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» museum
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Free Museum Day Coming Soon!
On Saturday, September 25th, St. Petersburg’s major museums will throw open their doors and welcome everyone in, free of charge! This is an annual event, done in coordination with the Smithsonian Institute and Smithsonian Magazine. The event is taking place in many major cities around the country, so if you’re not near St. Petersburg, check your local media for details in your area. But for St. Petersburg, I can tell you that you will be welcomed, at no cost, at The Dali Museum, Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum, Florida Holocaust Museum, Great Explorations Children’s Museum, Morean Arts Center and Hot Shop, Museum of Fine Arts, Pier Aquarium, and the St. Petersburg Museum of History. For more details, such as addresses, museum hours, etc, you can check out this link on the City of St. Petersburg’s website.
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Go For Baroque at Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete
The Baroque World of Fernando Botero is the current featured exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in downtown St. Petersburg. The exhibition runs from January 9th through April 4th, and it includes 100 paintings, sculptures, and drawings from Botero’s private collection. Many of the works have not been exhibited publicly before. In addition to all of the work on exhibit inside the museum, there are two extraordinary pieces that have been strategically placed on the front and rear lawns of the museum.
Botero, a world-renowned Colombian born painter and sculptor, is known for creating works of art that are united by their proportionally exaggerated, or “fat” figures, as he once referred to them. Botero graduated from Medellin University in Colombia in 1950, and in following years, studied in Madrid, Florence, New York, and Paris, where he moved in 1973 and where he lives today.
As one can see from the two sculptures that are in temporary residence outside the museum, Botero appears to have fun with his craft, and this theme can be seen throughout much of his work. If you’d like to get a little of the ‘flavor’ of Botero’s work, you can check out this link at Google Images. And if you’d like to see either of the images below in its full-screen splendor, just click on the photo.
For information about the Museum of Fine Arts, including location, direction, hours of operation, and more, check out their website.
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Progress on the New Dali Museum
If you’ve never paid a visit to the Dali Museum, you really should! It’s a fantastic land of the surreal, and walking through the museum and really taking time to absorb what you see there can create entirely new neural pathways in your brain! Dali’s works are amazing, over the top explosions of color and shape and reality gone wild, and they are nothing but fun to see. Fans who live in the area or who visit here are very lucky – the St. Petersburg Dali museum holds the largest collection of Dali works in the United States and the largest collection outside of Europe.
For anyone who does not know Salvador Dali’s works, you can get a pretty good idea of what they’re about by checking out this Google Images site. And for those that do know Dali’s work, but are not familiar with all of the great things about the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, you should check out the Museum’s web site. It’s worth looking at – aside from information about the exhibitions at the Museum, you can also learn about special events like the Saturday Family Fun Day and the S’Real Friday Happy Hour, with live music and half price admissions after 5:30 PM. Think about it – go to Happy Hour, have a couple of drinks, then walk around and take a look at some of the most mind-bending depictions of non-reality imaginable. Guaranteed to make your Happy Hour even happier. And, while you’re at it, you might make a new connection with someone else who’s attending – it’s a popular Friday evening event!
The current Salvador Dali Museum is located at 1000 3rd Street South, just to the south of the University of South Florida’s Bayboro campus. For now.
And that leads us to the photograph below (please click on the photo to see a higher resolution, full size image), and the really exciting news that I’m posting about. The Dali Museum will be moving, probably in 2011, if all goes according to plan. The new Dali home will be a 35 million dollar, 66,450 square foot structure – that’s twice the size of the existing museum! Included in the layout will be 50% more gallery space than the current museum has, which means that there will be a lot more of Dali’s work on display at any given time. The museum will feature a huge, futuristic looking glass geodesic structure, giving it a unique look and feel that should provide incredible visual impact in its setting on the waterfront and adjacent to the Mahaffey Theater.
I’ve been watching the progress on the new building since early last summer. For a long time, it looked just like any new building, with foundation, walls, etc. But in recent weeks, there has been, as the museum folks might say, surreal progress! The shell of the new structure is complete, and the very Dali-esque glass sculptures that will define the look and feel of the museum, both inside and out, are morphing towards completion. It’s both a bizarre and a beautiful look, and I have to believe that Dali himself would have smiled upon this new museum.
If you’d like more information about the new Dali, follow this link to an FAQ page.
And if you’d like to drive by to take a look for yourself, just head downtown on First Avenue South until you reach the last north/south road, which runs along the edge of the bay, which is BayShore Drive. Take BayShore towards the south, and after you pass the marina and Al Lang Field, you’ll see the Mahaffey Theatre. Right after the Mahaffey is the new Dali. You can’t miss it!
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Market in the Park
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 125th Street North in Largo, FL.
For more information, call Heritage Village at 727-582-2123.
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.
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Reasons to Smile . . . In Paradise Found
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)
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St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg has been named one of America’s most livable communities, much thanks to its parks and recreational amenities, a focus on the arts community, a vibrant downtown and active neighborhood associations. It is also known for its world-famed, nearby beaches and a blessed climate where the sun shines some 360 days each year.
