Amazing Pinellas
Celebrating 100 Years as the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
SPONSORED REPORT
Museum of Fine ArtsPier 60 Clearwater BeachInnisbrook ResortTampa Bay Rays
Own Florida In 12 Monthly Installments
Knowledge is power And Florida Trend mdash the monthly magazine our online daily edition and our free Daily Pulse eNewsletter mdash covers every aspect of Florida business in every region of the state The people the issues the industries the politics the lifestyle the buzz More than just informative Florida Trend
has the analysis and inside track that give the inside edge to serious players
FloridaTrendcomsubscribe
Florida Trend Itrsquos the ownerrsquos manual to the Sunshine State
OwnFL_House Ad 2011indd 1 4412 330 PM
A Word from the PublisherWelcome to this special report
celebrating the 100th anniversary of Pinellas County In this e-zine format yoursquoll see the same report featured in Florida Trendrsquos May 2012 issue
As local resident and freelance writer Lynn Waddell points out Pinellas County has many valid reasons for calling itself the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
Lynns reporting took her from the award-winning beaches of Fort De Soto Park in south Pinel-las County to the historic sponge docks of Tarpon Springs in the north The dazzling photographs showcase St PeteClearwaters big-city attractions cultural charms and white sand beaches Read on and I expect youll find yourself wanting to join the mil-lions of visitors who enjoy Pinellas County each year
Florida Trend is publishing a
series of Community Portraits on cities and counties around the state in coming editions I invite you to subscribe to our print edition so that you donrsquot miss a single one Information on how to contact Florida Trend is printed below
We look forward to hearing from you
How to Reach UsLetters to FLorida trendMail Florida Trend PO Box 611 St Petersburg FL 33731 Fax 727822-5083e-mail mhowardFloridaTrendcom All letters should include the authorrsquos telephone number or e-mail address Florida Trend edits some letters for length and clarity
FLorida trend onLineWebsite wwwFloridaTrendcom Includes back issues
reprintse-printsTo purchase article reprints or e-prints contact Wrightrsquos Reprints at 877652-5295 or wwwwrightsreprintscom
subscriptionsFor individual and corporate subscriptions renewals changes questions and single copies contact us atonline 247 service at wwwFloridaTrendcomCustomerService phone 800829-9103 (9 am to 5 pm EST)e-mail custrelationsFloridaTrendcom
adVertisinGwwwFloridaTrendcomMediaKitphone 727821-5800e-mail advertisingFloridaTrendcom
publisher Andrew P Cortyassociate publisher Janice G Sharp
editoriaLWriter Lynn Waddell
artart director Simone Tieber
adMinistrationbusiness Manager Barbara Goodmanaccounting David A Dale
circuLationdirector of audience development amp toprank Florida Karen Tysonprint amp Fulfillment supervisor Connie Greenblattcustomer relations Marsha Almodovartoprank research amp database Mazie Anderson
business deVeLopMentassociate publisher Janice G SharpMarketing amp special projects coordinator Leslie VasbindercreativeGraphic designer Anne Meyer
productiondirector of production Jill South
onLine pubLishinGonline project Manager Joyce Edmondsononline editor Will Short Gorhamonline publishing specialist Robb Brown
adVertisinG saLesdirector of advertising Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612
senior Market director central Floridaorlando - treasure coast - Gainesville - brevard county Laura Peters Armstrong 407951-6359
senior Market director tampa baytampa - st petersburg - sarasota - naples - Ft MyersChristine King 727892-2641
senior Market director south Florida Miami - Ft Lauderdale - palm beaches Maggie Caruso 727892-2640
senior Market director north Florida Jacksonville - tallahassee - panama city - pensacolaJaime McKnight 727892-2645
national sales director new York - atlanta - chicago Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612
advertising support representative Rana Becker 727892-2642
pubLished bY trend MaGazines incchairman Paul Tashpresident Andrew P Corty secretary Barbara Goodmantreasurer Jana Jones
Made in the USA Florida Trend (ISSN 0015-4326) PO Box 611 St Petersburg FL 33731 Telephone 727821-5800 (Street address 490 First Ave S St Petersburg FL 33701) Copyright 2012 Trend Magazines Inc All rights reserved The following are registered trademarks and logos of Trend Magazines Inc and their unauthorized use is strictly prohibited Florida Trend Golden Spoon Awards Florida Trendline Tallahassee Trend Trendsetter Awards Florida CEO Trends Tampa Bayrsquos Best dba Florida Florida Small Business Florida Trendrsquos Research Florida Legal Elite Florida Trendrsquos NEXT - Your Future After High School Florida College Planner Teen Trendsetters Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited Florida Trend accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts photographs artwork or reacutesumeacute material Microform paper and electronic formats available from UMI 300 N Zeeb Road Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 800521-0600 Subscriber Services online at wwwfloridatrendcomcustomerservice or call 1-800-829-9103 Address Change Send address with mailing label from past issue to Florida Trend PO Box 16238 North Hollywood CA
91615 Allow six weeks
Member BPA Worldwide Alliance of Area Business Publications Florida Magazine Association
mdash Andy CortyPublisher
[acortyfloridatrendcom]
Florida Trend wwwFloridaTrendcomOwn Florida
In 12 Monthly Installments
Knowledge is power And Florida Trend mdash the monthly magazine our online daily edition and our free Daily Pulse eNewsletter mdash covers every aspect of Florida business in every region of the state The people the issues the industries the politics the lifestyle the buzz More than just informative Florida Trend
has the analysis and inside track that give the inside edge to serious players
FloridaTrendcomsubscribe
Florida Trend Itrsquos the ownerrsquos manual to the Sunshine State
OwnFL_House Ad 2011indd 1 4412 330 PM
50
St PeterSburg + Clearwater + beaCheS + hidden
Tampa Bay Rays
Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Club
Pier 60 Clearwater Beach
Museum of Fine Arts
Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island State Parks
PHOTOS COURTESY TAMPA BAY TIMES VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER CITY OF CLEARWATER CITY OF ST PETERSBURG
51
Amazing Pinellas
Celebrating 100 Years as the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
gemS + artS amp Culture + SPortS + buSineSS
SponSored report
SponSored report
52
Over the past 100 years the St PetersburgClearwater area has grown from a coast-
al fishing and farming oasis into the most popular American vacation destination on the Gulf of Mexico All the while the flourishing multi-cultural metropolis with world-class museums professional sports teams and yacht-filled marinas retains the pristine beauty of some of the nationrsquos finest beaches
Surrounded by glistening salt wa-ter on three sides Pinellas County is a mini Florida encompassing the best of what the Sunshine State of-fers Travel magazines and visitors consistently rank local beaches as the nationrsquos best The Daliacute Museum the Chihuly Collection and a vibrant local arts scene make St Petersburg a national arts destination
Sports fans have many reasons to cheer St PeteClearwater has ma-jor and minor league baseball teams and a North American Soccer League team Two MLB teams also hold spring training in the county Profes-sional football and hockey are played just minutes away in Tampa
Gulf ofMexico
Ulmerton Rd
Park Blvd
East Bay Dr
49
th S
t
Gu
l f B
lvd
PINELLAS
HILLS
BOROUGH
Curlew Dr
Central Ave
LakeTarpon
TampaBay
JohnrsquosPass
BocaCiegaBay
Clearw
ater
Harbor
TARPONSPRINGS
CLEARWATERCLEARWATERBEACH
GULFPORT
ST PETERSBURG
DUNEDIN
SAFETYHARBOR
LARGO
ST PETEBEACH
PASS-A-GRILLE
TREASUREISLAND
MADEIRABEACH
INDIANROCKSBEACH
NORTHREDINGTON
BEACH
BELLEAIRBEACH
St PeteClearwater InternationalAirport
AlbertWhittedAirport
TampaInternationalAirport
FortDe SotoPark
Shell KeyPreserve
Egmont KeyState Park
CoachmanPark
SeminolePark
HoneymoonIsland StatePark
AncloteKey
CaladesiIslandStatePark
Sand KeyState Park
N
PINELLAS
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
JacksonvilleTallahassee
Pinellas Trail
Pin
ella
s Tr
ail
Estimated Drive Timesbull Tampa 30 minbull Orlando 1 hr 50 minbull Jacksonville 4 hrs 10 minbull Miami 4 hrs 20 minbull Tallahassee 4 hrs 40 min
SpongeDocks
RuthEckerdHall
JohnrsquosPassVillage
HistoricDistrict
EckerdCollege
Aquarium
CapitolTheater
Pier 60BeachWalk
RedingtonLong Pier
HistoricCoreyAvenue
Vinoy
The Pier
Don CeSarBeach Resort
InnisbrookResort
Dali MuseumUSF St Pete
ChihulyCollectionMuseum
of Fine Arts
Mahaffey Theater
TropicanaField (Rays)
ClearwaterMarina
Holocaust Museum
SuncoastSeabirdSanctuary
BotanicalGardens
Leepa-RattnerArt Museum
Bright House Field (Phillies)
Gandy Bridge
Su
nsh
ine
Sky
way
Bri
dg
e
Courtney Campbell Causeway
How
ard
Franklin Bridge
PinellaS by the numberS
35 miles of White Sand Beaches
250 Parks
50 golf Courses
360 days of Sunshine each year
53 degrees (avg low in Jan)
91 degrees (avg high in July)copy 2012 TreNd
MaGaziNeS iNC
MA
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Y T
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OSS
ETT
A R
USS
ELL
57247 bull VSPC - Florida Trend (Pinellas County 100 Years of Tourism) bull 8125rdquo x 1075rdquo bull 4C bull gew bull V1-21212 V2-22312 V3-22712
HERErsquoS TO 100 YEARS OF WARM MEMORIES
Come celebrate a century of fun in the sun with special deals all summer long
VisitStPeteClearwatercom
Blue Green Orange
White
1912-2012 PINELLAS COUNTY CENTENNIAL
57247_VSPC_FloridaTrend_fullpg_100indd 1 32712 355 PM
54
SponSored report
Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
TOP
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
HO
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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ES
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
Own Florida In 12 Monthly Installments
Knowledge is power And Florida Trend mdash the monthly magazine our online daily edition and our free Daily Pulse eNewsletter mdash covers every aspect of Florida business in every region of the state The people the issues the industries the politics the lifestyle the buzz More than just informative Florida Trend
has the analysis and inside track that give the inside edge to serious players
