Things to do this weekend in the St Petersburg-Tampa Bay area

Bay Area Renaissance Festival

Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m.

 

• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)  4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa FL 33617
•  wizards, warriors and commoners populate this replica of a 16th century village with entertainment on multiple stages, street theater, live armored contact jousting, human chess matches, art, craft and other vendors, fire-eaters and more. Price: $14.95 advance, $6.95 ages 5-12 advance; $17.95 at the gate, $14.95 seniors at the gate, $9.95 ages 5-12 at the gate; $10 per pet. Phone: (813) 983-0111  http://www.bayarearenaissancefest.com/
• More dates: March 6 10 a.m., March 11 10 a.m., March 12 10 a.m.

Florida Strawberry Festival

Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m.

 

• Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds 303 N Lemon St., Plant City FL 33563
• It's Plant City's turn to pull out all the stops for its annual festival with fun on the midway, crazy food and prize livestock. But unlike the Florida State Fair, the Strawberry Festival is best known for two things: its various strawberry concoctions and its excellent live entertainment (see Music Calendar). Other entertainment includes racing pigs, a lumberjack show and the Rock-It the 9-foot tall country/hip hop playing Robot.  Price: $10, $5 ages 6-12. Phone: (813) 752-9194
• http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/

 

Florida Waterways Dance Project

Saturday, March 5 at 4 p.m.

 

• Pass-a-Grille Beach 107 16th Ave., St. Pete Beach FL 33706

 

• This collaborative initiative celebrates arts in education by bringing state arts institutions together for performances inspired by Florida's waterways. Several bay area arts groups will participate in this performance, including the University of South Florida and University of Tampa dance programs, Moving Current Dance Collective, Forever Moving Company and more. The performance will take place on St. Pete Beach at Pass-a-Grille between 10th and First streets.  From Miami to the Panhandle and from Tampa to Jacksonville dancers, musicians and visual artists from 21 school arts programs and dance companies will join together to bring attention to the power and fragility of Florida's waterways.  Price: Free.
• Phone: (813) 974-1739  http://www.floridawaterwaysdanceproject.com/tampa.html 

St. Petersburg International Baseball

Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Montreal Canadiens at Lightning

Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

 

• St. Pete Times Forum 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa FL 33602 Price: $15 and up. Phone: (813) 301-2500
• http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/i7euo4?brand=forum

 

 

Downtown Saturday Morning Market

Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m.

 

• Progress Energy Park/Al Lang Field  180 Second Ave. SE , St. Petersburg FL 33707
• More than 100 local vendors including farmers, growers with fresh produce and gourmet foods. Also, crafts, prepared foods, live entertainment, flowers and plants.  Phone: (727) 455-4921  http://www.saturdaymorningmarket.com/

 

United for Human Rights Walkathon

Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m.

 

• North Straub Park Fifth Avenue NE and Bayshore Drive, St. Petersburg FL 33707
• Walk with others supporting human rights around the world, and enjoy food, entertainment and educational speakers at this fifth annual walkathon. Walk begins at 10 a.m., followed by entertainment.  Price: Free. http://humanrightswalkathon.org/

Hyde Park 2011 Home Tour

Saturday, March 5 at 9:30 a.m.

 

• Bern's Steak House 1208 S Howard Ave., Tampa FL 33606
• Meet at Bern's parking lot for tour of nine private homes open their doors for annual "Then and Now" tour of homes. The tour features new construction, original homes that have been restored and a backyard garden. Tour bracelet and map provided day of tour. Benefits Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association causes. www.eHydePark.org. Price: $20 advance, $25 day of tour. Phone: (813) 915-6633  http://www.historichometours.com/

Mardi Gras Beach Midway

Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m.

 

• Pass-a-Grille Beach Art Martet 900 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach FL 37276
• A full weekend of family activities featuring more than 100 arts and craft vendors, food and drink for sale, a Beer Garden, live entertainment and a Kids Zone. Flamboyant Mardi Gras style masks and costumes encouraged. Price: Free.
• Phone: (727) 322-5217

 

Tampa Bay Women's Expo

Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m.

 

• Coliseum 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg FL 46614
• Women get some time to relax and take a break while they learn how to pamper themselves with wellness and lifestyle screenings, seminars, exhibits and booths by area hospitals. Have a little fun and learn how to improve your quality of life. Price: Free. Phone: (727) 893-8523  http://www.tampabaywomensexpo.com/

Book Nook by the Bay

Saturday, March 5 at 10:30 a.m.

 

• Pier Aquarium 800 Second Ave. NE, Suite 2001, St. Petersburg FL 33701
• In celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday (March 2, 1904), families can make a goofy hat and hear the reading of books from the Cat in the Hat Learning Series. Included with aquarium admission. Phone: (727) 803-9799

Indian Bistro Cuisine

Saturday, March 5 at noon

 

• Green Chili Indian Bistro 310 Central Ave., St. Petersburg FL 33707
• Prepare and enjoy a complete meal, from vegetarian entrees like chickpea masala, or meat entrees including butter chicken and chicken tikka and lamb. Includes glass of wine at weekly class on Saturdays.
   Price: $40, registration required. Phone: (727) 898-2783

 

 

New York Yankees: vs. Nationals

Saturday, March 5 at 1:05 p.m.

