Lights on Tampa is a critically acclaimed and award winning program whose mission is to bring free access to artistic excellence. Its emphasis is on new media technologies and education. Lights On Tampa is informed by successful international models including BEAP (Biennial Electronic Art in Perth), and Lights of Turin.

From an international call to artists, a highly respected jury consisting of Anne Pasternak, Jerry Saltz, and Dave Hickey, recommended a pool of artists to participate in Lights On Tampa 2009. While all will be innovative and experiential, one installation is specific to the Super Bowl in recognition of Tampa hosting Super Bowl XLIII. The intent is to broaden the reach of the arts through Lights On Tampa, and connect with new audience groups. Millions will see all of the installations.

The program is a public/private partnership that reinforces Tampa’s commitment to the arts, technology, and education. It is a cultural and aesthetic event designed to engage, entertain, and educate Tampa’s diverse community.

Lights On Tampa is a biennial program timed to complement a larger community initiative to revitalize and strengthen the downtown core, reinforce the city’s commitments to the arts and technologies, and capitalize on the peak tourist and convention season in Tampa.

Lights On Tampa 2009 brings the work of major contemporary artists to downtown Tampa. Lights On Tampa kicks off on January 10th with a large public event, and the installations will continue to run through February 2nd, in order to reach visitors in Tampa for the 2009 Super Bowl.

Lights On Tampa 2009 sites include: The Tampa Convention Center and Riverwalk, USF Park, Cotanchobee Park, and Fort Brooke Parking Garage. Community members, and visitors will celebrate the opening of Lights On Tampa 2009 through a pedestrian-friendly public event in order to experience each of the destinations.

Come experience the holiday season in a new light: escape the commercialism and stress of a modern Christmas and capture the warmth and joy of an old-fashioned holiday with your loved ones. The Henry B. Plant Museum presents its Victorian Christmas Stroll from December 1st to 23rd, 2008, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.

Bring family and friends together in the soft glow of 1891 lighting as you discover a lavish Christmas at the former Tampa Bay Hotel. There are numerous rooms, each dazzling with trees designed in unique 19th century themes. While strolling down the Grand Hallway, your spirits soar as you become immersed in Charles Dickens, beautifully wrapped gifts, Christmas stockings and Santa Claus.

Is it possible to think of Christmas without thinking of children and toys? Antique toys, lovingly handed from generation to generation, are strewn under decorated trees and displayed in antique cabinets. For Victorian girls there were dolls – dolls to dress and play with, and dolls with porcelain heads and fabric bodies. There were also dollhouses. Some were simple playthings and others were perfect architectural miniatures. For Victorian boys there were trains and boats, toy soldiers and forts, games of chance and skill, cowboys and Indians.

New this year is a three-story Victorian-styled dollhouse, complete with chandeliers, stained glass windows and fireplaces. The exquisite furniture was handmade by Bill Thirkill of Housemartin Miniatures, Nottingham, England. Bill once worked for Pinewood Studios, and helped build many of the spectacular James Bond sets. These days, Bill is better known for his fine dollhouse furniture, a skill, he says, he owes to his dad. As a boy he used to watch him working with wood for hours, and together they used to make model airplanes. His delight in woodwork had begun. Today, Bill designs furniture ranging from Tudor chairs to 1930’s bedroom furniture.

At the Victorian Christmas Stroll, the essence of an old-fashioned holiday is observed and honored as Tampa’s most popular family tradition. Complimentary spiced cider and savory cookies will be served on the veranda every day, and each evening carolers will perform music for our merriment. Visitors are invited to sing with the carolers in front of the 18-foot tree in the hallway. Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger. Discount Days are December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 when admissions are reduced to $6 for adults and $3 for children. Group tours are welcome: please make reservations for parties of 20 or more with Sally Shifke, Museum Relations Coordinator, (813) 258-7302.

The Museum Store has a huge selection of merchandise, from fanciful ornaments to embroidered linens. It specializes in exquisite holiday accessories. The Museum Store also offers books, fragrances, jewelry, children’s toys, stationary, and home accessories. Enjoy shopping in a unique Victorian atmosphere: the Museum Store is open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily and no admission is required.

Proceeds from the Victorian Christmas Stroll fund significant museum restoration and preservation projects, as well as educational programming.

Find out more about the Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa.

Lights On Tampa is a public/private partnership that bridges Tampa’s commitment to the arts, technology, and education and offers free access to artistic excellence. It is a cultural and aesthetic event designed to engage, entertain, and educate Tampa’s visitors and diverse community. Lights On Tampa is a biennial program that brings major contemporary artists to downtown Tampa. By focusing on art that is experiential and includes both “low” and “high” tech materials, Lights On Tampa also puts the spotlight on Tampa. Some of these installations will be permanent, some temporary, and some will live only virtually through www.lightsontampa.org.

Lights On Tampa kicks off on January 10th with a large public event, and the installations will continue to run through February 2nd, in order to reach visitors in Tampa for the 2009 Super Bowl. Lights On Tampa 2009 sites include: The Tampa Convention Center and Riverwalk, USF Park, Cotanchobee Park, and Fort Brooke Parking Garage.

Lights On Tampa is an innovative project of the City of Tampa, Art Programs Division which debuted in 2006. The Art Programs Division of the City of Tampa is in partnership with Friends of Tampa Public Art, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization to commission the selected artists to create the installations.

