The celebration continues in 2011! Enjoy free (pay what you can donation appreciated) movies and music each Thursday evening in May in North Straub Park, near the Vinoy Hotel. Start the weekend early and relax while watching classic movies in a beautiful waterfront park setting.  Come early and purchase food and drink from some of Saturday Morning Market's most popular vendors, or enjoy your own picnic while listening to music before the movie (music starts at 7 pm; movie starts at dark). A limited number of chairs will be available or bring your own blanket or seat! Convenient parking available at Baywalk garage or in the Pier parking lots.  May 19 features Marilyn Monroe in the award winning comedy "Some Like it Hot".  May 26 features Cary Grant & Eva Marie Saint in Hitchock's thriller "North by Northwest." Movies underwritten by Sylvia Rusche State Farm Insurance.

Local artist Carrie Jadus has created the beautiful painting "A Day in Straub Park," part of which you see displayed on the homepage. This artwork is used on the centennial commemorative poster and on the front of the centennial notecards. The notecards make great gifts and the poster is a beautiful piece to frame and hang on the wall of your home commemorating 100 years of waterfront parks. Carrie has donated the use of her artwork so that 100% of the proceeds from your purchase support the Centennial Celebration. You can either purchase directly from the website or from one of the local shops listed at the gift shop section of the website.  New!  Centennial Celebration large sized tote bag - american made, organic cotton, side water bottle pocket, full color Centennial Celebration artwork on front.

The summer walking tour season has begun!  Leave the heat of the day and join a St. Petersburg Preservation historic preservation tour.  The summer tour season (May - September) offers monthly tours lasting approximately 90 minutes and no reservations are necessary. A $5 donation is suggested.  Tours start in front of Central Cafe & Organics at 243 Central Avenue and next to the historic Detroit Hotel.  The next scheduled tour will be Thursday evening, June 9.  Information on all of St. Petersburg Preservation's historic walking tours is available at www.stpetepreservation.org.

The Centennial Sundial, created by St. Petesburg sculptor Eric Higgs, is located in Northshore Park adjacent to the pedistrian/bicycle trail at Vista Point where the park angles north along Coffee Pot Bayou (approximately 18th Avenue Northeast).  The sundial was dedicated on November 6, 2010. Not only is the sundial beautifully designed but it is also great fun as the correct hour is determined by where your own shadow is cast along the timepiece. For more information, including sundial pictures, go to www.honna.org/historic-preservation/sundial-project.html.

The "traveling" exhibit offers old and new photos from the waterfront, a slide show and information about St. Petersburg Preservation.  The exhibit will be on display as it "travels" to a variety of public locations such as libraries, museums, and galleries. Upcoming locations include downtown's Kahwa Coffee (south)during the month of May 2011 where you will also be able to enjoy a special thought provoking display on what the future may hold for the waterfront parks by local architect Tim Clemmons and Washington D.C. landscape architect Ed Hamm.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve on the beautiful downtown waterfront with First Night St. Pete and join our history treasure hunt.  Using the treasure map you can pick up from the St. Petersburg Preservation table in South Straub Park, locate five historic landmarks in the waterfront parks and receive a “treasure” for each one found and a special prize if you find all five!

Hundreds had fun with this event this past New Year's Eve as the "kick-off" Centennial Celebration event.  Now you will have another chance to find the historic landmarks and to receive your treasure as "Discover History in the Parks" takes place on December 31, 2010 as part of St. Pete's First Night celebration (treasure hunt from 6 pm to 11 pm) followed by fireworks on the waterfront at midnight!

The fourth and final program in the series will be Wednesday evening December 15 at the Hanger Restaurant at Albert Whitted Airport (reception starting at 6 pm). USF history professor Dr. Gary Mormino will moderate what promises to be an exciting evening with a lively discussion, including time for audience questions. Three design teams led by local architects Tim Clemmons and Andrew Hayes and by Washington D.C. landscape architect Ed Hamm will offer their vision on what our waterfront parks may look like in 100 years. Noted landscape architect Phil Graham will offer an overview of waterfront park plannning efforts over the last 25 years.  

Thanks to the Florida Humanities Council, the Hangar Restaurant and the Indigo Hotel for sponsoring this program.  Reservations can be made by going to the events/calendar portion of the website.

For the serious photographer, young or old, submit your best waterfront park photos to the juried waterfront photo contest. Cash prizes separately awarded in youth (under 18) and adult divisions! No entry fee! Submittal deadline is October 1. Winners will be announced at "Party in the Parks" on Saturday, November 6.  

It's happened...Saturday, November 6, 2010 is a day to remember as the waterfront parks celebrated their 100th birthday in grand style!. Thanks to all who came, volunteered, enjoyed themselves and to the Centennial Celebration sponsors including St. Petersburg Preservation, Progress Energy, the St. Petersburg Times, Sylvia Rusche State Farm Insurance, the City of St. Petersburg and many others.  "Party in the Parks" was a hit, ushered in by cool weather and a breeze and the dedication of the Centennial human sundial at Vista Point in Northshore Park.  Be sure to visit the sundial at 18th Avenue NE and North Shore Drive.  And check back soon to the website to see "Party in the Parks" photos and the photo contest award winning  photos.  Be sure to sign up for the Centennial newsletter now from the form on the lower right side of the website homepage so you wont miss out on the last of the Centennial Celebration events!

Studio @ 620 and the Downtown Waterfront Parks Centennial Celebration Committee present the best of student waterfront park photos in an exhibit April 27 -30.  Meet the students and enjoy an opening night reception on Tuesday, April 27 at 6:30 pm.  The Studio is located at 620 1st Avenue South.  The photos will be on display for the "Perspective on the Parks" event on April 29 at Studio @ 620.