Few events kick off with as much success and optimistic energy as this past Saturday’s 600 Block Party in downtown St. Petersburg. The May 8 event was both a celebration of the block’s renaissance and the restoration of the Crislip Arcade as well as an introduction to the new businesses located there, many of them opening their doors for the first time on this night. [All photos by James Zambon.]

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Host/local personality Sterling Powell was in the midst of presenting the next bit of entertainment – a fashion show featuring styles from the block’s retail shops, like All Sewn Up Boutique and MISRED Outfitters – but we made a beeline to The Local 662, the venue formerly known as The Garage.

The Local 662 is the new live music venture of Tony Rifugiato (No Clubs Productions) and Mark Assiff (State Theatre), and the improvements made from its Garage days (when it was arguably one of the worst venues in St. Pete) are substantial, if subtle. The room has a more spacious feel, possibly due to the removal of the upraised section in the back of the room, and the area is now filled with tables and chairs. The sound system is good and loud, there's a full-liquor bar (another thing the Garage lacked), the garish red walls have been painted a pleasant shade of periwinkle and decked with huge vibrant art pieces, and above the bar, a pair of rectangular wooden shelves/cubbyholes display hand-crafted works; on this night, they held a series of paper-mache boulders festooned with unusual designs. Assiff told me later that he plans to feature a rotating cast of local artists on display at the venue, and will stage art events in addition to concerts. Assiff will hold an official grand opening party in June. Stay tuned…

The music kicked off with Brahm Bones, which rocked out their dark, soaring, Southern-flavored roots music, lead singer Blake Masters belting out the lyrics in his high scratchy timbre with much pained feeling and keyboardist Matt E. Lee (also of Poetry n’ Lotion) adding swells of psychedelic texture to the mix.

Next, I headed out to catch a few numbers by swing-jazz ensemble Lounge Cat, led by crooner guitarist Eddie Rosicky, and enjoyed a few songs of hip-swaying music, including some jazzed-up Pink Floyd and a number by Jim Morey Band. (Morey is Lounge Cat’s trumpeter/backing vocalist, and his own band features LC members Rosicky, bassist Anne VanAtta and drummer Billy Carr.)

I zipped through the Vitale Art Studio and checked out There Goes The Neighborhood (an art show of original works by Frank Strunk III, Andrew Spear, Brandon Dunlap and BASK, among others); dropped in next door to check out BlueLucy’s latest set of works in Compute This and marvel over all the new products Chad Mize and Philip Clark have emblazoned with their pop art (coasters, beer koozies, change purses, mouse pads, t-shirts and plenty else); and did some shopping at 667 Central, a new bohemian chic boutique where I bought a pair of earrings and got an impromptu astrology reading from Yael. (Apparently, my husband is a trickster, I wear the pants in our relationship, and despite being miss-matched signs – he’s a Cancer, I’m a Sagittarius – we’re going to be together forever.)

Starbooty was serving snocones, spinning records and drawing in the younger crowd with its mini-sidewalk setup, hardcore rock ‘n’ roll blasted from the smoky confines of Fubar (formerly The Uptown), and Daddy Kool offered record-painting activities in front of the store as well as a storewide sale on their merchandise (a friend left the store with a bag full of XTC records).

I caught a portion of hard-stomping rockers Thomas Wynn and the Believers before making my way home, tired but happy. The 600 Block Party was a nice alternative to downtown St. Pete’s socially exhausting First Fridays, and the night’s mantra (aside from “This is so exciting!”) was “They should do this every month!” You can count on me being there if they do.

James' photos from the entire night are included in the gallery below, including those parts I missed -- the fashion show, the Aquabats at State, the hot-dog eating contest. Check it out -- you might see yourself!

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