Green Bench Monthly Vol. 6, Issue 10, October 2021

VOL. 6, ISSUE 10, OCTOBER 2021

Green Bench Monthly* St. Pete’s Community Magazine

Take a Trip to The Mermaid Motel pg. 16

We've Always Had Art

Coastal Fitness & Wellness

Events

The Originals pg. 6

A Holistic Approach pg. 10

SHINE Mural Festival pg. 22

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Publishers Ashley & Tony Sica

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Editor Mary Jane Park

Contributors Angelica, Baybes Who Brunch Tina Stewart Brakebill Suzanne Driscoll Gabrielle Reeder Brian Zucker

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Photographers Brian Brakebill Kristina Holman

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover Photo

Fairgrounds St. Pete photo by City of St. Petersburg

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

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From the Bench

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We’ve Always Had Art: Remembering the Originals

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People of St. Pete: Patsy Stills

10 Coastal Fitness & Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Wellness

14 Benison Farm: A blessing in the community 16 Take a trip to The Mermaid Motel: Fairgrounds St. Pete Open to Public 18 Eat, Drink, EXPERIENCE

21 Downtown Developments 12 Ace Handyman Services St. Pete South: Your To-Do List Done 22 Events: SHINE Mural Festival

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From the Bench A note from the Publishers Happy Fall! This month, we take a look back at the history of art in St. Pete. Chat with Patsy Stills of Heart Gallery of Pinellas & Pasco (pg.

9). Explore Benison Farms (pg. 14). Tour the new immersive art experience - Fairgrounds St. Pete (pg. 16). AND gear up for some of the best events of the year (pg. 22). But first, an important message Tony and Ashley Sica from our good friend and Pediatric ICU physician Publishers / Owners at All Children's Hospital, Dr. Farhan Malik: What is the value of a life? Immeasurable.

This is why the simplest, no-cost opportunity for you to make a difference, possibly save a life, comes by getting the COVID vaccination. I cannot stress enough the difference that you can make. Not only will you prevent your own unnecessary severe illness or death, you will prevent someone else’s. Yes, COVID vaccinations reduce your chances of spreading it. There are so many people that don’t have the ability to get the vaccine or have less protection from doses, such as children and the immunocompromised. By protecting yourself you are protecting the countless vulnerable.

As a Pediatric ICU physician, I have seen children pass away from COVID. I have seen other kids suffer complications, such as clots and strokes. Innocent children. Lost and hurt needlessly. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there have been approximately 5,519,000 cases in kids, or 15.7% of all cases. Cases don’t only equal mortality; they also lead to morbidity. There has been a cumulative 480

Photo by City of St. Petersburg

child (0-20) deaths from COVID since May 2020. Unfortunately, pediatric intensivists have seen this before. Society has silently accepted the hundreds of young lives taken by the flu every year, and the thousands of adult lives. Another disease for which a vaccine exists. This is also a recommendation to get your flu shot this year.

Vaccines don't cause autism. They don’t microchip you (your phone already does that). They are safe and effective. They are the products of careful, meticulous work that has been built on the foundation of years of science and research. We in America are privileged to have relatively easy access to this free miracle. You can walk into practically any pharmacy, community center, or primary care physician and request a dose. In three to four weeks you will be given your second jab. Boom! You have literally become a life-saver by doing almost nothing.

Our ability to curb community spread of COVID is by raising the community’s vaccination rate and masking where appropriate.

I won’t launch into why you should wear a mask indoors around others (you should). The purpose of this piece is to implore those of you resisting the shot. This pandemic has highlighted how interconnected we are, how fractured we are as a community, and how we need to come together and think of others. What is the value of a life? Answer: two shots in the arm.

Sincerely, Dr. Farhan Malik, DO Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

*All are welcome on this bench.

The history of the green benches is layered. For some, it is a reminder of a painful period of racism and segregation. To others, it is a symbol of welcomeness and hospitality. We carry this name to shine a light on our city’s history and in celebration of those who work tirelessly towards a more inclusive St. Pete. To read more about our story and the history of the green benches visit greenbenchmonthly.com/about.

