» Gems of Pinellas County

• Make A Resolution to Visit Ft. De Soto Park

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: January 15, 2010

  2010 is here and we are halfway through the first month of the New Year!  

  Many people take the opportunity to utter (often under their breath) a commitment to a New Year’s resolution.  Getting more exercise is often at the top of the list, and there is no easier way to keep a commitment to getting more exercise than participating in any one of a number of fun activities at Ft. De Soto Park in Tierra Verde, FL.

  Whether you enjoy hiking, jogging, skating, kite boarding, surfing, swimming, kayaking, bicycling, or the causal ease of camping, collecting shells on the beach, a museum tour, boat ride, fishing from the pier, bird watching, or a leisurely walk with a furry friend at the doggie park and beach, there is an activity for every person at every skill level at Ft. De Soto Park! 

  Getting more exercise in 2010 could not be easier or more fun! 

  More interesting facts and information about Ft. De Soto Park follow. 

  Have a great year.  I hope to see you at the Park . . . in Paradise Found! 

  Fort De Soto Park
  3500 Pinellas Bayway South
  Tierra Verde, FL 33715
  Park Office – (727) 893-9185
  Campground Office – (727) 893-9185

  Fort De Soto Named America’s Top Beach for 2009
  Pristine Area Favorite Lauded as “Portrait of Tranquility”
  Fort De Soto Park was named America’s Top Beach for the second consecutive year by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel community.
  Citing a “spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water and a laid-back atmosphere,” the popular online travel network put the park’s North Beach at the top of its annual best-of list, based on TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index. This marks the second time in three years the pristine Pinellas County beach has received top honors on an annual “best-of” list. In 2005 Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a.k.a. “Dr. Beach,” named Fort De Soto the nation’s #1 Beach!

  The largest park within the Pinellas County Park System, Fort De Soto park consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands. First opened on December 21, 1962, when the state toll road named the Pinellas Bayway was completed, this park was dedicated May 11, 1963, in perpetuity as a public park. Annual park attendance averages more than 2.7 million visitors.

  The 12-inch mortar battery, located at the fort for which the park was named, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Adding to the historical interest at Fort De Soto, two British breech-loading, rapid-fire rifles of 1890 vintage were installed in March 1982. Markers showing the original building locations and a Quartermaster Storehouse Museum add to the park’s historic interest.

  Renovation and conversion of the East Beach concession building to a picnic shelter was completed in 1991. This picnic shelter can easily accommodate 200 visitors and you can now make shelter reservations online!

  The following amenities complement the Park’s natural and historic features:

  Over seven miles of waterfront, including almost three miles of the finest white sand beach in the United States.

  An 800-foot-long boat launching facility with eleven floating docks.

  A 238-site family camping area with facilities including picnic tables, grills, water, electricity, washers, dryers, sanitary disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, play areas, and a camp store.

  Two large swim centers including a food concession area located at the North Beach Swim Center.

  Two fishing piers, one on Tampa Bay (500 feet long) and the other on the Gulf (1,000 feet long). Each pier has a food and bait concession.

  Fourteen large group picnic shelters incorporating award-winning aesthetic and functional design features.

  Twenty storm-resistant public restroom buildings featured in several national publications.

  A snack bar/souvenir shop offering a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico.

  A 6.8 mile, 12-foot-wide asphalt recreation trail connects the campground with the North and East Beach Swim Centers and the historic fort.

  A 2.25-mile recreational canoe trail.

  A 1-mile nature trail in the Arrowhead Picnic area, and a 3/4 mile nature trail in the Soldiers’ Hole area provides a glimpse of some the native fauna and flora.

  Quartermaster Museum. 

  2,200 foot Barrier-Free Nature Trail is a self-guided interpretive trail, providing access to nature for all visitors to Fort De Soto Park, regardless of their physical abilities.

  A Dog Park – Fort De Soto has the only dog park where dogs are allowed on the beach in a designated area.  Be sure to review the rules online! 

  Youth camping area for organized youth groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church groups, etc.

  Follow this link to the Ft. De Soto Park Official Website to view 360º Virtual Tours of the following park amenities:  Gulf Pier, North Beach, Campground, Shelter 14, Pier 1, Boat Ramp, Museum, Fort, Barrier Free Trail, and Dog Park.

  CREDITS:  Information and photos courtesy of Pinellas County and Ft. De Soto Park.  Some photos by yours truly.

