Daily Loaf

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 »

The Native Music Rocks! Tour — starring Micki Free and American Horse, Crystal Shawanda, Casper, Martha Redbone and more — is a national Florida-born initiative to promote all varieties of Native American music as performed by modern Native American musicians. Highlights include the blues-infused rock of American Horse, which features tattooed Cherokee-Comanche Micki Free on electric guitar and lead vocals, afro fantastic drummer Cindy Blackman (Pictured: remember her from her days pounding skins for Lenny Kravitz?), and bassist David Santos (Joe Cocker, CSNY); the sweet-soulful country music of full-blooded Ojibway Indian and Canada native singer Crystal Shawanda; the hope-filled Native-roots-meets-dub reggae of Hopi / Dine singer Casper Lomayesva; and a fusion of soul, R&B, and funky bump by Native and African-American singer-soulwriter Martha Redbone. Tues., Sept. 1, 7 p.m., Floyd’s at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5224 N. Orient Dr., Tampa, free, seminolehardrocktampa.com. 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 Friday, C. Emerson Fine Arts debuts a collection of woodburnings that recall artist Daniel Mrgan’s “sick days” as a child.

Wood burning usually calls to mind a roaring fire, hot chocolate and comforting memories, but when Croatian-born artist Daniel Mrgan experimented in woodburning for his Sick Days exhibit, the results are cartoon-like depictions of medical curiosities: a nurse holding a syringe whose eyes are carried away by chirping birds; Read the rest of this entry »

(Ever wonder how all those cute little creatures transform from rough sketches on an artist’s easel to walking, talking, scheming cartoons? ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network explores just that: The world of cartoons—from storyboarding to character development and drawing techniques to technical aspects like filming, computer programming and voice acting—they’re all covered in this interactive experience, at it’s the last week to see it at MOSI. Six learning stations demonstrate the principles of geometry, perception and measurement behind animation. The first stop is “History,” where cartoon-lovers can see the evolution of the craft and try their hand at using a praxinoscope, spinning three-dimensional objects to see them morph into a single animation. Then, move on to the “Animation Studio” to enlarge drawings with a pantograph and create scenes using layered cels and moving backgrounds. Next, characters from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (pictured) pop in to show the relationship between art and math in animation at “Art in Motion.” Let out your inner mad scientist in Dexter’s Laboratory, where you’ll “hover” around the room with the help of some visual effects. At the “Sound Stage,” the Kids Next Door demonstrate the complexity of matching phrases to different mouth shapes. Then, add your own voice to a silent animation and set the mood by picking background music. Finally, see clips of popular cartoons and learn behind-the-scenes secrets at the “Cartoon Museum.” Through Sept. 7, Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, $23.95 adults, $21.95 seniors, $19.95 kids ages 2-12, mosi.org. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

If the typical trappings of visual art — white-box exhibitions, snooty gallery assistants and mind-boggling price tags — strike you as absurdly pretentious, take heart in mail art. The fiercely anti-commercial genre most often takes the form of postcards, illustrated envelopes and custom paper creations (though the odd three-dimensional object makes for a welcome surprise), traded among practitioners for the modest cost of a postage stamp. The Studio@620 presents Chromatophore, the multidisciplinary space’s second annual mail art exhibition, curated by St. Petersburg artist Jennifer Zoellner. Many of the more-than-300 mail art works on display engage the concept of the chromatophore (a pigment-bearing cell that enables creatures to change color in response to their surroundings) as a theme. Roll up your sleeves for hands-on mail art activities and soak in the sounds of singer-songwriter Rebecca Zapen at the exhibit’s multi-sensory opening reception. (Pictured: Me and Mona Go for a Boat Ride, by Katherine Michael) Chromatophore: a Mail Art Exhibit, Aug. 27-Sept. 5 with an opening reception Thurs., Aug. 27, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-895-6620, studio620.org. – Megan Voeller Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a new play at Club Nautico, where “all are welcome.”

