Green Bench Monthly - Vol 2, Issue 4, April 2017

Vol. 2, Issue 4, April 2017

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

New Crescent Lake Murals Receive a Warm Welcome pg. 16

Treat Your Pets

Animal House Naturals pg. 14

Enjoy the Solitude

Weedon Island Preserve pg. 6

Resources for Locals

St. Pete Store & Visitors Center pg. 13

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Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Editors

Cristina Juska Nadine Maas Pam Sica

Contributors

Nicole Brand Luke Cross Jadyn Gonzales Barbara Lewis Jack Spinrad Alan Venable

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From the bench

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Weedon Island Lose the Everyday and Enjoy the Solitude

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Photo Credits

Help Duke Find a Home

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Kelly Nash Photography

Andrejka Photography Sarah Wood Photography

The St Pete Store & Visitors Center Resources for Locals Too

Contact

PO BOX 76095 St. Petersburg, FL 33734 (727) 280-5406 greenbenchmonthly@gmail.com

Proud member of:

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HD Showings Show Off Your Home in High Definition

10 YMCA

Summer Activities Children

WANT To Do

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Animal House Naturals Pet Center Treat Your Pet to the Best

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New Murals Decorate Crescent Heights With a Warm Welcome from Residents

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Community Events & Local Happenings

Direct-mailed to 15,500 homes in zip codes 33701, 33704 and 33713.

Neighborhoods included in our mailing: Allendale, Crescent

Heights, Crescent Lake, Downtown, Euclid-St. Paul, Five Points, Greater Woodlawn, Historic Kenwood, Historic Old Northeast, Magnolia Heights, North East Park, Snell Isle, & Woodlawn

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Sweet April Flowers... Brings — Movies in the Park,

the first ever St. Pete Street Food Festival & Night Market, Mother’s Day, a vote in the Special Referendum, volunteer opportunities at the St. Pete Store, specials at Animal House, summer camps at the Y, architectural photography and so much more... we’ve got lots of fun stuff for you this issue. Hope you enjoy!

Editors’ Note: The article about Sound Exchange in last

month’s issue (Vol. 2, Issue 3, March 2017) requires correction.

They buy, sell, and repair vintage home audio (turntables, reel-toreel decks, receivers, and stereo speakers), not guitar amps, and their stores are located in Pinellas Park, Tampa, and Brandon (not Bradenton). For more information, see their ad on pg. 11.

onth the m ography f o o Phot Phot rejka graphy.com d n A y b to jkapho andre

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We’re Growing! You may have noticed a little extra weight this issue... we added four pages! Which means we have more space for photos and our ever growing list of stories.

Thanks for joining us on this adventure. We’re excited to share more with you each month!

Grow With Us! We are passionate about local business and would love to feature yours! Contact us for more information about advertising: call (727) 280-5406 or email info@greenbenchmonthly.com

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Weedon Island by Jack Spinrad Dense mangroves surrounded me as I paddled along the quiet lagoons and mangrove islands of St. Petersburg’s Weedon Island Preserve in a rented canoe. Lost from the everyday world, I enjoyed the solitude.

It seemed as though I could well have been drawn back to a time when Florida’s first inhabitants, called Paleo-Indians by archaeologists, came to this area more than 12,000 years ago. Or I could have been transported to a time around 1,300 to 2,500 years ago, when people of the prehistoric Manasota culture inhabited the northern end of Weedon Island, where a small coastal village has been excavated. Their pottery remains date to the period between 300 and 500 BCE. This site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the basis of the “Weeden Island Culture” (an alternate spelling) that archaeologists say once extended from the central Gulf Coast area into north Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

Although Spanish explorers entered the central Gulf Coast in the early 1500s, there is no evidence that they interacted with the

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Manasota people, as no artifacts of European design have ever been found among the remains of the Indian mounds and middens (shell mounds containing archaeological remains) from that period.

It had been a pleasant couple of hours, but checking my watch, sadly it was time to take my rented canoe back. With my canoe checked in, I walked a short trail to the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center.

The center was designed with the help of Native Americans and keeps with their traditions. For example, the orientation of the center follows the points of the compass, with the entrance facing towards the east. A curved wall represents the remarkable pottery of the area’s early inhabitants. The center is full of displays, many

of them interactive, telling about the history and ecosystem of the preserve.

