Weekend Adventures in Bradenton, January 7-9

BRADENTON – Follow up your New Year's weekend with a little culture. It's a great weekend for the arts with a critically acclaimed play, a screening of a film classic with local ties and the first Artwalk of 2011, and if that's not your thing, the Bradentucky Bombers are recruiting fresh meat this weekend. Grab your sensitive side or put on your roller skates, it's time for a Weekend Adventure in Bradenton.

Cecil B. DeMille's 1952 screen classic the Greatest Show on Earth will be screened at the debut of the South Florida Museum's Friday Film Program. The movie, which was a major production at the time, stars Charlton Heston and Jimmy Stewart and was filmed on location in Sarasota.

The circus tale won high praise for it's stunning circus scenes that featured real performers (many of them local) and straight on shots rather than special effects or film tricks.

In addition to Heston and Stewart, the film is loaded with silver-screen beauties of the day including Betty Hutton, Gloria Grahame and Dorothy Lamour. Support the South Florida Museum, while watching the film that helped put the local area on the map. General admission is $5, while members can attend for $3.

Friday Film Program
Friday, 6 p.m.
South Florida Museum
Bradenton
website

Artwalk is back with its first event of 2011. Come and check out this gem of our local community as they put on their monthly exhibit celebrating local art. There will be a special showing at the Dancing Crane Gallery on Friday night, featuring six well known local artists that will be collaborating for a very special presentation.

On Saturday, Feng Shui expert Cheryl Grace will be at the Dancing Crane for a complimentary presentation on Feng Shui for home decor.  Other galleries and restaurants will also have events and showings.

Artwalk
Friday ; Saturday
Village of the Arts
Bradenton
www.villageofthearts.com

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is an acclaimed musical joyride through the phases of love and relationships and has enjoyed a well reviewed run at the Florida Studio Theatre. The show closes out this weekend, so don't miss your final chance to see this local production of a show that has been performed over 5,000 times off-Broadway in over 400 cities worldwide.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
Friday 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 2:30 p.m.
Florida Studio Theatre
Sarasota
Website

If you're having trouble finding your artistic side get over to Astro Skate and see if you have what it takes to be a Roller Derby star. The Bradentucky Bombers will be auditioning new talent for their 2011 squad. If you're a skilled skater that doesn't mind taking a bump or two, these ladies want you to show them what you got. No experience is necessary. Skates and equipment provided by the league.

Open Roller Derby Tryouts

Saturday 6:45 p.m. to midnight

Astro Skate
3611 3rd St. West
Bradenton
Call: 941.747.8602
email: recruits@bradentuckybombers.org