Green Bench Monthly - Vol 3, Issue 10, October 2018

Vol. 3, Issue 10, OCTOBER 2018

St. Pete’s Direct-Mail Community Magazine

10 Family-Friendly Halloween Events In St. Pete pg. 16

On the Horizon

Voting Rights pg. 6

Costs and Benefits of

Short-Term Rentals pg. 10

Hit the Market

Meet the Mafia pg. 24

Into the Living Poem by Robb Hasencamp

Life is such a grand affair With light surveying all we do Sustaining our path, the perilous voyage Ever unto the bright bracing hours

Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Editors

Rui Farias Kristi Kasak Mary Jane Park Cathy Weisberg

Windsurfing at Vinoy.

Photo by Brian Brakebill

Contributors

Andy Bragg, Nicole Brand, Tara Britton, Tina Stewart Brakebill, Vandi Carmella, Erin Cody, Luke Cross, Rui Farias, Denielle Kennett, Brian Zucker

Photographers

From the Bench

Brian Brakebill Emily Canfield Kelly Nash

Happy Halloween, St. Pete! We’ve got lots of good stuff for you this issue; in print and on the web.

Visit greenbenchmonthly.com for extra content that we didn’t have room to print this month.

Cover Photo: Trick-or-treating in Historic Old Northeast Photo by Vandi Carmella

Contact

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

Proud member of:

Ibis at Crescent Lake.

Photo by Brian Brakebill

Till next time,

In This Issue: 4 6 8

From the Archives

Voting Rights Might Be In Sight

What Makes SHINE Shine

10 Short-term Rentals

12 Blackwell Auctions: Seeking Hidden Treasure 14 Your Neighborhood Problem Solvers: The UPS Store

hello@greenbenchmonthly.com 16 Sunshine City Kids: Family-Friendly Halloween 18 Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue: Rehoming People and Pets

20 Pro Star: Where Artist Visions Are Fostered 22 Oak & Stone: It’s Your Story to Craft 24 Movers and Makers: Meet the Mafia

27 DTSP on a Dime: FREE Admission to Museums and Attractions!

28 People of St. Pete: Allison Stribling

29 Downtown Developments 30 Events

Correction: Vol. 3, Issue 9, September 2018 cover stated this year is the 5th annual SHINE mural festival; 2018 is in fact the 4th annual.

Green Bench Monthly Is Direct-mailed to 15,400 homes and businesses in zip codes 33701, 33704 & 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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From the Museum’s Archives: Storm of October 1921

With St. Petersburg Museum of History Executive Director, Rui Farias They didn’t have names yet, but the Hurricane of October 25, 1921 delivered 100 mph winds and plenty of water to the Sunshine City.

Although power lines were downed and structures affected throughout the city, the majority of damage was limited to waterfront areas. The 1913 wooden Municipal Pier was damaged, the famous Shell Fence surrounding the Albright house was destroyed and the Yacht Club

(pictured) was badly flooded. Mayor Noel Mitchell, ever the marketing champion, shrugged off the the storm and declared St. Petersburg survived the hurricane virtually unscathed. Visitors agreed, as even the storm of October 1921 couldn’t stop the mighty boom that followed.

For more information about St. Petersburg Museum of History exhibits, hours, and ticket pricing visit SPMOH.com.

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Keondre receives his certification at Pinellas Technical College. From Left to Right: Heather Nix, Program Coordinator - Second Chance Tiny Homes, Antonio Crockett, Instructor/Mentor - Second Chance Tiny Homes, JacQuis Monroe, Instructor/Mentor - Second Chance Tiny Homes, Dr. Antelia Campbell, Assistant Director Evenings – Pinellas Technical College, Keondre Robinson, Graduate – Second Chance Tiny Homes, Dr. Kanika Tomalin, Deputy Mayor and City Administrator of St. Petersburg, Terrika Burton-Hobbs, Workforce Empowerment Specialist – Pinellas Ex-Offender Re-Entry Coalition, Michael Jalazo, Executive Director/CEO – Pinellas Ex-Offender Re-Entry Coalition

Voting Rights Might Be In Sight

By Nicole Brand

Students in the Second Chance Tiny Homes program learn to build homes like the one pictured here. Photo courtesy of Free Range Tiny Homes.

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A little after 10 a.m. on Sept. 18, Keondre Robinson stands before an audience in a suit and tie he picked out more than a week ago. His family has been calling him all morning, double-checking the time and clarifying the address. He’s excited. He has spent the past few months learning to build tiny homes at Pinellas Technical College in St. Petersburg; his classes covered everything from foundations to drywall techniques. After a hot St. Petersburg summer, he takes pride in his accomplishment and is happy to move on to paid employment. He and seven of the 12 other graduates of the program already have secured jobs with their newly earned certifications.

Robinson is among those in the second round of graduates from the Second Chance Tiny Homes program for ex-offenders seeking new skills to enter the workforce. According to Antonio Crockett, a graduate of the inaugural program in March, the effort goes beyond learning electrical and plumbing and helped him to “keep learning and growing” past the technical skills he gained.

Still, come November, Robinson and Crockett will be unable to participate in a basic American process. Neither is allowed to vote.

The men’s celebration and publicity for their efforts come at an auspicious time in Florida, where voters are being asked to decide whether to restore some civil liberties to ex-offenders who have served their time and paid their debts. A proposed amendment to the state constitution, known as the Voting Restoration Amendment, or Amendment 4, calls for automatically reinstating “the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation.” The amendment doesn’t apply to murderers or sex offenders.

Currently, convicted felons in Florida are stripped of a number of privileges, including the right to vote, serve on a jury and hold public office. These restrictions apply until five to seven years after they have served their sentences. After that, they can apply to the state’s Office of Executive Clemency. Applicants are screened for eligibility, investigated

Infographic by Politifact. Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

and sent to the clemency board for a final decision on a potential pardon from the governor. According to PolitiFact Florida, only 10 percent of the 30,000 who have applied have been recommended for pardon.

Where does Florida stack up with the rest of the United States? There’s no federal precedent; individual states set the bar. The range varies: Maine and Vermont offenders never lose their voting rights. The Sunshine State is one of only four that do not automatically restore voting rights after felons have completed their sentences. Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker deemed Florida’s process to be unconstitutional.

Housing and work opportunities are but two of the many qualities of life that are affected with a conviction of any kind across the country.

As Mike Jalazo of the Pinellas Ex-Offender Re-entry Coalition (PERC) points out, what’s on the ballot this November for Amendment 4 won’t help with the restoration of other civil liberties.