I exited the center and came upon the fenced-in ruins of a building. Only a corner, about four feet high, remained standing and was tiled on the inside. A small sign identified it as a restroom. The general floor plan was still visible and a number of other signs dotted the area, detailing what each space represented. According to a signpost nearby, this was the remains of the Grand Central Airport, also known as Sky Harbor. This area was the waiting room and control tower for the airport.

Weedon Island earned its name from Dr. Leslie Washington Weedon and his wife Blanche Henderson Weedon, probably the island’s most notable owners. Blanche was

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deeded the property in 1898 by her father, William B. Henderson, as a wedding present. Henderson had been a Confederate officer in the Civil War, and used his war bonds to buy the property in 1886.

His son-in-law, Dr. Weedon, already enjoyed a national reputation for his research on yellow fever by the time he married Blanche. The Weedons built their house on top of an Indian shell mound that is believed to have been 400 feet across and 40 feet tall. The house was used as a weekend and holiday destination, and a strip of land was cleared for an orange grove and grapefruit trees. Today, the only trace of the grove is the occasional grapefruit tree that still struggles to grow in the wild hummocks.

The Weedon family sold its property to a land speculator and developer named Eugene M. Elliott in 1923, who tried to use the island’s prehistoric inhabitants as a draw to sell parcels of land.

He actually planted false artifacts into one of the island’s shell mounds in an attempt to lure the Smithsonian Institution to the site. Even though the Smithsonian’s representative, J. Walter Fewkes, knew right away that the artifacts were fake, he took an interest in excavating the site, and by 1924 more than 400 human skeletons were found and removed.

Around 1930, Hollywood discovered the area and the San Remo was turned into a movie studio, but when it burned down, the new Sun Haven Studios was built nearby. The studio made three movies with notable actors of the time, and local people became film extras.

After a couple of years, Hollywood lost interest in the area, the studio was closed due to back taxes owed, and the movie era on Weedon Island came to an inglorious end.

Grand Central Airport opened on Weedon Island in 1929. On January 27, 1931, the Eastern Air Transport (predecessor of Eastern Airline) moved its headquarters here, making it a very busy place.

During the Second World War the airport was converted to military use. Eventually the airport, which had become known as Sky Harbor, lost its prominence to Albert Whitted Airport, which was owned and operated by the city of St. Petersburg, and closed its doors for good.

Before long the abandoned airport became a victim of vandals and time. Eventually even the hangar fell to progress. The only evidence of the once-busy airport are the sad remains I saw earlier.

In 1972, Weedon Island was added to National Register of Historic Places. The state of Florida purchased the land in February of 1974, and gave birth to the preserve. The first Florida park rangers were stationed at the Preserve in 1979. Then on December 28, 1980, Weedon Island State Preserve officially opened to the public.

In 2001, a 40-foot dugout canoe was discovered on Weedon Island by a local man. At the time, it was believed the dugout could be as old as 11,000 years. It wasn’t until 2011, when it was finally unearthed, that carbon dating indicated it was built sometime between 690 and 1000 AD. It was in a sad state of decay, but every effort was made to preserve the remains, and the canoe can now be seen at the Weedon Island Cultural Center.

Whether you come to Weedon Island to paddle the kayak trails, walk the preserve’s trails and boardwalks, or just to explore the cultural center, it will be time well spent.

“A Glimpse Through the Mangroves”, by Carrie M. Jadus

As seen in the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center

On the porch of the caretaker’s house. 1907.

Black & white photonegative, 4 x 5 in. State Archives of FL, Florida Memory.

L-R: Mary Weedon Hazen, May McNeer, Isabelle Weedon McNeer, Dr. Leslie W. Weedon, Weedon McNeer, Mrs. Carhart, Harry Lee Weedon, Mr. Carhart

Weedon Island Preserve is located at 1800 Weedon Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702. The Cultural and Natural History Center is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm.

For more information on the preserve, visit http://www. weedonislandpreserve.org/.

For more information about kayak and paddleboard rentals, please visit https://sweetwaterkayaks.wordpress.com/rentals/.

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Show Off

Your Home in High Definition with HD Showings

by A Kay

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Selling a home effectively in the information age means employing a variety of digital media options to get buyers’ attention. More than likely, a prospect’s first impression will be through a computer or smartphone. St. Petersburg is a national travel destination, and eyes from all over the world are searching online for their next short-term or long-term rental, or permanent living space. HD Showings (HDS) has been professionally marketing homes right here in Florida for nine years, and offers all of the latest technologies to do it right!

