I love St. Pete. I also love riding my bike and walking. When I ride, I notice and really see what is right in front of my eyes, low down and high up, rather than grabbing a quick glimpse as I drive by. Plus I don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot, not so easy these days in downtown St. Pete! So, when I read that Preserve the ’Burg offers bicycle tours, I thought what a great way to learn about the buildings and neighborhoods in the city where I live, work and play.

Preserve the ’Burg offers various walking and bicycling tours throughout the area, from October through May.… Read More

Our beautiful city of St. Petersburg is becoming known as an eclectic artsy town, and our growing collection of urban murals is definitely adding to that image. Murals of all shapes, sizes, and styles are popping up overnight on the front, sides, back and even interiors of buildings. Seems like everyone wants a colorful piece of this unique form of street art on a storefront, restaurant, or bank.

John Collins, executive director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance – and one of our neighbors in the Old Northeast – tells me there are over 500 murals in St. Pete. That’s a surprising and impressive number!… Read More

Among the many Major League baseball greats to walk the streets of St. Petersburg was Mickey Mantle. Mantle was three times Most Valuable Player, Triple Crown winner in 1956, and still holds the record for World Series home runs at 18. He was a switch hitter, one of only 8 among position players on MLB rosters in 1951. Many regard him the greatest switch hitter ever. His collar size was 18, and one of his nicknames was ‘Muscles.’ But he did no weight training, nor did he use a protein diet, or work with a personal trainer in the off seasons.… Read More

Habitat for Humanity focuses on affordable homeownership for families. Great Explorations Children’s Museum focuses on children. So it was only natural that when Habitat launched a new program creating playhouses for children, Great Explorations was the first organization to get involved.

Last fall, you might have noticed a small painting party underway in the parking lot on 4th Street North which Great Explorations shares with Sunken Gardens. Great Explorations’ staff, board members, and even some of the children from the museum’s after-school program joined in the fun to assemble and paint a playhouse under the guidance of the local Habitat team.… Read More

I discovered St. Pete Rocks when I found a painted rock in Crescent Lake Park. On the back of this lovely little piece of art, it said, “Please post on FB @st.peterocks, then re-hide, or keep.” I took the rock home with the intention of doing exactly that; take a picture, post it on Facebook, then re-hide it. Little did I know that this would be the start of a creative endeavor for me.

My first attempt at painting a rock was not successful, since I used what I had on hand, nail polish. Definitely not my best work. Within weeks after this failed attempt, I went to the Earth Day Festival in Williams Park and saw a booth with ‘rock’ artists painting up a storm, both adults and kids.… Read More

Photos by Julie Branaman

Judging from his forlorn expression on Sunday mornings, Henry, our little mixed-breed Chihuaua dog isn’t excited about church. It means we leave him behind while he sadly watches out the window for our return.

Animals are mentioned throughout the Bible, but rarely appear in worship services. Then at the end of September, it happened. Animals of all shapes and sizes were invited to church!

At St. Petersburg’s First Presbyterian Church on Beach Drive, the first annual Blessing of the Animals was held on Saturday, September 29th. Led by Reverend Dr. Dawn Conti, the service was attended by a variety of dogs, two goats, and a pet squirrel.… Read More

How far would you go to help a stranger? Old Northeast resident Mark Rankin didn’t hesitate when it came to offering someone he didn’t know the most generous gift one can imagine. He donated his kidney to give a Clearwater grandfather of four a second chance at life.

Mark is a criminal defense attorney and a partner in the law firm of Shutts & Bowen in Tampa. He’s also a former assistant federal public defender for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa. Practicing law is a passion. “Few things are more important in a society than our legal system and making sure that the punishment is just and that everyone follows the law,” says Mark.… Read More

It’s only mid-October, but Bruce Harting already sits at a table at 3 Daughters Brewing fixing a Department 56 Tinkertown Toy Factory. Starting in mid-November, he’ll be ready to display the factory and over 300 other collectibles from Department 56. The Christmas Village spans the length of the popular craft brewery’s tasting room and sits on eight 4-by-8 tables. There are people, stores, houses, trees, a circus, the North Pole, three trains, ballerinas dancing the Nutcracker, Santa with his reindeer, and even a tiny replica of 3 Daughters Brewery.

When people see the display the first time, Bruce – a Shore Acres resident and father of 3 Daughters Brewing owner Mike Harting – says the reactions are “amazed” and “enjoyment.” Asked who is more excited, the kids or the adults, Bruce doesn’t hesitate when responding: the adults.… Read More

There are certain tragic occasions in our country’s history that will forever linger in our collective memory. The bombing of Pearl Harbor. John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Hurricane Katrina’s destruction in New Orleans. And 9/11.

Placido Bayou resident Jo Brower is making it her life’s mission to keep the memory of 9/11 alive by honoring and supporting our military, veterans, first responders, and their families. Over the past six years, her nonprofit organization RHS (Remember, Honor, Support, Inc.) has raised more than $500,000 for this worthy cause.

The funds raised directly benefit local nonprofit organizations that provide valuable services to injured or fallen veterans, police, and first-responders, including the Gold Shield Foundation, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center, Warrior2Warrior R.A.C.E.… Read More

The Gandy Bridge is functional. The Skyway Bridge is majestic. The Salt Creek ‘Thrill Hill’ bridge is quaint. But the Snell Isle Bridge is splendid.

Old Northeast and what was to become Snell Isle were originally connected by a rickety one-lane wooden bridge as early as 1917. Early master developer C. Perry Snell opened his upscale Snell Isle development in 1925. In 1928, Snell donated three lots just north of the bridge to the women’s organizations of St. Petersburg for the purpose of their building a club house which would serve all of the 15 women’s organizations then in the city.… Read More