Robinson is well aware of that as he stands before a room of his proud family, friends and faculty to celebrate his new skills. But as Heather Nix, program manager for Second Chance Tiny Homes points out, the measure does help change the conversation while programs such as the tiny homes effort bolster skill sets for ex-offenders so they may more easily find work..

What can you do? Do your research, figure out where you stand, and vote on November 6.

For more information on the 2nd Chance Tiny Homes program through PERC, visit http://secondchancetinyhomes.org/ To learn more about Amendment 4, visit https://ballotpedia.org/ Florida_Amendment_4,_Voting_Rights_Restoration_for_Felons_ Initiative_(2018)

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What Makes SHINE Shine

By Erin Cody

The SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival was one of the first things that excited my partner and me about living in St. Petersburg, when we moved here a couple years ago. Having come from NYC my stakes were impossibly high, but SHINE presented something extraordinarily unique. This was beyond Brooklyn street art, something I’d never really seen outside of Burning Man: a community coming together for the love of art, and art coming together to celebrate community. We saw a city we could be proud to call home, a place that gets it, with people walking out of their businesses to bring drinks to artists who were working in the hot Florida sun, and bypassers and onlookers stepping up to help out as needed. It was the first time we caught a glimpse of what really makes St. Pete special. Community is at the center of this awesome art festival, which is almost entirely run by passionate, dedicated volunteers, and it is truly something beautiful to behold.

So much goes into making the SHINE Festival shine year after year. Major sponsors and supporters, like The City of St. Petersburg (Founding Sponsor), Salt Palm Development (Presenting Sponsor), Kolter Urban, Great Bay Distributors, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Rays, DTSP Courtyard Marriott, Sunbelt, Smart Move Moving & Storage, Hype Group, Bruce Denson, Kathryn Howd, and especially Mayor Kriseman, are the backbone of the festival, but community support gives it life.

According to SHINE Festival Program Director, Jenee Priebe, a few star local businesses have really made this year’s festival exceptional. There is Coast Bike Share, who has wrapped their bike baskets with local artists’ work, and are running the Official Shine Bike Tour, and MADE Coffee and Mother Kombucha, who have donated their products to artists involved in the project. Black Crow Coffee Co. and a number of other coffee shops have placed SHINE donation buckets on their counters to help raise funds for the festival, and a donor who wishes to remain anonymous even wrote a check directly to artist Ya La’Ford, to pay for her paint! Then, of course, there’s Green Bench Monthly (!), who created the fantastic mural map you may have seen around town, and which ran in last month’s issue.

The art itself is brilliant, but community is what makes it SHINE! Visit greenbenchmonthly.com/shine-2018 to check out the festival map, and stpeteartsalliance.org/shine-mural-festival/ for more info about the St. Pete Arts Alliance.

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‘You Are My Sunshine’ mural by J & S SIGNS on the Morean Arts Center building at 719 Central Avenue. Look for a new mural by J&S at 553 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N as part of this year’s SHINE festival. Photo by City of St. Petersburg.

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Stephanie Bartolotta’s 1 bed / 1 bad guesthouse in Gulftport

Short-term Rentals: Costs and Benefits

By Andy Bragg The Florida tourist season is fast approaching and it’s a safe bet that St. Pete is about to see an influx of short-term and vacation rentals. Sites like like Airbnb and VRBO/Homeaway make it easy for hosts and renters alike. They also generate tax revenue for the county. On the other hand, they can have disruptive effects on neighborhoods and traditional B&Bs, a subject of intensifying debate in this area.

The Florida legislature has limited local government restrictions on short-term rentals, defined as less than 30 consecutive days, since 2011. In St. Petersburg, houses or apartments are not allowed to be rented short-term more than three times annually in areas zoned for housing. According to Director of Codes Compliance Assistance, James Corbett, this rule is used in response to complaints and is not the city’s attempt to monitor usage for every property. Shortterm rentals are often restricted by condominium, home owners’ association and rental contracts.

Despite city code and HOA restrictions, many properties in residential neighborhoods are listed frequently anyway.

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The Dickens House B&B in Old Northeast

Benefits of Hosting

Hosts earn money from their properties with low incremental costs. Airbnb charges a 3% fee and offers reviews to prospective guests and a streamlined enrollment process. Listing a property is convenient and flexible. Much like Uber drivers with their own cars, hosts can mark their property available with a few clicks of a button.

Airbnb alone generated $24 million in revenue with 140,000 visitors to Pinellas County last year.

In Gulfport, Stephanie Bartolotta has rented out her guesthouse 190 times since 2010 with 90% of recent guests rating the experience five-star. Working full-time in the medical field, Stephanie enjoys the extra cashflow. Living next door, she is available for any issues which arise. She indicated the property is booked solid for December through May. Hosting is also a popular choice for seniors who comprise 45% of Airbnb’s Florida hosts, earning over $150 million last year. AARP has cited additional benefits of home sharing for seniors, including increased interaction and the opportunity to learn and to age in place.

More Tax Dollars for the City

As of October 1st, sites similar to AirBnb like VRBO, TripAdvisor, and Expedia agreed to start remitting a 6% bed tax to the Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office on behalf of their users. Prior to this agreement, only AirBnb, collected the bed tax. The other sites left it up to the host to pay the tax. Last year AirBnb remitted close to $1.9 million.

A Boon for Tourism

Short-term rental advocates trumpet the overall impact on local economies, increased tourism, and sales and lodging tax revenue.

Denis Hanks of the Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association said “With 400,000 vacation rental properties in Florida travelers are very aware of the variety available on these sites.”

Traveling guests also benefit financially through competitive rental rates, often based on hosts’ low incremental costs. Many properties are available for under $50 per night. The diversity of choices is also a major attraction. Airbnb currently lists over 3,000 properties in Pinellas, including houses, apartments, and rooms within houses, in just about every neighborhood. Prospective renters can check previous reviews of the property and communicate with the hosts. VRBO lists over 300 properties locally with a concentration in resort areas.

At what cost?

One clear negative impact of the rise of short-term rentals is a sharp decline in business for bed and breakfasts. Licensed B&Bs are subject to far more regulation than Airbnb because they serve meals and require staff. Ed Caldwell, owner of the Dickens House in Old Northeast for 18 years, says he cannot compete with Airbnb’s prices and may have to go out of business. He says, “[the City] does not sufficiently enforce regulations or respond to complaints about shortterm rentals. As a result, traditional B&Bs suffer from government suppression of legal businesses.” The Dickens House, a 1912 Arts and Crafts structure, was listed for sale earlier this year.

