Entertainment and Events
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Nightlife
The area is well-stocked with beach bars, but St. Petersburg is where the after-dark scene really pops. The Independent (23 3rd St. N., 727/820-9514, www.independentbeer.com, 5 p.m.–3 a.m. daily) offers an extensive menu of microbrew and imported beers along with a decent selection of wines. The vibe is friendly and boisterous, with a diverse and urbane crowd of locals.
The Venue (2675 Ulmerton Rd., 727/571-2222, www.thevenueclub.com, hours vary) is an entertainment complex housing a dance club, a restaurant, a martini bar, a wine bar, and an outdoor deck, all of which should appeal to the dress-to-impress crowd.
Top-tier local and national bands hit the big stages at Jannus Landing (16 2nd St. N., 727/896-2276, www.jannuslandingconcerts.com) and The State Theatre (687 Central Ave., 727/895-3045, www.statetheareconcerts.com).
Hands down, the best place in the area to catch a movie is The Beach Theatre (315 Corey Ave., 727/360-6697) in the tiny downtown area of St. Pete Beach. Originally opened in 1940, the theater retains all of its era-specific charm, but it is also a loose and comfortable environment defined by the cinephiles who run it. Programming is a unique mixture of first-run movies, art-house fare, and idiosyncratic selections; they also have free kids’ matinees on Saturdays featuring everything from the Three Stooges and old Godzilla flicks to E.T., and the Beach Theatre upholds the tradition of cult-oriented midnight movies on Saturdays.
The Arts
During the winter cultural season, the Mahaffey Theater (400 1st St. S., 727/892-5798, www.mahaffeytheater.com) in downtown St. Petersburg hosts touring Broadway productions and is also home to The Florida Orchestra (www.floridaorchestra.org).
The nationally renowned Ruth Eckerd Hall (1111 N. McMullen Booth Rd., 727/791-7400, www.rutheckerdhall.com) in Clearwater hosts live events year-round; winter brings ballet, Broadway, and symphony performances, while spring and summer see pop and rock concerts from adult-oriented touring acts.
© Jason Ferguson from Moon Florida, 1st Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.