Dunedin, Florida: 17th Annual Mardi Gras 2008

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Thinking ahead about putting up a good post for the Mardi Gras celebration, I struggled with how to make it all flow. Then, as I reviewed my photographs, I saw a pattern emerging. One thing stood out by far, and that is HATS! So we embark on a new series today. Hats of Mardi Gras - Dunedin, Florida.

Along with the wonderfully crazy hats, there were lots of fun sights and sounds. So each day, while we feature a hat in the space above, we will have a table of smaller photos below. (Be sure to click on the small photos to see larger images in a new window.)

About the smaller photos below:
Did I mention, Budweiser DOMINATED this Mardi Gras celebration. In fact, if you look closely at some of the pennant banners in the photos, you will see that the little flags alternate between 'Pardi Gras' and the various Budweiser brands (top left). These guys are seriously into beads. Or they're working too hard at compensating for something. Every hand in this photo is wrapped around a bottle/can of Budweiser, which might be why they are staring at the GIANT Budweiser bottle/can balloon. Hey, if it is shaped like a bottle, but made out of aluminum, is it a bottle or a can? (top right).

Bellini Restaurant had a woman singing out front, and it sounded really nice (bottom left). Of course, there were lots of places to outfit yourself with the requisite Mardi Gras gear. Everything from masks to feathered boas and lots of other fun stuff (bottom right).


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...HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday

Happy Waitangi Day to all my good friends from New Zealand who sometimes land here looking for Dunedin, New Zealand. Thanks for visiting, even if it was by accident! :)

Waitangi Day, according to a New Zealand Government site I found, is "a day set aside by the New Zealand Government as a 'public holiday' to be observed throughout the country as a 'national day of thanksgiving in commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi’ in 1840 between Mäori and the British Crown". Click the following links for more information about Waitangi Day: Wiki, Waitangi.com, Govt.NZ.

Meanwhile, in Dunedin, FL, USA... Can you say MARDI GRAS!?!?!?!?!

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That's right, Tuesday was Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, in Dunedin's Downtown District. The Downtown Merchants Association sponsored a wonderful evening of festivities with fun, and strange sights, for all. And because I am sure they were part of making this happen, thanks to the City of Dunedin too. I had a chance to stroll the sidewalks with my camera, in the early part of the evening, before the light was too little, and the festivities too much. Let me just say, I think maybe Mardi Gras means: Night Of A Thousand Strange People! :D

So, here is the first crop of fun photos of people having a good time. Of course, the couple dancing above might have been having more fun than most. But they were also making it that much more fun for the rest of us. In the next two or three posts, I will show you more of the sights and fun that were to be had this evening. I hope you enjoy the show. (Be sure to click on the small photos to see larger images in a new window)

Below, you can see the live entertainment and sidewalk dining at Bellini Restaurant (top left). There was also an excellent group playing at La Maison Gourmet restaurant (top right). Dunedin Fire Rescue were out in force. Hey, it's a small town, right, so why not a small ambulance? (bottom left). Sitrling Winery's street front bar would be doing a brisk business as the evening wore on. In the right foreground you can see a good example of BEADS GONE WILD (bottom right).


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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Sunset #1

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I think I will just let this one speak for itself.


I do, however want to mention the big event happening this evening on Main Street in Downtown Dunedin! Can you say Mardi Gras!?!?!?! That's right, the Downtown Merchants Association brings Mardi Gras to Dunedin tonight, from 5pm to 11pm. There will be a parade that starts at Knology Park at 7:30pm and ends up on Main Street. There will be live entertainment before and after the parade, as well as wine, food, and souvenirs for sale. Admission is FREE!

Oh, and this coming Saturday, your pet is welcome at the BOWser Games at Highlander Park in Dunedin. Yup, 10am to 3pm, it's all about family and pets and fun and FREE!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: City Daily Photo Theme Day!

Welcome to Theme Day in the City Daily Photo Community. Today is February 1st, and the theme is "What Your City Is Known For". I struggled just a little on this, trying to narrow it down. So I am posting two today. I hope you enjoy them.