Pinellas Largest City
St. Petersburg’s nearly 250,000 residents live in more than 100 communities. To say there is something for everyone in St. Pete is not hyperbole. You could choose a Craftsman-style bungalow in friendly Historic Kenwood or a Mediterranean villa estate on Snell Isle. Find a restored Colonial Revival along the tree-shaded streets of Old Northeast, or a more contemporary home along the famed “Pink Streets” of Pinellas Point, a luxury high-rise condo overlooking the downtown waterfront, or a rehabbed 1920s Tudor in charming Crescent Lake.A Vibrant City Center
Downtown is a magnet to residents and visitors alike, with its phenomenal shopping and dining offerings, art galleries, antique shops and cultural and recreational facilities, ranging from the Museum of Fine Arts to the St. Petersburg Pier.Endless To Do List
St. Pete residents tend to be quite active in their own communities, but have plenty of reason to get out and about. Saturday morning at the outdoor market is a popular spot, in fact one of the nation’s largest of its kind. You may choose a night out on the town with live theater and find dining or maybe an afternoon with a glimpse of rare wildlife at Boyd Hill Nature Park. You can spend an afternoon with the kids at Great Explorations, an interactive museum, maybe followed by an evening of theater at American Stage, the Bay area’s oldest professional theater company. You can enjoy a stroll through a waterfront art festival or maybe attend a Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball game at Tropicana Field nearby.
No where else
St. Pete folks are especially proud of The Salvador Dali Museum, the world’s largest collection of Dali Art outside of Spain. Visible from downtown is the beautiful Sunshine Skyway Bridge, at 4.1 miles long and 19 stories high, the largest cable suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
Green Space
St. Pete is also one of Florida’s greenest cities with 2,300 acres of public land dedicated to parks and recreation areas across 137 city parks. Jewels include historic the Weedon Island Preserve, with a canoe trail taking you through a tunnel of native mangroves, and a portion of the Pinellas Trail.“What strikes me about our town is that in spite of lots of new construction, condos, office buildings, even a professional baseball stadium, St. Pete still feels like a small town. And with its many old buildings still preserved its evident the city has a rich history and didn’t just spring up in the last few years. Finally, I love the way our downtown waterfront has been preserved as it for the most part it is open and free for everyone to enjoy.” Pat Mason, 40-year resident.
Property Search:
Find a Home in this CommunityPhoto Gallery:
Factoids:
Population: 248,232
Land Area: 60.9 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 39.9Statistics are an estimation only
Points of Interest: Museum of Fine Arts, Saturday morning market, Boyd Hill Nature Park, American Stage, St. Petersburg Pier, Great Explorations, Tampa Bay Rays, The Salvador Dali Museum, Sunshine Skyway Bridge
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Largo
Situated in the heart of Pinellas County, Largo is a family-friendly community of tree-lined streets, plentiful lakes and hundreds of acres of parkland. Home to more than 74,000 residents, Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County.The dynamic nature of Largo might be best admired in the redevelopment of its downtown district. Largo’s West Bay Drive district is a charming collection of restaurants and shops just a short stroll from Largo Central Park, the venue for regular concerts, festivals and other entertainment events. A city trolley provides a fun way to get around town on the weekend. The Largo Cultural Center downtown is both an entertainment destination and community gathering spot.
Largo residents are justly proud of the many jewels within their community. A prime example is Florida Botanical Gardens, where native and tropical flora and fauna thrive on over 30 acres of cultivated gardens and 90 acres of natural preserves. Several endangered species, including the bald eagle and the gopher tortoise, are safe at home here. Largo’s Gulf Coast Museum of Art is another treasure, with its nine permanent collections and changing exhibitions. Heritage Village, a 21-acre living history museum, offers visitors a glimpse into Florida’s past.Property Search:
Find a Home in this CommunityPhoto Gallery:
Factoids:
Population: 73,796
Land Area: 15.7 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 47.5Points of Interest: Downtown District, Largo Central Park, City Trolley, The Largo Cultural Center, Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo’s Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Heritage Village.
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Salvador Dalí Museum
Melting clock faces. Nightmarish landscapes. Whimsical creatures. Love him or hate him, you can’t be neutral about Dalí.The city of St. Petersburg scored a phenomenal art coup in the late 1970s when it secured the world’s most comprehensive collection of Dalí outside his native Spain — the 20th Century’s most famous surrealist painter and self-promoter extraordinaire.
In addition to 96 oil paintings, some over 14 feet tall, the extraordinary collection includes over 100 watercolors and drawings and some 1,300 graphics, photographs, sculptures and objects d’art. To keep the museum fresh for locals who enjoy repeat visits, curators periodically rotate the collection and bring in special exhibitions on a regular basis.
Since the Salvador Dalí Museum officially opened to the public on March 10, 1982, millions of visitors from around the world have been drawn to this spectacular cultural masterpiece. The Michelin Guide gave the Salvador Dalí Museum the only three-star rating on Florida’s west coast.The Salvador Dalí Museum is a world-class art gem. And, it’s only in Pinellas.
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Leepa-Rattner Museum
Your adventure into 20th century art begins even before you walk into the Leepa-Rattner Museum in Tarpon Springs because the museum itself is a work of art. This award-winning architectural compression of three buildings in one offers a post-modernist spin on the bow of a ship, a tribute to the area’s rich fishing heritage.The experience intensifies inside.
There you will discover the art of Abraham Rattner, a figurative expressionist who worked in Paris in the 1920s and 30s and became one of America’s leading colorists. Returning to the U.S. because of the outbreak of WWII, much of his subsequent work reflected the inhumanity and tragedy of the years of war.The experience is also interactive. You’re invited to “walk through a painting” to intimately explore a Rattner work of art. You can create your own art using media ranging from colored panels to magnetic strings. Also, perhaps you’ll have the opportunity to watch a performance artist acquaint you with Guernica, using a full-scale replica of Pablo Picasso’s anti-war mural.
Rattner mingled with many leading artists of his time – Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Marc Chagall, Le Corbusier, Henry Moore, Max Ernst — and their works are also represented in the collection. Also on permanent display are the whimsical works of Esther Gentle (his wife), and the abstract art of Allen Leepa (stepson of Rattner).You’ll leave with a profound new view of 20th century art – and the 20th century — that can only be found at the Leepa-Rattner Museum. And, it’s only in Pinellas.
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