• Open Air Post Office in St. Petersburg

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: December 2, 2009

  

  St. Petersburg has a very unique and beautiful post office in the heart of downtown.  It’s known as the Open Air Post Office because, as you can see in this late 1940′s or early 1950′s era postcard, the main areas of the post office are not enclosed.  If you were to walk through the arches that you see, you’d be in the area of hundreds of post office boxes, as well as mail drops.  Our Open Air Post Office is located at the southwest corner of Fourth Street North and First Avenue north, diagonally across the street from Williams Park.

  This post office was completed and opened for business in September of 1917, so we are just a few years away from its centennial celebration!  And, interestingly enough, this was not the first open air post office in St. Petersburg.  Prior to the opening of this facility, there was a much smaller open air post office a block away.  That one was built in 1907, on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Fourth Street.  But our growing city quickly outgrew that building, and in 1915, the post office had to move temporarily to the first floor of the City Hall of that day, located on Fourth Street South.  That same year, a congressional appropriation of $102,000 was granted for the construction of a new, large, full service post office that would be able to serve the needs of the city for years to come.

  Although initial plans drawn up for the post office involved a building built several feet above street level, with lots of steps leading up to it, our local Postmaster didn’t like those plans, and he worked to design a building at street level, with no steps, and one that was open on all sides and would allow postal patrons to have access to their post office boxes 24 hours a day.  The result of his plans is history – a gorgeous Mediterranean Revival building with rich architectural detail and a grand feel to it.  And, perhaps more importantly, a structure that has stood the test of time – this building is still operating as an active post office today.  In 1975, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  To provide a little comparison, I scanned an old post card of the Open Air Post Office and that’s the picture that you see above.  Then, a few weeks ago, I took my own photos of the building, and those are the shots that you see below.  The photos are a bit compressed in this blog format, so for a much better view, please click on each picture to see a full sized image.  As you can see, the post office looks pretty much the same today as it did in long-ago St. Petersburg!  And you might also notice the Snell Arcade/Rutland building – the tall structure just behind the post office – it also stands proud today, as beautiful as ever.  This post office is worth a first hand look, so if you have a few minutes sometime and are near downtown St. Petersburg, park your car and walk through it and enjoy feeling a bit of history around you.  This is one of those cases where you really can say, “They don’t make ‘em like this any more… 

  

   

  

• Market in the Park

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: November 16, 2009

  

  Discover Paradise in Pinellas County!

  It’s that time of year again . . .

  . . . Market in the Park is back!

   

  The 3rd Annual Market in the Park at Heritage Village sponsored by the Pinellas County Historical Society.

  This family-friendly event takes place from 9AM to 1PM on Saturdays from Nov. 7, 2009 to April 17, 2010.  The November schedule is included below and more information is available online from the Heritage Village website.

  Admission is free!

  Market in the Park features farm-fresh produce, and natural products and gardening items.  On-site restrooms and plenty of room to roam make Market in the Park attractive to everyone. Food and beverages are also sold. Plans are in the works to introduce other special events and promotions.

  Heritage Village is located at 11909 125^th Street North in Largo, FL.

  For more information, call Heritage Village at 727-582-2123.

  November Schedule

  Just another fun activity . . . in Paradise Found! 

  About Heritage Village:

  Hours of Operation:
  Wednesday – Saturday
  10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Sunday 1 – 4 p.m.
  Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and on all Pinellas County holidays.

  Heritage Village features exhibits, a Museum Gift Shop, a Native Plant Trail, and Guided Walking Tours.  Current exhibits include:
   
  The Structures at Heritage Village: As you walk through the pine and palmetto landscape, you are really walking through the museum! The buildings and other features make up the Village’s largest “artifacts” and are part of the museum’s “collection.” Inside the buildings, you will find period rooms and displays depicting life ways, culture and early industries that shaped the Pinellas peninsula.

  Pieces of the Past: Some of the living history demonstrations and hands-on activities you might encounter during your stroll through the Village include pine needle and palm frond weaving, laundry day, working in the heritage garden, rope making, net mending, blacksmithing, traditional fiber arts, and pioneer cooking.

  Pinellas Passport: Your Ticket through Time illustrates major areas of development in Pinellas County, including coastal living with a focus on the sponge industry; agriculture featuring citrus industry artifacts; community life through newspapers and a printing press; and tourism, showcasing souvenirs and once-popular roadside attraction icons. In the Roy Helms Gallery.

  Link to Heritage Village Photos 

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Press release and Market in the Park logo courtesy of www.PinellasCounty.org.

