Pinellas County Beaches

An unspoiled, beautiful part of life . . .
. . . in Paradise Found!

Pinellas County maintains three major parks along the Gulf Coast. Fort De Soto Park, located in Tierra Verde, at the south end of the county, is one of the largest county parks in the State of Florida, with over seven miles of shoreline.

Sand Key Park, located in central Pinellas County, has almost a half mile of beachfront. Howard Park is a gem located on the Gulf of Mexico in the northern reaches of the county in Tarpon Springs. These parks offer a list of amenities that include picnicking facilities, fishing opportunities and other items of interest to residents and tourists alike.

In addition to these major beach park facilities, Pinellas County has six beach access parks, including Indian Rocks, Tiki Gardens/Indian Shores, Redington Shores, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, and St. Pete Beach. These beach access parks expand public access, and include restroom and shower facilities. Pinellas County beach access parks are used by almost eight million visitors each year.

There are several fabulous links on the official Fort De Soto Park website, including virtual tour views, a beach access guide and beach finder, a beach and shell guide, a birding checklist for Fort De Soto Park, a Google Earth tour of Pinellas County Beaches, and a water quality guide. This information is also available from the Pinellas County and Visitor’s Bureau websites, too.  Helpful links provided below. 

Two state parks in Pinellas County, Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island, provide almost five miles of direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Honeymoon Island State Park is accessible by car, while pristine Caladesi Island State Park is easily reached by modestly priced public ferry that departs several times per day from Honeymoon Island State Park.  Amenities and ample public parking is available within the grounds of Honeymoon Island State Park for both facilities.

In addition to the parks mentioned above, several important municipal parks provide direct beach access, amenities and public parking as well. St. Pete Beach’s Pass-A-Grille and Upham Beaches, Treasure Island’s four city-operated beach access parks, Madeira Beach’s Archibald Park and Clearwater’s North and South Beach Parks are examples of municipally operated beach access facilities.

In Pinellas County, beach access is provided at 31 parks and 135 public easements providing well over 12,000 parking spaces available to the public.

Pinellas County continues to recognize the need for expanding the publicly available beach access points and the desirability of providing properly designed and aesthetically pleasing walkovers. The joint efforts on the part of Pinellas County, the State of Florida, our local beach municipalities and the tremendous citizen volunteer efforts employed in our dune replanting, continue to make our beach access expansion and enhancement program a resounding success.

About Pinellas County Beaches

Occupying a peninsula along the Gulf Coast in the heart of west central Florida, Pinellas County is the second smallest county in the state, containing less than 281 square miles. While small in total area, Pinellas enjoys a long coastline along the Gulf Coast, providing over 35 miles of fine white sandy beaches stretching from Tarpon Springs to Fort De Soto.

With over 3,150 people per square mile, Pinellas County today is by far the most densely populated county in the State of Florida and is second only to Atlanta Georgia’s Fulton County, in the southeastern United States. Large numbers of residents are attracted to the county’s mild sub-tropical climate and strong economy. In 1996, over 4.1 million overnight visitors came to Pinellas County from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. To support the growing needs of our expanding residential population and the large number of visitors drawn to our area, enhancing our beaches, the county’s greatest asset, is vitally important to our overall economy and quality of life in our community.

Spotlight — Fort De Soto named America’s Top Beach - 2008
Pristine Area Favorite Lauded as “Portrait of Tranquility”

 Fort De Soto Park was named America’s Top Beach 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. 

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_ft_desoto.htm

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/beaches.htm

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/virtual_tour_beach_menu.htm

http://www.pinellascounty.org/PDF/BeachGuide.pdf

http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/?type=beach

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/pdf/beach-shells.pdf

http://www.pinellascounty.org/resident/recreation.htm

CREDITS:  Information courtesy of www.PinellasCounty.org. Photography provided courtesy of my personal photo collection, my friend Brian Greene, and the beach panoramic scene photo provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department

There was excitement in the air!

