Art

Selby Gallery. Continuing through Oct. 8 is Part I of the Ringling School's annual faculty show, featuring works from the fine arts, computer animation, interior design and CORE studio departments. Opening with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 14 and continuing through Oct. 29 is Part II, which offers art from the graphic design, illustration, photography and liberal arts programs. 359-7563.

Art Center Sarasota. The center hosts an exhibit from Women Contemporary Artists through Oct. 14. Opening with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27 are Secrets of the Sea in the Main Gallery and Architects' Art in the Front Gallery. 365-2032.

Museum of Fine Arts. Several exhibitions continue at the St. Petersburg museum, including Spotlight on the Collection: A Selection of Post-1950 Art (through Oct. 23), John Scott: I Remember Birmingham (also through Oct. 23), The Nude in Photography (through Dec. 11), Weegee: The Village (through Jan. 22), The Splendors of Meiji Japan (through Oct. 23) and From Ancient Greece to Fairyland, a show featuring Wedgwood ware (through Nov. 6). (727) 896-2667.

Ringling Museum of Art. Dutch Painting: Time and Transformation in 17th-Century Art continues through Oct. 30. 359-5700.

Apple & Carpenter Galleries. A fall exhibition presents American and European paintings from 1850 to 1950, through Oct. 31. 951-2314.

Tampa Museum of Art. Continuing through Dec. 31 is From Myth to Life: Images of Women from the Classical World, featuring objects from Greek vases to gold jewelry and bronze statuettes. Opening Oct. 9 to run through Jan. 8: Who Am I? (Exploring Identity), drawn from the permanent collection. And coming Oct. 1 to run through Jan. 8 is Georgia O'Keeffe and Her Time: Modern Masters from the Lane Collection from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Besides O'Keeffe, artists include Charles Sheeler, Stuart Davis and Marsden Hartley. (813) 274-8130.

Salvador Dali Museum. Continuing through January is Tilting at Windmills: Dali Illustrates Cervantes' Don Quixote, in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the book's publication. (727) 823-3767.

Galleria Silecchia. New Artists, New Works are featured throughout the month. 365-7414.

Palm Avenue Gallery. Watercolors by Pepsi Freund fill the gallery this month. 953-5757.

St. Armands Circle Art Festival. More than 175 artists participate in the 17th annual fest, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9. 388-1554.

Selby Gardens. Women Contemporary Artists Juried Autumn Exhibition opens at the museum here Oct. 20 and runs through Dec. 5. 366-5731.

Children

Harriet the Spy. Venice Little Theatre's "Theatre for Young People" presents a stage version of Louise Fitzhugh's book about a young girl who doesn't quite fit in and her adventures as a "spy," Oct. 7-16. 488-1115.

Berenstain Bears On Stage! A "Saturday Mornings for Kids" show at the Van Wezel, featuring the popular Berenstain family of books fame, at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 8. 953-3368.

Broadway Junior on Tour: After Schoolsical Special. A new "backstage" musical aimed at introducing young audiences to classic and contemporary Broadway shows. Onstage at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Comedy

McCurdy's Comedy Theatre. Michael Mack combines standup, music and character impersonations, Oct. 5-9. 925-FUNY.

Dance

Sarasota Ballet of Florida. The ballet reprises Robert de Warren's Eva Peròn: A Dance Portrait, at 8 p.m. Oct. 14, 2 and 8 p.m. Oct. 15 and 22 at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. 552-1032 or (866) S-BALLET.

Miscellaneous

Sarasota County History Center. Continuing through December is the exhibit Bases, Beaches and Bond Drives, exploring Sarasota during World War II and afterward. 861-5000.

Oktoberfest Suncoast. Celebrate Bavaria's gifts in the way of food and drink and benefit the Great Outdoors Conservancy at the same time, Oct. 7-9 and 14-16 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. (941) 708-3456.

Sarasota Medieval Fair. Hark back to the days of ladies and knights, peasants and nobles, jousting and jesters, with this fair at Lakewood Ranch's Sarasota Polo Club, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16. Human chess matches are back, too. For ticket info call (888) 303-FAIR.

Cocktails at the Cà d'Zan. GunnRunners performs on the terrace Oct. 20; cash bar and food vendors. 359-5700.

Venice Sun Fiesta. Three days of food, crafts, music, a parade and more, Oct. 21-23 in Venice's downtown Centennial Park. Sponsored by Women's Sertoma of Venice; for more info call 486-8866 or go to www.womenssertoma.com.

Taste of Sarasota. The 20th annual showcase of area restaurants' goodies, to benefit local children's charities and affordable housing programs. Taking place Oct. 23 downtown; call (941) 320-3775 for more info. A chef's competition precedes the event, Oct. 10 at the Hyatt Sarasota; for more on that, call 355-1447.

