Seize the day

By KATHLEEN LANG

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 5, 2000

Sample the flavors of summer when Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits hosts a 10-week series of wine seminars at SideBern's beginning tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1002 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Bern's Steak House head sommelier Ken Collura hosts tonight's class on red burgundy. Cost is $25 per person per class or $200 for all 10 sessions. About six wines will be sampled during each class. Make reservations at (813) 250-9463.

American Stage's New Vision Series continues at 7 tonight with A Superior Shakespeare, the latest work by Bill Leavengood, at 211 Third St. S, downtown St. Petersburg. A Superior Shakespeare replaces the previously scheduled Afternoon Dreams, which will be read sometime this summer. Tickets are $5, available only at the door. Call (727) 823-7529.

Explore aspects of classical music you never thought of on today's installment of Karl Haas' Adventures in Good Music at 9 p.m. on WUSF-FM 89.7. This edition, it's Forgotten Fame, focuses on masterworks whose creator's names are all but forgotten. Call (813) 974-4890 or (800) 741-9090.

The singing-dancing group Smash hits the stage at 8 tonight at the Jewish Community Center of West Pasco, 9841 Scenic Drive, Port Richey. The singing-dancing group of 11 girls ages 8 to 15 has performed for thousands of people all over west central Florida. Members are from Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Seminole and Safety Harbor. Tickets are $2 at the door. Call (727) 847-3814.

Things to view...

It's Your Chance of A Lifetime to watch contestants test their trivia knowledge on a new, five-nights-a-week game show that premieres tonight on Fox. The trivia experts get a shot at $1-million -- what a surprise. 8 p.m. Or if you'd rather take The Great American History Quiz, tune in to the History Channel tonight for the premiere of In Pursuit of Happiness. The quiz show tests viewers' knowledge about the happy and relaxing things in life while tracing the history of these activities through modern times. Hosted by Chevy Chase. 8 p.m.

A&E's Biography continues its All Premiere June tonight with Morgan Fairchild. Find out more about the actor who was born Patsy McClenny in Dallas in 1950 and went on to star in the TV series Falcon's Crest. 8 p.m.

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