Last call for TIGLFF — Saturday evening is the last night of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Festival. Celebrate a memorable 25th anniversary TIGLFF 7:30-9 p.m. at Anise Global Gastrobar 777 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. Directors Rob Williams (Out to Kill and J.C. Calciano (10 Year Plan), David Au (Eat With Me) will be in attendance with other filmmakers. Read revies of two films showing today here.
Enjoy some tasty theater — lots of it! Where you live in Tampa Bay, there's a great show opening. Get some laughs with Superior Donuts, Tony and Pulitzer-winner Tracy Letts's comedy, opening this weekend at Stageworks Theatre. The highly anticipated freeFall production of the smash musical Into the Woods is also taking the stage in St. Pete. The epilogue of classic Brothers Grimm tales — the so-called “happily ever after”— has won theater fans the world over with its music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. If that weren't enough, Tampa Repertory Theatre’sThe Apocrypha of Theodore Roosevelt has a transformed Ned Averill-Snell as the bulldog president at HCC-Ybor, and New Stage's Hamlet also opens in Largo.
Happy Birthday, Gulfport! The southern Pinellas town known for its laid-back bohemian culture, colorful bungalows and old fisherman lore celebrates its 104th anniversary with Gulfport History Month.Festivities began Friday and continue through Saturday evening. Today's birthday bash features the town's traditional mullet toss, hot dogs, fish spread, retro-style kids games, nautically-themed adult games, and trolley tours of Gulfport's history
Happy Birthday, Emerald Bar! The beloved downtown St. Petersburg dive turns 50 this year. George Marano, who has been running his family’s bar since the early ’80s, says the Emerald catered to a more mature clientele until about 15 years ago, when it became an all-out rock bar with many memorable local shows, pop-ins and parties since. Celebrate a longstanding tradition at Emerald Bar's 50@550 Anniversary Celebration.
Happy Anniversary, NineBullets.net! Celebrate one of the web's best headquarters for roots music at New World Brewery with American Aquarium, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Givers and Will Quinlan. More great weekend live music here.
Deep-seated — The University of South Florida's School & Architecture and Community Design has been nurturing some impressive talent. Kudos to Tempus Projects in Seminole Heights for bringing attention to this stellar, innovative program with 14 Chairs Saturday night. Exhibition starts at 7 p.m. After party at 10 p.m. at the Mermaid Tavern.
Art and music walkabout — It's the Second Saturday Art Walk 5-9 p.m. This month the event offers an earful too because the event doubles as a celebration of Universal Music Day with performances throughout downtown and the Warehouse Arts District. Strands of Sunshine's Skin Crawl Pop Up Art Show spotlights Halloween-y works by local artist Coralette Damme, aka The Crafty Hag 5-9 p.m. Strands of Sunshine, is at 4 Sixth St., St. Petersburg. 727-823-2878. strandsofsunshine.com. Feathered Serpent Gallery celebrates the 3rd Annual Dia de la Raza, a holiday that commemorates indigenous people with art, music and spoken word at 1018 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Upward Spiral: Studies in Rhythm by Nathan Beard opens at Articles Art Gallery and Custom Framing, 1445 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. After that, venture over to Venture Compound for Post-Talent Lowbrow Pop Art: The Unintentional John Lichtenstein Art Opening.
Oompah with oomph — more Oktoberfest fun this weekend. Beer lovers rejoice: Oktoberfest Tampa returns to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Saturday and Sunday. Pinellas Park's big fest ends its three-week run today at the Germania Hall on 66th Street, and Tarpon Springs has its Oktoberfest Saturday and Sunday. Southern Brewing in Southeast Seminole Heights, Tampa, brings us its Harvestfest 2014on Sunday.
Localicious, a weeklong celebration of locally sourced food and goods, kicks off with a potluck on Sunday at Pinellas Pioneer Settlement in St. Petersburg. Read more about the fun happenings taking place all week in Meaghan Habuda's cover feature.
"Dee Dee Dee!" Best known for his successful run on Comedy Central several years ago, celeb stand-up comedian Carlos Mencia is now hitting the club circuit with a run of special engagement shows. If you liked Mind of Mencia, you already have a pretty good idea of the kind of unapologetic humor you’ll get on stage this weekend at the Tampa Improv. $25. Sat., Oct. 11, 7:30-9 and 10-11:30 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 12, 7-8:30 p.m. The Tampa Improv, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City. 813-864-4000. More comedy lowdown by Michael Murillo in this week's Laugh Tract.
Honorable mention: Celebrate a local theater favorite at the Jobsite Theater Gala w/The Vodkanauts Sat., Oct. 11, Jaeb Theater at Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa