ONGOING ACTIVITIES - City of St. Petersburg, Florida:
Get Downtown. Central Ave. between 2nd St. & 3rd St. First Fri. monthly, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Festive street part with live jazz music and vendors. Bands to be announced. Sponsored by Breakfast Optimist Club, 727-393-3597.
Saturday Morning Market. Central Ave. between 1st St. & 2nd St. Every Sat., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. through May. A European-style open air market featuring fresh produce, prepared foods, gourmet baked goods, greenery, handcrafted house wares & gifts, work by local artists, live music and more. www.saturdaymorningmarket.com or 727-455-4921.
Gallery Walk. Second Sat. monthly at participating galleries, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Take a Walk on the Art Side. Enjoy an evening of visual art and see what's new at downtown galleries, meet artists and gallery owners. Downtown Arts Association, www.stpetearts.com or 727-821-6767.
Grand Central Stroll. 2400 block of Central Ave. Fourth Fri. monthly, 5 to 9 p.m. Shops, nightspots and businesses open late with specials, entertainment and more. Grand Central Business District, a Florida Main Street Community.727-328-7086.
AWAPS Pancake Breakfast. Albert Whitted Airport, 451 8th Ave. S.E. First Sat. monthly, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society monthly breakfast. $10 for breakfast also goes toward an AWAPS membership. www.awaps.org or 727-455-4921.
St. Pete Shuffle. St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Courts, 559 Mirror Lake Drive N. Every Fri., 7 to 11 p.m. A hip twist on an old game with music, art and fun for all ages. Free. www.shuffleboardclub.org or 727-867-7228.
St. Pete Thunder Wheelchair Basketball. Practices and home games at various city recreation centers. Therapeutic Recreation, 727-893-7899.
Sailing Alternatives Community Sailing. St. Petersburg Sailing Center, 1st Ave. SE & Tampa Bay. Pleasure sailing access for physically disabled sailors in the community. 888-746-7974 or 727-893-7899.
Tai Chi on the Beach. North Shore Beach, North Shore Dr. & 9th Ave. N.E. Every Wed. and Sat. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Enjoy improved balance and flexibility, joint pain and stress reduction while taking in this beautiful waterfront setting. Must have current city recreation program registration card. $10 per class or $65 per month. 727-368-6901.
Tea Dance Social. Gladden Park Recreation Center, 3901 30th Ave. N. Every Mon., 1 to 3 p.m. through May. Enjoy dance, conversation, cookies and coffee. Singles and couples of all ages welcome. $3. 727-893-7458.
Fearless Fridays. Northwest Recreation Center, 5801 22nd Ave. N. Every Fri. (during the school year), 7 to 10:30 p.m. Students grades 2 to 5 are invited to play games like smashball, hockey, soccer, basketball, arena football and more. Live DJ plays selective music for dance contests and dance room games. Concessions available. $6 per child. 727-893-7751.
Jazz Lunch. Williams Park, 2nd Ave. & 4th St. N. Last Fri. monthly, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Nov. to Jun. Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association presents live jazz performers. 727-866-0085.
Salsa Saturdays. BayWalk, 121 2nd Ave. N. Every Sat., 6 to 10 p.m. Dance the night away in the center courtyard with free instruction from 7 to 8 p.m. www.baywalkstpete.com or 727-895-9277.
Concerts in the Courtyard. BayWalk, 121 2nd Ave. N. Every Fri., 7 to 10 p.m. Live music on the St. Petersburg Times Mainstage. www.baywalkstpete.com or 727-895-9277.
Jazz Series. BayWalk, 121 2nd Ave. N. Last Fri. monthly, 6 to 9 p.m. Live jazz music on the St. Petersburg Times Mainstage. www.baywalkstpete.com or 727-895-9277.
Kids & Kubs 3/4-Century Softball League. North Shore Ball Park, 701 North Shore Drive N.E. Games 3 days a week, Nov. through early Apr. Active seniors ages 75 and up play softball. 727-893-7108.