FloridaTrendcomsubscribe
Florida Trend Itrsquos the ownerrsquos manual to the Sunshine State
OwnFL_House Ad 2011indd 1 4412 330 PM
A Word from the PublisherWelcome to this special report
celebrating the 100th anniversary of Pinellas County In this e-zine format yoursquoll see the same report featured in Florida Trendrsquos May 2012 issue
As local resident and freelance writer Lynn Waddell points out Pinellas County has many valid reasons for calling itself the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
Lynns reporting took her from the award-winning beaches of Fort De Soto Park in south Pinel-las County to the historic sponge docks of Tarpon Springs in the north The dazzling photographs showcase St PeteClearwaters big-city attractions cultural charms and white sand beaches Read on and I expect youll find yourself wanting to join the mil-lions of visitors who enjoy Pinellas County each year
Florida Trend is publishing a
series of Community Portraits on cities and counties around the state in coming editions I invite you to subscribe to our print edition so that you donrsquot miss a single one Information on how to contact Florida Trend is printed below
We look forward to hearing from you
How to Reach UsLetters to FLorida trendMail Florida Trend PO Box 611 St Petersburg FL 33731 Fax 727822-5083e-mail mhowardFloridaTrendcom All letters should include the authorrsquos telephone number or e-mail address Florida Trend edits some letters for length and clarity
FLorida trend onLineWebsite wwwFloridaTrendcom Includes back issues
reprintse-printsTo purchase article reprints or e-prints contact Wrightrsquos Reprints at 877652-5295 or wwwwrightsreprintscom
subscriptionsFor individual and corporate subscriptions renewals changes questions and single copies contact us atonline 247 service at wwwFloridaTrendcomCustomerService phone 800829-9103 (9 am to 5 pm EST)e-mail custrelationsFloridaTrendcom
adVertisinGwwwFloridaTrendcomMediaKitphone 727821-5800e-mail advertisingFloridaTrendcom
publisher Andrew P Cortyassociate publisher Janice G Sharp
editoriaLWriter Lynn Waddell
artart director Simone Tieber
adMinistrationbusiness Manager Barbara Goodmanaccounting David A Dale
circuLationdirector of audience development amp toprank Florida Karen Tysonprint amp Fulfillment supervisor Connie Greenblattcustomer relations Marsha Almodovartoprank research amp database Mazie Anderson
business deVeLopMentassociate publisher Janice G SharpMarketing amp special projects coordinator Leslie VasbindercreativeGraphic designer Anne Meyer
productiondirector of production Jill South
onLine pubLishinGonline project Manager Joyce Edmondsononline editor Will Short Gorhamonline publishing specialist Robb Brown
adVertisinG saLesdirector of advertising Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612
senior Market director central Floridaorlando - treasure coast - Gainesville - brevard county Laura Peters Armstrong 407951-6359
senior Market director tampa baytampa - st petersburg - sarasota - naples - Ft MyersChristine King 727892-2641
senior Market director south Florida Miami - Ft Lauderdale - palm beaches Maggie Caruso 727892-2640
senior Market director north Florida Jacksonville - tallahassee - panama city - pensacolaJaime McKnight 727892-2645
national sales director new York - atlanta - chicago Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612
advertising support representative Rana Becker 727892-2642
pubLished bY trend MaGazines incchairman Paul Tashpresident Andrew P Corty secretary Barbara Goodmantreasurer Jana Jones
Made in the USA Florida Trend (ISSN 0015-4326) PO Box 611 St Petersburg FL 33731 Telephone 727821-5800 (Street address 490 First Ave S St Petersburg FL 33701) Copyright 2012 Trend Magazines Inc All rights reserved The following are registered trademarks and logos of Trend Magazines Inc and their unauthorized use is strictly prohibited Florida Trend Golden Spoon Awards Florida Trendline Tallahassee Trend Trendsetter Awards Florida CEO Trends Tampa Bayrsquos Best dba Florida Florida Small Business Florida Trendrsquos Research Florida Legal Elite Florida Trendrsquos NEXT - Your Future After High School Florida College Planner Teen Trendsetters Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited Florida Trend accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts photographs artwork or reacutesumeacute material Microform paper and electronic formats available from UMI 300 N Zeeb Road Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 800521-0600 Subscriber Services online at wwwfloridatrendcomcustomerservice or call 1-800-829-9103 Address Change Send address with mailing label from past issue to Florida Trend PO Box 16238 North Hollywood CA
91615 Allow six weeks
Member BPA Worldwide Alliance of Area Business Publications Florida Magazine Association
mdash Andy CortyPublisher
[acortyfloridatrendcom]
Florida Trend wwwFloridaTrendcomOwn Florida
In 12 Monthly Installments
Knowledge is power And Florida Trend mdash the monthly magazine our online daily edition and our free Daily Pulse eNewsletter mdash covers every aspect of Florida business in every region of the state The people the issues the industries the politics the lifestyle the buzz More than just informative Florida Trend
has the analysis and inside track that give the inside edge to serious players
FloridaTrendcomsubscribe
Florida Trend Itrsquos the ownerrsquos manual to the Sunshine State
OwnFL_House Ad 2011indd 1 4412 330 PM
50
St PeterSburg + Clearwater + beaCheS + hidden
Tampa Bay Rays
Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Club
Pier 60 Clearwater Beach
Museum of Fine Arts
Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island State Parks
PHOTOS COURTESY TAMPA BAY TIMES VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER CITY OF CLEARWATER CITY OF ST PETERSBURG
51
Amazing Pinellas
Celebrating 100 Years as the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
gemS + artS amp Culture + SPortS + buSineSS
SponSored report
SponSored report
52
Over the past 100 years the St PetersburgClearwater area has grown from a coast-
al fishing and farming oasis into the most popular American vacation destination on the Gulf of Mexico All the while the flourishing multi-cultural metropolis with world-class museums professional sports teams and yacht-filled marinas retains the pristine beauty of some of the nationrsquos finest beaches
Surrounded by glistening salt wa-ter on three sides Pinellas County is a mini Florida encompassing the best of what the Sunshine State of-fers Travel magazines and visitors consistently rank local beaches as the nationrsquos best The Daliacute Museum the Chihuly Collection and a vibrant local arts scene make St Petersburg a national arts destination
Sports fans have many reasons to cheer St PeteClearwater has ma-jor and minor league baseball teams and a North American Soccer League team Two MLB teams also hold spring training in the county Profes-sional football and hockey are played just minutes away in Tampa
Gulf ofMexico
Ulmerton Rd
Park Blvd
East Bay Dr
49
th S
t
Gu
l f B
lvd
PINELLAS
HILLS
BOROUGH
Curlew Dr
Central Ave
LakeTarpon
TampaBay
JohnrsquosPass
BocaCiegaBay
Clearw
ater
Harbor
TARPONSPRINGS
CLEARWATERCLEARWATERBEACH
GULFPORT
ST PETERSBURG
DUNEDIN
SAFETYHARBOR
LARGO
ST PETEBEACH
PASS-A-GRILLE
TREASUREISLAND
MADEIRABEACH
INDIANROCKSBEACH
NORTHREDINGTON
BEACH
BELLEAIRBEACH
St PeteClearwater InternationalAirport
AlbertWhittedAirport
TampaInternationalAirport
FortDe SotoPark
Shell KeyPreserve
Egmont KeyState Park
CoachmanPark
SeminolePark
HoneymoonIsland StatePark
AncloteKey
CaladesiIslandStatePark
Sand KeyState Park
N
PINELLAS
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
JacksonvilleTallahassee
Pinellas Trail
Pin
ella
s Tr
ail
Estimated Drive Timesbull Tampa 30 minbull Orlando 1 hr 50 minbull Jacksonville 4 hrs 10 minbull Miami 4 hrs 20 minbull Tallahassee 4 hrs 40 min
SpongeDocks
RuthEckerdHall
JohnrsquosPassVillage
HistoricDistrict
EckerdCollege
Aquarium
CapitolTheater
Pier 60BeachWalk
RedingtonLong Pier
HistoricCoreyAvenue
Vinoy
The Pier
Don CeSarBeach Resort
InnisbrookResort
Dali MuseumUSF St Pete
ChihulyCollectionMuseum
of Fine Arts
Mahaffey Theater
TropicanaField (Rays)
ClearwaterMarina
Holocaust Museum
SuncoastSeabirdSanctuary
BotanicalGardens
Leepa-RattnerArt Museum
Bright House Field (Phillies)
Gandy Bridge
Su
nsh
ine
Sky
way
Bri
dg
e
Courtney Campbell Causeway
How
ard
Franklin Bridge
PinellaS by the numberS
35 miles of White Sand Beaches
250 Parks
50 golf Courses
360 days of Sunshine each year
53 degrees (avg low in Jan)
91 degrees (avg high in July)copy 2012 TreNd
MaGaziNeS iNC
MA
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Y T
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OSS
ETT
A R
USS
ELL
57247 bull VSPC - Florida Trend (Pinellas County 100 Years of Tourism) bull 8125rdquo x 1075rdquo bull 4C bull gew bull V1-21212 V2-22312 V3-22712
HERErsquoS TO 100 YEARS OF WARM MEMORIES
Come celebrate a century of fun in the sun with special deals all summer long
VisitStPeteClearwatercom
Blue Green Orange
White
1912-2012 PINELLAS COUNTY CENTENNIAL
57247_VSPC_FloridaTrend_fullpg_100indd 1 32712 355 PM
54
SponSored report
Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
LEFT
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
A Word from the PublisherWelcome to this special report
celebrating the 100th anniversary of Pinellas County In this e-zine format yoursquoll see the same report featured in Florida Trendrsquos May 2012 issue
As local resident and freelance writer Lynn Waddell points out Pinellas County has many valid reasons for calling itself the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
Lynns reporting took her from the award-winning beaches of Fort De Soto Park in south Pinel-las County to the historic sponge docks of Tarpon Springs in the north The dazzling photographs showcase St PeteClearwaters big-city attractions cultural charms and white sand beaches Read on and I expect youll find yourself wanting to join the mil-lions of visitors who enjoy Pinellas County each year
Florida Trend is publishing a
series of Community Portraits on cities and counties around the state in coming editions I invite you to subscribe to our print edition so that you donrsquot miss a single one Information on how to contact Florida Trend is printed below
We look forward to hearing from you
How to Reach UsLetters to FLorida trendMail Florida Trend PO Box 611 St Petersburg FL 33731 Fax 727822-5083e-mail mhowardFloridaTrendcom All letters should include the authorrsquos telephone number or e-mail address Florida Trend edits some letters for length and clarity
