The heart of the Mathers

By NAOMI NOVAK and SHANNON BREEN
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 30, 2002

Looking for something to do? Here's a super calendar, ranging from new appliances to standup comedy.

Born Marshall Bruce Mathers, Eminem has been called one of the most provocative rappers in contemporary pop music.

Provocative and popular.

He released his third solo album, The Eminem Show, on May 26. Within two weeks, it had sold 2.5-million copies.

The king of controversy raps about everything from the state of the music industry to the state of America.

He grew up in Detroit and began performing when he was 14. He placed second in freestyle rap at the 1997 Olympic MC Battle in Los Angeles and was shortly signed by Dr. Dre and Aftermath/Interscope Records.

Since the release of his first album, The Slim Shady LP, Eminem has been featured in numerous industry publications including Rap Pages, VIBE, Rolling Stone, Spin, The Source, URB and Stress.

Saturday, he will perform at the Anger Management Tour with guests D12, Ludacris, The X-ecutioners, Papa Roach and Xzibit at the Ice Palace at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $40. Call 287-8844. -- NAOMI NOVAK

TODAY

FLORIDA'S LARGEST HOME SHOW -- THE BIG SHOW! Get a peek at home colors and trends for 2003. Debut items include Whirlpool's Polara Refrigerated Range, which can be preprogrammed to keep food chilled until it starts cooking. The Polara is one of 800 displays, demonstrations and how-to clinics. Sugar gliders, 12-inch marsupials that resemble squirrels, are introduced as house pets. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday; Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., downtown; $7 general, $6 seniors, free for children 12 and younger. Call 274-8511.

NFL FOOTBALL: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT HOUSTON TEXANS. 8 p.m., televised on UPN-Ch.44.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: SARASOTA RED SOX AT TAMPA YANKEES. 7 p.m.; Legends Field; $3-$5. Call 287-8844.

31 -- SATURDAY

JO DEE MESSINA: You may know country singer Jo Dee Messina from her latest pop-crossover single, Bring on the Rain. 8 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $39.75-$45. Call (727) 791-7400.

THE GOOD CAUSES BENEFIT CONCERT: Flash Gordon, born Gordon Williamson, got a call from his father one night in 1998 telling him that his oldest sister had been beaten to death. Two years later, he lost his father to cancer. Gordon, a comic book writer and flute player, spearheaded this concert with a portion of proceeds benefitting St. Petersburg's Center Against Spouse Abuse and LifePath Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. Local band, MOD, with singer and songwriter Jeff Beckwith, opens the show, followed by Flash Gordon's Adventures, an acoustic band, and capped off by Ghetto Love Sugar. 8 p.m. to midnight; Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg; $10. Call (727) 442-7953.

TOUR TAMPA THEATRE: Learn more about Tampa Theatre's history, architecture, restoration (and ghosts) on a 90-minute balcony-to-backstage tour, including a demonstration on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ by organist Bob Baker and a short film screening of Precious Images, a collection of scenes from over 600 memorable movies. Noon; Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., downtown; suggested $5 donation. Call 274-8981.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS AT TAMPA YANKEES. 7 p.m.; Legends Field; $3-$5. Call 287-8844.

1 -- SUNDAY

BACKYARD ALLSTAR COMEDY TOUR: Standup comedians Kenny Williams, Chris Thomas (host of the Original Kings of Comedy tour), Freddie Ricks, Sleepy Floyd and others attempt to split the sides of patrons on their comedy tour. Hosted by DJ Mad Linx. 9 to 11 p.m.; USF Special Events Center; $16.05-$26.75. Call 287-8844.

KRS-ONE: Hip-hop legend/pioneer, KRS-One brought social consciousness to hard core rap by pleading for peace. The rap icon along who, along with Chuck D. from Public Enemy, introduced a generation of hip-hop philosophy and politics, plays The Masquerade, 1503 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. 8 p.m.; $15. Call 287-8844.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS AT TAMPA YANKEES. 1 p.m.; Legends Field; $3-$5. Call 287-8844.

