Come celebrate the kickoff of the 4th Annual SunLit Festival! Enjoy beer/wine and hors d’oeuvres, as you explore the Chihuly Collection. The SunLit Festival brings together over 35 cultural organizations and businesses for 16 days of “Litertainment.” It runs April 7-22nd, 2018.
We will have guest speakers and featured storytellers sharing their love of books, reading and writing. We will also be giving out the 2018 SunLit Award to Jeff Morris of Wilson’s Book World for over 40 years of service to our literary community! Music by JJ Pattishall. Tickets – $35 (includes 2 free drink tickets) Donation bar. Produced by Keep St. Pete Lit.
Contact: Maureen McDole (727) 798-4530
Location: Chihuly Gallery- 720 Central Ave.
Time: (7-9 pm)
Cost: $35.00 (Proceeds will support Keep St. Pete Lit.)
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/151947105488117/
Saturday, April 7
Open Tree Climb celebrating books, trees, and books about trees!
Join Pathfinder and the SunLit Festival at this special Open Tree Climb celebrating books, trees, and books about trees! We’ll have our regular tree climbing where our trained facilitators take you through a brief ground school and then you can climb at your own pace into the canopy of a gorgeous live oak.
There will also be lots of other book-themed activities for readers of all ages! cultured books will be here with a pop-up bookstore. Lorielle will also lead a book group on “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind” by William Kamkwamba. The book group will meet at 11a.m. Plan ahead and purchase your copy at cultured books or pick it up from the library now so you’re ready to join in the discussion. Children’s author and illustrator Erica Sirotich will read her children’s book “Found Dogs” at 1 pm – a great activity for the little ones who are 6 and under while their older siblings climb.
Be sure to bring any books you’re currently reading because we’ll have space set aside with hammocks and blankets for silent reading. Hang out and read with us! 10 am to 3 pm. (last climbers go up at 2:30 pm- we’re done climbing at 3 pm). Anyone ages 6 and up can climb. FREE for every climber!
Contact: (727) 328-0300
Location: Pathfinder Outdoor Education- 1310 22nd Ave South
Time: 10 am-3 pm.
Cost: FREE
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/565060937203703/
Monday, April 9
An Evening with Lee Irby
Lee Irby is the author of several major novels, including 7,000 CLAMS, THE UP AND UP, and THE UNRELIABLE: A NOVEL, all published by Doubleday. In 2012, he released THE VAN, a novel following the life of a VW Bus. Irby’s work centers on the quirks of Florida’s history, the interplay of natural beauty and rampant corruption and violence that marked the Sunshine State in the 1920s. He teaches at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. Opening remarks begin at 5:30 pm, followed by the author’s talk. A reception and book signing is from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm. (Seating is available starting at 5:00 pm) Produced by Friends of the Mirror Lake Library and Keep St. Pete Lit.
Contact: (813) 767-5503
Location: Mirror Lake Library (second floor) 280 5th Street North.
Time: (5:30-7:00pm)
Cost: FREE
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2030953960522643/
Wednesday, April 11
“Fools for Love”
Join Paul Wilborn and Eugenie Bondurant for a night of words, music and film exploring love in all its mad glory. The Lion Man, Cavanaugh Murphy III and his crazy ex-girlfriend, Margo, all characters from Paul’s monologue collection, Stray Dogs, will be there to tell their stories of love gone wrong. Tiny Bacteria, the short film (starring Eugenie) last seen at the Cannes Film Festival, will be shown, along with comic excerpts from her cult indie feature, Donald and Dot Clock Found Dead In Their Homes. And Paul, Eugenie and Blue Roses will be playing and singing the best love songs from the Great American Songbook.
Contact: Paul Wilborn (727) 302-6870
Location: The Studio@620- 620 1st Ave S. St. Pete
Time: 7:30-9:30pm
Cost: Admission $20/$15 Studio Members
Get tickets here: http://www.thestudioat620.org/ticket-sales
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1781734438552434/
Thursday, April 12
PRIDE Launch Party: The Story of Harvey Milk & the Rainbow Flag
Tombolo Books is proud to be hosting Rob Sanders’ launch party for PRIDE: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, the very first picture book about the remarkable and inspiring story of the Gay Pride Flag!