FLorida trend onLineWebsite wwwFloridaTrendcom Includes back issues
reprintse-printsTo purchase article reprints or e-prints contact Wrightrsquos Reprints at 877652-5295 or wwwwrightsreprintscom
subscriptionsFor individual and corporate subscriptions renewals changes questions and single copies contact us atonline 247 service at wwwFloridaTrendcomCustomerService phone 800829-9103 (9 am to 5 pm EST)e-mail custrelationsFloridaTrendcom
adVertisinGwwwFloridaTrendcomMediaKitphone 727821-5800e-mail advertisingFloridaTrendcom
publisher Andrew P Cortyassociate publisher Janice G Sharp
editoriaLWriter Lynn Waddell
artart director Simone Tieber
adMinistrationbusiness Manager Barbara Goodmanaccounting David A Dale
circuLationdirector of audience development amp toprank Florida Karen Tysonprint amp Fulfillment supervisor Connie Greenblattcustomer relations Marsha Almodovartoprank research amp database Mazie Anderson
business deVeLopMentassociate publisher Janice G SharpMarketing amp special projects coordinator Leslie VasbindercreativeGraphic designer Anne Meyer
productiondirector of production Jill South
onLine pubLishinGonline project Manager Joyce Edmondsononline editor Will Short Gorhamonline publishing specialist Robb Brown
adVertisinG saLesdirector of advertising Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612
senior Market director central Floridaorlando - treasure coast - Gainesville - brevard county Laura Peters Armstrong 407951-6359
senior Market director tampa baytampa - st petersburg - sarasota - naples - Ft MyersChristine King 727892-2641
senior Market director south Florida Miami - Ft Lauderdale - palm beaches Maggie Caruso 727892-2640
senior Market director north Florida Jacksonville - tallahassee - panama city - pensacolaJaime McKnight 727892-2645
national sales director new York - atlanta - chicago Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612
advertising support representative Rana Becker 727892-2642
pubLished bY trend MaGazines incchairman Paul Tashpresident Andrew P Corty secretary Barbara Goodmantreasurer Jana Jones
Made in the USA Florida Trend (ISSN 0015-4326) PO Box 611 St Petersburg FL 33731 Telephone 727821-5800 (Street address 490 First Ave S St Petersburg FL 33701) Copyright 2012 Trend Magazines Inc All rights reserved The following are registered trademarks and logos of Trend Magazines Inc and their unauthorized use is strictly prohibited Florida Trend Golden Spoon Awards Florida Trendline Tallahassee Trend Trendsetter Awards Florida CEO Trends Tampa Bayrsquos Best dba Florida Florida Small Business Florida Trendrsquos Research Florida Legal Elite Florida Trendrsquos NEXT - Your Future After High School Florida College Planner Teen Trendsetters Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited Florida Trend accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts photographs artwork or reacutesumeacute material Microform paper and electronic formats available from UMI 300 N Zeeb Road Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 800521-0600 Subscriber Services online at wwwfloridatrendcomcustomerservice or call 1-800-829-9103 Address Change Send address with mailing label from past issue to Florida Trend PO Box 16238 North Hollywood CA
91615 Allow six weeks
Member BPA Worldwide Alliance of Area Business Publications Florida Magazine Association
mdash Andy CortyPublisher
[acortyfloridatrendcom]
Florida Trend wwwFloridaTrendcomOwn Florida
In 12 Monthly Installments
Knowledge is power And Florida Trend mdash the monthly magazine our online daily edition and our free Daily Pulse eNewsletter mdash covers every aspect of Florida business in every region of the state The people the issues the industries the politics the lifestyle the buzz More than just informative Florida Trend
has the analysis and inside track that give the inside edge to serious players
FloridaTrendcomsubscribe
Florida Trend Itrsquos the ownerrsquos manual to the Sunshine State
OwnFL_House Ad 2011indd 1 4412 330 PM
50
St PeterSburg + Clearwater + beaCheS + hidden
Tampa Bay Rays
Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Club
Pier 60 Clearwater Beach
Museum of Fine Arts
Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island State Parks
PHOTOS COURTESY TAMPA BAY TIMES VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER CITY OF CLEARWATER CITY OF ST PETERSBURG
51
Amazing Pinellas
Celebrating 100 Years as the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
gemS + artS amp Culture + SPortS + buSineSS
SponSored report
SponSored report
52
Over the past 100 years the St PetersburgClearwater area has grown from a coast-
al fishing and farming oasis into the most popular American vacation destination on the Gulf of Mexico All the while the flourishing multi-cultural metropolis with world-class museums professional sports teams and yacht-filled marinas retains the pristine beauty of some of the nationrsquos finest beaches
Surrounded by glistening salt wa-ter on three sides Pinellas County is a mini Florida encompassing the best of what the Sunshine State of-fers Travel magazines and visitors consistently rank local beaches as the nationrsquos best The Daliacute Museum the Chihuly Collection and a vibrant local arts scene make St Petersburg a national arts destination
Sports fans have many reasons to cheer St PeteClearwater has ma-jor and minor league baseball teams and a North American Soccer League team Two MLB teams also hold spring training in the county Profes-sional football and hockey are played just minutes away in Tampa
Gulf ofMexico
Ulmerton Rd
Park Blvd
East Bay Dr
49
th S
t
Gu
l f B
lvd
PINELLAS
HILLS
BOROUGH
Curlew Dr
Central Ave
LakeTarpon
TampaBay
JohnrsquosPass
BocaCiegaBay
Clearw
ater
Harbor
TARPONSPRINGS
CLEARWATERCLEARWATERBEACH
GULFPORT
ST PETERSBURG
DUNEDIN
SAFETYHARBOR
LARGO
ST PETEBEACH
PASS-A-GRILLE
TREASUREISLAND
MADEIRABEACH
INDIANROCKSBEACH
NORTHREDINGTON
BEACH
BELLEAIRBEACH
St PeteClearwater InternationalAirport
AlbertWhittedAirport
TampaInternationalAirport
FortDe SotoPark
Shell KeyPreserve
Egmont KeyState Park
CoachmanPark
SeminolePark
HoneymoonIsland StatePark
AncloteKey
CaladesiIslandStatePark
Sand KeyState Park
N
PINELLAS
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
JacksonvilleTallahassee
Pinellas Trail
Pin
ella
s Tr
ail
Estimated Drive Timesbull Tampa 30 minbull Orlando 1 hr 50 minbull Jacksonville 4 hrs 10 minbull Miami 4 hrs 20 minbull Tallahassee 4 hrs 40 min
SpongeDocks
RuthEckerdHall
JohnrsquosPassVillage
HistoricDistrict
EckerdCollege
Aquarium
CapitolTheater
Pier 60BeachWalk
RedingtonLong Pier
HistoricCoreyAvenue
Vinoy
The Pier
Don CeSarBeach Resort
InnisbrookResort
Dali MuseumUSF St Pete
ChihulyCollectionMuseum
of Fine Arts
Mahaffey Theater
TropicanaField (Rays)
ClearwaterMarina
Holocaust Museum
SuncoastSeabirdSanctuary
BotanicalGardens
Leepa-RattnerArt Museum
Bright House Field (Phillies)
Gandy Bridge
Su
nsh
ine
Sky
way
Bri
dg
e
Courtney Campbell Causeway
How
ard
Franklin Bridge
PinellaS by the numberS
35 miles of White Sand Beaches
250 Parks
50 golf Courses
360 days of Sunshine each year
53 degrees (avg low in Jan)
91 degrees (avg high in July)copy 2012 TreNd
MaGaziNeS iNC
MA
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Y T
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OSS
ETT
A R
USS
ELL
57247 bull VSPC - Florida Trend (Pinellas County 100 Years of Tourism) bull 8125rdquo x 1075rdquo bull 4C bull gew bull V1-21212 V2-22312 V3-22712
HERErsquoS TO 100 YEARS OF WARM MEMORIES
Come celebrate a century of fun in the sun with special deals all summer long
VisitStPeteClearwatercom
Blue Green Orange
White
1912-2012 PINELLAS COUNTY CENTENNIAL
57247_VSPC_FloridaTrend_fullpg_100indd 1 32712 355 PM
54
SponSored report
Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
TOP
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
HO
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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SponSored report
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
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SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
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SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
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St PeterSburg + Clearwater + beaCheS + hidden
Tampa Bay Rays
Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Club
Pier 60 Clearwater Beach
Museum of Fine Arts
Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island State Parks
PHOTOS COURTESY TAMPA BAY TIMES VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER CITY OF CLEARWATER CITY OF ST PETERSBURG
51
Amazing Pinellas
Celebrating 100 Years as the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
gemS + artS amp Culture + SPortS + buSineSS
SponSored report
SponSored report
52
Over the past 100 years the St PetersburgClearwater area has grown from a coast-
al fishing and farming oasis into the most popular American vacation destination on the Gulf of Mexico All the while the flourishing multi-cultural metropolis with world-class museums professional sports teams and yacht-filled marinas retains the pristine beauty of some of the nationrsquos finest beaches
Surrounded by glistening salt wa-ter on three sides Pinellas County is a mini Florida encompassing the best of what the Sunshine State of-fers Travel magazines and visitors consistently rank local beaches as the nationrsquos best The Daliacute Museum the Chihuly Collection and a vibrant local arts scene make St Petersburg a national arts destination
Sports fans have many reasons to cheer St PeteClearwater has ma-jor and minor league baseball teams and a North American Soccer League team Two MLB teams also hold spring training in the county Profes-sional football and hockey are played just minutes away in Tampa
Gulf ofMexico
Ulmerton Rd
Park Blvd
East Bay Dr
49
th S
t
Gu
l f B
lvd
PINELLAS
HILLS
BOROUGH
Curlew Dr
Central Ave
LakeTarpon
TampaBay
JohnrsquosPass
BocaCiegaBay
Clearw
ater
Harbor
TARPONSPRINGS
CLEARWATERCLEARWATERBEACH
GULFPORT
ST PETERSBURG
DUNEDIN
SAFETYHARBOR
LARGO
ST PETEBEACH
PASS-A-GRILLE
TREASUREISLAND
MADEIRABEACH
INDIANROCKSBEACH
NORTHREDINGTON
BEACH
BELLEAIRBEACH
St PeteClearwater InternationalAirport
AlbertWhittedAirport
TampaInternationalAirport
FortDe SotoPark
Shell KeyPreserve
Egmont KeyState Park
CoachmanPark
SeminolePark
HoneymoonIsland StatePark
AncloteKey
