Einstein on Food & Wine: On Saturday, VIPs get to mingle with hunky Fabio Viviani (of Top Chef fame), and choose among beer, wine and restaurant samples at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa ($80, $125 VIP). He'll also do an intimate dinner Friday at a private home ($200/$350 couple). (813) 987-6000.
Video Games Concert: It's like being plopped into the middle of a video game such as Halo, Final Fantasy and Warcraft with the Florida Orchestra playing the music. It's all synchronized to huge video screens, with special effects and rock 'n' roll lighting. Plus the audience can play video games on stage. Cool. It's Friday at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. $40, $50; $150 for VIP. (727) 892-3337.
iPad Quintet: The USF School of Music has just the right touch on iPads to play rock, rap and classical music Friday at the University of South Florida School of Music Concert Hall on Fowler Avenue in Tampa. $12 advance, $15 day of; ticketmaster.com.
Date night
On stage: At the Straz Center in Tampa is Traces, a show with acrobatics fused with contemporary dance, theater and even skateboarding, set to music like Radiohead. Don't worry about a plot. Opens Tuesday. $31.50 and up. (813) 229-7827. Also opening Tuesday is a quick run of Billy Elliot, the Tony Award-winning musical about a boy who jumps from the boxing ring to ballet class, at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. $50–$70. (727) 791-7400.
Robin Williams: Joking about his age, the Oscar winner offers "an evening of sit-down" comedy. Like we believe he's going to sit still in a chair? Tickets are $59, $89, $125 on Friday at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. (727) 791-7400.
Willie Nelson: Everybody's always making pot jokes about the 79-year-old legend of outlaw country music, but we're not high on that. Oops. He's joined by his son, Lukas, on Saturday at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. $48.50–$100. (727) 791-7400.
Tosca: Presented by St. Petersburg Opera, the tale of Puccini's young lovers intensifies into murder, betrayal and declarations of love Friday, Sunday and Feb. 5 at the Palladium Theater. $21.50–$64.50. (727) 823-2040.
Kids and family
Monster Jam: Yes, it was just here a week or so ago, but can you ever have too much of giant trucks crushing stuff? Go early from 2 to 5 p.m. to see the trucks and drivers. The smashing starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. $15–$35. Toll-free 1-800-745-3000.
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