Tampa Bay Rays. Major League Baseball at Tropicana Field. Season through Oct. Tickets available at Progress Energy Park, Tropicana Field, The Rays Dugout Store and Ticketmaster. http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/ or 888-FAN-RAYS
St. Petersburg Lawn Bowling Club. 536 4th Ave. N. Every Mon., Wed. and Fri., 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 15 to April. Play for $3 a day, $20 a month or $55 for the whole season. 727-347-2770.
St. Petersburg Bicycle Club. North Shore Pool south parking lot, 901 North Shore Drive N.E. Rides every Sat., 8 a.m. Special activities include Spring Classic, club socials, holiday party and more. 727-568-0958.
Walking Tour of Historic Downtown. First Sat. monthly, 10 a.m. to noon., Jan. to Apr. "Promising Start.'' Tour visits 25 historic buildings in 2 hours. $5 suggested donation. St. Pete Preservation Inc., 727-824-7802.
Candlelight Walking Tour. Meet at corner of 2nd Ave. N. and 1st St. Peer into the shadows and mysteries of the ''Sunshine City.'' Entertaining stroll ''materializes'' daily, 8 p.m. Learn about local history as your storyteller / guide shares ghost stories and legends about the people and places such as the Detroit Hotel, Blocker Mansion, Vinoy Resort and Williams Park. Reservations, www.ghosttour.net or 727-894-4678.
Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N. www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202. The historic Coliseum, built in 1924, opens its fine oak dance floor ballroom to everything from ballroom dancing to corporate functions.
- Tea Dance Series, every Wed., 1 to 3:30 p.m. Ballroom instruction, 11:30 a.m. Live music, singles welcome. Dance $5; Dance & instruction $7.
- Big Band Ballroom Dance Series, selected Sat., 8 p.m., Jan. to Mar. Dance hosts, singles welcome. $12 advance seating, $14 door.
Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St. N. www.stpete.org/sunken or 727-551-3100. Open daily, Mon. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sun. noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission $8 adults; $6 seniors 55 & up; $4 ages 2 to 11; under 2 free. A Botanical experience with four acres of tropical forest, butterfly garden, winding trails, flowing waterways, wedding lawn, and flamingos.
Programs include:
- Guided tours, horticultural presentations, classes, workshops, and special events.
- Yoga Classes for adults, every Tue. and Thu., 10 to 11:15 a.m.
- Horticultural Presentations, every Sat., 11:30 a.m. Call for dates and topics.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve / Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center,
1101 Country Club Way S. www.stpete.org/boyd or 727-893-7326. Open Tue., Wed. & Thu. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. 11 am. to 6 p.m. Admission: $2 adults; $1 ages 3 to 16; under 3 free. This 245-acre park features more than three miles of trails and boardwalks that lead visitors through hardwood hammocks, sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, willow marsh and lakeshore and is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. An aviary is home to many permanently injured birds of prey. The Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center provides interpretive programming on a variety of environmental and natural history topics, a gift shop, and the "The Ripple Effect", a dramatic exhibit that showcases Boyd Hill's distinct ecosystems. Guided tours, rentals and overnight camping facilities are available.
Weekly Adventures:
- Early Bird Special, every Sat., 7 to 9 a.m. For birders, walkers, runners and serenity seekers to enjoy the park before it opens.
- Jungle Boogie, every Wed., 11:15 a.m. Nature activities for children age 3 to 5.
- Stroller Strut, every Fri., 11:15 a.m. Refreshing walk for infants and toddlers.
Monthly Adventures:
- Bird Walk, first Sat., 8 a.m.
- Night Hike, third Tue. (8 p.m. Jun. to Oct.; 7 p.m. Nov. to May).
- Nature Walk, third Wed., 3 p.m. and third Sat., 10:30 a.m.
- Wildflower Walk, fourth Wed., 3 p.m. and fourth Sat., 10:30 a.m.
- Natural History Speaker Series, second Tue., 7:30 p.m., Sep. to Apr. Seasonal series offers unique and fascinating presentations on Florida ecology and conservation by authorities in the field.
Children's Programs:
- Nature Explorers, Nature Detectives, Feather Quest and Pioneer Nights for children.