CaladesiIslandStatePark
Sand KeyState Park
N
PINELLAS
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
JacksonvilleTallahassee
Pinellas Trail
Pin
ella
s Tr
ail
Estimated Drive Timesbull Tampa 30 minbull Orlando 1 hr 50 minbull Jacksonville 4 hrs 10 minbull Miami 4 hrs 20 minbull Tallahassee 4 hrs 40 min
SpongeDocks
RuthEckerdHall
JohnrsquosPassVillage
HistoricDistrict
EckerdCollege
Aquarium
CapitolTheater
Pier 60BeachWalk
RedingtonLong Pier
HistoricCoreyAvenue
Vinoy
The Pier
Don CeSarBeach Resort
InnisbrookResort
Dali MuseumUSF St Pete
ChihulyCollectionMuseum
of Fine Arts
Mahaffey Theater
TropicanaField (Rays)
ClearwaterMarina
Holocaust Museum
SuncoastSeabirdSanctuary
BotanicalGardens
Leepa-RattnerArt Museum
Bright House Field (Phillies)
Gandy Bridge
Su
nsh
ine
Sky
way
Bri
dg
e
Courtney Campbell Causeway
How
ard
Franklin Bridge
PinellaS by the numberS
35 miles of White Sand Beaches
250 Parks
50 golf Courses
360 days of Sunshine each year
53 degrees (avg low in Jan)
91 degrees (avg high in July)copy 2012 TreNd
MaGaziNeS iNC
MA
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57247 bull VSPC - Florida Trend (Pinellas County 100 Years of Tourism) bull 8125rdquo x 1075rdquo bull 4C bull gew bull V1-21212 V2-22312 V3-22712
HERErsquoS TO 100 YEARS OF WARM MEMORIES
Come celebrate a century of fun in the sun with special deals all summer long
VisitStPeteClearwatercom
Blue Green Orange
White
1912-2012 PINELLAS COUNTY CENTENNIAL
57247_VSPC_FloridaTrend_fullpg_100indd 1 32712 355 PM
54
SponSored report
Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
HO
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
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Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
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as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
51
Amazing Pinellas
Celebrating 100 Years as the Natural and Cultural Gem of Floridas West Coast
gemS + artS amp Culture + SPortS + buSineSS
SponSored report
SponSored report
52
Over the past 100 years the St PetersburgClearwater area has grown from a coast-
al fishing and farming oasis into the most popular American vacation destination on the Gulf of Mexico All the while the flourishing multi-cultural metropolis with world-class museums professional sports teams and yacht-filled marinas retains the pristine beauty of some of the nationrsquos finest beaches
Surrounded by glistening salt wa-ter on three sides Pinellas County is a mini Florida encompassing the best of what the Sunshine State of-fers Travel magazines and visitors consistently rank local beaches as the nationrsquos best The Daliacute Museum the Chihuly Collection and a vibrant local arts scene make St Petersburg a national arts destination
Sports fans have many reasons to cheer St PeteClearwater has ma-jor and minor league baseball teams and a North American Soccer League team Two MLB teams also hold spring training in the county Profes-sional football and hockey are played just minutes away in Tampa
Gulf ofMexico
Ulmerton Rd
Park Blvd
East Bay Dr
49
th S
t
Gu
l f B
lvd
PINELLAS
HILLS
BOROUGH
Curlew Dr
Central Ave
LakeTarpon
TampaBay
JohnrsquosPass
BocaCiegaBay
Clearw
ater
Harbor
TARPONSPRINGS
CLEARWATERCLEARWATERBEACH
GULFPORT
ST PETERSBURG
DUNEDIN
SAFETYHARBOR
LARGO
ST PETEBEACH
PASS-A-GRILLE
TREASUREISLAND
MADEIRABEACH
INDIANROCKSBEACH
NORTHREDINGTON
BEACH
BELLEAIRBEACH
St PeteClearwater InternationalAirport
AlbertWhittedAirport
TampaInternationalAirport
FortDe SotoPark
Shell KeyPreserve
Egmont KeyState Park
CoachmanPark
SeminolePark
HoneymoonIsland StatePark
AncloteKey
CaladesiIslandStatePark
Sand KeyState Park
N
PINELLAS
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
JacksonvilleTallahassee
Pinellas Trail
Pin
ella
s Tr
ail
Estimated Drive Timesbull Tampa 30 minbull Orlando 1 hr 50 minbull Jacksonville 4 hrs 10 minbull Miami 4 hrs 20 minbull Tallahassee 4 hrs 40 min
SpongeDocks
RuthEckerdHall
JohnrsquosPassVillage
HistoricDistrict
EckerdCollege
Aquarium
CapitolTheater
Pier 60BeachWalk
RedingtonLong Pier
HistoricCoreyAvenue
Vinoy
The Pier
Don CeSarBeach Resort
InnisbrookResort
Dali MuseumUSF St Pete
ChihulyCollectionMuseum
of Fine Arts
Mahaffey Theater
TropicanaField (Rays)
ClearwaterMarina
Holocaust Museum
SuncoastSeabirdSanctuary
BotanicalGardens
Leepa-RattnerArt Museum
Bright House Field (Phillies)
Gandy Bridge
Su
nsh
ine
Sky
way
Bri
dg
e
Courtney Campbell Causeway
How
ard
Franklin Bridge
PinellaS by the numberS
35 miles of White Sand Beaches
250 Parks
50 golf Courses
360 days of Sunshine each year
53 degrees (avg low in Jan)
91 degrees (avg high in July)copy 2012 TreNd
MaGaziNeS iNC
MA
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Y T
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nn
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57247 bull VSPC - Florida Trend (Pinellas County 100 Years of Tourism) bull 8125rdquo x 1075rdquo bull 4C bull gew bull V1-21212 V2-22312 V3-22712
HERErsquoS TO 100 YEARS OF WARM MEMORIES
Come celebrate a century of fun in the sun with special deals all summer long
VisitStPeteClearwatercom
Blue Green Orange
White
1912-2012 PINELLAS COUNTY CENTENNIAL
57247_VSPC_FloridaTrend_fullpg_100indd 1 32712 355 PM
54
SponSored report
Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
SponSored report
52
Over the past 100 years the St PetersburgClearwater area has grown from a coast-
al fishing and farming oasis into the most popular American vacation destination on the Gulf of Mexico All the while the flourishing multi-cultural metropolis with world-class museums professional sports teams and yacht-filled marinas retains the pristine beauty of some of the nationrsquos finest beaches
Surrounded by glistening salt wa-ter on three sides Pinellas County is a mini Florida encompassing the best of what the Sunshine State of-fers Travel magazines and visitors consistently rank local beaches as the nationrsquos best The Daliacute Museum the Chihuly Collection and a vibrant local arts scene make St Petersburg a national arts destination
Sports fans have many reasons to cheer St PeteClearwater has ma-jor and minor league baseball teams and a North American Soccer League team Two MLB teams also hold spring training in the county Profes-sional football and hockey are played just minutes away in Tampa
Gulf ofMexico
Ulmerton Rd
Park Blvd
East Bay Dr
49
th S
t
Gu
l f B
lvd
PINELLAS
HILLS
BOROUGH
Curlew Dr
Central Ave
LakeTarpon
TampaBay
JohnrsquosPass
BocaCiegaBay
Clearw
ater
Harbor
TARPONSPRINGS
CLEARWATERCLEARWATERBEACH
GULFPORT
ST PETERSBURG
DUNEDIN
SAFETYHARBOR
LARGO
ST PETEBEACH
PASS-A-GRILLE
TREASUREISLAND
MADEIRABEACH
INDIANROCKSBEACH
NORTHREDINGTON
BEACH
BELLEAIRBEACH
St PeteClearwater InternationalAirport
AlbertWhittedAirport
TampaInternationalAirport
FortDe SotoPark
Shell KeyPreserve
Egmont KeyState Park
CoachmanPark
SeminolePark
HoneymoonIsland StatePark
AncloteKey
CaladesiIslandStatePark
Sand KeyState Park
N
PINELLAS
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
JacksonvilleTallahassee
Pinellas Trail
Pin
ella
s Tr
ail
Estimated Drive Timesbull Tampa 30 minbull Orlando 1 hr 50 minbull Jacksonville 4 hrs 10 minbull Miami 4 hrs 20 minbull Tallahassee 4 hrs 40 min
SpongeDocks
RuthEckerdHall
JohnrsquosPassVillage
HistoricDistrict
EckerdCollege
Aquarium
CapitolTheater
Pier 60BeachWalk
RedingtonLong Pier
HistoricCoreyAvenue
Vinoy
The Pier
Don CeSarBeach Resort
InnisbrookResort
Dali MuseumUSF St Pete
ChihulyCollectionMuseum
of Fine Arts
Mahaffey Theater
TropicanaField (Rays)
ClearwaterMarina
Holocaust Museum
SuncoastSeabirdSanctuary
BotanicalGardens
Leepa-RattnerArt Museum
Bright House Field (Phillies)
Gandy Bridge
Su
nsh
ine
Sky
way
Bri
dg
e
Courtney Campbell Causeway
How
ard
Franklin Bridge
PinellaS by the numberS
35 miles of White Sand Beaches
250 Parks
50 golf Courses
360 days of Sunshine each year
53 degrees (avg low in Jan)
91 degrees (avg high in July)copy 2012 TreNd
MaGaziNeS iNC
MA
P B
Y T
ER
ESA
nn
E C
OSS
ETT
A R
USS
ELL
57247 bull VSPC - Florida Trend (Pinellas County 100 Years of Tourism) bull 8125rdquo x 1075rdquo bull 4C bull gew bull V1-21212 V2-22312 V3-22712
HERErsquoS TO 100 YEARS OF WARM MEMORIES
Come celebrate a century of fun in the sun with special deals all summer long
VisitStPeteClearwatercom
Blue Green Orange
White
1912-2012 PINELLAS COUNTY CENTENNIAL
57247_VSPC_FloridaTrend_fullpg_100indd 1 32712 355 PM
54
SponSored report
Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
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SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
57247 bull VSPC - Florida Trend (Pinellas County 100 Years of Tourism) bull 8125rdquo x 1075rdquo bull 4C bull gew bull V1-21212 V2-22312 V3-22712
HERErsquoS TO 100 YEARS OF WARM MEMORIES
Come celebrate a century of fun in the sun with special deals all summer long
VisitStPeteClearwatercom
Blue Green Orange
White
1912-2012 PINELLAS COUNTY CENTENNIAL
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Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
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55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
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Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
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as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
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Towns and communities on the peninsula split from Hillsborough to form Pinellas County Clearwater designated county seat
MLBrsquos Spring Training born in St Petersburg
Clearwater and barrier islands become major military training locales for World War ii area hotels used as barracks
The daliacute Museum opens in St Petersburgrsquos marine district elevating the arearsquos cultural cache
Soldiers return to the sunny peninsula as residents and tourists fostering a building boom in 1957 Clearwater is americarsquos fastest-growing city
Tampa Bay rays throw first pitch at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg
Beach Walk gives Clearwater Beach a face-lift Clearwater Marine aquarium rescues an injured dolphin that will become a Hollywood star revival of Clearwaterrsquos Cleveland Street district begins
Shopping dining movie complex opening in downtown St Petersburg ushers in a new era of retail entertainment and towering residential growth centering on Beach drive
PinellaS at 100a LOOk aT ST PeTeCLearWaTerS CuLTuraL HiSTOrY
