Weekend Top Ten Jan. 8-10: Kids’ photos, beach polo, Second Saturday and more
Never has a week needed a week-end more than this one, eh? Per usual, there’s a variety of virtual and in-person options in arts, entertainment and general fun — but whatever you do, wear your mask and keep your distance. COVID ain’t foolin’ around. Virtually Through Our Eyes: Midtown and Beyond (pictured above). One of my favorite annual events,”Midtown and Beyond” at The Studio@620 showcases 100 photos, multimedia, and newspaper pieces created by scholars in grades K-12 from Pinellas County Schools’ Centers for Journalism and Multimedia at Melrose Elementary, John Hopkins Middle, and Lakewood High. You need to register in advance to see the exhibition in person, but there are also virtual events planned, including a live-streamed reception at 6 p.m. on Friday and a poetry slam at 3 p.m. Saturday. Jan. 8-30, thestudioat620.org. Second Saturday ArtWalk “Midtown and Beyond” is just one of the gallery shows that’ll be open during St. Pete’s Second Saturday ArtWalk — the first of 2021. Studios and galleries from Art Fusion to Zen Glass will be open at various times throughout the day in five arts districts, including Central, EDGE, Grand Central, Warehouse Arts and downtown Waterfront Arts.No trolley this month, so plan accordingly, and do be prepared to follow each establishment’s guidelines for entry. EGO DEATH at MIZE Gallery The title of the exhibition may sound ominous, but this one-man show at the MIZE Gallery is “really all about transformation,” says artist iBOMS. See his engrossing (and often endearing) mindscapes and mushroom-headed protagonists (and listen to the accompanying Spotify playlist) at chadmize.com; attend on online opening Friday night on Facebook or Instagram; or visit the gallery Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., or by appointment. Jan. 9-24, 689 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg. Second Annual Beach Polo Classic at the Don CeSar If The Crown whetted your appetite for the sport of kings, gallop on down to St. Pete Beach and the Pink Palace, aka the Don CeSar, where horseplay will be afoot all weekend. And if you tire of hoofs pounding sand and mallets thwapping balls, check out the hotel’s new pool bar and other renovations. Jan. 9-10, 12- 3 p.m. Tickets on Eventbrite. One Night in Miami… at Green Light Cinema Read Howard Walker’s feature about Green Light, where Mike Hazlett’s prescient programming includes terrific indie flicks that haven’t made it online yet like this weekend’s One Night in Miami…, which imagines a meeting between four icons — Malcolm X, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke and Muhammad Ali — in a film that marks the acclaimed directorial debut of Watchmen‘s Regina King. 221 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Jan. 8-11, greenlightstpete.com. Mendelssohn, Bach & Molière at The Florida Orchestra They’re bringing out the heavyweights, musically and theatrically speaking, at TFO. Mendelssohn’s “Reformation” Symphony No. 5 is regarded as one of his most thrilling, and the two Bach pieces on the program include his Concerto for Two Violins, featuring the orchestra’s Nancy Chang and Sarah Shellman (Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. at 2; the 8 p.m. Saturday program will also be livestreamed). In “A Noble Pairing,” Music Director Michael Francis conducts interpretations of Molière’s satire Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The “Would-Be Gentleman”) by Lully and Strauss. (Sat. & Sun. at 5 p.m.) Click here to watch a pre-concert conversation. The Artists of ArtLofts at Florida CraftArt Just above and behind Florida CraftArt on St. Pete’s Central Avenue, there’s a busy hive of artists’ studios called ArtLofts. This month, CraftArt’s gallery is showcasing 16 of ArtLofts’ award-winning and emerging artists, including recent drawings, encaustic, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography and sculpture. 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, through Jan. 23. Live and Local w. Eden Shireen The Straz continues its free live music series on the outdoor Riverwalk stage with an up-and-coming young singer/songwriter from Land O’ Lakes, Eden Shireen, who’s been making a name for herself nationally with an eclectic blend of pop, indie and folk. Fri. Jan. 8, 6-9 p.m., Straz Riverwalk. Over the River and Through the Woods at Ed Fletcher’s Early Bird Dinner Theatre. This funny, poignant play about the relationship between a young New Jersey bachelor and his Italian grandparents was an Off-Broadway hit in 1998 and went on to become a staple of community theaters — including Gulport Community Players, whose production four years ago still lingers in my memory for its nuanced, touching performances. The same director, Patrick Brafford, is now staging it for Early Bird Dinner Theatre, and in the current climate, when visits to older relatives are so fraught with concern, the play should be more affecting than ever. [Full disclosure: I’ve been in three plays directed by Mr. Brafford, but trust me: He’s really good.] Jan. 9-Feb. 28, Thurs.-Sat., 4 p.m., Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. 13355 49th St. N., Clearwater, 727-446-5898. The Bucs. Tom Brady. Playoffs. Need we say more? Well, I could say they’re playing The Team With No Name From Washington. And that the game starts at 8:15 p.m. Saturday night on NBC. And that it’s been called “the most improbable playoff game of 2020.” Which seems about right. (Even though it’s now, um, 2021. But it sort of seems like we’re still living in 2020, doesn’t it?)
