Taking Stock: Events This Week in Greater Brandon (May 17-22)

The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce presents its 23rd Annual Taste of Brandon and Business Expo in a week that also features three live theater productions and business and community expos for the Greater Seffner and Greater Riverview areas.

There’s more, of course — and we welcome your additions, in the comment box  below  — but in the meantime, here’s a to-do list to get you started:

TUESDAY, MAY 17

Quote of the Day: “I feel very lucky this morning that we got out in time.” -- Ashlee Nelson, after she escaped an apartment fire at the Charleston Landings apartments, in the area of Causeway Boulevard and Providence Road on May 15. / 

• Brandon VIP Event: Get Pampered! / May 17 / 6:30–8:30 p.m. / Vue Spa & Salon, 1041 Professional Park Drive / Megan Henry of Vue Spa & Salon and Debra Dakin of In The Pink will host a VIP beauty event at their Brandon office. Hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served. / Cost:  members, $10; non-members, $5 / Contact: Working Women of Tampa Bay.
• Brandon Business Builders / May 17 / 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. / , 701 W Lumsden Road / Leads group meets every Tuesday except the third Tuesday of the month. Must call 662-1102 to see if your category is open. / Price: $40 annually / Call: (813) 662-1102

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

Quote of the Day: “They were fishing when the tide ran out and had hardly any water all day. We gave them our water, threw them a tow line and pulled them in. It was very rewarding to be able to help like that.” -- U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 74 member Dan McMahan, on a rescue his flotilla made last year. /

• MacDill Commander Featured Speaker / May 18 / 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. / Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club, 2721 S. Miller Road / Col. Lenny J. Richoux, commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, is slated to be the guest speaker at the Brandon South Rotary Club meeting.  As the commander, Richoux is responsible for more than $2.8 billion in base property and capital assets, and controls an annual budget exceeding $249 million. / Contact: Brandon South Rotary Club
• Free Play & Arts and Crafts / May 18 / 10:30-11:30 a.m. (Free Play for walking toddlers through age 4); 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Arts & Crafts, ages 2-4) /Brandon Family Support and Resource Center, 1277 Kingsway Road / Parents, with toddlers and children up to 4 years of age, are invited for fun playtime and crafts projects. / Free / Call: (813) 740-4634.
• Auditions: "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" / May 18 at 7:30 p.m. (callbacks, May 21 at noon) / Plant City High School auditorium, One Raider Place, Plant City / Directed by Van Frost, the musical features the slave Pseudolus as he attempts to held his young master, Hero, win the affections of Phila. Roles, gender, vocal range, ages and role types available online at the Plant City Entertainment Website.

THURSDAY, MAY 19

Quote of the Day: "Do I ever think a 'girls night out' is going to happen? Probably over my ex's dead body, but I wouldn't turn it down if she offered." -- Irma Davila, on her "Local Voices" blog on her relationship with her ex-husband's new wife. / 

• Brandon Business Expo and “Taste of Brandon” / May 19 / 3:30–8 p.m. / Florida State Fairgrounds, Special Events Center, 4800 North U.S. 301 / Sponsored by the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce. Twenty-third annual event, open to the public. The event features business vendors and a taste-off with local restaurants. More than 200 exhibitors set to showcase their services, products, menu items and wares. Product sales permitted. Vote for “favorite tastes” from more than 25 restaurants and caterers. / Cost: $10 in advance; $15 at door. (Parking: $5)  / Call: (813) 689-1221
• Parent 2 Parent Connection / May 19 / 6:30 p.m. at , 1310 John Moore Road / Parent 2 Parent Connection is a support group for families with a challenged member. The group meets the third Thursday of each month unless otherwise noted. / Free / Call: (813) 662-7555     
• The Female Version of "The Odd Couple" / Opening night -- May 19 / 8 p.m. / Plant City Entertainment Theatre, 101 North Thomas St., Plant City / Plant City Entertainment with the Pelican Players / Eight-member cast, starring Terry Fiset as Olive Madison and Mollie Anderson as Florence Unger, take to the stage with the Neil Simon comedy classic. Directed by Bill Turcotte. / Tickets: $10 for members and advance sales; $12 for senior citizens and students through grade 12; $14 general admission. Advance tickets and group sales available at Hardee's Fashions. / Show dates: May 19-21, 8 p.m.; May 22, 2 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 20