Neighborhoods can also be impacted by short-term rentals.

The influx of visitors can cause parking issues, late-night noise and potential security concerns. The long-term effect on housing values is debatable. Some argue the amount of affordable housing may be reduced as a result of short-term rental housing that could otherwise be leased on a long-termbasis.

Robin Reed, an Old Northeast volunteer preservationist, indicates that complaints about short-term rentals turn up on the community’s Nextdoor social network and in conversations with neighbors. She says those with concerns can request assistance or enforcement from the city via the SeeClickFix app.

Since May 2016, St. Petersburg’s codes compliance department has specifically tracked properties that have been in violation of the short-term rental code. There were 70 violations after that in 2016; 58 in 2017; and 105 so far in 2018.

Complaints Vary by Neighborhood

Kim Manghisi has rented out a house she owns in Venetian Isles since 2015. Her neighbors have repeatedly complained to the city that short-term rentals occurred more than three times annually. Faced with violation notices and increasing fines, she now limits rentals of less than 30 days to three times a year and primarily accepts longerterm tenants. She estimates that this has reduced her rental income for the property by half.

Toni Johnston says she has booked her house in St. Petersburg continuously for 18 months with no complaints. She says, “Vacation rentals are meticulously maintained, unlike long-term rentals. Tourists are a big part of our economy and we should welcome them any way we can. The City needs to protect owners’ property rights.”

At this point, one thing is clear. With St. Petersburg’s increasing popularity, demand for vacation rentals is only going to increase. And where there is demand, there will be supply.

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Photos by Emily Canfield.

Blackwell Auctions: Seeking Hidden Treasure

By Tara Britton

It seems there are endless ways to offload our “stuff ” these days.

From eBay to letgo, and Craigslist to OfferUp, if you want something gone there’s an avenue to get rid of it. That’s without considering the classic yard sale or even donation. But what if you’ve got treasure on your hands, or do and don’t know it?

For What It’s Worth

Edwin Blackwell Bailey eliminates the guessing game when determining the worth of belongings. Bailey and his wife, Shannon, own the family-operated business, Blackwell Auctions. For more 20 years, Edwin Bailey has been buying and selling. While he’s a certified appraiser, licensed auctioneer, and editorial researcher with a journalism background, he says those skill don’t alwys amount to much in his field.

Without pretending to know it all, Edwin makes it his mission to fact-find in order to leave consignors confident that they’re getting the most for the things they’re parting with. “The next best thing to knowing something is knowing where to find it,” he said, “or who does know it.”

A large portion of the business is through referrals, which speaks to the level of trust the Baileys have established. While respecting the emotional value associated with things like family heirlooms, Bailey takes the time to educate consignors so they feel equipped to make the best decisions.

He’s also not afraid to say “no.” When considering a piece for consignment, Blackwell has to consider a myriad of things: Is it interesting? Unique? Does it have universal vs. local appeal? Is it valuable outside of the retail sense, in its level of authenticity and condition? If he does not accept an item, he can turn to other sources, even competitors, to whom he can and will refer clients.

The Consignor Comes First

Blackwell Auctions works with both buyers and consignors, and Bailey stresses that his first priority is to consignors. His role is to secure the best prices for them, finding “the most interested buyer, for the most interesting stuff.”

The most motivated buyers aren’t always locals. In fact, most aren’t. A significant percentage of Blackwell sales are online, sometimes overseas.

For unique items, he traditionally has hunted down buyers who not only weren’t aware they needed said item but also had no idea it even existed.

He ha found distant relatives to artists whose work came into the gallery, for example. It requires diligence on his part, but Blackwell is committed to finding not only a good home for objects, but also a home with buyers who will treasure them the most, “the buyer who will sacrifice to have it.”

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Just as she does in her “Senior Selfies,” Kelli is welcoming the community to partner with her.

Start the Conversation

If you have something that could be of value, let Blackwell know, and he will determine the best course of action. If the intention is to move stuff, he is willing to make a home visit for a free evaluation. The auction gallery will accept a single item or many. Giving out realistic expectations is a primary focus. People often call for an evaluation, and what’s being discussed isn’t the most valuable item they have; they just don’t know it yet. The consignor isn’t the expert; that’s Blackwell’s role, and one he takes seriously.

At the very least, Blackwell can give an honest second opinion to alleviate final reservations. His “greatest joy,” he said, “is giving people pleasant surprises.” It’s also his duty to assist people to “breathe easy” over the exchange of their goods. It’s a triple win if the exchange benefits everyone in the transaction; however, his focus is to cater to consignors, allowing them to breathe more easily and get the best prices for their items.

Let the Bidding Begin

Treasure hunters, celebrate. Blackwell is adding monthly auctions.

Each event runs between five and six hours, with about 500 items up for grabs. These are typically smaller items such as jewelry, militaria, collectibles and fine art. Registration is free, and in-person attendees can come and go as they please. Many sit in on just one or two lots.

The auction hall, at 10900 U.S. Highway 19 N, Clearwater, has comfortable seating, ample parking, and an on-site food truck during auctions. Participants also can take part in real time through three online outlets and the Blackwell Auctions app.

Take a Load Off, Mind and Home

Before you have an estate sale, hire an estate company, post your goods in an online market or give them away, contact Edwin Blackwell with Blackwell Auctions, telephone (727) 546-0200; email info@ blackwellauctions.com; website blackwellauctions.com

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Christian Stuck and Alan Baer, owners of The UPS Store on 4th St in Historic Uptown.

Photos by Emily Canfield

Your Neighborhood Problem Solvers: The UPS Store

By Tina Stewart Brakebill Alan Baer originally comes from sunny California. Christian Stuck was born and raised near the Jersey shore. In 2015, fate (and the internet) brought Alan and Christian together on a date in New York City. An instant connection kept them together, and not long after that meeting they married. And, thankfully for St Pete, this New York City meet-up also brought together their individual skills and shared vision. That fusion resulted in a new business venture for both when they applied their entrepreneurial skills to opening the UPS Store at 740 Fourth Street N.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Baer’s background is in hotel management and hospitality and finance. Stuck was a child actor and musician before he began a management career that involved software development, public relations, and information technology. (Ask him about his time on Broadway. You won’t be disappointed!) The meshing of these diverse skills has been a perfect foundation for building a business that counts on customer service, attention to detail, and an understanding of business and customer needs. Coming together as partners in life and business also gave them the opportunity to choose the location for this shared dream. And they chose the city’s nearby Historic Old Northeast neighborhood. Their home is only blocks from the Historic Uptown location of the UPS Store on Fourth Street N. Their neighbors are their customers. Their customers are also their neighbors. Their work, play, and home lives are interconnected, so they know it’s important to get it right.

