An exquisite arts installation in a real estate office. A project to inspire generosity in kids, courtesy the Super Bowl. These are just a few of the seasonal treats on tap this weekend.
The Long Nights: How the Light Gets In. Smith & Associates Real Estate, in partnership with The Poetry Bar, presents an immersive art experience celebrating the radiant power of light as a tool for connecting and inspiring joy in our lives. The art installation, “The Long Nights: How the Light Gets In,” will be displayed on the terrace steps of Smith’s Beach Drive showroom for a limited run of four nights culminating on the final night for the Winter Solstice. Inspired by the Leonard Cohen quote, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in,” celebrated local artist Katee Tully has created an artistic event that weaves poetry, people, music, and objects to help reveal how light travels into our lives. The art experience features interactive personal writing prompts, live solo performances by select members of the Florida Orchestra, and live poetry creation by Giovanni Cerro, aka Gio Typos. Dec. 18-21, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Smith & Associates, 330 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg.
Super Kids Super Sharing. Since its inception in 2000 at Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, this initiative has placed hundreds of thousands of books, school supplies and sports equipment into the hands of children in host communities, encouraging families to repurpose items they no longer need and pass them along to others who can benefit. The NFL, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are teaming up with the YMCA’s of Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Education Foundation, Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation, City of Tampa Parks and Recreation, the City of Tampa, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and numerous schools in the Diocese of St Petersburg to host collection and distribution of items. These will be shared with the children served by the community partners and with Replay Tampa Bay and Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. Through Fri. Dec. 18. For a full list of drop-off areas and times, go to tampabaylv.com/SuperKids.
Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday Live-Streamed from the Palladium. A swinging mix of holiday tunes performed live from the Palladium by an all-star ensemble: the Nate Najar Trio, with Nate Najar on acoustic guitar, Joe Porter, bass, Jean Bolduc, drums, plus special musical guests Daniela Soledade, vocals, Adrian Cunningham, sax and clarinet, James Suggs, trumpet, and Yves Dharamraj, cello. Fri. Dec. 18, 8 p.m. Purchase access to the livestream link at mypalladium.org. NOTE: This show is LIVESTREAM ONLY.
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. The beloved American holiday film, adapted for radio broadcast 1940s-style and livestreamed by American Stage. Accompanied by live sound effects, the ensemble brings dozens of characters to life, including our hero, George Bailey, who discovers during one fateful Christmas Eve what the world would be like without him. Dec. 18-20 & 22-27, americanstage.org.
The Florida Orchestra: “Classical Christmas” Coffee Concerts. Music to celebrate the season from history’s greatest composers, including Mozart, Handel and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Daniel Black conducts. Dec. 17, 11 a.m., Mahaffey Theater. Encore performances at the Mahaffey Dec. 20, 2 & 5 p.m. The 5 p.m. performance will also be livestreamed. the.floridaorchestra.org.
St. Pete Opera’s Mobile POPera: “Holiday Sparkle.” The company’s longtime seasonal favorite returns in outdoor pop-up format, with performances by Paula Broadwater, Chris Romeo and more. Dec. 18 and 20 at 4 p.m. at Cage Brewing. stpeteopera.org.
A Christmas Carol: In Concert at freeFall. This musical version of the Dickens classic returns for a limited engagement as part of freeFall’s outdoor drive-in concert series. Featuring songs from the production, performed by a cast of live performers along with multimedia and narration from the original novella, it’s a recipe for safe family fun. (The company’s drive-in adaptation of War of the Worlds was a blast!) Dec. 17-20 & 22-24, freefalltheatre.com.
Coastal Aire Design Co. This new home decor boutique opened just a few weeks ago in Belleair Bluffs, and judging by photos and Facebook comments it’s already a hit. The shop’s stylish mix of furnishings, gifts and florals is so warmly curated that you may be tempted to move right in — or at least snap up sweet deals on everything from Turkish robes to fresh bouquets, from one-of-a-kind dining tables to the perfect cozy armchair. 586 Indian Rocks Rd. N., Belleair Bluffs, facebook.com/coastalairedesign.
Uptown Market. It’s back! An outdoor market that captures the varied and quirky charms of St. Pete on one groovy little block anchored by MIZE Gallery, the new shop Neat! Neat! Neat! and the must-eat-at restaurant Uptown Eats. Featuring @floridamanplants @zapzapvega @frankstrunk3rd @aprilseelbach @myhungryears @the_meatyard @big_pointz @mizegallery @neatneatneatstpete @uptowneatsstpete. Sat. Dec. 19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 689 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg.
Catch ’em before they close!* Two important theater and visual art events close this weekend. Nosotros La Gente (We The People) at American Stage is the latest production in the company’s digital series, a commissioned work by Jerry Montoya about two brothers, Santiago and Salvador, working the date palm fields in the California desert on the verge of WWII. When Santiago decides to enlist, Salvador promises to take care of his brother’s love, Sophie, in this story of faith, family, hope and love in America. Real-life partners Diana Garle and Daniel Llaca play multiple roles. americanstage.org. Buy tickets to a virtual live performance here. And this is the last weekend to visit the Creative Pinellas 2020 Arts Annual exhibition in person. You’ll still be able to view this terrific survey of work by CP grantees online after Dec. 20, but to get the full impact you should visit the agency’s spacious galleries, which are nestled in the beautiful Florida Botanical Gardens. 12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo, creativepinellas.org/event/arts-annual-2021/
* THIS JUST IN: ARTS ANNUAL EXTENDED THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY 2021!
