» 2009 » July

• St. Petersburg’s Hometown Airport

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: July 31, 2009

  When I was a kid, sometimes my dad would need to drive someone over to the Tampa airport or pick someone up from the airport. Whenever I could, I tried to go along for the ride. In those days, there were no security gates, no TSA personnel, and nothing to stop anyone from walking out to the terminal buildings and sitting and watching the planes take off and land. I loved it as a kid, and it honestly continued as I got older. I remember when I got my first car, a little Karman Ghia convertible, occasionally driving over to TIA with my girlfriend and walking out to the terminal building to watch the planes come and go at night. It was just something I enjoyed doing, and I don’t think I was alone.

  

  View From the Terminal (Click for larger photo)

  Alas, in 2009, such simple pleasures are not so easily attainable. I can (and do) still drive over to TIA, but unless I’m getting on the plane myself or I’m accompanying someone who is very very young or very very old, I am not going to get past the guards to board the tram and I’m not going to watch the planes take off or land. But there are alternatives, and one of them is right here in St. Petersburg. Most people are aware that we have a small, local, city-owned airport, Albert Whitted, located just a few blocks south of downtown and fronting right onto Tampa Bay. The airport is about 110 acres in size, and, according to the City of St. Petersburg web site, it handles 80,000 general aviation aircraft operations each year. It is also home base to approximately 185 aircraft. Throughout the day, anyone driving, riding or walking nearby can easily spot planes as they glide into the airport to land or as they taxi out on the runway to take off. Sometimes, especially if you happen to be an early riser and hang out in the area at sunrise, it can be an especially beautiful sight, watching a plane take off over the bay as the sun begins to creep up into the sky from the other side of the bay. Until recently, to enjoy these sights, you pretty much had to find a bench somewhere in the area surrounding the airport.

  Then, a couple of years ago, an airport improvement package was approved, and it included funding for the construction of a new 10,600 square foot terminal building at the airport. The building was completed in the Fall of 2007 and has been in operation since then. It’s a two story structure – the bottom floor is currently home to an Avis car rental facility, Bay Air Charter Company, and to St. Pete Flying Service. The second story is currently empty space, but it was designed to house a restaurant and lounge type of business. Initial plans for an Arigato restaurant fell through, but the city recently disclosed that it is negotiating with Steve Westphal, the owner of Beach Drive’s popular Parkshore Grill. If plans come to fruition, Westphal plans to open the Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in an ‘affordable’ price range.

  

  Albert Whitted Terminal Building (Click for larger photo)

  But, back to the idea of watching the planes come and go — outside of the restaurant space upstairs, there’s an area that’s covered from the rain and sun, but one that has a perfect, open view of the runways and the bay. This area seems as though it will likely accommodate outdoor seating when a restaurant finally does open up, and if it does, I’ll be one of the first patrons! It’s got a fantastic view, a nice breeze, and is just a very peaceful place to go to watch the comings and goings at the airport. For the time being, though, with no restaurant tenant upstairs, it’s an open public place, and there are outside stairways on both the left and right sides of the terminal building. You can walk up and stand at the railing and watch to your heart’s content, undisturbed, for as long as you like. Nobody chasing you away. There aren’t any chairs, but I was happy to stand and lean on the rail when I stopped by recently. I watched planes taking off and landing, and I saw and heard little stories as people walked outside the terminal building, talking to one another, heading for their planes.

  If none of this seems cool to you, then don’t bother going now, but do consider it when the restaurant and lounge opens up. But if the simple pleasure of watching planes come and go does appeal to you, if you don’t mind spending a half hour just lazily looking out over the runways and the bay, getting away from whatever your day’s stresses are, then you should stop by and check this place out! The terminal building is located on the east side of 1st Street S, between 5th and 6th Avenues South.

