Mark your calendars for the 2015 – St. Pete Beach Wine Experience on Fri, Nov. 20th from 7- 9:30pm. This event takes place at the Terrace level of the St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, 33706 Tickets are limited. Visit www.stpetebeachfestivals.com.
Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida was recently ranked #19 out of 200 Top Arena Venues in the world by Pollstar. Amalie Arena is the #9 U.S. venue to make the list. The rankings are based on worldwide ticket sales for concerts, events and family shows in venues seating 15,001 or more for the third quarter of 2015. For more info and upcoming events, visit www.AMALIEArena.com.
Co-Producers Helen Hansen French and Lauren Ree Slone will launch BEACON: a performance series for St. Petersburg in partnership with The Palladium Theatre, 253 5th Ave N. in St. Petersburg at 8pm on Sat, Nov. 14th. To purchase tickets to BEACON, call 727-822-3590 or visit www.mypalladium.org.
Legendary musician Billy Joel will perform at AMALIE Arena in Tampa on Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 at 8pm. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased at the Ticket Office at AMALIE Arena, Ticketmaster outlets and at Ticketmaster.com. call 800-745-3000 or visitwww.AMALIEArena.com.
Fall Saturday Morning Walking Tours continue with St. Petersburg Preservation (SPP). Tours are offered every Saturday through April. Tours are free to SPP members and just $5 for non-members. Tours run from 10am and last approximately two hours except for the lunchtime tour. For tours, times & locations, call 727-824-7802 or visit www.stpetepreservation.org.
The Grand Central District Association (GCDA) elected a new Board of Directors for the 2015-2016 year at its annual membership meeting in September. Jeff Danner was elected to serve as President for the third consecutive year. He has extensive experience in Planning and Economic Development, having served on St. Petersburg’s City Council as well as several Commissions and Committees, and has been involved with the Grand Central District since its inception. For more info, visit www.grandcentraldistrict.org.
Artists interested in being an exhibitor at the 41st Mainsail Art Festival next April are invited to apply online. Applications must be submitted online through www.zapplication.org by midnight on Dec. 1st. For details, visit www.mainsailart.org e-mail artist@mainsailart.org or volunteers@mainsailart.org.
Loews Don CeSar Hotel, 3400 Gulf Blvd. on St. Pete Beach, was recently named Best Historic Hotel (201-400 Guestrooms) by Historic Hotels of America at the organization’s annual Awards Ceremony. The 277-room ‘Pink Palace’, built in 1928 by Thomas Rowe, was recognized for demonstrating the highest contribution to furthering the celebration of history and demonstrating leadership and innovation in the hotel industry and the community. For reservations and more info, visit www.loewshotels.com.
The Morean Arts Center Board of Trustees recently announced that the Chihuly Collection will be relocating from 400 Beach Drive in St. Petersburg, to a new property on the 700 block of Central Avenue. The new location will include an exhibition space and approximately 4,000 square feet of outdoor space. Grand opening of the new collection is scheduled for fall of 2016. For more info, please visit www.moreanartscenter.org/chihuly, or call 727-896-4527.
Play music. Be happy! Join the St. Pete Beach Music Club at the Suntan Art Center, 3300 Gulf Blvd on St. Pete Beach. This club offers adult group music classes for all levels of musical experience from beginner to pro. For details, call 727-512-5966 or visit www.SPBMusicClub.com.
The Pinellas Cultural Foundation has selected the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to continue its arts education mission with the Arts Alliance now assuming the countywide leadership for the ACE Pinellas (Arts for a Complete Education) program. The committee will continue to educate the community about arts education issues; recommend policies that support continued arts education opportunities; attend school board and Pinellas legislative delegation meetings; and recognize and honor principals with an annual appreciation event. For more info, please visit www.stpeteartsalliance.org, or call 727-518-5142. 
The Corey Area Business Association is planning a big shop local Saturday event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Also, the first weekend in December is when statewide and national crafts people come to Corey Ave. in St. Pete Beach for their pre-holiday craft event. Mark your calendar now as the December issue may not reach you before then. The St. Petersburg Opera Company will be hosting Season Sparkle at The Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg, on Sun, Dec. 20th & Mon, Dec. 21st at 7:30pm. Enjoy some of your favorite opera arias and holiday hits, seasoned with new arrangements and spiced with surprises. For more info, please visit www.StPeteOpera.org or call 727-823-2040.