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It's for real! The City of Dunedin Pipe Band is the real deal. And what a sound! I was fortunate to catch this group practicing near City Hall on a recent weekend. So I was able to take a more informal photo of them. It is an amazing thing to see and hear a real live, seriously competent Pipe Band. If you get the chance, don't miss it!

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This is the other thing that Dunedin seems to be well known for... their wonderful, engaging downtown area. The City of Dunedin has worked hard to create a inviting and welcoming downtown area. The Downtown Merchants Association also work hard to make this wonderful downtown experience a reality.

There are over 130 blogs participating in Theme Day today. Please take a moment to check out the list below. Click on any name to take an armchair tour of that city. Have a great time!

- Portland (OR), USA
- Menton, France
- Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Memphis (Tennessee), USA
- Manila, Philippines
- San Diego (CA), USA
- Anderson (SC), USA
- New York City (NY), USA
- San Diego (CA), USA
- Mexico City, Mexico
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- Mumbai (Maharashtra), India
- Mainz, Germany
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- Turin, Italy
- Las Vegas (NV), USA
- Hobart (Tasmania), Australia
- Bicheno, Australia
- Durban, South Africa
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- Nashville (TN), USA
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan
- Brussels, Belgium
- Chicago (IL), USA
- Montpellier, France
- Seattle (WA), USA
- Mazatlan, Mexico
- Saint Paul (MN), USA
- Sharon (CT), USA
- Sesimbra, Portugal
- Toulouse, France
- Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Susanville (CA), USA
- Maple Ridge (BC), Canada
- Saint Louis (MO), USA
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Helsinki, Finland
- Pilisvörösvár, Hungary
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Mexico (DF), Mexico
- Trujillo, Peru
- Dunedin (FL), USA
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- Clearwater (FL), USA
- Albuquerque (NM), USA
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- Cottage Grove (MN), USA
- Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Arradon, France
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Athens, Greece
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- Singapore, Singapore
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- St Malo, France
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- St Francis, South Africa
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- Glasgow, Scotland
- Chicago (IL), USA
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Adelaide (SA), Australia
- Sydney, Australia
- Riga, Latvia
- Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia
- Terrell (TX), USA
- Terrell (TX) #2, USA
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Bed & Breakfast; The Meranova Guest Inn

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This is just small taste of what the beautiful Bed & Breakfast, The Meranova Guest Inn, looks like. For the real downtown experience in Dunedin, Florida, staying in the Meranova is a great choice. This beautiful place is smack dab in the middle of the Downtown Dunedin.

From the Meranova, you are in walking distance from lots of wonderful places to shop, eat, or just enjoy. From the Dunedin Marina to Pioneer Park and more. There are galleries, gift shops, restaurants all around. Some that we have mentioned here before include Cafe Alfresco, The Black Pearl, Casa Tina, and Deli News Cafe (not mentioned before).

I can't say I have ever stayed there, but it looked great when I walked around the place. So you might just want to check out their website if you are making plans to visit Dunedin or the Clearwater area. Just a thought.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today!

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Dunedin, Florida: Paper Players: Stationery & Paper Store

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Here is another of many quaint shops in the Downtown Dunedin area. Paper Players is a stationery and paper store. They have a nice website too. Click here to check it out if you like. It's wonderful how they turned this old home into a home for their store. Very welcoming, like so many shops in Dunedin's Downtown shopping district.

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

HEY! If you got here from a search engine, you might not be getting the whole picture! You may have landed on the archive page of a single post... that means you are missing ALL KINDS of cool pictures! So click HERE to get back to the main page and see more of Dunedin Daily Photo! THANKS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Dunedin, Florida: Theme Day: Best Photo of 2007

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This picture says a lot about Dunedin. Such a wonderful small town atmosphere, and yet not so small that they can't put on a wonderful wing-ding like this Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration. It was a great time, and I can't wait to see what they do next year. Everyone seemed so friendly and outgoing that night. It was wonderful, and all amidst the neat little shops of that awesome downtown that the City of Dunedin has managed to preserve. What's not to love? :D

May 2008 be a year of love and joy and prosperity for you and all your loved ones!

