Press Release: July 1, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DeVilliers Nights: “Art in Paradise Gardens!”
DEVILLIERS CULTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY 500 WEST BELMONT STREET PENSACOLA, FLORIDA 32501 PHONE: 850-525-7916 WWW.DEVILLIERSMUSEUM.COM
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Pensacola, Florida: Belmont and DeVilliers is a community back on the rise. It has been the home of the Famous Blue Dot Restaurant for over 60 years. Now the area is additionally becoming known as the place to visit for its New Orleans like feel because of the addition of the Five Sisters Blues Café, the De Villiers Cultural Heritage Museum, De Villiers Café, and the newly renovated Paradise Gardens. Additionally, several cultural arts festivals and events are being developed to market the area and celebrate the diverse cultures of Pensacola in art, food and music. De Villiers is surely becoming a cultural tourism destination and will complement the assets of Downtown Pensacola and the region.
To celebrate this historical community on the rise the DeVilliers Cultural Heritage Society, Gumbo Gallery, Belmont and DeVilliers Neighborhood Association, the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring, “De Villiers Nights.” This month’s major event, “Art in Paradise”, will be held Friday, July 15, 2011 from 5:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. at Paradise Gardens. This private tropical escape offers timeless elegance surrounded by nature's beauty. Paradise Gardens is located at 508 West Gregory Street, at the intersection of De Villiers and Gregory. Regional artist and members of the Gumbo Gallery and the National Art & Entertainment Network will be exhibiting some of the areas most colorful artwork along the beautiful paths of this Oasis in De Villiers. Paradise Gardens will also be the host site of De Villiers’ monthly Arts Market. The Classic R&B Band, “Shades” will re-introduce, “The Sound of De Villiers” to the Pensacola Community. Shades is a local band, featuring vocalist Erma Granat and eight musicians, that include the "The Chase Street Horns". Shades’ rendition of popular Rock & Roll, R&B, Soul, Motown, and Stax are outstanding; and celebrate the musical history of Belmont - De Villiers. Shades will begin playing at 7:30 P.M. Paradise Gardens’ business owner, Desiree Cicale, is dedicated to promoting and maintaining the community’s rich cultural history. “De Villiers Nights” was created to promote the cultural development of the historic Belmont De Villiers neighborhood through the utilization of arts and culture, special events and enhanced quality of life opportunities. The Five Sisters Blues Café, De Villiers Cultural Heritage Museum for Performing Arts, De Villiers Café, and the Elks Clubs will continue their promotion of the area with music, food and entertainment. Contact them directly for more information. Proceeds from this event will be used to acquire two pelicans for placement at the intersection of West Belmont and De Villiers Street. The pelicans will be named, ‘Belmont’ and ‘De Villiers’ and will signal the community’s connectivity to Downtown Pensacola in location, culture and history. Contact Information: Sonja Griffin Evans Gumbo Gallery Phone: 850-602-5205 Email: sonjagriffinevans@yahoo.com
Eugene Franklin, President/CEO, Florida Black Chamber of Commerce Phone 850-525-7916 Gene.Franklin@Floridabcc.com