NORTH 

Aug. 1: 4 Bands at the Amphitheater. Billboard chart toppers Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte, Maine and Metro Station take the stage. St. Augustine Amphitheater. 904/471-1965 

Aug. 1-17: Perfect Wedding. In Robert Hawdon’s farce, a man wakes up on his wedding morning to find an attractive woman in his bed. Before he can get her out, his bride-to-be arrives to dress for the nuptials. Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine. 904/825-1164 

Aug. 9-19: Hamlet. In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Prince Hamlet of Denmark resents that his uncle has taken his dead father’s place, both on the throne and with his mother. Pensacola Little Theatre.  850/432-2042 

Aug. 9-19: Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare’s romantic comedy follows two young lovers who, while planning their own marriage, take on the task of convincing his best friend and her argumentative cousin to give love and romance a chance. Pensacola Little Theatre. 850/432-2042 

Aug. 14: Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Classic Albums Live recreates The Dark Side of the Moon in all of its glory, “note for note” and “cut for cut” using some of the world’s best rock musicians. Phillips Center, Gainesville. 352/392-2787 

Aug. 21: Cherryholmes. Performing a mix of original songs penned by the band members alongside carefully chosen classics, this modern-day Partridge Family has become a sensation in the bluegrass world. Phillips Center, Gainesville. 352/392-2787 

Aug. 22: Boston In Concert. One of America’s most popular rock groups performs its greatest hits, including “Amanda” and “Long Time.” St. Augustine Amphitheater. 904/471-1965 

Aug. 23: The Fight of her Life. Written by Maxie Coleman, this play tells the story of a woman who struggled to make it as a preacher in the American church and fought for more than 19 years to make her dream a reality. The Florida Theatre, Jacksonville. 904/355-2787 

Aug. 24: G Love & The Special Sauce In Concert. Featuring their laid-back blend of blues, rock, soul and hip hop, this concert features the groove jams that have made this act a favorite. St. Augustine Amphitheater. 904/471-1965 

Aug. 29: Hapa. This duo’s Pan Polynesian sound is a blend of the music of Portuguese fishermen, ancient chants, traditional church music of early missionaries and American acoustic folk/rock. Phillips Center, Gainesville. 352/392-2787 
 
 
 

EVENTS 

Aug. 1: First Friday Art Walk. Exhibits, music and entertainment at over 20 galleries in downtown St. Augustine. For information, call 904/829-0065 

Aug. 1-31: Summer Movie Classics 2008. Screenings of classic movies for $6 a pop. Program includes Spartacus on August 3, East of Eden on August 10, Funny Face on August 17, The Searchers on August 23 and Grease on Aug. 31. Florida Theatre, Jacksonville. 904/355-5661 

Aug. 14-17: Thunder on the Gulf. More than 40 power boats compete at speeds of up to 170 miles per house in the Perdido Key area of Pensacola Bay. 251/980-7223 

Aug. 21: Third Thursdays. A great way to experience Florida’s history, this event features live music, local artists, an eclectic mix of local people and beer, wine and food for sale. Museum of Florida History, Tallahassee. 850/245-6400 

Aug. 23: Uptown Saturday Night. Galleries, antique shops and stores stay open late for artist meetings, book signings, live music and refreshment the fourth Saturday of the month. San Marco Avenue, Downtown St. Augustine.  904/824-3152 

Aug. 23: Family Festival. Family activities with a green twist. Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. 904/280-0614 

Aug. 23-24: Exotic Bird Fair and Festival. A day of performing birds, educational programs, vendors displaying and selling birds and more. North Florida Fairgrounds, Tallahassee. 850/841-1773  

Aug. 28-30: City of St. Augustine 433rd Birthday Celebration. Commemorate the nation’s oldest city with various activities that recall the city’s rich heritage and history. Downtown St. Augustine. 904/825-1004 

ART 

Aug. 12 — May 12: Momentum: Contemporary Art from the Harn Collection. An exhibition that highlights the notion of time, building on the ideas first introduced by the French Annales School in the mid- and late 20th century. Exponents first proposed the idea of longue durée, longterm historical epochs that had a characteristic psychology. Later they suggested that history and time, including geological history and the more immediate time of singular events or crises, unfold in different modes or at different speeds. Momentum explores these notions of time as they are expressed in contemporary art, focusing on enduring traditions, changing cultures and radical breaks. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826 

Aug. 15 — Oct. 25: Cardinal Points: A Survey of Contemporary Latino and Latin American Art from the Sprint Nextel Collection. Employing the concept of the four cardinal points to survey a number of the key ways contemporary artists have mapped or examined their personal and cultural identities, values and the world around them, this exhibition introduces to the most dominant themes in Latino art produced in the last two decades. Pensacola Museum of Art. 850/432-6247 

Aug. 28 — Nov. 9: Through The Looking Glass. In partnership with Quilters Unlimited of Tallahassee, this show presents hand-crafted and machine-made quilts and wall hangings. Museum of Florida History, Tallahasee. 850/245-6400 

Aug. 1-9: Members Juried Exhibition. This show celebrates the artistic endeavors of the PMA’s members  and each year the exhibition is filled with a diverse collection of works that range from traditional painting styles to 3D pieces to more contemporary pieces and mediums. Pensacola Museum of Art. 850/432-6247 

Aug. 1-10: Pets In America. A national traveling exhibition on loan from the McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina. The exhibit features more than 200 objects and photographs that tell the story of the changing relationships of pets and their masters. Museum of Florida History, Tallahassee. 850/245-6400 