If you’re looking for a place to avoid Ronda Storms (or maybe run into Charlie Crist), I’d put my money on Gypsy Productions’ new show, Questa – which promises to offer poignant insight on sexuality, spirituality, love and loss. After Paul, the victim of an attempted gay bashing, kills (perhaps accidentally) his attacker, he’s overcome with guilt. He seeks redemption and solace by secretly following his victim’s mother, hoping to ease her pain. (Pictured: Daniel DiPiazza and Daniel Harris in Questa. Photo by Brad Minus.) Through Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sun., Club Nautico, 4900 66th St., St. Petersburg, $20, nauticostpete.com. – Franki Weddington

Maison Rouge fashion show at Some Like It Hot

From the outside, NOVA 535 Art Lounge looks like a run-of-the-mill storefront: a brick exterior and nifty neon sign amidst a string of shops on St. Petersburg’s Ninth Avenue. But don’t let this art and event space fool you: the deceptively tame exterior gives way to a hip, trendy night spot finished with dark wood, soft lighting, high ceilings, and exposed beams and brick. Recent events like the Size Matters opening reception have been drawing local party people in droves — and for good reason.

NOVA’s got a new culture collaboration nearly every night of the week, and last Friday’s Some Like It Hot show was no exception. After a rousing game of shuffleboard, my friends and I decided to ditch our flippy-floppies for heels and walk to the party (which I regretted after a few blocks).

We arrived around 10:30 p.m. to a packed house. The crowd gathered on the second-floor patio to drink, smoke and be merry have a perfect vantage point for judging you before you even walk in the sidedoor street entrance — so do as the fliers say and “dress to impress, “  lest ye be cast out with the rest of the tragically un-hip. Read the rest of this entry »

The Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project presents Die, Mommie, Die, another installment in the The Summer Nights of Alternative Theater Series, which benefits the Metropolitan Charities, providing services to locals living with HIV and AIDS. The show is a campy, comedic melodrama that borrows from 1960s thriller flicks. It follows Angela (played by Matt McGee), who poisons her husband via suppository (ew). Angela’s vengeful daughter convinces her brother to kill their mother. When Angela drinks the LSD-laced coffee he gives her, all of her dark secrets come tumbling out. Mon., Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m., American Stage, 163 Third St. N., St. Petersburg, all shows are “pay what you can admission,” americanstage.org.

At tonight’s Anti-Aging and Weight Management Cooking Class, “Healthy Chef” Sherell White shares nutrition facts, which foods in your diet are costing you calories, and what to replace them with, before her cooking demonstration. The menu includes: herb-seasoned Alaskan sockeye salmon, sherry-peppered tofu steaks, broccoli-cabbage slaw, brown rice pilaf, gluten-free chocolate buckwheat donuts and more. Mon. Aug. 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Aquastone Spa, 300 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg $45, 727-823-4636.

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 »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is next week’s one-night-only screening by the Gasparilla Film Festival.

The 2009 Global Lens Film Series continues with a screening of the Ecuadorian drama My Time Will Come.  The film, a dark tale of a morgue physician who is better equipped emotionally to deal with the dead than the living, should also serve as a visually compelling introduction to Ecuador’s capital city of Quito. My Time is directed by Víctor Arregui, who made some waves at 2003 film-fests with his debut film Outside, and screens only once at the Tampa Pitcher Show. Sun., Aug., 30, 2:00pm, Tampa Pitcher Show, 14416 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, $5, free for GIFF members, gasparillafilmfestival.com. —Joe Bardi

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is art for the people, by the people — and you can ship it across the country for just 42 cents a pop.

If the typical trappings of visual art — white-box exhibitions, snooty gallery assistants and mind-boggling price tags — strike you as absurdly pretentious, take heart in mail art. The fiercely anti-commercial genre most often takes the form of postcards, illustrated envelopes and custom paper creations (though the odd three-dimensional object makes for a welcome surprise), traded among practitioners for the modest cost of a postage stamp. Next Thursday, the Studio@620 presents Chromatophore, the multidisciplinary space’s second annual mail art exhibition, curated by St. Petersburg artist Jennifer Zoellner. Many of the more-than-300 mail art works on display engage the concept of the chromatophore (a pigment-bearing cell that enables creatures to change color in response to their surroundings) as a theme. Roll up your sleeves for hands-on mail art activities and soak in the sounds of singer-songwriter Rebecca Zapen at the exhibit’s multi-sensory opening reception. (Pictured: an example of the work on display at Chromatophore: a Mail Art Exhibit) Aug. 27-Sept. 5 with an opening reception Thurs., Aug. 27, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-895-6620, studio620.org.  — Megan Voeller

