Jazz Jamm at the Vinoy

Meet 2 hear the beat st. pete

written by guest SK

Even on a too cool

Wednesday night, St. Pete downtown was the “in” place to be. The new Dali museum setting for a thank you buffet for docents, volunteers, staff and invited guests was a feast for the eyes.

The building mirrors the soaring grace and imagination of Dali; a perfect home for his works. Then on to the Vinoy to see and hear Rick Gee’s newest venue located in the downstairs ballroom with great acoustics and enough seating to hold a few hundred. It was close to full.

Tonite's show on stage, 'The Duke Meets Jobim', with Violinist Rebecca Zapen and renowned bassist John Lamb with solid back ups on sax, drums and piano. They moved smoothly from the breathy rhythms of Bossa Nova to the cool sounds of the Duke; “the Girl from Ipanema” meets “Satin Doll.” John Lamb is a virtuoso performer bassist who performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra for more than ten years. He was, as always, mellow and in the groove, and Rick even joined the group on flute for one number. We found Rebecca’s voice and take on the music a bit too country, or 50’s girl band, without the sexy off-beat of Jobim, but John and the backup group more than held their own. Entree fee was $20 with wine and beer available for purchase.

See Rick Gee's Jazz Jamm website for more details including next month's venue, John Lamb’s CD 'Conversations North of the Border' release party on February 18, 2011.

Dali Museum

One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Tel: 727-823-3767

 It's been party, party, party for Dali afficienados from all over the world this week and Java and Dune were part of the action. We were lucky enough to attend the ribbon cutting yesterday afternoon and a lovely dinner in the stunning new facility last night. Didn't get to try the Cafe Gala, the on site restaurant that I'm told will serve some Spanish hertiage dishes, but will mostly stick to soups, salads and sandwiches. We feasted on chicken paella, roasted potatoes, salad, and rustic olive bread. A bevy of appetizers was available too and the cava (a rosey champagne) flowed freely. The collection has never looked so good. If you've been to the old museum lately, you know this architectural endeavor was sorely needed. There are a myriad of Daliesque touches to discover throughout the interior space and outside in the surrounding landscape. The museum store is one of the best I've seen for artsy merchandise, books not so much. This is just one more development that puts our humble burg on the map as a worthwhile destination.

Salvador Dali Museum outing

One Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL. Tel. 727-823-3767

On January 11, 2011 the new Salvador Dali Museum will open to the public. I was able to tour the museum's beautiful and exciting new home during it's construction and again just before the paintings were transferred. The entire experience reflects both Dali's life and career and is, therefore, a fascinating place to visit. It's very different from the original site.

The cement and glass exterior is sure to be a St. Petersburg icon. The structure, its landscaped exterior and surrealist interior were all carefully designed to reflect the man and his art. As for the art work, it is still the most comprehensive collection of Dali's work in the world.

At the moment, it's best to go to the Dali website to see the list of events planned for the opening celebrations. Tickets for individuals and groups are currently on sale online.

If you plan to visit often it's a good idea to become a member for the unlimited free admission and other discounts available.

BTW can now dine at the museum either indoors or out. It you're feeling more adventurous we do offer alternatives....

Dining Out

After enjoying the Dali you'll be ready for either lunch or dinner so here are a couple of suggestions. The first is Cerviche's a tapas bar and restaurant located at 95 Central Ave. where you can continue the Catalan experience. The food and sangria have both won awards in the Tampa Bay area. The second is The Hangar located at tiny Albert Whitted Airport within walking distance of the museum. You'll be able to eat either indoors or out while watching the planes come and go. A fun place for the kids too. The food is good and you can read a past review on this blog, just look up The Hangar.