Forward thinking
By COLETTE BANCROFT
Published January 29, 2007
EIGHTY YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT AT A LOCAL JEWEL
Revived in the 1970s after falling into near-ruin, the Tampa Theatre celebrates its Ruby Jubilee this week. Put on your flapper dress and party at the After Hours Speakeasy on Saturday night be sure to say hello to Finley the ghost, or take the kids to the 80th birthday party at 1 p.m. Sunday for entertainment, cake and more. For information, go to www.tampatheatre.org.
For New Orleans, from the heart
On Tuesday, crooner Harry Connick Jr. releases two new CDs, both poignant salutes to his still-suffering hometown of New Orleans. Oh My NOLA is a collection of tunes associated with the city, sung by Connick, while Chanson de Vieux Carre is an album of jazz instrumentals by his big band. Proceeds from both CDs will benefit the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village.
The whole truth and nothing but
The Scooter Libby trial continues this week, and upcoming on the witness list is Vice President Dick Cheney. Given that he has been busy presenting a united front with the president on the unpopular escalation of the war, while Libby's lawyers have been just as busily portraying the White House as tossing Libby (and the VP's office) to the wolves to protect Karl Rove, it will be fascinating to hear whether Cheney reconciles those dueling realities on the stand.
Spaces for living and learning
Downtown St. Petersburg is bustling with plans to revamp museums and performance spaces as well as expand USF and St. Petersburg College campuses, which makes the timing right for architect and library designer Henry Myerberg to talk about "Design and Education: Creating Spaces for Lifelong Learning" at Studio@620 620 First Ave. S. It's free, at 7 p.m. Wednesday. For information, go to www.thestudioat620.com.
And a bunch of Oscars go to . . .
On Thursday, cable channel Turner Classic Movies kicks off its annual 31 Days of Oscar festival, showcasing more than 350 films that won or were nominated for the award, from Charlie Chaplin's The Circus (1928) to American Beauty (1999). Find yourself snoozing through that Super Bowl pregame stuff? The Dirty Dozen is on at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. For the complete schedule, go to www.tcm.com.
Theatrical celebrations
The Oscars are in the news, but this week three Tony Award winners celebrate birthdays. On Tuesday, the magnificent Vanessa Redgrave (Tony in 2003, as well as an Oscar in 1977) turns 70. Indomitable Elaine Stritch (2002) will be 82 on Friday, and the King of Broadway, Nathan Lane (2001 and 1996), turns 51 on Saturday.
By Colette Bancroft, Times staff writer, (727) 893-8435 or bancroft@sptimes.com.New Orleans sounds
Hear samples from Harry Connick Jr.'s Oh My NOLA at www.hconnickjr.com.