Owners Chris and Amy Kellison have been in marketing since they met in the year 2000. They have held real estate licensing in Texas and Florida, and both come from a family of entrepreneurs and agents. This thorough understanding of the ins and outs of real estate—and business in general—gives HDS the ability to set the minds of agents and homeowners at ease.

The two most often ordered services are photography and a virtual tour. Professional photos instantly differentiate your listing from the masses. Despite the advances of smartphone cameras, there is so much you can do with proper gear and an eye for architectural photography. All of the photographers at HDS use wide-angle L-class lenses and full-frame DSLRs (digital single-lens reflex cameras) to show the maximum amount of space possible without distortion. The images are then meticulously finished by tweaking the color balance, luminance and architectural lines. A virtual tour (which is essentially a mini-website) is then created to display all of the photos of the home, set to music, along with additional property information and contact details for the interested buyer.

The term “virtual tour” can also mean other things; it has morphed over time. Originally it connoted an interactive environment that allows the user to virtually look around in full

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360-degree views from different vantage points. You may have seen these in the past or more recently on Google Street View and Facebook. Today these types of views would more likely be called panoramas. It can be essential in helping the viewer understand how the different rooms are linked together and get a feel for the spatial proportions. HD Showings offers these panoramas and adds them to the virtual tour on an a la carte basis; they have for many years. However, they also offer something much much cooler these days!

The Matterport 3D Scan technology captures stunningly accurate walkthrough tours for listings. This is cutting-edge technology, which can show an entire floor plan in 3D and allow the user to navigate the

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home in this space. A viewer can seamlessly walk through a home and observe the intricate details of each room. Matterport technology is compatible with all devices, including virtual reality (VR) gear. According to Forbes, it is the future of real estate marketing.

HD Showings offers a variety of different products, and their team is capable and trained to do about anything you need to market a home effectively in the 21st century. We already went over Photography, Virtual Tours, and the Matterport 3D Scan. Here is a quick breakdown of some of their other offerings: Elevated Photography offers a distinctly different vantage point for the front shot of the home, and can be taken from up to 15 feet. This is ground-based photography

using DSLRs, resulting in exceptional quality imagery from the ideal height to show a building from its absolute best angle. This option is very popular with builders.

Aerial Photography is an excellent way to show homes with views near the water, conservation, golf courses, new developments, large parcels of land, estate homes and other local attractions—making your listing stand out from hundreds of competitors!

Community Photos can be added to show off local beaches, docks, parks, and community amenities, giving the potential buyer a sense of what type of lifestyle the location offers.

Twilight Photography produces beautiful, jeweltoned skies and windows lit with a warm glow. This option

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is excellent for capturing the attention of online browsers, as it provides distinctly different looks for the front of the home that are very eye-catching.

Video of a home or building allows HDS to artistically capture the space in a movie-like format. This can be a breath of fresh air for a viewer bored of looking at static images, and in a way other formats cannot match. It also allows one to take advantage of Youtube, the world’s second most used search engine (next to Google, of course).

HDS has five dedicated photographers in the Tampa Bay Area, including Tony, the company’s dedicated Pinellas County photographer. Tony has been with HDS for three years, and was the first photographer the company hired as they expanded. HD Showings also has photographers in most other large Florida cities, including Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach and Sarasota. Prices start at $100 and for the month of April, mention “Green Bench Monthly” for 25 percent off your order!

For more information about HD Showings, visit www.hdshowings.com or call (813) 468-3000.

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CSI Camp The CSI Camp, for instance, is part science, part sleuth, part inventor and a whole lot of fun! The weekly themes for the CSI Camp vary, but your little detective might be interested in Secret Agent Lab: Funky Forensic. Or how about Spy Academy: Mission Impossible? Mad Science Tampa Bay and the St. Petersburg Police Department also will make an appearance during the week.

Culinary Camp

In the Culinary Camp, campers receive basic cooking instruction, information about nutrition, and how food is processed. Visits to a community garden, fish market and food distribution center also round out the experience. Your little campers will also learn manners, etiquette and the proper placement of utensils at table settings, skills that are thought to be dying arts!

