VOL. 7, ISSUE 2, FEBRUARY 2022
Green Bench Monthly
St. Pete’s Community Magazine
Localtopia 2022: Now More Than Ever pg. 16
People of St. Pete
The Literacy Council of St. Pete
Baybes Who Brunch
Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke pg. 6
Changing Lives Forever pg. 20
Spice Up the New Year pg. 24
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Publishers Ashley & Tony Sica
Editor
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Mary Jane Park
Contributors Angelica, @Baybeswhobrunch Tina Stewart Brakebill Suzanne Driscoll Gabrielle Reeder Brian Zucker
Photographers
IN THIS ISSUE
Brian Brakebill Aziz Halabi Kristina Holman
Advertising Sales Sally Epply (302) 519-5038
Cover Photo Localtopia 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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ARTpool Gallery display window vandalized
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People of St. Pete: Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke
10 The Herbal Cabinet: Unlock Your Body’s Potential 14 Central Oak Barber Co.: Good Times, Great People, and Quality Cuts 16 Localtopia 2022: Now More Than Ever
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20 The Literacy Council of St. Petersburg: Changing Lives Forever 22 Parks of St. Pete: “Going Bow Wow for Dog Parks” 24 Baybes Who Brunch: Spots to Spice Up the New Year 26 Downtown Developments 28 Events: Jazz & Civil Rights, Conference on World Affairs, & More
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St. Pete Skyline from the Pier. Photo by City of St. Petersburg
From the Bench
Last but not least, a warm welcome to our newest GBM team members: Photographer Aziz Halabi and Sales Rep. Sally Epply. Happy Valentine's Day, St. Pete!
A note from the Publishers Thanks for taking the time to read GBM! We know how busy life gets, and we just want you to know that we love our readers. This magazine wouldn't be what it is without you. This month, we honor Black History by remembering Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke (pg. 6). Her legacy as an educator and humanitarian still lives on and continues to help people today. Also in this issue; unlock your body's potential with The Herbal Cabinet (pg. 10); Good times, great people, and quality cuts at Central Oak Barber Co. (pg. 14); one of our favorite events of the year - Localtopia (pg. 16); The Literacy Council of St. Pete changing lives forever (pg. 20); and more!
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Tony and Ashley Sica Publishers / Owners
Till next time, Ashley & Tony
*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.
ARTpool Gallery owner, Marina Williams
ARTpool's vandalized display window. Photos courtesy of ARTpool Gallery
ARTpool Gallery display window vandalized; owners turn to community for support
tight budget as new parents and are just devastated that someone in our city would do this.” ARTpool, at 2030 Central Avenue, is a popular destination for vintage and handmade items that include clothing, jewelry, vinyl recordings, and comic books. In recent months, COVID-19 protocols meant limited hours of operation and by-appointment bookings. The display window featured what Williams called “whimsical costumes, mid century styling and lots of pride flags.” The cost to replace it exceeded $1,000. Williams said ARTpool’s insurance policy has a high deductible amount. She and her husband, co-owner Evan Williams, turned to their supporters on social media, asking that they purchase gift certificates or “magical mystery jewelry boxes” through the store’s website, helping to defray the expenses. Marina Williams said an Instagram follower of the gallery supplied an image of a man whose longboard matches the custom design seen in the security video. As of deadline, that was the only lead, and no arrest had been made. “We are thankful for the love and support from our local community,” Williams said in an email. “Our block has actually become safer in the past 10 years that we have had our shop on Central. We were surprised to say the least about the vandalism, as we feel the neighborhood has been improving greatly with the downtown renaissance.” For information, to donate or place an order, visit www.artpool. com; the gallery’s email address is artpoolgallery@gmail.com; telephone (727) 324-3878.
by Mary Jane Park The notification came around 1 in the morning on Jan. 17. Electronic security cameras at St. Petersburg’s ARTpool Gallery showed a man with a longboard outside and a smashed display window. Hours later, owner Marina Williams posted to Facebook: “We are really stressed with the cost to cover this unnecessary repair and are just beside ourselves with sadness. As a small mom and pop shop just reopening after being closed for some time we have been on a super
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Left: Johnnie Ruth Clarke, academic Right: Johnnie Ruth Clarke, c1940, taught at Gibbs, first African-American woman to attain doctorate in education at UF, later Associate Dean SPJC. Photos courtesy of St. Petersburg Museum of History
People of St. Pete: Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke 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 the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate at a Florida university, Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke’s accomplishments as one of the state’s leading educators provided a platform for her pursuit of a wide variety of humanitarian causes including uplift through education and improving health care for Florida’s impoverished
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populations. Although Clarke died in 1978, her legacy lives on in the Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke scholarships for disadvantaged and other underrepresented Pinellas County school students and with the Johnnie Ruth Clarke center opened seven years after her death as the nation’s first federally funded holistic medical clinic.