The annual Black and White Birthday Celebration touts itself as bringing “the celebs and musical bad boys like no other. And the ladies…WOW!” Need we say more? The theme is black and white, which (we think) means dress in those colors, not as MJ. Visit nova535.com or djfreshevents.com for more info. (Pictured: a piece from the Size Matters collection, on display through Aug. 21 at NOVA 535) Wed., Aug. 19, 9 p.m., NOVA 535 Art Lounge, 535 Ninth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, $10.

Tonight’s Hair Color Runway sounds a little bizarre — but also pretty cool. It’s a fashion show for hair; after all, your head is on display 24/7, so it should look good, too. Models rock the latest in hair-color trends for the mane event on the runway, and drinks and hors d’oeuvres are served during the show. Wed., Aug. 19, 7 p.m., Victoria’s Fifth Avenue Salon, 6512 US Hwy 41, Apollo Beach, 813-645-0109.

Former Bucs Shelton Quarles and Ian Beckles huddle up for the Ladies Chalk Talk, an evening of Football 101, teaching the lovely ladies of Tampa Bay the finer points of tossing around the ol’ pigskin. The coach-approved menu includes lobster bisque, beef tips and barbecued shrimp and football-themed cocktails like the Sideliner, the Blitz and the Hail Mary. All proceeds benefit IMPACT, which provides assistance to local at-risk single-parent families. E-mail dneri@intercontampa.com to register. Wed., Aug. 19, 6-8 p.m., Shula’s Steakhouse, 4860 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, $40 in advance, $50 at the door.

Nova 535 has your Tuesday night covered with an Art Tweet Up and the Size Matters exhibit, which closes this week.

As if you had anything else to do on a Tuesday night besides watch Jeopardy reruns, NOVA provides all the incentive you need to get outta the house at their Art Tweet Up, with free hors d’oeuvres and a collection of artists and art-lovers to hang out with. C’mon; Alex Trebek can wait ’til next Tuesday. Size Matters is an exhibit of large works that play on the idea of size, with pieces by more than 20 Florida artists, including local faves BlueLucy, Frank Strunk III, Hugsmugglers, Tes One, Bask and others. The works are on display through Aug. 21. (Pictured: a Tes One spray paint on wood painting, weighing in at a whopping 10′x11′) Art Tweet Up, Tue., Aug. 18, 6-10 p.m., NOVA 535 Art Lounge, 535 Ninth St. N., St. Petersburg. free, nova535.com. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a stand-up show this weekend at the Mahaffey, starring Mike Epps and his merry band of comedians.

Hollywood hopefuls are expected to be a quintuple-threat these days: reality stars spawn their own shows, actors become singers and vice versa, pro wrestlers star on the silver screen – and the Governator, the ultimate celeb-gone-serious, who, after years of kicking bad-guy ass on screen has gone on to kick the crap outta California’s legislature. So it’s no surprise that stand-up comedian and Def Comedy Jam host Mike Epps has parlayed his “it’s not the beauty, it’s the booty” schtick into a legit movie career, with roles in everything from comedies that appeal to gurus of grass and connoisseurs of cannabis like Next Friday and How High, to family friendly fare like Dr. Doolittle 2 and Guess Who. One thing’s for sure, though: Epps leaves the kiddie stuff behind when he and his fellow funny men step onstage, so you’re sure to hear more about pimpin’ than pimples. Fri. Aug. 21, 8 p.m., Progress Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, $42-$67, mahaffeytheater.com – Franki Weddington

