Another Cultural Milestone For St Petersburg, Florida!

Is it any surprise that the Grand Opening of the new Salvador Dali museum would have its ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:11 on 1-11-11???

According to Hank Hine, the Museum Director, "The $36 million landmark building will be realized as a collaboration between architect Yann Weymouth of HOK, the Museum staff, and the builder the Beck Group. Built more efficiently than many contemporary museum structures, the new Dali combines elements of the classical and the fantastical – much like the work of Dali." The museum houses the largest collection of Dali's work outside Spain and has achieved the coveted 3-Star Michelin status.

A procession moved from the old museum location to the new home of The New Dalí which opened with an awe-inspiring installation of the Museum's permanent collection within the combined 20,000 square feet state-of-the-art gallery spaces allowing for the first time the complete viewing of all 96 oil paintings, plus a selection of drawings, fine prints, photographs, videos and Surreal Objects by Salvador Dalí. www.salvadordalimuseum.org

The Dali Museum joins the new Dale Chihuly Collection of Glass at the Morean Arts Center (which opened in 2010) in giving residents and visitors alike new cultural destinations to explore in downtown St Petersburg here in Tampa Bay. It's not ALL about the sunny weather and beautiful white beaches!!!

Grand Opening Events include several performances of the Florida Orchestra this weekend dedicated to the eccentricity of Dali and Family Day at the Museum this Saturday from 10:30-4.

Also look for:
Dalí & Beyond Film Series: The Dalí Dimension
Thursday, Jan. 20, 6:00 p.m

Dalí Museum Benefit Party - Los Sueños de Dali
Saturday, January 22, 8:00 - 11 p.m.

Yoga + Dalí
Sundays, starting January 23, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.

Downtown St Petersburg - A Mecca Of Culture!

As we continue our discussion on what the Tampa Bay area offers, we don’t want to lose sight of culture... especially in downtown St Petersburg! The arts are abundant in what is called the "Sunshine City"... from the new currently under-construction Salvador Dali Museum (opening Jan. 11, 2011) to the newly expanded Museum of Fine Arts, to the private art galleries that line its downtown streets. A center for both visual and performance art, St Petersburg is now the proud home of another legend!

As of last month, the Morean Arts Center at 400 Beach Drive culminated its efforts over the past 5 years to establish a gallery of works by famed glass artist Dale Chihuly. 16 installations of glass art represents works from throughout the glass pioneer’s career! And, along with this collection, the Morean will also be opening a Glass Studio & Hot Shop that will provide furnaces, kilns, studio space and seating for visitors to watch glass artists at work!

As a realtor in the area, we have access to some wonderful events with the opportunity to experience these cultural displays first hand. Last night, the Young Professionals Network, a chapter of the Pinellas Realtors Organization, hosted an evening social which included a tour of this stunning collection of Chihuly's artwork as well as a networking social at 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House. YPN is a growing group of career-minded real estate professionals interested in finding and using the best tools with which to service their buyers and sellers.

We were extremely impressed with the Chihuly exhibit and stimulating conversations about our market that followed. With the new Salvador Dali Museum on the horizon, we know we will be personally making downtown St Petersburg a regular outing! So much to see and do!!