Weedon Island Preserve / Cultural & Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE. www.weedonislandcenter.org or 727-453-6500. Open daily dawn to dusk. Free admission. Features 3,164 acres of historic parkland situated along Old Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg. Fishing pier, 45-foot high observation tower, 6,600 feet of accessible boardwalk, two self-guided paddling trails, hiking trails, picnic area and canoe-kayak launch. Programs and exhibits feature natural Florida, plein air artists, nature photographers, owls, sea birds, archaeology and more. Explore weedon night life, free guided night hikes, guided canoe tours and public archaeology days.
- Guided Hikes, every Sat., 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Make reservations by 2 p.m. on the Fri. prior to the tour of choice.
- Wee-Time at Weedon, every second and fourth Thu. monthly, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Pre-school age children are invited to enjoy stories, puppet shows, and hands on activities that connect them to the environment.
- Nature Journal Journeys, second Sun. monthly, 11 a.m. to noon. Learn how to create a nature journal, increase your observational skills and appreciation for the natural world.
- Weedon 101 Workshops, third Thu. monthly classroom presentation and a field session held on the following Sun.
- The Great Weedon Bird Quest, last Sun. monthly, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Learn the identifying marks and behaviors of our feathered friends.
- Photography Hike, first Sun. monthly, 8 to 9:30 a.m.
- Family Night Hike, second Fri. monthly, 6 to 8 p.m.
Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S. 727-893-7134. Multi-purpose community center offers events and activities for all ages.
Ongoing Activities:
- Stretch & Relax, every Mon. Wed. & Fri., 10 a.m., low impact yoga class free, offered through STEPS to a Healthier Pinellas.
- Rights Restoration Workshops, third Sat. monthly, 10 a.m. to noon.
- One on One Basic Computer Instruction, $40 for eight sessions. 727-893-7803.
- Bay Area Legal, first and third Mon. monthly. Call for an appointment.
- South of Central Exhibit, features 39 original, large format colorful pastel drawings by local artist Herbert Davis illustrating life in the Midtown community of St. Petersburg.
- Kinfolks, a WorkNet subsidiary offering job search assistance to individuals who are low-income, ex-offenders and/or limited English speaking. 727-893-7801.
- Chance 2 Change, a JSP sponsored mentoring, tutorial, truancy prevention program for teen girls of middle and high school ages. 727-893-7806.
Special Events:
- Animobile Free Pet Services offers free spaying or neutering of pets belonging to residents receiving public assistance. Rabies vaccinations for $1 with the purchase of a county pet license and public education about pet care and adoptions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 727-582-2600.
Sunshine Center, 330 5th St. N. 727-893-7101. Multi-purpose community center for active senior adults provides recreation, fitness, movies, live entertainment, computer classes, a gift shop, thrift shop, snack bar, congregate dining, legal and medical sessions, agency services and more for age 55 and up.
Ongoing activities:
- Live entertainment, band performances, Sing-alongs, Golden Oldies, piano players, quartets and more.
- Saturday Ballroom Dances, 1 to 3 p.m. Live band, cookies, tea and coffee. $3.50 per person.
Special activities:
- Lunch & Learn Series, noon to 1 p.m. Bring brown bag lunch. Call for dates and titles.
Main Public Library, 3745 9th Ave. N. www.splibraries.org or 727-893-7724. The main library and five branch libraries offer seasonal activities, book clubs, teen events, book discussion groups, computer classes, video and CD checkout, Books To Go program, film festivals, and more. SPPL Online Book Club, subscribers can receive a chapter a day from popular books through an e-mail account. Sample a range of titles and subscribe at www.chapteraday.com/library/stpetersburg/. Tumblebooks are here! Visit our website to check out new eBooks just for kids. Most special events held in Main Library Auditorium unless noted:
- Book Discussion Groups: Bookers Club, third Thu. monthly, 10:30 a.m.; Mother/Daughter Book Club, third Tue. monthly, 7 p.m.; Between Covers, third Wed. monthly, Panera Bread, 1914 4th St. N., 7 p.m.
- Weekly Story Times: Mother Goose, every Fri., 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.; Pre-School, every Wed., 10 a.m.; Family Story & Craft, every Thu., 7 p.m.
- Computer Classes. Topics: How to use a library catalog, and InfoTrac database training. Call for details.