• October Fun at The St. Petersburg Pier

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: September 30, 2009

  Autumn has arrived and is a great time to visit Florida’s Suncoast!

  The season ushers in the month of October and one of my favorite holidays-Halloween!

  With trick or treating in mind, plan to explore The St. Petersburg Pier!  Nestled between Vinoy Park and Demens Landing, within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and museums, in downtown St. Petersburg (FL), The Pier offers visitors and residents alike the opportunity to shop and sightsee, and to simply relax.  The Pier is open 365 days a year.  The family-friendly venue offers daytime and nighttime fun for all ages!

  If you are considering trick or treating this year dressed as a rabbit, you’ll be “hoppy” to know that The Pier is a short hop, skip, and jump from the South Gulf Beaches!  A ten-minute car ride from any of the beaches communities (Bacopa Bay, Isla del Sol, St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille, or Tierra Verde, to name a few) and you’re there!

  The Pier, home to the Columbia Restaurant and The Pier Aquarium,  has a number of events planned in celebration of the season and, of course, in honor of Halloween!  I’ve included a partial list below.

  Be sure to have a Boo-tiful and Happy Halloween . . . in Paradise Found!

  Thrill the World St. Pete
  Thrill the World is a simultaneous worldwide attempt to break the World Record for the largest simultaneous dance with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Thousands of people in cities around the world will learn the “Thriller” dance and perform it together on the day that Thrill the World take place.  All ages are welcome to participate in the local St. Petersburg, Florida event. Dancers need to sign up, learn the dance (anyone can do it), and show up on Saturday, October 24th, at The Pier.  The dance will take place at 8:30 p.m., but dancers are encouraged to show up two hours earlier to practice on the third floor of The Pier.

  Dance training is available online and at local studios.  Sign up (it’s free) to make sure you’re part of Thrill the World and Thrill the World St. Pete.  Sponsored by Studio 620, The Pier, St. Pete Shuffle, and more!  Following the event, visit Captain Al’s Waterfront Grill and Bar for more “Thriller” and MJ music until 12:30 a.m.

  Free Caricatures & Face Painting
  Lars-Erik Robinson, of Fritzy Bros. One Man Circus, will entertain your entire family with free caricatures on the first and third Sunday of each month. There is also free face painting Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

  Salsa Every Friday at Captain Al’s Restaurant
  Captain Al’s Waterfront Restaurant offers Salsa music and dancing every Friday night from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. Free introduction to Salsa dance lessons from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. by Greg Richardson from B.A.I.L.E. (which stands for Bay Area International Latin Events).  Enjoy a beverage or dinner as you take in Tampa Bay’s wide water views and dance the night away.

  Gallery Walk at Crystal Mirage Gallery
  The Downtown St. Petersburg Arts Association has twenty-five galleries open to the public from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month.  The Crystal Mirage Gallery, located on the first floor at The Pier, is one of the galleries and shouldn’t be missed on your stops around the downtown.

  Oldies but Goodies Dances
  The Pier comes alive with the sound of big band and dance music on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month! The dance floor is yours to enjoy! Come alone or with friends!  It’s a great way to meet new people! The “Oldies but Goodies” Dance is free and open to all.  The Downtowners perform on the second Wednesday with big band sounds. The Ron Berringer Trio performs on the fourth Wednesday with dance favorites, including the Electric Slide and tunes from the 50′s and 60′s.

  Movies on the Waterfront
  Family flicks at the St. Petersburg Pier on the third Saturday of each month.  Join the fun in the Waterside Courtyard at The Pier for “Movies on the Waterfront.” Bring a blanket and pillow. Pajamas are allowed, but no coolers.  The event is sponsored by Parent Guide Magazine and KIDS FIRST®.  Movies begin at dusk.  In the event of rain will be moved inside to the Activity Room.  The movie for October will have a Halloween theme.  Moviegoers are encouraged to come in costume!

  About The St. Petersburg Pier
  The Pier is open 365 days a year, rain or shine, Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Attractions and restaurant hours vary. FREE Pier Trolley service from the Dolphin and Pelican Parking Lots runs from 7:00 a.m. until 1/2 hour after the last restaurant closes.

  PHOTO CREDITS:
  Photos of The St. Petersburg Pier courtesy of The City of St. Petersburg.
  Photos of the Jack-o-latern and Tierra Verde trick-or-treaters courtesy of yours truly.

• 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.

