Best Bets: Fun stuff to do this week

Can't decide what to do? Don't worry, we did it for you. Here are our editors' picks for the upcoming week.

THE FIRST INVASION

(Saturday)

Pint-size pirates will take over Bayshore Boulevard for an afternoon of floats, fireworks and, of course, beads. Lots and lots of beads. The Children's Gasparilla Extravaganza kicks off at 11 a.m. with a Bicycle and Pedestrian Rodeo, and continues with other activities throughout the evening.

KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

(Saturday)

Grave Digger. Maximum Destruction. El Toro Loco. Need we say more? Watch the greats flatten and annihilate everything in their path at Monster Jam, at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.

COVER ME

(Saturday)

More than 30 artists recreate their favorite album cover, such as Green Day's "Kerplunk" by Nicole C. Kibert, at the Photo Album Show and Record Sale at The Bricks in Ybor City.

BARK FOR LIFE

(Saturday)

Have a great costume stashed away for your pooch? Break it out and head over to the Gulfport Recreation Center at 2 p.m. for a canine event benefiting the American Cancer Society. The event includes a survivor walk and costumed doggie parade.

GOSPEL NIGHT

(Saturday)

Get together for a night of great gospel music and fellowship as local talent perform at St. John's Cathedral, 3401 25th Ave. E., as aprt of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival.

PLAYING 'HARDBALL'

(Saturday)

Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball" and NBC's "The Chris Matthews Show," will host a book talk, Q&A and book signing at noon at the News Center, 200 S. Parker St.

NOT SO SILLY LOVE SONGS

(Friday-Sunday)

Guest conductor Steven Reineke and vocalists Mike Eldred and Betsy Wolfe will set a romantic mood at Florida Orchestra's "Music for Lovers," which includes a selection of torch songs, ballads and love themes by Richard Rodgers, Barry White, Cole Porter and Dolly Parton.

KICK IT UP

(Saturday-Sunday)

Johanna Krynytzky, the head kitten of The Meow Factor and owner of Hip Expressions dance studio in St. Petersburg, says her troupe practices "the art of the tease" in performances that are "liberating and empowering" for the performers and entertaining for the audiences. This weekend, the Suncoast Burlesque Festival celebrates the art of stagecraft, dance in burlesque and vaudeville in workshops, competitions and performances at the St. Petersburg Nights Dinner Theatre, 6800 Sunset Way, St Pete Beach.

ON THE FREE AND CHEAP

Coupon Workshop: Learn how to maximize your savings at the register so you have more money for movies, music and the other fun stuff found on TBO Extra. Door prizes, too!; 7 p.m. tonight; free; Kings Avenue Baptist Church, 2602 South Kings Ave., Brandon; (813) 685-3095.

Gardening seminar: If the coupon thing doesn't work out for you, maybe growing your own food will. More door prizes; 9 a.m. Saturday; free; Weedon Island Preserve, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg; (727) 453-6500.

Saturday Afternoon At The Movie: If you still haven't seen "Cars 2," now's your chance to enjoy it along with some popcorn and other light refreshments – for free; 2 p.m. Saturday; Austin Davis Public Library, 17808 Wayne Road, Odessa, (813) 273-3652.