Editing Guavaween (section)

===Early Guavaween===
According to a well known area artist and college professor of art, prior to Mama Guava and Guavaween, many (then) young artists were sharing loft spaces in an old closed cigar factory in the late 1970s and decided to throw a large Halloween party and charge all who attended $1.00. The party was a success. The artists continued the party in subsequent years, and the crowds grew as word spread. Somehow, from the artist's original Halloween Parties, Guavaweens, well as the first [[Artists and Writers Ball]], evolved. The first [[Artists and Writers Ball]] was given at the Cuban Club in their courtyard. The [[Tampa Tribune]] was the sponsor of that affair, which featured many bands and entertainers. It was a giant success as people from all walks of life joined, sharing tables, eating, drinking and dancing the night away.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/23/Hillsborough/A_Guavaween_tale_of_t.shtml|title=A Guavaween tale of t|access-date=2008-04-09|archive-date=2010-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818201703/http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/23/Hillsborough/A_Guavaween_tale_of_t.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Artists and Writers Ball]] did not originally start from these Halloween Parties, but started as an underground alternative to [[Gasparilla Pirate Festival|Gasparilla]]. The Artists and Writers Group ([[Bud Lee (photographer)|Bud Lee]], Peggy Lee, David Audet, Paul Wilborn, Beverly Coe and Bebe Williams) was the impetus behind The Artists and Writers Ball.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/18/Floridian/A_closeup_with_mortal.shtml A Closeup With Mortality] ''St. Petersburg Times''. January 18, 2004.</ref> It was traditionally held in early February around the time of Gasparilla.