dR Daily 10/16: The Play That Goes Wrong at the Straz
The Best Thing You Can Do Tonight: Go to the opening of a play that’s so Wrong it’s right What would happen if Sherlock Holmes and Monty Python had an illegitimate Broadway baby? That’s the delightful hypothetical that’s being used to describe the Tony-winning comedy The Play That Goes Wrong, which is set during the cursed opening night of a British whodunnit — and which opens tonight for a six-day run at the Straz Center in Tampa. It sounds like a mix of Noises Off and Agatha Christie — inspired slapstick both on and off stage, with a veddy-veddy English murder mystery buried somewhere in the chaos — and while I haven’t seen it, the reviews in London and Broadway were rapturous. Good omen for a rollicking evening: Even the the production pics are hilarious. The Play That Goes Wrong: Oct. 16-21, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, 813-229-STAR (7827), strazcenter.org. Tonight’s performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
November/December 2018 A&E Guide
Holidazed yet? Then we’re here to help. Here’s our curated list of the holiday parades, shows, lighted boats and whatnot that will be popping up around the Bay in the next several weeks for your seasonal pleasure. Plus, scroll down beyond the holiday fare to read what’s going on in classical and jazz events, museums and more. HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS CLEARWATER Miracle on Cleveland Street, 12/1, 5-10 p.m. Downtown Clearwater’s Cleveland Street District will be transformed into a holiday wonderland complete with falling snow, an ice rink, that nice Claus couple — and, best of all, a free concert by New Orleans favorites the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Lighted Boat Parade, 12/8, 8 p.m. Boats cruise past Coachman Park under the Memorial Causeway Bridge. DUNEDIN Boat Parade & Tree Lighting: 12/1, 7 p.m. Enjoy holiday music and s’mores while waiting for Santa to arrive by boat and lead the countdown in the lighting of the City’s Christmas tree in Dunedin Marina / Edgewater Park. GULFPORT Annual Holiday Hoopla, 12/8, 10-5 p.m. Arts, crafts, foods, live music and roving holiday characters set in a waterfront atmosphere amid bright, twinkling, colorful lights. Stay late to view Boca Ciega Yacht Club’s 32nd Annual Lighted Boat Parade. LARGO Holiday Lights in the Garden, 11/ 23-12/30, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Over 1 million LED lights shine throughout the Florida Botanical Gardens in nature- or holiday-themed light displays. $4 suggested donation. Annual Holiday Stroll: Let it Snow, 12/15, 6:30-9 p.m. Holiday gift market, a snow slide, and Santa, of course, in Largo Central Park. SAFETY HARBOR Tree Lighting, 12/7, 6 p.m. Choirs will warm up the crowd for the lighting of Safety Harbor’s giant Christmas tree and a visit from you-know-who at the John Wilson Park Gazebo. Holiday Parade, 12/15, 1 p.m. Floats, old-fashioned cars and a visit from Santa on Safety Harbor’s Main Street. ST. PETE BEACH Christmas Parade, 12/8, 11 a.m. The parade starts at St Pete Beach City Hall (155 Corey Ave) and heads west down Corey Ave, south on Blind Pass Rd, east on 73rd to Bay Street and back to City Hall. Lighted Boat Parade, 12/7, 6 p.m. Boat parade and viewing party in Horan Park. ST. PETERSBURG Santa Parade & Tree Lighting, 11/24, 5:30 p.m. Kick off the holidays in the Sunshine City with the Santa Parade beginning at Albert Whitted Park, followed by Mayor Kriseman lighting the tree at 8 p.m. in North Straub Park. Snowfest, 12/1 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)in North Straub Park. Activities include a big and kiddie toboggan slide, art