The planner (things to do)

By Sharon Kennedy Wynne, tbt* staff writer
In Print: Friday, March 12, 2010

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SATURDAY

A better use for needles

Inspired by the methamphetamine injections that once controlled his life, artist and former Tampa resident Ben Brummerhop brings his latest art exhibit, A New Use for Syringes, to South Tampa's Michael Murphy Gallery. Brummerhop, a recovering meth addict, will showcase more than two dozen original paintings in which he uses syringes as a tool to apply layers of latex paint on canvas with acrylic backgrounds, creating depth and vibrancy. A reception Saturday is from 6 to 9 p.m. at 2701 S. MacDill Ave. in Tampa. Call (813) 902-1414. anewuseforsyringes.com.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Here's the juice on Strawberry Fest

Plant City wraps up its 75th anniversary Strawberry Festival on Sunday, so act now if you want to partake in the strawberry concoctions and live music. This weekend you can catch Tracy Lawrence at 7:30 p.m. Friday ($10-$15), Patty Loveless at 7:30 p.m. Saturday ($10-$15), Sara Evans at 3:30 p.m. Sunday ($15-$20) and Lynyrd Skynyrd at 7:30 p.m. Sunday ($25-$30). Gates open at 10 a.m. daily through Sunday. Festival grounds are 2202 W Reynolds St., Plant City. Check flstrawberryfestival.com for closing times and daily specials.

Whatever floats like a boat

We know that warm weather has been eluding us too long. When it finally arrives in full force, the Tampa Bay Boat Show has some toys to tempt you outside. Held Friday through Sunday at Tropicana Field, the main floor will be filled with new boats, trailers, docking and safety equipment and many outdoor-related exhibits. There's also a fishing school, with local captains giving tips on topics like offshore fishing, cast-netting guides and where the fish are biting. The classes start at 11 a.m. each day and run throughout the day.See tampabayboatshows.com for a schedule. Admission is free, and parking is $5.

Bookworms, dig in

At the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, more than 115 dealers from the U.S. and Europe will sell rare and out-of-print books, first editions, fine bindings, paper collectibles and more. There will be free book appraisals in the lobby from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The fair, which benefits the public library, runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. See floridabooksellers.com.

SATURDAY

Eat like a bird

Flocking to the Birds of a Feather wine and food event at Feather Sound Country Club on Saturday, you might end up more swine than swan. There will be more than 100 wines to taste, samples from restaurants including the Venue, Cafe Ponte and Bascom's, plus samplings of rums, organic vodkas and poolside mojito and margarita bars. It runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at 2201 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater. Tickets are $75, $100 VIP tickets (VIP tasting begins at 5 p.m.). (727) 573-5666, ext. 253. localwineevents.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Family fun at the fairgrounds

The Tampa Bay Area Family Expo promises a day celebrating families, including community resources, bounce houses, face painting, educational interactive fun and more. The first 500 kids each day get a free goodie bag. It runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in the Entertainment Hall at Florida State Fairgrounds, Interstate 4 at U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $5, 2 and younger free. (813) 436-0478. floridastatefair.com.

SUNDAY

Picnic in the park

Pack a basket, gather up friends and join the Henry B. Plant Museum in Plant Park for a springtime tradition on Sunday on the banks of the Hillsborough River. The Picnic in the Park is from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 401 W Kennedy Blvd. Models in Victorian clothing, barber shop quartets and a gospel choir help create a nice Sunday in the Park with George setting. It's free, but boat rides, table and chair rentals are additional. Call (813) 258-7302 for table and box-lunch reservations.

5 under $5

FREE Graffiti is encouraged at the For the Love of the Arts Chalk Walk. You and the kids are invited to create your own masterpiece at Center Place, 619 Vonderburg Drive in Brandon, from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Artists ages 3 and older are given a box of chalk and a piece of sidewalk to draw on. There will be other family activities, including demonstrations, balloon animals, a magician, face painting and live entertainment. It's free but tickets are required. Call the center at (813) 685-8888.

FREE Start your engines and help kick off the 2010 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a Pit Lane Block Party starting at 4 p.m. Friday in the block around Second Street and Second Avenue S in St. Petersburg. There will be live music on two stages, as well as food and drink for sale. gpstpete.com.

FREE This is the 42nd year for the Pow Wow Festival Parade, an annual tribute to American Indians in the town of Seminole. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday along 113th Street at 80th Avenue, then moves along to the Seminole Recreation Center for a festival. Free. See powwowfestival.com for details on the festival.

$2 The three-day Squiggy Classic Festival is a sports festival that spins its way through the wilderness parklands of Morris Bridge, Trout Creek and Flatwoods, with mountain and road biking, inline skating, canoeing and off-road foot racing. There are many events all weekend, but the main action takes place on Sunday, including the six-hour Squiggy Classic Adventure Race (8 a.m.), the In-Line Skate Marathon and Half-Marathon (9 a.m.), the Junior Kid's Adventure Race (9 a.m.) and the Squiggy Dash (10 a.m.). Flatwoods Wilderness Park, 14302 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa. There is a $2 per car entry fee to the park. For registration and information, call (813) 987-6211 or go to

squiggyclassic.org.

$5 Sure, it's three weeks early for an Easter egg hunt, but sometimes the Easter Bunny needs to spread out the love. At the Eggstravanza at St. Pete Power Sports, 555 34th St. S in St. Petersburg, an open house includes a hunt for more than 1,000 eggs (adults can hunt too). There will also be music, demo rides, vendors and more. It's 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and benefits BRA (Bikers Raising Awareness). $5 per person for the egg hunt.

bikersraisingawareness.org.

[Last modified: Mar 11, 2010 04:28 PM]