Digest

Diversions: Coming attractions

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 27, 2007

THROUGH FRIDAY

Through the Painter's Eye, an exhibit of work by members of the West Pasco Art Guild, will be at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed holidays weekdays through Sept. 28. Many of the paintings are for sale. Call Pasco Arts Center at (727) 845-7322.

THROUGH SATURDAY

A photography exhibit by St. Petersburg Times photojournalist Scott Keeler, "Jewel on the Gulf: A Photographic Celebration of Tarpon Springs and Its People," will be at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center through Sept. 28. The center is at 101 S. Pinellas Ave. (Alt. 19), Tarpon Springs. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Free.

THROUGH OCT. 6

'Theresa Villani: Sculptural Abstractions' will be at the Pasco Art Council's art center, 5744 Moog Road, Holiday. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays (closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays). Free.

THROUGH OCT. 8

"Newspapers and the Shaping of American Memory" will be the exhibit at Pasco-Hernando Community College's fine art gallery in the Alric C.T. Pottberg Library on the New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road through Oct. 8. Inquire at the library main desk about viewing hours. Library hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call (727) 816-3229.

THROUGH SATURDAY

Progress Energy Art Gallery is holding its first children's art exhibit, Art Is 4 Kids 2, at the gallery, 6231 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. The exhibit will remain on display from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays through Sept. 29.

SEPT. 28, 29, AND 30

'New Port Richey Founders Day' celebration will be held Sept. 28, 29 and 30 in Sims Park off Main Street by the Pithlachascotee River in New Port Richey. The event includes a man-powered fire truck pull, rock climbing wall, pumpkin painting and other kids activities, antique engines and other historic displays, Miss Daisy boat tours, the Eco-Expo and plant sale, food and beverage vendors, a carnival midway, a car show, historic movies at West Pasco Historical Society and live entertainment. Events are 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 28; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 29; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 30. Donations to "Operation Shoebox" will be accepted during the festival.

SEPT. 29

The 3rd annual "Paws in the Park" dog event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 in San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio. The event includes pet contests (dogs dressed like princesses, people dressed like their dogs), adoptable pet parade, a special blessing of the pets, pet education, the latest in pet products and services and entertainment. All proceeds will benefit Spay Pasco, a program designed to assist dog and cat owners with spaying and neutering costs. The event is sponsored by San Antonio Animal Hospital. Free.

SEPT. 29

Flemenco dancer Paquita Dawson and her dance troupe will perform Flamenco Ole! at 3 p.m. Sept. 29 at New Port Richey Public Library, 5939 Main St., New Port Richey. Free.

SEPT. 30

Soprano Suzanne La Croix will perform opera arias, German art songs, Brahms, Schubert and a few little-known Broadway tunes at 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Brooksville Women's Club, 131 S. Main, Brooksville. Ms. La Croix sang with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and was featured in the Detroit Art Museum's "Brunch with Bach" series. Accompanist is Joni Travis Whitehead. Admission is $10. Call (352) 584-7712. Proceeds will go to Nature Coast Botanical Gardens and Gulf Coast Conservancy.

SEPT. 30

'A Touch of Italy' dinner and show will be presented at Colonial Hills Civic Center, 3852 Prime Place, New Port Richey, on Sept. 30 by All Star Promotions. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., show at 3 p.m., buffet dinner at 4 p.m., followed by more entertainment. Performers include doo wop singer Tommy Russo, balladeer Johnny M., and singers Karen Kallin, Lexi Balestrieri and Chris Stein. Dinner and show, $15. Reservations required by Sept. 27. Call (727) 375-5512.

OCT. 4

Thursday Musicale, a non-sectarian women's chorus, will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a concert featuring trumpeters Henry Fletcher and the Rev. Tom Hale at 2 p.m. at the Living Word Church, 5151 Rowan Road, New Port Richey. Free, but donations will be accepted for the scholarship fund.

OCT. 5

Centennial Opera Group continues its series "Viva Guiseppe," the life and operas of Verdi, at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Centennial Library, 5740 Moog Rd., Holiday. The video lecture will examine Acts 1, 2 and 3 of Rigoletto, followed by a video performance of portions of the opera by the Vienna State Opera, featuring the late Luciano Pavarotti. Free.

OCT. 5-NOV. 7

The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic 'South Pacific' will be presented in matinees and evenings at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson. Dinner and show, $44; show only, $32.95; ages 12 and younger, $26.45 and $21.45, all plus tax and tip. Call (727) 863-7949 in west Pasco; toll-free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469.

OCT. 5-7; 12-14

The Forum at Stage West Community Playhouse will present the comedy-drama Steel Magnolias at 8 p.m. Oct. 5, 6, 12 and 13 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 7 and 14. The theater is at 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Tickets are $10. Box office is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and one hour before each show. Call (352) 683-5113.

OCT. 5-26

Progress Energy Art Gallery will hold a reception for photographers Paula Showen and Karren Doll Tolliver to mark the opening of their exhibit, "If the Masters Had Cameras" from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5 at the gallery, 6231 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. The exhibit, a series of photos made in the style of classical artists, will be at the gallery until Oct. 26. Gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Free.

Send entertainment items for Diversions: Coming Attractions to Barbara L. Fredricksen, St. Petersburg Times, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey 34668 or e-mail to fredricksen@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 26, 2007, 22:50:29]