Free Movie at Tampa Theatre’s Sunset Cinema—October 10

When you’re trying to stay within a budget, you have to weigh your entertainment options. Is it worth the money? Can I afford to bring a date, or go with a group of people?

None of that is a concern tonight.

Tampa Theatre’s Sunset Cinema event continues this evening with a showing of “Kung Fu Panda” at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave. The event is free and parking is free. You can take whoever you want. Bring chairs, blankets, food and drinks and enjoy the movie, which is displayed on a giant inflatable screen. With some nice weather, this is a great event and fun way to spend an evening without spending a dime. Just pack up your stuff and make your way there before sundown.

The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the movie starts at about 7:30 p.m. On Oct. 24 they’ll be showing “Shrek” in Plant City as well, so mark your calendars for another free evening. For more information, visit www.tampatheatre.org.

Museum Day 09-26-- Free Admission

We have a lot of museums in the area, but they’re not all cheap to visit. Admission costs vary, but even the less expensive admissions add up if you’re taking the family. Even if you want to go, sometimes the budget doesn’t allow taking everyone to an exhibit.

But you can’t use that excuse today.

You see, today is Museum Day. You don’t have to buy card for anyone, though. You can, however, enjoy free admission to a number of local venues. You’ll save a lot of money and learn something interesting by taking the day and going to your favorite local museums—or visiting ones you never had a chance to see before.

Here are a few (not all) of the local museum participating in the program:

* Great Explorations Children’s Museum—1925 4^th St. N. Regularly $9.

* The Pier Aquarium—800 2nd Ave. NE, Ste. 2001. Regularly $5 or $2.50 on Sundays.

* Florida International Museum—244 2^nd Ave. N. Regularly $8.

* Salvador Dali Museum—1000 3^rd St. S. Regularly $15.

* Ybor City Museum State Park, 1818 E. 9^th Ave. Regularly $4.

* Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St. Regularly $12.

If a family of four went to the Tampa Bay History center and the Salvador Dali Museum today, they’d save a total of $108 on admission costs. At that rate, why not bring friends as well? Bring anyone you can think of and make a day of it. It won’t cost you anything to visit these local museums, and it’s a fun way to spend the day.

But remember, it’s Museum Day, as in just one day. Tomorrow prices go back to normal so get going. For more information, visit www.smithsonainmag.com and look for the Museum Day button.

See ZooBoo At A Discount Saturday 09-26

ZooBoo is an annual tradition at Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Avenue. It’s also one of their biggest fund-raisers, and a great way for a family to get into the Halloween Spirit. The entire zoo is transformed into a Halloween destination, with spooky themes and creepy attractions. But unlike the adult-oriented frights of major theme parks, Zoo Boo has plenty of areas for children of all ages, such as Frankenstein’s Foam Party and the Lil Tyke Boo House. But if you want a more grownup scare, there are a number of attractions for you as well. There are some new events (such as Fright Theater 3-D and Sinister Shadows) as well as old favorites, including some free zoo rides. It’s a fun time.

Zoo Boo is nothing like seeing Lowry Park Zoo the rest of the year, and this weekend it’s cheaper than it will ever be. Normally, the event (which runs through October) costs $17 for adults and $14 for children. But if you go tonight, tickets are just $10 each, and children 2 and under get in free. That’s a good deal and a fun way to preview this annual event. So enjoy the “Shriek Peek” weekend (their phrase, not mine) and see ZooBoo at a major discount.

For more information, call 813-935-8552 or visit www.lowryparkzoo.com.

Lightning training camp event today-- 9-15

While the Rays are wrapping up their season and the Buccaneers kicked off their year this past Sunday, another pro team is gearing up for another year. The Tampa Bay Lightning has opened its training camp, and that means freebies for fans.

Today, the St. Pete Times Forum will be open to the public from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. so you can watch camp in person—for free. You’ll see practices and controlled scrimmages, and they’ll even serve a free lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. It’s a fun way to get ready for a new season, support the team and have some fun without emptying your wallet.