In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders’s stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno’s evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable – and undertold – story. It is a story of love, hope, equality, and pride. Rob will be joined in conversatio n with Mellissa Alonso-Teston, Supervisor for Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Reading Coach Project and adjunct instructor in the College of Education at USF. Pre-orders through Tombolo are welcome and will be rewarded! To order call Tombolo Books at 727-755-9456. (All Ages)
Contact: Tombolo Books- 727-755-9456
Location: Art Xchange St. Pete- 515 22nd St. S. St. Pete
Time: 6:30-9:00pm
Cost: Free Silent Auction benefiting LGBTQ Homeless Youth Project (Family Resources)
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1982821565079123/
Thursday, April 12
InSights: A Convergence of Adolescence
A mixture of writers, artists, and community leaders will read excerpts of their high school writings – from poetry to homework assignments to “Dear Diary” entries – intermingled with current area high school students sharing their present-day thoughts. Foresight meets hindsight in a convergence of adolescence: what is Universal about those formative years across generations, and how have things changed in the Digital Age?
Participants include: David Warner and Cathy Salustri of Creative Loafing, Mayor of Gulfport Sam Henderson, Executive Director of Creative Pinellas Barbara St. Clair, poet Pedro el Poeta, Community Liaison of USFSP Harris Ambush, actor Becca McCoy, Pinellas County School Board Chairperson Rene Flowers, New Renaissance Artist Elizabeth A. Baker, author Lisa Kirchner, First Unity Spiritual Leader Temple Hayes, Executive Director of The Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum Terri Lipsey Scott, and Gallerie 909 owner Carla Bristol. This event is FREE, but donations will be collected for the Broward Education Foundation’s Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund: http://browardedfoundation.org/.
Contact: Becca McCoy (727) 324-9376
Location: First Unity Spiritual Campus- 460 46th Ave N. St Pete
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Cost: FREE
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2022697341329196/
Friday, April 13
ArtSong Fusion: Music + Poetry – An Evening with Luis González
Discover the elegant genre of art song as baritone Luis González (Opera Tampa, St. Petersburg Opera, Sarasota Festival of Vocal Arts) sings a gorgeous program of stunning vocal works by Mozart, Korngold, Poulenc, Thomas Pasatieri and Lori Laitman. Witness the fusion of music and poetry up-close and personal in an intimate theatrical setting as you enjoy happy-hour cocktails and revel in these miniature masterpieces. Featuring pianist Michael Stewart and live translation readings by Maureen McDole, Executive Director of Keep St. Pete Lit.
PROGRAM
- Mozart: Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo – K 584
- Korngold: Settings of Eleonore van der Straaten, Joseph von Eichendorff and Ernst Lothar
- Thomas Pasatieri: Three Poems of Oscar Wilde
- Lori Laitman: Mystery – Five Settings of Sara Teasdale
- Poulenc: Settings of Paul Éluard, Guillaume Apollinaire and Pierre de Ronsard
Location: SubCentral at Iberian Rooster – 475 Central Ave, Ste 100, St. Pete.
Time: 6:00 pm (Doors at 5:30 PM)
Cost: $20.00 General Admission; $25.00 VIP/Preferred Seating (Recommended)
To buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artsong-fusion-music-poetry-an-evening-with-baritone-luis-gonzalez-tickets-4437216032
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1819078651726101
Saturday, April 14
Authors, Writers, and Winners
Three St. Petersburg writers will read from their latest publications, and answer your questions about the publishing world. Readings by: John A. Vanek Deros: A Father Jake Austin Mystery; Cathy Salustri: Backroads of Paradise: A Journey to Rediscover Old Florida; Peter Golenbock Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964 (Dover Baseball) and Presumed Guilty: Casey Anthony: The Inside Story.
Winners will also be announced of the SunLit short story contest, A <2500 word short story beginning with the phrase “The last time I saw my mother/father, she/he was…”
First place $100, Second place $50. Young Writers Prize (18 and under) $100.00
Produced by: Friends of the Main Library
Contact: For information on entering the short story contest or attending the event, contact Lorraine Franckle at (727) 698-3643 or email ljrmd@tampabay.rr.com
Location: St. Petersburg Public Library- 3746 9th Ave N.
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Cost: FREE
Saturday, April 14
The Pink Beneath Our Feet: Poetic Installations
Join us for The Pink Beneath Our Feet, an interactive poetic installation featuring the work of renowned artist Katee Tully and St. Petersburg Poet Laureate Helen Pruitt Wallace. A portion of the exhibit will involve viewer participation. Visitors are asked to bring a tribute to pink – an item smaller than a flamingo, larger than a marble – to surrender at the Temple to Pink.
Free Public Opening: Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 5-7pm
The public opening will be followed by a private event beginning at 7:30pm with a cocktail reception. This ticketed event will include a reading by Helen Pruitt Wallace and artist discussion between Helen Pruitt Wallace and Katee Tully, moderated by Warehouse Arts District executive director Diane Bailey Morton.
