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Two of the Bay Area’s boldest talents, Allen Hampton and Chris Parks (aka, Pale Horse) team up for an exhibition of drawings and designs inspired by iconic personifications of the terrible and the transcendent. Images of Hanuman (the Hindu monkey god), Cyclops, the Virgin Mary and other fantastical characters pepper their aptly titled Gods & Monsters Art Show. Parks, a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, wows with impeccable illustration technique and memorable graphic style. Far from forgettable for entirely different reasons, Hampton’s drawings tap the grotesque medium of pig’s blood en route to painstakingly executed images that inspire revulsion and empathy for their monstrous subjects. Get your holiday shopping on by snagging one of Pale Horse’s limited edition t-shirts at the same time. (Pictured: "Cyclops," painting by Allen Hampton) Dec. 12-19 with an opening reception Sat., Dec. 12, 7-11 p.m., Pale Horse Design and Gallery, 19 Dr. MLK Jr. St. South, St. Petersburg, 727-823-6202, palehorsedesign.com. – Megan Voeller

In this cash-strapped climate, few things make us as willing to part with our hard-earned paychecks as booze. At tonight's Pub Crawl For a Cure, swill your favorites brews, wines and cocktails for a good cause with exclusive drink specials at Bella Brava, the Independent and Paddy Burkes in St. Pete; proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Visit ilovetheburg.com for tickets and info. Fri., Dec. 11, 6 p.m., Bella Brava, St. Petersburg, $7 in advance, $10 day of event.

If you're into roller skates, fishnets, and fast, girl-on-girl action then the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins' Mistletoe Massacre is right up your alley. These knockout (literally), tough-as-nails rollergirls are ranked fifth in the South Central division and are two-time Sunshine Skate Florida State Roller Derby champions. Catch their five-on-five exhibition (the Nightmares Before Christmas take on the Grinches Who Stole Christmas) complete with a raffle with prizes befitting the derby girl-loving masses: win schwag from their sponsors like Atomic Tattoo and Piercing, Skater's Choice, and Wine Mall. It's sure to be fun for the whole family. Or at least Dad. Sun., Dec. 13, 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. bout, AstroSkate, 10001 66th St., Pinellas Park, $10 in advance/$12 at the door, discounted tickets for students and kids, ages 5 and younger admitted for free, tampabayderbydarlins.com. – Katie Machol

One of the most popular events of the season, The Florida Orchestra: Holiday Pops taks a musical journey through a winter wonderland where you can roast chestnuts on an open fire, meet Frosty the snowman and more with the talents of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and an orchestra led by the enchanted baton of Conductor Jeff Tyzik. The show visits several locations this weekend: Fri., Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa; Sat., Dec. 12, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg; and Sun., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater. Visit floridaorchestra.org for more info. $20-$67.

“Please. Not another Nutcracker,” say the folks at the Collective Soles Arts Group, who present Goin’ Nuts, an alternative take on the classic Christmas tale in conjunction with Tampa’s Bay Area Dance Company. Instead of a dozy little girl who dreams of sugarplum fairies, enormous rats and a valiant prince nutcracker, the show is set to Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite and follows the bizarre la-la-land dreams of a man who has overstuffed himself with turkey on Thanksgiving day, which are filled not with sweet treats and stunning feats, but with giant football-playing turkeys, dancing squirrels and the chaos of holiday party hopping. Visit collectivesoles.org for more info. Sat., Dec. 12, 2 and 7 p.m. $15-$20. University of South Florida Theater I, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa.

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Last December, I managed to make one of four stops on the Tour de Clay of Tampa Bay, a gallery hop-style tour of local pottery studios. I snagged myself a round, indigo blue ceramic dish created by Rising Sun potter and owner Peter Streit. The top of the dish was embedded with a dragonfly; when you opened it up, the bed was glazed with vivid hues of colored glass that had been melted down and baked to get its artful cracks. Of course, I broke the piece less than two months later. Luckily, the Florida Westcoast Ceramic Society is staging the second edition this weekend and I plan on picking up a new one. Four active pottery studios are featured and 12 Bay area clay artists take part and will be present to discuss their works, answer questions, and perform live clay demos. In addition, each studio presents Saturday kiln openings that are staggered every two hours so industrious folks can experience all four and check out the newest, still-warm bowls, cups, plates, vases, teapots, and other decorative or functional ware by participating artists like Streit, Glenn Woods, Ira Burhans, Kimberli Cummings and Jack Boyle. (Pictured: "Bird Pitcher" by Ira Burhans) Dec. 12-13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogie Lane, Palm Harbor, 727-736-4870, Paper and Clay Studio, 110 Peterson Lane, Palm Harbor, 727-772-9570, Rising Sun Pottery Studio, 1112 W. Carmen St., Tampa, 813-253-6055, and San Antonio Pottery Studio, 11903 Curley Road, San Antonio, 352-588-4228, free admission, tampatourdeclay.com. –Leilani Polk

Tampa Bay’s community radio station hosts WMNF’s Holiday Bazaar, an art and music showcase offering an array of treasures — like ‘MNF-approved records, CDs, books, and locally crafted creations to sate every sense of style. Storytellers take the stage alongside local acoustic acts, and tasty eats are available throughout the day. Visit wmnf.org for more info. Sat., Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Cuban Club, Tampa, $3.

It might be in Plant City instead of Nashville, ya'll, but the The Florida Opry county music extravaganza sure is grand. This foot-stomping live show also offers the best in down-home delicious, Paula Deen-approved, heart-attack inducing Southern cooking, like barbecue, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and more; and the Railroad Museum is open for your viewing pleasure. Call 813-659-1849 or visit plantcity.org for more info. Sat., Dec. 12, 6-9 p.m., Plant City High School Community Center, $15.

Women Want Everything! And why shouldn't they get it? This original play, written and directed by Rod Grant, follows four clueless friends (all men, but you will have guessed that by the "clueless" part) who set out on a journey to discover just what it is women want. Turns out the answer's not so simple, but they have a lot of laughs along the way. Visit rqlproductions.com for more info. Sat., Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m., Jaeb Theater, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa, $20.