Art

Selby Gallery. Continuing on view through Oct. 9: 4x4 (x4): Miniatures by the Faculty of the Ringling School of Art and Design. A show featuring smaller works by staff members also continues in the school's new Center for Innovation and Collaboration Gallery. Opening Oct. 15 to run through Nov. 13: Constructing Realities, Part I, featuring works by photographer Jane Calvin and video artists Robin Vorshardt and Sven Humphrey. Information: 359-7563.

Art Center Sarasota. Industrial Carnival Museum, including an installation and performance piece by Experimental Skeleton, videos, sculpture, mixed media and more, continues through Oct. 16. Information: 365-2032.

Museum of Asian Art. On view through Dec. 5: Between Heaven and Earth, featuring art and artifacts from the 18th to the 20th century related to religion, weddings, pastimes, medicine and mythology. Information: 954-7117.

Museum of Fine Arts. Marvels of Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics from the Corcoran Gallery continues through Jan. 2 at this St. Petersburg venue. Information: (727) 896-2667.

South Florida Museum. Herbie Rose: Twenty Years in Florida showcases Bradenton artist Rose through his colorful landscape paintings. Through Jan. 16. Information: 746-4131.

Palm Avenue Gallery. On view Oct. 1-31: William Hanlin's watercolor and graphite works on tumbled marble, and Don Williams' stoneware and raku. Information: 953-5757.

Salvador Dali Museum. Dali and Mass Culture, an exhibition exploring Dali's constant dialogue between high and low culture, is on view Oct. 1-Jan. 9 at the St. Petersburg museum. Information: (727) 823-3767.

Tampa Museum of Art. The museum celebrates its 25th anniversary with an exhibition featuring works from the permanent collection, Oct. 10-Jan. 9. Information: (813) 274-8130.

Towles Court Gallery Walk. A stroll around the artists' colony, from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 15. Information: 362-0690.

Ringling Museum of Art. Surrealism and Modernism: 20th-Century Masterpieces from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, opens Oct. 16 to run through Jan. 9 in the West Galleries. Information: 359-5700.

Art Center Sarasota. On view here through Oct. 16: a Three Dimension Show in the Main Gallery, Al Stewart's Jazz Photographs Exhibit in the Front Gallery. Opening Oct. 26 to run through Nov. 13: the fall members show and New Frontiers in Art, a joint venture with the Sierra Club. Information: 365-2032.

Colleen Cassidy-Berns Studio. Botanicas, tropical watercolor paintings and hand-painted furniture, continues on view. Information: 924-1200.

Children

Schoolhouse Rock. A Venice Little Theatre Theatre for Young People offering, onstage Oct. 1-17, which promises to educate as well as entertain. Information: 488-1115.

Comedy

McCurdy's Comedy Theatre. Set to entertain this month: Michael Winslow, Oct. 14-17; and Janet Williams (aka The Tennessee Tramp), Oct. 20-24. Information: 925-FUNY (3869).

George Carlin. Hear what comic Carlin has to say now, at 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Dance

Maximum Dance Company. The Sarasota Ballet hosts this Miami-based company in performances at 8 p.m. Oct. 29, 2 and 8 p.m. Oct. 30, and 2 p.m. Oct. 31 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. Information: 351-8000.

Miscellaneous

Oktoberfest Suncoast in Sarasota County. This Bavarian folk fest benefits the Great Outdoors Conservancy, Oct. 1-3 at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds. Information: 708-3456.

St. Armands Art Festival and Fall Sidewalk Sale. From 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 on the Circle. Information: 388-1554.

Sun Fiesta. The annual event in downtown Venice promises music, food, a parade, bed races, crafts and more. From Oct. 22 through Oct. 24; visit www.sunfiesta.net for more info.

Taste of Sarasota. The Florida Restaurant Association's Sarasota Chapter presents the 20th annual opportunity to sample the goodies they prepare as well as benefit a number of area nonprofits, Oct. 24 in downtown Sarasota. Information: 355-1447.

