Seize the day

By KATHLEEN LANG

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 22, 2000

Voice your opinion after hearing how three dysfunctional, fun-loving brothers keep things together as the world of quick highs and easy living begins to catch up with them in Florida Crackers: The Screenplay by Bill Leavengood, part of New Visions Play Reading Series at American Stage, 211 Third St. S, St. Petersburg. The play is set in St. Petersburg Beach in 1979. An audience feedback session follows the reading. Curtain rises at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5, available only at the door. Call (727) 823-7529.

Bring your estate pieces for consultation and appraisal following the Brown Bag Spring Lecture Series presentation of Jewelry in Fashion at noon today in the Music Room of Plant Hall, University of Tampa, 401 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. Barbara Smith, former buyer for Tiffany Co., will give a slide presentation on vintage jewelry, circa 1900. Free. Reservations appreciated. Call Amy David at (813) 254-1891, ext. 25.

Pluck advice from a woman who has grown old garden roses for more than 50 years when Oline Reynolds of Bainbridge, Ga., shares her expertise at the West Pasco Rose Society's meeting at 7 p.m. today at Regency Park Civic Center, 10240 Regency Park Blvd., Port Richey. Call (727) 847-0077.

Check out what happens when a poet and noted artists collaborate for a traveling show when In Company -- Robert Creeley's Collaborations arrives at 10 a.m. today at the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, W Holly Drive, University of South Florida, Tampa. On view through July 15 are more than 60 projects recognizing cross-disciplinary art forms featuring poet Robert Creeley and artists Jim Dine, Alex Katz, Susan Rothenberg and others. Free. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call (813) 974-4133.

Things to view...

Historic ships needing preservation are examined tonight on the History Channel on S.O.S: Save Our Ships. Included are the Liberty ship John W. Brown, schooners Coronet and C.A. Thayer and the cruiser USS Olympia. 10 p.m.

Check out Hollywood's Smooth Operators Week when A&E's Biography takes a fresh look at the hunks who have taken high style to new heights. World premiere biographies are Patrick Swayze (tonight), George Hamilton and Leslie Nielsen. Encore presentations are Michael Douglas and Robert Wagner. 8 p.m.

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