🌱 Gladys Douglas Preserve + Craft Festival + Virtual Author Talk

Hello all! I'm here with your fresh copy of the Dunedin Patch newsletter, full of everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Today you'll learn about:

• Valentine's Day Paint & Sip Party happening today at Sea Sea Riders
• Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Gladys Douglas Preserve Conservation Area
• The 30th annual Downtown Dunedin Craft Festival

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Studio 1212 Art Gallery

Visit Dunedin’s Studio 1212 Art Gallery — voted Tampa Bay Magazine’s best small art gallery cooperative for 2022

Since 1971, Studio 1212 – a non-profit art gallery owned and managed by an all-volunteer group of local, award-winning artists — has been a part of the creative community in the Dunedin area.

Here are a few things you can do at Studio 1212:

• Attend an exhibit of local artists (check out the schedule here)
• Get your own artwork critiqued for free by volunteer artists (on the first Saturday and third Tuesday of each month at 10am)
• Support local artists by buying their work – art prints, note cards and fine hand-crafted gift items – in the gift boutique
• Sign up for a workshop to expand and improve your own artistic abilities
• Join other local art lovers by becoming a benefactor of Studio 1212 (Learn more here.)

Studio 1212 is located at 234 Monroe St. in Downtown Dunedin and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit Studio 1212 — a part of the Dunedin area arts community for over 50 years.

Now, today's weather: Plenty of sunshine. High: 81 Low: 67.

Are you a business owner or marketer in Dunedin who wants to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales? If that's you, then I invite you to see how our newsletter sponsorships combine our local audience reach with your expertise to attract new customers. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Dunedin:

1. The City of Dunedin is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening of the first phase of the Gladys Douglas Preserve Conservation Area and Trails on Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. Guests can enjoy music and refreshments before the ceremony, beginning at 9 a.m. The ceremony will take place in the new park located at 1900 Virginia Ave. There's no parking on-site, but guests can park at the Athenian Academy, which is about a 15-minute walk from the park. The land used for the park was originally owned by philanthropist Gladys Douglas-Hackworth. Before her death in 2020, she placed the 43.44 acres in a trust which requested it is preserved in its natural state. Pinellas County and the City of Dunedin purchased the land to be used as a passive park. (Dunedin Patch)
2. The 30th annual Downtown Dunedin Craft Festival is coming up on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. along Main Street. This pet-friendly event will host over 200 vendors from all over offering handmade crafts and fine art. Stop by to browse one-of-a-kind jewelry, planters, candles, clothes, handbags, paintings, soaps, live plants, and more. Food vendors will also be on site. (Tampa Bay Newspapers)
3. The Dunedin Public Library is hosting a virtual Author Talk with award-winning author Sadeqa Johnson on Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. Sadeqa will discuss her new novel, "The House of Eve," which follows 15-year-old Ruby Pearsall, who "is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising her daughter." Those interested can register for the event online now! (Dunedin Public Library)

Dunedin Patch Pic of the Day:

Thank you, Gene Simpson, for sharing this awesome photo of the new city hall building!

Want to see your Dunedin photo here? Submit it to Dunedin@Patch.com for consideration! Please confirm in the email that you own the rights to the photo and that Patch has permission to republish it.

Today in Dunedin:

• Coffee and Conversation with Samson Huang at the DFAC (noon)
• Dunedin Bazing-O Night at the Dunedin History Museum (5 p.m.)
• Free Acoustic Open Mic at Beach Island Brewery (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Get your tickets for the Valentine's Day Paint & Sip Party being held today, Feb. 16, at Sea Sea Riders between 6 and 9 p.m. No experience is needed to learn how to paint some adorable manatees! All materials are included. Tickets also include two drinks and some appetizers. (Eventbrite)
• Interested in learning more about bird watching? The Dunedin Public Library is hosting Backyard Birding on March 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the community meeting room. The event will be led by Dunedin resident and birding expert Jim McGinity, of the Florida Avian Conservation. (Dunedin Friends of the Library)
• Are you ready for this weekend's Welcome Back Celebration for the Blue Jays? Dunedin Goes Carting is kicking off the celebration with a golf cart parade leading the crowd to TD Ballpark. Anyone interested in participating can still register online! (Dunedin Goes Carting via Facebook | Eventbrite)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Tarot Card Readings & Home or Office Cleansings —
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Wine Walk (February 18)
• Goat Yoga @ BEACH ISLAND BREWERY (February 19)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at East Lake Community Library (February 21)
• Free Grief Seminar (February 21)
• Friends' Night At The Theatre (February 22)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (February 23)
• Cirque Ma'Ceo is coming to Pinellas Park! (February 24)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update.