Mote Marine Laboratory's 50th Anniversary Celebration. A variety of events salute this milestone for Mote, including a live cooking demo with chefs Judy Gallagher and Sean Murphy Oct. 26, an open house with artist Annie Glass from Oct. 27, an open house with wildlife artist Lynn Chase Oct. 28 (and a cocktail reception in her honor where you can buy commemorative pieces to benefit Mote). For complete details call 955-9495.

German Festival. A celebration of the German heritage, especially in the Ringling family, offers German food, entertainment and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Ringling Museum. Information: 358-3180.

Music

Broadway Pops. Broadway star (Phantom of the Opera) and FSU grad Davis Gaines joins the Florida West Coast Symphony in an evening of stage hits and standards, at 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Van Wezel. Information: 953-3434.

Florida String Quartet. Vienna Masters Webern, Haydn and Schubert are featured, at 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at Holley Hall. Information: 953-3434.

St. Armands Second Friday. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the shopping circle, from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 8. Information: 388-1554.

Florida Wind Quintet. In concert with works by Barber and Gershwin, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Holley Hall. Information: 953-3434.

Crowley Museum Folk Music Festival. Folk entertainers and more (including hay rides and food), from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 9 at the east county museum and nature center. The lineup includes Mindy Simmons, Bill Shustik, Shady Grove, the Connie Dillon Band and many more. Information: 322-1000.

Great Escapes. The Florida West Coast Symphony presents "A River Runs Through It," meandering down the Hudson (Manhattan Serenade), the Mississippi (St. Louis Blues March) and other bodies of water for Casual Classics, Oct. 14, Morning Lites and Concert Lites, Oct. 15, and Enchanted Evenings, Oct. 16, all at Holley Hall. Information: 953-3434.

Friday Fest on the Bay. The Van Wezel welcomes Fred Johnson to perform at this month's fest, which runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 15. Information: 955-3366.

New Artists Piano Quartet. Listen to The Romantics, i.e., Fauré and Brahms, at 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at Holley Hall. Information: 953-3434.

Sam Bush and Donna the Buffalo. Bluegrass-country artist Bush and group Donna the Buffalo (offering a blend of reggae, rock, zydeco and more from vocalists Tara Nevins and Jeb Puryear)) perform starting at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

True Legends of Pop. Songs and singers of yesteryear, including such memory rousers as The Locomotion, Running Bear and Palisades Park. Onstage at 8 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Smooth Jazz on St. Armands: Fourth Friday with Style offers those smooth sounds from the Eric Darius Quintet, 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 22. Information: 388-1554.

Florida Brass Quintet. An Ancient to Modern concert covers works from Praetorius to Weill, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Holley Hall. Information: 953-3434.

Boney James. Songwriter-saxman James returns to the Van Wezel, at 8 p.m. Oct. 24. Information: 953-3368.

Sarasota Folk Club. The group's monthly Sailing Squadron Concert features guitarist-singer Karl Burke at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 25. Information: 377-9256.

Wynonna. The country star performs her own hits along with some from such fellow artists as Dolly Parton, Tina Turner and the Andrews Sisters, at 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Concert on the Bay; Three Dog Night. Celebrate the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee's 30th anniversary with USF Week, which includes a concert from the same '70s era that saw the campus's founding. The Grass Roots and the Nelsons, as well as local and regional bands, will also perform for the music fest, which runs from 3 to 10 p.m. Oct. 30 behind College Hall. For tickets call 346-0200 or go online at www.concertonthebay.com.

Florida West Coast Symphony Composer's Series. Vienna's Golden Age is the theme for this year's series, which offers pianist Per Tengstrand and works by Schubert, Mozart and Haydn, 8 p.m. Oct. 28, and pieces by Beethoven and early symphonists at 8 p.m. Oct. 30. Both concerts are at the Sarasota Opera House. Information: 953-3434.