The pelicans were coming! 

Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were about to release 32 brown pelicans along the beach at Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde, FL, as a final step in the bird’s rescue and release process. 

Rehabilitated at Fort Jackson Wildlife Center in Buras, LA, the pelicans were flown by the U.S. Coast Guard in New Orleans to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Coast Guard Station.  From there, they were just a few short miles from freedom and a new life along an unspoiled beach–one of the most beautiful beaches in the continental USA (voted #1 Beach by Dr. Beach on numerous occasions and voted #1 by TripAdvisor two years running, in 2008 and 2009).

Pinellas County showed its beauty–and its pride–that day.  It was a bright spot in an otherwise sad and frustrating situation.  As a Tierra Verde resident and wildlife lover, not a day goes by that I do not agonize over the impact to the Gulf region, especially our neighbors to the north and west, from the BP oil disaster.  Thankfully, and with blessings, Pinellas County remains unspoiled and 32 brown pelicans have joined our extended family.

Fort De Soto Park is one of the County’s gems!  The Park is home to lush nesting areas and more than 300 species of birds, including migratory wildlife.  The sand on the beaches remains sugar white and the water is crystal clear.  There is not a building in sight, unless you count the Visitor Center.  It is Old Florida and we treasure it!

The release of the pelicans on July 7 was not the first  to occur in the Tampa Bay area.  Oiled birds from Louisana have been flown to our area since the spill began in April.  Other releases took place at Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, an island preserve not far from Fort De Soto Park.

Many photos and videos of the release of the pelicans appear online on various location websites, including www.TampaBay.com and www.Bradenton.com.  The St. Petersburg Times and the Bradenton Herald, as well as other media outlets, joined Park staffers, residents, and other onlookers on that special day.  It was a sight to behold.  I am including links to a few sites below.

Those of us who live and work along the south Gulf beaches, especially those along the Sun Coast in Pinellas County, are grateful that our beaches have remained clean and unspoiled throughout this disaster.  Our hearts go out to those less fortunate, to our brothers and sisters who live and work along the northern Gulf  coast of Florida and in other states that have been impacted by this tragedy.  It is obligation and civic duty to do all that we can to make this area whole again.  We must work together to insure that this frayed piece of the fabric of America, one that needs mending because it is unique and represents a generations-old lifestyle, heals and becomes vibrant and alive again. 

Here in the south Gulf beaches, along the Sun Coast in Pinellas County, we welcome our new friends, the brown pelicans, and each evening, when they sprend their wings and soar into the golden sunset over the sparkling waters of our beaches, we will remember you and say a prayer. 

We are here for you and thank you for the gift of your feathery friends.  They are in good hands.   

From a loving friend . . . in Paradise Found. 

CREDITS:  Photos courtesy of my husband, Thomas Gerwe, and Scott Keller, St. Petersburg Times.

Jazz: the Art of Music will feature some of the best local jazz in the Tampa Bay area every Friday from 6-9 p.m.  from June 4th
through August 28th, 2010.

Admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members and will include admission to galleries in the Hazel Hough wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL.

This is an ideal way to celebrate the beginning of the weekend in one of the most spectacular settings in the area!

Groups will perform in the glass Conservatory and listeners can mingle on the terrace overlooking the Bay.

For the Friday, July 10th, performance:

O Som Do Jazz recaptures the lively spirit of 1960s Brazilian Bossa Nova, samba-jazz and MPB. Based in St. Petersburg, the band features Rio de Janeiro singer Andrea Moraes Manson. 

Andrea moved to the Tampa Bay area from Rio in 2000. Trained as an architect, she began performing, with the encouragement of her jazz musician husband David, in 2004. Andrea has a natural understanding of Brazilian music and a full voice in the style of Elis Regina. In her debut recording (Infinita Bossa), Andrea has caught the attention of bossa nova lovers worldwide. 