- Florida Writer's Association: Adult Program, meets the second Thu. monthly at 7 p.m.
The Pier, 800 2nd Ave. N.E. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443. Open 365 days a year, rain or shine. Hours Mon. to Thu. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Specialty shops, Dockside food court, four sit-down restaurants, Dockside Activity Room, fishing, The Bait House, The Pier Aquarium, and top floor observation deck.
- Latin Nights, every Thu. in the Waterside Courtyard, 7 to 10 p.m.
- Pier Pals Kid's Club for ages 1 to 5 (and their parents), second Sat. monthly in the Dockside Activity Room, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
- Randy Lessley on guitar, every Mon., Tue., Thu. and Fri. in the Dockside Eatery Food Court, noon to 2 p.m.
- Pier Tea Dances for seniors, first four Wed. monthly in the Dockside Activity Room, noon to 3 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday Afternoon Family Fun, every Sat. & Sun. 1 to 4 p.m.
- Music Fest on the Water, every Sun. in the Waterside Courtyard, 1 to 4 p.m.
Special Tours Include:
- Wheel Fun Surrey and Bike Rentals, www.wheelfunrentals.com or 941-776-9962.
- The Dolphin Queen, www.pierdolphincruises.net or 727-647-1538.
- The Electric Marina , www.electricmarina.com or 727-898-BOAT(2628).
- Boating at the Pier , www.boatingatthepier.com or 727-365-4738.
The Pier's Special Event Information, www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443, ext. 17.
The Pier Aquarium, 800 2nd Ave. N.E., 2nd floor. www.pieraquarium.org or 727-895-7437. "Where Ocean Science Meets Science Education." Open Mon. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun. noon to 6 p.m. Admission: $2 adults, under 12 free with accompanying adult. Family Day with free admission every Sun. Explore the unique and diverse world of marine invertebrates, get "In Touch" with Tampa Bay's marine life or get your feet wet & discover the marine life that lives in the area.
Educational Programs:
- Get in Touch with the Touch Tank, Mon. to Sat., 2 to 3 p.m. Learn about marine plants and animals, aquarium maintenance and care.
- Fish Feeding and Habitat Talk, Mon. to Sat., 3 to 4 p.m. Learn to feed sea animals and take care of their communities.
- Wonderful Water, Mon. to Sat., 6 p.m. Learn how to keep aquatic friends safe and healthy.
- Big Screen Video Showcase, Mon. to Sat., 7 p.m. Experience the fascinating world of the marine environment featured in the Aquarium Video Series.
- Fish-Ful Saturday, usually the first and third Sat. monthly, 10 a.m. to noon. Learn about the marine environment through hands-on activities and presentations. Call for scheduled dates and topics.
Science Center of Pinellas, 7701 22nd Ave. N. www.sciencecenterofpinellas.com or 727-384-0027. Where Knowledge + Imagination = Fun. Hours Fri. 1 to 4 p.m. Featuring self-guided tours, planetarium shows, 600-gallon Marine Touch Tank, Wetlands exhibit, Animal Room with over 30 species of animals, 16th Century Indian Village, Discoveries by African American Scientists, and Inventors including African American Astronauts. Offers pre-school activity classes, middle school student and senior friendly computer classes.
- St. Petersburg Astronomy Club. Planetarium shows and free telescope viewings in the Carol Samuels Observatory.
- Nov. 18: Family Astronomy Night
- Dec. 26 to 29 and Jan. 2 to 5, 2007: Winter Break Science Camp
- Jan. 27, 2007: Wine Under the Stars
American Stage, 211 3rd St. S. www.americanstage.org or 727-823-PLAY (7529). St. Petersburg's resident professional not-for-profit theater. Performances: Through Dec. 3: All The Great Books (Abridged), by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor. • Jan. 19 to Feb. 11: Chapter Two, by Neil Simon. • Mar. 16 to Apr. 7: Suddenly Last Summer, by Tennessee Williams. • Apr. 13 to 29: Little Shop of Horrors, by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. • Apr. 27 to May 6: 9 Parts of Desire, by Heather Raffo. • May 25 to Jun. 17: William Shakespeare's Othello. • Jul. 20 to Aug. 12: Casa Blue, The Last Moments in the Life of Frida Kahlo, by Todd Olsen, Jeremy Childs, Karen Garcia and Steve Earle. • Dec. 8 to 23: Proof, by David Auburn.
Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, 400 1st St. S. www.mahaffeytheater.com or 727-892-5767. This newly renovated theater is a 2030 seat bayside cultural jewel featuring elegant ballroom space, spectacular waterfront views and European box-style seating. Since its opening, it has hosted a wide variety of events including The Florida Orchestra, Broadway performances, dance, popular music, family entertainment and programs for school children. See events page for current schedule of events.
The Palladium, Community Theater, 253 5th Ave. N. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590. Built in 1925, the Hough Concert Hall has 880 seats and features a full sized Skinner Pipe Organ. Performances: Side Door Jazz Club, semi-monthly on Thu., call for dates. • Side Door Opera, semi-monthly on Fri., call for dates. • Dec. 16: An Ellington Christmas. • Dec. 17: An Ellington Christmas. • Dec. 29: Die Fledermaus. • Dec. 30: Die Fledermaus. • Jan. 19: American Songbook Series Presents Fever - A Peggy Lee Celebration. • Jan. 23: Encore 2007: The Palladium Brandenburgs The Florida Orchestra Chamber Players. Jan. 26: Claire Lynch. • Feb. 2: Keyboard Conversation with Jeffrey Siegel. • Feb. 10: USF Jazz Masterworks Presents Old School/New Lessons • Feb. 13: Encore 2007: The Palladium Brandenburgs Herald Vocal Arts Ensemble. • Mar. 6: Encore 2007: The Palladium Brandenburgs Amy Schwartz Moretti and Steve Moretti. • Mar. 20: The FloriMezzo Orchestra. • Mar. 27: Encore 2007: The Palladium Brandenburgs Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet. • Apr. 17: The Palladium Brandenburgs. • Apr. 21: USF Jazz Masterworks Presents A Tribute to Michael Brecker. • May 8: The Palladium Brandenburgs. • May 18: American Songbook Series Presents Lets Misbehave Again. • Jun. 1: La Boheme. • Jun. 3: La Boheme. • Jun. 8: La Boheme. • Jun. 10: La Boheme. • Jun. 23: The Florimezzo Orchestra.
The Royal Theatre, 1011 22nd St. S. 727-327-6556. Historic Midtown St. Petersburg's premier performing and cultural arts center.
Ongoing Events & Exhibitions:
- Poetic Collage Open Mic Night, every Tue., 7:30 to 10 p.m.
- Through Dec. 20: Art from the Soul.
- Feb. 1 to 28: Moments in Time.
- Mar. 5 to May 11: The Art Inside of You.
St. Petersburg Little Theatre, 4025 31st St. S. www.splt.info or 727-866-1973. Florida's oldest continuously operating community theater. The intimate Lobby Gallery is home to select collections of local artists. Performances: Jan. 19 to Feb. 4: My Way - A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, by David Grapes and Todd Olson. • Mar. 9 to 25: No Sex Please, We're British, by Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot. • Apr. 20 to May 6: 70, Girls, 70, by Fred Ebb and Norman L. Martin. • Jun. 8 to 24: Broadway Bound, by Neil Simon.
The Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., www.theartscenter.org or 727-822-7872. Free and open to the public Mon. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ongoing Events:
- Free Gallery Tours, every Sat., 11 a.m.
- Third Thursday Artist Talks at noon. Call for upcoming dates and topics.
- Photo Speak! Photographic Arts Club presents a series devoted to the art of photography, 11 a.m. on various Sat. Call for more details.
Exhibitions:
- Through Dec. 31: Project Creo: Digital Divide / Digital Provide; Celebrations: Annual Holiday Exhibition; and Looking Forward: Word & Image Exhibition.
Creative Clay, Inc. Cultural Arts Center, 1124 Central Ave. www.creativeclay.org or 727-825-0515. Creative Clay's mission is to make the arts accessible for every interested member of our community regardless of age, gender, ability and/or race. Rotating exhibit of member art available to view and purchase in the gallery.