YMCA Summer Camps Are Fun and Enriching!

by Barbara Lewis

“Mom and Dad, I’m bored,” is a common refrain heard by many parents during the summer months. Parents face the challenge of keeping their children engaged in positive activities and out of mischief by offering them fun, interesting and exciting things to do. A hectic work schedule makes this seemingly impossible.

This is when many families turn to the St. Petersburg YMCA. Even though the YMCA has been a part of the fabric of St. Petersburg life since 1920, the group looks to the future by embracing changes that address the current needs of the children they serve. According to Tim Staley, YMCA’s Chief Operating Officer, over the past couple of years the organization has been “redefining and rebranding camps to make it much more child-focused, by offering activities children want to do.” The YMCA programs also seek to reduce

summer learning loss in areas such as reading by concealing educational content in fun activities.

The YMCA offers Summer Camps at four locations: Childs Park, Jim and Heather Gills, Bardmoor, and their newest location, Central Campus.

Each site offers traditional Summer Camp programs for elementary school-aged children from ages five through 12. Activities in the traditional program would include things like arts and crafts, music, theatre and dance, swimming and much more.

But this year, there is something new! The YMCA is offering Specialty Camps. There are nine Specialty Camps, including Golf Camp, Culinary Camp, Sailing Camp, Girl Power Camp, Soccer Camp, Basketball Camp, Science Camp, CSI Camp and Fishing Camp.

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Girl Power Camp

The Girl Power Camp will help to “empower your daughter with the skills, language and self-confidence to develop a positive image about women everywhere”—a most timely issue. These women-of-tomorrow will learn financial skills, character development, antibullying practices and finish the week with a trip to the spa.

Specialty Camp

Specialty camp weeks can be interspersed with traditional camp weeks, and the YMCA makes it so easy! Simply drop off your youngsters at the most convenient location, and the YMCA staff will transport the children to the appropriate location for their camp.

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The YMCA will employ roughly 50 staff this summer to serve the approximately 500 students a week who participate in the Summer Camps.

Traditional day camps range in price from $120 to $140 a week. Prices vary for Specialty Camps. Financial aid is available based on a sliding scale of documented income.

The YMCA Summer Camp program will give out a quarter of a million dollars in financial assistance this summer to support single moms and dads. According to Mr. Staley,

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“Half of the children the YMCA will serve this summer will receive some level of financial aid.”

If we were to sum up the YMCA in a tagline, it would be: “Something for everyone!”

The Summer Camp program runs from May 30 through August 9, 2017. For more information, please go to the St. Pete YMCA Summer Camp Program website at http://www.stpeteymca.org/ childcare/summer-camp/.

Early registration is encouraged because spots fill quickly.

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Help Duke Find A Home Submitted by Pet Pal Animal Shelter

Duke: American Staffordshire Terrier/Siberian Husky Aged 8 years 8 months Before he came to our shelter, he had already been in another shelter for over a year. Duke is a wonderful dog, but sadly the stereotype for his breed makes him not the most attractive to some people. We think he’s just hands-down a gorgeous senior looking for someone to share his love. Let’s get Duke a home!

Duke is an eight-year-old male American Staffordshire Terrier/Siberian Husky mix.

Upon adopting Duke, the Pit

Project will provide a crate, leash, collar, Kong toy, a bag of Science Diet food and a vet visit to Pet Pal Veterinary Clinic.

You must own your home, no small children, and a meetand-greet required with other dogs. Duke’s Guardian Angels are Moxie and Shari Schneider.

His adoption fee is $75.00.

All of our animals are spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. Please call (727) 328-7738 or visit petpalanimalshelter.com

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Mural on store wall by Derek Donnelly

The St. Pete Store & Visitors Center Is For Locals Too! The store began as a way for the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce to showcase community artists and makers. Since then, the concept has taken off and exceeded expectations.

Last year they saw more than 16,000 visitors! And they plan to see even more this year. Tourists and locals love it! In fact, Coordinator Shelli Hemans, explains that her biggest concern is keeping up with demand for new artists.

“Some stop by just to see what’s new which is why we update our inventory at least every quarter,” says Hemans.

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In addition to local art, there are plenty of other reasons to visit the Center. Planning a trip to the Dali or taking a class at Florida Craft Art? The store offers discounts on tickets to local museums and events. Need ideas for how to entertain visiting family? Check out their racks of brochures featuring all of the touristy delights our little-big city has to offer. While you’re there, snag a plaque featuring your neighborhood logo. And now you can find past and current issues of Green Bench Monthly!