“You’re going to be somebody, or I’ll die trying.” Despite her obvious talents, Clarke’s success was not a given. Born in 1919 and raised during the Jim Crow era, she faced significant obstacles. As Clarke noted in 1977, “My sex and race have denied me the opportunity to do some things. They set ceilings on what I can do. …. (I) have developed strategy to get around it … but the handicaps are far greater than the advantages. I still get slapped in the face every once in a while.” She began developing these plans at a young age, with the support of her parents, who were determined Clarke would, in the words of her mother, “be somebody, or I’ll die trying.” Becoming a schoolteacher was the first step in this plan; in part, because it was an “allowable” goal for a young Black woman in the pre-Civil Rights era, but mostly because her teachers at Davis and Jordan Elementary had provided inspiration. As she noted, shortly
Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke’s legacy lives on in the Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke scholarships for disadvantaged and other underrepresented Pinellas County school students and with the Johnnie Ruth Clarke center opened seven years after her death as the nation’s first federally funded holistic medical clinic.
before her death, “Those wonderful black women” like Fannye Ponder and O.B. McLin, modeled a concept of “being somebody … and making a contribution.”
Education and Service This model served her and the community well. Refusing to be limited by St. Pete’s few options for Black students, she relocated to Tallahassee, where she earned her high school diploma and then her bachelor’s degree from Florida A & M, the state’s only public historically black university. In the decades afterward, Clarke married a local dentist, gave birth to five children, taught at BethuneCookman College, Florida A & M, and in the Pinellas County public school system before becoming the dean of instruction at Gibbs Junior College in the 1950s. After earning that groundbreaking doctorate at the University of Florida, she became the assistant dean of academic affairs for St. Petersburg Junior College and served as a consultant to the U.S. Office of Education. Always seeking to repay (as she described it) “the society which made me” through “education and service,” she also wrote a local newspaper column, was county campaign chair for Edmund Muskie’s presidential bid, and was assistant director of the Florida Regional Medical Program. There, she established programs to battle sickle cell anemia. And that’s just a small sample of her contributions. Disparaged by some as a “militant and aggressive woman,” she understood herself to be a strategist forging a necessary path. Only months before her untimely death at only 58 years old, she spoke of this need to help: “If I died tomorrow, I would be unfulfilled because I haven’t helped all the people I can,” she said. “I wouldn’t have learned enough.” Despite her doubt, her legacy would say otherwise. Sources include prior research by Scott Taylor Hartzell and interviews with Clarke published in the Tampa Bay Times.
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Jennifer Gilman, owner of The Herbal Cabinet, treats a frozen shoulder with a patented patch that aims to reset stem cells. Photos by Kristina Holman
The Herbal Cabinet: Unlock Your Body’s Potential By Suzanne Driscoll
Gilman is accredited as a master herbalist from the School of Natural Healing, where she also obtained certification as an aromatherapist.
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Jennifer Gilman remembers always being sick with a cold or flu from an early age. “People would frequently say, ‘Are you sick again?’” Finally, as an adult she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and to this day she is able to treat it holistically without taking any prescribed medication. As owner of The Herbal Cabinet, Gilman enjoys sharing her expertise and experience to help others optimize a healthy lifestyle. While working in the hospitality industry for 26 years, Gilman met many people who were experiencing similar health concerns. She decided to become accredited as a master herbalist from the School of Natural Healing, where she also obtained certification as an aromatherapist. Later, she attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become an Integrative nutrition health coach and further specialized in hormone health. She has owned The Herbal Cabinet for 10 years. Gilman takes a holistic approach to help clients attain their individual health goals such as increased energy, mental clarity, faster recovery from exercise, weight loss in regard to food addiction, and reduced pain and inflammation. Her individual health coaching assesses satisfaction around career, relationships, social life, home environment, and sleep habits that might be affecting your physical health.