“The Back Office for Small Businesses”

If you think the UPS Store only ships and delivers packages, you’re wrong. Sure, they still provide “delivery at the right speed, the right time, and the right cost,” and they offer much more. In this age of shared work spaces and home offices, The UPS Store also can be your mailroom, your print department, and your graphic design department. Do you want a reliable place for business mail delivery

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Wren (Greyhound) and Darth (Corgi) help oversee the day-to-day operations.

and a “real” address (not a P.O. Box)? The UPS Store can help. Or maybe you need some promotional or presentational materials. The UPS Store offers full-service commercial printing — both products and service. They can even help if you need guidance with design.

They have a full-time graphic design artist on staff to help you realize your vision.

Customer Service Makes This Store Special

UPS may be the acronym for United Parcel Service, but the company’s motto — United Problem Solvers — definitely describes Baer and Stuck’s approach to business. They truly see themselves as problem solvers. Their goal is simple: Help customers. From concept to delivery, they’ve got you covered. And if they can’t solve your problem they’ll help you find someone who can. Plus, they’ll do it with a smile. Just ask their customers. Just two of their fivestar Google reviews read: “Polite, knowledgeable, AND true to their word? Sign me up!! What a refreshing experience it was to deal with this business. Thank you.” “This is the best customer service I have had in years. It’s good to know that there are still folks who care about you.”

Tell Me More

Not all UPS Stores offer the same products and services. The UPS Store in Historic Uptown offers full-service commercial printing, including online printing, banners, and posters. It also has the latest pickup times in town. You also can get important documents notarized. The store is at a great central location in and has lots of easy parking. On top of that, you get a smile and free bottle of water when you visit. Baer, Stuck, and their staff are, as one customer put it, “Helpful. Timely. Kind.”

How Can I Find Them?

If you’re looking for solutions to your small-business problems or if you need something copied, printed, or shipped, visit the UPS Store, 740 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg; phone (727) 5925400; email store6886@theupsstore.com. For more details: https:// saintpetersburg-fl-6886.theupsstorelocal.com/

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Trick-or-Treating with Seniors

Halloween brings out the child in everyone at the Second Annual Trick-or-Treating with Seniors at The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay. Organized in partnership with Sunshine City Kids, this event is open to kids of all ages and offers an opportunity to share in the season with the residents of this retirement community. Monday, October 15, 10:30 am

Shore Acres Trunk-or-Treat

Shore Acres Elementary School hosts this annual event where children from both the school and community are invited to wear costumes and “trunk-or-treat” from car to car in the school parking lot. An inflatable maze, basketball hoops, giant rock wall, DJ, and pumpkin silent auction round out the festivities for all to enjoy.

Friday, October 19, 6-8 pm

Howl-O-Fest

Halloween in Historic Old Northeast Photos by Vandi Carmella

10 Family-Friendly Halloween Events in St. Pete

Sponsored by Teen Arts, Sports, and Cultural Opportunities (TASCO) and the City of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department, Howl-O-Fest brings a slightly scary weekend to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve’s Environmental Studies area. The event features inflatable attractions, carnival games, trick-or-treat cabins, hay rides, a maze, a spooky trail and character meet-and-greets. There is a $5 entry fee and other activities may require a small fee. Friday, October 19 & Saturday, October 20, 6-10 pm

Mother Son Monster Mash

If painting in an air-conditioned studio is more your haunt, Practically Pikasso’s Mother Son Monster Mash is the place to be.

Moms (and dads!) are invited to wear their best costumes and paint Halloween-themed clay art while enjoying snacks with their little ones at this annual pottery party. Cost is $30 per couple and reservations are required. Sunday, October 21, 2:30-4:30 pm

First Annual Zombie Thriller Dance

Halloween isn’t Halloween without Thriller. Luckily for us, The Museum of Fine Arts will be showcasing Michael Jackson’s iconic dance performed by community volunteers/local zombies on their

By Vandi Carmella and Denielle Kennett front steps for the first time ever this year. Performances happen every In the Sunshine City, you don’t have to wait until October 31st 30 minutes between 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Wednesday, October 24, to put those adorable costumes to use. St. Petersburg is brewing with 6:30-8 pm slightly spooky and kid-friendly activities all month long.

We’ve found 10 of the best and most unique events that St. Pete Movies in the Park: Hocus Pocus Preserve the ‘Burg’s final installment of the October Movies in has to offer for families this Halloween season. Parents, you’ll enjoy the Park series is the Halloween classic Hocus Pocus. Music by King these too!

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Mother Son Monster Mash

Complex kicks off the magical night in North Straub Park followed by the movie at dusk. Costumes are encouraged and food and drinks can be purchased from vendors. Don’t forget your low chair or blanket!

Thursday, October 25, 6-10 pm

The Great Eeks-ploration

Even the littlest ghouls and goblins can join Great Explorations Children’s Museum for a day of fun, safe, and only a little spooky science and art at The Great Eeks-ploration. The museum’s Education Team will entertain with Critter Shows, smoke ring science experiments, and polymer worm goo creations. All activities are included with admission or membership. Saturday, October 27, 10 am - 2 pm

Historic Uptown Trick-or-Treat Trail

The Historic Uptown Neighborhood Association returns to Round Lake Park for its second annual Trick-or-Treat Trail. Costumed kids can make their way around the lake, stopping for candy and activities, including mini pumpkin painting along the way. Saturday, October 27, 5 pm

Pumpkin Painting Party

Trick-or-Treating with Seniors

on, but we’re going to rank Historic Old Northeast as the ultimate trick-or-treating neighborhood. Some streets closed to traffic, blocks of amazingly themed houses, and the friendliest residents who open their front porches to all make this destination a St. Pete tradition.

Steer clear if you want to avoid the crowds though. Wednesday, October 31, 6-9 pm

Paint a pumpkin for a good cause at 3 Daughters Brewing’s Pumpkin Painting Party. The event will benefit the local nonprofit, Trusting the Process, and features live music, fall games, 3 Daughters’ food truck, photobooths, raffles, and silent auctions. Tickets that sell for $15 in advance or $18 at the door include your pumpkin and Vandi and Denielle are the moms behind Sunshine City Kids, an painting supplies and a drink of your choice. Kids under 12 can paint online resource for all things kid-friendly in St. Petersburg. Lovers a mini pumpkin for free! Sunday, October 28, 2-6 pm of caffeine, local breweries and serving as officers for the Historic Halloween in Historic Old Northeast Uptown Neighborhood Association, they stay pretty busy. Follow the Sure there are lots of places in St. Pete to get your trick-or-treating Sunshine City Kids; visit sunshinecitykids.com.