  One final note – there’s a nice, new children’s park next to the airport – Albert Whitted Park. If you have kids that might like to watch the planes, try taking them to the park instead of to the terminal building – they’re sure to enjoy it more. It’s an aviation themed park, with a kid’s version of a control tower and little rides that are shaped like airplanes. And it’s situated right on the water, so you can catch a cool breeze as the kids play and the planes take off and land. The park is located at 480 Bayshore Drive S. To get to it, drive behind the Mahaffey Theater building and turn towards the bay into what was once an extra parking lot for the old Bayfront Center. As you head out towards the bay, you’ll find the park on the left, with the runways of Albert Whitted on your right.

  For more information about Albert Whitted Airport, you can visit the Albert Whitted page on the City of St. Petersburg’s web site.

• Another Kind of Hill in St. Petersburg

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: July 24, 2009

  

  Everyone knows that St. Petersburg doesn’t have any hills, right? Wrong! We do have some hills scattered around the city. They may not be the big, rolling hills that people in north Florida or much of the rest of the country are used to, but there are some hills to be found. Some of them are real, naturally occurring hills that managed to challenge the status quo of the otherwise flat terrain in our area. But some of them were man-made. I’ve already written about the hills of Roser Park near downtown St. Petersburg, and in future posts, I’ll talk about some of the other hills that you can explore in the city, but for today’s post, I’m going to tell you about one particular man-made hill that’s an interesting St. Petersburg spot.

  The hill that I’m talking about is actually an Indian shell mound. It was built by native St. Petersburg residents, probably in the early 1500’s. Although there is a plaque posted at the site that credits the Timucua Indians with its construction, that may not be correct, as the Timucua Indians seem generally to have lived in areas further north in Florida. Other sources credit the Tocobaga Indians, who are definitely known to have had villages on the northern end of Tampa Bay. Local historian Walter P. Fuller, in his publication “St. Petersburg and Its People”, simply referred to the local Indian people of that era as the “Spanish Indians”.

  In any case, the local residents built shell mounds for a variety of reasons. Some mounds were constructed to be used as the tribe temple, and that is believed to be the purpose behind this mound in Pinellas Point. Mounds were also constructed to be used as the home for the tribe’s chief. There were burial mounds. And there were ‘kitchen middens’. The kitchen midden was, in essence, a garbage mound that was built next to the kitchen. Since shellfish was one of the prime food sources for the native St. Petersburg residents, the kitchen midden could grow to great heights as the discarded shells of their food supply were piled into the mound.

  

  Princess Hirrihigua Plaque - Click On Image to Read It

  There’s a legend associated with the tribe that built this mound. It’s about an Indian Princess who saved an explorer from death. Really! Sounds a lot like another legend that we all learned about in school, doesn’t it? Rather than retell the story here, I would like to refer you to the plaque that’s posted at the site of this mound, and on the plaque, you can read the story for yourself. I’ve posted a small photo of the plaque here, and if you click on it, it will take you to a full-size photo of the plaque which should be big enough for you to read.

  So, that’s it for today – it’s just an interesting little piece of history, tucked away in the middle of a residential area of our 21st century city. If you’d like to visit the site yourself, it’s located at Pinellas Point Drive South, at about 21st Street South.

• Musical History Tour of Tierra Verde

  Written by Connie Langhorst 3 Comments
  Last Updated: July 20, 2009
  Roll up . . . roll up for the musical history tour!

  Okay . . . I’m having fun with lyrics from a contemporary (Beatles) song.  The music and history associated with Tierra Verde warrants it. 

  Tierra Verde, an island community situated at the southernmost tip of Pinellas County, has hosted many historical and colorful characters throughout the years.

  Anyone who has enjoyed listening to Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians should get a kick out of the following musical lore and historical trivia.  Lombardo’s classic song, Auld Lang Syne, has become a perennial favorite (because it is often danced to and kissed by at midnight on New Year’s Eve).

  Interestingly, Guy Lombardo and his wife, Lilliebell, lived on the island.  They thought of Tierra Verde as their “Winter Paradise” for many years.  Lombardo performed with his band at LeClub in Port-o-Call, a resort complex in Tierra Verde that he co-owned.  In his autobiographical book, entitled “Auld Acquaintance,” Lombardo devoted an entire chapter to his life on the island (Chapter Ten, entitled “Off the Beaten Path”).