La Cote Basque Winehouse is offering Thursday night dinner theatre at their more than 40-year-old Gulfport Restaurant. They are booking quickly, so call 727-321-6888 and ask when they can accommodate you. They are also a very popular spot for Thanksgiving dinner.
Florida Orchestra Guild Holiday Homes Tour
Looking for holiday decorating ideas? The Florida Orchestra Guild, St. Petersburg, has just the ticket. The Guild will host its fourth annual Holiday Tour of Homes on Saturday, December 5, 2015, to benefit The Florida Orchestra. The Tour, from 10 am to 4 pm, will feature five homes, each creatively decorated, from glamorous and elegant to funloving and glitzy.
Visitors on Saturday can explore the decorated interiors and outdoor areas of the homes and enjoy the water views offered by the Northeast St. Petersburg neighborhood that includes Snell Isle and Brightwaters Boulevard. The Guild plans a holiday boutique at one of the Tour homes at which gift items and decorations will be available.
Advance donations for Tour tickets are $20 per person, payable by check to The Florida Orchestra Guild, St. Petersburg, and sent to Holiday Tour of Homes, c/o C.E. Miller, 1440 52nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33703. Individual tickets the day of the event, available at all Tour homes, will be $25, payable only by cash or check. That day, signs with arrows pointing toward Tour homes and balloons marking the homes themselves will help guide visitors.
The Guild will also sell tickets on Tuesdays & Thursdays, November 17 & 19 and December 1 & 3, 10:30 am to 2:30 pm at the St. Petersburg College downtown center, 163 3rd Street North, St. Petersburg. The Florida Orchestra Box Office is just inside the entrance on3rd Street. On those four days, both cash and credit cards may be used to buy Tour tickets.
Event co-chairs Emily Gillespie & Ginger Hanner have also planned a Holiday Cocktail Reception for Friday, December 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Brightwaters home of Drs. Larry R. and Sarah E. Williams. The menu will feature fine wines and hors d’oeuvres prepared by Parkshore Grill’s award-winning chef Tyson Grant. A $75 individual donation for the Reception includes a ticket to the Saturday Tour of Homes.
Sponsorships for the Holiday Tour of Homes are available at the Platinum ($1,000), Gold ($500), & Silver ($250) levels. All include ticketing for both the Holiday Cocktail Reception and Tour of Homes. Sponsorships at the Platinum & Gold levels come with program ads; Silver level includes a special listing in the printed tour program. Individual patron tickets at $150 are available and include a listing in the printed Tour program. Sponsorship checks, payable to The Florida Orchestra Guild, St. Petersburg, may be mailed to P. Blanda, 3222 40th Way South, Unit E, St. Petersburg, FL 33711. Ads must be submitted no later than Monday, November 23, and include contact information in case ad design questions arise. More details on sponsorship opportunities are available at 727-954-6799.
For general information on the Tour of Homes and Cocktail Reception, call 727-528-6595.
KITE FESTIVAL TO HONOR VETERANS November 7 & 8 - 10 am – 5 pm both daysThe “Veterans Day Fall Fly on TI” is slated for November 7th & 8th on Treasure Island Beach behind the Thunderbird Beach Resort. The theme for the weekend will be to honor America’s veterans, particularly featuring red, white and blue kites, banners, flags and more. This free, family-oriented event will feature general kite flying, kite games, stunt kite lessons & demos as well as a chance to honor Veterans by flying a kite. Festival is sponsored by Windworks (13009 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach, FL 33708). The City of Treasure Island and Beachlife Newspaper. The Thunderbird Beach Resort supports the event by being the host Hotel. Contact them for room reservations at 72.367.1961 and let them know you are coming for the festival!
Parking is available in the following locations: Public lot across the street from the Waffle House on Gulf Blvd, and at 104th Ave. Gulf Blvd. American Legion Post # 158 of Treasure Island will be on hand to help with the activities. The kite festival will launch the morning of Saturday, November 7th, and continue thru the weekend.