The group also includes members from São Paulo, Brasil and Columbia. O Som Do Jazz has performed at the Pensacola JazzFest, Jazz Brasil, the Historic Asolo Theatre, Dali Fest, First Night, Brasil Arts Fest, Lights On Tampa, First Night, Safety Harbor Wine Festival and more.

The art of music, indeed . . . in Paradise Found!

EVENTS PARTICULARS:

Reservations are recommended.  The cost of admission is $10 per person for MFA members/$15 for non-members.  Ticket price includes:

• Admission to the Hazel Hough wing galleries
• MFA Café will be open with an evening menu
• Beer and wine cash bar

For more information about the event, contact Ellen Rivera, (727) 896-2667 ext. 221.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

Located at 255 Beach Dr. N.E. in St. Petersburg, FL 33701, the Museum of Fine Arts has the only comprehensive art collection, extending from antiquity to the present, on the Florida west coast. See outstanding works of art in galleries designed for leisurely reflection.

The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most beautiful museums in the Southeast. The collection has over 14,000 objects extending from antiquity to the present day and features stellar French Impressionist paintings. Galleries of Steuben glass, decorative arts, and pre-Columbian objects are especially dramatic. Two interior gardens, one devoted to sculpture, encourage reflection. An intimate second-floor gallery, in the new wing, displays works on paper and photographs. The Museum’s photography collection of over 10,000 images is one of Florida’s most respected. The MFA has been repeatedly named the best art museum in the Tampa Bay area by regional media.

Additional features include music, education and family events, movies, lectures and gallery talks.  For more information about the Museum of Fine Arts, please contact their Visitor Services Department at (727) 896-2667.

CREDITS: The event logo and information contained in this post are provided courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida.  www.fine-arts.org.

St. Pete Beach Family Aquatic Center . 

Plan on arriving early because it’s cool (literally and figuratively) to float and swim while a family favorite film is showing!

Bring your pool floats and beach chairs for some Friday night fun!

Admission is $3 per person.  Limited to the first 150 people.  Movies start at 8PM.  Drinks, snacks and glow jewelry sold at the event.  No coolers permitted.

Another family-friendly and fun way to spend time . . . in Paradise Found! 

ABOUT THE ST. PETE BEACH FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER:

The St. Pete Beach Family Aquatic Center is a year-round heated facility that consists of a six lane Junior Olympic swimming pool with an attached children’s play area featuring several water features that spray, drop and squirt water. This play area consists of a mushroom shaped waterfall and colorful dumping cones. There are two large tubular slides for older children. Tables, lounge chairs, showers, and dressing rooms are available for patrons. The pool area features plenty of room for sunbathing, as well as shade for escaping the hot sun. All areas are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The St. Pete Beach Family Aquatic Center is located at 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706.

For more information about the Center or the Dive-In Movie series, call 727.363.9264 or direct an email to recreation@stpetebeach.org.

UPCOMING DIVE-IN MOVIE SCHEDULE:
June 18 - Finding Nemo
June 25 -  Shrek
July 9 -  Bug’ s Life
July 16 - Happy Feet
July 23 - Lion King
July 30 - Monsters Inc.
August 6 -  Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs
August 13 - The Incredibles
August 20 - Madagascar

CREDITS:  Press release information and photo of the Aquatic Center pool courtesy of www.stpetebeach.org.

A Taste of Pinellas is an annual food and music festival for the whole family, held at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg in Pinellas County (FL).

Join the fun on the waterfront for taste sensations from local restaurants from throughout Tampa Bay!  There will be great live music from national acts, A Kid’s Zone, games, crafts, and more! It’s sure to be a good time and it supports a great cause — the exceptional care that All Children’s Hospital provides for children in need.

A Taste of Pinellas 2010 is scheduled to take place Friday, June 4 from 5P to 10P, Saturday June 5 from 11:30A to 10P, and Sunday, June 6 from 12N to 7P.

