Seize the day

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 7, 2000

Things to do

St. Petersburg artist Jim Joiner exhibits recent paintings in oil through Aug. 31 at the St. Petersburg Public Library, main branch, 3745 Ninth Ave. N. The artist has been compared to American realist Charles Burchfield in terms of "spatial relationships and contrast of details with flat planes of color." Call (727) 893-7929

The wines of Australia and New Zealand will be the focus of tonight's Bern's Summer Wine Seminar. The class is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, 1002 S Howard Ave., for $25. This adjunct to the world-famous steak house just a few blocks up the street is offering these Monday classes through Aug. 14. The main Bern's contains what has widely been recognized as the world's largest wine selection, so they know of what they speak. Call (813) 250-9463.

Using The Wizard of Oz as an analogy to the mysteries of life, Lawrence Spencer, author of The Oz Factors will be at Barnes & Noble, 11802 N Dale Mabry Highway, Carrollwood, today at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 23654 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater.

Things to view

Repeat episodes of the leading Emmy contender The West Wing will be shown four times this week during the gap between the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Tonight is the pilot episode on NBC. 10 p.m.

In the Lifetime movie The Truth About Jane, a teenager must deal with negative reactions from friends and family when she comes out as a lesbian. Stars Ellen Muth, Stockard Channing and James Naughton. 9 p.m.

The History Channel begins its "Vanishing Act Week" with an enduring question: Where Is Jimmy Hoffa? 8 p.m.

- Compiled by Times staff writer Sharon Kennedy Wynne.