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Children’s class at the Art Club, 1934. Photos courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History

We’ve Always Had Art: Remembering the Originals

By Tina Stewart Brakebill As this month’s SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival reminds us, art thrives in St. Pete. In addition to our diverse array of public art, we have world-class museums, active independent galleries and artist markets. The depth and breadth of this current vibrancy sometimes invites comparison with the not-so-distant past, when some saw the city as a cultural and social wasteland. Those harsh recollections are not completely accurate; we’ve always had art. The city’s director of cultural affairs, Wayne Atherholt, may have said it best in a 2018 interview: “Even

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back in those early days … art was significant. It’s part of the city’s DNA.”

The early days: waterfront visions and mid-winter fairs In 1903, the year of the city’s incorporation, William Straub, an artist and owner/editor of the St. Petersburg Times, painted an idyllic view of the waterfront as he imagined it could be. No doubt that vision

B&W photo of a panoramic painting of St. Petersburg’s waterfront, painted by W.L. Straub, dated 1903.

Shows three piers and steamers Manatee, H.P. Plant and Favorite.

helped a young city envision a waterfront park as a reality. Straub wasn’t alone in his interest in the arts. By 1908, at least two people offered instruction in drawing and painting: Miss Frances Williams, the former director of art for the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, and Mrs. Nellie R. Loehr, whose oil and watercolor work was on display in the window of the local optician’s office. Interest in the arts is also evident in a 1908 Times column boasting the city’s many offerings. The list included two theaters, three photography parlors, and two art stores, an impressive offering for a community of fewer than 4,000 people with just two banks and “only two undertakers.” The column also highlights the annual free 30-day Mid-Winter Fair. In the decade after 1900, the “immense” fair provided exhibition space as well as awards to Tampa Bay residents for “all products,” including artistic creations such as oil and watercolor paintings. Art stores, classes, and exhibitions show that the community clearly already valued creative endeavors. As St. Pete entered into its second decade as an incorporated city, a group of art lovers planted the roots for a more robust movement that still blossoms today.

Planting new roots: the Florida Winter Art School and the Art Club of St. Petersburg In 1916, J. Liberty Tadd arrived in town, leased some land on present-day Beach Drive, and opened the Florida Winter Art School.

Tadd died the next year, but the school continued under the direction of his widow, Margaret, and their daughter, Edith. Determined to further art and art appreciation, they also set out to organize an art club. Hoping for 30 interested people, they drew 90 responses to their initial inquiry.

In December 1919, 75 people attended the first meeting of the new Art Club of St. Petersburg. Meeting at the Winter Art School, the Art Club’s purpose was “to aid in whatever may tend to stimulate and encourage an appreciation of art and a love of the beautiful in our city and community.”

The club was limited to white, middle-class professionals and their spouses. Within that circumscribed sphere, it was a rousing success, quickly growing into the largest art center south of Atlanta. It offered classes in drawing and painting, attracted top-tier local and international artists for exhibitions, and shone positive attention on the city. By the early 1920s, its popularity prompted the Times to launch a regular “Art & Artists” column. Its influence went beyond established art lovers.

The club also established a pattern of civic participation that established the arts as a vital part of the community. Members gave lectures at local schools, groups of children regularly visited art exhibitions, and the club offered numerous free exhibits each season. Its

influence contributed to the decision to add an art department to the public schools, the first district in Florida to do so. The Art Club’s impact did not go unnoticed. In 1924 the American Art Magazine lavished compliments on it “as the real force for the extension and growth of the art phase in St. Petersburg.” It would remain a significant force for decades, even as the art community grew and diversified.