Aug. 1-17: Highlights From The Photography Collection. An installation of approximately 40 photographs by the University of Florida faculty and graduates that celebrates almost half a century of the innovative and influential photography program. Renowned graduates of the program featured in the exhibition include Robert Fichter, Bea Netties, Maggie Taylor and others. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826 

Aug. 1-30: Coast & Countryside: Selections from the Spanierman Gallery. This exhibition consists of coastal and countryside scenes of New England created by prominent American artists from the mid 19th through the early 20th Century. During this period, the area offered an especially appealing picturesque variety to American painters. Pensacola Museum of Art. 850/432-6247 

Aug. 1-31: Carly, So Far: Francie Bishop Good. A glimpse of Francie Bishop Good’s ongoing photographic project documenting the development of her niece since age seven. The exhibition features a sampling of works from numerous series depicting Carly drawn from more than 100 photographs. MOCA Jacksonville. 904/366-6911 

Aug. 1-31: Sunshine & Sand. This exhibit highlights how tourists have changed over the century from the wealthy to the average American. Museum of Florida History, Tallahassee. 850/245-6400 

Aug. 1-31: And Further The Dew Drop Falls: Installations by Chris Natrop. Los Angeles-based Chris Natrop creates mesmerizing environments of freeform patterns. The show’s title, like the artist’s inventive process, reflects Natrop’s interest in the concept of something emerging out of nothing. MOCA Jacksonville. 904/366-6911 

Aug. 1-31: Civitates Orbis Terrarum: Recent Drawings By John Bailly. In this exhibit, John Bailly examines the relationship of place and time in his many multi-layered compositions. The monochromatic works, on both canvas and paper, reflect the artist’s intentional reduction of color in an effort to emphasize drawing as the central feature of his compositions. MOCA Jacksonville. 904/366-6911 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: Cross-Currents in Recent Video Installation: Water as Metaphor for Identity. This traveling exhibition presents recent video installations by five international artists with ties to Africa, including Zwelethu Mthethwa, Ingrid Mwangi, Moataz Nasr and Berni Searle. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: Cross-Currents In Recent Video Installation: Water As A Metaphor For Identity. Work by five international artists with ties to Africa: Zwelethu Mthethwa, Ingrid Mwangi, Robert Hutter, Moataz Nasr and Berni Searle. In each work, the amorphous quality of water is explored as a metaphor for shifting notions of identity, migration and memory. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 21: Cultivating Spirits: The Art of Sepik River Yam Displays. This exhibit focuses on the ritual display of yams in Middle Sepik River societies occurring around the times of planting and harvesting. The peoples represented in the exhibition include Abelam, Boiken, Nukuma, Kwoma and Wogumas. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 28: Project Augusta Savage. This exhibit consists of works made by students in Project Augusta Savage in which students

of St. Pius and Holy Rosary get exposed to an arts curriculum designed to expose them to all forms of Art. Cummer Museum of Art, Jacksonville. 904/356-6857 e 
 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 28: Scalpel To Sketch: The Science and Beauty of Medical Illustration at Mayo Clinic. Medical illustrations are used by physicians to share their techniques, by researchers to find answers by medical students to learn and by patients to understand. Mayo Clinic has one of the largest collections of medial illustrations in the world with more than 6,000 pieces. This exhibition features original medical art rendered in a variety of media such as carbon dust, pen and ink, watercolor, airbursh and digital media. Cummer Museum of Art, Jacksonville. 904/356-6857 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 30: Precious Gifts of Asian Art. A choice presentation of recent gifts by longtime Cummer friends such as Dr. Diane DeMell Jacobsen and Dr. Walter Scott. Among the “precious gifts” are Japanese scroll paintings, Han Dynasty ceramic horses, two Ming Dynasty jars, and netsuke and inro objects. Cummer Museum of Art, Jacksonville. 904/356-6857 

Aug. 1 — Oct. 19: Almost Alice: New Illustrations By Maggie Taylor. Approximately 35 digital pigment inkjet prints by Maggie Taylor showcase her innovative mastery of digital image manipulation and give a fresh insight into Lewis Carroll’s fairytale, Alice In Wonderland. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826 

Ongoing: Highlights from the Asian Collection. Chinese, Japanese and Indian paintings, sculpture, ceramics and other arts from the third millennium BCE to the present. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826

Ongoing: Highlights from the African Collection. One of the largest African art collections in the southeast, emphasizing the historical and geographical diversity and range of mediums now well represented in the collection. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826

Ongoing: Highlights from the Modern Collection. Holdings of modern American, European and Latin American art spanning the mid-19th Century to the first half of the 20th Century. Featured works include landscapes, city views, mural studies, portraits, figural studies and sculpture by more than 30 artists.  Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville. 352/392-9826

Ongoing: Prisoner of War. Completed in the fall of 1997, this exhibit replicates parts of the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, better known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” where U.S. prisoners of war were held during the Vietnam Conflict. On display are uniforms, personal items, photos and other memorabilia that provide a vivid picture of life as a prisoner of war. National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola. 850/453-2389

Ongoing: Permanent Collection. Dedicated to highlighting Florida’s history, this collection features flint spear points, a black iron wash pot, crosscut saws, turpentine collection cups, a porcelain pitcher, lumber mill tokens and old school desks that portray the rich heritage of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The artifacts showcased here span the years from 8,800 B.C. to the present. Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, Valparaiso. 850/678-2615 

