Kings of the Roads
The Tampa Bay International Auto Show

 

To complement our public transit article, “Connecting the Corridor,” New Heights’ staff felt it important to balance this issue with a story for our readers who – for whatever reason – just can’t seem to bring themselves to try Tampa’s public transit.

After a little brainstorming, it hit us. What could be more of a 180 degree turn in topic than to announce that the 2009-model Tampa Bay International Auto Show is coming to downtown?

To be held once again at the Tampa Convention Center (333 S. Franklin St.), this year’s show will take place Nov. 6-9. On display will be the always eye-catching concept cars, ultra high-end exotics, customized vehicles and pre-production models, as well as 400 new cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs.

“It’s an opportunity for those living in the Urban Corridor to check out the latest vehicles in a non-selling environment,” said Shelbi Okumura, a spokesperson for the show. “They can sit behind the steering wheels, inspect the engines and even take a spin in select vehicles at onsite ride-and-drive locations.”

Attendees can also learn about rapidly developing automobile fuel-efficiency technologies, including the science behind hybrids.

“Strides have been made in hybrid technology,” said Okumura. “Which is obvious based on the large number of them appearing in the marketplace.”

In addition to showcased hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, show browsers can kick the tires of other types of fuel-efficient vehicles, such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Nissan Versa. These sub-compact conventional cars are smaller, lighter and more efficient, which has decreased their fuel use and increased their demand.

The Auto Show will open to the public Thursday and Friday, 12-10pm; Saturday, 10am-10pm; and Sunday, 10am-6pm. For more information, visit www.AutoShowTampa.com.

 

Film Documentaries
Hillsborough High & Seminole Heights

 

When:

Oct. 4, 2008 - 3 & 7pm (two showings)
Where:

Hillsborough High School’s Auditorium
Tickets:

$5 in Advance

The Education Channel will premiere its locally produced, 25 minute documentary, “Halls of Tradition: Hillsborough High School” at 3pm and 7pm, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008; in the high school’s auditorium as part of the school’s Homecoming celebrations. A second documentary, “Seminole Heights: An Intimate Look at the Early Years” will run immediately after each viewing.

The first film highlights the history of HHS, beginning in 1885 when it was founded on the second floor of a downtown livery on Franklin Street. (Its first class had 16 students and one teacher.) A narrator guides viewers through a more than 130-year journey with the help of interviewees like Dr. William Orr (the school’s current principal) and several graduating class members, including Braulio Alonzo (1935), Judy Dery (1962) and Anthony Castanon (2007).

The second film premiered to a sell out crowd at Tampa Theatre in April 2008. It takes viewers through a tour of the early days of Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood (where HHS is located) and closes when it reaches the 1950s. Highlights include the antics of the River Rats and the surprising definition of the “balloon factory.”

Tickets are available for $5 at Sherry’s YesterDaze Vintage Clothing & Antiques (5207 N. Florida Ave.). For more information about the event, call Suzanne Prieur: (813) 610-5255.

 

Regards To Broadway
2008-2009 Best of Broadway Season

 

The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (TBPAC) has announced its 2008-2009 Best of Broadway season, which will bring to its downtown location three Best Musical Tony® Award-winners, family-friendly favorites and special return engagements.

First, you’ll need to keep an eye out for falling houses when an all new production of The Wizard of Oz lands at TBPAC to kick off the Broadway season (Oct. 14-19). Then, during the holidays, you can drive, boat or fly to the theatre and enjoy the children’s classic, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Dec. 9-14). Finally, the theatre-lover in you can bring in the new year with the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Spring Awakening (Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009).

In 2009, TBPAC will host a new Broadway revival of A Chorus Line (Feb. 3-8), as well as Frost/Nixon, starring Stacy Keach (Feb. 17-22) and The Rat Pack – Live at the Sands (March 24-29). For the season’s finale, the theatre will proudly stage – for the first time ever – Fiddler on the Roof (April 28-May 3).

TBPAC is located at 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Pl. For more information about its Broadway Show schedule and additional upcoming events, visit www.TBPAC.org.