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave. www.floridacraftsmen.net or 727-821-7391. Hours 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mon. to Sat. or by appointment. Florida Craftsmen's mission is to broaden the public's understanding and appreciation of fine craft art and to encourage professionalism and high aesthetic standards among Florida's craft artists.
Exhibitions:
- Through Dec. 31: Florida Craftsmen's Annual Holiday Show: All I Want and More.
- Jan. to Mar.: What's Next in Sensory Art.
Dali Museum, 1000 3rd St. S. www.salvadordalimuseum.org or 727-823-3767. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun. noon to 5:30 p.m. Admission: $14 adults, $12 seniors, teachers, military, fire and police, $9 students age 10 to 17, $3.50 children age 5 to 9, free age 4 & under, Thu. $5 after 5 p.m. Group rates available. Houses the pre-eminent American collection of Dali's work, highlighted by the museum's most recent acquisition - the large-scale masterpiece painting of Dali's wife, Gala, that morphs into a painting of Abraham Lincoln by optical illusion.
Exhibitions:
- Through Jan. 27, 2007: Dali Illustrates Wagner's 'Tristan and Isolde'.
- Through Jan. 21, 2007: Dali By the Decades: Dali's Surreal Century.
- Through Jan. 29, 2007: Dali Zodiac.
- Through Jan.: Traces of the avant-garde: Mabel Palacin.
Programs and Special Events:
- Breakfast With Dali, interactive tour for parents and children highlighting paintings suitable for ages 6 to 12, followed by breakfast with a docent and staff. Offered one Sat. monthly.
- Coffee With a Curator, similar to a gallery walk, 9:45 a.m. first Wed. monthly.
- Dali & Beyond Film Series (vanguard cinema) every 1st & 3rd Thu., 6 p.m. Movies tie-in with psychological themes featured in Dali works.
- Dali Family Fun Saturdays, family tours and activities, every Sat., 9:45 a.m. Tours are interactive and feature art appropriate for children ages 6 to 12. Educational activities, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., games, puzzles, arts and crafts that encourage family interaction.
- Seasonal programs include Off the Wall Film Series, Fridays at 7 p.m., free films projected onto the front outside wall, weather permitting; EMIT Concert Series, experimental music programs for new and emerging performers; and S' Real Friday Nights, happy hour event with live music and silent films.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, 2240 9th Ave. S. woodsonmuseumb@yahoo.com or 727-323-1104. Open Mon., Wed. and Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tue. and Thu. by appointment. Preserves, presents and interprets African American history and promotes an understanding to help all respect and value diversity.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive N.E. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667. Open Tues. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 1 to 5 p.m. Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $4 age 7 to 18, free under age 6. Offers the only comprehensive art collection, extending from antiquity to the present day, on the Florida west coast. Features more than 4,000 objects, stellar French Impressionist paintings, an exquisite Steuben glass gallery, significant works by Monet, Renoir and O'Keeffe and African, Asian, pre-Columbian, and Native American objects.
Exhibitions:
- Through Dec. 31: From the Fire: Contemporary Korean Ceramics.
- Through Feb. 18: Witness to the Moment: Images by Photojournalists.
- Through Feb. 25: Treasures Brought to Life: Decorative Arts from the Collection.
- Jan. 19 to Mar. 18: Natura Morta: Still Life Painting and the Medici Collections.
- Mar. 31 to Jun. 24: Florida Collects Folk Art.
Educational programs:
- Coffee Talk, second Wed. monthly, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Includes a performance by Nan Colton, a Museum tour, and refreshments. For ages 55 and up.
- Art for All Ages, second Sat. monthly, 2 to 4 p.m. Hands-on programs for children and their parents that revolve around the Museum collection. $5 with Museum admission.
Great Explorations A Children's Museum, 1925 4th St. N. www.greatexplorations.org or 727-821-8992 or 823-7287. (located adjacent to Sunken Gardens). Open Mon. on school holidays, Tues. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sun. noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission $9 adults, $8 seniors, free for children under 11 months. A haven for the imagination - launch a tennis ball into the height of the building, race a car, make a pizza, be a computer animator, sail a vessel or just observe. Parents and children can find tools to learn from each other, reconnect and do things you just can't do at home. Wheelchair accessible.