The Store is staffed by the Chamber

and an incredible set of passionate volunteers. Stop by, say hello, and tell them Green Bench Monthly sent you!

The St. Pete Store & Visitors Center is on the corner of 2nd Ave N and 1st St N at 100 2nd Ave N. They are open Monday-Wednesday and Saturday from 10am-5pm; Thursdays and Fridays from 10am-6pm. For more information, call (727) 388-0686. Local Makers, Artists, and Volunteers... If you are interested in selling your work or volunteering at the store, please email Shelli Hemans at shemans@stpete.com.

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Photo by Kelly Nash Photography

L to R: Jeff (7 yrs), Sue (28 yrs), Lori (14 yrs), Jessica (Asst. Mgr. 3 yrs), Adam (Asst. Mgr. 3 yrs), Emily (Manager 18 yrs), Emily’s son Ty, Jim (Owner), and Abe (giant dog)

Treat Your Pets to the Best At

Animal House Naturals Pet Center

by Pam Sica

Do you have a finicky pet at home or one that has been, by chance, put on a special diet by your veterinarian? If so, then consider stopping in to Animal House Naturals Pet Center. Owner James Nannen started out in New England, building his brand up to four stores. Luckily for us, he relocated to St. Pete in 1981, and has either leased or purchased several properties in our city over the years. For about the past seven years, Jim, his manager Emily Stoft and their knowledgeable staff at Animal House Naturals Pet Center have been helping you to care for even your most particular pets at their location in the Northeast Park Shopping Center. But they have been your friendly neighborhood pet store for more than 35 years!

You long-timers might remember one of the first iterations of Animal House, back when Jim bought Grout’s Pet Shop. After the business moved to 34th Street, it was eventually sold to Steve Silk, a longtime employee. By 1991, Jim took the plunge and bought a beautiful, freestanding bank building on 4th Street, which

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allowed him to expand to over 8000 sq. ft. of retail space. There, they prospered and served their community for the better part of 20 years, renaming it Animal House Naturals in 2007. This was the premier, full-line pet store in St. Pete long before any big box stores came on the scene. The store’s tagline was, “If you’re shopping anywhere else, you’re not having as much fun!”

About seven years ago, Animal House Naturals Pet Center downsized a bit and landed in its present shopping center location, anchored by the old Publix #610, a hallmark in the community. Here, you’ll find a very pet-friendly, neighborhood vibe, with expert personal service delivered by Emily Stoft and her longstanding, talented team. I was pleased to meet Emily, a great source for this story, who came to work at Animal House right out of high school. Believe it or not, her 18 years of experience is eclipsed by Susan, who is a 28-year veteran! Lori has 14 years of service under her belt, and rest assured, these folks—along with the remainder of the crew, each with three to seven years’ expertise in all things

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Above: Animal House Naturals has over 50 varieties of dog food Right: These cute little guys would love to meet you!

Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

pet-related—are all ready to help you to discover the products that will best suit your unique pet.

While you won’t see dogs or cats for sale these days (plenty are waiting to be adopted from local shelters), what you will see are open “petters” within the store, filled with a variety of small, socialized animals quite used to being handled. You and the kids will be hard-pressed not to fall in love with their antics!

There are chicks available in the springtime, ready to roost in your urban backyards; hamsters and guinea pigs at times, and even other exotic pets, like prairie dogs! Animal House Naturals sells over 5,000 crickets a week as food for those reptiles you have come to love. Who knew? Mealworms and mice are also available to feed those snakes you’re hosting in your household. Looking for more of an aquatic ambiance? There are ten-gallon starter tanks, Betas and Glowfish available. If you’re in need of anything you don’t readily see, just ask. Special orders are available to fix you up with anything you might require.

Most of all, if you need advice, reassurance, a friendly face or all of the above, come on by to see Emily and her crew. They’ll help you learn your way around the fully stocked rows containing over 50 different varieties of canned or bagged, frozen and refrigerated, unprocessed and raw dog food, as well as the sound nutrition necessary for all types of exotic pets. There are leashes, collars, food bowls, pet beds and toys, homemade treats; a whole

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array of Animal House lotions, shampoos and conditioners; and even personalized pet tags. You name it—all the pet paraphernalia you could imagine lines the shelves and walls to the max. It’s an astounding use of space, to be sure. And remember, if you don’t see what you’re looking for, just ask. Chances are, they have it, but if not, a special order is easy as pie.

