Is music the food of love? Maybe. Some might say that food is the food of love, or laughter, or a good ol’ yarn of love and intrigue. Find all these categories and more in this weekend’s top 10.
Note: I’ve tried to avoid listing weekend events that are already sold out, like Willie Nelson and the Beach Boys at Ruth Eckerd and Whitney James at the Palladium, and though I link to dRTB’s list of romantic restaurants, better check with them first before making plans.
1. Dance!
Jazz Theory: A Dance-Jazz Collaboration at The Studio@620. A promising marriage if ever there was one: projectALCHEMY, led by the brilliant dancer/choreographer Alex Jones, is teaming up with jazz saxophonist Jeremy Carter for an evening of music and dance, exploring favorites like “Killing Me Softly” and “My Funny Valentine.” Small appetizers and beer and wine from St. Pete local breweries. 2/14-15, 7:30 p.m., The Studio@620, studio620.org.
2. Dine!
Choose from dRTB’s list of romantic restaurants — and check out Cindy Stovall’s love letters to two restaurateur couples who’ve found a way to mix love and cuisine.
3. Greens!
Who makes the best collard greens in Tampa Bay? Head to the Deuces on Saturday to find out at the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival, where you can also enjoy cooking demos, get gardening tips and lots more. And on the night before, there’s a reception and interview at Tombolo Books with the cookbook author and food historian Toni Tipton-Martin. Reception, 2/14, 6-9 p.m., Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Festival, 2/15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dr. Carter T. Woodson African American Museum, 9th Ave. & 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg, and surrounding streets, tbcgf.org.
4. Sax!
Raschér Saxophone Quartet with the Florida Orchestra. There’s nothing saxier than good sax. I could go on with the puns, but no — I’ll just say that this remarkable quartet headlines an American Masters concert, playing Philip Glass’s Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra, Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Bernstein’s Candide Overture, and Theofanidis’s Symphony No. 1. Straz Center 2/14, 8 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall 2/16, 7:30 p.m., floridaorchestra.org.
5. Joust!
Tighten your bodices and polish your armor, it’s time to eat giant turkey legs and root for your liege on the jousting field. The Bay Area Renaissance Festival kicks off this weekend with a Wine, Romance & Song theme featuring special events like the Cupcake Crusades, Wedding Wars and a Chocolate Festival. Saturdays and Sundays 2/15-3/29, 10 a.m.-6 p.m, 11315 N. 46th St., Tampa, bayarearenfest.com.
6. Read!
Randy Wayne White‘s latest Doc Ford thriller, Salt River, is all about love and intrigue and, um, semen. Hear him read at Haslam’s today to learn the details. 2/13, 3 p.m., Haslam’s Book Store, 2025 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, haslams.com.
7. Sing!
One City Chorus with the Alumni Singers at the Palladium.
A concert by One City Chorus, the community chorale led with precision and wit by Jon Arterton, is a guaranteed source of joy, which will no doubt be doubled by the presence of the Alumni Singers. 2/16, 4 p.m., The Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, mypalladium.org.
8. Stomp!
Boogie Woogie Blues Piano Stomp at the Palladium. Two grand pianos, four great boogie and blues pianists. The Palladium’s Boogie Woogie Blues Piano Stomp returns with headliner Victor Wainwright, the “Piana from Savannah” (pictured), along with Key West legend Barry Cuda, Los Angeles boogie master Rob Rio, and St. Pete’s own Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues. 2/15, 8 p.m., Hough Hall, The Palladium.
9. Swoon!
Andrea Bocelli at Amalie Arena. “Do not call him the blind bombshell. Do not call him the blind bombshell. Do not call him the blind bombshell.” OK, there, got that out of my system. The dashing tenor is many folks’ idea of swoon-worthy, so don’t be surprised at the prices for this Valentine’s Day show at the Amalie with the Opera Tampa Festival Chorus. 2/14, 8:30 p.m., Amalie Arena, Tampa, amaliearena.com.
10. Trocks!
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Cap. Testosterone in tutus. A mix of ballet expertise and inspired slapstick that never fails to delight. 2/15, 8 p.m., Bilheimer Capital Theatre, Clearwater, rutheckerdhall.com.
