Southwest Pinellas Bits and Bites

The St. Pete Beach Theatre... Can It Be As Good As We Remember?

pam@restaurantweb.design (Pam Dufour) — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 22:11:05 GMT

A chat about the future of the St. Pete Beach Theatre with new owner Christopher Scott.

On a recent sunny day my husband and I took advantage of the brief warm weather and sat outside the Swigwam bar enjoying a cocktail. Across the street the doors to the old St. Pete Beach Theatre swung open and a couple walked out - along with a cloud of dust. Since hearing that the theatre had been purchased in August of last year and reading the many articles that have followed, I've been wanting to get a sneak peak. This was my chance.

"Hold my drink" I said as I handed it to my husband who already knew what I was about to do. I bounded across Corey Avenue and eagerly asked if they were the new owners. "Yes" said Christopher Scott in a cheery English accent. A few others had come out of the building by this time and I realized I was interrupting (not a surprise if you know me), but took the chance to score a future interview for the following Friday afternoon.

During the next week I kept asking myself what do I want to ask Chris that has not been discussed in the many interviews he'd already done? From all the recent written articles and TV spotlights* that have been produced thus far, I knew where Chris and his family hail from (Maryland via England). I knew the sale was a direct result of his good friend Hendrik Bisanz (real estate broker with Seasalt Properties) who called up Chris and said "you need to buy this theatre". I knew that there wasn't a plan of exactly what to do with it once it was purchased (and it's STILL not set in stone). I knew that a non-profit foundation had been created - The Beach Theatre Community Foundation, Inc. - to involve the local community in restoring the theatre to it's former glory. And finally, I knew that he had hired Shana Nichols and Joey Hager as executive director and director of operations respectively to help with the foundation, website , media and more.

Come Friday I took my scribbled notes and met with Chris on a cold and breezy afternoon. We first walked into the theatre and I got a chance to see the progress to date. Up to this point it's just been a clean-up process. The building had gone nine years without attention and besides the cobwebs everywhere, a roof leak along with hot Florida summers made for a real mess. By the time I had a chance to look inside, the falling ceiling tiles and wall panels had been mostly removed as well as all the seats. Only a faint lingering smell of mildew filled the air along with the dust. "Maybe we should sit outside for the interview" I remarked. We made our way to one of the Corey Avenue park benches for our chat.

Before I started asking questions, Chris told me the story as I mentioned above from his roots in England to his love of the St. Pete Beach area and the subsequent purchase of the theatre. I asked him what he found once he had the keys and went inside the old building. He told me the quintessential red theatre seats were in disrepair and had to be thrown out. A few remain and there is discussion as to what they will do with them. An old movie projector is still in the building and he looked into seeing if it could run again, but unfortunately not - a shame since there are also old reels of film in boxes that didn't get ruined by the hands of time. Chris is hoping to have the projector cleaned up to be put on display in the new lobby. There are also hundreds of old movie posters, many of which Chris says he's never heard of.

For the next half hour we talked about the future of St. Pete Beach's iconic theatre and it's role on Corey Avenue. An architect has drawn up a few different versions of what could be and although Chris has said nothing is set in stone, it became clear to me that it would still be a theatre. Maybe not necessarily a full-time movie house, but perhaps a unique blend of movies, live entertainment and private event space. I asked if the marquee would remain and he said he believed it would. He knows he needs to make a final decision soon so the architect can draw up final plans that can be submitted to the city. Chris' hopes are to be open by the end of summer or early fall.

In the meantime, Shana Nichols and Joey Hager are busy at work keeping the story alive and promoting The Beach Theatre Community Foundation, Inc. Those movie posters I mentioned? Shana and Joey feel it's a great opportunity for a fundraiser - giving us all a chance to own a nostalgic piece of the theatre's history. If they can find a good way of repurposing the remaining original red seats, they may also be auctioned off. There are also people who are offering their help with other fundraising ideas such as a night of dinner & dancing.

