St. Pete- a Cultural Mecca on the rise! It’s Saturday morning and downtown St. Pete is already bustling with activity at the popular Saturday Morning Market at Al Lang Field. Soon, visitors will be dropping in at the Dali, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the galleries along Central Avenue. By the time noon rolls around, restaurants along Beach Drive will be filling with lunch patrons and an art festival will take over Vinoy Park. Later, as dusk settles, the lights will go on at American Stage Theatre and the Palladium, and live music will fill dance floors at downtown clubs.
One thing is undeniable about St. Pete – continues to be a cultural mecca on the rise. A downtown renaissance in recent years has brought new life and vitality to the quiet burg where retirees once flocked to spend their final years. Inspired by an arts scene that is growing by leaps and bounds, the urban culture is one of vibrancy and energy verging on cosmopolitan.
Indeed, culture and arts shine in St. Pete with the world-class Dali Museum(image above), the Chihuly Collection (below) and Museum of Fine Arts leading the way. The ever-surprising Dali kicks off with a new exhibit every a few times each year.
To catch the St. Pete vibe, stroll along Central Avenue with its eclectic mix of art galleries and dining establishments. Be sure to stop in at the Morean Art Center and its Chihuly Hot Shop where you can watch glass art being made by talented artisans. Further west, near Tropicana Field, is the Grand Central District where you’ll find lots of small galleries and workshops featuring local arts and crafts. The Craftsman House Gallery, a renovated 1918 bungalow, is a great place to visit for its fine arts and crafts. Relax on the porch with a cappuccino and watch the world go by.
For a real taste of the St. Pete arts scene, the Second Saturday Art Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. is well worth joining. Stroll the galleries along Central Avenue; then hop aboard a free trolley to the Warehouse Arts District. There’s always a lively crowd and inspiring art at Duncan McClellan’s Glass warehouse gallery!
The performing arts are alive and well, too, in St. Pete. The 2,031-seat Mahaffey Theater at Duke Center for the Performing Arts is the place to look for Broadway, pop, rock, comedy, dance, classical and the Florida Orchestra, which makes its home base there.
The venerable American Stage Theatre presents professional equity theater in the 182-seat Raymond James Theatre. An “After Hours” series of cabaret, concerts and comedy brings local and regional talent to the stage. T
The stately Palladium Theater, circa 1925, is a classic mid-size venue for live touring musical acts; its Side Door nightclub presents a more intimate venue for jazz , blues, folk, cabaret, and other genres. The Palladium is also the home of the St. Petersburg Opera Company.
By Marcia Biggs
Feature image By Dorian Photography
Article written for Destination Tampa Bay Magazine. Editor’s Note: Keep in mind that many of these fine art organizations are adapting to meet the needs of the corona virus. Many are offering on-lie tours and classes. We recommend you check into this while we are all cooped-up.