tent, karaoke, moonwalk, giant slide and a Kiddyland area designed especially for preschoolers with inflatable train and more. Wristbands are $5 and include all activities. SUNDIAL HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT Kick off the Holiday Season with Sundial St. Pete’s annual Tree Lighting Celebration, featuring thousands of twinkling lights, Christmas music, face painting for kids, family art projects, and SNOW – Saturday, November 17thrd, 5:30 -8:30 p.m. SNOW falls nightly in the Sundial courtyard at the top and bottom of the hour, from 6-10 p.m. FREE photos with Santa every Saturday from 1–6pm, and Sundays from 12-5p.m. The Sundial will host the Chabad Jewish Center as Rabbi Alter Korf presides over the lighting of the area’s largest menorah to celebrate Chanukah, along with traditional foods from Locale Market, a line-up of world-class performers, and activities for every member of the family. Monday, December 3rd from 5 – 9 p.m. Free Holiday Events at The Mall at Sundial, Downtown St Pete Wednesday, Dec 12th – The Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet is bringing their talents to The Mall at Sundial courtyard for a special holiday show on Wednesday, December 12th at 5:30 pm. Shop, dine and unwind while listening to their spirited twist on Christmas classics. Saturday, Dec 15th – The beloved St. Pete Opera is returning to The Mall at Sundial’s courtyard for a special holiday show on Saturday, December 15th at 2 pm. Shop, dine and unwind while listening to seasonal favorites. Sunday, December 16th – Shorecrest’s student choir – Treblecrest – will delight shoppers in The Mall at Sundial’s courtyard with a special show on Sunday, December 16th at 1 pm. Shop, dine and unwind while enjoying the sounds of Christmas classics. Wednesday, Dec 19th – The acapella quintet Stay Tuned is back at The Mall at Sundial by popular demand! Shop, dine and unwind while enjoying their peppy take on all your favorite Christmas tunes. Wednesday, Dec 19th, 5:30-6:30 PM Saturday, Dec 22nd – Fresh from a string of performances at Disney, Dixie Hollins High School’s The Rebel Clefs, an award-winning eight-member acapella group, will entertain shoppers with their spirited renditions of holiday favorites at 1PM in the Sundial courtyard. Monday, Dec 24th –Finish up your Christmas shopping at The Mall at Sundial on Christmas Eve and enjoy one last set of performances by the audience favorite, Stay Tuned. This peppy quintet sings your favorite Christmas hits at 1:00 and 2:00 PM. One last chance to get Free Photos with Santa on Christmas Eve, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Bring the little ones, friends, and family to The Mall at Sundial, and don’t forget your camera/cell phone so you can capture a (FREE!) fun holiday memory worth sharing with your loved ones! TAMPA Winter Village, 11/16-1/5. An outdoor ice rink, waterfront cafe, pop-up holiday shops and more in Curtis Hixon Park. Tree Lighting Ceremony, 11/30, 6 p.m. Festivities begin in Curtis Hixon with a countdown to the tree lighting led by Mayor Buckhorn. Snow On 7thParade, 12/8, 6-9 p.m. Santa and snow come to Ybor City. TARPON SPRINGS There’s Snow Place Like Tarpon Springs, 12/7, 5-10 p.m. Snow play area, music, children’s activities and a visit with Santa along Tarpon Avenue. Lighted Boat Parade at 8 p.m. Tarpon Springs Christmas Parade, 12/15, 10 a.m. This annual parade weaves through downtown Tarpon Springs from Manatee Plaza to Spring Bayou. A Candy Cane Hunt follows at Craig Park for children up to age 12. TREASURE ISLAND Lighted Boat Parade, 12/14, 6:20 p.m. Billed as “Las Vegas on the water,” this year’s nautical spectacle features boats of all kinds, making it the biggest lighted