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Photos by Emily Canfield

Pro Star Recording & Video Studio, Where Artist Visions Are Fostered

By Luke Cross

Pro Star Recording & Video Studio Co-Owners, Jody Gray and Jeannette Goldman

St. Petersburg’s world-renowned music scene has developed over the years. Once known mainly for metal music, the area now has numerous concert halls and live venues. The growing music scene brings with it an increasing number of musicians, a trend that Jeannette Goldman and Jody Gray have recognized.

Both musicians and songwriters, Goldman and Gray are coowners of Pro Star Recording Studio, a staple for local musicians and audio professionals. Pro Star has remained in the same location for 17 years, thanks to its diversity of services and the owners’ experience. As chief engineer, Gray has been recording and live-engineering for two decades, and Goldman has been writing various styles of music and teaching guitar for more than 25 years.

Reaching a Crescendo

The duo’s St. Petersburg legacy extends beyond the founding of Pro Star. Goldman owned the Music Corner, a local store for musicians that offered lessons and equipment. It was here she met Gray, who was advertising a CD by his band Wise Guy; years later, they agreed to open the studio.

Their years of recording in St. Petersburg have brought a number of big names to Pro Star along with innumerable local clients who have worked with Goldman and Gray. “One of our claims to fame is a young man that made it to Nashville and made it on The Voice, as well as the Go-Go’s using our studio to rehearse,” Goldman said. Yann

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Weymouth, architect of the Dali Museum, used Pro Star to record voiceover material for the Discovery Channel.

“As a recording studio, we realized that we couldn’t just do recording for musicians,” Goldman said. “We had to cater to our audience.”

Hitting All the Notes

Non-musical recordings have become a norm for Pro Star over the years. The studio’s clientele has ranged from doctors recording medical guides to politicians producing audio elements for their campaigns, plus podcasters and audiobook narrators. In addition to recording services, the studio rents out its 2,200-square-foot entertainment space for events.

“We’ve celebrated lots of special occasions for businesses and families,” Goldman said. “We’ve even hosted a few weddings, believe it or not,” The studio also offers video services, creating visuals for bands to promote themselves and souvenirs for events hosted at the space.

Pro Star’s diversity of services and its owners’ experience create an environment in which any artist’s vision can be fostered. “We’re personal. We get to know our clients and figure out what they want,” Goldman said. “A lot of engineers don’t get into the head of the artists.

They do what they want with the song.”

The studio can accommodate artists who can’t afford a band or backing tracks. As a multi-instrumentalist, Gray can step in to fill any gaps in the sound, and Goldman readily offers her experience as a writer. Between the talented owners, tried-and-true industry-standard equipment, and the shared passion for high-quality sound and music, everyone who walks through Pro Star’s doors leaves with an attention to detail hard to find elsewhere. “My partner and I truly do love music.

It stays with you forever, and music has always been a part of our lives,” Goldman said. “To be able to do it for a living is a special gift.”

This is because Pro Star is run by audio artists, built for audio artists, and knows its community through nearly two decades of service. Whether they’re working with a podcaster or musician looking for high-fidelity recording or hosting a sentimental family event, Goldman and Gray “want people to walk out with something they’re happy with.”

Check out what Pro Star Recording Studio offers by calling them at (727)-526-0446 or booking an appointment to tour the studio at 3220 28th St. N. For more information about services and rates, visit www.prostarrecording.com.

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Jaime McKnight, Realtor and Animal Rescuer, holding Flower (gray) and Brayleigh (pink).

In the swing: Jackson (yellow) and LOLs (pink tutu). Photos by Emily Canfield.

Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue: Rehoming People and Pets

by Tara Britton

Jaime McKnight is like a dog with a bone when it comes to her job(s); she refuses to give up. A licensed Realtor at Coldwell Banker and founder of Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue, she is recognizable in St. Petersburg, pounding the pavement night and day with her pooches by her side.

McKnight says her two enterprises have a number of parallels.

Real Estate and Rescues

Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue was born in 2013. Having been a pet sitter and sheltering dogs her whole life, McKnight realized she could make a difference in the lives of the animals that need it most.

“People want puppies,” she said. Her aim became clear and now is a motto for the company: “Giving the unwanted a second chance at happily furever after.”

Pawlicious rescues more than 100 dogs a year, primarily those most difficult to place. The nonprofit group caters to critically injured, endof-life and senior dogs, including surrendered, and abandoned animals accepted for rehabilitation and re-homing. Rescues are small dogs, 10 pounds and under.

Support the Cause

All of McKnight’s efforts are grassroots driven and built on connections with her supporters. With a social-media following of nearly 90,000, McKnight uses online outlets to tell the story of each rescue, giving

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followers a behind-the-scenes look at each journey to a forever home.

Many of the stories include surgeries and require supporters to rally around the animals financially. Donations have sustained the effort: With no corporate sponsorships, community supporters helped change the lives of 117 dogs in 2017.

Contributors have the opportunity to see firsthand where their support is going, and McKnight cuts no corners when it comes to the care the animals receive. On average, the rescues need between $1,000 and $6,000 worth of preparation to get ready for adoption, including spaying and neutering, dental treatment, blood work, surgery, testing, vaccinations, deworming and more. Pawlicious partners with Partridge Animal Hospital for the care for her rescues, and McKnight can’t speak highly enough about the team there.

Working Like a Dog

Calling her a Realtor by day, a rescuer by night, is to underestimate McKnight. She likes a challenge in both pet rescue and real estate, and she feels a sense of accomplishment finding the right homes for those she serves. “If you aren’t challenged,’ she said, “you don’t grow.” Each night, she receives the full list of dogs scheduled to be euthanized throughout the state. Searching the Multiple Listing Service for available homes to sell does not stop when the clock hits 5.

After a deal closes with an adoption or home purchase, relationships

Above: Simba aka Chitten (the chihuahua cat) Below: LOLs, living her best life.

McKnight establishes with her clients continue. They know that she is credible, trustworthy, and accessible. And she enjoys helping people fill their new home with a four-legged family member.

Follow the Pack

The Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue pack is easy to spot, between the bling and the popular pups. Local celebrity LOLs, a chihuahua, sports pigtails and has a scone-a-day habit at Kahwa Coffee. With 5-star ratings for both of her businesses, McKnight has become a hometown hero featured in several media outlets.

