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Arts & Entertainment

Get Out: Weekend Events Preview Jan. 6-8

The busy winter season doesn't miss a beat after the holidays. The circus and home show are in town, plus a 5k run and even a sign of the Gasparilla juggernaut are on tap for this weekend.

Where/when: 200 E Twiggs St., downtown, today, 10 a.m.

Why go: Located from the 200 block to 300 block of Twiggs Street, the Tampa Downtown Market offers fresh, high-quality food from local farmers and gourmet products from local artisans. The market appears every Friday from October to May, weather permitting.

Price: FREE

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Where/when: 2204 N 15th St, Tampa, FL 33605 (Hillsborough Community College's Art Gallery,  Performing Arts Building Room 114, Ybor City Campus), today, 10 a.m.

Why go: University of Tampa Professor Emeritus Gil DeMeza will exhibit  several new process oriented, formally structured, mixed media paintings  and prints.

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Price: FREE

Where/when: Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., today, 11 a.m.

Why go: Billed as "Florida's Largest Home Show," this event features more  than 1,200 exhibits of new products and services to customize, organize,  remodel, repair, and landscape your home.

Special demonstrations  include Brian Santos ("The Wall Wizard") and Brian and Lynda Lyday on  the "Hot New Colors for 2012 and How to Use Them." Demonstrations occur  daily at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.

Also daily is a live auction at 1pm of unique furnishings, rugs and artwork

Price: $8

 

Where/when: Tampa Bay Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, today, 7:30 p.m.

Why go: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus presents "Dragons," a  show that honors the Year of the Dragon through mystical dragon lore and  feats of bravery and athleticism. See Shaolin Kung Fu Warriors, tigers,  Asian elephants, Cossack riders and "the frenzied Globe of Steel."

Price: $16

Where/when: Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, today, 8 p.m.

Why go: The Boston Herald says, "Ball plays masterful, red hot tracks from the Texas-Louisiana border. Her voice can break your heart with a ballad or break your back with a rocker."

Price: $20

 

Where/when: Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Saturday, 8 a.m.

Why go: The "Take ... The First Step Club" organized this event to provide support and encouragement to walkers and runners of all fitness levels aiming for a healthy lifestyle -- and to raise money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The first 300 registered participants receive long-sleeved T-shirts and goodie bags.

There will be trophies for overall male and female winners, among others.

All participants in the one-mile Fun Run receive ribbons.

Price: $25 for 5-K, $10 for 1-mile fun run

 

Where/when: Gandy boat ramp, 5108 W Gandy Blvd., Saturday, 8 a.m.

Why go: Recreational boat owners planning to participate in the 2012 Gasparilla  Pirate Invasion on Jan. 28 are invited to take advantage of "no-cost,  non-punitive, 15-minute checks" to avoid "potential sizeable fines for  outdated or missing safety equipment aboard their boats." This comes from  the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 79, which plans to offer Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Checks.

Price: FREE

 

Where/when: , 1101 W Sligh Ave., Saturday, 9 a.m.

Why go: The zoo invites adults ages 18 and older to a morning of hands-on activities, hikes through the zoo, and animal encounters, all of which provide tips and tools needed to make your backyard friendly to wildlife.

Here's the schedule:

Jan. 7: The Birds
Feb. 4: Bees and their friends

Price: $25

 

Where/when: 401 W Kennedy Blvd., Saturday, 10 a.m.

Why go: The Henry B. Plant Museum will host seven Antique Evaluation Saturdays  from September through May. Bring your favorite treasures to be  evaluated by one of our experts for $5 an item with a limit of four  items. Tickets are sold from 10 am to Noon. If furniture is too large, you may bring a good  photograph.

Parking is free in front of the building and in the staff and faculty lot to the rear of the building.
 

Price: $5

 

Where/when: 200 N Tampa St., suite 130, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Why go: A thrill-filled ride through the Baby Boomer decades via Bud Lee's photographic arts.

Price: $6

 

Where/when: Gaspar's Grotto, 1805 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, Saturday, noon

Why go: Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Bellamy and Gaspar’s Grotto host this event for all pirate pups and owners, just in case you can't wait for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Enjoy the pooch parade at 2:30pm, along with entertainment by Mr. Bones, "Tampa's premiere pirate magician."

Raffles, pet photos, food and drink specials, prizes for "Best Pirate Pooch" and others.

Dogs must be leashed.

All proceeds benefit Animal Based Charities Inc. of Tampa Bay, which assists local rescue organizations.

Price: $5

Where/when: , 4711 N Central Ave., Sunday, 8 a.m.

Why go: Starting from the Seminole Heights Library we will cycle to Ybor City, Channelside, Harbor Island, Downtown Tampa, and quiet, residential neighborhoods along the Hillsborough River. We'll enjoy breakfast and colorful vendors at the Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market upon our return. This is a great ride for those new to cycling, as well as those who want to see Tampa from a different perspective. We leave promptly at 8:15 AM and will ride 16 miles at a leisurely 10-14 mph pace. Helmets are required.

Price: FREE

Where/when: , 5000 N Central Ave., Sunday, 9 a.m.

Why go: The Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market -- “Fresh, Local & Lively” -- started in 2010, is held on the second Sunday of each month from 9am-2pm on the front lawn of Hillsborough High School, 5000 N. Central Ave.

This market opens the second Sunday in October and runs until the second Sunday in May.  It supports 100 to 130 vendors and caters to all four neighborhoods in Seminole Heights and its neighbors.

Expecty to find a vast variety of Organic, Hydroponic & Conventional Produce, Plants, Herbs, Fresh Flowers, Gourmet Takehome Foods & Ready to Eat Foods.

Live Music starts at 10am and runs till 2pm.  Also featuring two massage therapists on site, and kids activities provided by www.fitkidsplayground.com.

Price: FREE

Where/when: Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N W C Macinnes Place, downtown, Sunday, 6 p.m.

Why go: This hit Broadway musical is based on the legendary December 4, 1956, gathering that Sam Phillips orchestrated at Sun Records in Memphis of   rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and   Carl Perkins.

Enjoy a night of timeless tunes and a "chance to be a fly on the wall of fame."

Price: $38.50 and up

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