Following local sports teams isn’t cheap, but this is an opportunity to see how the Bolts are shaping up and score a free lunch. That’s a pretty good way to spend the day.

The St. Pete Times Forum is located at 401 Channelside Drive.

Tribute bands for $10-- June 20

If you want to see AC/DC in concert, be prepared to shell out about $100. For Motley Crue, you’re looking at another $50-$100. And if you want to see Ozzy Osbourne…good luck. He hasn’t toured since 2007 and “Ozzfest” was cancelled this year. So you could probably see two of those bands for around $150 per person, not counting service charges—assuming they were playing in the same city around the same time.

Or you could see a reasonable facsimile of all three for about $10. Which options sounds better to you?

The “Monsters of Mock” concert on Saturday night at Jannus Landing, 16 2^nd St. N., features tribute acts Highway to Hell (AC/DC), Carnival of Crue (Motley Crue) and Bark at the Moon (Ozzy Osbourne), as well as openers Hangman Jury. They look and sound like the bands you love without the prices you hate. Jannus is a great place to see live acts and the songs are classics. So even if it’s not the real thing, you’re saving real money—a ton of money-- and enjoying a fun show. What’s not to like?

Advance tickets are $10 (they’re $12 Saturday) and the doors open at 7. For more information, visit www.jannuslandingconcerts.com.

Summer Classic Movie Series at Tampa Theatre

I'm going to let you in on a secret: I've never seen "To Kill A Mockingbird."
I know; it's a classic with a compelling message and memorable characters. I know it's supposed to be great. I just never got around to seeing it. I could just go rent it and watch it, of course. But I have a much better idea: I'm going to see it today at Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., as part of their Summer Classic Movie Series. That way I'll see it on the big screen with other people who already love the movie. The theater itself is a pretty special place (I've mentioned the tours they offer regularly) so why not see a classic movie in a classic setting?
In addition to seeing a famous film each weekend (the series runs on Sundays until August 23) you also get a few other nice bonuses. Each movie starts at 3 p.m., but if you get there an hour early you can participate in a mini-tour of the theater. About 20 minutes before the movie starts you'll also enjoy a demonstration of the restored Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. And for select movies (including To Kill A Mockingbird) you can stay afterward and participate in "Cinema Chat," where a film expert provides insight into the film, offers background information and leads an interactive discussion. If you really love these movies, it's a nice extra and all included with your paid admission.
That admission, by the way, is $8. That's probably less than seeing a non-classic movie in a multiplex that you might end up hating. Throw in the tour, the Mighty Wurlitzer and the discussions and you have a great deal. Other movies in the series include Casablanca, Citizen Kane (both of which I saw for the first time at a previous Summer Classic Series), and Blazing Saddles (which I've seen about a hundred times, thank you very much). "To Kill A Mockingbird" plays today. For a complete movie listing and Cinema Chat schedule visit www.tampatheatre.org.

Buccaneers Fan Fest on Saturday

Okay, it’s been awhile since the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory in early 2003. But if you’ve spent a long time in Tampa, you remember all the years before that—orange uniforms, jokes and double-digit years of double-digit losses. Right now the team is competitive and missing the playoffs last year was a disappointment. I remember when a winning record—playoffs or not—was grounds for a parade. Expectations are higher because the team is better.

So if you’re ready for some football, the team’s annual Fan Fest event is this Saturday. It’s a chance for fans to meet players and coaches, get autographs, check out the stadium and see the cheerleaders perform. There will be on-field games and activities and you can even see the Lombardi Trophy from the aforementioned championship run. Best of all, the event is free.

Professional football is a lot of fun, but it isn’t cheap. This might be your only chance to get to the stadium and see the players without unnecessary roughness to your wallet.

Gates open at 9:30 a.m., and if you want autographs from the most popular players, you should get there early. In case you didn’t know, Raymond James Stadium is located at 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway. The event runs until 2 p.m.

MOSI discounts on Saturday

The Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., is a fun way to spend a few hours. They have a number of interactive exhibits and the IMAX theater is an impressive place to watch a movie. The problem is that it’s not cheap to go: A trip to the museum and a standard IMAX movie will run you about $20.
Unless you go today, of course.
Admission and an IMAX movie will only cost a total of $8 as part of the 2009 Hurricane Expo. Since the hurricane season is fast approaching it’s a good time to get up-to-date information about evacuation zones and emergency planning. Dozens of vendors will be at the museum to provide information, hold giveaways and conduct seminars. You can also eat there for between $3 and $5. Plus, like I said, you get a big discount to the museum and see a movie, too. That’s a good deal.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

A Taste of Pinellas this weekend

A Taste of Pinellas technically started yesterday (sorry), but you still have the rest of the weekend to enjoy the music and activities. They even have a Kids Zone so it’s a family-friendly event. Best of all, most of the fun is absolutely free.
If you don’t know how the “taste” format works, it’s simple: You buy tickets and use them to sample food from area restaurants. A sheet of eight tickets costs $5 and each sample costs a certain number of tickets. It’s a nice way to try different food from a variety of vendors and it’s a benefit for All Children’s Hospital.
But really, I’m mentioning A Taste of Pinellas for the free stuff—namely, free admission and free music. Saturday they have different acts starting at 1 p.m. and ending with a concert by Travis Tritt at 8 p.m. There’s also a fireworks show at 9:45. On Sunday the music also starts at 1 p.m. and ends with a set by KC & the Sunshine Band at 5:30. You can bring a blanket and some folding chairs and enjoy all the music without spending a penny. Free entertainment is always a good thing.
A taste of Pinellas is held at Vinoy Park, 501 5th Ave. NE, and begins at noon on both remaining days. For more information, visit www.tasteofpinellas.com.

Free Memorial Day Entertainment for Military

Memorial Day is more than an extra day off (if you’re lucky). It’s an opportunity to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for their country. At the same time, it’s a chance to show appreciation for those active and retired service personnel who make daily sacrifices as well. And one way to show appreciation is to send some free stuff their way. Fortunately, some local businesses have put together a few nice entertainment options on Monday that are totally free for active and retired military. Here are a couple of good ones:

* Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., is offering free admission for active and retired military, drilling reservists, National Guardsmen and up to three dependents of military personnel. Dependents can take advantage of the offer without the service member but an adult must accompany child dependents. This is a great deal for families, including those who have a loved one serving overseas.

* The Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., is offering free admission for active and retired military. Not only do they get admission into the regular MOSI exhibits, but they also get to see the popular Body Worlds exhibit and an IMAX movie. That’s a $30 value. Additional family members and guests will receive $5 off their tickets as well. MOSI will also have inflatable batting cages with the Rays’ Street Team and radio broadcasts, so it should be a fun event.

Both of these are great deals, so try to catch them if you can. And if you know someone in the military, say thanks and tell them about it.

Visit Lowry Park Zoo for $5 on Sunday

Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., is an impressive local attraction. It’s rated the best zoo in the United States according to Parents Magazine. It has more than 2000 animals. It has activities for both children and adults to enjoy.

And it costs $20 to get in. Unless, of course, you know when to go.

The right time is today, which just happens to be $5 day at the zoo. For $5 you get to enjoy everything you would at the regular price. It’s just cheaper. So a family of four can go to the zoo for the cost of one adult admission. That saves you about $50 right there.

If you haven’t been to Lowry Park Zoo lately, they have petting zoos, aviaries, an aquatic center, sections representing Asia and Africa and a variety of different shows. There’s plenty to see and you can certainly spend a few hours there. Today (and every day) the zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Enjoy.

If you know of a fun (and cheap) thing to do, send it my way at vivamurillo@hotmail.com.

Mother's Day: Cheap, free and fun

Some people think it’s a bad idea to hunt for Mother’s Day bargains. After all, if there’s anyone who should get an expensive outing, it’s mom, right?
 
Wrong. Didn’t you learn anything from your mom-- the one who told you to be smart with your money? Doing something with your mother—within the constraints of a sound budget—shows her that you actually listened when she tried to teach you the value of a dollar. There are plenty of things you can do on Mother’s Day weekend that offer both quality time for families and a great value:
 
* Friday, May 8: Take mom to the Florida Orchestra — for free. The orchestra will be performing at Lowry Park (7525 N. Boulevard) at 7:30 p.m. as part of their “Pops in the Park” series. Bring lawn chairs and whatever helps you get comfortable and enjoy the music.
 
* Sat.-Sun. May 9-10: Take mom to the Lowry Park Zoo (1101 W. Sligh Ave.). On Saturday and Sunday moms get in free with a child’s admission ticket. That saves you $20 right there. If you haven’t been to the zoo in a while, it’s easy to forget how much there is to see. And even if you have been recently…did you take your mom last time?

* Sunday, May 10. Okay, this is the big day, so you have a few options. For some reason, everyone wants you to take mom to an expensive brunch, but that’s just not going to work. You want to do something fun and cheap, right?
The zoo has its special and the Florida Orchestra is playing for free again, this time at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, 105 N. Bayshore Drive in Safety Harbor. But if you already did those things, you might want to try something different—like Sunken Gardens, 1825 4^th St. N. in St. Petersburg. Mom gets in free with another paid admission, which saves you another $8. It’s a good time to check out their collection of more than 50,000 plants and flowers, and a great cap to a fun (and cheap) Mother’s Day. 

Tampa Theatre tour May 6

Tampa Theatre, located at 711 Franklin Street in downtown Tampa, is the kind of place you visit while focusing on something else-- a movie or a concert or whatever. But this historic landmark could be a destination in its own right. The architecture alone makes it special, and it would be interesting just to check it out and learn about its history without anything else going on.

On Wednesaday morning, you can do that during one of its Backstage to Balcony tours. The tour runs about an hour and a half and takes you all over the theater...you know, from the backstage to the balcony. You'll hear about history, stories (including ghost stories) and other anecdotes spanning its 82-year-history. And the whole thing costs just $5. It's definitely worth it.

The tour starts at 11:30 a.m. 

Free SkyWatch at the Museum of Science and Industry on May 2

Isn’t it nice to look up at the sky on a clear night and admire the moon and constellations? Maybe, but the truth is you won’t get to see much detail even if you have perfect eyesight. Plus, most people don’t know all that much about astronomy, so aside from picking out the Big Dipper (which I can’t even find) do you even know what you’re looking at?
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a place with high-powered telescopes to guarantee vivid images, and maybe experienced people around to tell you what to look for and exactly where to find it in the sky? Oh, and all this should be free, of course.
Welcome to SkyWatch on Saturday night.
A few times each year, the Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., has an event where you can do just what I described. Held at their Butterfly Garden, MOSI’s Astronomy Club sets up some high-powered lenses stationed at different points and lets the public take a peek. Assuming good weather and a clear night, they’ll help you locate the most interesting sights in the sky and answer any questions you might have. It runs from 8 until 10, so this is a fun event to check out either after dinner or before you head out somewhere else. And like I said, it’s free.
They only have SkyWatch events a few times a year (and the next one isn’t until September) so take advantage of it Saturday night.

H.B. Plant Museum May 2-- Free for teachers

In order to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week (which I didn't know existed until recently) Saturday is Teacher Appreciation Day at the H.B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. The former Tampa Bay Hotel and National Historic Landmark will give free admission to all teachers on Saturday.

The museum takes visitors back to when it was the area's premier hotel from 1891- 1930, and they have a number of exhibits and items from that era. It's a fun place to visit, especially if you like local history. And what teacher doesn't like history?

The admission price is just $5, but teachers won't pay anything. And hey, $5 is $5, right? Check it out.

For more information, visit http://www.plantmuseum.com/.

Beach Goes Pops: April 24 & 25

We have a lot of outdoor events in Tampa Bay. Some come and go, some fizzle out after a few good years and some never really get started. But Beach Goes Pops, held at Pass-A-Grille Beach (at 9th Avenue and Gulf Way) is enjoying its 19th year with two days of outdoor concerts, art and crafts. And it's totally free to attend.
The location is great for an outdoor event and you're encouraged to bring blankets and chairs so you can relax while enjoying the music (you should do this). It seems like a pretty diverse lineup, too, with Carribbean music, a saxophonist and even an orchestra. The also have artists booths for Art in the Park, where you can find an assortment of interesting pieces and meet the people who made them. Sounds like a nice way to spend an evening.
You know what else I like about Beach Goes Pops? Not only is it an evening event (running from 4 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. both nights) but it’s on Friday and Saturday. I’ve found that many events are Saturday and Sunday. Nothing wrong with that, but Friday night is a great night to go out and relax to some free music-- especially after a long work week. So I’m glad they’re covering the two most popular evenings to go out.
Like I said, this event is free so unless you hate music, art or the beach (and if you hate those things, what in the world do you like?) then you should consider checking it out. For more information, visit www.beachgoespops.com.

Two fun, free events: April 17 & 18

This is a good weekend if you’re looking for free things to do. Since that’s pretty much what I look for, I’m happy to present two different opportunities to have fun without spending a dime.

The first is the Wesley Chapel Celebration of the Arts, held at 28211 Paseo Drive. Now, to be honest, I didn’t even know that Wesley Chapel had an art event until pretty recently. But apparently a lot of people know, because they’re expecting about 2,000 people this weekend. They’ll have a great deal of art on display from about 60 artists in various booths (the juried show includes a $1,000 grand prize). They also have a student’s art display and an area reserved for children’s activities. There’s a lot to experience, including music. They’ll have jazz performances Saturday evening on the stage. You can buy VIP tickets if you want, but the concerts are absolutely free as well.
The Celebration of the Arts runs all weekend, so you have plenty of time to check it out with friends, family or whoever appreciates art. It should be a fun event. You can check out all the activities on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (with music afterward) and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, go to www.shopsatwiregrass.com and search under Events.

The other event is Saturday on Davis Island at Seaplane Basin Park (across from the airport). They also have live entertainment and music, as well as an art show. But they also have free food Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and a British Motor Classic Car Show that will feature nearly 100 different cars. Want to see a Rolls Royce and an Aston Martin? This is the place to go. This is a pretty big British car show, so this is a chance to see plenty of classics up close.
They also have plenty of events for children, including free plane rides. Yes, free plane rides. Last year they took about 150 kids on free trips. That’s pretty cool. They’ll also have static displays featuring fire engines and airplanes, too.
This is the third year of Islands Fest. Last year they had 5,000 people and it should be another good turnout this year. Plus, the whole thing is completely free. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. You can find more information at www.islandsfest.com.

So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, you have no excuses. Have fun.

Green Thumbs Unite! Spring Plant Festival April 11 & 12

We’re now a few weeks into spring, so if you like plants and flowers this is your season. And if you really like plants and flowers, this is your weekend: The USF Botanical Gardens, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. near Fowler and 30th Street, is holding its Spring Plant Festival this Saturday and Sunday.
The USF Botanical Gardens features more than 3,000 types of plants and 60 species of birds. We’re talking orchids, ferns, fruit trees and just about everything else that grows here. They even have weddings there. There’s a lot to see in the various gardens along the trail, especially if you don’t experience a lot of nature in your daily schedule.
At the Spring Plant Festival, more than 70 vendors will be selling plants and plant-related items. Want to know how to care for a cactus or bamboo? The various societies and growers will be happy to answer your most-obscure questions. They’ll even have workshops on Sunday and a free children’s activity area.
Admission is just $5 for adults, and it’s free for children under 12. This is their fund-raiser, so help support a great local collection of plants, insects and birds.
The Spring Plant Festival runs on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, call 974-2329 or visit www.cas.usf.edu/garden/.

See the Bolts For Five Bucks

Okay, this has been a forgettable season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They fired new coach Barry Melrose just 16 games into the season and the team has been eliminated from the playoffs. Vinny Lecavalier even went ahead and had wrist surgery to end his season early. But professional hockey is still fun to watch, and seeing it live is very different from seeing it on television. It’s a great experience.