Buy tickets online for express and guaranteed entry into Vinoy Park.  General Admission only $5 a day on Friday and Saturday, FREE on Sunday!  Children 12 and under admitted FREE every day!

To learn more about All Children’s Hospital, check out http://www.allkids.org/.

For an overview of entertainment and contests, list of participating sponsors and restaurants, news, and general information , visit A Taste of Pinellas 2010 online.

Proceeds from A Taste of Pinellas 2010 benefit All Children’s Hospital Telethon.

As a proud member of our Realtor® community, one element of A Taste of Pinellas that is not widely publicized is that many of the event volunteers are real estate professionals who come from throughout the County to support this worthy cause.

Plan to attend . . . support All Children’s Hospital . . . and join the fun!

Just another fun (and rewarding) thing to do . . . in Paradise Found!

 

CREDITS: Event information, artwork and photos, courtesy of the A Taste of Pinellas 2010 website.

St. Petersburg International Folk Fair
Society

Third Annual Asian Pacific Rim Festival

England Brothers Band Shell

5121 81st Ave. N., Pinellas Park (FL)

The St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) hosted the Third Annual Asian Pacific Rim Festival on May 15-16, 2010, in Pinellas Park, a vibrant community in Pinellas County (FL).  The event featured a ceremonial dragon dance, ethnic cuisine, arts, crafts, fashion shows, martial arts demonstrations, live entertainment, and an Asian beer garden.  The event was free and open to the general public (although there was a charge for food and beverages).

If you missed the Festival, don’t fret!  SPIFFS plans to host a November Folk Fair in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of St. Petersburg’s waterfront parks!

The General Assembly of the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society plans to host the Thirty-Sixth Annual SPIFFS Folk Fair as a part of the special celebration of the 100th anniversary of St. Petersburg’s waterfront parks. On November 3, 4, and 5, the Folk Fair will be open for students from schools in the Tampa Bay area, and on Saturday, November 6, it will be open to the general public. The Folk Fair has been staged on or near Tampa Bay for most of its history, first in the Bayfront Center, and more recently at Vinoy Park and Albert Whitted Park.

SPIFFS is the only independent multi-ethnic organization of its kind in the United States and has been named as a local legacy by the Library of Congress.

Another Gem of Pinellas County . . . in Paradise Found!

Services offered by SPIFFS members:

Speakers Bureau
Folk Artists and ethnic resource volunteers visit schools and other community venues to discuss the heritage of their ethnic group, share their music, dance, arts and crafts, and sometimes demonstrate ethnic food specialties.

Language Bank
More than 100 individuals handling over 30 different languages and dialects serve as translators and interpreters for the community in courts, hospitals and schools, and assist local city and county officials with translations for visiting dignitaries.

Traveling Ethnic Suitcases
Contain books, videos, music tapes, artifacts, toys and information on the geography, history, arts and culture for students and teachers to explore.

Folk Dance Groups
Many members have dance groups which are available to perform throughout the community.

For more information about SPIFFS or to become a member, visit their website at www.SPIFFS.org.

St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS)
330 5th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701
Telephone: (727) 552-1896

The following pictures from past SPIFFS events are truly worth 1,000 words (and then some).  Enjoy!

CREDITS: Photos from past SPIFFS events and press release information courtesy of the St. Petersburg International Folk Festival Society website.  www.SPIFFS.org.

Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival

The Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival is an electrifying, palate-pleasing, beachfront extravaganza showcasing the talents of renowned vintners, spirits producers, area chefs, and international culinary personalities. Hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits of Central Florida, along with its charitable partners Heartbeat International and Pro Start Culinary Program facilitated via Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association - Pinellas Chapter.

Now in its fourth year, the Festival has become the most anticipated wine and food destination in Central Florida. Held on the pristine sands of the 1928 five-star Don CeSar Beach Resort - Florida’s legendary Pink Palace - the Festival’s objective is to educate, entice, enlighten, and entertain patrons.