On my way out, I realized that I didn’t know what to get my “grand-dogs”, who are local patrons since moving to the area. Nana couldn’t very well visit them empty-handed, right? As I scratched my head looking at the myriad of choices, Emily said she’d be glad to look up their purchase preferences in the store’s retail computer.

Now that’s a neat trick! Sure enough, she was able to turn me on to the Stella and Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Meat Toppers and the Bully Sticks that my little Ryker and Stella absolutely adore. Nothing but the best for my grand-dogs, because they deserve it!

Give your special pet the preferential treatment only found at Animal House Naturals Pet Center. Hope to see you there!

Animal House Naturals Pet Center is located in the Northeast Park Shopping Center at 274 37th Ave N., St. Petersburg, FL 33704. Store hours are Monday-Saturday from 9am-8pm and Sunday from 11am-6pm. For more information, call (727) 8214466 or visit their website at www.animalhousepets.com.

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Photo by Andrejka Photography

New Murals Decorate Crescent Heights

by Luke Cross Mayor Rick Kriseman with muralists Cecilia Lueza, Daas and Derek Donnelly Photo by Andrejka Photography

Mural in progress Photo by Luke Cross

Yogis Alix Emery and Zach Mills Photo by Andrejka Photography

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After 18 months of planning and painting, Crescent Heights Neighborhood Association unveiled two new murals in the Crescent Lake area Sunday, April 2. The beautification project is comprised of more than 500 hours of volunteer time and a $12,000 grant from the City of St. Petersburg. “The process started with finding walls where we could decorate, bring vibrancy and a little personality to one of the best neighborhoods in the city,” says Thomas Patrick, President of the CHNA, “it’s a huge community effort supporting small business and local artists.”

The unveiling party started at the history-themed wall at 9th Street North, on the side of Cut-Ups Salon. Before shifting to the nature-inspired mural at 4th Street’s JWags Saloon, a neighborhood scavenger hunt and cleanup sent attendees searching for some of Crescent

Height’s hidden beauties. Mayor Rick Kriseman topped off the night, speaking about the rich culture surrounding the neighborhood before unveiling the second mural.

The pool of muralists from which to choose consisted of 25 local creators, eventually narrowing down to three. “The artists were chosen for their professionalism, their portfolio, and their vision,” says Patrick.

The painters spent more than a week preparing their pieces, spending every day available actualizing their concepts with brushes and spray cans.

The event began with Derek Donnelly’s historically inspired piece along 9th Street North.

The founder of Saint Paint Arts, an evolving collective of St. Petersburg and Tampa artists, Donnelly is a Florida native who influenced the first wave of murals around the ‘Burg. “I was heavily involved in the cultivation 16

of the St. Pete art scene about seven years ago, with the help of others like Sebastian Coolidge and the Vitale Brothers,” said Donnelly, “the culmination of creative professionals working together like that makes bigger, cooler stuff for the city.”

Donnelly’s creation covering the wall of CutUps Salon is a retelling of local history. The visage of Peter Demens, the aristocratic Russian founder of St. Pete, lies next to a railway representing the Orange Belt Railway built

by Demens. His face transitions harshly into that of a Native American woman beside a grand banyan tree, depicting the historic cost of building such a beautiful city.

Such a St. Pete-centric work isn’t uncommon for Donnelly: “Being a native, my art reflects it. Whether it’s the sea turtles or historic imagery, growing up here influences my art,” he shared.

The second mural produced from the collaboration of Cecilia Lueza and Daas, was placed along the wall of Jwags Saloon on 4th Street. Lueza, known for public installations in a range of mediums, creates pieces like her mural out of a passion developed more than two decades ago. “When I came to this country 18 years ago, I

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discovered public art and thought it was perfect for me,” said Lueza.

Lueza’s partner for the piece, Daas, specializes in abstract geometric murals resembling the folds of origami. With work exhibited across the globe, Daas has been creating public art for about as long as his partner. “I’ve painted in a number of places. Canada, Nepal, Jordan, and the Dominican Republic.”.