Ongoing: Aircraft Collection. One of the largest collections of its type in the state, this grouping features airplanes used in the military during various world conflicts. National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola. 850/453-2389 

Ongoing: The Medal of Honor. This exhibit features actual medals of honor and the citations of war heroes who earned the country’s highest honor while serving in naval aviation. National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola. 850/453-2389 

Ongoing: Underwater. In the quiet below the surface of Lake Michigan, refracted light bounces over two WWII aircraft lost by young naval aviators during carrier training a the height of the war. This “scene” exhibit details salvage and restoration efforts, the end products of which are the restored aircraft on display. National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola. 850/453-2389 
 
 
 

CENTRAL 

Aug. 1-24: Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue. In Quiara Alegria Hudes’ play Elliot is a soldier in Iraq whose parents served in Vietnam and his grandfather in Korea. The work weaves these three stories into an intensely personal evocation of war. Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando. 407/297-8788 

Aug. 1-24: Major Barbara. George Bernard Shaw’s masterpiece on the themes of war and God pits a millionaire armaments maker against his Salvation Army daughter in a battle of wits and ideologies. Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando. 407/297-8788 

Aug. 4: Tamas, Family & Friends. Violinist Tamas Kocsis, cellist Alezandra Desbruslais and pianist Csilla Szabo perform a program with the Orlando Orchestra that includes works by Ravel, Debussy, Kodaly, Schumann and Haydn. Lowndes Shakespeare Center, Orlando. 407/770-0071 

Aug. 9: Deltona: Music In The Courtyard. Deltona artist Stony Sixma performs rock, country and pop hits. Deltona City Hall Courtyard. 386/878-8900 

Aug. 15-17: Divine Divas — A Cabaret. A musical tribute to the great musical divas of all time: Bette Davis, Billie Holiday and Barbra Streisand. Winter Park Playhouse. 407/645-0145 

Aug. 18: Good Vibrations. The Orlando Orchestra percussionists perform a program that features a variety of musical styles. Included in the program is Bartok’s Sonata For Two Pianos and Percussion, Anthony Korf’s Blue Rhythm Quintet and Steve Reich’s Music For Pieces of Wood. Lowndes Shakespeare Center, Orlando. 407/770-0071 

Aug. 31: Central Florida Folk

Concert. An alfresco concert featuring folk acts from the Central Florida region. Leu Gardens, Orlando. 407/679-6426 

EVENTS 

Aug. 1: Date Night at Leu Gardens. An alfresco screening of Casablanca. Leu Gardens, Orlando. 407/679-6426 

Aug. 5: Orange City Farmer’s Market. The first Friday of every month, vendors sell produce, plants, gourmet foods and specialty items. U.S. Highway 17-92 and East Blue Springs Avenue, Orange City.

386/775-3333 

Aug. 5: Mall at Millenia’s First Friday. Outdoor music and leisure. Main Entrance of Mall at Millenia, Orlando. 407/363-3555 

Aug. 7: First Thursdays. An art theme party with live music, local artists and an eclectic mix of people. Orlando Museum of Art. 407/896-4231 ext. 256 

Aug. 8-9: Cup-A-Thon XXIV. An open house and fundraiser for the Ceramics and Sculpture Department at the Crealdé School of Art that also features ceramic works by artists on staff as well as students. Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park. 407/671-1886 

Aug. 12: Ambushed: A Reporter’s Life on the Line. Part of the History Center’s Artists and Authors Series, this dinner features Ian Stewart and his new book, Ambushed, which chronicles the reporter’s three-year recovery after he was shot in the head and left for dead while covering a rebel assault in Sierra Leone. Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando. 407/836-8500 

Aug. 18: Storytelling at Leu Gardens. Songs and stories narration. Leu Gardens, Orlando. 407/679-6426

Aug. 21: Third Thursdays. Monthly arts event with special art exhibits and performances at various venues throughout downtown Orlando. For information, call 407/648-7060 

Aug. 30 — Nov. 16: Wilder Life from the Permanent Collection. In 2002, the Museum presented Wilder Life: The Other Tradition, an exhibition of the work of over two dozen artists from across the country. The artworks featured the different means and purposes of presenting animals in art. In the years since that exhibition, the Museum has augmented its collection of work containing animals. Wilder Life is the first exhibition devoted to this portion of the Museum’s permanent collection. Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland. 863/688-7743  

Aug. 1-3: Surf’s Up. Artists, including Marc Barrett, Marlyn Catlow, Kenny Miller and Albert Shelton, present their contemporary expression of beach culture in Florida. Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, Ormond Beach. 386/676-3347 

Aug. 1-17: Volvo Mayfaire By-The Lake Purchase Awards: 25 Years Of Collecting. For the last 25 years, the Polk Museum has collected at least one piece of work from the Volvo Mayfaire by-the-Lake, its annual outdoor art festival. This exhibition will feature some of the highlights from the dozens of works that have been added to the permanent collection through these purchases. Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland. 863/688-7743

Aug. 1-24: Biennial IV: Juried Competition. This fourth biennial show includes emerging and established Florida artists using a variety of mediums. Museum of Florida Art, DeLand. 386/734-4371 

Aug. 1-24: I Adapt To Eatonville. This exhibition features the works of Sam Gilliam. Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, Eatonville. 407/647-3301  

Aug. 1-29: Lifestories. Eric Breitenbach’s photos derive their power from the shock of intimacy. Southeast Museum of Photography, Daytona Beach. 386/506-4475 

Aug. 1-30: Orientalism — An Eye for the Exotic. This vignette presents objects collected by Hugh and Jeannette McKean that richly express Oriental exoticism in art and design. It will also include a selection of works designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany as well as other artists. Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park. 407/645-5311 

Aug. 1-30: Annual Juried Student Exhibition. This mixed media juried show curated by the Crealdé’s Program Steering Committee presents work by students who have attended the school in the past year. Much of the artwork will be for sale. Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park. 407/671-1886 

Aug. 1-31: Art On The Green. This exhibit consists solely of the sculpture Molecular Dog: C3H8 by artist Robert Chambers of Miami. Shady Park in Hannibal Square, Winter Park. 407/599-3498 

Aug. 1-31: The World Of William Joyce. Works by one of the most dynamic and talented picture book artists working today. This exhibition includes works of art created for such popular children’s books as Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo and Santa Calls. Orlando Museum of Art. 407/896-4231 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 6: Departures 3. Inaugural juried exhibition featuring the creative works of graduating photography students from Daytona Beach College and the University of Central Florida. Southeast Museum of Photography, Daytona Beach. 386/506-4475 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: Karsh, Leonard and Bagert: A Photographic Legacy. Three generations of photographers are the focus of this exhibition. Karsh is recognized as one of the pioneers of the 20th Century portrait photograph. His protégé, Herman Leonard, achieved international fame for his documentation of jazz musicians, and Leonard’s protégé, Jenny Bagert, is a young photographer whose work, like Leonard’s, owes something to her early mentor. This exhibition will show the way photographic traditions have been passed down. Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland. 863/688-7743 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: Digital Art In The Post-Digital Age: Works From Florida Faculty. More and more artists are using digital media and processes as either their primary means of artistic expression or as a supplement to traditional media. This exhibition will feature artwork by current faculty at Florida colleges and universities who use digital media in their work. Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland. 863/688-7743 

Aug. 1 — Oct. 12: Donald Harcourt De Lue: Gods, Prophets & Heroes. The 43 sculptures in this exhibit date from the 1930s through the 1980s and range in size from eight inches to 11 feet. The works include a number of mythological, biblical and symbolic subjects, and each reflects the bold energy and strong musculature and stylization for which De Lue is known. Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando. 407/246-4278 

Ongoing: Destination Florida: Tourism Before Disney. This exhibit traces tourism in Florida back to the late 19th Century, when wealthy northerners were drawn by the weather and the area’s natural beauty, including the supposed curative powers of water. Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando. 407/836-8500 

Ongoing: 2008 Appleton Biennial. This juried exhibition showcases the innovative work of Florida artists Ron Haase (mixed media), Bill James (pastels), Joyce McAdams (acrylics) and Steffen Mittelhauser (photography). The exhibit features diverse perspectives on Florida’s people, heritage and landscape. Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala. 352/291-4455 

Ongoing: Legendary Florida: The Florida History Paintings of Jackson Walker. Over four hundred years of Florida history are brought to life in this exhibition of Jackson Walker’s work, which uses traditional oil colors to recreate crucial events. Museum of Florida Art, DeLand. 386/734-4371 

Ongoing: Permanent Collection. Ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to international contemporary fine art, this collection includes objects from almost every continent: Mediterranean antiques, Asian art and artifacts, American sculptures, paintings and decorative arts and more. Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala. 352/291-4455 

Ongoing: Yearnings: Photographic Portraits by Betty Press. From 1996 through 1998, Betty Press documented many cultural activities within the African American and Hispanic communities in DeLand. These photographs are the result of that period. Museum of Florida Art, DeLand. 386/734-4371 
 

WEST 
 

Aug. 1-3: True West. In Sam Shepard’s dark comedy, an aspiring screenwriter and his thief of a brother meet at their absent mother’s house where they clash over a script the writer has sold to a producer. Banyan Company at Cook Theatre, Sarasota. 941/358-5330 

Aug. 1-10: Souvenir: A Fantasia On The Life Of Florence Foster Jenkins. In this musical by Stephen Temperley, audiences get a look at the life of wealthy socialite eccentric Florence Foster Jenkins who suffered under the delusion that she was a great soprano and went to great lengths to prove it. American Stage Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727/823-7529 

Aug. 1-16: Doubt. This drama by John Patrick Shanley, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award, tells the story of a Bronx Catholic school where an old school nun insists a popular priest is having an inappropriate relationship with the school’s first black male student. American Stage Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727/823-7529 

Aug. 1-17: Forever Plaid. This musical follows a high school quartet who come back from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. 813/222-1000 

Aug. 3: George Michael. The rock and pop icon performs the hits of his career as well as new material. St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa. 813/301-2500 

Aug. 7-24: The Clean House. In Sarah Ruhl’s play, two sisters find themselves in a house where the maid doesn’t like to clean and a surgeon boss who reveals he has fallen in love with a patient. Banyan Theater, Sarasota. 941/358-5330 

Aug. 9: Hippiefest. National concert tour featuring Jack Bruce of Cream, The Turtles with Flo & Eddie, Melanie, Badfinger featuring Joey Molland, Eric Burdon and the Animals and Jonathan Edwards. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727/712-2717 

Aug. 9: Grease. The Patel Conservatory Youth Theater Program presents this musical about the spirited 1959 class of Rydell High School. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. 813/229-7827 

Aug. 14-31: Embedded. Jobsite Theater performs this audacious comedy drama by Tim Robbins abou the invasion of Iraq. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. 813/229-7827 

Aug. 15: Friday Fest on the Bay—Julie Black. The “Angel of Blues” shows her passion for the musical genre with a performance that incorporates flavors from other genres. Van Wezel Hall, Sarasota. 800/826-9303 

Aug. 16: Jim Gaffigan — Sexy Tour. The Late Show staple performs new material in this stand-up show. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727/712-2717 

Aug. 19-24: Mamma Mia! Told through the songs of ABBA, this musical tells the story of a young girl who goes to Greece on the eve of her wedding to find the identity of her true father. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. 813/229-7827 

Aug. 21: American Idols Live. Favorites from the Fox reality hit perform renditions of favorites. St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa. 813/301-2500 

Aug. 30: The 80s Regeneration Tour. A show with five rock groups that defined the decade: 10,000 Maniacs, ABC, Missing Persons, Naked Eyes and Tommy Tutone. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727/712-2717 

EVENTS 

Aug. 1, 2: ArtWalk in the Village of the Arts. Visit area galleries and see work by Florida artists. Every first Friday and Saturday of the month. Village of the Arts, Bradenton. 941/747-8056 

Aug. 15: FridayFest On The Bay. Held on the third Friday of the month, this event features a music series with local Gulf Coast talent on the Sarasota Bayfront. For information, call 941/953-3368 

Aug. 15: Art After Dark With Starbucks. Held on the third Friday of every month, this after-hours museum event offers live music, performances and entertainment, culinary delights, libations, and, of course, art. Tampa Museum of Art. 813/274-8130 

Aug. 21: Cocktails at the Cad’Zan. Food, drinks and live entertainment against an art backdrop. Ringling Museum, Sarasota. 941/359-5700 

Aug. 22: Smooth Jazz on St. Armands: Fourth Friday With Style. Featuring light jazz under the stars, this monthly event features extended store hours and food from area restaurants. St. Armands Circle Park, Sarasota. 941/388-1554 

ART 

Aug. 9 — Sept. 28: Victoria Block: Narrations. This artist’s large-scale abstract paintings envelope the viewer in light and atmosphere through richly textured and vibrant impressions of a place, capturing a moment in a particular time of day. Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Largo. 727/518-6833 

Aug. 9 — Sept. 28: Studio Works. This annual juried exhibition presents the works of the museum’s instructors and students. The exhibition is designed to demonstrate the strength of the museum’s teaching program. Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Largo. 727/518-6833 

Aug. 1-20: Florida Naturally. Presented by the Naples Art Association, this exhibition presents about 34 works in color photography, painting and bronze sculpture. Physicians Regional Medical Center, Naples.

239/262-6517 

Aug. 1-24: It’s A Dog’s Life: Photographs By William Wegman From The Polaroid Collection. In William Wegman’s portraits of Weimaraners, the dogs reveal human-like qualities and emotions not usually associated with animals. Von Liebig Art Center, Naples. 239/262-6517 

Aug. 1-26: Unveiled: Rarely Seen Art From The Collection. As its name indicates, this exhibit features works that have rarely been on view from masters such as Goya, Pissarro, Manet, Moriso and others. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. 727/896-2667 

Aug. 1-26: Mrs. Stuart’s Legacy. Solely devoted to works given to the museum by its founder, Margaret Acheson Stuart, as well as her friends and family, this exhibit reveals how the MFA has both followed Stuart’s vision and how the institution has broadened its scope. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. 727/896-2667 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 28: Art, Friendships and the New York School: The Benjamin Gollay Collection. One of the most personal exhibition ever presented at the MFA, this showcase features about 40 paintings, sculptures and works on paper by some of the greatest artists of the 20th Century. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. 727/896-2667 

Aug. 1 — Nov. 30: Ansel Adams & The American West. This exhibition celebrates the 20th Century American master Ansel Adams and his contributions to the progress of photography as an art form. Drawn from the museum’s holdings and from collectors in the region, the exhibit combines Adams’ most important photographs with images by his contemporaries and those who followed in his wake. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. 727/896-2667 

Aug. 1 — Jan. 1: A Selection of Ceramics: An Artist’s Perspective. This exhibition presents a number of utilitarian ceramics from the past, including 18th and 19th Century European and Asian export wares that explore the diversity of the medium. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. 727/896-2667 

Aug. 1 — Jan 4: Modern Masters of the Japanese Prints: Tradition and Transformation. Selected works from the Ringling’s important collection of Japanese shin hanga prints, dating from the first half of the 20th Century are presented in this exhibition. The major artists of this period are represented, their prints reflecting the unique range of tastes, talents and interests of Japan’s modern cultural dynamics yet echoing the patterns of their stylistic predecessors. Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota. 941/358-3180 

Aug. 1 — March 2009: Theater In Ancient Art: The William Knight Zedadski Collection. A spotlight on 50 fascinating Greek and Roman works that help recreate a theatrical experience that was communal, often celebratory and sometimes erotic. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. 727/896-2667 
 

EAST 
 

Aug. 1-2: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Midnight showings of the cult classic starring Tim Curry with simultaneous performances of scenes from the movie on the Waslax Stage. Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach. 772/231-6990 

Aug. 1-3: Defending The Caveman. In this one-man show, Ben Tedder waxes about the ways men and women relate. Kravis Center, West Palm Beach. 561/832-7469 

Aug. 1-9: Hair. Called the “American Tribal Love-Rock Musical,” this show tells the story of a group of friends during the turbulent 70s as it touches on themes like free love, drug use, homosexuality and the Vietnam War. Book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. Music by Galt MacDermot.  

Aug. 1-3: Menopause: The Musical. That “very special time” in a woman’s life is given the comedic stage treatment. Watch out for the hot flashes. Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Jupiter. 561/575-2223 

Aug. 8: Memories Of Palisades Park. Starring Freddy “Boom Boom” Canon, Jay Siegel and The Tokens, Jay Traynor and Shirley Alston Reeves, this musical revue features tunes from the 1950s. Kravis Center, West Palm Beach. 561/832-7469

Aug. 9: Ron White. Best known as the cigar smoking, whisky drinking funnyman from Blue Collar Comedy, Ron White’s stand-up act stands on its own with musings on life in America. King Center, Melbourne. 321/242-2219 

Aug. 15: Classic Album Series: Pink Floyd — Dark Side of the Moon. Pink Floyd’s classic album, Dark Side of the Moon, is performed live from beginning to end by musicians and vocalists using every instrument that was used in the original recording. King Center, Melbourne. 321/242-2219 

Aug. 15-16: The Comedy Zone. Stand-up comedy shows by Danny Johnson and James Sibley. Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach. 772/231-6990 

Aug. 17: Rascal Flatts With Taylor Swift. Grammy winning country pop group Rascal Flatts takes the stage with music/singer/songwriter Taylor Swift. Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. 561/795-8883 

Aug. 31: 80s Regeneration Tour. A show with five rock groups that defined the decade: 10,000 Maniacs, ABC, Missing Persons, Naked Eyes and Tommy Tutone. Kravis Center, West Palm Beach. 561/832-7469 

EVENTS 

Aug. 2: Historical Walking Tours On Wonderful Worth Avenue. Led by James Ponce, these tours feature commentary on the famous shopping destination as well as the significance of its legendary landmarks. Gucci Courtyard, Worth Avenue. 561/659-6909 

Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Clematis By Night. Fountain side music on Wednesdays each month featuring some of the area’s best rock, R&B, reggae, swing, blues and soul music. Centennial Square, Palm Beach. 561/659-8007 

Aug. 2: Evening On The Avenues. Held on the first Friday of the month, this art-centric festival features a classic cars exhibition as well as boutiques and art galleries open late for the occasion. Cultural Plaza between Lake and Lucerne Avenues and M Street, Downtown Lake Worth. 561/582-4401 

Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Downtown Farmer’s Market. Various produce vendors offer organic foods, produce, citrus, tropical plants, herbs, oils, baked goods and more for sale on Saturdays throughout the month. Downtown Fort Pierce. 772/940-1145 

Aug. 3: First Saturday Beachside. A day by the beach with live musical entertainment, wine tasting and shopping. Downtown Delray Beach. 561/279-1380 

Aug. 9: Bon Festival. Now in its 31^st year, this festival honors ancestors and thanks them for the living’s quality of living through traditional bon dancing and Fushu Daiko drum performances. Highlights of the evening include the floating lanterns on the Morikami pond and a fireworks display. Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach. 561/495-0233 

Aug. 14: Art & Jazz On The Avenue. Downtown Delray Beach comes alive with the sounds of music and the sights of art through live entertainment, exhibits and more. Downtown Delray Beach. 561/279-1380 

Aug. 23: Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach. A one-hour and 45-minute excursion around Delray Beach with visits to historic districts and sites. Fee is $10 per person. Held on the fourth Saturday of the month. For information, call 561/243-2662 or visit www.delraybeachbustours.org 

ART 

Aug. 1-30: Paintings By The Sea: Jason Mathias. A native Floridian, Jason Mathias creates fine art in oils, acrylics and watercolors, which are drawn from the extensive underwater digital video he shoots while diving off the coasts of Florida and the Cayman Islands. Cornell Museum, Old School Square, Delray Beach. 561/243-7922

Aug. 1-30: Divers’ Treasure. A collection of treasure and treasured artifacts, from sea and land, from the days of tall sailing galleons and pirate ships. Cornell Museum, Old School Square, Delray Beach. 561/243-7922 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: Ecstasy: The Mythical Landscapes of Walter Anderson. Considered one of Mississippi’s most outstanding artists, Walter Anderson’s reputation is based on the brilliant watercolors he produced as a celebration and realization of nature on Horn Island off the Mississippi coast in the last 18 years of his life. This exhibit showcases 54 of Anderson’s watercolors, many of which have not been on exhibition before. Vero Beach Museum of Art. 772/231-0707 

Aug. 1-31: Highlights: African American Art from the Norton Collection. Important works by African American artists from the 1920s through the 1990s. Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach. 561/832-5196 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: Focus On. A series of photography that highlights a donation of 162 photographs by Irene Hunter. The series will showcase the work of six international photographers paired together. Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach. 561/832-5196 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: The Hunter Gift: Manuel Alvarez Bravo and Arthur Rothstein. Both Bravo and Rothstein documented the social and cultural realities of the 20th Century. Political and social themes are resonant in their work, as each photographer captured the affect of radical changes in rural life and the often-overlooked lower classes. Bravo’s work exposed the turmoil confronting Mexico before and after the Mexican Revolution. Rothstein’s work documents the conditions of rural America during the Great Depression. Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach. 561/832-5196 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 21: Florida Visual Art Fellowship Exhibition. A traveling exhibition from the recipients of the state’s first Artist Fellowship Program. The exhibition features the artwork of the 25 recipients of the 2006 award and showcases 65 works in various media. Included are artists John Bailly, Rebecca Sittler, Wendy Wischer and others. Vero Beach Museum of Art. 727/2310707 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 21: Kuruma: The Wheel in Japanese Life and Art. The invention of the wheel has been considered one of the great milestones in the history of humankind. In Japan, the wheel has had a different history than it has in other regions of the world. This exhibition looks at the wheel and wheeled vehicles in Japanese history and examines their impact on Japanese civilization. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach. 561/495-0233 