New Additions for 2010

Event organizers believe in partying like rock stars - and this year they’ve added two new evening events to the festival fantasy. In the spirit of the fest, these two newbies are infused with the high-energy entertainment and sensual treats that the event has become known for; Welcome LUSH and the Beam Beach Bash & BBQ.  Pulsating sounds, island beats, exploding flavors, painted ladies, green gardens, bodacious BBQ and performing artists against the sun-drenched backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico - sounds like a palate pleasing, sensory indulging weekend.

Another fantastic reason to raise a glass and give a cheer . . . in Paradise Found! 

For More Information, Contact:

Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival
Tonya M. Valdez , TBW&FF - Director
Southern Wine & Spirits - Director of PR & Events
tvaldez@southernwine.com
Office: 813-775-7250

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL & EVENT CALENDAR:
http://2010.unleashyourpalate.com/index.html

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT HOSTS:

Southern Wine & Spirits is the country’s largest wine and spirits distributor, serving 300,000 customers in 38 states. SWS is also the creators of several runaway event successes such as South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival and the newest sister festival, SWEET in New York City.

Heartbeat International is a nonprofit organization that’s mission is to save lives globally by providing cardiovascular implantable devices and treatment to the needy people of the world. Their vision and passion is to create a world class charitable foundation with successful global strategic partners. In 2009, Heartbeat International adopted a new strategic direction with the concept of a heartbeat global movement. Through strategic partnerships and alliances, the goal is to provide a greater compendium of cardiovascular services to the indigent populations served by Heartbeat International around the world.

FRLA’s Pinellas Chapter & Facilitated Pro Start Culinary Program
The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association is among the most influential trade associations in Florida. The association was established in 1946 to represent the restaurant industry. Since that time, the scope of FRLA’s representation has expanded to include the entire hospitality industry including lodging establishments, restaurants and thousands of suppliers to the industry. The association is committed to safe-guarding the needs of the hospitality industry and improving the business climate. The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) is doing its part to keep the foodservice industry vibrant as they touch the lives of over 10,000 students and their teachers with industry training, scholarships and grant funding.

ProStart is THE career-building program for high school students who are interested in culinary arts and restaurant and foodservice management. Throughout an exciting two year period, they study in the classroom, participate in mentored work experiences, and test their skills in local and national competitions. Most importantly, ProStart students grow into the leaders our industry needs. It’s already working for approximately 80,000 student participants in more than 1,650 schools, across 47 states, territories and districtsProStart is an excellent career starter for high school students, and an exciting teaching opportunity for educators. ProStart students, educators, state restaurant association ProStart Coordinators, mentors and corporate partners all play a vital role in the success of ProStart. A percentage of the TBW&FF proceeds benefit the local, Tampa Bay Area program.

CREDITS:  Event information, artwork, and photos courtesy of http://www.unleashyourpalate.com/ and the Don CeSar Beach Resort.

Organizers are extremely proud and happy to celebrate the event’s Twentieth exciting year.

Beach Goes Pops XX is the result of the combined efforts of The City of St. Pete Beach, Pass-A-Grille Community & Vina Del Mar Island Associations and 150 plus volunteers who coordinate and help to produce free concerts on beautiful and historic Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Pete Beach (FL).  

The major sponsors are The City of St. Pete Beach and The TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach and ”Wind, Water and Energy Conservation” and “The Island Reporter.”  

On Friday, April 23rd, the event welcomes three outstanding performing bands for your musical entertainment. Starting at 4:00pm, there will be live music, food and beverages till 10:30 pm.

On Saturday, April 24th, there will be three performing bands starting at 5:00 pm with music, food and beverages till 10:00 pm. The event proudly welcomes back Robert Romanski, music director and conductor of the Beach Goes Pops Orchestra, with Orchestra music starting at 7:30 pm and continuing till 10:00 pm.

