My review will be short, but yet straight to the point…read more [Yesterday: 3.13.21] My boyfriend and I walked for hours searching for murals on the wall. It may not be a lot of murals, but they were indeed fascinating :) And hey, it is better to have some murals rather than nothing. I have always been a fan of artwork ever since I was a little girl. It is the fact that these artist commit so much time and effort to create such beautiful art work. That being said, I would recommend my Yelpers who love murals to grab a coffee or even any kind of refresher. Then put on you walking shoes. After that, come here, start walking, and look for breathe-taking murals. :) Overall, Murals was my highlight of being in Tally! Plus, it is Free hehe ;)

Art is different things to different people…read more Sometimes it can serve as a medical bandage used to cover the corroded walls of a dilapidated area. An area that has been forgotten, abandoned or severely impacted by poverty in such a way that it becomes invisible to society. I wish this weren't so, however, sometimes the purity of art can bring new hope. It can have the same effect as a band-aide covering the scars of life with beauty. If it stays in place long enough, it might heal wounds as it regenerates through the process of waking up old cells and attracting new ones. A revitalization. Other times art can be a statement piece, such as an amazing necklace, a killer hat, or gorgeous chandelier. Items that takes something ordinary and changes it to extraordinary, adding just that little something-something that forces the human eye to stop and talk a closer look. That je ne sais quoi that draws you in and you don't truly know why. ----- "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." ~ Degas As for me, art is an escape. + Scenic art (such as a French countryside) can transport me from where I stand in reality, to someplace I've dreamed of being in fantasy. + Abstract art can launch me into deeper thought where I begin to contemplate the complexities of my own humanity. For example: Why am I sensitive and caring in some areas and unyielding in others, particularly with things that are similar in nature? + Sculpted art causes my eye to celebrate the beauty of shape and dimension. + Architectural art, such as cathedrals, bridges and ancient coliseums often leave me in awe from their mastery of patience, planning and precision. Reminding me that if I want my life to count, it can't be rushed. However, to me street art is precious because of its raw emotion. You can practically see the heart of the artist beating from within the paint. I swear, sometimes when a piece truly captures me, I can almost see the painting breath! A great piece will also cause me to want to learn more about the artist and to learn more about other works they have created. One such artist is Chiara Saldivar Gueyraud. Originally from Venezuela, she moved to Miami in 2000 and at some point to Tallahassee. She taught herself to paint murals after falling in love with street art in Miami. Now, along with her husband Daniel O'Connor McCluskey, she fully intends to make Tallahassee a premier city for street art. Another artist that has peaked my interest is David Zayas, a Puerto Rican muralist doing incredible work: http://www.wbur.org/artery/2017/07/31/lynn-murals In my world, these are the unsung heroes dedicating every fiber of their being to the betterment of humanity. Men and women that create imaginings that make my soul want to dance in the rain. ----- "If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint." ~ Edward Hopper FINAL THOUGHT Although a Tallahassee visitor for only a few days, I saw a great deal in my short stay. Still, I barely scratched the surface of the art hidden in plain sight all around the city. I created this yelp page in hopes that the residents of the city will pridefully ADD more street art to the gallery so that I (and others across the country) can enjoy the beauty of local artistry right from our own homes! What a gift to have a city embrace and promote creative public displays of expression. I hope Chiara Saldivar McCluskey gets her wish to transforms the city into a massive work of art... street art! Curious? Meet Chiara Saldivar McCluskey: http://www.bigbendcares.org/meet-an-artopian-chiara-saldivar/ 2018/7

