Brazil this afternoon in St. Petersburg, Florida
June 22nd, 2008 categories: Things To Do
St Petersburg has lots of cultural festivals, the most known being the annual SPIFFS International Folk Festival, which celebrates the culture, traditions and foods of many nations.
This afternoon is the Brasil Arts Festival at Nova 535 at Dr Martin Luther King St N, St Petersburg. This is their third annual festival and will feature the O Som do Jazz music group. Tampa’s Volta ao Mundo will present a demonstration of capoeira, which blends dance and martial arts.
While watching you can enjoy a caipirinha, a Brazilian cocktail made with cachaca, a rumlike liquor.
Visit David Manson and his Brazilian wife Andrea Moraes Manson and listen to some of the wonderful music. - there’s a selection of 18 sounds - perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
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Decorator Showhouse at 400 Beach
March 24th, 2008 categories: 400 Beach, Things To Do
400 Beach is the site of this year’s fundraising Decorator Showhouse for the Florida Orchestra Guild. The show continues this weekend and you’ll be able to see two waterview condominiums, one on the 21st floor (offered at $1,790,000 unfurnished) and the other on the 26th floor ($2,475,000 unfurnished). The show runs through March 30th.
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Cafe Alma in downtown St Petersburg
March 23rd, 2008 categories: Downtown St Petersburg, Things To Do
Cafe Alma is a restaurant we’ve enjoyed in downtown St Petersburg, both for lunch and for dinner. It’s on the basement level of McNulty Station. The food and service are enjoyable, and our only complaint is that sometimes it’s so noisy that you can’t hear others at your table (only at dinner has this happened). We’ve actually had people leave the group because of the noise.
Since 2002 this has been a popular restaurant that we’ve enjoyed and have recommended to our friends. Dwight and Catherine Watkins have now sold Cafe Alma and the new owners are Scott Vogel and Tony Harahan. Check out their website, which includes their menus, at www.CafeAlma.com.
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Museum of Fine Arts opens Hazel Hough wing
March 22nd, 2008 categories: Downtown St Petersburg, Things To Do
Last night Tami and I attended a member’s only reception for the new Hazel Hough wing of the Museum of Fine Arts. Tables of catered hors d’oeuvres lined the foyer, with its high wall of glass for views of the park and waterfront. There was a gala a month ago for those wanting “The First View”, but the art wasn’t displayed then, as it was last night. I particularly enjoyed some of the pieces done by students, which were displayed on the upper level. Read the rest of this entry »
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Prohibition Club to open on Beach Drive
March 22nd, 2008 categories: Downtown St Petersburg, Things To Do
Downtown St Petersburg will have yet another “Destination” on Beach Drive - in between Parkshore Grille, Moon Under Water and the yet-to-be-determined restaurant at 400 Beach - the Prohibition Club in Grayl’s Hotel. For months I’ve been watching the renovations as I’ve driven from the Vinoy to my office every morning. I even took some photos of the progress.
Dale and Mary Grayl bought the parkside hotel in 1994 and had plans (”had” being the operative word) to add 5 floors on top of the hotel. The current 1920s Jazz Age theme is appropriate for the historic building and will be enhanced with a display out front of 1920s cars.
You won’t be able to just walk in and enjoy the club, though - you’ll have to either join the club or rent one of the remaining 10 hotel rooms. This is the first of the Grayl 3 year plan - this year the club, next year a restaurant on the patio, and following that, a Cigar Lounge upstairs.
No wonder Tampa has “St Pete envy” - we’re a desirable place to live, work and play.
3/23/08 addition: Paul Swider wrote about this in the St Pete Times today.
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Fiberologie opens in St Petersburg
March 15th, 2008 categories: Things To Do
Friends and clients of ours, John and Karrie Klement, invited me to the opening of Karrie’s new store, fiberologie. It’s a contemporary fabric store that also offers quilting and sewing classes, workspace, and a selection of gifts. One unique one is a lace pillow that has a photo - even one of your grandparents! I liked the custom t-shirts, too - some are fiberologie and some are fiberologist.
It’s located at 411 15th Avenue N in St Petersburg, on the first floor of a 1920s home, only 5 minutes from downtown, and for you guys who might not want to look at quality fabrics or talk fabric design - it’s right across the street from Limey’s, a British pub. Or you can just sit and relax on the front porch … or you can walk over to Crescent Lake and gaze at the water and creatures.
John and Karrie used to live in Placido Bayou, and now enjoy owning a waterfront home they renovated in Broadwater. They used The Simms Team for both their sale and purchase - ask them if it was a good experience.
When you visit Fiberologie - tell them you heard about it on Sharon’s blog!
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Showcase Event for ICF and Accessoreez in St Petersburg
February 22nd, 2008 categories: Lifestyle, Miscellany, Things To Do
Showcase of art for your home and glass jewelry
Accessoreez and Image Creations of Florida hosted a designer’s showcase event in St Petersburg. I was fortunate to be invited to this private event, planned to make a quick stop for 15 minutes, and then spent over an hour there. Not only did I have a chance to talk with old friends and meet some new ones … I saw some wonderful wearable art, some for me and some for my home.
Linda and Jack Albrecht, friends and clients, have been serving the Tampa Bay interior design community for more than a dozen years - creating wonderful cast paper art, providing unique faux painting for homes, framing original artwork and prints, Giclee (pronounced zhee-clay) artwork pieces, and providing customized pieces for residences and commercial buildings. Linda has partnered with a long-time friend (we don’t have “old” friends), Leslie Belcher, to provide unique art glass jewelry through Accessoreez,
Leslie designs beautiful glass jewelry. My favorites were those that began with sea themes and applied her creativity. I liked the symmetrical aspect of her necklaces. Which designs? Which colors? Hmmm - I guess I’ll have Leslie design a custom piece - or two - or three.
Image Creations of Florida is located at 3025 44th Avenue North in St Petersburg, where Leslie is setting up both a showcase and a workshop. Do call first - the experience is so much better if Linda and Leslie are there to walk you through the whole creative process.
Quality art, framing, cast paper, glicee art
unique art glass jewelry designs
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