Did you know at one time Florida produced more pineapples than Hawaii?    

      During tours people have asked if perhaps the county got it's name somehow from the word pineapple...its not, but pineapples were at one time thought to be the next 'big crop' in Florida.

     
     St Petersburg is the home of the World's 1st Commercial Airline, the St Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line starting in 1914, the same year baseball spring training came to town.  

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    Tony Jannus' route might have been short-lived, but he left a lasting mark on the Sunshine City.    

     St Pete's SHINE2016 mural festival grew to epic proportions this year.  Even Hurricane Hermine couldn't put a damper on the creativity, fun and imagination of all of the artists who participated in the 2nd annual event.  


        The Sunshine City was treated to a yet another marvelous show of international, national and local artistic talent.   The interest and curiosity SHINE2016 generated was amazing!    From Secret Walls at the MFA to SHINE Live there was tremendous support for the Arts here in St Pete.    The murals are becoming a real focal point for locals and tourists alike.  On every tour I'm always asked about a mural someone saw.

         SHINE2016 brought amazing group of people together, check out some of what is now exclusively a part of St Pete's beautiful art scene...

    First, my apologies.  I don't have a pic of every fantastic artist who created a mural during the inaugural  St Pete SHINE 2015 and none of the pics capture the entirety of the beauty of their art... which is good in my opinion.    I hope these tiny little pics inspire you to search out the source.  Screw Pokemon Go, how about you go search out some actual really amazing art right here in our city!   Last year brought together so many imaginative minds locally, nationally and internationally.    This year will be build upon 2015 and be fantastic!



     The people imagining, designing and painting these wonderful murals come from everywhere and all walks of life.  Some have may have never done a public mural, others are long established street artists.    They may collaborate and work together or work on projects sometimes to change the landscape of St Pete.   See something that strikes your eye?  Check them out on the Internets, I guarantee they've got an interesting story.  


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      This year from Sept 1-10th  2016 you can interact and see creativity happen on the urban canvas of St Pete.  Take a pic, share an encouraging word or simply watch the art blossom before your eyes.   SHINE 2016 will be amazing!

   
   In a previous post I discussed probably the best known "Fountain of Youth" located in St Augustine, Fl.,  and how it was created by an entertaining woman nicknamed Diamond Lil several years after St Petersburg already had established the original Fountain of Youth.  

    Of course other sites in Florida claim their own Fountain of Youth... but St Pete is home of the Original FoY.