Each year, the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society celebrates the World’s First Airline and its renowned pilot, Tony Jannus. Where was this airline? New York? Chicago? London? Berlin? No… the first airline originated right here in St. Petersburg. Presently an effort is underway to erect a worthy monument to an event that both led the way to today’s multi-billion dollar commercial aviation industry, and also serves as a model of a community coming together to embrace a new technology. But, before discussing the new monument, let us first recall the history of that inspiring event.

The world’s first regularly scheduled airline took off from the Central Yacht Basin on New Year’s Day 1914.… Read More

James and Julie Branaman like to think outside the box – way outside the box. They once lived in a camper van for 13 months on a cross-country trip when they moved from Seattle to St. Petersburg. They’ve traveled deep into the swamp in the Florida Everglades with the mosquitoes, the gators, and the snakes. And they were high up in the lookout tower in a remote area of the Rocky Mountain State Park at 1am taking pictures and watching the star-studded sky while an unknown critter with bright green eyes was watching them.

Self-described visual storytellers, journalists, and explorers, the 40-something Old Northeast couple are always up for the next adventure, even with their 17-month-old daughter Teagan in tow.… Read More

By day, the streets of the Old Northeast proudly exhibit homes in architectural styles ranging from Craftsman Bungalow to Queen Anne Victorian built during the construction boom of the early 1900s. Beautiful, historical, and stately, these homes are works of art themselves. Brick-paved roads, magnificent palms, and grandiose live oaks add to their charm. As the sun sets, and especially during the holidays, the neighborhood takes on a different persona, transforming into a magical Floridian-Winter Wonderland. People passing by can enjoy the elegant lights, classical bold red bows, and romantic luminaries that adorn the neighborhood from the streets. But once a year, during the annual Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association’s Candlelight Tour of Homes, the public is invited inside.… Read More

Editor’s Note: This is the corrected version of the Treasure Hunt story with all of the clues to help you find the mystery tree.

There is a famous tree in the Old Northeast that most everyone knows. It usually blooms in February when nothing else does, so that makes it really stand out. It is on the main street along Coffee Pot Bayou, which also helps it gain fame. It is a really big tree – as tall as the many oaks in the area. There have been photos of it in the Northeast Journal, the Tampa Bay Times, Facebook and even YouTube!… Read More

While strolling around Sundial St. Pete, the downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, it is not unusual to run into interesting people and their pets. Encountering Marianne and Dan Blazowich walking their three carriages of Maltese therapy dogs is an absolute delight.

The dogs as well as their owners are friendly and sociable, so they usually draw a crowd. The dogs are quiet and dignified, wearing bows and costumes appropriate to the season or venue.

There is something magical about these dogs, almost angelic. These Maltese seem to be oozing love and inviting strangers to pat them or pick them up.… Read More

While there have been many near-miss hurricanes in the Tampa Bay area – including the most recent, Hurricane Irma – there are only two so far that have really made the history books. These are the hurricanes of 1848 and 1921. We will not recount the distant 1848 hurricane here. For those interested, you may read about that in my book The Making of St. Petersburg.

But on October 25, 1921, a hurricane hit Tampa Bay by way of Tarpon Springs. Known as the Tarpon Springs Hurricane or the Tampa Bay Hurricane, this storm at one point reached Category 4 status with winds of 140 mph while out over the Gulf.… Read More

Greetings from St. Petersburg’s version of the North Pole: the Christmas Toy Shop. From the outside, you would never suspect the treasure chest of toys inside. Cars zip by the nondescript beige building on 16th Street close to downtown, not far from Tropicana Field. The only hint as to the shop’s mission is the slogan below the building’s logo: “We exist so no child will be without Christmas.”

The Marine Toys for Tots program might get more national recognition, but on the local level, the Christmas Toy Shop deserves credit for making a powerful difference for families in need. “We’ve had young adults stop by and say their mother got toys at the Christmas Toy Shop, and now they’d like to come back and volunteer with us,” says Sharon Jackson, a former president of the nonprofit charitable organization.… Read More

The Real Life Adventures of Ken Wilson

Old Northeast resident, Ken Wilson, is a Vietnam veteran, pilot, world traveler, motor-scooter enthusiast, blogger, and humanitarian. Ken has been traveling the world since he was six months old when his parents crossed the Atlantic via a military transport ship with Ken in tow. His lifelong obsession with travel and adventure has taken him across oceans – by boat and plane – and North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa on a Vespa scooter! Ken also is a passionate volunteer dedicated to a number of local and international charitable causes. I sat down with Ken to learn more about his story, adventures, and how he is paying it forward.… Read More

When three jazz amigos met at USF, they had no idea what their future together would hold. Awarded Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay Best Jazz Ensemble for three consecutive years, the trio called La Lucha is comprised of John O’Leary on piano, hailing from Mexico; Alejandro Arenas on bass, from Colombia; and Mark Feinman on drums, from Clearwater, Florida.

Community involvement has been a priority for them from the beginning. All three musicians have served on the board of the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, a local non-profit that promotes, preserves, and presents jazz in the Tampa Bay area.… Read More

For years, television viewers have marveled over shows that focus on the duties of Navy and FBI officers. However, it’s different when one has lived that life in reality, and so it has been for St. Petersburg’s own Robert K. Cromwell.

Bob, as he likes to be called, has spent over 30 years in federal service to the United States. It was his humble beginnings in Princeton, New Jersey, though, that helped launch him into his extensive career.

“I did not know I was growing up in a unique place,” said Bob as he reminisced about the town in which he was born and raised.… Read More