First Friday
On October 6, 2006, it's time to party! Somewhere on Central Ave., between 2nd and 3rd St. in downtown St. Petersburg.
Q: How do I get to where the First Friday (Get Downtown) festivities are held?
A: If you know where Baywalk Shopping Centers is located, then you are a few blocks away. Here are some coordinates to guide you (27.771337°, -82.636747°). Put these coordinates in Google Maps. Below are some overview pictures:
First Picture
Second Picture
Click on the pictures to make the bigger. Take note that the First Picture is an overview of the downtown St. Petersburg area. The Second Picture is a much closer view of Central Ave. That cyan line represents the area that of Central Ave. that will be blocked off during First Friday.
In the Second Picture, you'll notice some additional places. Fortunato's Pizza is a really great place to grab a quick meal that is delicious and inexpensive. It is located along Central Ave close to 3rd St. Another cool place is Independence. It is right along 3rd St., and offers a variety of beer from around the world. It's just around the corner from Fortunato's Pizza. There's also the Piano Bar, which is along Central Ave., but a few blocks away. To get there, just walk on Central Ave. towards the Pier. Eventually you'll pass an ice cream place, and then you'll see a lot of people in a basement area. That's the Piano Bar.
Q: Why do I need to know these places?
A: Because we'll probably head out to Fortunato's Pizza for some quick eats first. Then, we'll hangout in Independence for an hour or two for some beer. Off to the Piano Bar we go afterwards.
Q: Are there a lot of people?
A: You bet! A portion of Central Ave. will be blocked. But it's really not as packed as Ybor, and the crowds are much mature. Also, the Piano Bar has the tendency to be tightly packed, so sometimes there is no room to move around.
Q: Where can I park?
A: There are a couple of parking garages where you can leave your car for a few hours. Parking costs abotu $5 or so for the entire night. But if we carpool, then we help save the environment and save some money at the same time.
Q: Can I shake my booty and drop it like it's hot?
A: You can dance on the streets if you like! It's one big party. There are a couple of places to bust some moves. They have some mainstream music playing in one of the bars in Baywalk Shopping Centers. They also have a hidden techno club along Central Ave. It's inside a restaurant.