Newbie Help

[mixolydian]

I want to get into Python progamming for both local database applications and 
dynamic web pages. Maybe some Q&D scripts.
There is a ton of excellent language books.

I have downloaded and installed 2.7.2 and got it working by pasting samples 
into IDLE, and uploading to my web server and doing trial CGI samples. 
So far, so good.

I would like some advice on:
  1. IDEs
  2. GUI tools, tkinter and others
  3. An integrated web server package for Win Vista for testing web apps before 
deploying. Uploading to my ISP to run is a PIA. I've installed VertrigoServ to 
try, but am chasing my tail around the Apache configuration.
      Is there something easier?
Just pointers to get me started would be fine.

More info.I will be migrating data base apps from MSAccess 2000. I know, I 
know, but it was free on my original Win 95 PC.
I've been programming for 50 years and have had to learn (and unlearn) a lot, 
and I'm eager to learn new stuff.

Thanks.