There are over ONE HUNDRED blogs participating in this month's Theme Day: Best Photo of 2007! Please don't hesitate to check out this armchair tour of the world! (Clicking on the links will open the website in a new window.) Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Clearwater (FL), USA - Clearwater Beach (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wrocław, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Torino, Italy - Susanville (CA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA

Dunedin Florida: Downtown Places I'd Like To Eat: Sea Sea Riders

This is a place that has caught my eye because I think it just looks so neat. I have never eaten there, and I don't recall ever hearing anyone's opinion of it. So I have to add it to my list of places I look forward to trying. It is called Sea Sea Riders Restaurant. They even have a website, so you can check out the menu if you like.

Regarding location, Sea Sea Riders is just about a half block from the Dunedin Marina and about a block from the Main Street Downtown area. That would put it about two blocks from the Dunedin Trail, so it would not be too far out of the way if you are enjoying the trail when you decide it's time for lunch.

If you would like to see more of the area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. (Oh, hey, did you bookmark this page yet?)

Here's What's Happening:
DEC. 18: The city’s Concert Band Holiday Concert is set for Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 pm., in the new Dunedin Community Center, at the corner of Pinehurst Road and Michigan Boulevard in Highlander Park. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations are welcomed. For more information or directions call the Dunedin Community Center at 812-4533.

WEEKLY: The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, from October 19, 2007 to April 25, 2008.

WEEKLY: Every Tuesday night from 8PM to 11PM, the Dunedin Brewery hosts the Dunedin Brewery Drum Circle. The Brewery is located at 937 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, Florida. Phone# 727-736-0606

ONGOING – The Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Holiday Show is continuing through Dec. 24. Stock up on ornaments and decorations and pick up Christmas gifts. A dozen themed holiday trees are up for sale, as well as art. Check out their awesome galleries. The center is at 1143 Michigan Blvd. Call 298-3322.

Dunedin Florida: The Patriotic Spirit is Alive and Well

I spotted this VW Bug parked near the Dunedin Marina when I was walking back from the Dunedin Downtown Old Fashioned Christmas event. I have been looking forward to posting it ever since. I love this picture for so many reasons.

Let's review: First, it is a Volkswagen Beetle (Bug), and I LOVE VW Bugs! We've had numerous Bugs in my family over the course of the last three generations, and I would drive one again in a heartbeat. My own first was a '64 that ran on a 6 volt electric system.

Second, the way this baby is painted and decorated is AWESOME. I love the United States flag design. It's wonderful. And if you look closely, there are rope lights all over it. I just wish I could have gotten a picture of it while it was lit up. Not to mention the decal on the front window that says Greyhound Taxi.

Third, and finally, the front license plate. This is a license plate you can only get from Florida Blood Services. And what is the big deal there? Well, it recognizes the owner for having donated 26 GALLONS of blood! That is an enormous amount of blood donated. If you take it a step further, that means this person has saved a lot of lives!

Dunedin Florida: Downtown Dunedin: Decorated Light Poles Contest: SNOOPY!

Depending on what generation you are a part of, you may well feel that Christmas just isn't Christmas without Snoopy! I was not able to find a Charlie Brown, or Lucy, or Pig Pen decorated light pole, but I am keeping my eyes open for them! I would love to see a Linus decorated light pole. I think he is my favorite of the Peanuts Gang.

Sadly, I must admit that I do not know what business or community organization decorated this pole. I will be working to find out. Someone asked if these poles make it to Christmas. Yes, it is my understanding that they will be up at least until Christmas.

What's Happening:
DEC. 15: Dunedin Coastal Cleanup will begin at 8AM, meeting on Dunedin Causeway. For details, call Dunedin Volunteer Services at 727-812-4545.

