The Southwest district of Tallahassee is home to its three colleges, making its population the youngest in the city, and many of the businesses in the area cater to the student demographic. There are restaurants like Momo’s, offering pizza slices “as big as your head,” and the notorious row of bars along Tennessee Street, including the famous Bullwinkle’s, voted “Tallahassee’s Best Bar” sixteen years in a row by the FSView readers.
The area around the intersection of Gaines Street and Railroad Avenue is gradually becoming revitalized. The Engine Room (formerly The Beta Bar), considered the center of Tallahassee’s independent music scene, hosts many local musicians and brings in national acts. The All Saints Coffee Shop is open 24/7; no matter what the hour, you’ll be sure to find students and their laptops, cramming for upcoming classes. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the soul-food trailer parked next door serving up some delicious vegetarian grub.
There is also a hip row of shops along Gaines Street with a comic book store, a tattoo parlor, an Irish Pub, and vintage clothing store. Go a bit further west and you’ll find The Warehouse, where, depending on the night, you can catch a band playing, hear some live jazz, or listen to talented local writers and poets reading their work.
And of course, don’t miss the crown jewel of the southwest’s funky art district, Railroad Square Art Park, which is home to dozens of artist studios, plus a rock-climbing gym, a belly dance studio, a yoga studio, Buddhist Center, a community theatre, and even a café built into a train’s caboose.
(Please note: not all destinations are open every month. Locations with flags will open on July 3, 2009.)
Experience art on the edge, featuring eight contemporary art exhibitions per year. Media such as painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and performance art are showcased. The Nan Boynton Memorial Gallery features art from Tallahassee artists and performers. Open Wednesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday – Sunday 1 – 5 p.m.
From Georges Seurat’s dots to Quantum dots, art and beauty can be found across the natural world. The emerging Ars Magna Gallery features local 2-D, 3-D, and mixed media artists who are interested in exploring the science of art and the art in science. Open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Commissioned murals and decorative paintings available for ceilings, walls, floors, and canvas. Art consultations and custom artwork are available to commercial and residential clientele. Hosts an interactive “blacklight art” event, in which people visiting Railroad Square on First Fridays can participate in a free community art project.
Amid the comings and goings of Tallahassee’s airport, an oasis of art welcomes more than a million people each year. Located in the lobby just beside the main entrance to the terminal, the ArtPort Gallery promotes local artists to travelers and citizens, and serves as a cultural gateway to Florida’s Capital City. Features rotating exhibits by local and regional artists in various media. Part of the City of Tallahassee’s Arts in Public Places program managed by the Council on Culture & Arts. Open daily 8 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Home of “The World that Lives Here,” a cultural awareness outreach to people who are native Tallahasseans and newcomers to the area, the Institute celebrates the rich heritage of those who live in our community. The art, music, food, crafts and entertainment vary each month to reflect a cultural theme in order for us to learn more about one another. Open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FAMU Foster Tanner Fine Arts Gallery has a distinguished history of service to the areas of visual arts and art education to the FAMU community and the citizens of the State of Florida. The mission of the gallery is to provide quality exhibitions and programs to the local community that feature diverse art genres and artists. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
A new exhibition each month showcases the cutting-edge contemporary artworks created by students in Florida State University’s Master of Fine Arts Studio Art program. With the space doubling as a photo studio during the week, exhibitions have limited engagements on First Friday weekends or special events. Open Friday 6 – 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon – 4 p.m.
The gallery was established to provide an exhibition space for international artists from the FSU and Tallahassee communities. It presents fine arts from different countries and cultures, with exhibits changing every three to four months. Open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Featuring the works of talented artists and craftsmen from across the region as well as the three dimensional abstract wood sculptures of owner James Glaser, this railroad-themed gallery presents something every railroad station gave us: an exclusively American made product. Open weekdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Located in Tallahassee’s historic Railroad Square Art Park, Linda Clark Watercolor is a working studio/gallery featuring original water color paintings (primarily florals and coastal/shore birds), limited edition prints, greeting cards, note card sets, and occasional photography. Open First Fridays 6 – 9 p.m.; Second Sundays 12 – 4 p.m.; and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 12 – 4 p.m.
The Mildred and Claude Pepper Library and Museum houses exhibits featuring the life and legacy of U.S. Senator Claude Pepper. Exhibits include a 1938 model Studebaker campaign car, Pepper’s Presidential Medal of Freedom, re-creations of Pepper’s childhood home and U.S. House and Senate offices. Free. Open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and most First Fridays.
A collection of World War II-era warehouses now used as artist studios and small businesses. At the entrance is an outdoor sculpture garden; a drive or walk through Railroad Square is an art experience in itself, as the buildings are awash with bright colors and murals. Included in the square is a cafe in a real caboose. Hosts open studio days, annual festivals, and is extremely popular on First Fridays. Open Monday – Thursday 11a.m. – 2 p.m., Friday 11a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Discover a world of shape, color and form where cutting edge works of art masterfully created by regional artisans are featured at Simply Artistic Gallery. Offering an exciting spectrum of art in various media styles such as watercolor, pen and ink, acrylic, oil and mixed media, Simply Artistic allows you to be visually stimulated while exploring your inner creativity. Simply Artistic is located adjacent to the Sculpture Garden at the entrance to Railroad Square. The flashing railroad sign is your signal to stop for a funky good time. Open Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., First Fridays until 10 p.m., Second Sundays 12 noon – 6 p.m.
Comprised of independent artists expressing themselves through a variety of media, South of SoHo Co-op Art Gallery is an eclectic journey into the world of art. With styles that include oil still-lifes, abstracts, glass works, spiritual and natural photography, sculpture, and surreal collages, the gallery will appeal to even the most divergent tastes. Open Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