The great American wordsmith, Nelly, once said, “It’s gettin’ hot in here, so take off all your clothes.” The Dunedin Fine Arts Center folks took that literally for the fifth annual Wearable Art Fashion Show. They’ve shed their duds, opting instead for couture art in a runway show that promises to be “hotter than ever.” That’s a lot to live up to, since past shows enjoyed sold-out performances and rave reviews from fashionistas and party people alike. This year’s line-up includes fresh designs from Sana Hassan, Ungala and more, along with returning champs of the catwalk Ivanka Ska, who turns paper chains into high fashion (though I wouldn’t want to get caught in the rain) and Frank Strunk III, whose metal-worked ensembles are part bondage, part garment, and all art. This year’s show also includes live music by Aimee Trachtenberg, Dave Helm, and Ramblegrass – and the fun don’t stop there: there’s an after-glow after-party where you can show off your own sense of style. (Pictured: Frank Strunk III, with a model wearing one of his creations) Aug. 15, Sat., 7:30 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. fashion show, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, $15 general admission, $50-$75 reserved seating, 727-298-3322, dfac.org. - Franki Weddington

Skate fiends Chad Cardoza and the grinders at SPoT promise a “ripping bowl session” (yes, we’re talking about skating, here) and present the collected works of more than 30 local artists who use skate decks as their canvases at Art Deck Yo! DJ Blenda churns out the jams and folks from Red Bull are on hand giving away free wake-up juice to amp up those ollies all night long — and free drinks of a somewhat stronger nature to those of age. Visit skateparkoftampa.com for more info. Sat., Aug. 15, 7-11 p.m., Skate Park of Tampa, 4215 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa, free.

Hear all the music without all the mud at the Woodstock 40th Anniversary Tribute in honor of the most famous music fest of all time. Celebrate with a screening of the director’s cut of the concert film, with performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Santana, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Grateful Dead and more. Proceeds benefit our local radio heroes at WMNF. Visit beachtheatre.com for more info. Fri., Aug. 14, 7 p.m., Beach Theatre, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, $8.
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Today’s selection for the Think + Drink Cinema Series is Woman of Heart and Mind, about cerebral, soulful singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell (pictured), a talented artist who spoke her mind about current issues without sacrificing her mainstream appeal. Explore the experiences that influenced her style via archival footage, performance videos and interviews with Mitchell, and prolific artists like (former boyfriend) Graham Nash, James Taylor and Herbie Hancock. Mindy Simmons performs live before the film. The weekly film fest focuses on cultural, social and scientific topics, and the American Music Series prior to each movie explores the history and icons of the music that have shaped America, featuring a live performance by a new local musician each week. 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. Bishop Planetarium, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, $8, $6 students, $5 museum members.

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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 a super NOVA event (I had to go there) — that combines the worlds of fashion, art and music in one bumpin’ shebang.

A fantastic fusion of couture art, music and fashion collide at the Some Like It Hot show next weekend in St. Pete. Art by Will Stryffler and Allen Hampton (whose intricate, large-scale drawings are rendered in pig’s blood) is sure to draw the indie crowd in droves. Throw in lingerie-clad models working the room in designs by Rhonda Shear, a RENO BEACH bikini fashion show by Nikki Valentine, and Reda Raven rounding out the offerings to the fashion gods, and you’ve got whole new mix of haute hags and drags added to the mix. Top the whole thing off with bumpin’ blends by DJ BC, and it looks like NOVA knows how to throw one hell of an explosive party. (Pictured: untitled (Birth of the Ataxian Mongrel), blood on paper, by Allen Hampton)Fri., Aug. 21, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., NOVA 535 Art Lounge, 535 Ninth St. N., St. Petersburg, $10 ages 21 and up, $20 ages 18-20, nova535.com. – Franki Weddington

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a fundraising theater event at American Stage.

The Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project presents Die, Mommie, Die, next week’s installment in the The Summer Nights of Alternative Theater Series. The show benefits the Metropolitan Charities, providing services to locals living with HIV and AIDS. The show is a campy, comedic melodrama that borrows from 1960s thriller flicks. It follows Angela (played by Matt McGee), who poisons her husband via suppository. Angela’s vengeful daughter convinces her brother to kill their mother. When Angela drinks the LSD-laced coffee he gives her, all of her dark secrets come tumbling out. (Pictured: Joey Panek, Matt McGee and Joey Panek in Die, Mommie, Die) Visit americanstage.org for more info. Aug. 17 and 24, Mon., 7:30 p.m., American Stage, 163 Third St. N., St. Petersburg, all shows are “pay what you can” admission.

