to the National Entertainer of the Year Pageant in Louisville, KY. Expect cameos from cross-dressing characters like Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Dionne Warwick, Wynona Judd and many others, who take audiences on a trip through the “Evolution of Drag,” complete with a Big Ole Gay finale. The lovely ladies’ creative stage names may be the highlight of the evening — they range from the demure April Fresh to feisty Chi Chi La Lique and the naughty nun-ishness of Divinity Everlasting. (Pictured: Daphne Ferraro, the creator and star of Evolution of Drag) Sun., July 19, 4 p.m., Honey Pot, 1507 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, $10 in advance/$12 at the door, myspace.com/evolutionofdrag. —Franki Weddington

More naughty and nice weekend events, like the Tampa Bay Bridal Show and Elvis Fest, after the break:

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