When Gilman’s 5-year-old red fox lab, Gator, pulled ligament she treated him with the patches two times. After that, Gilman says, Gator improved. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Gilman
Four Pathways to Unlock Your Body’s Potential: 1. Holistic Health Coaching This is a six-month program consisting of two 50-minute appointments via Zoom each month that include a discussion of nutrition and non-food topics that are affecting your life. “For example, I have a program in my coaching to rewire the brain to avoid emotional eating and eliminate food obsessions,” Gilman says. “I also make suggestions on how to create a better home environment or create healthy boundaries around relationships.” Each session is followed up with relevant assignments, recipes, self-care tips and access to blog posts and videos. 2. Stem Cell Activation Patch Gilman uses a non-transdermal patch that uses light emitted from your body and reflects it back through your skin to signal the body to elevate GHK-Cu Copper Peptide, proven to activate stem cells. The patented patch resets stem cells to a younger, healthier state. She is an authorized distributor for LifeWave, the company that manufactures the patch, along with complementary patches like glutathione, energy, and pain relief. “It has made a significant difference in my clients’ health, as they find it affordable and effective,” she says. 3. Essential Oils and Herbal Supplements Gilman has taught more than 1,000 classes and has spoken at events to describe the benefits of herbal medicine for better gut, cellular and brain health. She also offers essential oils from dōTERRA, a company known for its third-party testing standards, sourcing methods and sustainability. “I highly recommend topical use for essential oils that can be applied with a roller bottle anywhere on the body and is easy to use,” she says. 4. Re-Center and Rejuvenate The Herbal Cabinet owns two cabins in the mountains of North Carolina that are available on Airbnb. Forest Therapy and Fern Forest cabins are curated with self-care in mind and have many amenities to assist guests in relaxing and sparking new energy. Gilman has published the book, Fifty Shades of Self-Care: A Guided Workbook, to guide readers to customize their own self-care routines. A local doctor commented that “Jennifer is amazing. We have been working together for many years, and she is my go-to gal for holistic health and essential-oil questions. I refer all my patients, family and friends interested in these topics to her because she has all the knowledge needed to help you make an informed, educated decision.” Text or phone Jennifer Gilman at (813) 263-3919 or visit theherbalcabinet.com.
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Central Oak Barber Co. Left: Barber, Nelson Carmona Right: Jaison Perry, owner and Barber. Photos by Aziz Halabi
Central Oak Barber Co.: Good Times, Great People, and Quality Cuts By Suzanne Driscoll Jaison Parry was working in sales in 2008 when the U.S. economy collapsed. He realized he needed something to fall back on and thought, “Barbering has been around for hundreds of years, so why not try that?”
He attended barber school for a year and a half part-time, and upon completion of the required 1,200 hours, he passed the state board test. Parry was fortunate to find work in Ocala with two older barbers, each of whom had been cutting hair for 40 years. “It was great to learn all the old-school techniques and combine them with the modern trends I had learned,” he recalls.
Running Your Own Shops After six years in Ocala, Parry had the urge to open his own shop. Every night he would peruse listings for turnkey barber shops located in a neighborhood, and was fortunate to find a shop for sale on 49th Street N. He opened the first Central Oak Barber Co. in 2016. “I had to rebuild the business from the ground up, and that took about a year and a half,” Parry says. “I would work in Ocala one day a week to make what I needed to get by.” Today there are two shops: one in the Central Oak neighborhood and the other in downtown St. Pete on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. “We offer all types of cuts and styles, as well as head shaves and trimming and precision detailing of facial hair,” Parry says. “A typical
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“Can’t recommend this place enough. As a barber myself this shop inspires me and reminds me why barbering is so great. Brandy is a BEAST with the clippers. There’s not a style I throw at her that she doesn’t knock out of the park. Jay runs a clean, professional shop with a clear passion for the craft. Exactly what I think most of us hope for when we walk into a barbershop.” - Timmy Yanchun, Google Reviewer
customer is a young professional who appreciates a good haircut but also values their time, since we are appointment-only. We serve anyone from age 12 and up, and women are more than welcome, too, since ‘hair doesn’t have a gender.’ Many of them appreciate a shorter, tight haircut that involves more clipper detail.” The two shops have different vibes, and customers appreciate being able to view the interiors on Central Oak’s Facebook page. The 49th Street location has an “old-school” atmosphere with traditional hand-painted signs by Jeff Williams of Sun Signs, while the Dr. MLK Jr. Street shop has a more sophisticated, minimalist look. Both have the obligatory red, white and blue barber pole, and Parry can tell you what the colors stand for. “In the early days, barbers were also doctors and dentists, so the red actually represents blood, white is for bandages and blue for veins!” After having to close for seven weeks during the pandemic, today Parry still schedules time between each appointment for cleaning and sanitizing.
