Seize the day

By KATHLEEN LANG

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 28, 2000

Find out what your pooch really thinks when writer Mort Crim, author of How to Be as Terrific as Your Dog Thinks You Are, arrives at 5:30 p.m. today at Big Kmart, 7651 W Waters Ave., Tampa, before heading to Barnes & Noble, 213 N Dale Mabry, Tampa, at 7:30 p.m. Call Kmart at (813) 882-8890 or Barnes & Noble at (813) 871-2228.

An exhibit of works by Duncan MacLean, Betty Westcott and Chris Tagaras opens today at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center Gallery, 324 E Pine St., Tarpon Springs. A reception is planned from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Paintings by Jane Arnold continue through Tuesday. The exhibit is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and during evening or weekend events. Call (727) 938-3711, ext. 200.

Head two-by-two to the Museum of Science and Industry at 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, where Captain Noah and six marine costumed characters of the MOSI Marine Gang appear at the Science Library at 2:30 p.m. for a program on water concepts unique to Tampa Bay. The program includes the importance of pure estuaries, recycling and anti-pollution techniques. Free. Call (813) 987-6378. Snap up tips on making cool bean salads for summer picnics during a cooking class from 7 to 8 p.m. today and 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., Tampa. Hosted by vegetarian chef Debby DeGraaff. Free. Call (813) 873-7428.

Things to view

La Forza del Destino, described as the "gloriously dark" Verdi opera, is performed on WEDU tonight by the Kirov Opera as originally written in 1862. The revised 1869 version is the one more often heard. 8 p.m. Quit monkeying around and tune in to VH1 tonight for Daydream Believers: The Monkees Story. Trace the journey of the made-for-TV musical group that achieved instant fame after their show's 1966 debut. The new cable movie stars George Stanchev as Davy Jones, Aaron Lohr as Mickey Dolenz, Jeff Geddis as Mike Nesmith and L.B. Fisher as Peter Tork. 9 p.m. Don't look for sashes, crowns or bathing suits tonight on America's Junior Miss Scholarship Pageant on TNN. Broadcast live, the pageant emphasizes education, with the winner receiving a medallion to symbolize her achievements in the classroom and extracurricular activities. Past winners include Diane Sawyer, Mary Frann and Kathie Lee Gifford. 9 p.m.

-- Compiled by Times staff writer Kathleen Lang. She can be reached at lang@sptimes.com. For a complete roundup of activities around the Tampa Bay area, log on to the Web at http://www.tampabay.com.