real estate boom gives rise to architec-tural jewels don CeSar Beach resort renais-sance Vinoy Fort Harrison Hotel Capitol Theater worldrsquos largest shuffleboard courts in downtown St Petersburg
1912 1914 1920 1940 1950 1982 1998 2000 2006
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ST PETERSBURG VISIT ST PETECLEARWATER TAMPA BAY TIMES
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
55
SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
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SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
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SponSored report
More than 5 million people vaca-tion in St PeteClearwater each year and most plan to come back accord-ing to visitor polls Hundreds of com-munity events give them reasons to return St PeteClearwater annually hosts the Honda Grand Prix large art and music festivals one of the South-eastrsquos biggest Gay Pride celebra-tions and this summer will co-host delegates to the Republican National Convention held just across Tampa Bay
The destination has two dozen
St PeteClearwater is an area of big-city attractions mixed with cultural charms and miles of white sand beaches
Opening of Chihuly Collec-tion the new dali Museum Morean arts Center Hot Shop and 600 Block further establish St Petersburg as an arts hub
municipali t ies and more than 900000 residents making it the most densely populated county in Florida St Petersburg on Tampa Bay and Clearwater hugging Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are the larg-est cities Another dozen towns fill in the mainland and the remaining dot a string of barrier islands
Despite being densely popu-lated even the largest cities have small-town warmth They host weekly farmers markets monthly
52 million visitors stayed overnight in Pinellas County in 2011 an increase of nearly 200000 from the previous year
2010 2012
100 years ago no one would have imagined that one day beach visitors could literally fly over the water That day is here Located on Americarsquos 1 Beach TradeWinds offers the JetLev experience and about 101 other things to do
JustLetGocomTrend | 8883770050 | St Pete Beach - 1 Beach Destination TripAdvisor March 2012
Changes in Attitudes Changes in Altitudes
PLAY VIDEO
Florida_Trend_May2012bindd 1 31412 312 PM
Renaissance Vinoyst PeteRsbuRg ResoRt amp golf club501 fifth avenue ne st Petersburg fl 33701 t 7278941000 vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
discoVeR a st PeteRsbuRg
legendPlan your next meeting in the heart of st Petersburg at the legendary
Renaissancereg Vinoyreg Resort amp golf club situated on a landmark property
overlooking tampa bay this historic resort puts you steps away from the best art culture and entertainment in the city and offers a breathtaking
setting to create a uniquely inspiring experience for your group
to learn more or to book your event call 7278941000
or visit vinoyrenaissanceresortcom
copy 2012 Renaissance Holdings Inc
MHMB-225_TPASR_AdforFloridaTrendMay_FINALindd 1 4312 1114 AM
56
SponSored report
360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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ES
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
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360 days of sunshine a year Such great weather means you
can work on your tan play golf deep-sea fish stroll the beaches and dine outside practically every day of the year The climate also allows na-ture lovers year-round enjoyment of the arearsquos robust selection of parks and wildlife preserves Swaths of undisturbed coastline are a nature-loverrsquos and paddlerrsquos paradise Dol-phins often surface near the shore You may spot pink Roseate Spoon-bills searching for lunch in the shal-lows and Osprey perched in webs of mangroves that line the seemingly
endless banks of islands and canals With St PeteClearwaterrsquos un-
touched natural surroundings and small-town charms it is easy to forget that you are in a major metropolitan area with 28 million residents Being a part of the larger Tampa Bay area has many advantages not the least of which are convenient access to Tampa International Airport Busch Gardens theme park and designer shopping at International Plaza all just minutes away across Tampa Bay Of course once you experience St PeteClearwater you never may want to leave n
americarsquos first commercial flight was flown between St Petersburg and Tampa by aviation pioneer Tony Jannus
did You know 1914
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downtown block parties and art walks Neighborhoods are tightknit host porch parties and sometimes share communal gardens
Even though the beaches are the Gulf Coastrsquos most popular with 35 miles of them you never have a prob-lem finding a quiet spot of sand to spread your towel
Sunshine St PeteClearwater measures it by months and some-times by the year St Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days ndash 768 from Feb 9 1967 to March 19 1969 On average St PeteClearwater has
Pinellas has something for everyone mdash the thrill of IndyCar racing in St Petersburg to the serenity of a sunset kayak paddle
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
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Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
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SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
Effective May 1st Community Bank will be
CommunityBankNowcom or C1Bankcom (877) 266-226518 locations across Tampa Bay checking bull savings bull money markets bull residential mortgages bull business loans bull SBA loans bull association and treasuryservices bull and a host of other sophisticated banking products you might not expect
A change in name not philosophy Since the creation of Community Bank our mission has remained constant Above all people come fi rst ndash our clients and communities C1 Bank is a simplifi ed representation of this mission C1 stands for Clients 1st and Community 1st As we expand across the Tampa Bay region we feel the time is right to evolve our name to better represent this mission Everything else about our bank mdash your bank mdash remains the same Everything
Riverview
Apollo Beach
Zephyrhills
Dade City
Hyde Park
WestshoreLargo
Belleair
Mid-County
Beach Drive
Lakewood RanchBraden River
Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Veterans
West Bradenton
4th Street
West Central
Pasco County
Pinellas County Hillsborough County
Manatee Coun
Gulf of Mexico
ty
Charlotte County
N
Same Bank Same Service
MEMBER FDIC
58
SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
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SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
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SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
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SponSored report
Postcard Perfect
Wide white sandy shores and blue surf thatrsquos clear enough to see your toes
planted on the sugary floor are hall-marks of St PeteClearwater beaches and key reasons that at least one has ranked as a top US beach every year in the past decade With 35 miles of sandy shores primarily on the bar-rier islands the area has more than two dozen beaches and each can be considered the best depending on the atmosphere you are seeking
Clearwater Beach is action-packed on the sand and off earning it enough ldquobestrdquo awards in the past five years to fill a treasure chest Conde Nast
award-winning beaches and colorful small towns make the islands of St PeteClearwater something to write home about
Traveler and Florida International University coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman aka Dr Beach crowned it Americarsquos Best City Beach Parents magazine in 2011 ranked it the Best City Beach on the Gulf of Mexico while the Travel Channel labeled it the Best Activity Beach in the Unit-ed States and USA Todaycom read-ers voted it one of Americarsquos Top 10 beaches
In addition to being an urban beach where all ages gather for sun and surf Clearwater Beachrsquos sands host everything from national volleyball championships to professional beach soccer games A streetscape facelift
loCal Star HOLLYWOOd GOeS PiNeLLaS
winter the resilient bottlenose dolphin with a prosthetic tail may be the arearsquos most popular celeb-rity Her story was made into the 3-d Hollywood movie ldquodolphin Talerdquo and naturally she played the starring role You can visit her at Clearwater Marine aquarium and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made at Winterrsquos dolphin Tale adventure in downtown Clearwater
ClearwaterS beaCh walk promenade marries city and sand The winding path connects old favorites such as Pier 60 with new resorts and restaurants
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4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
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SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
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Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
4200 54th Avenue South St Petersburg Florida 33711 wwweckerdedu 800-456-9009
Learn to Lead at eckerd coLLegea nationaL residentiaL LiberaL arts coLLege The best education is one that prepares studentsmdashtomorrowrsquos leadersmdashfor the how as well as the what One of 40 schools featured in Colleges that Change Lives Eckerd equips students with all the tools necessary TO Think bEyOnd ThE ObviOuS And lEAd POSiTivE chAngE in Our wOrld
Leadership deveLopment beyond compare delivering internationally acclaimed programs to thousands of local national and international clients Eckerdrsquos leadership development institute (ldi)mdash a network Associate of the center for creative leadership (cclreg) for more than 30 yearsmdash helps executives and managers Find crEATivE SOluTiOnS TO cOmPlEx wOrkPlAcE chAllEngES
Eckerd college developing tomorrowrsquos leaders maximizing the effectiveness of todayrsquos
a Network associate of the ceNter for creative Leadership
Eckerd College salutes Pinellas County for 100 years of great business great leadership and great times
60
SponSored report
hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
HO
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Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
60
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hidden gemS GeTaWaY iSLaNdS