Every time I think the musical theater world has outdone itself (surely nothing is sillier than “Springtime for Hitler” or more laughable than actors costumed as Cats channeling T.S. Eliot?)  somebody goes and proves me wrong. This time, it’s the ABBA-licious Mamma Mia!, which opens tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The fact that anyone was able to create a jukebox musical from ABBA songs is a pretty impressive feat in itself (almost as impressive as it is ridiculous). But to set it on a Greek island (ABBA, from Sweden – hello? Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?) is more than anyone could hope for. Hits like “Dancing Queen,” “SOS,” and “The Winner Takes It All” are woven throughout the story of a young girl desperately trying to unravel the mystery of her father’s identity on the eve of her wedding by inviting three men from her mother’s past to the festivities. (Pictured: the touring cast of Mamma Mia!)Aug. 11-16, 8 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7 p.m. Sun., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater, $47-$67, 727-791-7400, rutheckerhall.com. – Franki Weddington

It’s the last week to catch “Andy mania” at Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life and Legends, an exhibit of more than 70 screen-prints by pop master Andy Warhol. Classics including “Campbell’s Soup I (Cream of Mushroom),” “Flowers” and portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Superman and Muhammad Ali go on view, along with several lesser-known portfolios. The showcase spans Warhol’s career as a fine artist, from his heyday in the 1960s to the 1980s, when he produced the poignant “Endangered Species” series (included in the exhibit) — four years before his unexpected death of complications from gallbladder surgery in 1987. As a bonus, the show includes portraits of Warhol by Keith Haring, whose perversely Disney-esque “Andy Mouse” strikes the perfect irreverent note, and works by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Through Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 1-5 p.m Sun., Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, $12 adults, $10 seniors (65-plus) and students with I.D., $6 ages 7 to 18 (children six and younger enter for free), 727-896-2667, fine-arts.org. — Megan Voeller

See thrill-master Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window when The Studio@620 and Push Ultra Lounge team up for the Summer Sunset Film Festival, a free movie screening celebrating our picturesque Florida sunset, every Monday through August 31. Rear Window’s star-studded cast includes Grace Kelly, whose boyfriend is played by a particularly paranoid Jimmy Stewart. He’s confined to his room after breaking a leg, and passes the time spying on his motley crew of neighbors. When one of them vanishes, will anyone believe his wild theory about her disappearance? 8:30 Mon., Aug. 10, Push Ultra Lounge, 128 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, studio620org.

I’m not one to pass up a juicy burger for Tofurkey, but not all nutritious foods have to be bland. In Healthy Eating 101,  “Healthy Chef” Sherell White explains which foods are good for you and why. Learn about nutrient dense foods, alkaline foods and organic foods. A cooking demonstration and tasting follow the class, including a menu of gluten- and sugar-free oat cereal, pesto tilapia or tofu, gluten-free chocolate roses and more. Call in advance for reservations. Mon., Aug 10, 6:30-7:45 p.m., Aquastone Spa, 300 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, $20, 727-823-4636.

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.

Time’s winding down to see Release, an exhibit by artist and skateboarder Dan Lasata, who unveils his skate-life-influenced works in his first public show. The pro ‘boarder is inspired by skateboard graffiti, and combines painting and sketchwork to create his trippy, graphic images. On display through August 13. (Pictured: an unnamed work by Lasata featured in the Release exhibit) Cafe Bohemia, 128 Third St. S., St.Petersburg, 727-895-4495.

Part of American Stage’s After Hours Series, Circumference of a Squirrel was named one of the top ten plays of 2008 by theater critic Mark Leib following its run at Studio@620 last year. Acclaimed by Leib as “darkly comic,” it’s a one-man play that spins circles of meaning around the character Chester, a tortured, obsessive young man preoccupied with everything but the task at hand. A self-diagnosed “rodentophobe,” he frets ceaselessly about his parents, his ex-wife and the constant threat of rabies. Chester shares details about his father’s irrational fear of squirrels and disease, a childhood burden that in turn infected Chester’s own life. Aug. 4-22, 7:30 p.m. Tues., 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., American Stage, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, all performances are “pay what you can” admission, americanstage.org.

