Art and crafts and sea breezes

By KELLY STEFANI

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 2, 2000

Saturday and Sunday, Corey Avenue (also known as 74th Avenue) comes alive with the St. Pete Beach Craft Festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

More than 100 crafters from across the country will show and sell their handmade wares including paintings, raku, blown glass, ceramics, woodcrafts, floral arrangements, jewelry, creative clothing and home decorations.

Besides crafts, you'll also find exotic plants and flowers, specialty herbs, flavored vinegars, salsas, breads, dips and the relaxing sounds of harpist Shirley Dominguez.

Admission is free. Call (813) 962-0388.

FireStix celebrate softball title

If you like softball, here's a game you won't want to miss.

The Women's Professional Softball League's 1999 Champion, the Tampa Bay FireStix, take on the Ohio Pride in the league's season opener at 7 p.m. Thursday at Plant City Stadium, the former Spring training site of the Cincinnati Reds, 1900 South Park Road, Plant City.

Festivities begin with sky divers sailing in from above to deliver the championship banner on field to the FireStix. Between innings, dogs and their owners present a Frisbee-catching demonstration. Other activities include interactive games, a pie-eating contest and pitching-speed tests.

Admission is $6 for box seats, $5 for general admission, $3 for 14 and under. Gates open at 6 p.m. Come early and meet the players. Free Louisville Slugger Olympic Tour posters to the first 1,000 fans.

For a complete game schedule or other information, call (813) 764-9775.

Showtime for cats

Feline fanciers can get their fill at the All Breed Cat Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Long Center, 1501 N Belcher Road, Clearwater.

Nearly 300 cats of different breeds from across the country will strut their stuff in an attempt to take home the title of best of show. The cats will be judged on physical traits and characteristics, including coat color, number of toes, face shape, bone structure and coat texture.

Students of Hillsborough Community College will be on hand to volunteer sign language interpretation.

Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children, under 3 free. Parking is free. Call (407) 359-8877.

Artist talks about Seminole paintings

Take a look at life on the Seminole Indian reservation through the works of Guy Labree, who grew up on a Seminole reservation in Hollywood.

Labree will display and discuss his paintings in a talk entitled Seminole Lifeways at 6 p.m. Wednesday at USF Davis Hall, 140 Seventh Ave. S, Davis Hall 130, St. Petersburg. His oil paintings focus on the ancestry and culture of the Seminoles.

This event is the first of three free events focusing on American Indian culture. Call (727) 553-1556.

An evening a cappella

Enjoy the soothing sounds of three a cappella groups in A Special Blend of Harmony at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa.

Music includes the barbershop sounds of the Tampa Bay Heralds of Harmony and Platinum. The Blenders, winners of Contemporary Artist of the Year Award two years in a row, will also perform modern four-part harmony a cappella.

Tickets are $12-$25 and available by calling (813) 229-7827.