  This musical legacy, along with more of the island’s fascinating history, has been captured on a beautiful hand-painted mural.  The mural was on display for many years in the lobby of the Tierra Verde Resort.  Now, it has been placed in storage at a Pinellas County facility until such time that it can be moved to its new home at the Visitor’s Center at Fort De Soto Park, where it can be enjoyed by the masses!

  The pictures in the photo gallery above feature images from the Tierra Verde mural.  This treasured piece of art details Tierra Verde’s rich history.  Here are some facts noted, in pictures and words, from the mural:

  Tierra Verde meaning:  Green Earth in Spanish. 

  In 1539, the mighty Hernando De Soto arrived with ten ships and six hundred and thirty men for his four thousand mile exploration of the southern U.S.

  The peaceful Timucuas Indians, purported to stand over eight feet tall, lived in the area.  The Tierra Verde Indian Burial Ground was excavated in 1961.  (A commemorative plaque, along Pinellas Bayway South, stands near the entrance to Fort De Soto Park).

  General Robert E. Lee arrived on the island aboard the schooner, Phoenix, in 1849.

  The island’s fort was built in 1898 for the Spanish American War and was dedicated as Fort De Soto Park in 1963.  Cannons and portions of the original fort structure are available for viewing as part of a free, walking tour.  There is a museum on the Park grounds (near the North Beach pier), and a ferry takes visitors to Egmont Key, to see the old lighthouse and more historic relics from this time period.

  Silas Dent, known affectionately as “The Hermit of Cabbage Key,” loved children and visitors, and lived a happy life on the island from 1912 to 1952.

  What a special place to live and visit! 

  As a big band music lover, I am delighted to know that Guy Lombardo lived in Tierra Verde and considered the island to be his winter home.  One of his brothers, Lebert, lived on the island, too. According to Lombardo’s autobiography, he enjoyed fishing and racing boats.  His wife, Lilliebel loved animals, and reportedly filled their home with a motley collection of pedigrees and strays.  This, too, seems appropriate . . . as the island is home to a wonderful doggie park and beach, and there are many animal lovers here to this day (including me). 

  A sampling of the legendary musical and comedic talents who performed at LeClub in Tierra Verde include:  Steve Allen, Kay Ballard, Milton Berle, Rosemary Clooney, Vic Damone, Marlene Dietrich, Phyllis Diller, Buddy Greco, Frank Gorshin, Lionel Hampton, Liberace, Vaughn Monroe, Patti Page, Kay Starr, Mel Torme-and, of course, the island air was frequently filled with the “sweet sound” of Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians.  Each of these stars is depicted on the Tierra Verde mural.

  In closing, it may by of interest to know that twenty-one of Lombardo’s tunes peaked at #1.  He charted over 215 Top Twenty songs and had a starring role in an episode of the television show, Route 66, which was filmed in Tierra Verde.

  Mr. New Year’s Eve, as Lombardo came to be known, is a part of Tierra Verde’s history.  Whenever I hear the song Red Sails in the Sunset and see a spectacular sunset, which is a common occurrence here, I think of Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians, and realize how wonderful it is to live . . .

  . . . In Paradise Found!

  Thanks for visiting!

  Photo Credit:  Pictures of Tierra Verde mural (taken by Connie Langhorst) appear courtesy of Friends of Tierra Verde.

• Some Very Cool Art!

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: July 15, 2009

  Pinellas County and the surrounding area is known for hosting some of the finest art shows to be found anywhere in the country.  To be sure, there are dozens of smaller art and craft shows held annually in the area.  But I’m talking here about big shows, shows that attract award-winning artists and that appeal to art lovers of all sorts – those who love to look as well as those who come to purchase something beautiful to take home with them.  A partial listing of these shows includes:

  ==>> Tarpon Springs Arts Festival, held each Spring in Tarpon Springs

  ==>> Mainsail Art Festival, held each Spring in downtown St. Petersburg

  ==>> Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, held each Spring in downtown Tampa

  ==>> Dunedin Art Harvest, held each Fall in Dunedin

  ==>> CraftArt, held each October in various locations around the Bay area 

  One thing that you may have noticed is that, of the five big shows that I mentioned, three of them are held in the Spring and two of them in the Fall.  Clearly, this is no accident.  Our Spring and Fall climates are perfect for this sort of outdoor event, and the shows are held in gorgeous settings – beautiful parks, views of the bay or of lakes, just very scenic venues. 