And now, with the season winding down, you can see the team play Tuesday night for just $5. All you have to do is bring an old phone book to be recycled (do you even use those anymore?) to the PROSHRED truck at the plaza and you get a terrace-level ticket at a bargain price. It’s a great opportunity to see the team in action even if there won’t be any playoff games this year. The games are still fun so why not support the Lightning in one of their last home games? Besides that, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in town and you’ll get to see one of the league’s best players in Sidney Crosby. And did I mention that tickets are $5?

If all that’s not enough, it’s also Fan Appreciation Week. They have posters, special autograph opportunities and bands playing on the plaza. The game starts at 7:30 but the fan events begin at 4. If you’re going to see the team play, it’s the last week and a great price. Give it a try.

For more information, visit lightning.nhl.com.

Free Airfest March 28 and 29

The MacDill Air Force Base AirFest is an annual tradition featuring demonstrations by the military’s most impressive air vehicles, and this year is no exception. The B-25 Bomber, Aerial Knight T-33, P-51 Mustang and the Navy’s F-18F Super Hornet are just a few of the attractions you’ll see in the sky this weekend (I don’t really know what all of these are, but everything at the show is pretty impressive). You’ll also see helicopters, the SOCOM Parachute Team, radio control model aircrafts and a demonstration by the famous USAF Thunderbirds. Even I know who they are.

By now you know if this is the kind of event you’d enjoy. If it is, I can’t think of another local event that will provide you with a similar experience. People wait all year for AirFest to arrive. There’s a lot of appreciate throughout the day.

One thing you need to know, though: It’s always crowded. I mean, really crowded. The gates open at 8 a.m. and I suggest you hit the road early. Feel free to bring sunscreen, water and lawn chairs. You can’t bring coolers into the show, though.

Admission? There isn’t any. Consider this free event one of the advantages of having a prominent Air Force base in the area. As long as you don’t mind crowds, this is a fun, free family experience.

AirFest runs this Saturday and Sunday (March 28 and 29) from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, a complete schedule and directions to the base, visit www.macdill-airfest.com.

Florida Orchestra For Free: March 25

The Florida Orchestra is one of the South’s most acclaimed orchestras and has been playing to local audiences for more than four decades. You remember all those fancy instruments that high school students use to mangle songs? These are the people who know how to play them perfectly. When you watch them, you know you’re seeing artists at work and conductors who know how to get the best out of a performance.

But I understand if you haven’t seen them play recently. The tickets aren’t cheap. The least expensive are usually about $20 (sometimes more), and often you’re looking at $50-$60 for a good seat.

Of course, you can see them for free this Wednesday. On March 25 The Florida Orchestra will perform its “side-by-side” concert at the Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. SE in St. Petersburg. The “side-by-side” part is a collaboration with the Pinellas Youth Symphony, so these are young people who also know how to play. If you’re going to check out the symphony, this is the night to give it a try.

They’ll be performing pieces from Tchaikovsky and Wagner, but don’t ask me which ones. I’m sure they’re classics. And really, it’s a free performance from a great orchestra. Whatever they play will sound good.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.floridaorchestra.com.

Tampa Theatre’s Free Sunset Cinema—March 21

As mentioned earlier, Tampa Theatre is a local landmark with a rich history. But its impact on the area goes beyond the actual movie theater. Once again, Tampa Theatre offers its Sunset Cinema series, where they show movies in outdoor locations for free. It’s a fun way to experience a family-friendly classic.

On March 21, they’ll be showing “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” (clearly the best in the Indiana Jones series) at River Tower Park, 401 E. Bird Street in Seminole Heights. An inflatable, 50-foot-wide screen and powerful sound system provide excellent visual and sound effects. If you’ve been to this event before, you know what I mean. The picture is sharp and the sound is clear. That means you can actually enjoy the movie.

You’ll also enjoy the price, since it doesn’t cost a thing. Just bring your lawn chairs, snacks, pets, Frisbees, coolers or whatever you want, stake out a good spot and enjoy the atmosphere. No alcohol or fireworks are allowed, and they’ll also have concessions on sale if you don’t want to bring your own.

