Pets and doughnuts, baseball and jazz, theater and art — sounds like a weekend!

1. Woof, Meow, Chirp and Slither: Artists Interpret the World of Pets

The goofy, beautiful creatures we share our lives with, as rendered by a slew of talented craft artists. Related activities throughout the summer include sessions with shelters, veterinarians, pet-friendly businesses and fellow pet owners. Opening reception, Fri., June 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Show continues through 8/10, Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-821-7391, FloridaCraftArt.org.

2. Red Sox/Rays Watch Party

As a Massachusetts native who moved to Florida the year of the Red Sox’s curse-ending win in the 2004 World Series, I used to have conflicted feelings about which team to root for. For a while it was, “OK, they’re both my teams, I hope they both do well,” but now I’m full-on Rays. Maybe it was the Sox fan a few years ago in the Trop who ruined the whole game by standing in my sightline and screaming, “Feah the Be-ahd!” every five minutes (that would be “’Fear the Beard” for you non-Boston speakers). Or maybe it’s the fact that the talented, scrappy, innovative Rays never get the respect they deserve, this year especially. This weekend’s series is a chance to see two of the top teams in the AL East battle it out, and on Sunday you get to do it for free at the beach! What’s not to like? There will be giveaways and live music after the game. Sunday 6/9, 1:05 p.m. TradeWinds Island Resorts, 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 877-444-7297. tradewindsresort.com

3. National Doughnut Day

An excuse to eat doughnuts! Yay! Look for freebies at Dunkin’ and Krispy Kreme, or — props to the Tampa Bay Times — check out this list of local doughnut shops. Friday, 6/7, all day.

4. Next Fall

A critical and popular success during its Off-Broadway and Broadway runs in 2009-10, Geoffrey Nauffts’s Tony-nominated play explores the relationship between two gay men, one devoutly religious, the other an atheist, and the consequences when an accident changes everything. A commendable new initiative by Gulfport Community Players to stage a play each June that ties into Pride month. Directed by Patrick Brafford. Gulfport Community Players at Catherine Hickman Theater, 26th & Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Through 6/16, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sat. & Sun. at 2 p.m. gulfportcommunityplayers.org.

5. Nate Najar & Adrian Cunningham: Swing is the Thing!

Two top instrumentalists — clarinetist/saxophonist Adrian Cunningham and supremely talented guitarist Nate Najar — take us through a rollicking repertoire of Ellington, Basie and more. Fri. 6/7, 8 p.m., Side Door Cabaret at the Palladium, 253 Fifth Ave., N., St. Petersburg, 727-822-3590, my palladium.org.

6. Buyer & Cellar

This weekend’s your last chance to see Chris Crawford as Barbra’s in-house basement mall manager. It’s hilarious and he’s amazing. Through 6/9, freeFall Theatre, 727-498-5205, freefalltheatre.com.

7. Come from Away

See dR Daily 6/5-9 (with my updated review). strazcenter.org.

8. Long Day’s Journey Into Night

I haven’t seen American Stage’s production of the Eugene O’Neill classic yet, but the reviews are spectacular — like this beautifully written piece by my former colleague at Creative Loafing, Scott Harrell. Through 6/30, americanstage.org.

9. Stupid F**ing Bird

This irreverent, updated spin on Chekhov’s The Seagull at Tampa Rep is another must-see for theater lovers. Through 6/16, tamparep.org.

10. Learn Over Lunch: Navigating Your Creative Journey with Creative Pinellas Artist Laureate Akiko Kotani

Creative Pinellas’s stimulating lunch & learn series not only provides insights into how you can advance your own career as a creative individual, but offers an inside look at the process of excellent artists like Akiko Kotani, whose fascinating installations — Soft Walls and Waterfalls at Millford Valley — are currently on view at the Creative Pinellas galleries. Both were created by crocheting plastic strips into enormous flowing white forms. Fri. 6/7, 11 a.m., Creative Pinellas, $5, General Admission, $15 Workshop & Box Lunch, creativepinellas.org.