Dec 29 Monday
Go nose to nose with Big John, the World’s Largest Triceratops, in an immersive and playful dinosaur exhibit at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Downtown Tampa. Whether you have a child at home or not, all are welcome to visit this colossal exhibit, 66 million years in the making.
La Grande Illusion is a major exhibition of works by internationally acclaimed artist, Brian Maguire. The exhibition spans two decades of work that spotlights the artist’s lifelong quest to draw attention to global injustices, war, and human rights. One of Ireland's leading cultural figures, Maguire has turned the practice and tradition of painting into acts of visual testimony. Maguire’s paintings are global in scope and are derived from projects undertaken between 2007 and 2024 in Mexico, the Mediterranean, Syria, Sudan, the United States, and the Amazon. Maguire's artworks are painted from direct experience and involve the artist spending extensive time on the ground with the communities that welcome him. The results are, plainly put, paintings that visualize the commonality of human suffering and dramatize the plight of people in need.
Pangarap: Espero Reimagined transforms The Maitland Art Center gallery into a canvas of speculative storytelling under Filipino artist Isobel Francisco. Inspired by Jules André Smith’s decision to establish an artist colony in Florida, Francisco envisions an alternate reality where this decision leads to 1937 Philippines. The exhibition features fictional artifacts and artworks to encourage viewers to explore the parallels and contrasts between this imagined scenario and the museum’s history. 'Pangarap,' meaning dream or vision in Filipino, invites audiences to reflect on the cultural impact of one artist’s decision in 1937 and beyond.
Dec 30 Tuesday
Savor the sounds of the season and waltz the night away as string musicians play your favorite classical music, featuring Strings of the Season.
Join us at After Hours on the last Tuesday of the month for live music and dancing, with extended hours in the galleries, Bistro, and SHOP! Each month features a different musical genre and style, so you can listen to new sounds and learn new moves. Relax and just enjoy the music, or join in on the dance floor!
Enjoy dinner at Bistro, featuring a special evening menu with beer, wine, and themed cocktails. Food and beverage are available for purchase inside the restaurant and outside at our cashless bars. Members receive a 10% discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages.Explore our current exhibitions in the galleries, with hours extended to 7 pm.Treasure hunt in the Museum SHOP – Members receive a 10% discount.
SCHEDULE5 pm | Doors open – early entry will not be permitted5:30 pm | 30-minute introduction to Waltz dancing led by Fred Astaire Dance Studios6-7:30 pm | Music and open social dancing
PRICING$25 for Members$30 in advance or $35 at the door for Not-Yet Members (includes Museum admission)Advance tickets required. Space is limited. Personal chairs and outside food/beverage are not permitted on-site.
About Strings of the SeasonStrings of the Season is a string quartet ensemble featuring local players from Sarasota and Tampa. The members of this group are regular performers in the major orchestras of the region, familiar faces to our local arts scene and patrons. Working together frequently for such events as fundraisers, weddings, and corporate parties, our musicians are both friends and colleagues, adept at sharing the joy of music with each other and our audiences.
Dec 31 Wednesday