n Fort de Soto Park dips south into the mouth of Tampa Bay offering captivating views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and more than 1100 acres of natural beauty ecological diversity and room to play Parents magazine ranked its North Beach the na-tionrsquos best for families in 2011 noting that ldquoThe water doesnrsquot get any cleaner than it is here Out of more than 100 samples from 2009 and 2010 there wasnrsquot one problemrdquo
Fort de Soto Park is also a launching point for a ferry to egmont key a more remote island state park that has a working 19th century lighthouse and remnants of a military fort built around 1900 You can get history and a tan and at the same time
in 2006 brought Beach Walk a wide landscaped gulf-front promenade open to rollerbladers and cyclists as well as pedestrians The public fish-ing pier doubles as a venue for the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival with craft vendors and street performers On the Intracoastal side of the island you can board a sunset cruise a faux pirate ship and whopping speedboats docked at Clearwater Marina Nearby at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can see the world-famous Win-ter a bottlenose dolphin that swims with a prosthetic tail and starred in a Hollywood movie about her rescue
St Pete Beach on the southern end of the barrier islands gets lofty accolades too This year thousands of TripAdvisor users voted it the No 1 beach in the nation and fifth best beach in the world The popu-lar travel website called it ldquoan ideal place to experience the statersquos wild beauty and the magical golden rays of the Sunshine Staterdquo
The largest of the island towns St Pete Beach has the most diverse
lodging and ambiance ranging from luxury modern to mid-century retro to quaint old Florida The historic Loews Don CeSar Hotel is its most noted landmark Known as the Pink Lady of the Gulf the grand 1920s re-sort and spa is a popular haunt for visiting celebrities as well as locals celebrating special occasions
In between the more famous beaches is a string of smaller towns communities and parks with equal-ly fabulous sands and resorts and distinctive personalities Madeira Beach or ldquoMad Beachrdquo as locals call it is home to Johnrsquos Pass Village and Hubbardrsquos Marina This is the larg-est shopping and entertainment hub along the islands and a launching point for water sports fishing and sightseeing cruises
Although each beach offers some-thing different they all come with front-row seats to naturersquos phenom-enal evening show mdash a dazzling beach sunset No two are alike and as with visits to St PeteClearwater beaches you always want to experience more n
a mere FiShing village when Pinellas County was born Johns Pass is now an all-around destination with dining shopping marina and water sports
The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in indian Shores is the largest nonprofit wild bird hospital and sanctuary in the united States and is open daily to visitors with free admission
did You know
n JuSt beyond the aCtion of Clearwater Beach is another spectacular beach famed for its isolation and natural beauty a state park Caladesi island has just enough modern touches to be com-fortable but few enough that you can pretend to be a castaway on a faraway island paradise For adven-ture you can rent kayaks and paddle through tunnels of mangroves inside the island or hike its nature trail You can only reach Caladesi via boat or ferry The park has a marina and a ferry departs hourly from Honey-moon island State Park which also has stellar beaches P
HO
TOS
CO
UR
TESY
VIS
IT S
T P
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CLE
AR
WA
TER
Caladesi Island
Fort De Soto Park
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
PH
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R
GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
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OTO
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UR
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IT S
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ETE
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TER
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66
SponSored report
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ISIT
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
VU
ES
AE
RIA
L P
HO
TOG
RA
PH
Y
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
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JA
BIL
CIR
CU
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
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A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
With the worldrsquos most comprehensive
collection of Salvador Daliacutersquos work
right here in St Petersburg Florida
The Daliacute Museum is proud to be a
part of Pinellas County
A century of history meets a world of genius
One Daliacute Boulevard | 7278233767 | thedaliorg
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
PH
OTO
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
BO
TTO
M P
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TO C
OU
RTE
SY T
HE
RE
nA
ISSA
nC
E V
InO
YP
HO
TO C
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SY C
ITY
OF
ST P
ETE
RSB
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G
66
SponSored report
PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY V
ISIT
ST
PE
TEC
LEA
RW
ATE
R
Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
VU
ES
AE
RIA
L P
HO
TOG
RA
PH
Y
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
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Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
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The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
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Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
62
SponSored report
St Petersburg the Riviera of Tampa Bay
Over the past 14 years the bay-side city of roughly 250000 has experienced a renais-
sance and shed its sleepy green-bench image Major League Baseball came to Tropicana Field An IndyCar race took to the streets A new college campus was added and the Univer-sity of South Florida - St Petersburg grew Internationally acclaimed art museums expanded and iconic new ones opened Celebrities like Paris Hilton and hip-hop artists such as Chris Brown and Machine Gun Kelly started showing up at local night-clubs
Sweeping waterfront parks yacht-filled marinas sidewalk cafes and world-class art museums give St Petersburgrsquos downtown waterfront a kiss of the Cocircte drsquoazur
Downtown St Petersburg has been reborn as an entertainment and cul-tural destination drawing residents from across the region as well inter-national travelers from across the ldquoPondrdquo
American Style magazine readers voted St Petersburg Americarsquos No 1 Arts Destination among midsized cit-ies in 2010 and 2011 Itrsquos easy to un-derstand why You can find museums featuring Spanish surrealist Salvador Daliacutersquos most famous works renowned artist Dale Chihulyrsquos glass creations and original paintings by Claude Monet Georgia OrsquoKeeffe and Pierre-
hidden gem GuLFPOrT
n tuCked away on boCa Ciega Bay across from St Pete Beach on the intracoastal Waterway historic downtown Gulfport is a bohemian enclave where restaurants serve local fare deacutecor is commonly made from found objects and you never feel like an outsider a 1930s art deco-style casino on the waterfront hosts ballroom and swing dances occasional collectibles shows and sometimes weddings and Bar Mitz-vahs The community puts on bi-monthly arts fairs and its signature annual event is GeckoFest where adults children and dogs parade in fantastical costumes and homemade lizard hats equally GLBT family and biker friendly Gulfport is a relaxing spot to escape the norm
toP St Peters-burgs waterfront mdash an image fit for a museum
leFt Sidewalk cafes just steps from the water-front and museums
right The new dali Museum home to americas largest collection of the Spanish surrealists work
PH
OTO
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GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
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SponSored report
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Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
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A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
EFT
PH
OTO
TO
nY
AR
RU
zA
BO
TTO
M L
EFT
PH
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nIC
HO
LAS
A C
OLL
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A-G
EH
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PH
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CO
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TESY
CLE
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WA
TER
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AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
GET YOUR SWAG ON
WITH THE GROUP LEADER REWARDS PROGRAMThe Group Leader Rewards program allows you the opportunity to earn rewards when you bring a group to Tropicana Field For every dollar spent on group tickets you earn one point Points are cumulative so you can earn points for each event you organize Rewards include A Desmond Jennings game-used bat
Rays tickets
Autographed memorabilia
A catered suite and much more To enroll Call 1-855-GROUPTB or email us at grouptbraysbaseballcom
DJFloridaTrendAdindd 1 33012 1033 AM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
BO
TTO
M P
HO
TO C
OU
RTE
SY T
HE
RE
nA
ISSA
nC
E V
InO
YP
HO
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ITY
OF
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66
SponSored report
PH
OTO
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ISIT
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ATE
R
Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
VU
ES
AE
RIA
L P
HO
TOG
RA
PH
Y
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
EFT
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TO
nY
AR
RU
zA
BO
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M L
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PH
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nIC
HO
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CO
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TESY
CLE
AR
WA
TER
CH
AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
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En
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CIR
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IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
