Entertainment in St Augustine this week

Barbara Golden, Communications Manager for the St Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, informed local Historic City News reporters about the following entertaining events for our St Johns County readers.

Monday through Sunday: February 18 -24

Big Red Art Show – A celebration of the color red includes works that convey a range of moods and meanings with any variation of the spectrum’s hottest color. The St. Augustine Art Association Gallery is located at 22 Marine St. in St. Augustine and is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. www.staaa.org 904-824-2310

Asian Vignettes Photographs by John Roppolo – “An Asian Vignette” features photographs from a recent trip to Southeast Asia, where Roppolo spent six weeks traveling throughout Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, experiencing the cultures and lifestyles of the people. The Pasta Art Gallery, 214 Charlotte St. is open noon – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday – Sunday. 904-824-0251 www.pastaartgallery.net

Monday – Friday : February 18 – 22

Planning and Painting in Paradise – The exhibition “Planning and Painting in Paradise: The Art and Architecture of the Hotel Ponce de Leon” will open at 5 p.m. This collection of art architectural drawings related to Henry Flagler’s beautiful hotel will be open through February 22 at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum, 48 Sevilla Street in St. Augustine. The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday thru Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is free. 904-826-8530 www.flagler.edu/crispellert.

Tuesday: February 19

Hotel Ponce de Leon 125th Anniversary Community Lecture – A presentation by Dr. Susan Braden titled “Entrepreneurs and Empires: Henry Flagler and Henry Plant in Florida.” This presentation is part of the commemorative events celebrating The 125TH Anniversary of the opening of the Ponce de Leon Hotel. Takes place at 7 p.m. at the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Granada St. in St. Augustine. Admission is free. www.ponce125.com

Friday: February 22

Carl Safina at the Whitney Laboratory – Dr. Carl Safina, acclaimed marine conservationist, host of the current PBS series “Saving the Ocean” and president of the Blue Ocean Institute will speak at 7 p.m. at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience at Marineland. Dr. Safina’s talk will focus on his international studies of the marine environment and his views on the ethical implications of science. Tickets are $10 each and due to limited seating, should be purchased in advance. The Whitney Laboratory is located at 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd. 904-461-4000 or www.whitney.ufl.edu

Vienna Boys Choir – The world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir will perform at 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Cathedral Basilica located at 38 Cathedral Place. The performance is part of the Cathedral’s “Rejoice and Restore” campaign leading up to the 2015 celebration of the city’s 450th anniversary. www.thefirstparish.org

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: February 22 – 24

Coalition for the Visual Arts Exhibition – The showcase of works of the Jacksonville Coalition for the Visual Arts will be displayed at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach. The exhibition opening will be February 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. The gallery is free and open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
904-280-0614 www.ccpvb.org

28th Annual Cathedral Festival – One of the area’s largest festivals features midway rides, games, bingo, a silent auction, mouthwatering food, beverages, a fireworks show and favorite local bands playing each day. The festival takes place at the Mission of Nombre de Dios, 101 San Marco Avenue from 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Noon to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, and Noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Admission for festival grounds is adults $5; children 11-17 and adults 65+ are $3; children under 10 and active duty military are admitted free. Tickets for rides are $1 each (most rides take 4 – 6 tickets). http://thecathedralfestival.com

Saturday: February 23

Guided Nature Trail Hike at Washington Oaks State Park – Join Park Ranger Amanda on a guided hike along the Bella Vista Nature Trail from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Washington Oaks State Park located at 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast, FL 32137. Stop along the way to discuss the flora and fauna native to Florida and learn about the wildlife that may be seen in the park. Admission to the park is $5 per vehicle and $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists. 386-446-6783 www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks

Menendez Birthday Grand Procession – Colorful and authentic 16th Century re-enactors, musicians and entertainers stroll along St. George Street to Lightner Museum for the opening of the Nocha de Gala, the 494th birthday celebration of St. Augustine’s founder Pedro Menendez de Aviles.The procession begins at 5 p.m. at St. Augustine’s City Gate located at Orange and St. George Streets. 904-669-1485.

Uptown Saturday Night – From 5 – 9 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month, experience live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and much more at the galleries, antique stores and unique shop on St. Augustine’s San Marco Ave. between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios. The Mission Nombre de Diosprovides FREE PARKING. 904-823-9263.

Local Resident Specials

St. Johns County residents with a valid ID are always admitted free of charge to the Oldest House, the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth (special events excluded), the Ximenez-Fatio House, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Spanish Military Hospital Museum, and the Historic Tours of Flagler College. The daily tours and wine tastings at the San Sebastian Winery are free to everyone. Also, admission is free to everyone at the Authentic Old Drug Store, Fort Matanzas National Monument, St. Photios Chapel, the Pena-Peck House, the Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum. Also, on the first Monday of each month, St. Johns County residents are admitted free to the Dow Museum of Historic Houses, 246 St. George Street, St. Augustine.