To do Monday
By Sharon Kennedy Wynne, tbt* staff writer
Published January 21, 2008
Dr. Martin Luther King Day parades For the first time, Tampa's big parade will visit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in an obvious, if overdue, pairing starting at noon today. More than 15,000 spectators came to the event last year. And St. Petersburg's band-heavy parade will start off at Third Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South at 1:15 p.m. and is expecting some 50,000 people. There's also a rally in downtown Clearwater's Coachman Park at 11 a.m.
Candlelight vigil An outdoor vigil in honor of Dr. King at 6:30 p.m. will be followed by an indoor program on nonviolence and peace at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg.
Dancing with the Stars Brazilian heartthrob Helio Castroneves is back with his dancing shoes instead of his racing helmet. The two-time winner of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will pair with Julianne Hough in Dancing With the Stars - The Tour at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum. Tampa is one of only a handful of appearances by the reigning champs during this tour. Other pairs include Wayne Newton and Cheryl Burke, Sabrina Bryan and Mark Ballas, Joey Lawrence and Edyta Sliwinska and Monique Coleman and Louis Van Amstel. Tickets are $52-$97. St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813 301-2500; www.stpetetimesforum.com
Webkinz pet day camp Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry is holding a special event for all the kids who got a furry Webkinz plush toy and could use some coaching on the computer for their pet's virtual life. Computers will be set up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day camp is $28 for members, $38 for nonmembers and extended child care is available. MOSI is at 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. (813) 987-6100. www.mosi.org
Coming up
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Catch the soul maven and her band with the Ivan Milev Band at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. Tickets are $14 in advance, $17 day of show. Call (813) 971-0666 or visit www.wmnf.org
'Writers in Paradise' readings Hear the works of well-known authors in person at this fourth annual conference that lures the scribes to Florida in January. Tonight you can hear from nonfiction writer Roland Merullo and mystery writer Tom Franklin. Coming up it's poet Peter Meinke on Tuesday and Ann Hood (Ruby and The Knitting Circle). On Friday, hear how Laura Lippman crafts the Tess Monaghan novels, and on Saturday novelist and screenwriter Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone) is there when "Best Of" nominees are announced. All readings are scheduled in Miller Auditorium at 8 p.m. at Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Free.
- Sharon Kennedy Wynne wynne@tampabay.com