Helen Wallace will have books available for sale and signing at the private event, and Katee Tully will have work available for purchase. Complimentary valet parking included with ticket purchase. The Temple to Pink exhibit will remain open to the public during business hours Monday-Friday, April 16th – May 4th.
Location: Behar + Peteranecz Architecture – 2430 Terminal Dr. S. St. Pete
Time: 5:00-7:00pm General Public; 7:30pm Private Event
Cost: FREE (5:00-7:00pm);
Private event: $50.00 (7:30pm-11:00pm) Tickets available at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3372371
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/595621124110397/
Sunday, April 15
Dia de los Muertos: Memory Sharing
Parents and Grandparents: Bring your child to see the artistic sugar skulls at Florida Craft Art’s exhibition “Dia de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life” April 7-14. Select a sugar skull that inspires memories about which each of you would like to write. Then on Sunday, April 15 from 2-4 p.m., as part of the Keep St. Pete Lit 4th Annual Sunlit Festival, read you work in the “Sugar Skull Inspired Memories” performance.
Contact: (727) 821-7391
Location: Florida Craft Art- 501 Central Ave. St. Pete
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Cost: Free
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/764213010442736/
Tuesday, April 17
St. Petersburg Ballet Company performs Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf is the timeless tale of a little Russian boy, Peter and his best friends: Sasha, the bird, Sonya, the duck and Ivan, the cat. They have decided to go on a hunt for the “Wolf”…and they find him! The tale is illustrated by the delightful voice of Sterling Holloway and the wonderful music of Sergei Prokofiev. The dancers from the St. Petersburg Ballet Company will be performing the story in original masks created by Lester Jacobsen and David Anderson and costumes painted by Jillian Kuusela.
Contact: Suzanne Pomerantzeff
Location: St. Petersburg Museum of History- 335 2nd Ave NE
Time: 6:00 and 7:00pm
Cost: FREE
Thursday, April 19
Literary Carousel at the MFA
Photography from the MFA archives COMES ALIVE through the art of the “Ekphrastic,” a literary interpretation of a piece of visual art. Hand-picked images get the prose and poetry treatment, read live to you. Come join us for this second annual, one-of-a-kind event for Literature- and Photography -Lovers alike!
Presenters:
- Slam Anderson
- Arin Greenwood
- Scott Harrell
- Shane Hinton
- Jeff Houck
- Tenea D. Johnson
- Peter Meinke
- David Warner
Produced by: Todd Bates Creative
Contact: (727) 896-2667
Location: Museum of Fine Arts- 255 Beach Dr. NE
Time: Doors at 6:00pm. Readings start at 6:30pm.
Cost: Free with Museum Admission, $5 after 5 pm. You are invited to come early for the MFA’s monthly Cocktails & Collections event from 5:00-7:00 p.m. FREE for MFA Members. $10 for Not-Yet Members, Plus Admission . Enjoy light bites, an art-inspired signature cocktail and a docent tour of the Photography Gallery. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1872982972993714/
Friday, April 20
Adult Spelling Bee Fundraiser for Literacy Council of St. Petersburg
JOIN US FRIDAY, APRIL 20TH AT OUR SPELLING BEE FOR GROWN-UPS! Teams of adults will compete to determine the best spellers in St. Pete – and all for a good cause! Team registrations and attendance support the Literacy Council of St. Petersburg.
GOT A BIT OF A COMPETITIVE STREAK AND THINK YOU CAN SPELL? Get a team together and compete! Each round, your team will have a specified period of time to spell a word. Correct spelling will earn points, incorrect spelling will lose points and the team with the most points will be crowned champions (really, you’ll get a medal…). Theatricality, team names and costumes are encouraged! $100 per team of two to four adults. Register your team at www.universe.com/lcspspellingbee NOT SURE OF YOUR SPELLING SKILLS BUT STILL WANT TO BE PART OF THE FUN? You can support the Literacy Council by joining us that evening and cheer on the spellers! $10 for adult, $7 for children 12 and under. Doors will open at 6:30. Spelling will begin at 7:00 and will end by 9:30. Children are welcome but please keep in mind this is an event that involves sitting and listening to people spell…so you know if your kids will be into that or not.
Produced by: Literacy Council of St. Petersburg
Contact: (727) 521-1117
Location: Sunshine Center- 330 5th St. N
Time: 6:30-9:30pm
Cost: $100 per team of two to four adults.
Register your team at www.universe.com/lcspspellingbee
General public: $10 for adult, $7 for children 12 and under.