3D is suddenly all the rage again, with Hollywood embracing the technology with a gusto not seen in decades. These days it’s mostly kiddie flicks that get the 3D treatment, but back in the day horror was the king. This weekend, Tampa Theatre takes us back to the scary old days with a screening of The Creature From The Black Lagoon as part of the Summer Classics film series. The film has run on TV Saturday afternoon matinees forever, but you’ve probably never seen Creature its original 3D presentation – until now. Plus, the theater promises “uber cool” 3D glasses that you get to keep. Uber cool, indeed. Sun, Aug. 2, 3 p.m., Tampa Theatre, 711 n. Franklin St., Tampa, $8, tampatheatre.org - Joe Bardi

Iconic pop culture artist Andy Warhol — he of the Campbell’s Soup paintings and silkscreened Marilyns — would have celebrated his 81st birthday Aug. 6. In observance of the occasion, nephew James Warhola joins fans and art appreciators alike at Andy Warhol Family Day for arty activities and a discussion, Sunday Aug. 2 on the exhibit Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life and Legends, which ends on August 16. Warhola signs copies of both his children books, Uncle Andy’s and Uncle Andy’s Cats. In his vibrantly and imaginatively illustrated books, the author fondly recalls visits to his eccentric uncle’s New York townhouse. Throughout the afternoon, children and adults can channel the spirit of Warhol by creating silk screens, stencil images and 3-D sculptures. There will also be a special performance by Mark “the Balloon Guy” Byrne, known for his fanciful balloon sculptures and hats. Other treats include a movie on Warhol, a Warhol-inspired café menu and 10 percent off all Warhol merchandise. Sun., Aug. 2, children’s activities, 1-4 p.m., gallery talk, 4 p.m., The Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, half off admission all day and one free child admission with each paid adult admission, 727-896-2667, www.fine-arts.org. —Lily Reisman

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The Think+Drink film fest focuses on cultural, social and scientific topics and the “American Music Series” prior to each movie explores the history and icons of the music that have shaped America, presenting a live performance by a new local musician each week. The July 30 selection is Standing in the Shadows of Motown, a documentary that follows the Funk Brothers, a collection of Detroit musicians who played back-up for nearly every hit to come out of Motown Records, featuring performances by stars like Chaka Khan, Bootsy Collins, Ben Harper and Joan Osbourne. T-Bone Rhodes performs live before the film. 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. Bishop Planetarium, Bradenton, $8, $6 students, $5 museum members.

Belize-born author and copy editor of the St. Petersburg Times, Ian Vasquez reads from and signs his latest novel Lonesome Point, about two Belizean brothers living in Miami who have wildly disparate lifestyles and goals (one is a mental health worker, the other a Miami mayoral prospect), but work together to escape the shame of their father’s illegal activities. Thu., July 30, 7 p.m., Inkwood Books, Tampa, free, inkwoodbooks.com.

The GirlStories Theatre Project presents Power Up: The Hero Within, an original play with music and monologues by nearly 20 middle school girls. Powerstories Theatre helms the project, which partners with social service agencies to invite a diverse group of girls, ages 10 to 17, to participate in workshops that use “creative discovery techniques, dramatics, storytelling, writing and art activities to help the girls communicate more effectively and to tell their own stories with confidence.” The public performance is a culmination of the six-week course, and allows the girls to share newfound insights on their goals and dreams for the future. Check them out at youtube.com/Powerstories or visit powerstories.com for more info. July 30-Aug. 1, 1:30 p.m. Thurs., 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., The Ritz Ybor, 1503 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, $10, free for children under 6.

Welcome to Radar, where we run down the up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a fundraising dance party at St. Pete’s trendy new art spot, Nova 535.

