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Scoring a bulls-eye

Looking for something to do? Here's a super calendar, ranging from opera to bluegrass.

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 4, 2005

After Elvis Costello emerged from Britain's explosive punk and new wave scene in the late 1970s, his recording career took off with the making of the album My Aim Is True.

Since then, Costello, 50, has recorded more than a dozen albums.

Now a seasoned pop veteran, Costello has had an influence on similarly edgy songwriters and collaborated with artists such as Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and Tony Bennett.

His 1977 debut album, My Aim Is True, and followups This Year's Model and Armed Forces are lauded as one of pop's finest trilogies.

By the time MTV and videos came along in 1981, the songwriter was quick to embrace the medium with snappy videos for hits such as What's So (Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?) and Everyday I Write the Book.

Costello's song High Fidelity inspired the title of Nick Hornby's novel about a guy obsessed with pop music, which was made into a movie starring John Cusack.

In 2003, he was nominated for three Grammys for When I Was Cruel, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and released two albums, The Delivery Man and Il Sogno.

Costello and The Imposters perform Saturday at 8 p.m. at the sold-out Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. For information, call 274-8982.

MYSTICAL ARTS OF TIBET: Buddhist lamas from Tibet, robed in elaborate costumes, play traditional long horns, trumpets and bells to promote world healing in an overview of an ancient culture. 7:30 p.m.; Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Ferguson Hall, Tampa; $19.50-$32.50. Call 229-7827.

ARTIST RECEPTION: Painting mainly indigenous people from photographs in magazines such as National Geographic, Teressa Odom uses acrylics and oil pastels. Her display, through March 31, kicks off with a "meet the artist reception" from 6 to 9 p.m. today; regular gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; Gold Dragon Gallery, 3508 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa; free. Call 832-2755 or go to www.golddragon.com

CHARLIE DANIELS BAND: Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; 4 and 7:30 p.m.; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

KANSAS: Fusing British progressive rock with an American heartland sound representative of its name, Kansas was among the most popular bands of the late 1970s. The group churned out songs such as Dust in the Wind, Play the Game Tonight and All I Wanted. 7 p.m.; Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg; $22.50-$25. Call (727) 896-1244.

GASPARILLA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS: When he won "Best of Show" at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in 1987 for his oil painting, Brad Cooper used the prize money as a down payment for his art gallery in Ybor City. Now in its 35th year, the festival is still providing artists with an open forum. The event includes live music, arts, crafts and food. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Franklin Street and Lykes Gaslight Park, downtown Tampa; free. Call 876-1747 or go to www.gasparilla-arts.com

SHREK 2: Picking up where the first film left off, Shrek 2 follows newlyweds Shrek and Fiona, who return from their honeymoon to find a letter from Fiona's parents inviting them over for dinner. The only problem is that the parents are unaware that their daughter is now an ogre. The show is part of the Free Family Flicks series on Saturday mornings at Sunrise Cinemas through April 23. 10 a.m., doors open at 9:30 a.m.; Sunrise Cinemas, 1609 W Swann Ave., Tampa; free. Call 251-3500.

FLORIDA ORCHESTRA: As part of the Masterworks Concert Series, conductor Stefan Sanderling leads cellist Michael Sanderling and the Florida Orchestra for "A Family Affair." 7:30 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. Also 7:30 p.m . Sunday, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa; $15.50-$50.50. Call 286-1170.

AARON TIPIN: Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; 4 and 7:30 p.m.; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

"THE BARBER OF SEVILLE': Gioacchino Rossini's comic opera involves a famous love triangle as Count Almavira attempts to court the beautiful Rosina away from her pompous benefactor, Dr. Bartolo. Teatro Lirico D' Europa performs the musical. 8 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $35-$45. Call (727) 791-7400.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS: For 78 years, the Globetrotters have displayed their athletic ability, comedy routines and amazing trick shots. The team tours the United States and Canada from mid December to mid April every year, playing in more than 200 cities. 1 p.m.; St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa; $16.75-$96.75. Call 301-2500.

SOCIAL DISTORTION: Last year, Los Angeles punk band Social Distortion recorded Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll. It's now on the road promoting the album. 6:30 p.m.; Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg; $25. (727) 896-1244.

LORRIE MORGAN: Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; 4 p.m.; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

CLINT BLACK: Country crooner Clint Black burst onto the charts in 1989 with Better Man, the first of five consecutive No. 1 hits from his self-titled debut album. Black, who's married to TV-turned-movie actor Lisa Hartman-Black, is still churning out hits . 7:30 p.m.; Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

TOO JEWISH: One-man musical comedy revue Too Jewish stars comedian Avi Hoffman, who sings Yiddish and Jewish songs, tells jokes and stories, and reminisces about a Yiddish culture of the past. 2 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $25-$35. (727) 791-7400.

VINCE GILL: Starting as a bluegrass singer, Vince Gill survived the 1980s country slump to emerge as a major contemporary country hitmaker. Gill has been married to Christian pop musician Amy Grant for about four years. Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; 4 and 7:30 p.m.; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

FRANK BOLOCK: Acrylic and watercolor artist Frank Bolock's paintings are on display throughout March. All paintings are for sale. Regular gallery hours are noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; Old Hyde Park Art Gallery, 507 W Swann Ave., Tampa; free. Call 251-3780.

TYLER PERRY'S "MEET THE BROWNS': Playwright Tyler Perry's fifth and latest comedic play, Meet the Browns, centers around a funeral service. Through Thursday. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa; $29.50-$38.50. Call 229-7827.

WAYNE NEWTON: Newton, whose name has become synonymous with Las Vegas, hit it big in the 1960s after releasing the song Danke Schoen. Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; 4 and 7:30 p.m.; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

"TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA': The Acting Company presents William Shakespeare's comedy about a love triangle between two men and a woman. 8 p.m.; Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Ferguson Hall, Tampa; $19.50-$29.50. Call 229-7827.

NEAL McCOY: Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; 4 and 7:30 p.m.; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

NEIL SEDAKA: Sedaka has recorded chart toppers such as The Diary, Oh! Carol, Stairway to Heaven and Calendar Girl. Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City; 4 and 7:30 p.m.; $10-$15 plus admission to the festival, which is $5-$9 and free to kids 5 and younger. Call 752-9194.

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