She hopes to change the face of rescue by making it brighter, promoting teamwork among other rescue organizations, educating the public, and connecting people with other rescue organizations if her own is unable to help. “If your heart and soul is in it, it shows,” McKnight says. Hers shows in support, recommendations and referrals.

Follow the journey of Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue on Facebook.

Support them via donations directly on their page or through Partridge Animal Hospital; every dollar counts. Donations to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization are tax-deductible.

Call Jaime McKnight if you’re considering surrendering your dog, or if you know someone who is; if she can’t help you, she has a network of options. She will make herself available at pawliciouspoochiepetrescue@ gmail.com or jaime.mcknight@floridamoves.com, or (727) 430-2491.

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Photos courtesy of Oak & Stone

Oak & Stone:

It’s Your Story to Craft

By Tina Stewart Brakebill

Oak & Stone began with an idea for a place. A place to get a good craft beer, watch the game, and eat a pizza. It also needed to be a place you could bring the kids to cheer on the team. And it would be great if it was still classy enough to bring a date for craft cocktails and wings. Could it be done? Friends and business partners Joe Seidensticker and Brett Decklever said yes and then proved it with the original Oak & Stone in Sarasota. And now they’ve brought that successful idea to St Petersburg. It offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere that’s

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perfect for a good time with friends, family, or that special someone.

It’s Your Craft Beer (and More) Story

Oak & Stone has something to offer almost everybody, but without a doubt, it’s the selfserve beer tap wall that gets the first notice.

It’s big — the region’s largest beer-only tap wall — and features more than 50 rotating varieties of craft beers with a special emphasis

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on local breweries including 3 Daughters, Cycle, and Green Bench. For those unfamiliar with self-serve walls, it’s easy. If you’re 21 or older, you can get a special Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) wristband that allows customers to pour their own brews. Guests can create their own tasting experiences or consult a staff “beertender.” Oak & Stone offers wine by the glass and a Liquid Library featuring craft cocktails and an impressive bourbon and whiskey menu. It also has Fountainhead Gourmet Craft Sodas.

It’s Your I Love Pizza, but Wait, They Also Have Wings and Tacos and … Story

Who doesn’t love pizza? Oak & Stone’s crust is made with triplefiltered water and baked in a wood-fired oven. It’s deliciously crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Topping options range from the pepperoni (for traditionalists) to eggs to Korean meatballs and sesame slaw (for adventurists). Guests also can splurge on tempting Street Tacos (try the Barbacoa Taco), Wood-Oven Wings or a Philly Cheesesteak Eggroll. Lighter fare includes salads and poke bowls, and Oak & Stone has meat-free and gluten-free options.

It’s Your Community Story

How do you define community? Is it coming together to watch the game on a big screen and cheer on your favorite team? Or maybe it’s a Saturday night out with your crew sampling bourbon flights and enjoying the late-night DJ? Perhaps community brings to mind taking the kids out for pizza after a visit to a local museum. Or thanks to Oak & Stone’s official partnership, community could mean meeting your hometown Rowdies and Pete the Pelican! Oak & Stone offers all of that and more, but they also know that our community pride goes beyond our sports teams and local craft beers. And because they don’t want to be “just IN St Pete, they want to be PART of St Pete,” Oak & Stone has invested in other things that matter here. They use paper straws and vegetable-based, biodegradable to-go containers. They offer only local favorite Kahwa Coffee. They’re also committed to giving back to the community. For example, they’ve already provided a portion of their sales to benefit Academy Prep Center St. Petersburg. The nonprofit middle school serves low-income students and their families. Oak & Stone plans to continue to partner with a variety of area nonprofits benefiting children and veterans.

Craft Your Own Story

Visit Oak & Stone at 199 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, website oakandstone.com

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Photos by Jeremy Halpern

Movers and Makers: Meet the Mafia

By Tara Britton The Market Mafia is a resource for anyone with a passion for local handcraft markets. From the vendors to the visitors, Market Mafia was established to keep the people of Greater Tampa Bay in the know. Using the interactive website marketmafia.com, Market Mafia informs the Bay on what to expect from upcoming events, Lakeland to Sarasota. The tool lets visitors know what markets are happening, when and where.

The Faces Under the Fedoras

I’m Tara Britton, Co-Founder of Market Mafia and author of the Green Bench Monthly column Movers & Makers, highlighting the goings-on in the world of St. Pete makers, markets, and our small business community. Myself and fellow Co-Founder Kimberly Rydinsky are the “bosses” of the Market Mafia operation, but readers may be disappointed to hear there are no gangsters, goodfellas, godfathers or otherwise sketchy characters in our crew.

As lovers of all things local, we enjoyed hitting handcraft markets together for years before launching our site in 2016. Kim and I shared a love for decorating our homes with local finds, eating fresh bites from food trucks, meeting the makers, and gifting those around us with things unique to our area. Jokingly calling ourselves the Market Mafia, we hit the markets, most often hidden under the brim of a fedora. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves commiserating the lack of a one-stop-shop resource to find local markets. Just like that, or bada-bing as they say, our website was born.

For Visitors and Vendors

The common confusion is that we organize local markets ourselves, but we don’t. We share event details for all of the markets happening around the Bay. Luckily for us, we live in an area that supports local, and that trend is only gaining momentum. During

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Market Mafia Co-Founders, Tara Britton and Kimberly Rydinsky

peak market season, which is fall to spring, we’ve had as many as forty events in one week on our event calendar!

We aim to be all-inclusive; all recurring, verifiable markets are welcome on our site. You no longer need to follow each and every individual market group to know what’s happening and when; we follow them all for you. You no longer have to go into an event blind, without any idea what to expect when you arrive. Gone are the days of being in the dark with what markets are occuring around town; those days are sleeping with the fishes, as they say.

Our effort to build awareness about our creative community is one that’s wound up benefiting both visitors and vendors. The original intent for marketmafia.com was to help shoppers like ourselves find events to attend, but it’s grown into a useful resource for vendors. Some of our most meaningful feedback has been from makers who have used our site to find new opportunities to apply for markets they were unaware of and showcase their brand, increasing sales and exposure.

The site was launched with ease of use in mind. User-friendly filters make searching our calendar simple. It’s as easy to use on a mobile device as it is on a desktop. Market Mafia also offers an emailed monthly newsletter regarding upcoming events worth hitting.

On the Horizon

Our mob continues to grow, and with it, our reach. Market Mafia recently gained a key team member, Rachel Freeman, Content Creator and Social Media Manager. With newfound motivation and our continued passion for the makers community, Market Mafia is excited to launch new projects this fall. Our website will now feature the chief markets in Jacksonville and Miami, in addition to Greater Tampa Bay. The Market Mafia brand will also unveil a print and digital “Hit List” guide to some of the Bay’s best within the local market circuit, including features on: makers, food trucks and more.

Prime market season kicks off in October. St. Petians can celebrate the return of some local favorites, and on the same day. Both the Saturday Morning Market and St. Pete Indie Flea Street Market reopen October 6th.

Join the family. Don’t expect a seedy initiation, but a warm welcome from fellow local lovers. If you’re already a mafioso, we thank you for your support. Visit marketmafia.com to view our calendar of upcoming markets around Greater Tampa Bay and follow us on Instagram @themarketmafia. We love to repost our followers who #HitTheMarket with us, so use the hashtag to share your: finds, family, and participation in the shop local movement.

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DTSP on a Dime:

FREE Admission to Museums and Attractions!

By Erin Cody Everybody loves getting into places for free when everyone else has to pay. It makes you feel like a VIP! There’s a very good chance that you are currently eligible for free entry to a number of attractions, and just don’t know it yet. Crossover deals are where it’s at, my friends! Let’s begin where you needn’t spend a penny to get your perks…

Pinellas Public Library Cooperative

Have a library card? If not, get on it! Then stop by your local branch and ask for a “Museum Pass.” This will score you free entry to the Florida Holocaust Museum, Chihuly Collection, Great Explorations Children’s Museum, and Museum of Fine Arts of St. Pete. Not too shabby, eh?

Each branch has two passes for each museum, which you check out just as you would a book. Must be in person, first-come, first-served.

Admission is valid for up to 2 adults, and 3 children under the age of 18, in the same household. Limit one pass at a time, per family. Passes are valid for one visit within the 7-day loan period. You may check the availability of passes on the PPLC online catalog at pplc.ent.sirsi.net or by contacting your local library.

While you’re doing your library thing, you should also grab the Overdrive app for free audiobooks downloaded straight to your phone, for a one to two-week period. Details at pplc.overdrive.com.

Sunken Gardens

We’ll soon be coming into weather that is perfect for a stroll around our beautiful Sunken Gardens. It’s easy to forget just how close the Gardens are - and how inexpensive it is to visit! An annual family membership is $50, and includes two adult family members who live in the same home (ID required), and children 17 and under. If you really want to save some dough, they always have a Groupon running, so you can snatch up the same membership for just 25 bucks!

On top of a year of admission to Sunken Gardens, your membership will also get you 50% off tickets to the Florida Aquarium, and free admission to over 200 reciprocal gardens, arboreta, and conservatories in the United States, Caribbean, and Canada. A complete list of reciprocal gardens is listed at ahsgardening.org.

Dali Museum

Dali Museum. Photo by City of St. Petersburg.

Membership to the Dali is actually cheaper than you might think.

An annual membership for two is $80; family membership for two adults, as well as up to five kids, is $100. As a single adult ticket is $24, if you and your partner go to the museum more than once, membership is definitely worth it.

On top of the expected membership perks, including $5 off tickets for up to two guests accompanying members, you’ll receive free admission to a rotating list of local museums and attractions. For the month of October, that means free admission to Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry. In November, it’s Tampa Museum of Art, and for December, the Tampa Bay History Center.

Pretty sweet deals, eh? Take a few minutes to look up the membership benefits of organizations you already belong to. You may be pleasantly surprised! Make the most of what’s already in your wallet, and add to it wisely so you can build up your crossover deals. Cheap is good, but free is better!

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People of St. Pete: Allison Stribling

By Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Pete is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, worldclass food scene, and thriving cultural atmosphere—but the people of St. Pete truly make this city something special. In appreciation, each month Green Bench Monthly shines a light on one of the many people that make St. Pete unique.

This month our light shines on Allison Stribling, Executive Director for the non-profit organization Preserve the ‘Burg. For over forty years, PTB has worked “to secure the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, maintenance, and/or acquisition of important natural and historic sites and structures.” In simpler terms, they endeavor to “keep St. Pete special.” Since 2015, Allison has applied her “get it done background” to this mission, helping PTB to grow in both membership and outreach as they strive to advocate, educate, and celebrate what makes the city special.

Seeking the Love of a City

Although Allison is not a St. Pete native, she is a proud seventhgeneration Floridian. She was born in Ocala, earned her degree at Florida State University, and worked in and around Tallahassee for thirteen years. In 2012, a company downsizing left her without a job. Inspired by Tampa Bay author Peter Kageyama’s book “For the Love of Cities,” she decided this downturn was actually an opportunity “to find the place I’d fall in love with.” So she sold her stuff, threw her kayak on top of her car, and spent the next six months traveling through Florida. She explored the Keys, St. Augustine, Atlantic Beach and St. Pete, among others, but found she kept returning to St. Pete. Every time she did, she heard the same thing again and again: “I love St. Pete.” It didn’t take her long to see that there really was something special about the city. Believing she had found the city she could “fall in love with,” she rented a studio in Historic Driftwood and dived into life in the ‘Burg.

“I Love St. Pete”

She set out to take it all in, or as she describes it, she “sucked the marrow out of St. Pete!” and St. Pete didn’t disappoint. Everywhere she looked, people from eight to eighty were enjoying the nearly endless variety of activities the city offers. Her instinct had proved correct. She did fall in love with the city. But it wasn’t just the

Earrings, bracelets and necklace by Julie Angerosa, owner of REJuled / Eco-Chic jewelry handmade here in St. Pete.

Photo by Emily Canfield.

“fun and funky” vibe that grabbed her heart-- it was the people.

She immediately felt like a welcomed and valued member of the community. She also was impressed by the active role grassroots organizations and businesses played in the ongoing effort to keep St. Pete special. Allison wanted to be part of that collective energy “working to keep the buzz alive,” so she was thrilled when she was offered the opportunity to join the Preserve the ‘Burg team.

Keeping St. Pete Special

As Allison describes it, PTB endeavors to “empower people to become the voice and the engine that keeps St. Pete special.”

Cities are living entities and as St. Pete continues to grow and change, protecting and nourishing what is special about it is essential. Allison’s guiding principle as Executive Director has centered on the belief that when communities work together, they can avoid both unfettered growth and stagnation. Simply put, communication and connections between local organizations and local businesses both amplify and strengthen their voices.

You can see how Preserve the ‘Burg proudly continues to advocate for, educate and celebrate what makes St. Pete special by checking out their website at preservetheburg.org.

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Downtown Developments

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

It seems like each time we take a stroll through downtown there are new restaurants and galleries opening and more apartment complexes and condo towers being built. We realize it’s difficult to keep track of everything.

Luckily, we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to. Each month we will feature a few of the most exciting new downtown developments that are on the horizon for the Sunshine City.

An 11-story boutique hotel was announced for the EDGE District a few weeks ago. The modern-style hotel is located at the corner of 11th Street and Baum Avenue North and will add 130140 rooms to Downtown St. Pete. The $30 million project will be designed specifically for St. Pete, as opposed to bringing in an ordinary hotel chain. The hotel will be built with many amenities, including an upscale lobby bar and restaurant on the ground level, a rooftop pool and sky bar, and potentially a fitness center and coworking space. This hotel marks the second project in St. Pete for DevMar Development, who is also responsible for the Vantage Lofts, which broke ground last month at 16th Street and 1st Avenue North.

A hotel brand (or “flag” as they are called) has not been announced yet, but a decision should be coming soon.

The Peabody opened last month inside the brand new Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Research and Education building located at 600 5th Street South. The eatery has an absolutely beautiful blue-hued interior modeled after the George Peabody Library in Baltimore, Maryland. For breakfast, you’ll enjoy items like avocado toast, a breakfast burrito and the egg white scramble. Lunch offers an array of sandwiches, salads, and small plates. Be sure to check out their full coffee bar serving Buddy Brew Coffee too! The Peabody is owned and operated by Tampa’s popular Oxford Exchange and is open seven days a week until 8pm.

Wannemacher Jensen Architects is expanding its downtown headquarters with the construction of a 34,000 square foot mixeduse building adjacent to its current headquarters at 132 Mirror Lake Drive. The proposal calls for a stunning six-story building overlooking Mirror Lake complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and an ultra-modern look. Floors 1-3 will feature 17,000 square feet of office space — part of which will be used to house the offices for both WJ Architecture and WJ Create. Floors 4-6 will house 10

11-Story Boutique Hotel Planned for EDGE District.

Rendering courtesy of DevMar Development.

apartment units which will offer residents unparalleled lake and city views. If all goes according to plan, WJ hopes to break ground on the project later this year with a completion date in late 2019.

The Saint James Townhomes were announced recently for a plot of land on the southeast corner of 8th Street South and 3rd Avenue South. The community will feature eight, three-story units each consisting of 1,700 square feet with 3 beds and three and a half bathrooms. Local developer Jay Miller, who also developed Quattro Beach Drive and the Trader Joe’s on 4th Street, is bringing this exciting townhome project to Downtown St. Pete. Pricing is expected to start at $460K and completion of the project is planned for fall 2019.

The Left Bank Bistro is now open in Historic Uptown at 1225 Dr. MLK Jr St. North. Currently only coffee and pastries are available Wednesday to Monday from 7am to 11am. However in the near future, their menu (and hours) will expand to offer frenchinspired lunch and dinner. When you visit, be sure to check out their sister business next door, Market at Left Bank, which specializes in antiques, homemade products and art from local makers.

St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay up-to-date, visit StPeteRising.com.

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Events Real Men Wear Pink

When: Monday, October 15th from 6-8pm Where: Tampa Bay Furnishings, 3034 Dr MLK Jr St N Cost: Open to the public Guests will enjoy wine, food, and live music along with a silent auction and drawings for items donated by local artists and businesses including a drawing for a $500 CD from Pilot Bank! For more, visit tampabayfurnishings.com/silentauction.

Transform A Journey of Love

When: Thursday, October 18th from 7-9pm Where: Station House, 260 1st Ave S Cost: $25 A fundraising event benefitting Purple Dot Yoga Project, a 501c3 nonprofit organization empowering and supporting individuals affected by domestic violence and trauma using yoga as a healing tool. This event features local artists, a silent auction, live music, cash bar + light bites. For tickets, visit www.purpledotyogaproject.org.

St. Petersburg Science Festival 2018

When: Saturday, October 20 from 10am - 4pm Where: USF St. Petersburg, 140 7th Ave S Cost: Free / Open to the Public St. Petersburg Science Festival, is a community celebration of the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). th

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Doggy Day at The Chattaway When: Saturday, October 20th from 1-4pm Where: The Chattaway, 358 22nd Ave S Cost: Donations accepted Join us to help raise money for Pet Pal and awareness for pet vaccinations. Bring a furry friend to this event and you’ll be entered in a raffle for prizes! For more info, call or text Chad (910) 610-9059

Pinellas Beekeepers Association Welcomes Dr. Jamie Ellis When: Thursday, October 25th from 7-10pm Where: SPC Seminole Campus Library, 9200 113th St N Cost: Free / Open to the public Dr. Ellis is the Gahan Endowed Professor of Entomology in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. For more info, visit pinellasbeekeepers.buzz.

Open Streets St. Pete When: Sunday, October 28th from 11am - 4pm Where: Albert Whitted Park, 480 Bayshore Dr. SE Cost: Open to the public; food and drinks for purchase Food, music and fun in the street!

Experience car-free roads connecting to the Pinellas Trail and protected bike lanes. Streets are shut down to automotive traffic, and opened up to the general public, free of charge, for a safe and fun opportunity to

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JD Horn at bat during a Kids and Kubs game at Northeast Park walk, roll or just hang out. Welcome Area is at Albert Whitted Park. For more info, visit openstreetsstpete. wordpress.com.

89th Kids and Kubs Opening Day

When: Thursday, November 1st game starts at 10am Where: North Shore Park, 901 N Shore Dr NE Cost: Free / Open to the public Cheer on the Three Quarter Century Softball Club as they open for their 89th year this season. The club is open to male and female players 74 years of age and older. For more, visit kidsandkubs.webs.com.

20th Annual Bungalowfest

When: Saturday, November 3rd from 10am - 4 pm Where: Check-in begins at Seminole Park, 29th St N and 3rd Ave N Cost: $20 in advance / $25 day of Showcasing 10 homes that spotlight Historic Kenwood’s urban rebirth, continued revitalization and the phenomenon of living large in small spaces. Stroll or use the free continuous Trolleys. To purchase tickets, visit www.historickenwood. org/event/bungalowfest.

For more events, or to add these events to +Google or iCal, visit:

greenbenchmonthly.com/events

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Green Bench Monthly P.O. Box 76095 St. Petersburg, FL 33734

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