One More Disney Day

On Feburary 29th, the Magic Kindgom at Walt Disney World Resort opened at 6 a.m. and didn't close until 6 a.m. the next day.  A lot of people took advantage of the first, and perhaps last, time they could spend 24 hours at the Happiest Place on Earth.

A rare chance to be in the park before sunrise, the day began with a dreamy fog covering Main Street USA.

Even the cast photographers couldn't resist a snapshot of the dreamy castle.View down from Tomorrowland Terrace.Three hours in (9:30 am) attendance was about average with perfect weather.

After the lunch hour, guests were still in unusually high spirits. Normally the post lunch lethargy is deeply set by 1 pm.

In the evening, many people were taking advantage of all the extra time by playing the new interactive card game "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom."

As evening turned to morning, a lot of guests were showing wear, and bemusement was easier to find than delight.By 4 a.m. the park was still packed. There was still much energy, but few conscious children.One final look back at the castle just before closing. We spent the last hour people watching from the top of the train station.

And yes, we were there they whole 24 hours.  Achievement unlocked!

St. Petersburg Alive on a Saturday

A walk around St. Petersburg's downtown on a Saturday.  This set includes the Saturday Morning Market, the Dali Museum, and the waterfront.

A squirrel, defending her turf.

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Gasparilla Invasion 2012

Pirate season has begun!

Davis Island to Downtown Walkabout

Davis island is a study in contrasts.  The upper-middle to lower-upper class island is surrounded by Tampa's shipping and quarrying industry.  Perfectly trimmed water-front parks are backdropped with smoke stacks and chemical storage facilities.  The views without industry are obstructed by the homes of the even more wealthy Harbour Island [sic].  It is within a short walk of Downtown, but no one on the island walks there.

Seminole Garden Center

 

The Seminole Garden Center strangely drops “Heights” from the name of the neighborhood where it is located.  It is remarkable that a piece of land this size still exits as public property in the middle of a desirable historic district.  The building appears to be as old as the site, but is a re-creation of the original building — the current facility opened in 2010.  The brick is outlined in white trim and large dramatic windows suggest construction before air conditioning.  The grounds are sparsely adorned but well manicured.  The archetype of subtropical high-society of the 1940s. 

Built in 1939, its purpose to host community events seemed to persist primarily with that of garden clubs.  Newspapers from the early 1940s advertised Spanish lessons for tourists.  Visiting the site today, there is little evidence of any on site gardening, but there apparently was once a sunken garden somewhere near the present day parking lot.  Historical records lack information on it, but oral records and a 2007 archaeological survey confirm it existed.  The building would make a great meeting space for community events or local clubs, but the current $400 minimum rental fee (for 4 hours) relegates it to primarily weddings.  I doubt many modern day garden clubs or quaint Spanish lessons would be able to afford that price.

 View from the side of building showing the accessible ramps and large bay windows.

The plaque on the front of the building seems to be real marble, but the date is misleading.  The original building was burned down in in the 1970's and this building is only one year old.

Called "Nest Builder" by Leslie Fry, this single piece of art is located in the front courtyard.

The statue debuted with a strange amount of controversy.

The artist created a pleasantly strange "making of" video available on youtube.

The large oak in the courtyard is the centerpiece of the property.  Mercifully, the Spanish moss is left intact.

There is more landscaping than garden at the center, but a few flowers were blooming.

The grounds should feature more botanical elements.  

What's there is pretty, but I had to hunt for colors other than green.

And this mushroom was the most interesting thing aside from the sculpture in the yard.

A few additional photos are in the gallery.