DEC. 16: Holiday with the Hounds is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Happy Tails Dog Park, 3051 Garrison Road. Celebrate the season with your pet with a hot dog cookout for owners and a gift exchange of wrapped dog-related items under $5, such as dog bones, dug brush, collar. etc. Call 298-3288 for more information.

DEC. 18: The city’s Concert Band Holiday Concert is set for Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 pm., in the new Dunedin Community Center, at the corner of Pinehurst Road and Michigan Boulevard in Highlander Park. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations are welcomed. For more information or directions call the Dunedin Community Center at 812-4533.

WEEKLY: The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, from October 19, 2007 to April 25, 2008.

WEEKLY: Every Tuesday night from 8PM to 11PM, the Dunedin Brewery hosts the Dunedin Brewery Drum Circle. The Brewery is located at 937 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, Florida. Phone# 727-736-0606

ONGOING – The Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Holiday Show is continuing through Dec. 24. Stock up on ornaments and decorations and pick up Christmas gifts. A dozen themed holiday trees are up for sale, as well as art. Check out their awesome galleries. The center is at 1143 Michigan Blvd. Call 298-3322.

Dunedin Florida: Downtown Dunedin: Decorated Light Poles Contest: Black Pearl

Another in our continuing series on the Downtown Dunedin Decorated Holiday Light Poles Contest. Wow, that was a mouthful. Kids, don't try that at home!

This pole, I am told, was decorated by The Black Pearl Restaurant. And what a snazzy, classy place it is. So it makes sense that this decorated light pole would have such a classy look. It's just beautiful, and that's all there is to it. I love that they have gifts hanging below the tree. After all, what is a Christmas Tree without gifts beneath?

We have seen some excellent decorating of light poles so far. There are still more to be found too! I would imagine judging a winner could be tough!

What's Happening:
DEC. 15: Dunedin Coastal Cleanup will begin at 8AM, meeting on Dunedin Causeway. For details, call Dunedin Volunteer Services at 727-812-4545.

DEC. 16: Holiday with the Hounds is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Happy Tails Dog Park, 3051 Garrison Road. Celebrate the season with your pet with a hot dog cookout for owners and a gift exchange of wrapped dog-related items under $5, such as dog bones, dug brush, collar. etc. Call 298-3288 for more information.

DEC. 18: The city’s Concert Band Holiday Concert is set for Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 pm., in the new Dunedin Community Center, at the corner of Pinehurst Road and Michigan Boulevard in Highlander Park. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations are welcomed. For more information or directions call the Dunedin Community Center at 812-4533.

WEEKLY: The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, from October 19, 2007 to April 25, 2008.

WEEKLY: Every Tuesday night from 8PM to 11PM, the Dunedin Brewery hosts the Dunedin Brewery Drum Circle. The Brewery is located at 937 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, Florida. Phone# 727-736-0606

ONGOING – The Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Holiday Show is continuing through Dec. 24. Stock up on ornaments and decorations and pick up Christmas gifts. A dozen themed holiday trees are up for sale, as well as art. Check out their awesome galleries. The center is at 1143 Michigan Blvd. Call 298-3322.

Dunedin, Florida Homes - Downtown area - Mease Dunedin Hospital

There are a number of attractive housing options near the Dunedin Downtown area. This is a cute bungalow in a neighborhood nearby. It's got some nice overhang on the eaves, and a welcoming front porch that all help keep the heat of the sun out of the house. Not to mention a beautiful tree shading the front yard. That front porch really does seem as though it would be a delightful place to spend a warm afternoon, catching up with friends and neighbors.

If you look just above the roof line of the house, you can see the top of Mease Dunedin Hospital a few blocks in the distance. Dunedin, Florida is lucky to be home to an excellent hospital, just a few blocks from downtown.

What's Happening:
DEC. 15: Dunedin Coastal Cleanup will begin at 8AM, meeting on Dunedin Causeway. For details, call Dunedin Volunteer Services at 727-812-4545.

DEC. 16: Holiday with the Hounds is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Happy Tails Dog Park, 3051 Garrison Road. Celebrate the season with your pet with a hot dog cookout for owners and a gift exchange of wrapped dog-related items under $5, such as dog bones, dug brush, collar. etc. Call 298-3288 for more information.

