Seize the day

By KATHLEEN LANG

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 7, 2000

Things to do

The Clearwater Irish Music Fest is today at Coachman Park in Clearwater. Performers include Pooka & the Titanic Dancers starting at 2 p.m., followed by the Irish Descendants and the Prodigals. Free. Call (727) 562-4813.

You be the judge whether the Shroud of Turin is a holy relic or a fake when the Kiwanis Club of Palm Harbor hosts a program by writer and scholar John C. Iannone, author of The Mystery of the Shroud of Turin: New Scientific Evidence, at 2 p.m. today at the Palm Harbor Senior Activity Center, 1500 16th St. Admission is $10. Call (727) 785-6967 or (727) 945-0061.

Celebrate National Cartoon Week with Walt Disney World caricaturist Rob Smith Jr. at a live cartooning demonstration with free caricatures at 3 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble, 23654 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Call (727) 669-1688.

The Junior Choristers of St. Andrew's Church perform Choral Evensong followed by an organ recital at 5 p.m. today at the church at Madison and Morgan streets in downtown Tampa. Free. Call (813) 221-2035.

Check out the sights of historic Tarpon Springs and enjoy flavorful food at the seventh annual Taste of Tarpon at Craig Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Free admission. No coolers. Call (727) 937-3514.

Have Spring Bagels and Ballet with the Florida West Ballet at 2 p.m. today at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Drive, Clearwater. Refreshments, including bagels, will be available during intermission. Admission is free. Call (727) 447-8771.

Enjoy Dances and Sweets when the Suncoast Symphony Orchestra performs at 7 p.m. today at First Christian Church, 2299 Drew St., Clearwater. Free. Call (727) 397-3832.

Things to view

John Thaw (Inspector Morse) stars as a Nazi-defying French priest in the powerful, three-part World War II drama Monsignor Renard, beginning tonight on WEDU. The story opens in 1940, when a Gestapo officer searches for an escaped English soldier and suspects Renard is involved. Continues May 14 and 21. 9 p.m.

Hear the thunder when Rick Benjamin hosts a preview of the American Speed Association's Actionline 300 race from Montgomery, Ala., on TNN at 11 a.m. today.