Parry is active on social media, where he posts photos of haircuts he and his staff have given to valued customers. “I think that what distinguishes us from other barbers is our attention to detail and the love of our community,” Parry says. “When I’m not at the shop, I make it a point to visit other local businesses and spend money there. And in return, it’s been paid back to us.” Check out Central Oak Barber Co. at 735 49th St. N and 242 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N. You can book an appointment online at CentralOakBarberCo.com.
Finding the Right Barbers Parry would like to hire additional people for his expanding business. “I’ve had much better luck when barbers approach me rather than trying to go out and recruit,” he says. “We want to be the best at what we do, and customers can sense that we enjoy coming to work every day.” Word-of-mouth recommendations have the greatest impact on gaining new customers, and positive Google reviews have been helpful.
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This year’s festival will feature 18 food and drink trucks! Photos by City of St. Petersburg
Localtopia 2022: Now More Than Ever By Tina Stewart Brakebill On Saturday, Feb. 12, Keep St. Petersburg Local (KSPL) will again convene Localtopia. The daylong “community celebration of all things local” is marking its ninth year. With an expanded footprint and extended lineup, this will be its biggest effort yet.
KSPL: Because Our Community Matters Organized in January 2012, KSPL is a nonprofit organization working to build a thriving local economy and a unique community by “nurturing connections for and acting as the voice of locally owned, independent businesses and by raising awareness of the importance of buying local.” This mission has been under constant challenge during a decade of rapid development led by national chains and out-of-town investors, and as Covid-19 persists. Local and independent businesses have “been to hell and back” over and over again during the past two years, KSPL executive director Olga Bof said. Many face the very real possibility that their dream endeavor may not make it through 2022. She hopes that this year’s Localtopia can help ease some of that fear.
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Localtopia: Free, Family-Friendly, and Fun for All For the uninitiated, Localtopia offers something for almost everyone. This year, more than 300 St. Pete-born and St. Pete-grown vendors will be on hand throughout an expanded zone in and around Williams Park. Makers and merchants will offer art and handcrafted goods; artisanal and plant-based food, beverages, and products; body and self-care materials; books; clothing and accessories; home décor; jewelry; vintage; and vinyl. The festival also will feature “vendors on wheels,” a literary corner, DJs, and more. Within Williams Park, themebased “villages” will provide family-friendly activities centered on things like art, wellness, and “all things plants.” In addition to draftbeer trucks, “thirst stations” will sell local canned beers and wines, including bubbly from local favorite (and platinum sponsor) Mermosa Winery. Food trucks will line Fourth Street, and more food trucks and restaurants will be stationed along Second Avenue. But that’s not all!
Top: Visit the Family Village for kid-friendly activities centered around art and wellness. Bottom: Enjoy live local music all day long from the big Williams Park Bandshell and a second stage on 2nd Ave.
Shop more than 300 St. Pete-born and St. Pete-grown vendors throughout an expanded zone in and around Williams Park.
With a stage added to this year’s festival, performers will provide live local music from Second Avenue as well as the Williams Park Bandshell throughout the day.
More Than a Hashtag. More than One Day. No doubt, you’ve seen them: #KeepStPeteLocal, #KSPL, #LocalFirst, #GiveWhereYouLive, and #StayIndieStPete. Concise and clever, these catchy phrases stick in your memory and make excellent tags for your sun-loving, ‘Burg-centered social media posts. As Bof reminds us, however, a hashtag is “not just a hashtag.” They are important reminders to value and protect the things that make St. Pete special, not just at Localtopia but all year long. Visit Localtopia on Feb. 12 and show your love for all things local. Then think “local first” all year long. For more information, visit keepstpetersburglocal.org and on Facebook.