DEC. 18: The city’s Concert Band Holiday Concert is set for Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 pm., in the new Dunedin Community Center, at the corner of Pinehurst Road and Michigan Boulevard in Highlander Park. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations are welcomed. For more information or directions call the Dunedin Community Center at 812-4533.

WEEKLY: The Dunedin Green Market is located in Pioneer Park at the cross streets of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Dunedin and runs every Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, from October 19, 2007 to April 25, 2008.

WEEKLY: Every Tuesday night from 8PM to 11PM, the Dunedin Brewery hosts the Dunedin Brewery Drum Circle. The Brewery is located at 937 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, Florida. Phone# 727-736-0606

ONGOING – The Dunedin Fine Art Center’s Holiday Show is continuing through Dec. 24. Stock up on ornaments and decorations and pick up Christmas gifts. A dozen themed holiday trees are up for sale, as well as art. Check out their awesome galleries. The center is at 1143 Michigan Blvd. Call 298-3322.

Dunedin Florida - Old Fashioned Christmas Fun & Food

Did I mention all the fun for the kids? They had a children's craft booth, a place they could make their own s'mores. There were old fashioned toys like the hoop, and the walking cans and even stilts! As if all that were not cool enough, they had a train running up and down Main Street, just for the kids! Way cool!

Of course, you may be asking yourself "But what about Santa Claus, Wayne, where was he?" Well, he was there alright. The top left picture in the table below shows one of his helper Elves. If you look closely just left of the Elf's hat, in about the middle of the picture (click on it to enlarge it), you will see his face peeking through the mob. That's right, he was there, but if you were not a determined parent with a child in tow, you were NOT getting near him! :D

I am wrapping up the series on the Old Fashioned Christmas in Downtown Dunedin, Florida, with the table of pictures below. Click on them for large, easy to enjoy, images. There is one on the bottom left of the horse and carriage ride that was available. The other four give you an idea of the variety of edibles that were available. Just getting this post ready is making me hungry all over again. The booths included Funnel Cakes, Chick-Fil-A, Papa John's Pizza, and Kettle Korn, just to name a few. This was a great event for anyone here on a Florida vacation, scouting relocation to Dunedin, or even just out for a nice evening with the family. An excellent event for locals and visitors alike.

Dunedin Florida - Old Fashioned Christmas Live Entertainment

There was no lack of live entertainment at the Old Fashioned Christmas event! Dunedin, Florida did it again, with a wide variety of live entertainment, sprinkled all up and down the street. Everyone enjoyed the music, each of us having a favorite of the evening. Mine was the duo above, The Moon Glow Duo they are called. Excellent, mellow music. Wonderful Christmas cheer. So I bought one of their CD's, and have enjoyed it very much indeed. So, you want to know more, eh? Click here to see their MySpace page, and listen to some of their music.

But I also enjoyed the accordion player at Bellini's too. He was playing Christmas music, but of course, with an accordion, it sounds so delightfully Italian! There was a man playing a keyboard near the Children's Area, but there was so much noise there I could not even hear him. Poor guy. And there was a Scotsman playing bagpipe near Cafe Alfresco. You could not miss the sound of those pipes! Wow. It was neat stuff. I listened for a while, and then decided I needed to share his picture with you. One last note... to all my fellow bloggers that I normally visit every day. The hours are killing me. Have not seen bed before 1:30am for weeks (up before 6am). So although I will visit each day, I will only be able to comment every 2nd or 3rd day. Thanks for understanding.

Dunedin Florida Downtown - Christmas Celebration

First, I must say, if any of you would like to see a daytime shot of the bridge I featured on Bridge day, click here.

The Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration was a big hit. Lots and lots of people having a good time. There were all sorts of food choices, and plenty of live entertainment. You cannot forget the children at Christmas time, and there was plenty for them too.

