The
small town of St. Pete Beach, situated on a barrier island in the Gulf of
Mexico west of St. Petersburg, is an odd place for me to travel. Attending a conference,
the weekend prior to the start of the spring semester, it was an opportunity to
see something different, walk in warmer weather, and get some work done prior
to the start of a long, dark January and February in central Pennsylvania. Admittedly,
“walking on the beach,” past several hotels, and dozens of other people, is my
ideal perambulation, but beach towns are often full of interesting places and
sites. The birds are different, and sometimes a glimpse of wildlife not
normally observed. But
perhaps my idea of what beach towns are is shaped by where I go. St. Pete Beach
is geared for families and kids. There
were no bookstores within walking distance; the restaurants were not chains,
but not particularly interesting either. Nevertheless, explore we must.
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| An
iconic structure on Gulf Boulevard at 69th Street, Twistee Treat has been a gathering
place since 1984. This location was attached to a Florida-based franchise founded
in 1983, that later went into bankruptcy. The company was reformulated, and
began building new locations, but this location is not affiliated with the new
company, conducting business independently. |
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| The
Beach Theatre, located on Corey Avenue, opened in January 1940. A small theater,
originally seating about 500 people, it likely had difficulty competing with
the forces that closed most small town theaters (television, VHS, and a decline
in movie attendance). When I stopped by in January 2023, it look as if the
renovations to turn the theater into a live event venue, proposed by new owners,
had halted. A handsome building, even though empty, the Beach provides a nice addition
to the commercial district of St. Pete Beach. |
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| A cat
crossing located on 81st Street. |
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| A
fellow pedestrian: A Great Egret on a walk about town. |
One regret was not being in the area when the Carter Woodson Museum of African American History in St. Petersburg was open. The museum, named after Berea alumnus, is only open Tuesdays through Fridays from 12-5. My presentation prevented me from going, but something I want to do in the future.
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