Come join in the fun of an unforgettable Beach Goes Pops weekend with your family, friends and neighbors and enjoy the food, music and sunsets of Pass-A-Grille in a spectacular and unique beach setting.

Music and an unforgettable sunset . . .  in Paradise Found! 

For an entertainment schedule, press release, and images from past events, visit Beach Goes Pops online at www.BeachGoesPops.com.

For information regarding table sales for Saturday’s catered dinner by Wayl of a Time or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Paula Beersdorf at 727-459-8057 or paulab@sunriskinc.com. For any other questions please contact David Zavac at 727-278-1884 or dzavac@tte.com.

CREDITS:  Information and artwork courtesy of www.BeachGoesPops.com.

April 14-18^th

Its lights, camera, action!

as the 5th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival kicks off with a bang.

 
The Sunscreen Film Festival is hosted by the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Society, a Florida not for profit Corporation. The goal of the festival is to encourage the creation, production, and exhibition of independent film in Florida through its educational programs and public screenings, thereby increasing awareness and support of local filmmaking as a cultural and economic asset.

Now in its fifth year, the Sunscreen Film Festival hopes to continue to consistently entertain, challenge and create memorable moments for its filmmakers, special guests, judges and the film-loving public.

Producing a film festival, in many ways, is a lot like producing a large-scale film. Organizers spend months in pre-production planning the various venues, parties, panel discussions and workshops. They cast for the best films, filmmakers, special guests and celebrity guests to entertain you, and then lights, camera and action begins on the red carpet on opening night. It’s glamorous, but impossible to do without a lot of talented volunteers and friends of the festival working behind the scenes year-round.

In 2009, the Sunscreen Film Festival put on its first film school program. In two weeks, ten students developed two short-film screenplays, pre-produced and shot their films using local actors and top of the line equipment, and edited their films in preparation for exhibition at the 2009 Sunscreen Film Festival.

Lather on the sunscreen and enjoy the 2010 Sunscreen Film Festival.

Just another fun thing to do . . . in Paradise Found! 

SUNSCREEN FILM SUMMER CAMP
Over a ten-day period at Studio @ 620 in downtown St. Petersburg, nine campers ranging between the ages of 14 to 18 are given in-depth instruction in the art and science of filmmaking. Instructors Dave DeBorde, Scott Reus, and J. Declan Flynn will teach the finer points of screenwriting, cinematography, directing, producing and editing with the goal of producing two five-minute short films to be exhibited at a closing-ceremony at the Studio and in the 2010 Sunscreen Film Festival.

ACTOR’S WORKSHOP
The Sunscreen Film Festival takes great pride in its Actor’s Workshop; a multi-day, multi-panel discussion, instruction and audition process hosted by Hollywood casting agent and director, LaTanya Potts (Moesha, Soul Men) and John Jackson (Sideways, About Schmidt) and acting coach, Marc Durso (ActTrue). In 2009, the Actor’s Workshop became a year-round program featuring a myriad of programs for actors leading up to the film festival.

The Sunscreen Film Festival will announce new dates for its second annual Sunscreen Film School. For information contact the Education Director, Harry Chittenden at harry@sunscreenfilmfestival.com.

Two additions to the Festival’s film category lineup: the SunSpot award for creative television commercials, and the Cine Del Sol award for Latin filmmakers.

You can help the Festival continue to be an asset to our local community by becoming an event sponsor or volunteer.  Baywalk attracts over three million visitors annually while the Muvico 20 Theaters attracts 30,000 weekly.

Visit the Sunscreen Film Festival online to check out the latest classes and workshops planned throughout the year and during the festival.

For information and a film schedule, visit www.sunscreenfilmfestival.com.

Sunscreen Film Festival
Bank of America Tower, 200 Central Avenue, Suite 290
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
Tel: 727-259-8417  /  Info@sunscreenfilmfestival.com

CREDITS: Information and images for this post provided courtesy of Sunscreen Film Festival.  www.sunscreenfilmfestival.com.