Galleria
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MAY/JUNE 2017 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 149
Great Explorations
Children’s Museum,
1925 4th St. N. (adjacent to Sunken
Gardens), St. Petersburg, (727) 821-8992.
Their newly developed interactive
exhibits include Great Beginnings,
Beth’s Indoor Beach, Robot Lab, Touch
Tunnel, Express Yourself Art Studio,
a construction site, a child-sized grocery
store and much more. This is one of
St. Petersburg’s secret treasures that
is both educational and fun for all ages.
Closed Mondays during the fall.
Henry B. Plant Museum,
401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa,
(813) 254-1891. Experience the
grandeur of a winter railroad resort that
opened in 1891 as the Tampa Bay Hotel
and is now a National Historic Landmark.
Stroll the grand hallway and enjoy rooms
filled with original Hotel furnishings
from Europe. Realize the elegance of the
Victorian lifestyle as a tourist in
turn-of-the-century Florida.
Heritage Village -
Pinellas County
Historical Museum,
11909 125th St. N., Largo, (727) 582-2123.
This 21-acre, open-air living history
village features more than 28 historic
structures, some with costumed guides.
They also have a museum, library,
archives relating to Pinellas County’s
history, nature trail and a gift shop.
Museum of Fine Arts (MFA),
255 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg,
(727) 896-2667. Featuring diverse
traveling exhibits in addition to its
permanent collection, this internationally
recognized Museum, now celebrating
its 50th anniversary, is an architectural
gem located on St. Petersburg’s
downtown waterfront.
Tampa Bay
Automobile Museum,
3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park,
(727) 579-8226. A unique collection that
includes front-wheel drive and rear-engine
cars from the 1920s-1930s. Featured
automobiles include the replica of the
1770 Fardier de Cugnot, the first selfpropelled
vehicle; Tracta; Citroen; Panhard
and Voisin (France); Tatra and Aero
(Czech); DKW and Mercedes (Germany);
Willys Knight and Ruxton (USA).
Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum,
100 Beekman Lane, Tarpon Springs,
(727) 937-0686. This museum, located
on Spring Bayou in Craig Park,
explains how the dynamic interaction
of environment and culture created
this historic city. The History Wing
traces the development of Tarpon Springs
from prehistoric people to World
War II. The Ecology Wing houses the
beautiful murals of artist Christopher Still.
THEATERS
American Stage Theatre,
163 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg,
(727) 823-PLAY (7529). American Stage
Theatre Company is a not-for-profit
professional theater founded in 1977.
The company’s mission is to create the
most satisfying live theater in the Tampa
Bay area, accessible to all members of
the community. Their vision is to preserve
the greatest human stories from our past,
while creating the most defining stories
and storytelling of our time. American
Stage presents its top-quality Mainstage
Series in its 182-seat Raymond James
Theatre each year.
Asolo Repertory Theatre,
5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota,
(941) 351-8000. Next up: a world premiere
that’s hip, daddy-o, and an underwater
adventure with jaw-dropping special
effects. Head to Sarasota for some of the
best entertainment anywhere––Beatsville:
The Beatnik Musical, thru May 28, and
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea,
June 7-July 1. Use promo code ASOLOTBM
for 20 percent off tickets.
The Capitol Theatre,
405 Cleveland St., Clearwater,
(727) 791-7400. This newly-renovated
theater in downtown Clearwater has 737
seats and is operated by Ruth Eckerd Hall
in a partnership with the City of Clearwater.
Central Park Performing Arts Center,
105 Central Park Drive, Largo,
(727) 587-6793. Building on 20 years of
excellence, the Central Park Performing
Arts Center serves the community as both
an accessible cultural destination and a
popular public gathering place. They offer
spectacular performances in music, dance
and theater as a unique facility for meetings,
weddings, banquets and special events.
Eight O’Clock Theatre,
105 Central Park Drive, Largo,
(727) 587-6793. The award-winning
Eight O’Clock Theatre continues its
long history of presenting high-caliber
entertainment in the Central Park
Performing Arts Center. They honor the
tradition of combining top-notch performers
with state-of-the-art lighting, sound, sets
and performances. All their shows offer a
glimpse of the talent we are fortunate to
have here in the Tampa Bay area.
Francis Wilson Playhouse,
302 Seminole St., Clearwater, (727) 446-1360.
This quality community theater has been
in operation since 1930. Each season, the
182-seat theater presents a new show every
month. The venue is available for a nominal
fee to nonprofit organizations that wish to
enjoy a performance exclusively for their
group, while fundraising through the sale of
tickets to the play.
Belleair Bluffs Plaza
100-12 (North Side),
Indian Rocks Road N.,
Belleair Bluffs
727.408.5743