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IVE
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UTH
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A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
64
SponSored report
Auguste Renoir all within a 10-minute stroll along Beach Drive
Dating back to 1917 the cityrsquos lo-cal arts community fueled the re-naissance as well Galleries and lo-cal artist collectives are clustered along Beach Drive in around the 600 block of Central Avenue the Grand Central District and the Dome Indus-trial District
JoEllen Schilke host of WMNF community radiorsquos long-running show ldquoArt In Your Earrdquo credits the vibrant arts scene to local artisansrsquo can-do spirit and city leadersrsquo sup-port ldquoOne of the great things about the arts in St Pete is the DIY nature whether it is visual or performing artsrdquo Schilke says ldquoPeople donrsquot wait for directions or funding They figure out how to make art happen and do it This gives us a healthy and evolv-ing scenerdquo
St Petersburg also takes advantage of its average 360 days of annual sun-shine Thanks to city fathersrsquo fore-sight to preserve the cityrsquos waterfront for expansive parks you can stumble
upon a music art or food festival almost any weekend
Despite its growth St Petersburg retains a vintage panache Architec-tural jewels from earlier eras line bricked neighborhood streets The Vinoy Resort preserves its original Mediterranean Revival opulence The cityrsquos 1920s St Petersburg Shuf-fleboard Club is embraced by a new generation of families and hipsters who play while enjoying live music on Friday nights Jannus Live an open-air concert venue within one of the cityrsquos oldest courtyards continues to offer an intimate setting for acts such as Wilco and Cheap Trick
The city isnrsquot resting on its success Local multimillionaire Bill Edwards recently updated the leading city-owned performing arts center the Mahaffey Theater He also purchased BayWalk a downtown open-air mall that helped initiate the current re-naissance and plans a major renova-tion St Petersburg continues to be a destination on the move nliFeStyle
Pride iN ParadiSe
n eaCh June Seven bloCkS of St Petersburgrsquos Central avenue is home to one of the Southeastrsquos largest annual Gay Pride events in 2011 the St Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade drew an estimated 90000 to the Grand Central district This yearrsquos event Carnivale ndash Celebrate 10 Years of Pride in Paradise is expected to be the largest yet The day-long cel-ebration features live music street ven-dors and a massive parade with floats politicians twirlers marching bands and a 900-foot-long rainbow flag
ldquoThe arts are everywhere in
St Petersburgrdquondash American Style magazine
upon naming it the No 1 arts destination among
midsized cities
boatS at bay at St PeterSburg City marina one of the largest downtown marinas in North america
the vinoy reSort is a St Petersburg landmark overlooking vast green spaces
along the waterfront
LEFT
PH
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T P
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TER
BO
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ISSA
nC
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InO
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TO C
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ITY
OF
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66
SponSored report
PH
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S C
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ISIT
ST
PE
TEC
LEA
RW
ATE
R
Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
VU
ES
AE
RIA
L P
HO
TOG
RA
PH
Y
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
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PH
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TO
nY
AR
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BO
TTO
M L
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PH
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nIC
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EH
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PH
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CO
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TESY
CLE
AR
WA
TER
CH
AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
66
SponSored report
PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY V
ISIT
ST
PE
TEC
LEA
RW
ATE
R
Where Tampa Bay Comes to Playathletes amateurs and spectators can get their game on in Pinellas
waveS baSeball diamondS and FairwayS are just the start for
sports fans in St PeteClearwater
n Play ball St PeteClearwater has been home to professional baseball for almost a cen-tury Spring training was born in St Petersburg and the cityrsquos Tropicana Field hosted the 2008 MLB World Series These days you can catch a major league game at a local stadium from March through September The Tampa Bay Rays play regular season games at Tropicana Field Three ma-jor league teams call the area their spring training home The Toronto Blue Jays are based in Dunedin and the Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater The New York Yankees train in near-by Tampa The Clearwater Thresh-ers one of the Philliesrsquo minor league teams plays Clearwaterrsquos Bright
House Field spring and summer Football fans get their fix locally
too The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls take the field in nearby Tampa Come December Tropicana Field converts to a gridiron for the Beef lsquoOrsquoBradyrsquos St Petersburg Bowl
n linkS and netSYear-round sunny weather makes St PeteClearwater a golferrsquos and tennis loverrsquos paradise The area has 50-plus golf courses and more than 1000 tennis courts including some of the statersquos finest Innisbrook Resort amp Golf Clubs famed Copper-head Course ranks in the PGArsquos Top 100 The Vinoy Clubrsquos clay courts and
lush golf course are first rate The links at the Bardmoor Golf amp Ten-nis Club in Largo are demanding for pros yet forgiving to beginners Ten-nis greats such as John McEnroe have trained on the courts of Bardmoor
n JumP in the waterS FineWith the Gulf of Mexico on one side Tampa Bay on the other and miles of well-marked waterways in between St PeteClearwater is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts More than 60 local marinas offer everything from boat and Jet Ski rentals to char-ter fishing excursions to short- and long-term dockage
Local outfitters give lessons in windsurfing kiteboarding paddle-boarding kayaking and canoeing and also rent gear to the experienced Scuba diving is popular due to the 42 artificial reefs just off the coast of St PeteClearwater
You donrsquot have to leave the shore to enjoy water sports The Clearwater Super Boat National Champion-ship annually entertains Clearwater Beach-goers n
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
VU
ES
AE
RIA
L P
HO
TOG
RA
PH
Y
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
EFT
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OTO
TO
nY
AR
RU
zA
BO
TTO
M L
EFT
PH
OTO
nIC
HO
LAS
A C
OLL
UR
A-G
EH
RT
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
CLE
AR
WA
TER
CH
AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Winner
Enjoy waterfront viewsfrom the dining room
outside deck and tiki bar
7275937625wwwsaltrockgrillcom 19325 Gulf Boulevard Indian Shores
Open for lunch daily
Outside deck amp tiki bar
wwwrumbagrillcom
72759376253687 Tampa Road Oldsmar 8134755974
1800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd Clearwater
2819 West Bay Dr Belleair Bluffs
20 Island Way Clearwater Beach
St Petersburg Times Best Seafood 2009
Best New Restaurant 2006
7275841700wwwmarlin-darlincom
The best Sunday Brunch in Tampa Bay
Available from 11am-3pm every Sunday
7274616617wwwislandwaygrillcom
your ultimate bay area dining destinations
Let Baystar Cater Your Next Event or Party
Catering Great Times with Incredible Cuisine
Baystar_FlaTrend_HalfPage_Layout 1 32912 1111 AM Page 1
1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach FL 33767-2799
Plan your next island meeting atsskmeetingscom or call 1-727-595-1611
bull Rated 1 for meetings- Meeting Planner Satisfaction Index bull Americarsquos top-rated beachesbull 24000 sq ft of meeting spacebull Award-winning cuisinebull Spectacular sunsets
Experience Our Island
Chamber pagesindd 1 4412 315 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
VU
ES
AE
RIA
L P
HO
TOG
RA
PH
Y
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
EFT
PH
OTO
TO
nY
AR
RU
zA
BO
TTO
M L
EFT
PH
OTO
nIC
HO
LAS
A C
OLL
UR
A-G
EH
RT
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
CLE
AR
WA
TER
CH
AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
68
SponSored report
Clearwater City of Enchantment
Overlooking sparkling Clear-water Bay the cityrsquos Coach-man Park is one of the arearsquos
most scenic event venues You can catch mind-blowing gulf sunsets and an arts music or sporting event there most any weekend from Labor Day to Memorial Day Thousands of music lovers gather in the park every Oc-tober to see jazz greats such as Tony Bennett Herbie Hancock and George Benson perform at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday The four-day interna-tional event is so popular that many jazz lovers chose to anchor out and listen from their boat
While Clearwater is most famous for its white sandy beaches its charming downtown gives island-lovers reasons to return to the mainland
For boaters who prefer to dock the city has a new downtown waterfront marina where you can dock by the hour or the month Opened in 2011 the marina also provides a novel way to access downtownrsquos burgeoning dining and entertainment scene ndash the Cleveland Street District
Several new restaurants and unique shops have opened in the district Old storefronts are revital-ized The city has updated the streets with tropical landscaping and a me-dian filled with public art Two new condominium high-rises have brought in more residents ldquoTherersquos
neighborhood SPlendor
n Filled with early 20th century mansions built for some of the nationrsquos elite Clearwaterrsquos first subdivision remains one of its most prestigious addresses The Harbor Oaks Historic district hugs Clear-water Bay just south of downtown and has 87 houses of historical significance including homes once owned by Brooklyn dodgers owner Charles ebbett inventor donald roebling and members of the Studebaker and Proctor and Gam-ble families Billed in 1919 as ldquothe Pearl of the Pinellas Peninsulardquo the neighborhood represents fine examples of Mediterranean revival Colonial Tudor revival Mission and Bungalow architecture