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/150106695665977/
Friday, April 20
Porch Party: Book Launch Your Robot Dog Will Die
We’re THRILLED to launch Arin Greenwood’s new book, Your Robot Dog Will Die . Arin writes about animal welfare issues across the country and wrote this book — in part — while living in Gulfport. The book is based on a dystopian Gulfport (called “Beachport”) where her family is the keeper of the last living dogs in America. Manatees Restaurant also makes an appearance, as do a few local characters. The porch party will feature Arin and her super-dog, Murray, as well as Suncoast Animal League, who will be on hand with foster-able and adoptable dogs. A portion of the book sales will benefit Suncoast Animal League. You can pre-order this delightful and heartfelt book at http://squ.re/2DMxrxV and pick it up at the porch party.
Arin will read from her book and sign as many copies as you can buy. Dogs and kids welcome, although some material may be inappropriate for dogs under two. BYOB. Light snacks provided; feel free to bring a dish to share (or not) and remember, members get access to the Square Mullet Clubhouse. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Arin will speak at 7 p.m. with a book signing after the talk and question-and-answer.
Contact: 727-656-5420
Location: Gulfport Historical Museum- 5301 28th Ave S. Gulfport
Time: 6:30-9:30pm
Cost: Free
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/166462730823601
Friday, April 20- Sunday, April 22
37th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair
Visitors will find books of every age and about every conceivable topic. Additional materials found at the Fair include maps, prints, postcards, ephemera, autographs and other paper collectibles.
Contact: (727) 234-7759
Location: St. Petersburg Coliseum- 535 4th Ave N.
Time: Friday, April 20: 5:00-9:00pm, Saturday, April 21: 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, April 22: 11:00am-4:00pm
Cost: Friday evening’s admission, which includes a live music performance, is $10; the ticket is good for the entire weekend. Saturday’s admission is $10 for the weekend or $6 for the day. Sunday’s admission is $6 for the day and includes a free appraisal by members of the Florida Bibliophile Society. Children 12 and under, and students with valid identification, are free. Parking is free. Ticket sales benefit the St Petersburg Public Library. Discount coupons are available online at http://www.FloridaBookFair.blogspot.com.
For more info: http://www.FloridaBooksellers.com and
https://www.facebook.com/events/1211165242342796/
Saturday, April 21
Mirror Lake Tour With a Literary Twist!
Preserve the ‘Burg (formerly St. Petersburg Preservation) and Keep St. Pete Lit are partnering to offer this fun tweak to PTB’s traditional downtown walking tour, a historic tour with a literary twist! We will be leaving the steps of City Hall, meandering around Mirror Lake, stepping over to Historic Lang’s Bungalow Court and stopping by St. Pete Shuffle Club and St. Pete’s Carnegie Mirror Lake Library. At tour stops, tour goers will both learn a bit about our city’s rich history from our tour guide and gain inspiration from a local writer offering a short reading from their work. It makes for a different and great tour experience!
Contact: (727) 824-7802 or info@preservetheburg.org
Location: Start at City Hall – 175 5th St. N
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Cost: $10 for non-members, FREE for PTB members
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1664258827025746/
Saturday, April 21
Life on the Deuces: An Intersection of History and Home
Kitchen Table Literary Arts partners with Cultured Books and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum to explore the rich and essential history of The Deuces in South St. Petersburg. Participants will learn about the legacy of the neighborhood, which is steeped in stories of resilience and community amid the racial redlining and disenfranchisement at the core of the city’s lingering segregation. In response to the history discussion, participants will be invited to write stories or poems about their experiences, their reflections, and their hopes for life on the The Deuces and throughout the cityscape overall. The workshop exists at the very necessary intersection of history and home… JOIN US!
Contact: Slam Anderson 216-612-9939Location: Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum- 2240 9th Ave S. St. Pete
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Cost: FREE. To help us with planning for the event, please register here: https://lifeonthedeuces.bpt.me/
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/170211073772999/
Sunday, April 22
Wake Up: The Buddhist Writings of Jack Kerouac
The Metta Center of St. Petersburg presents an exploration of Jack Kerouac’s work (including Mexico City Blues and The Dharma Bums ), analysis of his religious upbringing and spiritual experience, and the impact his writing has had on Buddhism in America. This event will feature live readings and storytelling from award-winning singer-songwriter Ronny Elliott, actress and vocalist Colleen Cherry (Jobsite Theater, American Stage, Florida Bjorkestra), and Joran Oppelt (Integral Church, Interfaith Tampa Bay).
Contact: Joran Oppelt (727) 771-5656
Location: Unitarian Universalist Church; 100 Mirror Lake Dr. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Cost: $15.00. Register in advance at http://metta.life/
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/186070318833533