Ongoing: Fashion Treasures from the Museum’s Permanent Archival Collection. A chronological exhibit displayed in a sequence from the late 1800s to the 1960s. Through it visitors will have an opportunity to learn how lifestyles, status, status, wealth and war and economy influenced extreme changes in clothes design from one decade to the next. Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History, Delray Beach. 561/243-2662 

Ongoing: Permanent Collection. American art by Edward Hopper, George Bellows, Childe Hassam, Arthur B. Davies, Andy Warhol and other artists. Chinese art representing the Asian country’s great periods of history, including Shang and Western Zhou era vessels. Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach. 561/832-5196 
 

SOUTH 

Aug. 1-10: Mid Life! The Crisis Musical. An entertaining look at women in their 40s and 50s and everything that comes along during that “special” time in their lives. Book, lyrics and music by Bob Walton and Jim Walton. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, Coral Gables. 305/444-9293 

Aug. 1-17: Slava’s Snowshow. A cross between Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group, this show created by Slava, the original Cirque’s clown genius, is a theatrical experience of moving images and comedy. Arsht Center, Miami. 305/949-6722

Aug. 1-17: Miami Libre. Featuring Cuban dancers, this dance extravaganza tells the story of a musician’s search for love and liberty. Arsht Center, Miami. 305/949-6722  

Aug. 1-17: Doubt, A Parable. In John Patrick Shanley’s play, a nun at a school suspects a priest is having an inappropriate relationship with the school’s first black male student. Caldwell Theatre, Boca Raton.

561/241-7432 

Aug. 2: George Michael. The rock and pop icon performs the hits of his career as well as new material. BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise. 305/358-5886 

Aug. 2: Aquiles Baez — La Patilla. Berklee-trained guitarist Aquiles Baez performs a program of jazz-inspired Latin. Arsht Center, Miami. 305/949-6722 

Aug. 7-9: Grease. More than a Broadway musical, Grease is an American classic about the boys and girls at Rydell High School in 1950s America. Broward Center, Fort Lauderdale. 954/462-0222 

Aug. 14: Ellis Marsalis. Part of the Community Arts Program Summer Concert Series, this concert presents the talents of premier modern jazz artist Ellis Marsalis. Coral Gables Congregational Church.

305/448-7421 

Aug. 16: Chris MacDonald’s Memories of Elvis. Performer Chris MacDonald impersonates the King of Rock and Roll and performs every one of his greatest hits. Broward Center, Fort Lauderdale. 954/462-0222

Aug. 20: American Idols Live. Favorites from the Fox reality hit perform renditions of favorites and new material. BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise. 305/358-5886 

Aug. 21-24: Jews Don’t Belong

On Ladders. Art Metrano’s accidental comedy details his rise to fame and his subsequent fall from the ladder of success. Broward Center, Fort Lauderdale. 954/462-0222 

Aug. 28: Brubeck Brothers Quartet. Part of the Community Arts Program Summer Concert Series, this concert features the jazz group featuring two members of one of America’s most accomplished musical families, Daniel Brubeck on drums and Chris Brubeck on bass and trombone. Coral Gables Congregational Church. 305/448-7421 

Aug. 14: Ellis Marsalis. Part of the Community Arts Program Summer Concert Series, this concert presents the talents of premier modern jazz artist Ellis Marsalis. Coral Gables Congregational Church. 305/448-7421 

Aug. 14 — Sept. 14: As You Like It. In William Shakespeare’s comedy, a gorgeous heroine goes into a forest of possibilities where the nature of true love versus romantic love is put to the test amidst misunderstandings, gender confusions and mistaken identities. New Theatre, Coral Gables. 305/443-5909 

Aug. 16 — Sept. 14: Defiance. In Patrick Shanley’s 1971 set play, two officers in the Marines, one black and one white, are on a collision course over race, women and the high cost of doing the right thing. GableStage at the Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables. 305/445-1119 

Aug. 29 — Sept. 13: XIII International Ballet Festival of Miami. Presented by Miami Hispanic Ballet, American Airlines and Miami-Dade College, this event is one of the most renowned festivals of its type in the country. This year’s participating ballet companies are from the U.S., Canada, England, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Argentina, Spain, Mexico and Brazil. Performances will take place at venues throughout Miami and Miami Beach. 305/549-7711 

EVENTS 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 31: Miami Spice. During this summer restaurant promotion, Miami’s top eateries offer three-course meals (lunch, $23; dinner, $36) featuring signature dishes by the restaurants’ chefs at a significantly lower price. For participating restaurants, visit www.ilovemiamispice.com

Aug. 2-10: WreckFest 2008. Nine days of wreck diving for experienced divers in the open waters of Key Largo. For location and information, visit www.silentworldkeylargo.com 

Aug. 8-10: Key West LobsterFest. The crustacean gets its due with a Duval Crawl, a street fair, a free concert and a Saturday and Sunday lobster brunch. Downtown Key West. 305/294-2000 