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Students at LCSP work with volunteers to learn how to read, write, do basic math, and use computers. Photos courtesy of The Literacy Council of St. Petersburg
The Literacy Council of St. Petersburg: Changing Lives Forever By Tina Stewart Brakebill
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The Literacy Council of St. Petersburg (LCSP) understands that adult low literacy can affect every part of a person’s personal and professional life. Low literacy contributes to higher rates of unemployment, lower income, slower advancement rates, and higher rates of poverty. It affects the ability to access, understand, and implement vital health care. Low literacy can impact an individual’s level of community and civic participation. Simply put: “When individuals learn how to read, write, do basic math, and use computers, they have the power to lift themselves out of poverty, lower healthcare costs, find and keep sustainable employment, and ultimately change their lives.”
Florida & Pinellas County: The Facts According to the most recent (pre-Covid) data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 22 percent of adults age 16 or older in the United States cannot read and understand short materials and do simple tasks, such as filling out forms. Florida’s numbers are even more dire, with approximately 25 percent of adults at or below this level of literacy, which also puts them at a higher poverty risk. Of the 10 Florida counties with the lowest adult literacy
The LCSP is looking for volunteers to help with community engagement. To get involved email amy@literacystpete.org
scores, eight are counted among the 10 poorest counties. In Pinellas County, rates are slightly better than the national average, with a conservative estimate of 17 percent of adults affected. This relatively lower rate still places nearly 167,000 of our friends and neighbors at risk for negative low-literacy consequences.
The Mission and Covid-19’s Ongoing Challenges The Literacy Council of St. Petersburg aims to help lift people from the effects of low literacy with a simple mission: “provide free tutoring for adults who want to improve their literacy skills.” Before the pandemic, volunteer tutors and students were matched for free inperson one-on-one tutoring. Covid-19’s effects disrupted this model as tutoring locations closed and the world made the pivot to (the often confusing and intimidating) virtual offerings. Low-literate individuals are more likely to live in poverty, which lessens the probability for access to reliable online services. The intersection of this new reality with the pre-existing challenges of low literacy resulted in a drastic loss of students over the last two years.
How We Can Help The LCSP is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization with no paid staff. The LCSP is currently seeking new board members to help navigate their mission as they move forward, but you don’t have to be a board member to help. They are also looking for some folks to help with community engagement, specifically helping to find those lost students and bring in new ones. “We’re almost starting from scratch,” board president Amy Durand said, “reaching out to let folks know that we’re here.” LCSP has numerous tutors available and needs help reaching potential adult learners as well as local nonprofits, service agencies, and community programs that already may be connecting with some of those potential learners and could make referrals to LCSP. If you are interested in serving on a board of “true believers in the mission of teaching everyone to read” or if you have experience in marketing, public relations, or community organizing, the Literacy Council would love to talk with you. Learn more about LCSP at www.literacystpete.org or contact Amy Durand at amy@literacystpete.org.
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Parks of St. Pete: “Going Bow Wow for Dog Parks” By Tina Brakebill St. Pete is home to more than 150 parks, offering a wide variety of possible activities. There are over 100 picnic areas, 80 playgrounds, 44 miles of fitness trails, 30 basketball courts, 21 boat ramps, 11 softball fields, six dog parks, five beaches, three skate parks, two disc-golf courses, and one Jai-Alai court. But that’s not all! We also have 76 tennis courts. 33 football/ soccer fields, 31 baseball fields, nine volleyball courts, four historic sites, three nature preserves, and one splash pad. And, still, there’s more! Simply put, choose an activity (or choose to just relax) and there’s a city park that fits your needs.
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Most dog parks have separate spaces for small and large dogs to play in. Photos by Brian Brakebill
“Dog Parks Unleashed!” It’s not just the humans that benefit from our fantastic park system. Our pups also have their own places to play. Historically, the first dog park launched in the San Francisco Bay area in the early 1980s as a response to urbanization, the proliferation of leash laws, and shifting ideas about the role dogs play in our lives. The idea quickly spread. By the new millennium, at least 500 dog parks welcomed unleashed frolicking and, according to the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, as of 2019 the nation’s 100 biggest cities have over 810 dog parks. Today, St. Pete is an enthusiastic supporter of the idea, ranking number 15 in the Trust for Public Land’s list of “dog-parkiest” cities, but it’s not always been that way. As Dr. Welch Agnew, assistant director of Pinellas County’s veterinary services, noted in early 2001, the county “has been slow to bite on the trend” and even when locals expressed initial interest, its eventual success was not immediately foreseeable.
