If you are looking for things to do in the Tampa Bay area, check out this photo tour of the unique beachside art district in Gulfport, FL. A cool place to visit on your Florida vacation.
This post is part of a series of Things To Do in the Tampa Bay Area!
If you missed a post see a list of links at the end of this article!
The photos below depict scenes from on the First Friday (of the month) Art walk.
A free, fun event for the whole family to enjoy.
Free music - we counted three bands - exhibits and vendors
The shops stay open late and participate from 6:00 to 10:00 pm
Expect to find cool decor and art in every - shop - corner.
The local headquarters for a sunglass, watch and accessories shop, this place found people walking in wanting to buy their product, so they turned part of it into a shop.
We talked to the owner who couldn't say enough good things about the gifted artist who also transformed his home into a similar bamboo
Balinese influenced - contemporary metal art - tribal tatoo decor. 
Side walls
Move on and you are smack in the middle of classic old Florida.
If you enjoy discovering unique art pieces before the artist - painter, sculptur or glass artist hit's it big time - then take a walk during First Friday (of the month), I promise it will be fun and entertaining.
Next time we go I want to explore more about the wood, glass and metal artists. This post will give you a small sampling of what you might see on your visit. The exhibits and street vendors do change and new artists, shops and restaurants are scheduled to open soon.
Stop in for ice cream and a hot dog ......
Relax over a grouper sandwich, burger or a cold drink at O'Malley's,
if you don't mind waiting for a table - sit on the deck for a great view of the harbor.
The food choices include cafes and grilles with unique cusine inspired by their hip and inventive owners. You'll find pubs with great burgers, or take your pick of themed French, Italian, Mexican restaurants. We love the Backfin Blue Cafe for it's excellent seafood menu.
I know, a little tacky - plastic flamingo, but I liked it:) - hey it used to be Florida:)
Metal art on a building in the courtyard area.
A local artist sponge paints mail boxes.
Expect old hippie as well as the young and hip, slightly off the wall, old Florida, local artists and street vendors for everything under the sun.
The American flag - seen on a tricked out captain/pirate style golf cart .....
This huge metal horse sculpture towers over the courtyard area.
One of several cool little shops - decor and art from local artists.
Hello there green thing:)
Mermaid stairs lead up to the porch entrance to the cottage turned shop.
Can you say one of a kind? You'll find it here, jewelry - paintings - glass and more.
I particularly liked the art by this artist - Ricki Bloom.
I loved the Oriental and African portraits on display (not in this shot). See my photo gallery on gather for more of of her cool portraits. 
This quilt exhibit blew me away
- the colors -
- the composition -
the superb quality.
I am not much on country quilts, but I've always adored crazy quilts, she had one of those on display too - see my photo gallery. I'll be posting two more of her one of a kind quilts.
You can tell - I liked this star quilt:) - Price Tag $600
Someone bought this quilt while I was taking photos.
This square made me think of Ina:)
Note the little flip flops on the border ....
Moving right along
towards the beach a couple of blocks away.
One of the cottages ....
Another intriguing booth we came across by a young artist who created dragons and fantasy figures from duct tape and paper. Who knew - cool stuff! 
The sun is about to set as we walk along the water.
Since it is the July 4th weekend
we walked over to the Veteran's Memorial Park
right by the waterfront.
There will be a parade and all kinds of activities for young and old all day long on the 4th.
After all this walking, I was glad to rest my weary feet and do a little people watching.
The moon shining through the tree
on the bizarre, kitschy decor.
The colorful umbrellas and 4th of July decorations swaying in the wind.
It was a fine way to end our evening:)
I know it's a bad picture (I haven't learned how to take good night shots yet), but nevertheless, it caught the atmosphere I wanted to convey.
ARTIST INFOMATION
Zander's Twist - the artist turning duct tape and paper into art. Loved the dragons and other mystical and Sci-Fi - Fantasy creations.
MYSPACE.COM/ZANDERS-TWIST
RICKI BLOOM - the gifted painter can be found at
Awesome paintings and mulit-media art!