Check back with My Downtown Tampa for the schedule and specific installments. ]]> http://mydowntowntampa.com/2008/12/02/lights-on-tampa-2009/feed/ 0 http://mydowntowntampa.com/2008/12/01/victorian-christmas-stroll-2009/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=victorian-christmas-stroll-2009 http://mydowntowntampa.com/2008/12/01/victorian-christmas-stroll-2009/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:57:49 +0000 tommyduncn http://mydowntowntampa.com/?p=223 December 1, 2008 10:00 amtoDecember 23, 2008 8:00 pm

The Henry B. Plant Museum presents its Victorian Christmas Stroll from December 1st to 23rd, 2008, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.

Find out more about the Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa.

The St. Pete Times recently wrote about the exhibit, and it runs through December 27, and the suggested donation is $10 for adults.

Learn more about the Henry B. Plant Museum online, or visit the Henry B. Plant Museum (map) on the campus of University of Tampa, and is open to the publc.

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections is taking the show on the road. From HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY:

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, and staff will travel into the community to register new voters, update voter records and provide demonstrations of the new optical scan voting system.

Thursday, October 2nd
10:30 am – 2:00 pm: Wachovia Center, 100 South Ashley Drive (map).

11:00 am – 2:00 pm: University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Boulevard (map).

With a focus on rare souvenirs, 19th century ephemera and advertising materials featuring the Tampa Bat Hotel, Mementos will evoke the tourist and collector in all of us. This exhibit will showcase everything from whimsical alligators to the beautiful hand-painted, opening day fans.

March 16 – December 31, 2008 at the Henry B. Plant Museum (map)

The Preview Party is Friday, March 14, from 7 – 9 p.m., Plant Hall lobby, $50 per person.
The Chiselers Market is Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. or until everything is gone.

The Market includes plants and flowers; jewelry; kitchenware; bargain center; books and art; electrical items and tools; china, crystal and silver; collectibles; and toys.

There will also be sandwiches, hot dogs, drinks, desserts, and popcorn.

The Market is presented by The Chiselers, Inc. as a fundraiser for the restoration of Plant Hall.

Plant Hall (map) is located at the University of Tampa in the RiverWest district.

From the Henry B. Plant Museum:

PICNIC IN THE PARK

Henry B. Plant Museum invites the community to bring lunch, coolers, chairs and blankets to enjoy an old fashioned picnic in Plant Park on Sunday, March 16 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Relax under the shade of the Desoto oak tree in the old gardens of the Tampa Bay Hotel. Enjoy the old fashioned melodies of a Barber Shop Quartet, strumming banjo, and admire live models dressed in authentic Victorian clothing. Test your Victorian sporting prowess with the challenges of hoops and sticks, horseshoes, badminton, checkers, jacks or tiddly winks.

Free water will be served to all and Blue Bell Creameries will provide complimentary ice cream.

The Museum’s new exhibit Mementos From Under the Minaret opens with a focus on rare souvenirs, 19th century ephemera and advertising materials featuring the Tampa Bay Hotel. Mementos will evoke the tourist and collector in us all as it showcases everything from whimsical alligators to the beautiful hand-painted, opening day fans.

At 2:00 pm enjoy live theater. Step back in time and enjoy a single-character vignette that brings turn-of–the-century Tampa Bay Hotel staff member, Arthur Schleman, to life.

The dashing hunting and fishing guide is adept at trapping all kinds of game and hunting on horseback to avoid rattlesnakes. Mr. Schleman is a true storyteller who has definite opinions about everything from horseless carriages, called motorcars, to past and current events. He can recite poetry by heart and is a would-be gentleman of means. This outdoor performance is 30 minutes.

Picnics were a popular pastime with guests at the Hotel, perhaps because it was an opportunity to escape from formal dining rituals. In the early years of the hotel, Victorian picnics were often lavish affairs offering an elaborate display of foods. A wide variety of meats, game and poultry were served with stewed fruit, cheeses, vegetables and lobster. Savory pastries and pies were part of the menu as well as desserts of cakes, tarts, plum pudding and biscuits. To drink there would be wine and champagne. Finally, a Victorian picnic would not be complete without a kerosene burner to boil a fresh pot of tea.

Gentlemen were expected to be amusing and entertaining and once the last bite was eaten, a man with any kind of musical talent at all was encouraged to perform. So bring your harmonicas! Reservations are not necessary.

Picnic in the Park is underwritten by Publix Super Markets Charities, The St. Petersburg Times and Blue Bell Creameries.

In Plant Park (map), by the Henry B. Plant Museum.

A race for kids!!

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 – Activities begin at 9:00 a.m.

University of Tampa, Art and Polly Pepin Stadium (parking = several UT parking lots border Art and Polly Pepin Stadium)

Ages 3 – 10

T-Bone, America’s Health & Fitness Ambassador will be leading the warm up and performing T-Bone’s Healthy Adventure.

* $5 on race day, Saturday, Feb 2, 2008
* Entry Fees – FREE through Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008
* You may pick up entry forms at area locations of the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union
* Click here to register your child online
* You may also download an entry form and mail the compleated form to P.O. Box 1881 Tampa, Fl 33601
GDCA Jr. Classic Kids Event
The fun and Pre-Race activities will begin at 9am and will include arts & crafts, Mendez Foundation Activity Area and Carmen & Wagner Appearance. Kid city – Children’s Museum Activity Area, Kellogg’s Tony The Tiger Appearance and Special Activities, Face Painters & Balloon Twisters, Musical Entertainment, the Tampa General Hospital’s AEROMEDHelicoper, Health & Fitness Interactive Activities hosted by T-Bone and WQYK personalities and more!