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Hearty, arty, all-ages party

Expect music, beans and bubbles (but no bubbly) at First Night, the New Year's Eve toast to the arts.

By JON WILSON
Published December 27, 2006

The city's annual New Year's Eve celebration is guaranteed to be a "chili" night, regardless of the weather.

The St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Department will hand out the classic meat, bean and spice concoction Sunday at First Night, the 14th year of the family-oriented, ring-in-the-new-year downtown entertainment festival.

The firefighters will have their chili pots and a block full of fire trucks set up on Central Avenue, between Second and Third streets, to kick off the department's 100th anniversary observance, which will take place throughout 2007.

The chili is free. Just don't ask for the recipe.

"I can't tell you," said Rick Feinberg, fire department spokesman. "They use it to compete in chili contests."

He did divulge a bit of his shopping list last week: 80 to 100 pounds of meat and, quite possibly, a ton of canned beans.

The feast site is one of 33 venues that will stretch from the waterfront to 22nd Street S, offering diverse entertainment and activities. Music is high on the list, with sounds to suit virtually every taste.

The party will begin at 2 p.m. with MidDay at MidTown. It will feature entertainment at seven spots along 22nd Street S.

Among other performers, Sterling "Five Fingers" Magee will play the blues at the Carter G. Woodson Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S.

Forty years ago, Magee played nightspots like the Manhattan Casino and the Studs Club when 22nd Street was the heart of a thriving African-American community.

Downtown festivities will begin at 5 p.m. and continue until after midnight. At 8 p.m., the People's Procession, composed of any number of colorful characters, will step off from the Arts Center at 719 Central Ave. and progress to a bubble stomp near First Street.

As usual, fireworks are scheduled at 9 p.m. and midnight.

2 TO 5 P.M.

1. St. Petersburg Clay Company, 420 22nd St. S. Ceramic vessels produce amazing music; hands-on clay for kids.

2. Manhattan Casino Stage, 650 22nd St. S. Jose Valentino and seven-piece Latin jazz band.

3. The Woodson Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S. Rose Bilal, jazz vocalist.

4. The Woodson Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S. Junior League's Kids Create tent offers hands-on projects; book giveaway; stories read to children.

5. St. Petersburg College Midtown Center, 1048 22nd St. S. Junior League puppet show.

6. The Royal Theater, 1011 22nd St. S. Classic bluesmen Sterling "Five Fingers" Magee, T.C. Carr and Tracey Purcell; Souls Harvest Praise Team.

7. Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center, 1011 22nd St. S. Bicycle Rodeo.

STARTING AT 5 P.M.

8. The Arts Center, 719 Central Ave. FirstKids, with hands-on workshops, Vivace Violins, American Stage performance; People's Procession parade begins here at 8 p.m.

9. The Studio@620 620 First Ave. S. Shadow Gardens, featuring shadow puppets with artists Betsy Lester and the Oiseaux Sisters.

10. Christ Methodist Church, 467 First Ave. N. Radio Disney leads games and fun; Sonny LaRosa youth jazz band.

11. Historic Shuffleboard Club, 559 Mirror Lake Drive. Play shuffleboard, decorate luminarias to place around Mirror Lake, 1970s rock 'n' roll.

12. Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N. The Sorceror's Apprentice, a puppet show.

13. Mirror Lake Library, 280 Fifth St. N. Tampa Bay Storytellers Guild.

14. St. Peter's Cathedral, 140 Fourth St. N. Opera singers from Die Fledermaus.

15. St. Peter's Parish Hall, 140 Fourth St. N. Suzuki Strings, featuring young violinists and pianists.

16. Williams Park, Third Street N and Second Avenue. Zydeco band, plus huge illuminated lanterns, with audience members having a chance to create their own.

17. First Methodist Church, 212 Third St. N. Bluegrass Parlor Band.

18. First Central Tower, 360 Central Ave. Bell-ringing by the Lutheran Church of the Cross handbell choir; a cappella chamber chorus.

19. American Stage, 211 Third St. Bunnicula, about a strange rabbit that should keep audience members on their toes.

20. Central Avenue between Second and Third streets. Firefighters will serve traditional firehouse food: chili.

21. Bank of America Tower, One Progress Plaza, between Central and First avenues S, bounded by Second and Third streets. Ballroom dance demonstrations.

22. Central Avenue between First and Second streets. Bubble Stomp, a chance to trample bubble wrap.

23. BayWalk, 153 Second Ave N. Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet.

24. The Plaza, 111 Second Ave. NE. Steel Drum Orchestra, presented by the Saturday Morning Market.

25. South Straub Park, 100 Beach Drive. TASCO country music festival.

26. South Straub Park, 100 Beach Drive. Water Words, a meditative labyrinth where participants reflect on water.

27. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE. O Som Do Jazz, Brazilian rhythms.

28. North Straub Park, 300 Beach Drive. 100-chair drumming circle.

29. North Straub Park, 300 Beach Drive. Great Explorations Bubble Blast, where participants make bubbles of all sizes.

30. North Straub Park Finale Stage, 300 Beach Drive. Freddy Montez y Su Son, Cuban rhythms.

31. Museum of History, 335 Second Ave. NE. Cowboy music by Hapi and Patti and the Crabgrass Cowboys, and Mayor Rick Baker on guitar.

32. The Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE. Party at the Pier, with activities beginning at noon, including storytelling, face painting, music and dance.

33. Vinoy/North Yacht Basin, north of the Pier. Fireworks at 9 p.m. and midnight.

Get in with a pin

Big, pin-on buttons grant admission to all venues. They cost $8 in advance, $10 on the day of the event, $5 for children ages 6 to 12.

Advance purchase is available at the Northeast Shopping Center Publix; Sweetbay Supermarkets in the Midtown and Tyrone Square areas; the Bayfront Center and Coliseum box offices; the Chamber of Commerce; Vista Galleries; the Arts Center; and Florida Craftsmen.

At the event, buttons are available at all major venues and at the First Night information tent at Second Avenue NE and Beach Drive.

For information, call 727 823-8906.

[Last modified December 27, 2006, 07:22:01]