Countdown to First Night St. Pete, Florida's Largest New Year's Eve Celebration

We take a look at where to go, what to do and how to ring in the New Year, St. Pete style.

Started in 1993 by residents as a safe way to celebrate the holiday while taking advantage of the beautiful downtown district, First Night St. Pete enters its 17th year on Friday night. The activity-filled celebration has grown and matured over the years. It is now recognized as the largest New Year's celebration in Florida. Starting at 5 p.m. and ending just after midnight, First Night St. Pete 2011 features music, dancing, arts and crafts, fireworks, magic, a bubble-wrap stomp and more. Festivities stretch from South Straub Park to the Pier and all points in between. All visitors have to do is buy a First Night button to participate in all the events. With a host of local businesses participating, a slew of artists performing, a …

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Everyone Loves the Annual Santa Parade

A blizzard of noise, sights and enthusiasm greeted visitors to the 2-hour Santa Parade in downtown St. Petersburg.

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Ferg Sees New Rays Ballpark, Convention Center at Trop Site

Bar owner's vision is for a "baseball village," complete with convention center, light rail, hotels and housing.

Even before the season ended for the Tampa Bay Rays and amid grumbling over sagging attendance for a team in playoff contention, Rays ownership and local politicians were jockeying for position over where to build a new ballpark, despite the fact that the team has a contract to continue playing in Tropicana Field until 2027. Anywhere but St. Petersburg, many said, explaining that a central Tampa location would draw greater numbers and revenue.  Media commentators at both the national and local levels suggested the team might become so frustrated with the talks — currently at a stalemate — that it may seek a new home in Charlotte, NC or Las Vegas, NV. Tampa Bay just isn't a good baseball town, they say. But don't tell that to Mark Ferguson…

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Santa to Arrive by Helicopter, Ride in a Parade

If you believe in Santa, you won't find it hard to imagine snow in North Straub Park either. See for yourself during a series of annual festivals downtown that start Saturday.

To those duty-bound adults prodded by love and nonstop pleading to offer a Santa to their little ones' eyes, fear not: The mall Santa is not the only show in town. St. Petersburg will host several visits from St. Nicholas.

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Rediscovering Seven Masterpieces

The St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts is home to key works by two major artists. The generosity of local patrons made these acquisitions possible.

It's rare for an art museum in a town the size of St. Petersburg to have in its permanent collection so many great works by world-class artists. But thanks to the generosity of local patrons over the years the St. Pete museum acquired several paintings considered key in the careers of Claude Monet and Georgia O'Keefe. There are three by O'Keefe and four Monets. Of the seven acquisitions, four are gifts and three are on long-term loan to the museum. St. Petersburg long has been a retirement destination. Many of these newcomers have accomplished a lot in their lives and are looking to give back. They include art patrons who wish to share with the public some of their collection. This is the logic of the heart that has benefitted the MFA and …

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New Caretaker for a Local Treasure

Dr. Kent Leydecker, recently tapped as director of the Museum of Fine Arts, talks about St. Pete, the importance of local patrons and the transformative power of the visual arts.

"Forgive me if I don't shake your hand. I have a bad cold." These are Dr. Kent Lydecker's first words to me in the lobby of St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts, 10 days after starting his role as director. Lydecker does not know where he is going to live. For now, he stays downtown in a temporary apartment with his wife, Toni, gourmet Italian cook and author of two cookbooks. He suppresses sneezes. He is eager to share his ideas. "The Museum of Fine Arts is the Metropolitan of St. Pete," says Lydecker. Before accepting his current position, he was the Curator of Education at the Metropolitan in New York. Our new museum director devotes much time getting to know the staff, the donors and the patrons. He believes the MFA is blessed with the…

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