St. Pete--It's not just for dead people any more
By Jon Worley

Wednesday, October 8, Al Gore and Jack Kemp will face off in the vice-presidential debate about a mile from my house.

I didn't get a ticket.

But no matter. And no matter that we were supposed to have the second presidential debate here instead of the #2 guys. The Bobster told folks down here that he wanted a presidential debate in St. Pete, but that those ugly Democrats pulled a fast one and switched it to Hartford.

Didn't work. The Bobster is still behind in Florida, like almost every other state in the nation.

Anyway, with all the media attention my fair city (of the moment) will receive this week, I'd like to relate a few facts about this bourgeoning metropolis that just might surprise you.

Everyone is familiar with the idea of St. Pete as the sleepy resort town where America comes to die. Well, the biggest export at both major airports (Tampa and St. Pete/Clearwater) is still filled coffins, but by the end of 1996, the median age of St. Pete will be below the national median age. And in a couple years, St. Pete's age is projected to be significantly lower than the national average.

Downtown St. Pete, which used to consist mostly of seasonal resort hotels which opened in October and closed in May, now has a college town atmosphere, complete with nightclubs, clothing and furniture stores that cater to the young and hip and the all-important alternative record stores. Not to mention great Thai takeout.

Yeah, the town still has little in the way of culture (like Tampa has cigar factories and Tarpon Springs has a serious Greek heritage), but even there things are improving. I've mentioned my neighborhood before, but it is a nice microcosm of what is happening in our city. As old folks move out to the 'burbs in Clearwater or Sarasota, young families are moving in, cleaning up and making the area more vital. The clash of ideas and politics at our neighborhood meetings and across the city can't help but bring fresh thoughts to life here.

The weather is still a problem for me, but I can't change that. And I can't convince flks that we should get off this inferiority complex we have with Tampa. Dan Rather did indeed sign off from the CBS Evening news once saying, "Good night from Tampa" when he was in St. Pete. And even Hootie and the Blowfish might get a little confused when playing the Thunderdome (soon to be Tropicana Field, complete with an orange makeover--blecch!). It just doesn't matter.

Indeed, we have a better paper (the St. Petersburg Times is one of the best in the country), better access to the gulf beaches (it's simple geography, but still) and in 1998 major league baseball will gain the byline ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. when the Devil Rays begin play at Tropicana Field.

As for the silly tourist things, St. Pete has one of the three major Salvador Dali museums in the world, and the only one in the U.S. Yes, our collection is mostly from his post-surrealist days, but art fiends won't quibble. And while the original Hooters can be found in Clearwater (just north of us), we do sport quite a few good local seafood and ethnic restaurants, most opening in the past few years. In fact, while most days I pine for a place like San Francisco, Chicago or even Kansas City, I have to realize that I could be living in someplace truly awful like, um, most of the rest of the country.

The thing I like most about St. Pete is that you don't have to wear a tie to a business meeting. When folks say "casual attire" on an invitation, that means you can wear a swimsuit if you like. And, indeed, major business deals here have been consummated with the pricipals wearing almost nothing. I'm not talking about the strip clubs, either.

So if you happen to watch the debate and see some silly infomercial on C-SPAN about my fair city, remember this: in 10 years even I won't recognize this place. Like much of the South, St. Pete is booming, and more young-uns are arriving every day. Hey, in a year I bet goth night will have moved from a Bennigan's to a real night club. Now there's progress!

Jon Worley takes advantage of the many bars in town that serve fine British Isles brews on tap.

return to the Shut up, I'm talking page
return to the LIES home page
return to the A&A home page