If you missed any post in the Travel Florida series - click on these links:
Tropical Palms - Roses - Art - Florida Botanical Garden in Largo, FL - It's free!
Alligators and Birdwatching - Sawgrass Lake Park in Pinellas Park, FL - Free park!
Classic Old Florida - Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, FL
Bikers and Harley Lovers - Travel Florida
From alligators to tropical gardens to birdwatcher's paradise to biker heaven!
Travel Florida!
Written and photographed by Rose H.
© 2009 Rose H.
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Comments: 30
You find the most fantastic things to do and see and I love how you share them with us. This is another great essay.
Thanks, C.L. - We intended to go out for dinner anyway and I noticed it in the weekender part of our paper so we decided dinner and a walk would be a good thing.
all the pictures are awesome but I especially loved the ones of the quilts, they are so colorful and absolutely beautiful! looks like a wonderful shop and place to visit
Fran - the gather gremlins ate my comment:) I wanted to tell you that if I'd had %600 to spend on a quilt that star quilt would be mine. I loved the celtic designs in the star material combinded with the rich colors of India and the Orient.
neat pics
Your photography is outstanding! I felt as if I was on a mini-vacay and could smell the ocean as I cruised the art.
Thanks, LL, that's exactly how Gulfport feels, like you are on a mini-vacation.
This is such a cool article Rose, you are really taking it to another level and your photography is fantastic.
Lovely photos Rose. I'm really enjoying your Tampa Bay themed essays.
What a cool location to check out. Loved that stuffed lizzard and all the trippy artwork. Nice photos and essay!
neat photo essay... wonderful pictures... I WANT THE GREEN THING!!!
LOL Nancy, Now that I saw it again, I think I want the green thing too:)
Thanks, Rose. These are great suggestions. We are featuring your informative photo essay at "Home Comfort" group today!
Thank you, Natalie - I am honored:)
The mailboxes were awesome! I also like the duct tape coffin! :0)
Wow! I have not been to Gulport in years. Things sure have changed there. It used to be a dinky little beach town with basically nothing.
Nancy - it seems to be in transition, it's changed some from what I saw a year then again 6 months ago. It's still not a lot of action - except for the art district, First Friday and their Saturday Morning Market (which they aren't holding again until Oct). There is something happening here and I think it is all good.
It's still a dinky little beach town, but it now has a serious art vibe, some good spots to eat and it's become an interesting little community.
I went here with my parents a few years ago. Very quite but some incredible finds.
What a great place to check out! I love that huge horse & the wonderful quilts as well.
Your photo essay was awesome and entertaining. Never been to Tampa, maybe someday, looks pretty neat like walking on a boardwalk except you're just walking down the street right?
Thanks, Mark! You can go out on the pier and there is a boardwalk - I featured that on earlier post about Gulfport. The art district is basically one long street with a nice courtyard area on one end and it is connected like a T to the gulf boulevard on the other end - which runs along the waterfront and is nothing but a row of restaurants, bars and pubs.
You were right! I love the flip flop quilt! (I don't know whatever gave you the idea that I could still wear a bikini, however. :o) )
I would love to see a place like this. This is the kind of art that trips my trigger, seeing as how we also live in a beach community. I would find all kinds of places for this stuff!
This is out standing as your little walks go,I smelt sea breaze today thanks!!
Wow! I am impressed, what a wonderful photo essay! Makes me want to hop on a plane! So many colors and just a unique experience! LOL! I want that green thing too! Loved the quilts!
Fun place! I even like the pink flamingo. Beautiful shots.
Great essay. I would love to visit this place!
This is such a fantastic photo essay. I want to jump on a plane and fly down there right this very minute. Now I'm very, very sorry we didn't make it to Tampa when my brother was there doing a play. Maybe he'll go back and we'll get another chance.
Did you stay in a hotel or motel there, and if you did, what did you think of it, and would you recommend it?
This looks SO fun!
Outstanding photo essay ,what a great place to visit and spend money !! LOL!
Awesome photos... I'd love to browse there! The art in that first shot at the sunglass place is just too cool!