September 14, 2000

Cover Story
Tracy Chapman has a reputation for being a "difficult" interview. Don't believe it. Story

Film
Off-key 'Duets'
Adding Oscar and Emmy winners can't bring harmony to this look at karaoke.

Persall's Top Five
Recent releases recommended by Times film critic Steve Persall

Family Movie Guide
The Family Movie Guide should be used along with the Motion Picture Association of America rating system for selecting movies suitable for children. Only films rated G, PG or PG-13 are included in this weekly listing, along with occasional R-rated films that may have entertainment or educational value for older children with parental guidance. Films are categorized as "recommended" for family viewing, "recommended with reservations" and "not recommended" for family viewing, with a description of content that led to that categorization. Compiled by St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall.

Video
'Mission' fails second time around, too
Here is what we thought of this week's new video releases back when they were released on the big screen. Second thoughts include hindsight about the movies, what they'll be like on video and suggestions about who might want to rent them.

Night Life
All shook up
The martini has survived the ups and downs of a century, though James Bond would sneer at some of the current drinks called by its venerable name.

Wine, food and spirits are stars of weekend event
The series of tastings and seminars at Raymond James Stadium and several restaurants will raise funds for Hope Lodge and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.

Bourbon Street draws eclectic crowd
NEW PORT RICHEY -- An evening at Bourbon Street night club is rather like a visit at the home of a buddy with a knock-out game room, a well-stocked bar, a lot of musician friends and a very large family.

Art
Art: best bets
Art critic Mary Ann Marger's recommendations for this weekend. Please refer to the Art Calendar for details.

Studio Waltz for art lovers
See art in the making as north Pinellas artists invite the public into their studios for the ninth annual Studio Waltz, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Dunedin and nearby communities.

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet to read at gallery
Getting Yusef Komunyakaa, a professor at Princeton, to appear is a coup for the Writer's Voice. This heavy hitter has been compared to Langston Hughes and T.S. Eliot.

Arts: Hot ticket
Images add up

Get Away
Ice rinks not so hard to find
If that ever-so-slight drop in the humidity -- the first hint of a Florida fall -- has spawned nostalgic dreams of Northern winters and frozen ponds, take note: This is a good time to hit the ice.

A great escape
The Confederacy's secretary of state once used the Gamble Plantation as a hiding place, and visitors today can get lost in its antebellum charm.

Get Away: Hot ticket
Settlement transforms into Civil War battleground

Stage
Show Palace lets 'Ragtime' rol
The '20s-style musical revue's snappy music and fancy footwork bring the audience to its feet in admiration.

Concert taps percussion composers
David Coash's recital tonight at USF features works for marimba, vibraphone and other percussion instruments.

Stage: Hot ticket
Still time to "Swing'

Stage: Coming attractions
TICKET WINDOW

Pop
Pop: Hot ticket
DiFranco brings funk, frank lyrics Ani DiFranco has gone from shaven-headed, underground folk-punk heroine to critical darling. A decade ago, the Buffalo-born, bisexual, bejeweled and be-pierced guitar-totin' troubadour founded her own record label, Righteous Babe, to release her stirring tales of boys and girls (and girls and girls) and how badly the corporate world stinks.

Teen pop trivia
This week's winner: The winner of this week's random drawing for the devilishly fun Times T-shirt is Aimee Papuga of Palm Harbor. Papuga knew that pop star Dave Matthews was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Fluff index
WEIRD BAND NAMES

Dine
Sarasota sophistication
Fred's is a delicious portal into a tour of an avenue of tasty delights.

Side dish
I'VE HAD ENOUGH...

Cheap thrills
Pepe's Market

Shop
Shop
Get the home field advantage