Community Corner
Get Out: Weekend Events Preview Dec. 9-11
Holiday season's in full swing, people. No excuses for staying in. You can get in to the museum for free, ride the streetcar for almost free, peruse lots of art, catch an adult play, or visit a Wild Wonderland at the zoo.
Where/When: 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, today, 4 p.m.
Why go: The Tampa Museum of Art presents free admission on Fridays from 4pm to 8pm. Or do you just hate to save money?
Price: Uh, FREE!
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Where/When: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Drive, today, 4 to 10 p.m.
Why go: The Hillsborough River won't be freezing over any time soon. Enjoy Tampa's only outdoor ice skating rink through Jan. 1. Admission includes skates and 90 minutes on the ice. Open seven days a week.
Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Price: $10
Where/When: The Honey Pot, 1507 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, today 6:30 p.m.
Why go: Join the GaYBOR District Coalition in celebrating the holiday season during their 4th annual Holiday Party. The Coalition provides complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for Ybor businesses, residents and friends during this free event.
Price: FREE
Where/When: Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave., today, 7 p.m.
Why go: Light up your holidays at the zoo with wondrous animated displays, dazzling decorations, traditional holiday treats from the zoo's "Sweet Shoppe," Santa himself -- and real reindeer!
Price: $11-$13
Where/When: Straz Center for the Performing Arts,1010 N W.C. Macinnes Place, TECO Theater, today, 7 p.m.
Why go: Students from the instrumental Patel Conservatory jazz program Jazz Ensembles and Adult Vocal Jazz Ensemble perform in this concert.
Price: $12
Where/When: Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N W.C. Macinnes Place, today, 8 p.m.
Why go: The Straz Center presents a musical based on the film "A Christmas Story," about the holiday odyssey of Ralphie Parker to get the gift of his dreams: a Red Ryder Action Air Rifle BB Gun. Produced by the film's original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley.
Price: $38.50 and up.
Where/When: StageWorks Theatre, 1208 E Kennedy Blvd., Suite 151, today, 8 p.m.
Why go: StageWorks Theatre presents David Hare's "The Blue Room," a contemporary riff on the once-banned play "La Ronde." One man and one woman portray all ten partners in a series of sexual liaisons. Contains adult language and nudity.
Price: $24.50; $10 for students, seniors and military personnel.
Where/When: Seminole Heights Garden Center, 5800 N Central Ave, Saturday, 8:30 a.m.
Why go: On the second Saturday of each month our ride leaves promptly at 8:30 a.m. from the Seminole Heights Garden Center, 5800 N. Central Ave. Routes are alternated from month to month. The pace is moderate (10-16 mph), the routes average 10 miles roundtrip and usually include a stop at a coffee shop along the way. Come with your helmet on your head, air in your tires, and brakes that work, ready to experience the beauty of Central Tampa on two wheels.
Price: FREE
Where/When: Centennial Park, E 8th Ave & N 19th St, Ybor City, Saturday, 9 a.m.
Why go: Hosted by City of Tampa’s Parks and Recreation Department, this juried festival features artists from around the country, along with the weekly Saturday Market. More than $2,000 will be awarded to artists for first, second, third and best of show. In addition, enjoy live holiday performances in and around the park and Centro Ybor. Plus, Santa will make appearances starting at 11am and continuing throughout the day
Price: FREE
Where/When: 1907 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, Saturday, 9 a.m.
Why go: Ybor Arts Association member artists offer an affordable artistic alternative to the typical gift-giving. From fine artists to sculptors, arts and crafts to hand-made jewelry, Deck the Walls shares the gift of art and supports local artists and retailers. All pieces are priced at $100 or less. Participating holiday art crawl venues include Ybor Art Association Gallery, Blues Ship Cafe, Hoffman Porges Gallery, Centro Ybor, Singing Stone Gallery, Gaspar’s Grotto, Sunday's Fine Dining, The Roosevelt, and the historic Don Vicente Inn. Deck the Walls art crawl map of venues and coordinating times will be available at Centennial Park and participating Deck the Walls venues. Deck the Walls is part of Historic Holiday Spirit in Ybor City.
Price: FREE
Where/When: Centro Ybor, 1600 E 8th Ave., Ybor City, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Why go: Centro Ybor and the TECO Streetcar line invite everyone to ride through Ybor City, the Channel District and Downtown Tampa for just 25 cents. Some shops and restaurants along the route will have special offers and discounts for presenting the "Streetcar Holiday Connections" brochure (available at all streetcar stations). Visit the streetcar information table at Centro Ybor for a ticket for a free kid's meal at Gametime while supplies last. NOTE: Please bring exact change; the motormen are not able to provide change.
Price: 25 cents
Where/When: select shops in Seminole Heights, 6 to 9 p.m.
Why go: Eight neighborhood businesses will sell raffle tickets for store merchandise, plus offer cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and sweets. All raffle proceeds, plus a portion of store sales during event hours will benefit Francis House, a Seminole Heights non-profit agency that provides services to this affected by HIV.
Price: FREE