New Blossoms: a museum and a new community arts center In 1961, the Art Club gave up the dilapidated city-owned building on Beach Drive. Soon afterward, Margaret Acheson Stuart moved in and launched a plan to open the city’s first museum devoted to the exhibition of fine art. In 1965, the Museum of Fine Arts fulfilled that dream adjacent to the site of Art Club’s former home. Meanwhile, the Art Club splintered into separate organizations as members’ goals shifted. Reunification in the early 1970s created the Art Center Association, now known as the Morean Arts Center. It has stayed true to its original mission to provide a true community arts center with exhibit space, classrooms, and working studios. Today the Morean and the MFA are just two of many locations dedicated to art. Their continued presence as well as our picturesque waterfront remind us that St. Pete has always valued art. It’s in our DNA. Resources available on request. They The Artists of Old Florida by Alfred R. Frankel and Morean Arts Center: Celebrating 100 years of Art & Community by Clint Page.

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Save a life.

Starting with yours.

Get vaccinated and stay safe.

More than a year into the pandemic, the science is clear: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives you the best chance of avoiding serious complications and hospitalization from the coronavirus. The new Delta variant is 50 percent more contagious and it’s spreading rapidly through our communities, filling our hospitals with sicker, younger patients.

Continue to mask up and practice social distancing, but give yourself the best chance to stay well by getting the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Protect yourself and protect your family. Get vaccinated. Learn more: BayCare.org/GetVaccinated

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A Light-bulb Moment Born and raised just north of Boston, in Andover, Mass., Stills is the seventh of 10 children. She was “a poor kid in a rich town,” she says. From an early age, she was determined to become a police officer so she could help people. Her parents wanted her to have a college education. With the help of Pell Grants and work-study jobs, Stills entered the criminal justice program at Westfield State University. Her path shifted during a required juvenile-justice sequence in the final year of the program. Interacting one-on-one with kids in a group home brought her a “light-bulb moment.” What if, instead of being a police officer, she “could help children not become criminals?”

Finding a New Path in Tampa Bay

Photo by Brian Brakebill

People of St. Pete: Patsy Stills

By Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Pete is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, world-class 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 who make St. Pete unique.

As program director for the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services Heart Gallery of Pinellas & Pasco, Patsy Stills is passionate about her role in helping facilitate adoption of the “hardest to adopt -- teens, children, and special needs children.” This devotion to helping those children most in need has defined her path for more than 30 years.

Stills moved to Tampa Bay immediately after her 1985 graduation despite having no job waiting. Not long afterward, she took a parttime position in the PInellas public defender’s office in Clearwater and supplemented her income working as a part-time DJ. By 1986, she was an instructor for the Associated Marine Institutes (AMI) alternative education program for teenagers in the juvenile-justice system. Over the next three decades, her career in both the public and private sectors remained focused on helping at-risk populations, especially children and families.

Stills married, started her own family, and continued her parttime gig as “DJ Patsy.” By 2018, with her kids grown and her DJ gear mostly retired, she took the opportunity to run a non-profit devoted to directly helping children who are at risk of falling through the cracks.

She had been preparing for it throughout her career.

The Heart Gallery & Heart Strings Since taking over as the executive director of the Heart Gallery, Patsy successfully managed its transition into a program under the umbrella of Gulf Coast JFCS. This shift allows the Heart Gallery to focus on its primary goal: “Connect children in foster care with their forever families through adoption,” and offer support to families throughout the process. To date, the Heart Gallery has helped in the adoption of 394 children. Stills and the Heart Gallery hope to connect even more youngsters with their forever families. The annual Heartstrings evening of “inspiration, music, and FUN with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails” offers one opportunity.

For information about the Nov. 4 event, visit www.gcjfcs.org/ heartstring. Visit www.heartgallerykids.org to view the children who are candidates for adoption and learn about spreading the word, considering adoption, and/or donating your time or funds.

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Coastal Fitness & Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Wellness

By Suzanne Driscoll With a focus on exercise, stretch therapy, massage, and selfcare management, Edie Mercado is excited to relocate her thriving Coastal Fitness & Wellness business from Tybee Island, Ga., to St. Petersburg. “I was simply overwhelmed with work in Tybee, and decided I was up for a change,” she reports. “My sister lives here, and I always loved visiting St. Pete. When I found the studio at 21 Beach Drive (NE), I knew this was the right move for me.”

Mercado brings more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness field. A graduate of the Somerset School of Massage Therapy in New Jersey (now the Cortiva Institute), she also completed a course in Shiatsu and headache pain. Mercado has maintained certification in personal and group training with the American Council on Exercise since 1990.

Unique, Individualized Treatments

Owner of Coastal Fitness & Wellness, Edie Mercado, LMMT, NMT, CPT. Photos by Kristina Holman

Coastal Fitness & Wellness is distinctive in that Mercado ​ combines her expertise in exercise with massage and other therapies to offer unique, individualized treatments to each client.

“I have a good understanding of how pain begins and how it can be diminished,” Mercado says. “Whether it’s a sports injury or overuse of certain muscles while exercising, I try to pinpoint the source of the pain and use techniques such as myofascial release or trigger-point therapy and acupressure. I use light, moderate or deep pressure to release constricted muscle tightness and alleviate spasms, in order to increase blood flow throughout the body.”

A particular specialty of Mercado’s is working with women during and after pregnancy.

“Massage therapy during pregnancy is a wonderful complementary choice for prenatal care,” Mercado says. “Massage relieves many of the normal discomforts experienced during pregnancy, such as backaches, stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches and edema (swelling). In addition, massage for pregnant women reduces stress on weight-bearing joints, encourages blood and lymph circulation, helps to relax nervous tension – which aids in better sleep – and can help relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes.” Daily exercises are suggested to help ensure a smooth delivery and heal and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles postpartum.

Most Popular: Pilates One of the most popular offerings at Coastal Fitness is individualized Pilates classes. “People can be very sedentary these days sitting at a computer or driving a lot. If you are taking Pilates in a large class with other people, the instructor can’t focus on your individual needs,” says Mercado. “I take the time to hone in on a person’s body to determine if it’s a neck issue or low back pain, for

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Coastal Fitness & Wellness is located in the upstairs of Bayfront Tower Hair Design at 21 Beach Dr SE.

Specializing in Body Work to help you perform your best with a fresh mind and relaxed body.

example, that needs to be addressed. I can help them get back to a functioning life, and even better, prevent issues from happening in the first place.”

Massage therapy treatments range from $60 to $130, depending on the type of treatment and the length of time. Monthly specials are advertised on her website.

As one happy client reports, “I have been a proponent of massage therapy for many years and have had massages all over the world.

Edie gave me one of the best I have ever had. Her many-faceted approach to massage therapy was most beneficial. I was having a problem with my neck, and she provided real relief as well as simple exercises that I could do to strengthen my neck muscles. I especially like her holistic approach to wellness.”

“If people know what they can do to help their body and prevent getting sick,” Mercado says, “they can help conquer just about any disease.”

See ad on pg. 17 for introductory special! For information, visit www.BeWellStPete.com or call (727) 282-7140.

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Jonathan and Gisela Porcelli, owners of Ace Handyman Services St. Pete South. Photos by Brian Brakebill

Ace Handyman Services St. Pete South: Your To-Do List Done

By Tina Stewart Brakebill In 2018, Jonathan and Gisela Porcelli moved to St. Pete and immediately fell in love with the community. Two years later, they decided to make some changes, and relocation was not on the table. They wanted to move past their corporate-based work and connect more securely to the community, perhaps helping some of their neighbors. Ace Handyman Services provided that opportunity.

Ace Understands Sometimes We Need Someone to “Do It For Me” For nearly 100 years, Ace Hardware has been operating as a retailers’ cooperative where the “helpful hardware folk” at more than 5,000 retail stores supply and advise the do-it-yourself (DIY) crowd. Over the last two decades, however, research shows a growing number of us prefer to have someone else do the work. We may lack the skills, time, money, mobility, or the inclination to tackle the multitude of smaller jobs necessary to keep a home functioning and/or aesthetically pleasing. Ace answered that growing need by launching Ace Handyman Services. The chance to provide local folks good jobs while also solving problems for local residents was exactly the opportunity the Porcellis were looking for. When a franchise opportunity opened up in St. Pete, they grabbed it.

Your “Go-To Solution” Combining their background in management, construction, and customer service, the Porcellis put together a team. The skilled craftspeople at Ace Handyman Services team are licensed and bonded local employees (not subcontractors), so Ace can vouch for their reliability and professionalism.

Whether your project calls for carpentry work, painting, staining, furniture assembly, door installations, or even planting your flower boxes, Ace

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Handyman Service providers have the skills, tools, and experience to get the job done. Not only can they help you improve your home’s value, efficiency, and appearance, but they also can alleviate the mental and physical stress of tackling time-consuming projects on your own.

Remove Uncertainty.

Provide Quality Service.

Ace Handyman Services makes home improvements simple.

They can offer local knowledge, craftspeople, and attention while also providing Ace Hardware’s national reputation for service and value.

More specifically, Ace Handyman Services St. Pete South takes “pride in being an accountable organization that pays special attention to your experience as a customer from start to finish.” They provide convenient scheduling and exceptional communication. Once they arrive, the craftspeople treat you and your home with respect, working on your property as if it were their own.

Ace Handyman Services pledges “to deliver quality craftsmanship and service as well as identify and communicate potential issues/opportunities if and when they exist.” Ace Handyman Services is proud of the service they provide, and they back up that pride with a full one-year warranty on its quality craftsmanship. They can be your one-stop shop for all your home and office improvement needs. To book a craftsman or for more info, visit acehandymanservices.com/offices/st-pete-south/ or call (727) 308-3895.

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Volunteer Donna McRae at Benison Farm. Photos courtesy of Benison Farm

Benison Farm: A blessing in the community

By Mary Jane Park For nearly 70 years, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church has become known for outreach beyond its campus on Snell Isle Boulevard NE. One of its most recent major undertakings is Benison Farm, a coalition among St. Thomas’ and St. Augustine’s Episcopal churches and Mercy Keepers, a nonprofit started by the 20th Street Church of Christ.

The farm takes its name from an old English word that means “blessing.”

An idea planted The Rev. Martha Goodwill, now director of finance for the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal church in 2017. In her case, that means she is a volunteer whose mission is to serve others, especially the needy. A St. Petersburg native who then worked at the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Goodwill knew that closure of the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Tangerine Plaza on 22nd Street S left many nearby residents with limited access to fresh produce.

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St. Augustine’s is a historically black church with a multicultural congregation. St. Thomas’ membership is predominantly white. Over the years, the two parishes have collaborated on volunteer and social activities.

“I’ve always gardened, and I had heard about a (previous) farm at St. Augustine’s,” Goodwill said. “I thought, what an amazing thing that would be to grow food for those who need it and have a diverse group of people doing the work.”

St. Augustine’s, at 2920 26th Ave. S, is about a mile away from Tangerine Plaza. Goodwill, who serves at St. Thomas’, approached leaders at both churches. Was there any interest in establishing the farm?

There was.

She applied for a grant from the Episcopal Church’s United Thank Offering and received $64,600, the fund’s largest grant ever. The diocese added $3,000.

Left: Debi and Evan Feller attack weeds at Benison Farm. Right: Benison Farm volunteers Misty Landers, Jan Neuberger, Mary Clark, and Adrienne Ruga in the farm’s booth at the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival. Sunflowers, herbs, and other items grown at the farm were for sale at the celebration, held in May at the Dr. Carter G.Woodson African American Museum on Ninth Avenue S.

“The work of writing the grant helped us gel what our mission was and how we would go about it,” Goodwill said. “The grant helped us get going faster.”

Establishing the farm Clearing and leveling the 1.5-acre plot came first, then a pump for a deep-water well, plus irrigation and constructing raised beds.

Plantings include okra, sweet potatoes, peppers, onions, tomatoes, eggplant, and several varieties of greens. A goal this year is to establish fruit trees: bananas, mangoes, papaya, jackfruit, and soursop.

Farmers learn to be nimble. For a time, half the harvest went to nearby families; the rest was sold to various markets. COVID-19 shuttered some of the commercial venues. Weeds overtook vegetable beds, which had to be cleared and replanted. The farm now partners with Mercy Keepers, a nonprofit organization that serves about 100 low-income families weekly.

The current crops yield enough to distribute to about 30.

“We run out of fresh stuff quickly,” Goodwill said. “Our goal is to

increase the amount we give to Mercy Keepers.”

Growing forward Benison Farm now has laying hens. Egg sales help support the farm.

A recently added beehive will produce honey.

“The farm reminds me so much of the lessons we have to learn over and over,” said Misty Landers, a St. Thomas’ parishioner who coordinates Benison Farm’s harvest.

“You have to have faith that when you plant the seeds, they’re going to grow into a plant. It reminds me to have hope. Every time that I’m there at the farm, we never know who is going to show up. Always, and without fail, at the end of it, whoever we’ve hosted, we did something productive, and it was meaningful.”

Work days are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.

No tools or expertise required; bring hats, work gloves and drinking water. For additional information, visit benisonfarm.org or email benisonfarm@gmail.com.

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Take a Trip to The Mermaid Motel: Fairgrounds St. Pete Open to Public

By Gabrielle Reeder Welcome to post-apocalyptic Florida, where locally themed and inspired art meets a choose-your-own adventure escape room.

Fairgrounds St. Pete, at 800 28th St. S, opened to the public on Sept. 2. The 15,000 square-foot warehouse houses 64 artists’ fluorescent and technologically advanced displays, installations and interactive exhibits.

“There’s nothing like it in this area. It takes you to another world, especially if you think you’re just going to any other art exhibition,” said Ari Robinson, the artist behind the Mystic Reef in the FLORIDARAMA room. “From the floors to the walls to the ceiling, an artist has touched every inch of that space.”

The Mystery Fairgrounds St. Pete allows visitors two options: Treat it as a museum and admire the art, or look for clues and piece together the mystery.

“We have this global narrative with some overarching points and ideas, but the details are all left for the imagination,” CEO and cofounder Liz Dimmit said.

According to Dimmitt, the narrative suggests that a couple checked into the Mermaid Star Motel and disappeared.

Theories Iona Parris, also known as the Seashell Queen, is wrapped up in the mystery. “I’m still trying to find out where they are, too.”

Robinson has a different viewpoint: “I think they ended up just getting lost in this new, Florida-inspired world.”

Chris Parks, otherwise known as Palehorse, believes the owner was experimenting. “The owner of the roadside motel is an astrophysicist,”

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Rainbow Road. Photo by Gabrielle Reeder

he said, “and they were interested in exploring all kinds of fringe experiments.” After exploring lucid dreaming, astral projection and sensory deprivation, “the motel owner eventually discovered Pranayama, which is the control of life-force energy.”

‘The Temple of Cosmic Balance’ Palehorse based his room, “The Temple of Cosmic Balance,’ on his theory.

“My work revolves around sacred art and meditation, and so there are a lot of symbols that are from India and the East in the space.” he said. “I’m using a lot of esoteric symbolism to help the viewer get a sense of the ideas behind the work.”

The centerpiece of the room, Shiva-Shakti, is a balancing of masculine and feminine energy. The left half represents masculine energy; the right illuminates feminine energy. The union of the two creates the balance.

For more on St. Pete Fairgrounds visit fairgrounds.art.

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Lingr; Char Siu Shitake & Gai Lan Steamed Bao and Salt and Pepper Fish Cakes

Maritana; King Crab & Caviar and Spiny Lobster

Eat, Drink, and EXPERIENCE

By Angelica, @Baybeswhobrunch Happy Almost Fall Y’all! Lately, I’ve been vibing on all things experiential. But, honestly, what makes a dining experience? Is it the epic bites? Cocktails that go down so good you want endless pours? Or is it even the people that get you excited about a spot? This month, we’re diving into all things “experience” and I have to argue… it’s a combination of all three.

We start off at newish spot downtown, Lingr and as I’ve explained to Bartender Matt, it’s been decided, I’m carving my name in a barstool.

I’ve become obsessed with all concoctions coming out of his amazingly imaginative mind. Influenced by the five Chinese elements, the menu features: Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, and Metal approachably pairing with

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Cafe Largo; Chestnut Pumpkin Bisque

the Cantonese and Nordic inspired dishes such as Char Siu Shitake and Gai Lan Steamed Bao and the addictive Salt and Pepper Fish Cakes from Chef Jeffrey Jew. I have it on good authority, a tea menu (equally inspired by the elements) and some Spritzes (which based on a sneak peek will be my new fav) are rolling out soon. If spirits aren’t your jam, do not hesitate to have Zach wow you with his Somm prowess giving you new context for different grapes. Trust me, you will “love the way they drink”.

Next up, we head down to the Don Cesar to Maritana, an old gem that got a coastal meets deco facelift during the pandemic, but is still as imaginative as ever with Chef Emily Ferrari at the helm. No Maritana dining experience would be complete without sitting in Don’s section. (We request him so often, it is now permanently under our reservation notes!)

His excitement about the ever-evolving, seasonal menu is infectious and makes you want to continually try new things. Our most recent favs were the King Crab and Caviar with Corn, Old Bay, and Brown Butter over a single perfect Raviolo, the Spiny Lobster with Mussels, Fennel, Sun Dried Tomatoes, and Cioppino poured tableside, or the Osso Bucco with Baby Carrots, Cannellini Beans, and Guanciale. Do not forget to save room for dessert and ask for a dessert wine pairing that promises to be magnifique!

We round out this month’s list at a spot that my family has been frequenting literally since before I was born. Café Largo has been with us through every Christmas Eve and most major life events as well. Chef Dominique Christini, classically trained in Nice, is a culinary French genius.

Every dish comes out of the kitchen speaking of the love that went into its creation. Some of our favorite dishes have included the Assortiments de Pâtés et Charcuterie, tableside Filet de Sole, Sweetbreads, and of course the Décadance au Chocolate which includes an array of the best mousses you will ever have. No meal here is complete without asking Chef for a wine pairing recommendation. One of our all time favs is the Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune Close de la Mousse Premier Cru from Burgundy. Stay up to date on their social media for upcoming Wine Dinners and Special Events.

If you can’t wait until November to see what I’m eating, then check more content out on Instagram or Facebook @baybeswhobrunch or contact me at baybeswhobrunch@gmail.com . In the meantime, if you need me you can find me standing on a barstool or holding my food up to a pretty wall with a camera in my hand around the Bay and beyond!

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Half Baked Potato is now open at 1626 Central Ave

The Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement is now open at 355 4th St N

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.

The Candle Pour is coming soon to 1128 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. The do-it-yourself candle-making shop offers over 100 fragrances for customers to blend while creating a candle, wax melt, linen spray, body spray, and more. This will be the second location for The Candle Pour, which debuted in Tampa’s Hyde Park Village in 2019. Look for The Candle Pour to open in St. Pete early next year.

The Half Baked Potato, a loaded baked potato restaurant, is now open at 1626 Central Avenue. The menu consists of 20 outrageous potatoes that can be served baked, mashed, or smashed. Some of the toppings include Mac and Cheese, Shredded BBQ Pork, Shrimp Alfredo, Tofu Scramble, Crab Rangoon, Buffalo Chicken, and Frito Chili Pie. The Metro, a seven-story, 100-unit apartment building featuring fully furnished studio apartments, broke ground last week in the EDGE District.

The Metro will have retail space on the ground floor, a dog park, a landscaped patio facing Baum Avenue, and an outdoor pool with cabanas and grills.

Residents will also have access to an on-site fitness center, game room, and business center. Notably, in lieu of traditional parking, there will be covered storage for 102 bikes and an off-site valet lot for residents. Studios at The Metro will start at $1,450 per month. The Metro is expected to be completed in early 2023.

Mangosteen, a tropical Asian restaurant, is coming soon to 656 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. One of the highlights of the menu will be

yakitori, a type of grilled meat skewer that originated in Japan. Other items to look forward to are dumplings, stir-fry, and tacos. And the entire back of the food menu will be dedicated to sushi. Mangosteen is expected to open in early October.

The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement is now open at 355 4th Street North in downtown St. Pete. The five-story, 137,000 square-foot museum features more than 40,000 square feet of gallery space, as well as a destination restaurant with private dining rooms, a retail store, an upscale café, a children’s gallery, a reference library, a theater, a graphic studio, a beautiful event space for weddings and corporate events, and an outdoor green space enhanced by original period tiles and fountains.

Colony Grill is coming soon to 670 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. Established in 1935 in Stamford, CT, Colony Grill is bringing their famous hot oil pizza to the Sunshine City. Colony Grill’s pizza is your typical New England bar pie. The cheese goes right to the end; there’s no NY-style crust. It’s very thin, brittle, and has a slight chewiness. Beyond pizza and drinks, Colony Grill is a place for the community to gather. A place to eat after work, watch the game on TV, or catch up with friends and family around the holidays. Colony Grill plans to open in St. Pete before Halloween.

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

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EVENTS SHINE Mural Festival When: Friday, Oct. 15th Sunday, Oct. 24th Where: throughout the arts districts Cost: Free SHINE will ignite the streets of St. Pete with 16 new murals located throughout the arts districts, plus a series of community murals. stpeteartsalliance.org/ shine-2021

St. Petersburg Science Festival When: Saturday, Oct. 16th from 10am - 4pm Where: Virtual Cost: Free A community celebration of the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). stpetescifest.org

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Cocktails on the Courts

The family-friendly Hike is a one-mile walking tour and takes approximately one hour to complete. www.espna.org

AEHK artists. Check in for the tour will be at Seminole Park, Burlington and 29th Street.

Historickenwood.org

Halloween on Central

Savor St. Pete Festival

When: Sunday, Oct. 31st from Noon - 5pm When: Saturday, Oct. 16th Where: Central Ave from MLK Jr from 7pm - 10pm Where: St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, St. to 31st St. Cost: Free 559 Mirror Lake Dr N Car-Free St. Pete is collaborating Cost: GA $75 with the City of St. Petersburg, Support the St. Pete Museum of History while enjoying live music Grand Central District, EDGE District and Open Streets St. and dancing, unlimited Florida Pete to shut down 22 blocks of cuisine and cocktails, a 1920s fashion show and costume contest, Central Avenue. There will be fun Halloween-themed activities and of course, shuffleboard! fit for the whole family. Pets are bit.ly/cocktails-courts welcome, too!

Euclid St. Paul’s Haunted Hike When: Saturday, Oct. 23rd from 6:15pm - 8:45pm Where: Corner of 13th St & 13th Ave N Cost: $8 for adults and $5 for kids 12 years and under. Children under 2 are free.

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Bungalow Fest When: Saturday, Nov. 6th from 10am - 4pm Where: Historic Kenwood, 2900 3rd Ave N Cost: $20 BungalowFest 23 will be a garden tour and will feature art from

When: Saturday Nov. 6th & Sunday, Nov. 7th Where: North Straub Park, Cost: GA $85 & up Savor St. Pete is an exciting twoday celebration of food, wine and craft beer. savortheburg.com

Movies in the Park When: Thursdays in October Where: North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr NE Cost: Suggested donation $10; registration required Each evening begins with live local music, opportunity to purchase food & drink from St. Pete vendors, followed by the classic movie on the big outdoor screen. preservetheburg.org For more events, or to submit an event, visit greenbenchmonthly. com/events

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