By Caron Schwartz
Shape of you Join the opening reception of The Shape of Us, a dynamic exhibit that brings together six Pinellas County artists to explore how identity, environment, and shared narratives shape us. Meet the artists and enjoy a fun evening of creativity with music, small bites, and cash bars. The Gallery at Creative Pinellas in Largo. 5/16, 6-8pm. https://bit.ly/shape-of-us
You’ll need a drink when the St. Pete Museum of History presents Skyway Bridge Disaster: 45 Years Ago during its monthly Happy Hour with the Historian. St. Pete Catalyst writer Bill DeYoung wrote the book on the crash, literally. Raise a glass to the new-ish Sunshine Skyway (only 38 years young) on 5/8 at 6pm. https://bit.ly/history-happy-hours
Disasters not your thing? Enjoy a History Museum trolley tour, Historic Baseball, for example. Curated by the Society for American Baseball Researchers (SABR), the tour takes you to the training fields and facilities from 1914 to 1960, including the teams, players, owners, and unique history of the original Spring Training destination! 5/10, 9-11am. https://bit.ly/spmoh-baseball
More market days Find farm-fresh produce, baked goods, multicultural foods, innovative arts, handmade crafts, and live music at Kenwood Sunday Market. Hosted at the historic St. Pete High School, there’s plenty of free auto and bike parking onsite. Pet-friendly. Sundays 10am-2pm, October-May, summer hours TBD. https://bit.ly/stpetemarket
Read me The Book Lounge is coming to the Central Arts District in St. Pete. Where else can readers, board gamers, and snack lovers slow down, settle in, and savor every moment? Can’t decide what to read? The Book Matchmaking Help Desk will suggest something from the collection of cosy fantasy, spicy romance, romantasy, and love stories.
Start me up St. Pete’s Woodson African American Museum is one of three Florida organizations chosen to take part in Starter Kit: Many Voices, One Nation. Starter Kits provide organizations with a Smithsonian Institution-developed framework to create exhibitions using their own collections and cultural content. Other funded sites include Heritage Village in Largo and the Allapattah Collaborative CDC in Miami. www.woodsonmuseum.org
Kimono my house at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete. Inspired by the MFA’s special kimono exhibition, learn the art of styling and wearing a kimono with Satomi Hirano, a renowned Japanese classical dancer and certified kimono stylist. 5/10, 2-3pm. Might as well hurry, since the exhibit closes 6/8. https://bit.ly/kimono-mfa
Call to artists Help evoke social change by submitting your original art to Embracing Our Differences and its annual international outdoor juried art exhibit featuring 50 billboard-size images measuring 16×12.5 feet. The exhibit will be on display in 2026 in Sarasota and St. Pete. Deadline: 7/1. https://bit.ly/embrace-art-quote
Call to … creatives Palooka seeks chapbooks, prose, poetry, artwork, photography, and more. Palooka is an international literary magazine that has featured new, up-and-coming, and established writers, artists, and photographers from around the world for over a decade. Submissions open year-round. www.palookamag.com
When I’m 121 Celebrate Salvador Dalí’s birthday on 5/11 at the Dalí Museum. In honor of his birth year (1904), guests will enjoy 40% off gallery admission for just $19.04, along with a commemorative treat, Dalí-inspired photo booth, and hourly Museum ticket giveaways https://bit.ly/dalis-bday
My art will go on Just because Jenée Priebe stepped down as director of the renowned SHINE Mural Festival, doesn’t mean she’s no longer involved with public art. She launched No Good Deeds Art offering public art consulting, project management, artist recommendations, and mural tours. www.nogooddeedsart.com
Fun in and out of the sun FloridaRAMA and Sunshine City with Kids are bringing back Day of Play! The family-focused festival offers hands-on activities, immersive experiences, vendors, food, and kid-focused fun on 5/24, 11am-2pm, at FloridaRAMA in St. Pete. www.floridarama.art
Dancing at windmills International Ballet of Florida presents Don Quixote (featured image). Set to the score of Ludwig Minkus, witness an array of incredible guest artists including Stanislav Olshanskyi and Dawn Atkins of Miami City Ballet and others from around the world as they take the stage in this legendary story. Mahaffey Theater, 5/24 at 1pm. https://bit.ly/don-quixote-mahaffey
Hidden figures A long-hidden portrait by James McNeill Whistler resurfaced after nearly six decades in private hands and brought in almost $500K – over five times its estimate – at auction. The “Portrait of Lucas Alexander Ionides” – the artist’s first commissioned work – stayed with the Ionides family until it was sold privately in the 1960s, when it seemed to disappear. Until now.
After more than four years of restoration, a long-overlooked Renaissance altarpiece of San Leo, Italy, has reemerged in stunning detail and experts now believe it’s the work of Sandro Botticelli (think “Birth of Venus”). Hidden beneath centuries of retouching and misattribution, the Madonna Enthroned with Child among Saints is captivating art historians with its unmistakable style and mysterious past.
Good clean fun Join Tampa Roller Derby as it celebrates 20 years of jams, hits, and derby domination! Get ready for a night of epic skating, electrifying energy, and a look back at its history. Skateworld of Tampa 5/25, 8-10pm. https://bit.ly/tampa-roller-derby
Get the lead out How about that leaded glass at the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement? Learn the craft during a Level 1 Feather Glass Class and create a 6×7-inch glass panel. Two 3-hour sessions, 5/20 and 5/27. www.my.museumaacm.org/ 1058/2841
Walk and learn the fundamentals of street photography during the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts’ Street Photography course. The 2-hour workshop and photo walk through Ybor City with photojournalist Lance Rothstein explores the essence and techniques of street photography through insightful discussions and hands-on guidance. 5/18 10am-12pm. https://bit.ly/fmopa-photo-class
Beat the heat at Indie Flea when the pop-up shop brings 100+ top vendors to the historic Coliseum (535 Fifth Ave. N) for two Sunday markets 7/13, and 8/10, 12-4pm. Grab your favorite reusable water bottle and well-worn tote to stroll amid hand-crafted goods, vintage housewares and clothing, decor, jewelry, mid-century furniture, antiques, plants, collectibles, food, music, art, and so much more. https://bit.ly/indie-market