When the artist selection process reached the final three, Daas and Lueza were given the opportunity to either enter a tie breaker or collaborate on the same wall. Admiring each other’s portfolio, the two agreed to work together on the nature-themed wall. “I think our styles really complement each other a lot, so I was excited to collaborate with Cecilia, Daas stated. The pair spent the days leading up to CHNA’s unveiling bringing their work to life: a geometric representation of birds native to the St. Pete area. The mural spanned the entirety of Jwags parking lot facing wall, an area large enough to require a boom lift to complete. “It’s a lot of work, but I’m happy to do it,” shared Daas, “these newer pieces will be here for ten, twenty years. It’s this art that puts St. Pete on the map.”

Muralist Derek Donnelly standing in front of his masterpiece — “Angels and Demens” Photo by Andrejka Photography

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ejka

by Andr raphy Photog

ArtsXchange Hard Hat Celebration and Fundraiser

When: Thurs, April 27th 4:30 pm - 7 pm Where: 515 22nd St S, 33712 Cost: Suggested donation $20.00 After two years consolidating its vision, rallying community support and raising funds, the Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA) has broken ground on the ArtsXchange, a 50,000 square foot facility that will create sustainable, affordable art studios and educational space in the greater St. Petersburg Midtown community! WADA has raised funds to begin construction but needs help to complete the first phase of the project.

Reception and fundraiser will feature: Remarks by St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Kriseman at 5:30 pm; an art exhibit by incoming ArtsXchange artists; hard hat tours of the construction site; as well as live music, cold beer, wine, soda and water for a donation. To register for this event, visit warehouseartsdistrictstpete.com

Vote in the Special Referendum*

When: Tues, May 2nd Where: St. Petersburg Polling Locations, visit www.votepinellas.org for details Cost: Your time Vote on the referendum to give City Council the authority to negotiate a long-term use agreement for Al Lang Stadium. The agreement, which would not exceed 25 years, would allow Al Lang to be the home field for a potential Major League Soccer team.

*The publishers of Green Bench Monthly are voting ‘Yes’! We think an MLS team would be a boon for tourism and our community as a whole.

Food Truck Rally St. Pete Street Food Festival & Night Market

Poster Art for Movie Night by Carrie Jadus

St. Petersburg Preservation’s May Movies in the Park When: Every Thurs in May starting at 7 pm Where: North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr NE, 33701 Cost: Free Bring family and friends to enjoy FREE film classics and music each Thursday evening in May. This event is produced by St. Petersburg Preservation. Come early to listen to music and enjoy the beautiful evening with a picnic - bring your own or purchase food and drink from some of St. Petersburg’s best vendors. It is recommended to please bring a blanket or low seat to sit on. Secure, on-site bicycle valet parking will be available, thanks to Coast Bike Share.

Visit stpetepreservation.org for schedule.

St. Petersburg Jazz Explosion

When: Sat, May 6th & Sun, May 7th 11 am - 10 pm Where: Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Dr NE, 33701 Cost: $45 General Admission This event provides a platform for our city’s aspiring musicians who may not have the means or opportunity to showcase their talent, may it be music or otherwise to larger audiences. It is our sincerest hope that by creating such an avenue for our youth, we can open up pathways for greater opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/St-Pete-JazzExplosion-812096062194364/

GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / MARCH 2017

When: Fri, May 19th • 6 pm - 9 pm Where: Port St. Pete, 250 8th Ave N, 33701 Cost: Free admission and parking Enjoy the first ever St. Pete Street Food Festival. Shop vendors while enjoying some of the best food truck fare around at the future home of the Marine Discovery Center. There will be live music, waterfront seating and opportunities to tour the Sir Winston cruise ship at the Port. Fun for the whole family! For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ events/916812801787528

World Cultural Diversity Day

When: Sun, May 21st • 1 pm - 6 pm Where: St Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, 559 Mirror Lake Dr N, 33701 Cost: Free Admission SPIFFS, together with the Friends of the Sunshine Center, will celebrate World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development with a multi-cultural festival at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. Ethnic food and entertainment from several countries will be featured. World Day is set aside by the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity. For more information, visit www.spiffs.org

Rain Gardens and Barrels

When: Sat, May 27th • 10:30 am Where: Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St N, 33704 Cost: Free with paid admission or membership Learn inventive ways to collect rain water just in time for the rainy season. Create your own beautiful and functional rain garden and learn the best collecting techniques using rain barrels. Brian Niemann of the Pinellas County UF/IFAS Extension leads this fun and informative program. For more information visit www.stpete.org/sunken

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MARCH 2017 /

GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM

GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / MARCH 2017

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