The planner (fun things to do)

By Sharon Kennedy Wynne, tbt* staff writer
In print: Friday, May 2, 2008

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Singles get an easy ice breaker at the Lock and Key party Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Whiskey North in Tampa. Women get padlocks and men get keys, then the phallic-symbol hunt is on to find some matches. Those who find the most matches can win prizes such as a bar tab, hotel stays and cash. To register go to
lockandkeyevents.com/tpa and use promo code: tbt. It costs $20 if you use the promo code, $25 if you RSVP on the Web site or $30 at the door. Whiskey North is at 11921 N Dale Mabry in Tampa.

NOVA 535 Art Lounge will have a party Saturday for the unveiling of Theo Wujcik's and Jay Giroux's two-man show, "New Paintings and Installations." It's been a long time since either artist has done a comprehensive show in Tampa Bay and the pairing of Wujcik, a retired USF art professor who has works in the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art and other major collections, and Giroux, a younger pop artist firmly rooted in skate and street culture, is an interesting one. The doors open at 7 p.m and the lounge stays open until 2 a.m. with DJ Blenda entertaining at 535 Martin Luther King St. in St. Petersburg. The exhibit runs through May 31. nova535.com

Firefighters get all up in their grills Saturday in the Firefighter's Grill-Off. Teams from four Tampa Fire Rescue firehouses will get fired up at 10:30 a.m. Celebrity judging and public sampling begins at noon Saturday at BJ's Wholesale Club, 6290 Commerce Palms Blvd., Tampa. Free.

Brush up on your classics without cracking a book. Black-and-white photographs on display at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 200 N Tampa St., Tampa, were created by a group of bona fide masters of the medium. Famous images by Berenice Abbott, Diane Arbus, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Alfred Eisenstaedt (whose Anna May Wong, 1930, is shown) and Harold Edgerton populate the gallery walls through May 31. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. $4 suggested donation. (813) 221-2222 or FMoPA.org.

The Tampa Rose Society's Carousel of Roses will have hundreds of blooms, including hybrid teas, miniatures, climbing and Old Garden roses on display at the group's annual show. You can also buy arrangements and fresh-cut roses and get tips from experts. It's noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Westfield Brandon (near south entrance), 459 Brandon Town Center, Brandon.

The Tampa Jewish Community Center celebrates Israel's 60th birthday at the Israel Independence Day Community Festival, with music by Kolot (four singers from Israel's National Army Band), plus Mike Eisenstadt Band and local choirs. There's also Israeli dancing, food and a marketplace; games and Walk-the-Land-of-Israel mural tour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa. Free.

Want some popcorn with your opera? The La Scala Opera Series presents Il Trittico at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Beach Theatre, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach. This video series from the famed La Scala opera house brings great operas to movie houses. It's $20 per screening; $18 per show for series subscription. (727) 360-6697; beachtheatre.com.

Get out your tiaras. Disney On Ice: Princess Wishes runs through Sunday at the St. Pete Times Forum, and is collecting food to help stock the critically bare shelves at America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, you can donate canned goods in exchange for tickets to the show, which features Ariel the Mermaid and her princess pals Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Aurora and Mulan. Ten cans of nonperishable food (meat, fruit and/or veggies) get you one show ticket (limit four tickets per family). Donations can be dropped off in front of the McDonald's box office at the Forum. If you'd rather pay cash for your tickets, they range from $16 to $50. (813) 301-2500 or stpetetimesforum.com.

Celebrate Ruskin's tomato bounty at the Ruskin Tomato and Heritage Festival with specialty foods, country and bluegrass music, antique car and tractor shows, plant show and sale, crafts and a kids' activity area. Free tomato plants while supply lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW, Ruskin. Admission is $5; 12 and younger free.

Nephew Tommy from the Steve Harvey Morning Show will be performing at the Mahaffey Theater Saturday with guest Red Grant. The show is at 8 p.m., 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. $37-$57. (727) 892-5767.

Did Earth Day make you consider some changes? The Pinellas Living Green Expo promises to help you go green without spending a lot of green (money) in the bargain. There will be products, seminars and free native, low-growing trees while supplies last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Free. (727) 462-6778; pinellaslivinggreenexpo.org.

Seagrapes, Florida Aquarium's annual wine and food tasting, benefits education and conservation programs. It's from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $85, $75 members; $150 VIP ticket includes 6 p.m. admission and VIP room. (813) 273-4030; flaquarium.org.

Did Earth Day make you consider some changes? The Pinellas Living Green Expo promises to help you go green without spending a lot of green (money) in the bargain. There will be products, seminars and free native, low-growing trees while supplies last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Free. (727) 462-6778; pinellaslivinggreenexpo.org.