Seize the day

By KATHLEEN LANG

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 12, 2000

T H I N G S T O D O . . .

Get a free dose of Friday Night Jazz when the monthly series kicks off at 6 tonight in Old Hyde Park Village, just south of downtown Tampa at Swann and Dakota avenues. This month's series features the Chabo Brothers Duo, Allon Sams and the No Requests Duo. All three ensembles play simultaneously at various locations in the village. The series continues the second Friday of each month through October. Call (813) 251-3500.Watch youths Puttin' On the Ritz when the Oldsmar Performing Artists League Teens give a musical montage performance at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday at Oldsmar Arts Centre, 402 St. Petersburg Drive, Oldsmar. Admission is free; donations are appreciated. Call (813) 814-1562.

Hear the son of blues great Luther Allison when Bernard Allison hits the stage at 8 p.m. today at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. Allison gleaned musical knowledge from Koko Taylor, Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He recently released his sixth album and continues to purvey his own blend of traditional and modern blues. Tickets are $13. Call (813) 971-0666.

Looking for that perfect gift for mom that won't wilt after a week? Then check out newly hybridized violets, standards and miniatures, and supplies for sale at the Mother's Day African Violet Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, 3747 34th St. S, St. Petersburg. Call (727) 866-3468 or (727) 866-8830. Or head to Clearwater for the Upper Pinellas African Violet Society Sale during mall hours today and Saturday at Bay Area Outlet Mall at U.S. 19 and Roosevelt Boulevard. Hard-to-find varieties, trailers, miniatures, semi-minis, chimeras and other gesneriads will be available along with advice and free repotting. Call (727) 799-7053.

T H I N G S T O V I E W . . .

Tune in for a live version of The List when John Travolta and fellow Battlefield Earth cast members Sabine Karsenti and Barry Pepper debate the Best Video of All Time tonight on VH1. VH1 also will open up the phone lines for online voting. 10 p.m.The runway heats up tonight for the 49th Miss Universe Pageant, shown live on CBS from the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus. 9 p.m.

-- Compiled by Times staff writer Kathleen Lang. She can be reached at lang@sptimes.com.