 

• George M. Steinbrenner Field (formerly Legends Field) One Steinbrenner Drive , Tampa FL 33614
• Spring training Price: $17-33. Phone: (800) 745-3000

 

 

Animal Affaire Gala: Come Fly With Us

Saturday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m.

 

• Albert Whitted Airport  540 First St. SE, St. Petersburg FL 33707
• The "Let the Good Times Drool" main event includes a Puparazzi Paw of Fame, Lost Baggage Claim Raffle, International Tapas Dining, an open bar, In Flight Live Entertainment and the "Duty Free" and "Save the Tails" auctions. Black "tails" optional and complimentary valet parking available. Stick around afterwards for the Tailwinds After Party at the Albert Whitted Airport's Hanger Restaurant and Flight Lounge. Benefits SPCA Tampa Bay for Save the Tails, a medical fund for treating animals.
• Price: $150. Phone: (727) 586-3591  ext. 136 http://www.spcatampabay.org

Salvador Dali Museum Annual Dinner

Saturday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Mardi Gras Celebration

Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

 

• Cajun Cafe On the Bayou 8101 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park FL 33781
• Pull together a festive Mardi Gras style costume and come out for fiery, accordion-driven dance music by J.B.'s Zydeco Zoo. Admission includes a Cajun Plate dinner including Crawfish Cornbread, roast pork, red beans and rice and Jambalaya. There will also be door prizes, Mardi Gras hats for sale and craft ales available on tap. Price: $15 (includes food).
• Phone: 727-546-6732

Greatest Acoustic Blues Show on Earth

Saturday, March 5 at 8 p.m.

 

• Palladium Theater 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg FL 33707
• Top blues artists Paul Geremia, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, local favorite Roy Book Binder and Rory Block come together for a night of acoustic music. Price: $25-$30. Phone: (727) 822-3590

Me, Myself and I Musical Memoirs

Saturday, March 5 at 8:30 p.m.

 

• American Stage Theatre Company at Raymond James Cabaret  163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg FL 33707
• Soprano singer Diana Vytell takes audiences through her musical life with covers of favorites from Broadway and composers like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Steven Sondheim and George Gershwin.  Price: Pay what you can at the door, $15 advance.
• Phone: (727) 823-7529

 

 

Saturday Guided Hike at Weedon Island

Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m.

 

• Weedon Island Preserve 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg FL 33702
• Pull on your grubby sneakers and join a hike through coastal mangroves and upland ecosystems. Learn about the coastal environment and the early residents of this area. Bring water and hat.. Recommended for ages six and older.
• Price: Free, but registration required. Phone: (727) 453-6500

Yoga at the Dali

Sunday, March 6 at noon

 

• Dali Museum One Dali Blvd. (Bayshore Boulevard and Fifth Avenue SE), St. Petersburg FL 33701
• Every Sunday, the Dali Museum holds yoga classes in one of its rooms with a view of the St. Petersburg waterfront. Beginners and those more experienced are welcome. Bring a mat or towel. Price: $10 students/members, $15. Phone: (727) 823-3767

Still Hot for Peggy Lee

Sunday, March 6 at 5 p.m.

 

• American Stage Theatre Company at Raymond James Cabaret  163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg FL 33707
• Samantha McKinnon Brown celebrates Lee, a singer, actress and songwriter who had a sensual style and a six-decade career. Price: Pay what you can at the door, $15 advance. Phone: (727) 823-7529

Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra

Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.

 

• Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center 4951 78th Ave. N, Pinellas Park FL 33781
• An evening of light classical and pops music with vocalists Sarah Peebles and Kevin Nickoric. Includes selections from the musical Oliver and the Irish ballad Oh Danny Boy. Price: Free. Phone: (727) 397-3832

First Sunday Improv Night

Sunday, March 6 at 8 p.m.

 

• American Stage Theatre Company at Raymond James Cabaret  163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg FL 33707
• Performers Gavin Hawk and Ricky Wayne of the improv comedy show 321 take audience suggestions and weave those elements into a one-act play. Price: Pay what you can at the door, $15 advance. Phone: (727) 823-7529

Music Fest by the Bay

Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m.

 

• Courtyard at the Bay at The Pier 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg FL 33701 Each Sunday a different live band performs while the crowd enjoys listening and dancing. Price: Free. Phone: (727)821-6443

Great American Songbook Cabaret Series

Sunday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

 

• New American Theater 183 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg FL 33701
• This series will highlight well known composers and their hit songs.  This show features the classics of Johnny Mercer brought to life, including Autumn Leaves, Old Black Magic and Come Rain or Come Shine. Price: $15. Phone: (813) 784-0536

Tampa Bay Heart Ball

Sunday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

 

• 490 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg FL 33701
• Annual event features evening of dancing, dining and auctions benefiting the American Heart Association. Price: $1,000 per couple. Phone: (727) 563-8041 http://www.heart.org