By Peter Roos
Tony Dovolani, from Dancing with the Stars, will be hosting the Fred Astaire Dance Studios (FADS) of Tampa Bay Night at the Museum Showcase 2026! Want to meet Tony? Grab a VIP ticket and join a meet-and-greet before the show! Tickets are limited, so don’t wait! Once they are sold out you can still get regular seating without the meetup Come cheer on the amazing students and professional dancers of FADS Tampa Bay Fri., May 22, 7pm at
The Palladium in St. Petersburg.
The Morean Art Center invites students to explore immersive art projects and get inspired during summer camp. Running June 1 through July 24,
9am-3pm, the weekly summer camp engages campers with awesome hands-on art activities in multiple mediums, all celebrating Past Classics, Present Favorites, and Future Fun art. Many families return year after year as children, and later as parents, still taking part in the program. Countless campers have taken their first steps in painting, ceramics, and glass at the Art Center, building not only artistic skills but lasting memories and connections. This enduring legacy reflects the Morean’s deep commitment to arts education and its role in shaping generations of creative thinkers. Weekly themes include Prehistoric Patterns, Stone-Age Storytelling, Magical Middle Ages, Modern Marvels, Here and Now, iArt, Cosmic Curiosity, Futuristic Fantasy Art. Registration for camp
is now open to all families. For more information, visit www.MoreanArtsCenter.org/camps or call 727.822.7872.
Do ypu love clasical piano music? Check out the world-renowned Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival in concert! Celebrated worldwide, the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival (RPPF) is a tuition-free program hosting 45 exceptional collegiate pianists from 29 countries and 25 artist faculty
in a three-week residency at the USF School of Music, June 27-July 17.
Under HEALTH in our classified ads at the back of the magazine, is a listing for much-needed FREE mental health support groups with two community meetings by a 501c3 non-profit, depression bipolar support group that is now in its 41st year. Depression / Bipolar Support Group meets at two St. Pete locations, 7pm weekly, free, no registration, confidential. Tuesdays 7pm at Allendale Church 3803 Haines Rd. N and Thursdays 7pm at Pasadena Church 227 70th St. S. Call 727-410-1569 for info or visit: www.dbstampabay.org
Thrift store devotees are excited about a new outlet at 4924 Gulfport Blvd. S. The Gulfport New & Used Variety Store has clothing, shoes, appliances, jewelry, custom apparel, furniture and more. You can reach Marilyn, the proprietor, by email at gulfportvs@gmail.com or by calling 727-557-4764. The Pasadena Community Church Thrift Mall on 70th St. at Second Ave. S welcomes shoppers 9am-1pm Wednesdays and Saturdays. They also loan durable medical equipment. The Pass-a-Grille Community Church thrift store is open 9am-12pm Tues., Thurs. and Sat. mornings.
From May into early June, visitors to Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach’s downtown shopping district, can expect a vibrant lineup of experiences – whether you’re visiting a Sunday market, or a quarterly arts and craft show, browsing unique boutiques, taking a class to learn something new, enjoying a bite from one of the area’s restaurants, or simply strolling one of St. Pete Beach’s most walkable districts. Mark your calendar for Friday, May 29, 5-8pm, when Corey Avenue hosts its signature Sip & Stroll evening. Shops stay open later, music fills the street, and guests are invited to wander, sip, and discover what makes this district so special. The energy continues the following weekend with the Corey Area Art & Craft Festival June 6 & 7, 10am-5pm transforming the avenue into an open-air gallery filled with handmade goods, fine art, jewelry, décor, and more from talented regional artisans.
Corey Avenue turns up the volume for the St. Pete Beach Seafood Festival June 12-14, a full weekend of live music, local vendors, and fresh seafood served up right in the heart of the district. With free admission and a lively street festival atmosphere, it’s a can’t-miss celebration of summer on the beach. Throughout it all, Corey Avenue’s locally owned shops, restaurants, and wellness spaces round out the experience – making it easy to spend a full day (or weekend) exploring everything the district has to offer. For the most up-to-date event details and participating businesses, visit www.coreyave.com.
St Petersburg’s Month of Photography (SPMOP) offers an exciting lineup of exhibitions, events, and development opportunities for photographers – including a showcase by Becca McCoy, Jon Mishner, Yahyma Tamayo, Juan Manuel Barrero, and Anthony Coletti, the five finalists for the prestigious 2026 Photo Laureate award. Their works are on display at the Morean Arts Center. Saturday, May 9 at 7pm, the winner will be announced during a special reception. ALT TAMPA, a solo exhibition by current photo laureate, Jesi Cason, is at Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Ybor City through June 14. Jesi captures this largely unseen world through bold, expressive portraits. Jesi Cason will make her artist’s presentation at the museum on May 31, 1-3pm. SPMOP also collaborates in other exhibitions with the James Museum, Crislip Café, and the Museum of Motherhood; photo walks at Sunken Gardens, Florida Botanical Gardens and Disney Parks, a Photo Book Night at OXH Gallery, and the annual photographic edition of Keep St Pete Lit’s open mic. For details, www.spmop.org/2026-programming
Celebrate America 250 all year at The Wharf, where you’ll enjoy iconic American foods such as cheeseburgers, baby back ribs and seafood chowder washed down with a brewski and baseball on 17 TVs. The Wharf in Pass-a-Grille is known for its Floridian fare as well, from the best grouper sandwich to peel n eat shrimp, smoked fish spread, coconut shrimp baskets, crab cakes and yellowfin tuna dinners grilled, blackened or fried mahi, shrimp, salmon and scallops too!. The waterfront view from the open-air dining room and back patio, boat docks and live music with rocking Rob Tyre Wednesday-Saturday 6-9:30 pm make this a local favorite! Happy hour Mon.-Fri. (bar only) 3:30-6pm, friendly service and a kids menu plus daily specials beckon including Tuesday Fish Fry with hush puppies, coleslaw and fries; Taco Wednesday and daily specials (softshell crab, grouper Oscar) including ceviche most Fri./Sat. www.wharfpag.com
Our coastal communities are supported by several strong chambers of commerce that promote local businesses, guide visitors, and create networking opportunities.
On the south barrier islands, the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber operates a welcome center in St. Pete Beach, while the Pinellas Beaches Chamber runs its headquarters near John’s Pass. Gulfport is served by the Gulfport Merchants Chamber, known for its year-round Tuesday market.
The Pinellas Beaches Chamber hosts seasonal events like the Treasure Island Friday market (December-May) and a large night market at ROC Park in June. The park also recently hosted Madeira Beach’s Founder’s Day celebration alongside the Old Salt Fishing Foundation tournament.
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber, one of the county’s oldest, continues to grow under President/CEO Charlie Justice, Membership Director Roxanne Anderson, and VP Kennedy Powell. They offer networking through a monthly referral group, now meeting at the new Treasure Island City Hall, and run a leadership institute that connects members with local institutions. They also coordinate meetings between business leaders and city officials.
The St. Petersburg Chamber offers a more metropolitan approach, including its “Meet The Chamber” session led by Roger Curlin. This event helps prospective and current members understand how to engage, focusing on marketing, relationships, leadership, advocacy, and education. For more information or to register: www.business.stpete.com/ap/Events/Register/3BFz1xKCYCQCg