downtown Clearwater wrapped in history and waterfront beauty
SKY
VU
ES
AE
RIA
L P
HO
TOG
RA
PH
Y
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
EFT
PH
OTO
TO
nY
AR
RU
zA
BO
TTO
M L
EFT
PH
OTO
nIC
HO
LAS
A C
OLL
UR
A-G
EH
RT
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
CLE
AR
WA
TER
CH
AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
A champagne welcome A day spent playingin the Gulfrsquos clear blue water
And a sunset like none yoursquove ever seen before
what will you remember
8777263111bull sandpearlcom
500 Mandalay Avenue bull Clearwater Beach FL
Some restrictions may apply Must show valid Florida ID
Florida Residents
SAVE 15 OR MORE
When you think back on your vacation itrsquos
the little things that you remember most Like
the sunset bell that rings to signify the days
end and the evenings beginning Details that
yoursquoll find heremdash along with 700 feet of
white sand beach a world-class spa both
fine and casual beachfront dining and a staff
dedicated to anticipating your every need
The Sandpearl on Clearwater Beach
Because details make the difference
OP-20579 Sandpearl FT May_CO-1_Layout 1 32312 326 PM Page 1
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
See Winter at Beautiful Clearwater Beach FloridaBeautiful Clearwater Beach Florida
Visit moVie sets amp props rebuilt scenes history of Winterrsquos tail free parking amp free shuttle
Dolphin Tale a 3-D motion picture featuring Morgan Freeman was filmed at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Explore Imagine Touch amp Experience it all today
ADVENTURE
yoursquoVe heard her tale noW Visit her up close
727-441-1790 | 249 WInDWArD pAssAgE | ClEArWATErFl rF
Chamber pagesindd 2 4412 313 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
EFT
PH
OTO
TO
nY
AR
RU
zA
BO
TTO
M L
EFT
PH
OTO
nIC
HO
LAS
A C
OLL
UR
A-G
EH
RT
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
CLE
AR
WA
TER
CH
AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
70
SponSored report
hidden gemS TarPON SPriNGS amp duNediN
n SPonge CaPitalThe town of Tarpon Springs has one of the most distinctive cultures in the county it remains heavily influenced by its Greek heritage which devel-oped at the turn of the 19th century as hundreds of Greek divers moved there to harvest natural sponges growing just off its coast Today har-vested through modern technology tons of sponges are still auctioned weekly at its docks You can pick up a sponge at shops in the historic district where you will find many family-owned Greek restaurants too
The town also is widely known for its Greek Orthodox epiphany celebration held every January The highlight is a sacred ritual where lo-cal teenage boys dive into the chilly Spring Bayou to recover a wooden cross The young man who retrieves it is said to be blessed with a year of good fortune
a real community down hererdquo says Sally Jaffe co-owner and chef at Green Organix ldquoSo many years ago before these downtowns died there was a sense of community Funny I see that itrsquos coming around full-circle again to a place where you have that sense of community and have custom-ers who know you by namerdquo
Green Organix sits across from the historic 1920s Capitol Theatre which is playing a significant role in the dis-trictrsquos rebirth The city of Clearwa-ter and performing arts venue Ruth Eckerd Hall purchased the run-down former vaudeville theater and movie house in 2009 with plans to renovate and expand In the meantime nation-al acts such as Lindsey Buckingham
Psychedelic Furs and former Black Flag lead singer Henry Rollins per-form there to sold-out crowds
Close by near the new Station Square Park up-and-coming per-formers such as Ryan Star and old-school musicians such as Ed-gar Winter perform at the monthly free Blast Friday event Therersquos also a farmers market in the park on Wednesdays
The boys of summer show up early in Clearwater Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Phila-delphia Phillies and year-round home of the Clearwater Threshers a Phil-liesrsquo minor league team In case you miss the beach left field has a tiki-hut pavilion n
Charming gaS light alley in Clearwaters Cleveland Street district offers a shady retreat
The Pinellas Trail a 47-mile walkingbiking path connecting Tarpon Springs dunedin Clearwater and St Petersburg is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern united States
did You know
n hintS oF tartan The quaint town of dunedin adds a touch of Scotland to the area along its inviting streets you will find a Clan Tartan shop and a string of popular pubs where ale is served by the pint and flags of the British isles hang from the walls You may even hear the whine of bagpipes as a lo-cal musician practices for the annual Highland Games in april
dunedin is also the mainland gateway to Honeymoon and Cala-desi islands making it an ideal stop-over to and from the beaches TO
P L
EFT
PH
OTO
TO
nY
AR
RU
zA
BO
TTO
M L
EFT
PH
OTO
nIC
HO
LAS
A C
OLL
UR
A-G
EH
RT
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
CLE
AR
WA
TER
CH
AM
BE
R
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
Steps away from the powder white sands of Clearwater Beach an idyllic resort is bringing world-class style and amenities to the west coast of Florida All guestrooms are suites with fully equipped kitchens featuring granite countertops stainless steel appliances private balconies and Gulf of Mexico views The hotel also offers Sandava Spa Shor American Seafood Grill Camp Hyatt Hyatt StayFittrade Gym 20 air-conditioned pool cabanas and indoor amp outdoor meeting space perfect for any business gathering or special event For reservations call 727 373 1234 or visit clearwaterbeachhyattcom Hyatt Yoursquore More Than Welcome
HYATT name design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation copy2012 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
727 373 1234clearwaterbeachhyattcom
experience hyatt regency clearwater beach resort amp spa
CWA2959301_Adindd 1 31312 337 PM
Clearwater Young Professionals bull Economic Development Tourism Partners bull Government Affairs
Hispanic Council bull Ambassadors bull Not-For-Profit Council
MeMbership has its benefits
wwwclearwaterfloridaorg7274610011
Connecting People Is Our BusinessBe an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater Be an Integral Part of Exciting Clearwater
Chamber pagesindd 3 4412 314 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
72
SponSored report
More than Sun and SandTourism is just one industry sector fueling Pinellas Countys economy
the Future iS bright at St Petersburgs
all Childrens Hospital which was acquired by
Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2011
leFt Led by CeO Mindy Grossman HSN is the leading interactive multichannel retailer and one of the most trafficked
e-commerce sites in the uS
uPPer right Pinellas has nearly 2000 restaurants many offering outdoor dining
lower right Jabil Circuit headquar-tered in St Petersburg ranked as one of Fortunersquos most admired semiconductor
companies in 2012 PH
OTO
S C
OU
RTE
SY A
LL C
HIL
DR
En
S H
OSP
ITA
L
HSn
VIS
IT S
T P
ETE
CLE
AR
WA
TER
JA
BIL
CIR
CU
IT
The area is home to Floridarsquos largest publicly traded com-pany Tech Data Corp and has
the largest number of manufacturing employees outside of Miami-Dade County
Finance high-tech manufactur-ing marine research and healthcare play major roles in the local economy You can find many large corporations based in north St Petersburg and doz-ens of manufacturers and research fa-cilities housed in the city of Largorsquos Young-Rainey STAR Center (Science Technology and Research)
Herersquos a glimpse of the arearsquos lead-ing industries
n tourism pumps more than $6 bil-lion into the local economy annually and employs 85000 Pinellas County has roughly 35000 hotel rooms and rental condominiums and more than 2000 restaurants
n Finance amp business Services Raymond James Financial Tech Data Catalina Marketing and the cable channel retailer HSN were launched in the St PeteClearwater area more than 25 years ago and continue to be based here Other players in the arearsquos financial sphere include FIS Aegon Franklin Templeton Ceridian and PSCU Financial Services
n high-tech manufacturing Proximity to MacDill Air Force Base and US Central Command in Tampa has attracted big name aviation and high-tech manufacturers such as Jabil Circuit Raytheon and Boeing as well
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
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SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
Chamber pagesindd 4 4412 314 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
74
SponSored report
as smaller under-the-radar labs and defense contractors In addition the area has a robust community of medical manufacturers such as Oscor and ConMed Linvatec that produce everything from prosthetics to spe-cialized surgical instruments
n marine research St Petersburg is home to the largest concentration of marine scientists in the Southeast The University of South Floridas Col-lege of Marine Science helped spawn the St Petersburg Ocean Team a con-sortium of research agencies working to develop new marine technology and help ensure the health of the Gulf of Mexico
n medical Pharmaceutical research and healthcare are rising stars on the economic landscape Florida Blood Services merged in 2012 with two oth-ers to become OneBlood the statersquos largest blood bank The St Peters-burg-based organization is attracting pharmaceutical research firms such as IRX Therapeutics
Home to 15 hospitals including one of Americarsquos largest veterans hospitals the area is poised to become a medical services destination meshing tourism with healthcare Vaunted Johns Hop-kins Medicine which has experience in treating and accommodating pa-tients from around the world acquired All Childrenrsquos Hospital in St Peters-burg in 2011 its first fully integrated medical facility outside the Baltimore-Washington DC area n
Freelance writer Lynn Waddell is a long-time St Petersburg resident
PH
OTO
CO
UR
TESY
Un
IVE
RSI
TY O
F SO
UTH
FLO
RID
A
Cutting-edge reSearCh at the College of Marine Science at uSF St Petersburg has attracted major players such as Sri international
Proud to be Pinellas countys only public university
TampaBayWorkforceindd 1 4412 321 PM