This is one of the better fallen Firefighter Memorial that I have seen. You will find it on the…read moregrounds of the State Capitol Complex. It memorializes 181 lives of brave firefighters lost in the line of duty dating back to 1885. It is not meant to replace the Florida Fallen Firefighters Memorial at Florida State Fire College in Ocala, but is intended to supplement and further honor those heroes. There is metered street parking and commercial lots/garages within a reasonable walking distance to this memorial. It was dedicated in April of 2019 and has multiple features. The first and most eye-catching feature is a bronze sculpture depicts a firefighter holding a helmet, an EMT/paramedic, and a forester in their respective gear. The firefighter is standing in the middle, while he is flanked by the EMT/paramedic, and a forester, who are kneeling next to him. The forester is solemnly placing her hand on the helmet showing respect. The sculpture is the work of Michael Jernigan which was based off artwork by Jim Davis. The sculpture is on a tall cement base that has the Maltese Cross in the front and three paintings wrapped around the back. To add to the affect, there is a bright red metal structure behind the sculpture that gives the appearance of fire. The memorial is encircled by a low granite wall that lists the 181 names of those who had lost their lives in the line of duty in Florida at the time of the memorial's creation. It noted that the number has since risen to almost 200. It should go without saying that this is a memorial and should be treated with respect and dignity. They have signs posted to remind visitors of such. Anyway, I really like this memorial. It is well put together, and respectfully done. It is a must see. Anyway, as with most memorials that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The State House is right there and there of tons of memorials and parks to check out in the immediate area.

A memorial to remember the firefighters who fell in the line of duty that sits in Tallahassee, the…read morecapital of Florida. It is fitting to remember those who fell protecting others.

Officer Down by Michael Jernigan…read more This monument on the grounds of the old Florida State Capitol is a tribute to the men and women who protect our freedom. A nice reminder of the sacrifices that officers make on Memorial Day weekend.

Nice piece of artwork and a bit of community pride for Tallahassee, Florida. The part it is on os…read morepretty nice, as well. Art like this gives a community its personality. If you ate in Tallahassee, go check it out.

You will find the work of art on the back of The Other Side Vintage, facing the Capital Cascades…read moretrail. It is right near a splash pad. The piece is a collaborative effort between local artist Kollet Hardeman, Railroad Square Management and Mountain Shore Properties. It was painted in 2020 and surprisingly only too Hardeman 47 hours to complete. The mural is nicely done and is a depiction of the tradional Greetings From..... postcard. artistic interpretation of the vintage "Greetings from Tallahassee" postcard. Each letter of "Tallahassee" features iconic imagery representing the city or the art district. Some of the images that you will find in the letters include the Historic Capitol, canopy roads, and nearby FSU, and FAMU. Other lesser known images you will see in the letters include the artwork of Dr. Ron Yrabedra, a retired FAMU Art Professor and the longest-term artist in Railroad Square, and a sculpture of the late Charles Hook, the FSU Sculpture Professor known for his instructional iron pours. Hardeman's said that her favorite letter in the mural was the final "E" because it's part of a goodbye as she moves on to her next city. The mural is in excellent shape and looks relatively new. There is street parking available to park within a reasonable walking distance from the mural. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a destination piece, nor a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

Tallahassee is the state capitol of Florida and in addition to being the state capitol, Tallahassee…read morehas several colleges. Tallahassee has certainly grown and overall is a vibrant city with a personality and flair all of its own. An interesting thought that I always had is that Tallahassee reminds me more of a southern city than a Florida city. It is more akin to cities like Savannah, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee instead of cities like Orlando, Florida or Miami, Florida. I would recommend a visit here.

On Sept 10, the city of Tallahassee experienced remnants of Tropical Storm Irma. The power has been…read morefine for the majority of the storm until about 10am on Monday Sept 11, 2017. We saw the tree branch hit the power line before it snapped in half and blew up the transformer. We called to report the incident at that time and because my niece has chronic bronchial asthma which requires her to use an asthma machine, they told us someone would be out shortly to repair the line. Hours passed and no one showed up. We called several more times and ask the status and every time, we got the same answer - the report has been submitted. At 3am Tuesday Sept 12, and still, no one has showed up. We called back to back ten times making several reports, hoping someone would understand our urgency so that we could get help. Still, no one arrived. Tuesday morning at about 9am, we look outside and see a crew picking up tree branches making sure they aren't near the line. We ask them when would the power be back up and they too said someone will be there shortly now that the trees were removed. By 2pm EST, no one had showed up. The generator we were using ran out of gas. We had to take my niece to the next county to my mothers home to be near power for her asthma machine. Around 2:30pm EST, we phone them again. They told us that someone would be out before 5pm EST. At 5:15pm EST, no one had showed up. We called back and demanded a supervisor. The supervisor, Steve Dorough, placed us on hold then came back to the line saying that he was told there were trees down in the area which made it hard for trucks to get through. We made him aware that was false and all the trees had been hauled away already. We also added that the entire neighborhood had power except our apartment building. He then told us that 95% of the city had been restored except us and we would have to wait longer. They couldn't tell us why we were missed or when the power would be restored. It's now 8:38pm EST and we still do not have any power. I phoned the city of Tallahassee customer service department again at 8:38pm EST and spoke with Jesinia. I informed her I received the text saying the power has been restored to 97% of the city. I asked her why hasn't my power been restored. She stated there is a "list". I reiterated again the urgency of power. She coldly stated, "if you need it that bad, go to the hospital." Absolutely not and very non-compassionate. I want my Power restored tonight. ASAP!!

