Week's best bets: Monday, Feb. 16

By Nick Friedman
| 2:18 p.m. February 16, 2015

Arts + Entertainment
Things To Do

MONDAY, FEB. 16

+ Dancing Pros Live — takes place at 8 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. $50 to $75

This live competition, starring Karina Smirnoff, Chelsie Hightower and Edyta Sliwinska from "Dancing with the Stars," and hosted by Alan Thicke, features ballroom dance champions from around the world.

Audience members can vote for their favorite couple via electronic voting.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17

+ Fat Tuesday — takes place from noon to 2 a.m. at Tavern on Main. Free.

Tavern on Main welcomes Abita Beer and NOLA Brewing for a special Fat Tuesday event. Get in the Mardi Gras spirit with three taps each from the Louisiana-based breweries, beads, king cake, cajun food and other festivities.

Enjoy happy-hour prices from noon to 7 p.m., including $4 house wines, Dale's Pale Ale, Guinness, Stella, Magners Pear Cider and Fat Point Ryeght Angle IPA .

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18

+Nikki Carr — takes place at 7 p.m. at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre. $15 to $19. Runs until Feb. 22

Perhaps most recognizable from the newest season of NBC's "Last Comic Standing," Nikki Carr started her comedy career at age 34 at the New York Comedy Club.

She made her television debut on BET’s Comic View in 2000, and since then, she’s appeared on several television specials and made a name for herself with her signature song, “The Fat Girl’s National Anthem.”

THURSDAY, FEB. 19

+ Justin Layman, Lady and Gentleman and Chasing Jonah — takes place at 9 p.m. at Cock & Bull Pub.

Catch blues musician Justin Layman while he's back in Sarasota from New York City.

Joining Layman will be two-piece indie folk act, Lady and Gentleman, from Sarasota, and soulful indie rock outfit Chasing Jonah, from Orlando.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20

+ Pleasures with RedFeather and OPHELIA — takes place from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Helm's Deep. Email [email protected] for address.

Self-described psychedelic dark space pop group, Pleasures, will make its debut in the warehouse space known as Helm's Deep.

Joining them will be St. Petersburg-based bands RedFeather and psychedelic folk band, OPHELIA.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21

+ JDub's Anniversary Party — takes place from noon to 10 p.m. at JDub's Brewing Company, 1215 Mango Ave. Free / $50.

Celebrate one year of local brewing with JDub's Brewing Company. Unticketed event includes live music by Bootleg and Sowflo starting at 5 p.m., food for sale by Polpo Pizza Company and Ri Quisimo food truck, vending from SRQ Cigars as well as beers in the JDub's tasting room.

Ticketed event includes access to exclusive sampling area with beers from nine different breweries as well as access to the JDub's anniversary bottle release.

SUNDAY, FEB. 22

+ Re: Purposed — takes place through May 17 at The Ringling. $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and $5 for students and children younger than 17.

This exhibit explores several of the more recognizable trends among artists who consistently repurpose garbage or detritus in their practice. The works of Nick Cave, Aurora Robson, Mac Premo, Jill Sigman, El Anatsui, Alyce Santoro, Vanessa German, Matt Eskuche, Emily Noelle Lambert and Daniel Rozin will explore the themes of index, identity and environment as a reminder of our close connection to the materials we use to create and facilitate our lives.

Featured photo by Mark Wemple, courtesy of The Business Observer.