At the end of our chat I asked Chris if there was anything else to say at this point. He paused for a moment and then with a grateful look said "I'd like to tell everyone who has shown interest in our story, who has taken the time to talk with me and who has shared their memories and ideas for the theatre - Thank You".

We wrapped up our interview and he promised to keep me up-to-date on the progress. In an email, Shana told me she'd let me know when we might be able to get our hands on one of those movie posters. I'm a sucker for nostalgia and hope to get one.

I know that we are all waiting to see if the new theatre will be able to bring new happy memories for future patrons. And we all wonder if those memories will be as good as the ones we already have.

Pam Dufour is a resident of west St. Petersburg and a lover of all things Pinellas County. See why she began SouthwestPinellas.com here .

*Recent articles and TV spotlights

Tampa Bay Times - How the historic Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach finally sold - August, 2021

TBN Weekly / Beach Beacon - New owner says 'sky is the limit' for Beach Theatre - August, 2021

St. Pete Catalyst - St. Pete Beach residents speak out on vintage theater’s future - September 2021

ABC Action News - Construction begins at The Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach - November, 2021

Creative Loafing - St. Pete Beach’s historic Beach Theatre details plans for fall 2022 opening - November, 2021

Bay News 9 - St. Pete Beach theatre opens their doors after nearly a decade - December, 2021

CBS Local / CW44 - St. Pete Beach Theatre Under Construction, Community's Help Needed. - January, 2022

Fox 13 News - Vacant St. Pete Beach movie theater gets second act - January, 2022

The Gabber - Beach Theatre Rebrands, Restorations Begin - January 2022

It's Official - Thrifting is Cool

pam@restaurantweb.design (Pam Dufour) — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 02:45:59 GMT

Thrift stores have become cool thanks to a new generation of thrifters.

The Attic Shoppe Thrift Store - Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach

Thrift, consignment and "upcycle" stores have seen a huge boost in new, younger shoppers in the past few years. With Millennials and Generation Z facing tougher financial obstacles than their predecessors, thrifting becomes a no-brainer way of saving some cash with the added bonus of also helping to save the environment (it is believed that 84% of clothing ends up in landfills or incinerators and can take up to 200 years to decompose¹). Not to mention these generations are not as loyal to brands and fashions as the Boomers or Gen X and thrifting can mean finding a one-of-a-kind piece that showcases a personal style.

Not all thrift stores are the same. Probably the most well known thrift stores are Salvation Army and Goodwill. Shopping at these stores is a lot like shopping at a department store with designated departments like housewares and furniture, clothing that is separated by size and a fast-changing inventory. However, this also seems to mean higher prices. They've gotten quite savvy at checking online resale prices for popular or high end brands like Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew or Lucky Brand.

Some other independent thrift stores also have a department store size and feel. However, without the same staffing (often led by volunteers) they aren't quite as organized and can often have more sub-par merchandise in the mix. BUT, this also means that you will find better deals.

There are many small thrift stores like The Attic Shoppe on St. Pete Beach that are usually a part of a church or other charitable organization. They may not necessarily have a large selection, but if lucky, you can find some real hidden gems without having to go through rack after rack.

Thrifting can become a side hustle!

Now, speaking of finding the deals, this can be a nice hobby that can turn into a side gig of reselling. Apps like Poshmark, The RealReal or ThredUp offer up an easy way to resell your quality finds. But be aware, it takes research and a good eye to find sought after items that are in near new condition at prices that will allow you to make a profit (as these apps charge fees for selling). You'll also need a good way of photographing the items and work to grow a following so that your items can be seen in a sea of competition. (Need some inspiration? I'm a Poshmark reseller! Check out my closet here . If you're new to Poshmark, sign up with code PAMTHEPOSHER for a $10 credit!)