Monthly activities:
- Terrific Tots, every Tue., Wed. & Thu., 9:30 to 11 a.m. For ages 1 to 3 to develop social skills, fine and gross motor skills with music, math, crafts and activities.
- Stepping Up, every Fri., 9:30 a.m. to noon. Prepares children ages 3 to 4 for school, focusing on physical, social and emotional development.
- Come Read with Me, every Fri., 3 p.m. A special reading time just for young children.
- Kids Night Out, last Fri. monthly. Children ages 5 to 12 enjoy museum fun, food, friends and supervision without mom & dad!
- EDventure Camp-in, for youth and youth groups. Second Sat. monthly, 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.
St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 2nd Ave. N.E. www.spmoh.org or 727-894-1052. Open Mon. noon to 7 p.m. (free 5 to 7 p.m.), Tue. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. noon to 5 p.m. Admission: $7 adults, $5 seniors and students with ID, $3 ages 7 to 17 and free kids age 6 & under. Collects, preserves and presents St. Petersburg's history with exhibits about the world's first airline, St. Petersburg neighborhoods and heritage groups.
Permanent Exhibits:
- The Worlds First Airline. Signature exhibit features a full-sized working replica of the world's first commercial airliner, the 1914 Benoist Airboat, in Flight One Gallery.
- Challenge, Change and Continuity. The story of St. Petersburg and lower Pinellas from the Tocobaga Indians right up to Angela Bassett. Hundreds of historic photos and artifacts include a cannon ball fired by Union sailors, a Megalethoscope (a predecessor of modern motion picture projectors), and replicas of the early Williams Park band shell bonnet and a parlor car from the Orange Belt Railway.
- Neighborhoods & Heritage. Recounts the history and character of our neighborhoods and heritage groups through early neighborhood development, the boom periods and post-World War II era.
Featured Exhibitions & Events:
- Through Dec.31: Haunted History; Ingleside / Roser Park.
- Jan. 1 to 28: Ingleside Visions.
- Jan. 20 to Feb.: Aero Art 2007.
- Feb. 9 to Jul.: Snell Isle.
- Mar. 17 to Sep.: Hubert Rutland, Chairman of the Board.
- Wine, Cheese and History, series featuring local authors and artists with tales to tell about St. Petersburg's rich history and colorful characters. Reservations encouraged. $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Call for dates and topics.
The Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S. www.flholocaustmuseum.org or 727-820-0100 ext. 251 or 1-800-960-7448. Open Mon. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. and Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Last admittance 4 p.m. Honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. Dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. The first floor permanent exhibit History, Heritage and Hope includes an original boxcar from Nazi-occupied Poland. Letters Home and Selections from the Milt Kohn Collection feature Holocaust artifacts, memorabilia, letters by camp prisoners, ghetto refugees and liberators.
Exhibitions:
- Through Dec. 15: Waldsee, 1944.
Programs:
- Author Lecture Series: Call for other upcoming dates & titles.
The Florida International Museum, a Smithsonian Institute affiliate, 244 2nd Ave. N. www.floridamuseum.org or 727-341-7900. Open Mon. to Sat., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun., noon to 6 p.m., last entry at 5 p.m. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution exhibiting artifacts and traveling shows. The museum is dedicated to providing educational, cultural and historical experience, through diverse national and international exhibitions.
Exhibitions:
- Through Jan. 7, 2007: Marvelous, Magnificent Martele' - American Art Nouveau Silver: The Robert and Jolie Shelton Collection from The New Orleans Museum of Art.
- Jan. 19 to May 13, 2007: From Wolf to Woof: The History of Dogs.
- May 24 to Sep.3, 2007: Carnival.
- Jun. 23 to Sep. 3, 2007: Wondrous Cold: An Antarctic Journey.
- Sep. 16 to Dec. 31, 2007: Age of Armor: Arms and Armor, from the Higgins Armory Museum.
Programs:
- Tuesdays at Two: Gallery Presentation with the Curator. Call for other upcoming topics.
- Dog related lectures and demonstrations associated with the Wolf to Woof exhibit every Sat., Jan. 20 to Feb. 24. Call for schedule.
** ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE * *