Seize the day

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 30, 2000

Things to do

The Florida Orchestra hosts a free concert in the park at 7:30 p.m. in Coachman Park, downtown Clearwater. Selections include Swan Lake, Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story.

The innovative guitar work of Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers brings rock-infused blues to Skipper's Smokehouse, Skipper Road and Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, at 5 p.m. Tickets are $12.

Take a sip from more than 200 wine samples or take in a seminar from food and wine experts at the Wine Festival 1-5 p.m. today at SideBern's, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. Talks include "Washington State Wines" and "Chocolate" by noted pastry chefs. Admission is $35 per person (includes all food, wine and seminars). Valet parking is free. Proceeds benefit Tampa's Divine Providence Food Bank. Call (813) 251-4242.

The fancy footwork of Michelle Kwan, Brian Boitano, Elvis Stojko and Oksana Baiul arrive at the Ice Palace tonight for Champions on Ice at 3 p.m. Tickets are $26-$56. Call (813) 301-2500.

Acclaimed pop artist James Rosenquist exhibits 19 major paintings in a show opening today at the Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg. On view are two of Rosenquist's doll paintings as well as graphics and the artist's selections of favorite Dali works from the museum's holdings. The show runs through Sept. 10. Admission is $9 for adults; discounts for others; half price after 5 p.m. Thursday. The museum is at 1000 Third St. S.; (727) 823-3767.

Theme music from sci-fi features such as Star Trek and Star Wars, as well as works by Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Holst and others, will be performed by the Central Florida Symphony as it gives its season finale at 3 p.m. today at Curtis Peterson Auditorium in Lecanto, County Road 491 and Lecanto Highway, Citrus County. Also, performances by three winners of the symphony's Young Artist Competition. Tickets are $8-$12 adult, $4-$6 student. Tickets: (352) 746-7495 or (352) 527-8405.

Things to view

Call it the attack of the miniseries. There are two to choose from. At 8 p.m. on ABC it's Arabian Nights. Then at 9 p.m., it's the oh-so-hyped The '70s. Both conclude on Monday.

Chad Lowe stars in Take Me Home: The John Denver Story on CBS. Don't worry, it will be Denver himself singing on the soundtrack. 9 p.m.