Another way to flip your finds is at local popular consignment and resale stores like Plato's Closet on Tyrone Blvd. in St. Petersburg. Keep in mind that these styles need to be current and brands will gear towards younger shoppers so are more difficult to find in the thrift stores.

There has also been a surge in collectible clothing which can include vintage band tour t-shirts, limited edition sneakers and pop culture swag from the 70's and 80's. World Thrift in Seminole and Curated Heat near downtown St. Pete both specialize in vintage T's, streetwear and more.

Thrifting of course isn't just for clothing. If you're young and looking to furnish your first apartment this is a great way to do so. If you happen to be a little creative that furniture piece can become shabby-chic for just a few extra bucks. Plenty of local artisans turn worn out pieces into works of art or quaint coastal pieces like one of my favorite spots The Spunky Junkies on Central Ave. in Western St. Petersburg. I can't seem to leave their store empty-handed!

So, ready to find that hidden gem? Look below! We've put together a great list of thrift and consignment stores in southwest Pinellas county. Happy hunting!

¹ The Environmental Crisis Caused by Textile Waste by Rachel Brown - Roadrunnerwm.com - Jan. 8, 2021

Nine 5-Star Rated Eateries in Southwest Pinellas According to Yelp

pam@restaurantweb.design (Pam Dufour) — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 17:23:13 GMT

Check out these 9 restaurants in southwest Pinellas county with 5-star reviews on Yelp. Have you been to any of these locations? Do you agree? Share your comments below!

Barracuda Deli - 489 reviews

6640 Gulf Blvd

St Pete Beach, FL

(727) 826-0998

www.barracudadelicafe.com

Notes: People rave most about their Cuban sandwich. Their Facebook rating also gives them a 5 out of 5 with 87 reviews.

View Yelp Listing

Cafe Soleil French Bakery & Deli - 395 reviews

4695 Gulf Blvd.

Dolphin Village

St. Pete Beach, FL

(727) 800-2970

www.cafesoleilbakery.com

Notes: People rave about the croissants both sweet and savory. Facebook reviews are 4.5 out of 5 with 194 people reviewing.

View Yelp Listing

Savanh of Laos - 146 reviews

5667 Seminole Blvd.

Seminole, FL

(727) 914-8034

www.savanhoflaosmenu.wixsite.com

Notes: People rave about the service from the on-site owners and the fresh ingredients of the dishes. There are no reviews yet on Facebook, but Google reviewers give them a 4.9 out of 5 with 155 people reviewing.

View Yelp Listing

Poke Island - 124 reviews

7093 66th St. N.

Pinellas Park, FL

(727) 350-4040

www.facebook.com/pokeislandcorp

Notes: People rave about the Poke Bowls, fresh ingredients, quick service and the boba teas. Facebook reviews also give a 5 out of 5 with 49 people reviewing.

View Yelp Listing

Category 36 Taphouse - 65 reviews

7430 Gulf Blvd.

St. Pete Beach, FL

(727) 575-7317

www.facebook.com/category36

Notes: People rave about the wings, clean interior and hard-working staff as well as a great beer selection. Facebook reviews also give them a 5 out of 5 with 46 people reviewing.

View Yelp Listing

Pete's Sushi & Poke - 60 reviews

14995 Gulf Blvd.

Madeira Beach, FL

(727) 800-9228

www.petesushi.com

Notes: People rave about the fresh sushi and poke bowls as well as the prices and portions. Their Facebook page does not show reviews, but Google reviewers give them a 4.9 out of 5 with 224 people reviewing.

View Yelp Listing

Southie Coffee - 39 reviews

13045 Park Blvd. N.

Seminole, FL

(727) 256-0084

www.southiecoffee.com

Notes: People rave about the coffee with healthy choices available like oat milk or sugar-free flavorings and food that includes gluten-free and vegan options as well. They also talk about the friendly, cozy atmosphere. Facebook reviewers also give them a 5 out of 5 with 25 people reviewing.