The movie starts at 8, but the gates open at 6. It’s probably a good idea to get there early, find a good spot and just relax for awhile. Other movies in the Sunset Cinema series this year include “Field of Dreams,” “Back to the Future” and “Shrek.” I’ll mention those when they come up, too. But for now, enjoy the outdoor show this Saturday.

For more information, visit http://www.tampatheatre.org/sunsetcinema.php

Antiquarian Book Fair March 13-15

With all due respect to Amazon's Kindle, the digital book-reading device, there's something great about an actual book with pages and acover. For avid readers and collectors, the 28th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is a great opportunity to look over rare, out-of-print and special-edition books as well as maps, manuscriptsand autographs.

Held at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, 535 4th Avenue North, you'll find rows and rows of dealers with booths filled with unusual books. More than 110 are expected to participate, so you'll have access to just about any genre or time period that interests you. This is much different than visiting Barnes and Noble. It's probably your only opportunity to see so many rare and unusual books this year.

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair starts on Friday night and is open Saturday and Sunday as well. The cost is just $6, but if you go Friday night you can get a weekend pass for just $10. If you want to spend time seeing everything in detail, you might want to go back more than once.
For more information, call 727-234-7759 or send e-mail to floridabookfair@verizon.net.

Tour Tampa Theatre—March 11

I’m sure a lot of you have been to Tampa Theatre, the 82-year-old local landmark located at 711 N. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa. They have a regular run of movies and concerts, so many people have had occasion to go there. And after all, it is in the National Registry of Historic Places.

I’m sure you also admired the Mediterranean architecture and marble floors while you were there. But how much did you really get to see? It was probably dark and you were on your way to watch a movie or show. It’s not like you went all over the theater and had a good chance to catch everything in detail.

But for just $5, you can do just that.

The “Backstage to Balcony Tours,” as the name suggests, takes you all over the historic theater while the guide, Tara Schroeder, gives you information and anecdotes spanning its history. Tara has been there for years and knows just about everything there is to know about the place. Feel free to ask her whatever you want. She’ll know the answer.

The tour even includes a demonstration of the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. No matter how many times you’ve been to Tampa Theatre, this event gives you an unprecedented opportunity to appreciate a true local treasure. This time, the theater itself is the focus and it’s definitely something to see.

It’s also worth the $5 cost. At about an hour and 15 minutes, you get more than your money’s worth. And for kids 12 and younger, it’s free. But they only have them a couple times a month, so take advantage of it while you can. The next tour is being held this Wednesday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit. www.tampatheatre.org.

Free Art Festival March 7 & 8

If you thought Gasparilla began and ended with pirates, you’re missing out on other fun events. But you don’t have to miss out on the 39th Annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, held this weekend in downtown Tampa at Franklin Street and Lykes Gaslight Square Park. This outdoor show features a variety of art, including painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry, wood, watercolor and a bunch of other stuff I don’t have room to mention. They have a Young Artists program, a section for Emerging Artists (including my friend Melissa Fair, who created the image you see here) and many well-known names in the art community. In all, about 300 artists are displaying their work, so it’s a great opportunity to see different styles at one giant event.

You’ll also get to enjoy music and special activities for children. Best of all, it’s totally free. You could go both days trying to see everything and not spend a penny. And it’s nice being able to appreciate works of art and speak to the artists themselves if you have questions or comments. This is a big part of the annual Gasparilla experience (more than 250,000 are expected to attend) so check it out and enjoy the show.

The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts runs from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.gasparilla-arts.com.

Renaissance Festival At Half-Price: March 7 & 8

It’s time to party like it’s 1599.

The 31st Annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival, held at the Museum of Science and Industry, 11315 N. 46th St., is an opportunity to experience a bygone era-- An era of turkey legs, jousting and fashion styles that always seem to include various types of armor. The "village" has plenty of entertainment stages where you'll find comedy, music and variety acts performing throughout the day. You'll also find rows of merchants (around 125 in all) selling just about anything Renaissance-related you can imagine. As you walk by, characters have dressed the part (many are performers, but I think but some are patrons as well) and contribute to the mood. Finally, there's a selection of food and drink if, for some strange reason, you don't like turkey legs. You can easily spend a few hours (they’re open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.) experiencing all the different shows throughout the day.