2 -- MONDAY (LABOR DAY)

CHER AND CYNDI LAUPER: Through a metamorphosis of music and fashion, Cher sits alongside the likes of Madonna in a reinvention boat, rowing against the tide. The Oscar-winning actor, 56, has announced that this summer's "The Living Proof -- The Farewell Tour," will be her last. (Doesn't Kiss say that every year? Didn't The Who say that? What about Celine Dion? They can't stay away.) Cyndi Lauper, star of early MTV, sold 5-million copies of her 1983 debut album, She's So Unusual, and scored a string of Top 10 hits, including Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time. Lauper's thin, girlish voice and gleefully rag-tag appearance helped define the early 1980s music scene. 7:30 p.m.; Ice Palace; $38-$78. Call 287-8844.

LET'S GET PHYSICAL: Is it possible to enjoy playing with the physics of footballs, Frisbees and other flying objects while exploring the science behind them? MOSI seems to think so. "Football: The Exhibit," and the Science Works Theater are interactive experiments demonstrating physical challenges experienced in space. Intended for grades K-5 students. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; MOSI, 4801 E Fowler Ave.; MOSI members $20, nonmembers $25. Call 987-6000.

3 -- TUESDAY

BOOK SIGNING: Historian and reporter Willie Drye discusses and signs his book, Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, a true story of Depression-era devastation. World War II veterans work on New Deal construction in South Florida and get caught in the most powerful hurricane to date. 7 p.m.; Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave.; free. Call 253-2638.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: ANAHEIM ANGELS AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS. 7:15 p.m.; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg; $14-$195. Call 287-8844.

4 -- WEDNESDAY

TED NUGENT: Heavy-metal rock-guitar wild man Ted Nugent has a knack for penning arena anthems. His standing as one of rock's top live acts has kept him in the limelight for over three decades. Some of his hits include Wango Tango, State of Shock, Turn It Up, Motor City Madhouse and perennial favorites Free For All and Cat Scratch Fever. 8 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $27.75-$50. Call 287-8844.

PABLO FRANCISCO: Francisco brings forth off-the-wall sound effects and impressions. He has appeared on Mad TV as a cast member, Loco Slam and Evening at The Improv, along with other comedy stints. Francisco is also on the "Three Amigos Tour" with Carlos Mencia and Freddie Soto. Through Sept. 8; 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant, Centro Ybor; $12. Call 864-4000.

BALLET TRAINING PROGRAM: Inspiring ballet dancers have the opportunity to become young Mikhail Baryshnikovs by auditioning for the Classical Ballet Training Program where boys and girls ages 7-18 participate. 6 p.m.; The Center Annex, 101 N Meridian Ave., downtown Tampa in the Channelside district; $15. For an audition appointment, call 273-4431.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: ANAHEIM ANGELS AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS. 7:15 p.m.; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg; $14-$195. Call 287-8844.

5 -- THURSDAY

BACH AMONG THE FLOWERS: A play about Dr. Edward Bach, pioneer of the back-to-nature health movement. Bach, who lived in 20th Century England and was more popular with patients than with fellow physicians, used plants to heal emotional wounds and obsessions. He's known in modern times for the Bach Flower Remedies, sold in pharmacies throughout Europe and in U.S. health food stores. Runs through Sept. 22. Written by Aubrey Hampton. 7 p.m. Thurs.; 8 p.m. Fri.; 3 and 8 p.m. Sat.; 3 p.m. Sun.; The Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa; $15-$25. Call 879-2914.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: ANAHEIM ANGELS AT TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS. 7:15 p.m.; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg; $14-$195. Call 287-8844.

NEXT WEEKEND:

• HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDE: Sept. 11, Ice Palace.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• ELTON JOHN & BILLY JOEL: Sept. 13, Ice Palace.
• MARC ANTHONY: Sept. 15, Ice Palace.
• ALAN JACKSON: Sept. 20, Ice Palace.
• BOW WOW/B2K/IMX: Sept. 27, Ice Palace.
• AEROSMITH WITH KID ROCK: Oct. 17, Ice Palace.
• AMERICAN IDOL LIVE: Oct. 23, Ice Palace.
• BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND: Nov. 24, Ice Palace.

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