View Yelp Listing

Buckets Eatery - 20 reviews

15024 Madeira Way

Madeira Beach, FL

(727) 289-7209

www.bucketseatery.com

Notes: People rave about portions, the sandwiches and the homemade chips. Small space but with some outside seating available which is dog-friendly. Serving breakfast and lunch. No Facebook review yet, but Google reviewers give them a 4.8 out of 5 from 29 reviewers.

View Yelp Listing

GulfPerk Coffee Bar - 20 reviews

3107 Beach Blvd. S,

Gulfport, FL

(727) 350-5377

www.facebook.com/gulfperkcoffeebar

Notes: People rave about the "cute", "adorable" décor, friendly staff and the coffee selections as well as a very clean space. Wine is also served and there is a "happy hour" that starts at 2pm. Facebook reviews gives them a 4.9 out of 5 with 27 people reviewing.

View Yelp Listing

7 Places to Take the Kids Besides the Beach

pam@restaurantweb.design (Pam Dufour) — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 17:55:03 GMT

Sometimes the weather just doesn't cooperate. What can you do with the kids on a cold or cloudy day?

*NOTE* This list is does not include current Covid-19 rules or restrictions. Please contact the establishment for current information on protocols and safety.

1. Strike it Up

When's the last time you went bowling?! Made popular in the 1930's, this old past time is still very much alive. Face it, when mom throws a gutter ball, it's always funny! The whole family can enjoy bowling on a rainy day.

Lucky us we have 2 bowling centers right here in Southwest Pinellas!

Seminole Lanes

8668 Park Blvd. N.

Seminole, FL

Ph. (727) 392-2271

WEBSITE

Ten Pin Lanes

1453 Pasadena Ave. S.

South Pasadena, FL

Ph. (727) 381-1010

WEBSITE

2. Get Hi-Tech

Check out some social gaming! Right now most adults reading this are going "What's Social Gaming?" emiright? Well, we all know how popular online gaming has become. Many kids (and adults - don't get me started) are seen tethered to their computers for hours in game rooms where players can "meet", play and chat. For many parents, this can be a scary idea - who is Timmy really talking to?

Play Live Nation at the Tyrone Mall is trying to change all that. They've taken the idea of online gaming and combined it with real life social activities. Instead of playing alone in a room at home, players can actually see and meet other gamers IN PERSON! This might be the perfect place for parents to learn and play along with their kids to see just why kids think it's so fun. C'mon, I know some of you remember how exciting it was to go to the arcade and whoop some Donkey Kong butt!

Play Live Nation

Tyrone Square Mall

6901 22nd Ave. N.

St. Petersburg, FL

Ph. (727) 302-9688

WEBSITE

3. Take a Hike

If the weather is a bit cold or overcast, get your walking shoes on and take a hike through Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. The preserve is over 3,000 acres including almost two miles of handicap-accessible boardwalks and pavement. The best part of the hike is the 45-foot observation tower to get a great bird's eye view of the park. Dogs are not allowed. Be sure to check their website on the latest hours and restrictions due to Covid-19.

Weedon Island Preserve

1800 Weedon Drive NE

St. Petersburg, FL

Ph. (727) 453-6500

WEBSITE

4. Kiss an Alligator

A family can easily spend a few hours together at John's Pass on Madeira Beach. Plan on lunch, a little shopping and getting up close to some alligators!

The Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center provides humane, professional care for a variety of animals that are often pet surrenders or orphaned wildlife that cannot be safely returned to the wild. It offers a unique opportunity to learn about and get up close and personal to many of these animals including kissing an alligator!

Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center

John's Pass Village

12973 Village Blvd. A-D

Madeira Beach, FL

Ph. (727) 329-8751

WEBSITE

5. Escape

Ready to find out who has the real brains in the family? Try your luck at an escape room! For an hour you and your family will look for clues to solve puzzles, crack code combinations and more to find your way out of a locked room. Rooms vary in themes so you can play again with a different theme each time!

We have two escape rooms here in Southwest Pinellas to choose from:

Beach Escape Game

7340 Gulf Blvd.

St. Pete Beach, FL

Ph. (727) 800-6900

WEBSITE

Locked Up

162 129th Ave. W. 2nd Floor

Madeira Beach, FL

Ph. (727) 209-7240

WEBSITE

Photo credit: Sky Zone Tampa

6. Take a Leap

Face it, kids seem to have boundless energy! What better place to let that energy out than Sky Zone Trampoline Park located just a bit north of our area in Largo. The great thing about Sky Zone is that they not only offer an area for teens and adults, but they also have a safe toddler-friendly zone for the little ones. The whole family can enjoy time here!

Besides the trampoline areas, there are also climbing walls, obstacle paths, free-jumping and more.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

13000 66th Street

Largo, FL

Ph. (727) 900-5867

WEBSITE

7. Keep Things Rolling

Well, we've already taken you back with bowling (and a little Donkey Kong reference), so let's keep the trend going with roller skating! Astro Skate of Pinellas Park is open and has great fun for all ages. Fridays are teen night and Wednesdays are adult skate night! (Although to be clear, that just means 18+)

Follow their Facebook page and you'll see all sorts of events and specials happening every week.

Astro Skate

10001 66th Street N.

Pinellas Park, FL

Ph. (727) 546-0018

WEBSITE

9 Unique Places for Finding Gifts this Holiday Season

pam@restaurantweb.design (Pam Dufour) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 20:44:40 GMT

If you have some hard to gift people in your life, check out our list of unique places for finding gifts in Southwest Pinellas!

♦ For the Foodie - Gourmet vinegars & olive oils from Vine & Grind in Treasure Island. Save some dough with this $20 for $10 offer available on CLDeals! https://cldeals.com/products/valid-for-20-at-vine-grind-8 or check out the Red Hot Tiki Spicy Gourmet Market with over 1,000 hot sauces and other spicy food items!

♦ For the Beach Bum - Beach inspired hats, t-shirts & more from Breezy's Beach Shop on St. Pete Beach. Everything in the store is $20 and under!

♦ For the Ink Lover - Tattoo accessories and related gifts at Dragonz Eye Custom Tattoo & Piercing on Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. Take advantage of their Black Friday special of 50% off all retail on November 27th!

♦ For the Modern Man - a traditional men's shave with hot towel, straight razor - the whole nine yards! Try Against the Grain Barbershoppe on Central Ave. in St. Petersburg.

♦ For the Anime Fan - Check out St. Pete's Anime Fix! They have costumes, figurines, plush toys and lots of great stocking stuffers too.

♦ For the Vinyl Collector - vinyl is back in style! Check out Sound Exchange in Pinellas Park. Not only can you find some great old records, but they also carry a selection of vintage stereo equipment too!

♦ For the Trend Setting Woman - Paris Isabella Clothing Co. in Pinellas Park carries unique clothing brands that will keep people asking "where did you get that?".

♦ For your European friends & family - be sure to stop in at Azalea International Deli on South Pasadena. They carry an amazing selection of specialties including candy to fill up that stocking! They specialize in Russian selections.

We hope you get a chance to check out one of these hidden gems. Our local small businesses need our help more than ever. And with unique gifts from these amazing retailers, you're going to be a holiday gift-giving superstar!

3 Areas Perfect for a Weekend Mini Bar Crawl

pam@restaurantweb.design (Pam Dufour) — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 22:51:08 GMT

Where to go when everyone in your party is looking for something different!

Ever have this kind of night?:

"Hey, what do you want to do tonight?"

"I want to check out a brewery!" "I want to hear some live music." "I want to do some karaoke!" and the list goes on and on.

