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Fun and frolic on First Night

By ALEX LEARY
Published January 1, 2006

	[Times photo: David Zentz]
	Shakanawa Manning, 14, plays with bubbles at Bubble Blast, put on by the Great Explorations children's museum, at Straub Park.
	[Times photo: William Dunkley]
	Cheyenne Lee, 6, of St. Petersburg shows off the ladybug she created out of clay to Kathryn Howd, a St. Petersburg clay artist. The two were getting ready for the new year with early First Night festivities at the St. Petersburg Clay Co.

ST. PETERSBURG - The scientist was explaining the chemical reaction inside the cup but Damien Nowak, 6, was mesmerized by the dark blue gel forming before his eyes. Finally, with a rapid volley of giggles, he snapped out of his daze.

"Slime," he declared, "is cool."

You could find just about anything at First Night St. Petersburg on Saturday, from zydeco music to corn dogs, fireworks to face painting. Even slime.

Michael Buonanno and Greg Hill brought in 2006 with a pepperoni and black olive pizza at Fortunato's. "It's a great time down here," said Hill, 44. "There's no alcohol, so people aren't as rowdy. Everyone just has fun."

Down the street, a woman in a black cowboy hat guided a crowd of 20 through the paces of line dancing. "When you do your shimmy shake wiggles," she said, "we've got eight counts, so don't rush it."

Kathy Bramlet bought a ticket to see King Kong at BayWalk. On her way in, she reflected on the upcoming year, when her 18-year-old daughter, Kelly, graduates from St. Petersburg Catholic and heads to Florida State University. "It's a big moment," Bramlet said.

Deep thoughts could wait for Ari Tsoupeis, 14. "I'll have another can," he told a street vendor, handing over $3 for party string. "Just to be stupid," he explained.

Jim Ashley came up moments later and bought a $5 spinning light globe. It dazzled his 7-month-old daughter, Danielle. "Crawling," he said. "That's what we're looking forward to in 2006, mobility."

At Straub Park, where Damien Nowak and hundreds of other kids participated in science experiments (the slime was made with poly vinyl alcohol, sodium borate and a dash of food coloring), 800 luminarias formed a labyrinth that ended at a towering tree. Nearby, a glass blower riveted a crowd with her craft.

While alcohol is not allowed at the event, the traditional New Year's Eve elixir was not far away. At Mastry's bar, Sherri Jones had a glass of merlot while her husband, Jean-Francois Milette, sipped a Captain and Coke.

"Was 2005 good to us?" Jones said. "It was wonderful."

[Last modified January 1, 2006, 00:28:15]