Santa was sitting with the little ones to have their pictures taken with him. There was a whole section for kids where they played old fashioned games, made crafts and so much more. In fact, down the side street where Erika's and The Enchanted Branch are, they had a whole second street festival setup for kids, where they played with 'old fashioned' toys like hoops, and walking on cans, and walking on stilts. It seemed to be a great time.

There was a concert in the Pioneer Park band shell. Very nice, with different 'acts' from a variety of groups throughout this area. Most merchants were open, providing everything from free drinks to information about their products.

Oh, and let's not forget the carriage and hay wagon rides!! Yes, and even a little train for the kiddies to ride! And believe me, there was more that I cannot remember at the moment, but as I review the pictures for posting, you will hear about anything I forgot. In the meantime, the pictures below include a boy getting a test drive on an old High Wheel bicycle; happy people getting a ride on a hay wagon; and happy dog owners enjoying their happy dogs! There were quite a few dogs enjoying the festivities, and all seemed very well behaved.

Dunedin Florida - Decorated Light Poles Holiday Contest

This is another in a series in progress capturing the variety of decorated light poles in Dunedin's Holiday Light Pole Decorating contest. Yes, more on the way!

I wasn't sure about this one at first, but it grows on me. I have seen more traditional images of Santa Claus, especially non-Americanized images from Europe that this reminds me of. What about you, have you seen this style of Santa Claus before? Whatever else you want to say about him, I think it looks pretty neat!

And yes, I was at the Old Fashioned Christmas event last night in Downtown Dunedin, and it was a lot of fun. I have plenty more pics to share with you, including some intersting live entertainment! It was a wonderful time, so be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back and see it all!

Dunedin Florida Downtown - Christmas Celebration

Can you guess where I will be Friday evening? That's right, I will be downtown, checking out the wonderful Christmas goings-on. It should be a lot of fun. The City of Dunedin is putting on what they call An Old Fashioned Christmas. There will be entertainment from local churches and schools, carriage rides, train rides, Santa's Workshop, "Dickens Village" and lots more. And tomorrow night, Saturday, they will have the Holiday Boat Parade and Tree Lighting. I hope to be able to post pictures from these events in future posts.

Dunedin Florida Downtown Shops

This is Erika's Place for Gifts and Indulgences. It's a very welcoming looking place, if you ask me. You may remember from an earlier post, the shop next door is The Enchanted Branch Gift Gallery. Erika's is filled with the most interesting stuff. All sorts of things that would make great gifts this time of year! Here is a more recent photo of Erika's Place, taken just at sunset. I think there was some sort of wine tasting shop stroll going on. Or some such thing. It was really nice. They even had live music just down the way. But that shot is for another day! :)

Dunedin Florida Homes

Here is another fine example of the kind of housing we have here in Dunedin. This would probably be considered a typical home in a nice mid-level neighborhood. There are a number of homes available for sale or rent in this neighborhood. One just down the street, that is a little smaller, is selling for US$ 219,000.

From this spot, it is only a short drive to grocery stores, restaurants, various shops, and more. Just a little further, no more than 5 or 10 minutes drive, are the Downtown Dunedin area, Mease Hospital Dunedin, Westfield Countryside Mall, and much, much, more. Oh, and it might come in handy for you to know, should you be wanting to search for something in Dunedin, Florida, or map something here, that the zip code is 34698.

City Of Dunedin Florida - Pioneer Park Bandshell

I know this is in Pioneer Park, in the City of Dunedin, but I am not sure one would call it a band shell. Stage perhaps, covered stage? Either way, it is a lovely structure, and it looks great in this park downtown. I can also tell you that they have a Green Market here, and show movies in the park here from time to time. Usually older movies. Some recent titles have been Arsenic and Old Lace, as well as Casablanca.

From here, many shops and restaurants are in walking distance. They are too many to name, but some that I have mentioned before include Casa Tina, Cafe Alfresco, The Enchanted Branch Gift Gallery, and Palm Latitudes. In the future, you will see more and more of these places, as I do my best to capture life in Dunedin, Florida in pixels, for you.