You may not find one place that fits all needs. So instead, create a mini bar crawl for you and your friends so that everyone gets a little of what they want. Here are 3 neighborhoods in Southwest Pinellas perfect for a bar crawl with friends!

Friday Night Bar Crawl - Downtown Gulfport

Recently voted Best Pinellas Neighborhood by Creative Loafing , Gulfport is the perfect little town for a really fun bar crawl. We recommend "crawling" this town on a Friday night! Here's how we would crawl Gulfport...

1st stop - Sea Dog Cantina

Head to the Sea Dog Cantina to fill up on some delicious tacos, burritos and hand-crafted margaritas like the "Blood Orange Margarita" and take advantage of their all-night Happy Hour every Friday! Their specialty margaritas are just $6 and there's also discounts on draft beer, select liquors, wine and appetizers.

2nd stop - Gulfport Brewery

Gulfport Brewery is the newest brewery in Southwest Pinellas having just opened up to the public on June 27th - right smack dab in the middle of a pandemic. They've gotten their feet wet and are producing not only some fantastic brews, but putting out some great grub too. Of course, you just filled up on tacos so you'll probably have to come back another time for food. They also have a nice little "beer garden" seating area to enjoy these gorgeous Florida autumn nights.

3rd stop - The North End Taphouse

This taphouse is a quaint spot with the majority of their seating in an outside courtyard complete with a stage for entertainment. Come here just after 7pm to catch some great live music!

Final stop - O'Maddy's Bar & Grille

O'Maddy's is a quintessential stop when hanging out in Gulfport. You can expect to find a nice crowd here on any given night and a Friday night is no exception. For this final stop on the crawl, get ready to belt out a tune - Karaoke starts at 9pm! Whether you've got the golden pipes or dogs howl when you sing, everybody's in it just to have some fun.

Saturday Night Bar Crawl - Treasure Island

This is a great Saturday night crawl. If possible, rent yourselves a room for a mini stay-cation! If not, be sure to call an Uber - this is going to be a fun night!

1st stop - Ikki Woo Woo's Tiki Hut @ the Thunderbird Beach Resort

Depending on the time of year, you may need to change up this crawl to fit the timing of sunset. If you're going to be on the beach, a sunset is a must! For now we're using October as a guide. Therefore, your first stop is going to be to Ikki Woo Woo's Tiki Hut at the Thunderbird Beach Resort. Typically there is acoustic music leading up to sunset. So grab a couple of tropical drinks or shots and raise a toast to the sunset!

2nd stop - Captain Bill's Oyster Bar

Now it's time to fill up on some food. Head across Gulf Blvd. and down to Captain Bill's Oyster Bar. Oysters here are just $1 every day all day! No need to share a dozen - keep it for yourself! Food here is solid so sit on the patio and enjoy a relaxing meal.

3rd stop - Ricky T's

Get your dancing shoes on and head over to Ricky T's back bar for some live music. The best bands in the area play here so it's bound to be a good time! Music starts at 8pm.

Final stop - CJ's on the Island

If a bar were a theme park CJ's on the Island would be it. Grab some drinks and take advantage of their game room area complete with video golf, video bowling, darts, pool tables and more! They are open until 3am so it's a perfect way to end a night of partying with friends!

Sunday Day Bar Crawl - Corey Avenue on St. Pete Beach

This last crawl is day-crawl we recommend for Sunday!

1st stop - Corey Avenue Sunday Market

Okay, so this isn't a "bar". But this weekly market has some great vendors that, like everyone else, are working hard to survive in these strange times. The holidays are coming up so make the rounds and find some great gifts that weren't bought on Amazon. #supportlocal

2nd stop - Chill Restaurant & Bar

Chill Restaurant is one of SouthwestPinellas.com's favorite brunch spots. Sit inside or out and dine on French Toast, crepes, eggs benedict and more. Be sure to ask about their bottomless mimosas!

