Thursday, February 7, 2008

Dunedin, Florida: 17th Annual Mardi Gras 2008

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HATS! Dunedin, Florida: 17th Annual Mardi Gras 2008 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).
Budweiser Dominates Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures BIG Beaded Boys Buy Bud Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures
Bellini Restaurant Live Entertainment Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures Feathered Boas & Masks Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures Street Front Bar


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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!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

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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Dunedin, Florida: Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday 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).
Bellini Restaurant Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures La Maison Gourmet Restaurant Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures
Dunedin Fire Rescue Ambulance Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures Stirling Winery Tropical Wines Dunedin Downtown Merchants Association Mardi Gras 2008 Pictures Street Front Bar


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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!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Sunset #1

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Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Sunset #1 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!

Monday, February 4, 2008

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island View 2

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Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island View 2 This is another view from the Nature Center on Honeymoon Island. This view is looking to the southwest. In the distance on the right, you are seeing the Gulf Of Mexico. The building that seems to be on the water is the Honeymoon Cafe. To the left of the Honeymoon Cafe, in the far distance, you can see just a sliver of land with some buildings on it (easier to see if you click on the picture and enlarge it). That is Clearwater Beach. Left of those buildings, you see a dark green strip of land, separated from Honeymoon Island by a narrow bit of water. The green strip of land is the north end of Caladesi Island, and the water is Hurricane Pass.

Here is a satellite image from Google Maps that might be of interest. This image was captured before the nature center was built. The water at the bottom left of the image is the Gulf Of Mexico. The water at the bottom, where you can see a boat traveling, is Hurricane Pass.


View Larger Map
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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!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island: View From Nature Center

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Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island: View From Nature Center If you have any chance at all, at any time, you really must get out to visit Honeymoon Island State Park. There are a variety of features to enjoy there. It's only US$5 for a carload of people, or US$3 if you are alone. It's just not that far away from anywhere in Dunedin, so if you are a local who hasn't been there, then you are missing out on a real gem.

You can start at the Nature Center if you like. This is the view from the deck of the Nature Center, looking south out over St. Joseph Sound. You can see the eastern shore of Honeymoon Island curving away and into the distance. All the greenery is there for you to explore. There are beautiful trails out there, to get you into the woods, as well as the wonderful beaches facing the Gulf Of Mexico and Hurricane Pass. Don't forget the pet beach, and there is also a place to eat called Honeymoon Cafe.
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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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