Normally the cost is about $17 for adults, which can get a little Medieval on your wallet. But if you go this coming weekend, March 7 and 8, they have a couple of specials. First, if you donate blood on-site, you get two-for-one admission. Also, if you donate four cans of food you get the same deal. That drops the price down to about $8.50, which makes it cheap enough to enjoy and feel good about the price. Parking is free, too. For more information, call 1-800-779-4910 or visit www.renaissancefest.com.

Strawberry Festival: Free for military March 4, discounts through March 8

The Florida Strawberry Festival is kind of like the Florida State Fair-- except it's in Plant City and features...well, strawberries. Lots of strawberries. But you'll still find rides, games, shows, exhibits and the kind of (non-strawberry) fair food you'd expect. There are musicians, comedy acts, a lumberjack show and even racing pigs. Yes, racing pigs. I've seen it, so don't knock it 'till you've tried it.

While acts like Randy Travis, Jeff Foxworthy and Kool & The Gang require a separate charge, there's certainly enough to check out for free without having to pay for any shows. Most of the entertainment is included with paid admission.

The admission price is reasonable, too-- $10. But to make it even better, get your tickets at any Sweetbay location and save $2. I'm not saying $10 is bad, but $8 is better. And $0 is even better than that-- on Wednesday, March 4 all active and retired military get in for free.

The festival is located at 2202 W. Reynolds Street in Plant City. It runs through March 8 so check it out while you can. For more information, call 813-754-4297 or visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com.

Wine Tasting-- March 3

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, 14729 N. Dale Mabry Highway, is having a wine tasting event tonight from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Winemakers from Spain, France and Chile will be on hand to answer questions as you sample more than a dozen wines. The location itself is pretty large so there’s plenty of room for tasting stations while you browse the entire store.

It’s a chance to try some things you might not try otherwise, and if you know about wines you’ll enjoy the variety and opportunity to speak with the winemakers. If you don’t know anything about wine you can always just swish a little bit of the wine in your glass, take a sip, stare at the ceiling for a second, say “Oh, that’s good” and pretend you know what you’re talking about. That’s what I do.

The wine tasting is $10, but the deal is a little better than that. You get a $5 coupon good toward purchases that night and you get a souvenir glass. So if you find something you’d want to buy (or were going to get something anyway) it’s really just $5 for a wine tasting and a glass to take home. That’s not bad for a Tuesday night.

For more information, visit www.abcfws.com and look up their special events calendar.

Mötley Crüe For No Money

Okay, this isn’t really in Tampa but I’ll mention it anyway. If you love Mötley Crüe (and in the 80s, who didn’t?) then there’s a show tomorrow (Sunday, March 1) in Daytona Beach you might want to check out. Singer Vince Neil is playing a free show at Wise Guys, 415 Main Street. His solo sets are pretty much all Mötley Crüe songs.

The show is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. but they’ll have Live DJs and music starting at 11 a.m. It’s a long drive, but it’s worth it if you really like the music and don’t want to pay a lot of money for tickets. The band’s show this week in Orlando will set you back $40 for nosebleed seats and close to $90 for anything decent when you factor in monopolistic service charges. That’s per person. This event is free.

For more information, visit www.wiseguyswateringhole.com.

By the way, to get the umlauts on your computer you have to hit Alt and then numbers on the keypad on your keyboard. ö is alt + 148 and ü is alt + 129. Just in case you were wondering.

See? You’ll find lots of valuable info here.

Welcome to Cheap Tampa Events!

This is the place to find interesting things to do in the Tampa Bay area on a budget. That means fun and cheap-- both. If it's fun but pricey, forget it. If it's inexpensive but boring, no chance.

There are plenty of worthwhile things to do for little (or no) money. All you have to do is look for them. Or visit this blog and I'll do it for you. But if you have something you think I should mention, feel free to send me a note and share it.

Posts will start soon. Enjoy!

M.