• Andy Warhol in Downtown St Petersburg!

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: June 30, 2009

  No, not the person. Andy passed away back in 1987. But some of his excellent art works are here! Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life and Legends is being presented now at the Museum of Fine Arts, and the show will continue until August 16th. It’s a great exhibition that features over 70 prints of some of Warhol’s best known works, including his famous portraits of Marilyn Monroe, the iconic Campbell’s soup can, the Flowers series, and Muhammad Ali, to name a few. There are also prints from the Andy Mouse series, a tribute to Warhol by an artist/friend of his, Keith Haring. And there’s a portrait of Warhol himself, done by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

  For those too young to know him and for those who might have forgotten, Andy Warhol, aside from being perhaps the most important force in the American Pop Art movement, also foresaw the current state of our media-based-short-span-of-attention culture with his 1968 quote, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

  I went to the museum two
  weeks ago, and it was just great fun to see these works. And it was especially nice that we were able to see them in St. Petersburg, instead of having to travel to museums in New York or DC or to the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh. In addition to the museum’s many permanent collections, the Museum of Fine Arts always has traveling, temporary exhibitions of artwork from a wide range of artists. Now that the museum opened its new wing, there’s a lot more space for exhibits, so give yourself plenty of time when you go. And don’t worry if you get hungry – there’s an excellent cafe in the museum, where you can grab a drink, have a treat (like the triple fudge cake that I had!), or get a delicious lunch, all while looking out of the huge windows facing the waters of the Vinoy Basin.

  For more information about the Museum of Fine Arts, visit their website. (And for a look at some of Andy Warhol’s works, check out this page.)

  Special Deal Alert: During the months of July and August, anyone who enters the Museum between 10:00 AM and noon on weekdays gets in for half price – that means that adults get in for 6 bucks, which is a great deal!

  

   

  

• Head for the Hills

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: June 19, 2009

  St. Petersburg is a great place to live, and you can find just about any sort of diversion or entertainment that you might want.  But what if you come from the north and you really miss having hills around you?  Or maybe you’re a born and bred St. Petersburg native, but you’d love a change of terrain once in awhile?

  You probably think you’re out of luck.  Everybody knows that there are no hills in St. Petersburg, right?

  Well, you might be surprised!  In
  fact, I have friends who have lived here for their entire lives and they don’t know about our hills.

  So, if you’d like a change of scenery, I’m going to tell you where to find it.  You can do a little driving tour, you can park your car and take a walk, or you can even bring a blanket and a lunch and have a little
  picnic on the side of a hill, right in the heart of St. Petersburg. 

  The place to go is Roser Park.  It’s located directly behind All Children’s Hospital, and it’s bounded, roughly, by 6^th Street South and Dr. ML King Street South (formerly 9^th Street South) and by 7^th Avenue South and 11^th Avenue South.

  In addition to a beautiful
  public park with a creek running alongside, you’ll also see picturesque brick roads and stately early St. Petersburg homes, homes that were owned and occupied by some of St. Petersburg’s most prosperous residents in the early 1900′s.  Built by Charles Martin Roser beginning in 1911, the Roser Park homes were actually St. Petersburg’s first ‘out of the city’ development, a sort of early 20^th century suburb.  For much more detail on Roser Park, check out the Historic Roser Park website.

  But for an easy, present day treat, drive over to Roser Park and check it out.  It’s a peaceful oasis of history and beauty only minutes away from anywhere in the city.

  (Please note: in order to see the true depth of the hills in these photos, click on any of the photos so that you can view a full-sized version of the photograph.)

  

• New Home for American Stage

  Written by Bob Horn No Comments
  Last Updated: June 11, 2009

  

  Got live theater? In a great location? In a fantastic new building?

  We sure do! St. Petersburg now has a wonderful new theater facility located right in the heart of the city. Downtown St. Petersburg, version 2009, is a place that’s filled with activities, events, museums, entertainment, great restaurants, and more. It seems as though there are more fun things happening every time I take a few minutes to look around. One of the greatest treasures of our city, if you have any interest at all in live professional theater, is American Stage.

