The riverfront spot known as the Water Works Park has been a secret spot to watch the sunset and eat some takeout with a lovely view. Too special to languish in obscurity, the city of Tampa has revamped the park to make it a family-friendly landmark with new landscaping, a water attraction, playground equipment and a bandshell. Celebrate at a grand opening fest on Saturday that culminates with fireworks. More info here. Or watch a cool video with timelapse to get a bird's eye view.
The St. Pete Cupcake Contest is today at the Morean Arts Center! Each year amateur and professional bakers pimp out cupcakes with unusual frosting, accouterments, clever toppings and flavor combinations in its annual competition, which takes place noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. A $1 allows you taste them and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The Morean is at 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-822-7872.
If you're in North Pinellas, the Tarpon Springs HippieFest will bring the peace and love with food trucks, a beer truck, bands, vendors, cars from the VW Beetle Club, a Best Dressed Hippie Contest and shops in both the historic downtown and at the Sponge Docks staying open into the evening. This is a free family event, we’re told. So, keep the free love and free-spiritedness rated G, kay? Sat., Takes place 4-10 p.m. 828 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs.
Celebrate National Rum Day on Saturday at the Cuban Club's 2014 Summer of Rum Festival in Ybor City.
If you like watching words go apeshit (who doesn't?), head to Gulfport for the Lucha Libro Literary Death Match: Street Writer IV. Keep St. Pete Lit and Cole Bellamy present their next installment of the lively live writing competition 7 p.m. at Gulfport’s Art Courtyard Outdoor Stage (behind building at 2908 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport). What it entails: Two authors are given a random prompt and then they have five minutes to create an original piece before an audience, whose applause determine the winner. Theatricality and costumes encouraged. For more info contact Maureen McDole at 727-798-4530, visit keepstpetelit@gmail.com or check in on the Facebook event page.
Versatile, clean and quick-witted Quinn Dahle has been making the late-night talk show rounds and has worked with celebs like the late, great Robin Williams. See him at Tampa’s Side Splitters through Sunday. sidesplitterscomedy.com.
Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel re-mount their first Scott & Patti Show in Tampa, acquainting Hillsborough with theater’s wackiest mother/son duo. 8 p.m. Saturday night at Stageworks Theatre, Tampa, stageworkstheatre.org.
The Amsterdam will host Shipwrecked at The Amsterdam: Gilligan’s Island Theme Party, a tropical-themed summer party with prizes, games and all-out zaniness. Sat., 6 p.m.-midnight, 1049 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, theamsterdamstpete.com.
The Studio@620 presents LESS, the second performance of the Project GenYes! series by Karleigh Chase Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The one-woman show about being a homeless female depicts the harsh realities of a life where most only have three choices: panhandling, stealing or prostitution. “I am trying to illustrate how thin the veil is between being normal and being homeless, because it can happen to anyone,” said Chase. The evening events will also further tie in the theme of homelessness with a gallery exhibit of paintings by Ben Love, a previously homeless artist, and music from The Open Door Band, comprised of homeless and previously homeless musicians. Performances will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. with a Sunday matinee Aug. 17 at 3 p.m. Admission is $15, $10 for students or seniors.
Finally, a cool art show on Sunday. Thank you, Bluelucy, for bringing us the afternoon opening reception Regenerate, an afternoon of works derived from old thrift paintings, vintage items, old furnishings, etc., by some of the scene’s best. Also, rumor has it that artist/professor Dick Patterson will be treating attendees to a box guitar concert. 3-8 p.m. 653 Central Ave., St. Pete, bluelucy.net.