About Saint Petersburg's Downtown St Pete

Antonino Fabiano, one of our favorite clients and friends, and author of Dreamcatchers, will be holding two book signings at our office, ALVA International, Inc., 238 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, Florida, on Friday, August 28th from 5-8 pm and Saturday, August 29th from 10-1.

Why a book signing at a real estate office? Well,

Why Not?

It's a win-win in our opinion - exposure for the book, the author, and our new (since Christmas) real estate office. It's a great downtown St Pete location where lots of people walk by.

Egmont Passage: Tale of the Dreamcatcher uses the St Pete area as a backdrop, and weaves history and current events into an interesting tale.

In the current economic environment, the more we can help each other succeed, the more each of us will thrive. I think making more people aware of this interesting book will enrich their lives as well.

If you can't make it to St. Petersburg to get your autographed book, you can order Dreamcatchers online.

Don't forget, it is the Saint Pete Boat Show and Strictly Sail At Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin
on 400 First Street South in St. Petersburg, FL December 4-December 7, 2008
Thurs. Dec 4, 12 noon - 6pm
Fri. Dec 5, 10am - 7pm
Sat. Dec 6, 10am - 7pm
Sun. Dec 7, 10am - 5pm

Adults $10.00 Children (6-15) $5.00

If boats are not your thing, you might want to go to

The Artists in the Park on 5 Dec. Friday - 7-8pm at Williams Park 300 2nd Ave. N. Saint Petersburg.

Or go to Largo, and be part of "Death by Chocolate"

5 Dec. Friday -. 7pm at the Largo Cultural Center Largo Cultural Center

105 Central Park Dr. Largo. Enjoy dessert samples from local restaurants and businesses in the beautiful setting of Largo's Central Park with an annual holiday light display. The event also has live entertainment, a silent auction and door prizes. www.largorotary.com

If you think about buying or selling a house or condo in Saint Petersburg Florida, give me a call. I know the market, I know the neighborhood. Ask me about waterfront homes or condos in St. Pete beach. Treasure Island, Madeira beach, Seminole and other Tampabay areas. We also work with short sale and foreclosures. 727 409 8706

Mirror Lake-now considered an Historical District, is home to many of the most familiar of St. Pete's well-known sites, such as, well--Mirror Lake, the Lyceum, the Coliseum, the famous Lawn Bowling and Shuffleboard Courts, and the old St. Petersburg High School, which has been converted to condos.  Baywalk is also within walking distance, and it's just a few blocks further to the Vinoy Basin and The Pier.

If this kind of downtown, arsty feel is what you're looking for in a new home, be sure to check out Moffett Ct. - right in the center of this wonderful district!  For more tours of the downtown St. Pete area, see Trees!

For information on this home, or for a list of foreclosure properties, or other properties available in this area, please

If you live in St. Petersburg Florida, you are lucky.

Finally, we have a good reason to wear it. When and Where?

First Wednesday of the month, downtown St. Pete, The Table and Mesa Lounge.

Corner of Central and 5^th.

This is the new thing, "the little black dress event".

I was there last Wednesday and it was absolutely great.

Finally the "CITY FEELING" has come to St. Pete.

It was fun to dress up and see a lot of other women dressed in their precious "little black dress" The men did ok too, (other than one guy in a baseball cap) but they did not have a chance among all these beautiful dresses. It was a fun night, lots of nice people and lots of complimentary wine for all the ladies in their "little black ones"

The Table and Mesa Lounge just opened about a month ago and they are very successful.

I have not eaten there yet, but the food looked wonderful and the presentation was very creative. You have to go and check it out. It is a great addition to our downtown area.

St. Pete has come such a long way, ( in a very short time) Just think about the last few month, PUSH opened, VINTAGE opened, L'OLIVIERS opened and now THE TABLE AND MESA LOUNGE.

This is a photo I took while stretched out on the floor of the Museum of Fine Arts in St Petersburg - odd, yes, but that was the suggested way to fully experience the glass ceiling there in the Chihuly Exhibit. In any case, it's more attention getting than the exterior shot of the Museum in one of my "other" blogs.

The Museum of Fine Arts , which opened in 1965, is located in Straub Park, which separates Beach Drive from the waterfront, in downtown St. Petersburg. Famous for its Steuben glass collection and Georgia O'Keefe's "Poppy", it hosts a series of travelling exhibitions such as Ansel Adams Photography and Dale Chihuly's glass creations.

Today is the official opening of the new Hazel Hough wing of the Museum of Fine Arts. Last night Tami and I attended a members' reception there and had the first opportunity to see the special exhibit of art words from the Museum's collection which has seldom been seen, due to lack of space. It was my first glimpse of Hazel Hough's gift of a video sculpture by Peter Sarkisian. We also enjoyed the work of students that was displayed upstairs.

Today and tomorrow the museum is open free to the public. Come enjoy the art, the architecture, the cafe' and the gift shop.

3/23/08 addition: The St Petersburg Times published an article today about the new wing and exhibit and also have an Interactive Tour of the Museum of Fine Arts.