A Great Park. The Wade Wehunt Pool, listed at 907 Myers Park…read moreDrive 850-891-3985, is a special attraction here. Complete details for the pool are listed at http://www.talgov.com/parks/aquatics/wehunt.cfm, and seem to change seasonally, although it is open regular hours almost every day of the year. People who want an even more varied workout will benefit by learning that there is a workout building inside the fenced area surrounding the pool with aerobic and resistance equipment as well. The staff that I've dealt with in using any part of the facilities have been extremely helpful and friendly. The park is within easy walking distance of both the old and new Capitol buildings, and an easy run from FSU or FAMU. I haven't tried picnicking, but I have tried long --for me-- walks and runs (a circuit from the pool, to FAMU and through as much of FSU as I had time for) followed by a quick shower and swim. I ended up learning a lot about landmarks along the route that I hadn't known before. I'm new to the area, so I also plan to hike the business areas along N Monroe St, and on another day, along the Parkway toward Governor's Square to familiarize myself with everything nearby; the facilities at Wehunt make a good base and they allow for a good freshening up before heading out to complete the day. If you just want to visit a park, as totally weird as that would seem, the greenspace and picnic areas seemed fine as well!!

You will find this new musical park at Coal Chute Pond, along the Capital Cascades Trail. It is the…read morecity's first park dedicated includes multiple musical percussion instruments for the public to have fun with. It opened in 2022 and was a collaborative effort by the Knight Creative Communities Institute and the Red Hills Rhythm Community Catalyst team. The instruments are all ADA accessible and include: a tutti, grand marimba table, thunder drums, pentatonic tempo and tubular bells. You will also find a bench swing at the park, but it is facing away from the equipment. The equipment is well maintained and in excellent shape. It looks almost brand new. There is street parking available within a very reasonable walking distance for those that are driving to the park. It is a really nice concept and a very nice park. I just don't think it is enough to make it a destination park. It is a very nice spot to check out if you are in the area though. It is probably not a large time consumer though and I highly recommend making a stop here part of a larger itinerary or stopping here on your way to/from somewhere else if you are planning visiting.

This mural was commissioned by Junior League of Tallahassee in partnership with the Florida…read moreDepartment of State and Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority. It was painted in 2021 by Olivia Barattini and Savannah Salinas and is intended to honor female trailblazers and leadership. You will find it on the side of the Lumen Technologies building. The females that they chose to honor were all inductees in the Florida Woman's Hall of Fame. From the left of the mural to the right of the mural, the inductees are Zora Neale Hurston, author of "Their Eyes Were Watching God", Betty Mae Jumper, first female chief of the Seminole Tribe and Majorie Harris Carr, a well-recognized environmentalist and the first female wildlife technician in the US. The mural depicts the three women Hurston is holding a book, Jumper is in her tribal gear, and Carr is holding a snake. The artwork is nice, and you definitely can notice that the mural was painted by 2 individual artists, with different styles. Across the yellow banner running across Jumper's body you will see a quote by Pulitzer Prize winner and former Junior League of Jackson volunteer Eudora Welty that reads, "All serious daring starts from within". The quote was selected because it embodies all three women on the mural. The artwork is decent, and the story behind the mural makes me like it that much more. There is street parking available in front of and across the street from the mural, so parking to get a closer look her is very easy. Well, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. With that being said, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. There are tons of pocket parks nearby, in the area to visit. The WWII and Vietnam Memorials are also within walking distance.