3rd stop - Swigwam

Now that it's officially afternoon, it's okay to step it up a notch. Head over to the Swigwam and get yourselves either a frozen Rum Runner or a frozen Bushwacker. Swigwam has perfected these two magical concoctions and they are like no one else's on the beach! Be careful, they are stronger than they taste! You'll thank us later.

Final stop - Twisted Tiki

Twisted Tiki is Corey Avenue's newest spot. The decor is colorful and Polynesian-inspired and you keep finding new things to see every time you go. They'll be sure to have NFL games on the tv's and will be offering a $5 specialty punch of the day to get you into the tropical spirit. Getting a big hungry again? A casual menu will offer up some selections you and your friends can share.

What Is SouthwestPinellas.com?

pam@restaurantweb.design (Pam Dufour) — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 17:38:58 GMT

SouthwestPinellas.com is a website all about the area's dining, nightlife & entertainment. The area encompasses the southwest quadrant of Pinellas County beginning at Seminole and Pinellas Park down to Tierra Verde staying west of US 19.

So why this particular area? Well, there are a few reasons. But first, let me tell you about where it all started!

Although born and raised in Massachusetts, I moved here early enough to consider myself a Floridian. I absolutely LOVE Pinellas county having at times lived in Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Redington Shores and St. Petersburg.

About 15 years ago I met my now husband while he was here on business from Connecticut. When we decided to make things permanent, I moved to western Connecticut with him. Let me tell you it was a culture shock!

One of the things I found to be missing was any real way to find out what was happening in the area. Once I took a job for a beer & liquor distributor, all the bars & restaurants became my customers (and many of them friends) and I was now privy to all the fun events happening from the best karaoke nights to live music and beer & wine dinners.

So, what to do with this information? Build a website for it of course! In September of 2009 I launched FairfieldAfterDark.com to showcase all the best events & happenings in Fairfield County, CT. Years later FairfieldAfterDark.com grew to be the area's #1 website with a high percentage of it's users coming directly from top search engines like Google and Yahoo. When Fairfield County residents searched for live music, happy hour or holiday event information online they were directed to FairfieldAfterDark.com first! I even had a spot on a popular local radio station for a year providing a things-to-do list to residents every Friday.

I ran the website for almost ten years before my husband and I decided to move back to where I've always called home - Pinellas County. I sold the website in May of 2019.

At this point I had also started a pretty solid website design business on the side and that is what I planned on concentrating on once we settled in Florida. Although I still love doing that (and it's still a growing business), I got the "bug" once again. I found that I actually missed using my own website for finding fun things to do in the area. Yes, there are plenty of different papers and magazines to browse, lots of Facebook groups & pages, but not that ONE place to find it all. So it was decided - I would build it again for the place I call home.

So now back to why this particular area? Running FairfieldAfterDark.com was a full-time job and as much as I tried, I could never quite get enough coverage in areas that were far from my home base. Fairfield County is over 800 square miles and some towns took over an hour with traffic to get there. I understood that if I posted a great live band in one town, that it really wouldn't matter to someone an hour away. I didn't want this to happen again.

Although Pinellas County is only 608 square miles, it is very elongated. Once again, there would be areas I would never truly be able to give my full attention to. And who in St. Petersburg would drive all the way up to Tarpon Springs for karaoke or trivia night? No one. I wanted to provide information on events that would be within 30 minutes or less of each other so that if it piqued someone's interest it would be a reasonable drive for most.

Why not lower Pinellas county in general? With the explosion of bars and restaurants in downtown St. Pete there are a LOT of websites, bloggers, Instagram & Facebook accounts etc. that explore that area already. I want to give some love to THIS area - the area that I live. I finally decided upon the southwest "quadrant" of Pinellas County.

My priority is to keep the site current and relevant and to add new content almost daily. SouthwestPinellas.com will become your #1 place for finding things to do in our area! Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss a beat!

See you out there my Southwest Pinellas peeps!

Pam Dufour