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Out & aboutCompiled by MARY ELMORE © St. Petersburg Times, published December 15, 2000 JIMMY JAM AT SKIPPER'S -- Jimmy Michaelides shucked oysters and entertained thousands of customers and friends as a bartender at Skipper's Smokehouse for more than 10 years. He befriended hippies, bikers, professors and tourists, some of whom came to Skipper's just to see him. When he died on Dec. 14, 1999, he left a legacy as a flamboyant entertainer and a generous friend. At his funeral, his casket was covered with stickers that said, "Keep on Truck'n," "Southern Culture on the Skids" and "Truckadelic." The front of the funeral parlor was laden with toys, which were given to local charities. In memory of Michaelides, the restaurant and nightclub at 910 Skipper Road is having its second annual Jimmy Jam on Sunday. Skipper's held the first Jimmy Jam in January, collecting toys and money that were distributed to various charities. This year, it is holding the Jam before Christmas so kids in the neighborhood can have toys. Bands and individuals are providing their talent for free. Because of the number of bands playing, the concert starts at 4 p.m. Artists include Kristy Lee & Joanna, new arrivals from Alabama playing Southern acoustic rhythm and blues. Eric Darius is a high school phenomenon on sax. Kaisen Blues, also known as the Squidheads, play sushi blues. Johnny G. Lyon plays rollicking blues and rock. Also performing, Ronny Elliott and Friends have been playing music mainly in Tampa for more than 30 years. Elliott, known for his twisted tales about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and good versus evil, is something of a local icon. Sandy Atkinson, a blues rocker with a touch of jazz, plays with reverance for Aretha Franklin and Jimi Hendrix. Beanstalk is a high-energy band that plays mostly original music, combining modern aggressive jazz on guitar, funky bass lines with blues overtones, and rock-oriented groove on drums. Halcyon, Urban Gypsies, Tibetan Sound Orgy, Rock Steady @ 8, the Quivering Rhythm Hounds and Grin also will perform. Take an unwrapped toy, canned goods or money for the University of South Florida Area Community Civic Association. Santa will visit the Community Center on Thursday. For information, call (813) 558-5212. RHYTHM AT THE LIBRARY -- The Rhythm Makers of New Tampa Dance Theatre offer a break from the holiday rush with music, stories and dance. The Rhythm Makers perform dance interpretations once a month during the school year, using a different theme or narrated piece with each performance. At the end of program, children are invited to go on stage and try to get the audience to guess what pose they are doing. "Kids like the opportunity to participate," said Corey Bennett Sr., youth specialist at the New Tampa Regional Library. Bennett helps select books and poetry for the program and helps narrate. Troy Jansen is the artistic director of the Rhythm Makers. The performance is at 3 p.m. Saturday at the New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 CrossCreek Blvd., just off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For further information, call (813) 903-2280. - If you have cultural or entertainment news, write to Mary Elmore at North of Tampa, St. Petersburg Times, 14358-B N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa FL, 33618. Fax (813) 226-3352 or e-mail northtampa@sptimes.com
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