Music

New Artists Piano Quartet. Presenting Earth, Wind and Fire, works by Haydn, Villa Lobos and Brahms, at 4 p.m. Oct. 2 in Holley Hall. 953-3434.

Florida West Coast Symphony Great Escapes. Oscar Bustillo conducts Audience Favorites: The Sequel, including pieces from Oklahoma!, Dance of the Hours and Hoe Down, at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and 8 p.m. Oct. 8, all at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

Sarasota Pops. It's "Pops"toberfest when cellist Sasha von Dassow plays Hungarian Rhapsody and the Pops Oompah Band plays on, at 3 p.m. Oct. 16 at Neel Performing Arts Center. 756-7603.

Florida West Coast Symphony Symphonic Pops. Longtime Phantom of the Opera star Davis Gaines sings Big Band to Broadway, at 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Van Wezel. 953-3434.

Friday Fest on the Bay. Tune in to Jose Valentino and his Jazz Band, from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 on the Van Wezel's bayfront. 953-3368.

Florida Wind Quintet. In concert with works by Mozart, Maslanka and Ligeti, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

Florida String Quartet and Friends. Presenting Transfigured Strings, works by Dvorak and Schoenberg, at 4 p.m. Oct. 23 in Holley Hall. 953-3434.

Paramount Swing Orchestra. In concert at 8 p.m. Oct. 23 and at 4 and 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

Bjorn Again: The ABBA Experience. Ready for some Dancing Queen? This tribute to the '70s supergroup will include all their hits, at 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

David Sanborn and Chris Botti. Contemporary jazz from sax man Sanborn and trumpeter Botti, at 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Florida West Coast Symphony Composer's Series. Picture "A Day in the Life of Mozart" in concerts with violinist Timothy Fain (Oct. 27) and pianist Wonny Song (Oct. 29) celebrating the composer's 250th birthday. Music from Idomeneo, Figaro, and more. Both at 8 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House. 953-3434.

Smooth Jazz on St. Armands: Fourth Friday with Style. From 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 28 on St. Armands Circle. 388-1554.

Sarasota Blues Fest. The 15th annual takes place Oct. 29 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds; go to www.sarasotabluesfest.com for full details.

Billy Idol. It's no trick, and may be a treat-'80s bad-boy rocker Idol is set to make his debut in Sarasota at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Sports

Sarasota Ski-A-Rees. Free water-ski shows at 2 p.m. each Sunday this month (except Oct. 16) in Ken Thompson Park on City Island. 388-1666.

Talks

Fall Lecture Series. Presented by the Pierian Spring Academy and G.WIZ. Art historian Morton Stith speaks on the Gnostic Gospels, Oct. 3; architecture historian Marvin Mills on "The Taj Mahal That You Do Not Know," Oct. 10; professor Phillip Buck on "The Wisdom Tradition of the Bible," Oct. 17; art curator Peter Koenig on "The Artist's Vision," Oct. 24; and musicologist Ed Riggin on "The Golden Age of Broadway," Oct. 31. All are at 2 p.m. at G.WIZ. (941) 716-2471.

Forum 2005. Political pundit Mark Shields takes us "Inside Washington," at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Sarasota Opera House. 349-8350.

Theater

Grease. Get your hair slicked back and your ciggies lit for this trip back to Rydell High, onstage through Oct. 9 at the Players of Sarasota. 365-2494.

I e NY. An original musical revue saluting the Big Apple, onstage through Nov. 13 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 366-5454.

His Eyes Is on the Sparrow. A new play by Larry Parr, about the life and times of singer-actress Ethel Waters, running Oct. 5 to Dec. 3 at Florida Studio Theatre. 366-9000.

The Foreigner. Larry Shue's comedy hit about a shy man who pretends not to speak English and ends up getting an earful of secrets because of it. Onstage Oct. 6-16 at the Island Players. 778-5755.

The Cocoanuts. The first really big Marx Brothers hit has Irving Berlin songs, plenty of Marx mischief and a storyline about a bogus Florida land development scheme (hmm.rings a bell). Onstage Oct. 11-30 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

Peter Pan. Cathy Rigby bids a final farewell to the role of the boy who wouldn't grow up in this musical onstage at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Oct. 11-16. (800) 955-1045.

Bat Boy, the Musical. No, not a baseball bat boy-a half boy/half bat creature who's discovered in a cave in this offbeat show onstage Oct. 13-30 at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre. An area premiere. 748-5875.

My Way. A revue highlighting the career of the late, great Frank Sinatra, onstage at the Florida Studio Theatre's Goldstein Cabaret, Oct. 25 to Jan. 7. 366-9000.

The Pirates of Penzance. The Gilbert and Sullivan favorite takes to the high seas once more, Oct. 27 to Nov. 6 at the Players of Sarasota. 365-2494.

The Full Monty. Back by popular demand, the Broadway hit about six buddies who shed their fears, doubts and clothes. Onstage at 3 and 8 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.