Herb Jeffries, the silver screen's first and only African-American singing cowboy, rides the prairies again in three feature films included in the Midnight Ramble film festival, a new feature of the Florida African American Heritage Celebration from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Pinewood Cultural Park on Walsingham Road in Largo. The festival also offers gospel, jazz, blues and traditional African drumming, dance, storytellers, workshops, hands-on activities and a marketplace brimming with arts and crafts. Other entertainment will be provided by the Boys Choir of Tallahassee. Admission is free. Free parking is available at a remote lot at 119th Street just south of Ulmerton Road. Shuttle buses will run from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. For information, call (727) 532-1698.

Choir

The acclaimed Boys' Choir of Tallahassee performs at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Royalty Theater, 405 Cleveland St., in Clearwater. The 125-member choir, created by Florida State University, is recognized by the President's Committee on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The singers, who range in age from 8 to 19, rehearse each week, are required to spend six hours in study hall and take classes on self-esteem, relationships and juvenile justice. Their performance includes a variety of singing styles and dance and instrumental performances. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors. For information, call (727) 532-1698.

Quilt show

Quilts have evolved with the nation's history from functional to personal art forms and they are beginning to be recognized as one of the foremost examples of American folk art. See them during a show called Quilts: The Everyday to the Extraordinary through April 27 at the Safety Harbor Museum, 329 Bayshore Blvd. S, Safety Harbor. An opening reception will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today. Admission for the reception is $5 for members, $3 for those donating quilting supplies for the Youth Arts Corps. Regular museum admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and children. Call (727) 726-1668.

Happenings

JAZZ CONCERT: Sonny La Rosa's America's Youngest Jazz Band will perform swing and big band classics at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Royalty Theater, 405 Cleveland St., downtown Clearwater. All the players are 12 and younger. Tickets are $10. Call (727) 441-8868.

WORLD WAR II SALUTE: Heritage Village will honor those who served in World War II with a step back in time from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Sponsored by the Pinellas County Historical Society, the event will include swing dancers, period music, a USO show, exhibits, presentation on the Tuskegee Airmen, a victory garden, displays, food and soft drinks. Admission is free. Heritage Village is at 11909 125th St. N, Largo.

SUNSETS AT PIER 60: Celebrate the end of the day with a festival of arts, crafts and entertainment from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily at the Pier 60 Pavilion on Clearwater Beach. Today, it's Island Boys (Caribbean sounds); Saturday, it's the Jim Griswold Band (blues); Sunday, it's Deja Groove (funk and blues). Admission is free.

CONCERT AND CD RELEASE PARTY: Songwriters for the Kingston Trio Jak Kelly and Andy Elliott will perform at 8 tonight at the Royalty Theater, 405 Cleveland St. Admission is $15. Call (727) 441-8868.

CONCERT: Engelbert Humperdinck (Release Me, Quando, Quando, Quando) sings at 8 tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. Tickets are $35- $38.50. Call (727) 791-7400.

COMEDY: Tim Conway and Harvey Korman perform at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. Tickets are $35-$55. Call (727) 791-7400.

ART SHOW: David Anderson: Images and Reflections is at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, 600 Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs through March 9. $5, discounts for seniors and students. Call (727) 712-5762.

JAZZ: The Clam Bayou Jazz Band presents a Mardi Gras concert at 3 today at Tarpon Springs Library, 138 E Lemon St. Free. Call (727) 943-4922.

WORKSHOP: Have you ever wondered how living trees are miniaturized? Are you curious about how to maintain them? Would you like to know about the techniques and guidelines for shaping trees artistically? If so, attend a Suncoast Bonsai Society demonstration by international bonsai master Walter Pall, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Christ Annex Building, 6045 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Pall's demonstrations have helped beginners and experts around the world understand the principles of bonsai. He has a personal collection of 500 bonsai. $5 donation for nonmembers. Call (727) 522-1879 after 2 p.m.

ART EXHIBIT: The Exhibiting Society of Artists, is presenting a new art show exhibit in the Community Room at the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, 1130 Cleveland St., Clearwater, through March 5. The featured artists are Julie Leiman Weaver, whose artwork includes ceramic works, acrylic/watercolor paintings and colored pencil drawings, and Charna Bogdany, who paints watercolors. You can see the show during regular chamber business hours. Call (727) 461-0011.

GOTT, LARNED, McCLELLAN: MAJOR GLASS: The Gulf Coast Museum of Art presents the work of three well-known Florida glassblowers, Susan Gott, Paul Larned and Duncan McClellan through April 13 in the Courtyard Sculpture Garden. Using a variety of hot glass techniques, as well as metal, stone and other materials, the artists have developed large-scale mixed media sculpture works, breaking new ground. The museum is at 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo. For information, call (727) 518-6833 or visit www.gulfcoastmuseum.org.

HIKE: See the dense forests and wild animals of Brooker Creek Preserve by taking a guided hike from 9 to 11 a.m. every Saturday. Reservations are required. Call (727) 453-6910.

WHITE ELEPHANT SALE: Help the Largo Library by attending this sale featuring bargain, vintage and collectible items from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the library, 351 East Bay Drive. For information or to donate items, call (727) 587-6715 ext. 2507.

PROGRAM: George Morgan, author of Your Family Reunion: How to Plan it, Organize it and Enjoy it!, shares information about his book at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Ave. Free.

CONTEST: The 2003 Good Life Games of Pinellas County and surrounding areas will be celebrating its kickoff with a photo contest at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Royal Palms, 200 Lake Ave., Largo. The deadline for entries has passed, but enjoy the festivities. For information, call (727) 892-5420.

MUTT STRUT: Grab a leash and go to the 11th annual Mutt Strut pet walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Highlander Park at Michigan Boulevard and Pinehurst Road in Dunedin. At 10:30 a.m., Joel Silverman, former host of Good Dog U on Animal Planet, will talk about finding the right pet companion.

Back to North Pinellas news

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Special Links

Mary Jo Melone

Howard Troxler

From the Times
North Pinellas desks