Quote of the Day: “I can’t describe it.” -- Maura Mazzer, 2011 Brandon Idol, on the feeling she gets when she performs on stage. /

• "Les Miserables" / May 20 / 7:30 p.m. / Riverview High School Theater, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview / Newsome and Riverview high schools will present the school edition of the musical. Show dates: May 20-21 and 27-28 at 7:30 p.m.; May 22 and 29 at 3:30 p.m. / Tickets: $10 / Call: (813) 671-5011, Ext. 259 / Order tickets online.
• Music With Mar / May 20 / 10 a.m. / , 121 Carver Ave. / Created by Maryann Harman, the program offers fun for kids and adults through music. The class is led by Angela Nolte. / $7 per family   
• / May 20 / 8 p.m. / James McCabe Theater, 506 Fifth St., Valrico / Show dates: May 20-22, 28-29 /The Village Players community theater troupe returns to the stage with a cast of 48,  including Abby Bailey, as Kim MacAfee, the lucky teenager selected from among high school students nationwide vying to send Conrad Birdie off to the draft with "one last kiss," televised on The Ed Sullivan Show. Directed by April Golombek. 
• Brandon High School Classes of ’71 and ’75 / May 20 / 6 p.m. / The “original” Beef O’ Brady’s, 210 South Kings Ave. / "Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle” is the motto of Brandon High. Alumni from the classes of 1971 and 1975 will meet to catch up and remember at this informal reunion.
• The Female Version of "The Odd Couple" / Opening night -- May 20 / 8 p.m. / Plant City Entertainment Theatre, 101 North Thomas St., Plant City / Plant City Entertainment with the Pelican Players / Eight-member cast, starring Terry Fiset as Olive Madison and Mollie Anderson as Florence Unger, take to the stage with the Neil Simon comedy classic. Directed by Bill Turcotte. / Tickets: $10 for members and advance sales; $12 for senior citizens and students through grade 12; $14 general admission. Advance tickets and group sales available at Hardee's Fashions. / Show dates: May 19-21, 8 p.m.; May 22, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 21

Quote of the Day: “In the first year, we collected 800 to 1,000 pounds of food.” -- Retired Brandon postal worker Jim Brophy, at May 14's “Stamp Out Hunger” Postal Food Drive. This year's food drive was expected to bring in 90,000 pounds of food. /

• Third Annual Community Business Expo / Open House / Brandon Family YMCA / 9 a.m.–1 p.m. / May 21 / North Brandon Family YMCA, 3097 South Kingsway Road / Celebrate and learn more about the businesses and organizations that make up the Greater Seffner area / Call: (813) 685-5402
• 50th Anniversary Celebration / May 21 / , 121 Carver Ave. / Celebrate 50 years with a barbecue and special Sunday service. / Call: (813) 685-6113
• / May 21 / 8 p.m. / James McCabe Theater, 506 Fifth St., Valrico / Show Dates: May 20-22, 28-29 / The Village Players community theater troupe returns to the stage with a cast of 48,  including Abby Bailey, as Kim MacAfee, the lucky teenager selected from among high school students nationwide vying to send Conrad Birdie off to the draft with "one last kiss," televised on The Ed Sullivan Show. Directed by April Golombek. 
• "Les Miserables" / May 21 / 7:30 p.m. / Riverview High School Theater, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview / Newsome and Riverview high schools will present the school edition of the musical. Show dates: May 20-21 and 27-28 at 7:30 p.m.; May 22 and 29 at 3:30 p.m. / Tickets: $10 / Call: (813) 671-5011, Ext. 259 / Order tickets online.