After dark on Saturday, kite flyers are urged to add lights to their kites for a night fly. Windworks will be on hand to sell kites, line and other wind toys for all your kiting needs. All activities at the Veterans Day Fall Fly at TI are free. For complete schedules and more information, contact Windworks (727)320-9463 or email: sales@floridawindworks.com .
Treasure Islettes – Saturday, December 5, 2015 – Holly Fest fundraiser sponsored by the Treasure Islettes, the women’s club of Treasure Island. Luncheon, crafts, bazaar, holiday shopping held at the Treasure Island Community Center, One Park Place, Treasure Island (behind Walgreen’s). Luncheon tickets are $15.00. Doors open at 11:00 AM, lunch served at noon. Proceeds benefit city beautification. Contact Carol Lee at 727-360-9181 or email treasurei2@aol.com for information. Bingo runs (year round) every Thursday at 6:45 pm & 7:45 pm at the Treasure Island Community center. The Treasure Islettes – meet on the fourth Monday evening of each month from September to May at the Treasure Island Community Center. The club is open to women who have an interest in the betterment of Treasure Island. More information about membership can be obtained by calling Vice President Marian Alton at 360-0164
THANKSGIVING BENEFIT CONCERT
Congregation of Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church invites the community to join them on Wednesday, November 18th, at 7:00 pm at the church, 107 16th Ave. St. Pete Beach for a Thanksgiving Concert entitled “Expressions of Gratitude”.
The Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet, and Vox Nova, a chamber choir from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts, will join with the church choir for an evening of inspirational Thanksgiving music. The brass quintet is comprised of titled members of The Florida Orchestra. Vox Nova will be conducted by Derek Edward Weston and the Pass-A-Grille choir by organist Dale Williams.
People attending are asked to bring non-perishable canned food or make a donation to benefit the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. For information on this and other church activities, call the church, 727-360-5508 or access the website www.pagchurch.org.
25th Annual Suncoast Jazz Classic Festival
Friday, November 20th, 6:15 pm – 12:15 am, at Sheraton Sand KeyThe weekend before Thanksgiving, the Suncoast Jazz Classic festival happens at the Sheraton & Marriott on Sand Key (Clearwater Beach). The Suncoast Jazz Classic hosts its 6th annual Friday Night Swing Dance with an amazing lineup of all-new bands and a new/bigger venue at the Sheraton Sand Key, 1160 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater Beach!All lindy hoppers, swing dancers, balboa dancers, etc, who appreciate swinging big-band and traditional jazz are encouraged to attend. Support your very own Tampa Bay jazz festival by bringing your dancing self and friends, and get ready to dance to some world-class live music! Dance to FOUR superbly swinging bands from across the USA! The evening’s lineup is:
6:15 – 7:15pm – Swing Time Dance Lessons (Swing, Charleston, Balboa)
7:30 – 8:30pm – Tom Rigney & Flambeau (San Francisco, CA)
8:45 – 9:45pm – The Fat Babies (Chicago, IL)
10:00 – 11:00pm – Miss Ida Blue & the Yerba Buena Stompers (Brooklyn, NY)
11:15 – 12:15am – Dave Bennett Quartet (Detroit, MI)
The weekend before Thanksgiving, the 6th Annual Suncoast Jazz Classic Festival visits Clearwater Beach. A Friday Night Swing Dance with an amazing lineup of all-new bands and a new/bigger venue at the Sheraton Sand Key, located at 1160 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater Beach. This fun-filled event will take place Fri, Nov. 20th through Sun, Nov. 22nd. For tickets and info, please visit www.suncoastjazzclassic.com.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: Attention Dancers! Your ticket gets you into both the Swing Dance AND the other four music halls of the festival from 6pm onward! If you’d like to check out more bands, or follow your favorite bands around, you’re welcome to do so. From Big Band Swing to Cajun/Zydeco to New Orleans & Dixieland Jazz to Blues, this festival has it all! Visit the website for a Band Schedule.
LARGE DANCE FLOOR — Dance takes place in one of the ballrooms (Zorch’s Place, 1st Floor) – Sheraton Sand Key resort. For one night only, the ballroom will be set up dance-style, with chairs moved to the walls and the dance floor cleared for dancing! This year’s ballroom will be even bigger than last year’s. Doors open 6pm.Tickets: $22 – Advance or $25 – door. Advance tickets available online www.SuncoastJazzClassic.com.