Credit: Wikimedia Commons

You have to go north to get South in Florida… usually. The exception? White Linen Nights along St. Pete's 600 block, where — in between the revelry of a normal weekend night — we classy, y'all. Here's why: White Linen Nights honors the Deep South tradition of wearing white linen to try and keep cool. Of course, once Floridian John Gorrie invented air conditioning (probably from jealousy over not being a Southerner who wore white linen in August is my bet) the practice went from commonplace to tradition. Honor that tradition with your best white linen (it really does keep you cool) and enjoy live music and special deals at most of the businesses along the block, including The Cider Press Cafe, Daddy Kool Records and others. Sponsored by Cider Press and CL Tampa, because we're both dripping with class.

White Linen Nights

600 Block of Central Ave., St. Pete. Sept. 2 & 3, 5-9 p.m. local.cltampa.com.

This article appears in Aug 25 – Sep 1, 2016.

Cathy's portfolio includes pieces for Visit Florida, USA Today and regional and local press. In 2016, UPF published Backroads of Paradise, her travel narrative about retracing the WPA-era Florida driving...