It is, of course, Halloween week, and there are plenty of options for dressing up, getting scared, or exploring the darkness of the human soul. But we’ve put most of those together in a separate Halloween Events Guide, and kept our weekly listings a bit less spooky. Here’s what’s on tap.
Shin Godzilla äóñ Friday, Oct. 27
Eckerdäó»s International Cinema Seri
es takes a slight swerve into big-budget territory with this well-received 2016 reboot of Japanäó»s most gripping monster yarn. Shin Godzilla — äóìNew Godzillaäó — received Japanäó»s version of the Oscar for Best Picture last year, in part thanks to what was described as a return to Godzillaäó»s monstrous roots. The new version of the creature is more repulsive and obviously deformed than recent cleaned-up Godzillas, and director Hideaki Anno reporduces some of the sheer otherwordly terror of his own legendary updating of the giant monster formula äóñ Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Free, 7 p.m.
Eckerd College, Miller Auditorium, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Pete
Books & Breakfast: Afrofuturism äóñ Saturday, Oct. 28
Two words: Black Panther. Marveläó»s upcoming movie promises to bring an Afrofuturist aesthetic to the masses with its depiction of Wakanda, the super-advanced technocratic society ruled by occasional Avenger and full-time supergenius Täó»Challa.
The precedents for Wakanda are a bit more high-minded, stretching back to the novels of Samuel R. Delaney and Sun Raäó»s outer-space jazz, which in turn inspired a multimedia pantheon including Parliament, Rammellzee, Dr. Octagon, Janelle Monae, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. This workshop promises to be an opportunity to connect with genre and art aficionados of all stripes to chew over an aesthetic thatäó»s set to take over the world. when Marveläó»s film is released in February of 2018.
10 a.m., Free.
Childs Park Recreation Center, 4301 13th Ave. S,, St. Pete
Bodhi Basics Grand Opening Block Party äóñ Saturday, Oct. 28
I consider my definition of “art” pretty broad, but I still wouldnäó»t have guessed it would widen to include bars of soap. But that was before I first encountered the truly artful creations of Bodhi Basics, the St. Pete-based boutique toiletry crafter. Their products, offered for years at craft markets around town and beyond, are as rich and subtle as an oil painting äóñ and now theyäó»ve expanded their retail shop, and will celebrate with music, food, and äóìwitchy sh*täó alongside their new Fringe District neighbors.
Free, 7-10 p.m.
Bodhi Basics, 240 Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, St. Pete
James Suggs and Nate Najar äóñ Saturday, Oct. 29
Guitarist Nate Najar is easily one of St. Peteäó»s most important jazz exports. His fingerstyle melding of classical and bossa nova with jazz follows in the footsteps of Django Reinhardt and Charlie Byrd, whose widow has praised Najaräó»s work. Itäó»s a smooth, melodic style that isnäó»t particularly cutting-edge, but which has helped him reach a broad audience and work with a number of prominent musicians äóñ and heäó»s not even 40 yet. Trumpeter James Suggs is a bit less of a known quantity, but heäó»s fresh off a long stint in Argentina, so the two should mesh in interesting ways.
FREE, 2-4 p.m.
The Independent, 1049 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Open Streets St. Pete äóñ Sunday, Oct. 29
Florida, and Tampa Bay in particular, has long had one of the worst records in the country when it comes to making streets safe for pedestrians and cyclists. Open Streets St. Pete is superficially a street festival that mixes athletics and the arts, with appearances from local cycling shops, food trucks, and the Nomad Art Bus. But the festival, in its second year, also has a more pointed message äóñ by shutting off a major thoroughfare to cars (in this case, Central Ave.), Open Streets hopes to showcase different possibilities for viewing and using our cities in more pedestrian- and bike-friendly ways.
FREE, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Central Avenue from Ninth Street to 22nd Street, St. Petersburg