  But none of those shows take place in the Summer – as much as we love our weather here, festival organizers know all too well that it would be difficult to attract either the artists or the crowds to an outdoor Summer art show – just a little too hot for comfort!

  But, if you’re an art lover and you’d really love to attend a great show without enduring the hot summer days, you are in luck!  Several years ago, a group of Pinellas artists formed an association called PAVA – Pinellas Association of Visual Artists – a nonprofit group run by and for local artists to help them support each other and to foster art in Pinellas County.  PAVA helps member artists, but they also help the community at large, via volunteer efforts to support art related activities in the area.  In addition, they got the idea that if they could put together a quality art show in the Summertime in a cool, indoor venue, people would love to attend.

  

  The St. Petersburg Coliseum

  And so, they put together the concept of the Cool Art Show.  The actual venue has changed over the years – I remember attending Cool Art several years ago in the gym at the USF St. Petersburg campus.  I’m not sure where else it was held over the past twenty years.  But I do know that last year, and again this year, it’s being held at the Coliseum, at 535 4th Avenue North, in downtown St. Petersburg.  For those who aren’t familiar with the Coliseum, it’s a great old historic dance hall, built in 1926, with huge, open spaces inside and hardwood floors.  It’s a very cool building (no pun intended, really), and I will do a post on the Coliseum, complete with photos of the interior, at some future date.

  But for now, just know that it’s icy cool inside, and that there will be lots of Cool Artworks, along with the artists, and that the show will be held this weekend, Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th.   And if, by chance, you read this post after the show date has passed, watch for it next year.  It happens every summer, at just about this same time.  For more details on PAVA or about the Cool Art show, you can check out PAVA’s web site.

  This is a great place to go to see some wonderful creations from some highly talented local artists working in a variety of different media.  And a great chance to check out the Coliseum itself!  Stop by sometime over the weekend – I think you’ll enjoy the show… 

   

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• Thinking about Buying Your First Home?

  Written by MyPinellas.com No Comments
  Last Updated: July 13, 2009

  Are you thinking about buying your first home? Good thought! Now is a great time to buy, especially with an $8,000 tax credit available for those who qualify.

  As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers. And those who qualify for the federal $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit will be able to apply for down payment assistance through the state of Florida or the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) before they close on the purchase of their home; then repay the amount borrowed when they get their tax credit. FHA now permits its lenders to provide a short-term bridge loan to qualified homebuyers for the purpose of accessing the federal $8,000 tax credit at the closing table.

  But time is of the essence. You must buy your new home by December 1, 2009.

  Click here for more information.

• Reasons to Smile . . . In Paradise Found

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: July 13, 2009

  I had “high hopes” of posting this yesterday.  But (seemingly smiling) rays of sunshine and the day’s temperate climate led my husband and I to the car for a spontaneous travel adventure to Disney World Resort® in Orlando (FL). 

  This destination point, for people from around the world, is located only a short car ride from the South Gulf Beaches of Pinellas County (FL).

  Disney World Resort® features Magic Kingdom Park, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot Center Theme Park, with its Future World and World Show adventures.

  The Resort offers discounted vacation packages for Florida residents, free admission on your birthday, thrill rides, daily parades, and an amazing fireworks show every evening!  There’s plenty of dining options, learning exhibits, live shows and concerts, and holiday-themed events.  And, all of this is located near Pinellas County for families and kids at heart (of any age) to enjoy!   

  A must see destination to the south of the South Gulf Beaches area is The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota (FL).  The Museum features masterwork paintings and sculptures by American, European, and Asian artisans. The Museum’s volunteers are super friendly and offer golf cart rides to points of interest, including the Ringling’s private estate, Ca’ d’Zan Mansion, the Circus Museums, and Historic Asolo Theater. 