• The Female Version of "The Odd Couple" / Opening night -- May 21 / 8 p.m. / Plant City Entertainment Theatre, 101 North Thomas St., Plant City / Plant City Entertainment with the Pelican Players / Eight-member cast, starring Terry Fiset as Olive Madison and Mollie Anderson as Florence Unger, take to the stage with the Neil Simon comedy classic. Directed by Bill Turcotte. / Tickets: $10 for members and advance sales; $12 for senior citizens and students through grade 12; $14 general admission. Advance tickets and group sales available at Hardee's Fashions. / Show dates: May 19-21, 8 p.m.; May 22, 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 22

Quote of the Day: “I heard a bam, bam, bam, then a woman screaming.” -- Tammy Holloway, on a May 12 shooting on Valencia Drive in Seffner, which left one man dead. /

• Third Annual Community Festival: Spring Fest 2011 / May 22 / 11-4 p.m. / Barn Theatre at Winthrop, 11349 Bloomingdale Ave., Riverview / Sponsored by the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce / Exhibitors and merchandise vendors are on display at a festival billed as a family friendly event, including a kids play area, food, music, martial arts and dance performances and singing by local high school performers.
• Baubles, Barbeque and Bubbles / May 22 / 5 –9 p.m. / Cross Creek Ranch, 12950 E. Wheeler Road, Dover / Fundraiser hosted by the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) in Brandon. Presented by Cross Creek Ranch and Hungry Harry's Barbeque/ Cost: $50. Includes a full barbecue dinner, champagne or wine (two drink tickets), dessert and dancing. / Attire is best denim and bling. / Guests will enjoy a night of western elegance, while helping a worthwhile organization and will have a chance to enter a raffle to win a piece of jewelry donated by Crown Facets Jewelry. This event is one of two signature events held each year by ECHO, whose mission is to provide food and clothing to families facing emergency needs / Call: (813) 685-0935
• The Jackson Laskowski "Keep Hope Alive Fundraiser" / May 22 / 1–11 p.m. , 229 E. Brandon Blvd. / Created to assist Jackson, 4, in his fight against hepatoblastoma (liver) cancer. Live entertainment, featuring the Irish singer J.J. Smith and local area musicians, a children's play area, pig roast, raffles and more. Proceeds to help the boy's family with medical care, treatments and medications not covered by insurance. Donations accepted. / For information, call: 813-601-6361. Email: dam710@gmail.com
• Exercise and Meditation / May 22 / 9 a.m. / Paul Sanders Park, 3319 South Kings Ave. / Free classes in Falun Gong meditation and exercise. / Free / Call: (813) 777-9939
• / May 22/ 5 p.m. / James McCabe Theater, 506 Fifth St., Valrico /Show dates: May 20-22, 28-29 / The Village Players community theater troupe returns to the stage with a cast of 48,  including Abby Bailey, as Kim MacAfee, the lucky teenager selected from among high school students nationwide vying to send Conrad Birdie off to the draft with "one last kiss," televised on The Ed Sullivan Show. Directed by April Golombek. 
• "Les Miserables" / May 22 / 3:30 p.m. / Riverview High School Theater, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview / Newsome and Riverview high schools will present the school edition of the musical. Show dates: May 20-21 and 27-28 at 7:30 p.m.; May 22 and 29 at 3:30 p.m. / Tickets: $10 / Call: (813) 671-5011, Ext. 259 / Order tickets online.
• The Female Version of "The Odd Couple" / Closing Performance - May 22 / 2 p.m. / Plant City Entertainment Theatre, 101 North Thomas St., Plant City / Plant City Entertainment with the Pelican Players / Eight-member cast, starring Terry Fiset as Olive Madison and Mollie Anderson as Florence Unger, take to the stage with the Neil Simon comedy classic. Directed by Bill Turcotte. / Tickets: $10 for members and advance sales; $12 for senior citizens and students through grade 12; $14 general admission. Advance tickets and group sales available at Hardee's Fashions.