Aug. 16: Azadi Cup Cricket Tournament. Teams featuring star players from India, the West Indies and Pakistan compete in this 20/20 cricket game, a faster paced version for American audiences. Central Broward Regional Park, Fort Lauderdale. 954/765-4466 

ART 

Aug. 8 — Nov. 2: Selections from the Permanent Collection. This installation will include a selection of major works from MAM’s growing permanent collection. The collection spans international art of the 20th and 21st centuries, with a focus on art of the western hemisphere since 1950. Miami Art Museum. 305/375-3000 

Aug. 23 — Nov. 2: 20th Century Works On Paper. Over 50 drawings by some of the 20th Century’s most renowned Spanish artists, as well as artists from other countries whose careers were impacted by Spain. Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach. 305/673-7530 

Aug. 1 — Oct. 12: Sean Duffy: New Work. A master at transforming found objects into surreal sculptures, Sean Duffy is best known for fusing multiple turntables into functional single players, resulting in mutant objects that produce an eerie, rondo-like soundtrack. For this exhibition, Duffy is creating an entirely new installation inspired by 60s pop music. Miami Art Museum. 305/375-3000 

Aug. 1-3: VOOM Portraits: Robert Wilson. Provocative high-definition video portraits by epochal avant-garde artist Robert Wilson make up this exhibition. The showcase features 26 portraits of people and animals presented on large-scale HD format flatscreens, and include celebrities like Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Princess Caroline of Monaco and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach. 305/673-7530 

Aug. 1-31: Unbroken Tiles: Dialogues in Cuban Art. This exhibition, which includes nearly 65 works by more than 40 artists, reaffirms the Museum’s commitment to Latin American art in general and Cuban art in particular. The structure of the show is loosely based on that of a three-act Greek tragedy: “Paradise Lost,” which examines the Cuban paradise that now lies in ruins; “Risking Life and Limb,” which chronicles the voyage of Cuban exiles; and “Unbroken Ties/New Reality,” which documents the range of experiences of those exiles in America. Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, 954/525-5500  

Miami. 305/375-1492 Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: I Shot Warhol, Wesselman, Lichtenstein, Rosenquist and Indiana: Photographs by Bob Adelman and William John Kennedy. This exhibition presents more than 60 images featuring the leaders of the Pop art movement, photographed at the height of their careers by two photographers whose lives crossed paths with many of the greatest artists of their day. Boca Raton Museum of Art. 561/392-2500 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: 57th Annual All Florida Juried Competition & Exhibition. This exhibition presents contemporary and modernist work by Florida-based artists. Boca Raton Museum of Art. 561/392-2500

Aug. 1 — Sept. 7: Boca Museum Artists Guild Biennial Members Exhibition. As a complete to the All Florida Juried Exhibition, this juried show  presents the works of members of the museum’s Artists’ Guild. Boca Raton Museum of Art. 561/392-2500 

Aug. 1 — Sept. 8: Sympathy for the Devil: Art of Rock and Roll Since 1967. This group exhibition of about 100 works is the most serious and comprehensive look at the intimate and inspired relationship between the visual arts and rock and roll culture to date, charting their intersection through works of art, album covers, music videos and other materials. MOCA, North Miami. 305/893-6211

Aug. 1 — Sept. 21: Shadows, Disappearances & Illusions. This series of works, many of them light-based, deal with the ephemeral nature of visual experience. Included will be works from MAM’s permanent collection , together with loans and commissioned installations. Miami Art Museum, 305/375-3000 

Aug. 1 — Oct. 19: Splendor In The Bass: The Portraits. This installation highlights portraiture of the original John and Johanna Bass founding donation to the museum and features traditional paintings from the past five centuries to the present day. Works include 17th Century Italian, Flemish and Dutch examples by painters such as Anthony van Dyck, Michiel van Musscher, as well as 17th and 18th Century French court portraiture by Jean-Baptiste van Loo. Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach. 305/673-7530 

Aug. 1 — Nov. 2: Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College, London. This major traveling exhibition tells the story of British pioneer and archeologist Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie and his exploration of ancient Egyptian civilization. Lowe Museum of Art, Coral Gables. 305/284-3535 

Aug. 1 — Nov. 2: Eternal Egypt: Photography From The Permanent Collection. Images of the Nile Valley during a bygone era revealing glimpses of an Egypt that no longer exists. Lowe Museum of Art, Coral Gables. 305/284-3535 

Aug. 1 — Dec. 8: Thoughts on Democracy. This exhibition is the result of the Wolfsonian inviting 60 leading artists and designers to create a new graphic design inspired by Norman Rockwell’s 1943 Four Freedoms posters, a recent addition to the collection. Rockwell’s images, reproduced by the U.S. Office of War Information for Mass Dissemination, communicated FDR’s vision of a world founded upon freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. The Wolfsonian-FIU, Miami Beach. 305/531-1001 

Aug. 1 — Jan. 25: Interama: Miami and the Inter-American Dream. A recreation of Miami’s futuristic fair of the America’s from the 1960s, an installation that was never actually made but captured the imagination of planners, architects and public officials in an era when Miami perceived itself as a hemispheric crossroads. Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Miami. 305/375-1492 

Ongoing: Myrna and Sheldon Palley Collection. More than 100 glass pieces that span the glass art movement from the 70s through the present. Included are works by Harvey Littleton, Dale Chihuly, Tom Patti, Marvin Lipofsky, Therman Statom and John Ritter. Lowe Museum of Art, Coral Gables. 305/284-3535