  
  The grounds surrounding the Museum are breathtakingly beautiful, especially Mable Ringling’s beloved flower garden, with its multitude of colorful roses and marble statuary.  There’s a great restaurant, gift shop, and guest services, too.  While there, you might encounter a famous clown or aerialist willing to share fascinating stories of their life in the circus (as happened when my husband and I recently visited).

  The Orlando area is home to other thrilling destination points, such as SeaWorld® and Universal Studios Orlando®, Where Blockbusters Come to Life!. 

  Pinellas County residents don’t have to go far to experience an adventure!  Tampa Bay is graced with numerous exciting and top-rated destination points, including Busch Gardens® and The Florida Aquarium®.  Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoological Gardens® was recently rated (again) as ”The Best Zoo in the U.S.” by Parents Magazine. 

  Our museums, parks, nature trails, and historical sights are second to none! (Check out Bob Horn’s post about the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg to understand why!)

  No . . . I didn’t post this yesterday, as intended.  But I’m smiling.  Relishing the memory of a leisurely drive and fun afternoon in a wonderful world of make believe. 

  Humming a happy tune, I realize how fortunate we are to have truly magical travel destinations so near to us–close enough, in fact, to enjoy each and every day.  And each place is capable of making fairytale dreams come true!

  Now that’s worth smiling about . . . in Paradise Found!

  Thanks for visiting!

  Photos courtesy of The John and Mable Ringling Museum (Taken by Connie Langhorst)

• St. Petersburg Clay Company

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: July 10, 2009

  In 1914, the Seaboard Railroad company applied to the City of St. Petersburg for permission to bring their railway into town.  They hoped to compete with the Orange Belt Railway, which had been the only railroad serving the city since the late 1800′s.  Despite some strong opposition from the Orange Belt company, the voters of St. Petersburg approved a referendum allowing Seaboard to come to town.  Seaboard began building a freight train depot at 420 22nd Street South, and the station opened on September 13th, 1926.  It was an active freight depot from that day right up until 1967, when it finally shut down.

  After it closed as a train station, the building was used for a number of different businesses over the years.  In 1993, the City of St. Petersburg placed the building on the Historic Register.  As one of the last remaining buildings of its kind in Pinellas County, it was decided that protection of the building for posterity should be a high priority.

  In 2000, a partnership was formed, the building was purchased, renovations to the tune of almost $1,000,000 were done, and the building reopened as the new home of the St. Petersburg Clay Company.

  The St. Petersburg Clay Company was founded four years earlier, in 1996, by three local artists – Stan Cowen, Russ Gustafson-Hilton, and Charlie Parker – with the purpose of providing a place for area potters to imagine, create, craft, display, and sell their works.  By renovating and purchasing the old Seaboard Railroad station, not only were they making great use of a very cool historic building, but they were also creating a rather powerful synergy, considering that the station is built entirely of clay bricks!  With their new, huge space, the Clay Company is able to offer just about every imaginable piece of studio equipment and tool that a potter might use in creating their works of beauty, along with a large number of different types of kilns for their member artists to use.  In addition to the facilities, tools, and kilns, there is also a very well-stocked potter supply store on the premises – Highwater Clays - where one can purchase all kinds of clays and pottery supplies.

  If you are someone who works with clay or would like to learn about working with clay, this IS the place for you!  There’s something for everyone – all sorts of membership levels are available for those who are already involved in this craft.  And there are several pottery classes held at the Clay Company, for both members and non-members, covering every facet of pottery craft.

  For those, like me, who are artistically inept but who love to look, touch, and purchase, there are LOTS of items for sale here, beautiful pieces, all handcrafted, almost all at incredibly good prices.  And at special times of year, like Valentine’s Day and Christmas, there can be special themed sales.  The public is always welcome to browse the gallery and the many display shelves throughout the old train station, and it’s just a wonderful building to walk around and appreciate in and of itself.

  This ia a great place to go for a glimpse of St. Petersburg history and a fun place to peruse local artists’ works at the same time.  And it’s only about one minute away from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.  For more details about the St. Petersburg Clay Company, you can check out the St. Petersburg Clay Company website.
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