This weekend, Nova 535 art lounge hosts Everybody Dance!, a Studio 54-style all night dance party to honor the life of Dr. John Barnett and raise funds for CLIP, the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Lately, Nova has received accolades for everything from best new art space to it’s world-class restrooms (the birch and travertine-covered restroom suites offer a “luxurious, no-touch bathroom experience,” often necessitating bouncers to enforce the, uh, “no-touch” part of the experience when randy couples discover those private bathrooms). Nova’s recent shindigs include the indie kid-approved Size Matters art show and the American Idol-esque Big Bang Gong Show — and tonight promises to continue the tradition of rockin’ events. Whether you dig disco, dance or rock ‘n’ roll, DJ CK kicks out the jams to keep you on the floor. (Pictured: The crowd mingles at Nova’s most recent art show, Size Matters, by CL contributor Denis Baldwin) Aug. 8, Sat., 9 p.m., Nova 535 Art Lounge, 535 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg, $35, nova535.com. — Franki Weddington

Welcome to Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today we’re looking ahead to an arty fashion party in celebration of the Morean Arts Center’s current exhibit:

Let loose your inner style beast on Saturday, August 8 at  Wild Party, a fashion, makeup and hair-design extravaganza held in conjunction with Wild Spirits, the Morean Arts Center’s current, animal-themed exhibition of sculpture. Four St. Pete hair stylists create ferocious ‘dos while models wearing designer Rhonda Shear’s latest upscale lingerie roam the party. Belly up to the Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Bar and try on a pair of feathery false eyelashes (with purchase and assistance from a Neiman Marcus makeup artist). A live DJ, cash bar and hors d’oeuvres by Bon Appetit restaurant round out the offerings. (Pictured: Sahara Strut and Fall Getaway by Lenné Nicklaus-Ball, part of the Wild Spirits exhibit) Sat., Aug. 8, 8 p.m.-midnight, Morean Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, $30 for Morean Arts Center and Salvador Dali Museum Zodiac Group members; $40 general admission in advance; $50 day of the event, 727-822-7872; To purchase tickets, call Alissa Hopkins at ext. 33., moreanartscenter.org — Megan Voeller

Welcome to Radar, where we run down the up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s looking-forward event might be the first local show to unite theater buffs with grungy rock hipsters: Richard III, a hybrid theater and rock ‘n’ roll performance.

Giles Davies in "Richard III"

Often recognized as Shakespeare’s bloodiest play, the Secret Theatre Company puts a new spin on the old ultraviolence with their production of Richard III. Quick to point out that this hybrid of theater and rock ‘n’ roll is “not to be confused with a rock musical” (we’re not talking Andrew Lloyd Webber here), the performance fuses a live show by local rock band Sobriety with “stylized period design and graphic deaths,” all in a smoky, sinister setting that’s sure to mold the mood for Richard’s epic rise to power. Witness Richard’s evolution from the oily antihero to a prey of gloom, self-doubt and paranoia after his coronation, gained through murder, betrayal and foul play. The ever-popular State Theatre is an ideal venue to host the bevy of bands that open the show with original music and a score of six songs written just for Richard. Aug. 8, Sat., 8 p.m., State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, $20, $15 students, 727-895-3045, statetheatreconcerts.com.—Franki Weddington

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

Welcome to Radar, where we run down the up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a dark performance piece about poet Sylvia Plath’s life and death:

Method Machine Productions and twenty@620 present Paul Alexander’s homage to Sylvia Plath’s lifework with Edge: The Story of Sylvia Plath. The one-woman show, starring Marcy J. Savastano, shadows Plath in the final hours of her life, as she reflects on her childhood, her husband, poet Ted Hughes, and her own legacy. In the tradition of great writers (and poets especially), postmortem fame is achieved as much through personal eccentricity as it is quality of work — and to get any kind of street cred in the writing world, authors compete for both the Pulitzer Prize and the most morbid method of committing suicide. Sylvia Plath wins in both categories: she’s the first writer to be posthumously awarded a Pulitzer, for The Collected Poems, and her only novel, The Bell Jar, is lauded for its dark, semi-autobiographical exploration of a spiral into mental illness. As for the suicide, she carried it out in grand style when, at the age of 30, she sealed herself off from her children’s bedrooms, turned on the gas stove, and stuck her head inside. Aug. 6-16, 7 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 1 p.m. Sun., The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, $30 front row seating, $25 general admission, $15 students and seniors, 727-895-6620, studio620.org.—Franki Weddington

The Studio@620 and Push Ultra Lounge team up to present the Summer Sunset Movie Festival, a free movie screening in celebration of the picturesque Florida sunset at 8:30 every Monday through August 31. The July 27 selection is the Alfred Hitchcock-directed North by Northwest, a thriller that evokes “oohs and aahs” both with exciting action scenes and old-time movie hunk Cary Grant’s sexy, intellectual onscreen chemistry with blond bombshell Eva Marie Saint. Push Ultra Lounge, 128 Third St. S., St. Petersburg.

Sleep in, enjoy a late breakfast and sling some paint on a lazy summer Monday at the Color Mixing for Painters workshop. Learn the basic principals of color mixing using primary colors, fundamentals of warms and cools, complementary colors, contrast, values and intensity. Call Gayle at 727-482-9967 to register. Mon., July 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Artists’ Way Cooperative Gallery, 1403 Cleveland St., Clearwater, $35; includes materials, 727-738-8010.

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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It’s the final week to see The Disappeared: Native American Images from the Drapkin Collection. Every great collection starts with a single purchase. For Dr. Robert Drapkin, a series of striking, sepia-toned Native American portraits by Edward S. Curtis provided an entrée into collecting photography years ago; these days, the Clearwater oncologist frequently lends images from his vast and varied collection to Bay area institutions. The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts presents this exhibition featuring more than 60 Native American-themed images from Drapkin’s collection by artists including the famed and sometimes controversial Curtis (who has been faulted for ‘exoticizing’ native cultures), Joseph Kossuth Dixon, William Henry Blackmore and the Gerhard Sisters. (Pictured: Shavenhead [right] and Buckskin Charlie and To-Wee from The Disappeared collection) Through July 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 200 N. Tampa St., Tampa, $4 suggested donation, 813-221-2222, fmopa.org. – Megan Voeller

Nuns are the only topic I’ve ever heard my very religious (though no longer Catholic) grandmother swear about—she often rails against the viciously bad habits (har, har!) of the sisters at her parochial high school. In defense of nuns everywhere, American Stage debuts the Tony-winning play, Doubt, tonight. Set in the Bronx in the mid-1960s, Sister Aloysius is convinced that Father Flynn is having his way with the school’s first and only African-American student. Despite the parodied plotline, Sister Aloysius has only her nunly instinct and circumstantial evidence to combat Father Flynn’s vehement denials. Is she the only person willing to stand up for the student’s rights, or will she ruin an innocent man’s reputation without just cause? No secrets are revealed until the final curtain. July 22-Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., 3 and 8 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., American Stage Theatre, 163 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg, $22-$35, $10 student rush tickets 30 minutes prior to curtain, 727-823-7529, americanstage.org. — Franki Weddington

Every Tuesday night, Soft Rock Renegades (a DJ team made up of Cameron Correa and Jack Spatafora) bring hot jamz to Crowbar, spinning a range of weeknight kick-back music ranging from hip hop (The Roots, De La Soul, Dr. Dre, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest), to electronica (LCD Soundsystem, !!!, Thievery Corporation, Chemical Brothers, Animal Collective, Junior Boys), to old school rock (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, David Bowie) to new school rock (The Sea and Cake, Radiohead, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Santigold) and more. For this week’s edition, SRR welcome Orlando experimental electro duo DiViNCi & Beef Wellington (pictured). This will be their last performance before Divinci hits the road with his fulltime group, Solillaquists of Sound, to promote their new album, ‘No More Heroes,’ out August 4. Tues., July 21, 10 p.m.-3 a.m., Crowbar, 1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City, free admission; $5 liters — Leilani Polk

Stageworks Theatre presents a staged reading of A Tennessee Walk, a quirky folk tale about a circus visiting a small town in Tennessee in 1916, and winner of the Longjohns Awards for outstanding Florida playwrights. Visit stageworkstheatre.org for more info. 7 p.m. Tues., July 21, Shimberg Playhouse, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa, $5, 813-251-8984.

SciCafe, a literary and scientific discussion group, hosts this chat about the “perks” and pitfalls of caffeine intake. Dr. Mark Eichenbaum leads the discussion. Enjoy free food, swag, trivia prizes and drink specials while expanding your horizons. 6-7:30 p.m. Tues., July 21, Red Mesa, 128 Third St. S., St. Petersburg.