destination - st. petersburg, florida | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
"St. Petersburg appears to have more in store than just a group of massive buildings
popping up, but also a continued injection of culture and nuance."
psst! | summer 2018 17
St. Petersburg appears to have more in store than
just a group of massive buildings popping up, but also a
continued injection of culture and nuance - an embracing
of a day and nightlife that accommodates a generation
gap that spans more than just 12 years. This place is for
everyone - and their kids - and their dog.
I went to one of those white elephant exchanges around
the holidays, the one where a present can be “stolen” up
to two times. A gift card for The Locale Market proved its
worth as it was the first to change the maximum number
of hands. Next were erotic sock puppets. The invitation was
rather vague about all but the price of the present.
My first New Year’s downtown was spectacular enough
for a first. I was surprised to see the bars in the area
survive New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and also First
Friday in such close succession. I survived only because
I paced myself New Year’s Eve and got to bed at a decent
hour before the sun came up. But I went to breakfast late
morning New Year’s Day and didn’t make it home again
during the daylight hours. I made friends of a few partying
strangers as we commiserated over the progress of the Rose
Bowl game and took shots to drown
our disappointment in FSU.
Friday morning I awoke for work
to find that I had misplaced my
access badge before the holiday. I
looked in all the usual places before
abandoning it and running to my
first meeting. For lunch, I ambled
on home to make a quick meal and
upend my apartment four blocks
away to look for it, making a quick
stop at the Publix on the way.
A block shy of my apartment, I
ran into the guys from the bar the
night before standing at the street
corner waiting to pass through the
cross walk. Dressed precisely as they
had been 16 hours prior, they were
walking around town looking for
one’s cell phone and another’s car.
Wishing them luck, I continued home
to find I had left my credentials in the
fridge within the thin plastic grocery bag with soft taco
shells and a Wednesday Publix receipt. At least I know
where my car is.
I went back to the office for a few hours after lunch then
back home again for a power nap. My next wake-up call
was an invitation to a free Pearl Jam Tribute Band concert
at Jannus Live. The frontman’s speaking voice was nothing
surprising, but the singing voice coming out of him was
practically identical to Eddie Vedder’s. My friends and
I belted out the old tunes we had grown up on with the
crowd until we were hoarse. Next week is Guns n’ Roses.
Over half a year in, moving downtown still feels like
the best decision I’ve ever made. Every passing month
consistently surprises me and makes me look to the future
in store for this town. There’s something here for you if
you’re 25 or 55. And if you can bear the warmth, that’s here
practically year round.
The sunlight’s not going anywhere and neither am I.
And apparently neither is that pile driver. |||
i DeGregory, Lane. (September 21, 2014). “43 times a minute, ‘sound of progress’ just
makes people furious.” Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved from http://www.tampabay.com/
features/humaninterest/43-times-a-minute-the-sound-of-progress-just-makes-peoplefurious/
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walter lamerton | photographer
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