St. Petersburg Symphony. Associate conductor Nikolai Alexeev leads the orchestra and guest violinist Vadim Repim through an evening that includes works by Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak. At 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Sports

Junior Achievement Dooley Mack Golf Tournament. To benefit JA's programs; this tourney takes place Oct. 22 at University Park Country Club. Information: 921-4636.

Unity in the Community Golf Tournament. Architects will pair up with non-architects, including builders, to foster architect-driven business, Oct. 22 at Sara Bay Country Club. Information: 362-9786.

Manasota Solve, Inc. Golf Tournament. Another chance to play from the tees for charity, Oct. 23 at Misty Creek Country Club. Information: 748-0094.

Cystic Fibrosis Celebrity Golf Classic.and yet another tourney, this one Oct. 24 at Laurel Oak Country Club. For full details call 952-5836.

Talks

Forty Carrots Family Center Speaker Luncheon. Lynn McDonald, author of Ladies, If Your Horse Is Dead, Dismount, is the guest speaker for this event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6 with registration at Michael's On East Ballroom. Tickets are $40; call 365-7716.

Season's Greetings. Up next in this lecture series discussing Sarasota's coming arts season: critics Kay Kipling (Oct. 7) and Barbara Leverone (Oct. 14). From 6-8 p.m. at the Katharine Butler Gallery in Towles Court. Information: 365-5118, ext. 306.

Theater

West Side Story. The Jets and the Sharks are still tearing up the town, through Oct. 10 at the Players of Sarasota. Information: 365-2494.

Anna in the Tropics. Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer winner about a family of Ybor City cigar workers and the "lector" who reads Tolstoy aloud to them continues its run through Oct. 17 at American Stage in St. Pete. Information: (727) 823-PLAY.

High Spirits. A "revisal" of a piece by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray that turns Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit into a musical, onstage through Nov. 14 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Information: 366-5454.

It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues. A journey through the heart of the blues, told through songs by John Lee Hooker, Patsy Cline, Billie Holliday and others. Onstage Oct. 5-Nov. 27 at Florida Studio Theatre's Keating Mainstage. Information: 366-9000.

The Sensuous Senator. Oh, boy, just in time for the elections. Michael Parker's farce about a politician whose pitch for moral values comes at a moment when certain shenanigans are taking place at his own home is onstage at the Island Players Oct. 7-17. Information: 778-5755.

West Side Story. This time the gang wars-and the romance-are up the road a bit at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre, Oct. 7-25. Information: 748-5875.

Romeo and Juliet. And another great love story at the Manatee Players-this Shakespearean tragedy runs alternately with West Side Story, Oct. 9-25. Information: 748-5875.

Nunsense. Those singing, dancing, joking nuns are back, Oct. 12-31 at Venice Little Theatre. Information: 488-1115.

Metamorphoses. Mary Zimmerman's Tony-winning take on the myths of Ovid, onstage Oct. 19-31 at the Manatee Players, who will then take it to the Florida Theatre Conference. Information: 748-5875.

Under Milkwood. The Island Players welcome The Welsh Players, who present Dylan Thomas' famous piece about one day in the life of the small town of Llareggub. Onstage Oct. 21-24; call 778-5755.

Oklahoma! The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that started it all returns in this touring adaptation of the Cameron Mackintosh production, showing Oct. 26-31 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Information: (800) 955-1045.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. J. Pierrepont Finch once more works his way up from window washer to the real top of the ladder in this Frank Loesser hit, onstage Oct. 28-Nov. 7 at the Players. Information: 365-2494.

Lord of the Dance. A classic tale of good and evil, told mostly through the flying feet of Irish dancers. At 8 p.m. Oct. 29 and at 2 and 8 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Macbeth. Venice Little Theatre offers "the Scottish play" in a shortened version prior to taking it to the Florida Theatre Conference. Performances Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Information: 488-1115.