  The American Stage Theater Company has been hosting and producing top quality theater for over 30 years, dating back to 1977.  For the first two years, they were known as The Palisades Theater Company, and they were based at Eckerd College (then Florida Presbyterian College).  In 1979, the Junior League of St. Petersburg provided funding to convert an old downtown movie theater into a small playhouse, but in 1984, that building was condemned.  Florida Power/Progress Energy stepped up to the plate and sold them a former auction gallery building at less than half of its fair market value.  That building became the American Stage that has been American Stage’s home for the past 25 years.  It was a fairly old building on 3rd Street South, across the street from Dew Cadillac until a few years ago, and across from the new Publix in recent years.  The building was tired and cramped and certainly a bit cantankerous and uncooperative at times, but that never seemed to impact the enthusiasm of the American Stage staff or the actors or the theater-goers who continued to support them year after year.  In truth, American Stage did not just survive, they thrived and grew and gained even greater support over time.

  On Tuesday night, my wife and I attended the first production at American Stage’s new home at the corner of 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue North.  The facility is located in a portion of the new downtown St. Petersburg College building, directly across the street from Williams Park.  The building is spacious, open, airy, modern, and everything works!  There are plenty of restrooms, unlike the old American Stage home.  There are multiple levels – the lobby and box office are located on the ground floor, accessible via the main entrance on 3rd Street North.  From there, you can take an elevator or a large, open staircase to the second floor, where there is an open seating/waiting area with several tables and chairs, a bar/concession stand, and the Raymond James Theater.  The third floor houses the offices for the American Stage staff and administrators, a costume shop, and a rehearsal area.

  

  The new theater retains the very intimate feeling that the original American Stage always had, with all seats in fairly close proximity to the stage.  Seating capacity was only increased by 40 seats, so there is no sense of being lost in a giant space.  A very nice change is that the new seats are wider, have higher backs, and are much more comfortable than the seats at the old theater.  And there’s a great armrest feature – seats are grouped so that couples sitting together share an armrest between their two seats, but on the left and the right of each seat pair, there are double armrests with space in between, so you never have to battle with your neighbor for armrest rights!  That may not seem like a big deal, but it really is a nice touch, one which we appreciated.

  Since I’m writing about American Stage’s new home, and since I am certainly not qualified to write as a theater critic, I won’t go into any detail about the play that we saw, Tuesdays With Morrie.  But I will say that my wife and I both loved it, several friends who attended loved it, and the actors received a standing ovation with great enthusiasm from the audience.  If you are able to see it, I highly recommend it!

  If you love theater and you’ve lived in St. Petersburg for awhile, you already know about American Stage and I don’t need to encourage you.  But if you are new to the area and would like to experience great theater, head to downtown St. Petersburg and check it out!  In an era when professional theaters around the country are closing down because of the difficult economic climate, American Stage has again proven itself to be a standout, garnering  support  to open a wonderful new theater, and we are lucky to have it in our city.

  To learn more about American Stage or to view their schedule or purchase tickets, visit the American Stage website.

• Sunken Gardens

  Written by MyPinellas.com No Comments
  Last Updated: April 24, 2009

  Many of Florida’s once famous tourist destinations have disappeared. Fortunately, Sunken Gardens near downtown St. Petersburg has been preserved. A historical treasure, Sunken Gardens is one of few remaining examples of a typical 1930s Florida attraction. The park is a botanical wonder with more than 50,000 tropical plants, trees and flowers.

  Great Explorations, the popular children’s hands-on museum, has recently taken up residence in the Mediterranean Revival building next door. But the main draw will always be the bromeliads, orchids, hibiscus, water lilies, royal palms and bougainvilleas, the waterfalls, flamingoes and butterfly garden, the peaceful green beauty this urban oasis provides to visitors from around the world. The amazing size of many of the specimens is a testament to the age of the attraction, where most of the plants originally were planted over 100 years ago!

  Considered one of the finest botanical gardens in the United States, Sunken Gardens is historic, exotic, tropical, and lush … and it’s only in Pinellas.

• Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

  Written by MyPinellas.com No Comments
  Last Updated: April 24, 2009

  Once a year street racing becomes legal in downtown St. Petersburg. Well, at least for some. In April of each year many of the walkable and pleasantly urban streets of downtown St. Petersburg become an Indy Car race track. The twists and turns and sharp corners became the first non-oval track where the super-fast monster racers made famous at the Indianapolis 500 compete.

  Actually, the Indy Car Race is only one day of a three-day event. The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a unique city speed-fest. Indy “Lights” and four classes of American LeMans cars also compete. If racing is not your thing, concerts, air shows, and kids’ activities abound. The annual event is scheduled for April since that’s prime time for perfect weather in Florida.

  For the excitement and drama of city street racing you’ll need to come to the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, and you’ll find that only in Pinellas.
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