Aerial of Coquina Key Park. Photo by City of St. Petersburg
“going bow wow for dog parks”
Dog Days
The local debate over the idea of a dog park echoed the arguments made nearly two decades prior in San Francisco. Like that western bay area, St Pete was changing. Increased urbanization and a growing population of people and dogs squeezed everyone closer together. With that shift came a call for more stringent leash laws and rise in the number of “law-breaking” dogs. North Shore Park, in particular, became a bone of contention as it turned into an increasingly popular “illegal gathering” spot for frolicking leash-free dogs. With battle lines drawn, the park’s department was caught in the middle but in March, they decided (after much debate) to move forward: “We’re being cautious … [but] let’s try one.’” Despite the concerns of some, the first Dog Park at Coquina Key was a rousing success and by November, a second park had opened at Crescent Lake. That same year, dog parks opened throughout Tampa Bay, including in Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Largo, and Clearwater as Tampa Bay finally went “bow wow for dog parks.”
Over the years, Coquina Key and Crescent Lake have been joined by locations at Kenwood, Lake Vista, North Shore, and Walter Fuller bringing the total to six. All six locations open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset and they all include fenced off separate spaces for both small and large dogs. The parks also have rules designed to keep doggies and their humans safe and happy, including requirements to clean up dog waste, limits on the number of dogs per person, and prohibitions of both aggressive dogs and puppies under four months old. Details regarding locations, rules, and each park’s maintenance schedule can be found on their website. stpeteparksrec.org/dogparks
Thanks Thanks to the Parks & Recreation Department for all they do! For more information any of St. Pete’s many parks visit stpeteparksrec.org or call (727) 893-7441.
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Spots to Spice Up the New Year Photos & Story by Angelica, @Baybeswhobrunch
Shiso Crispy; Dirty Rice 1/2 Beef Short Rib and 1/2 Ahi Tuna
Twisted Indian; Yogi Fries
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The New Year always seems to bring with it a sense of anticipation, although of late, also a sense of “Oh, please don’t let this year be worse!” Januarys tend to bring fad diets, trips to the gym after a multi-month hiatus, weeks filled with no alcohol, and resolutions. Now that we’ve made it to February, it’s safe to say that 2022 doesn’t quite look like the year of the zombie apocalypse, and let’s face it, the diets have already hit the skids, so I bring you a list of comfort staples to spice up your year. Start off by perusing Instagram for this week’s locations of Shiso Crispy Food Truck or ride down to their permanent spot at the new Par Bar for a side of mini golf to go with your yummy bites. Regardless of where you find them, the Dirty Rice is a must! Come hungry because this sticky rice is topped with gyoza sauce, gochujang, crispy onions, scallions, sesame seeds, and a choice of protein. Either the beef short rib or the ahi tuna is the way to go. They also have some great vegan options as well. The second spot on our list, Twisted Indian, is also of the food truck variety. Catch them at the Saturday Morning Market or other spots around the Burg. You can’t go wrong with their bowls, tacos, “curritos”, or naan, but their real star is the yogi fries. These addicting fries are topped with tikka masala, mozzarella, slaw, raita, and cilantro and they are oh so good! If you bring a friend, make them order their own. You won’t want to share. I found our next spot, Anju, years ago, when they started making the rounds as a food truck, but more recently have settled into a brick and mortar spot on 16th St. What’s
Anju St. Pete; K-Pops
Portillo’s; Chicago Hot Dog
dangerous about this move, is now they fall within my UberEats radius, so have definitely become part of the weekly food roundup. I fell in love originally with their K-Pops, boneless Korean fried chicken bites in sweet soy garlic, but now I almost always go for the Combo, so I can try more of the menu. Their Osaka tots drowned in Japanese mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, aonori seaweed powder, smoked fish flakes, bacon, scallions, and benishoga are definitely a diet-buster, but worth it as well! Our last spot is slotted to open their doors in St. Pete in 2022. Portillo’s is synonymous with Chicago dogs and I am so excited that
they found a spot in the Tyrone area. There is just something about that relish, celery salt, and sport peppers. Be on the lookout for their opening, so you can get all your Italian beef and hot dog fixes without crossing the bridge. If you can’t wait until March 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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Sweetgreen is coming soon to 1114 Central Ave
Moxy Hotel by Marriott is coming soon to 1234 Central Avenue
St. Petersbark is coming soon to 3001 Central Ave
A new $50 million courthouse is coming soon to 525 Mirror Lake Drive
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.
Sweetgreen, a trendy fast-casual salad restaurant, is coming soon to 1114 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. With around twenty salad options, Sweetgreen offers something for anyone looking to eat healthy, flavorful food. The first Sweetgreen opened in 2007 and currently has 140 locations in the United States and growing. Black Cattle Burger Company is coming soon to 17 3rd Street North in downtown St. Pete. Black Cattle wants to be the solution to the late-night dining problem, especially if you aren’t in the mood for pizza. In addition to burgers, Black Cattle will also serve hand-battered and made-to-order chicken tenders. If all goes to plan, expect the new burger joint to open around April 2022. St. PetersBARK, a natural pet market, is coming soon to 3001 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. Nearly seven years after opening their first location on 9th Street North, this local business has decided to expand into a second shop. The new market will be filled to the brim with a much larger selection of inventory including hand-selected natural dog and cat food, treats, chews, toys, collars, leashes, grooming supplies, and more. St. PetersBARK’s second location is expected to debut in the spring. A Moxy Hotel by Marriott is coming soon to 1234 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. The 163-key hotel was originally announced in late 2019, but later shelved due to the pandemic. Now, the project is back on with a groundbreaking scheduled for the second quarter of this year. Complimenting the hotel will be an outdoor garden and retail paseo as well as a refurbished 4-story 17,000 square foot building that’ll house retail, a
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restaurant, and commercial space. Bin 6 South, a 12-seat wine bar and restaurant, is coming soon to 330 6th Street South in downtown St. Pete. The intimate fine dining experience will be reminiscent of the tasting rooms found at boutique wineries in Tuscany or Napa Valley. The wine cellar will be continuously stocked with a diverse range of sakes and white, red, and sparkling wines, including popular pours, rare classics, and even options from up-and-coming wine producers. Bin 6 South is set to debut March 2022. Black Radish, a vegan grocer, is now open at 246 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N in downtown St. Pete. The new specialty grocer carries over 1,000 products, including items not available through traditional grocers as well as a large selection of well-known brands. In addition to selling grocery items, Black Radish also has a small deli serving made-to-order meals, such as breakfast sandwiches. A new $50 million courthouse is coming soon to 525 Mirror Lake Drive in downtown St. Pete. Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal, which is currently based in Lakeland, covers fourteen counties, representing a population of over 5.5 million people. Now that a location has been selected for the courthouse, work will begin on designing the new facilities. There is currently no timeline for completion. 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 For more events, or to submit an event, visit greenbenchmonthly.com/events
Florida Folk Show w/ Pete Gallagher When: Saturday mornings from 10am - Noon Where: The Craftsman House, 2955 Central Ave N Dive into Pete’s vast archives of music, photos, videos and artifacts that he has created and collected over the last several decades as a journalist, photographer, songwriter and producer. radiostpete.com
Yoga in Sunken Gardens When: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30am - 11:45am through May 2022 Where: Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St N Cost: Class rates are $20 which includes class and all day admission to the Gardens ($18 for Sunken Gardens Members) Be inspired by nature while you are led in a gentle yoga practice suitable for all levels. Children over the age of 10 allowed with a parent. stpete.org
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Come Out St. Pete: Studio 54 Show When: Sunday, Feb. 6th from 5:30pm - 8pm Where: The Garage, 2729 Central Ave James Cass (Trans Masculine), Alexis Del La Mer (Drag Queen) & Russell ManiaCooper (Nonbinary) will be performing a Studio 54 show! Vendors selling local items. 50/50 Raffle. comeoutstpete.org
School Girls; Or, The African American Mean Girls Play When: Wednesday, Feb. 2nd – Sunday, Feb. 27th Where: American Stage Theatre Company, 163 3rd St N Cost: $30 & up Picture it. 1986. An all girls school in Ghana and there’s a new girl in town, an American, who challenges the reigning queen bee. There’s a prestigious pageant on the line, which could provide the opportunity
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to move up in the world to the lucky winner. This is a funny and touching story about the universal teenage struggle, and the need to feel like you belong. For tickets and showtimes, visit americanstage.org
MIZE Gallery Presents Decades When: In-person opening Saturday, February 5th from 6-9pm Where: MIZE Gallery, 689 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, Suite C Cost: FREE Admission Featuring 54 local, national and international artists each creating a piece inspired by a selected decade in time. chadmize.com
Jazz and Civil Rights When: Monday, Feb. 7th from 6:30pm - 7:30pm Where: Virtual via Zoom Cost: FREE Presented by Mr. Galen AbdurRazzaq, a professional flutist and
lecturer. The program will be a combined lecture and music performance that will highlight various artists, their music, their influence on the evolution of jazz, and the importance of jazz in the civil rights movement. Registration required. splibraries.libguides. com/bhmjazz
Pickleball 101 When: Tuesday, Feb. 8th from 6pm - 7pm Where: Coquina Key Park, 3595 Locust St SE Cost: FREE Join Healthy St. Pete for a FREE pickleball class every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Coquina Key Park. healthystpetefl.com
Woodfield Fine Art: DREAMSCAPES When: Opening reception Friday, Feb. 11th from 5pm to 9pm; closing reception Friday, March 4th from 5pm - 9pm Where: Woodfield Fine Art Gallery, 2323 Central Ave
Photos by City of St. Petersburg
Cost: FREE Admission An exhibit of the surreal creations of Art Venti only at Woodfield Fine Art Gallery. woodfieldfineart.com
Localtopia
When: Saturday, Feb. 12th from 10am - 5pm Where: Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave N Cost: Free Admission St. Pete’s largest “Community Celebration of All Things Local” Localtopia. showcasing *OVER 300* independent businesses and community organizations. keepsaintpetersburglocal.org
The St. Petersburg Celebration of the Arts: A Reunion Story
Sketching In The Galleries When: Tuesday, Feb. 15th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm Where: The James Museum, 150 Central Ave Cost: FREE with Admission Slow down, look carefully, and connect with works of art. Join our monthly sketch group and hone your artistic and observational skills with guidance from artist Douglas Land. You provide the creativity; we’ll provide the supplies. thejamesmuseum.org
St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs
together distinguished diplomats, military, media, and academic experts to discuss climate, equality, migration, and corruption. To register, visit worldaffairsconference.org
When: Wednesday, Feb. 23rd from 5:30pm - 6:30pm Where: The Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 5th Street S Cost: FREE The FHM is honored to share a story of love between two friends who were miraculously reunited after 80 years. They shared a tearful hug in a Berlin schoolyard before their families were forced to flee the country and the Nazis on the cusp of World War II. In 2020, Betty was reunited with her childhood friend Ana Maria through their individual testimonies, which had been filmed decades before. Seating is limited, please RSVP today by visiting TheFHM.org/events
several only found in Florida, it’s easy to find one that will grow for you. The plant sale pop up will feature lowland and highland Nepenthes (pitcher plants), Drosera(sundews), the infamous Venus Flytrap and more! kennycoogan.com
Community Compost Drop Off When: Saturday, Feb. 26th from 9am - 11am Where: St. Pete Youth Farm, 1111 18th Ave S Cost: FREE Want to divert your food waste to a good cause? St. Pete You Farm is now accepting compost scraps from visitors and volunteers to help everyone be more environmentally conscious and build more nutrient-rich soil to grow more food for the community! For more info, call 727-565-3930
Online Water Conservation
Workshop When: Saturday, Feb. 26th from 9:30am - 11:30am Where: Virtual via Zoom Cost: FREE Become a Rainwater Guardian by joining your neighbors to learn about: reducing your use of drinking water outside; how rainwater harvesting helps protect local waterways and the environment; rain barrel setup, use, and maintenance; creating shallow rain gardens that are attractive and functional. Registration required. bit.ly/rainwater-class
Awakening Into The Sun Festival When: Saturday, March 5th from 9am - 6pm and Sunday, March 6th from 10am - 6pm Where: North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr NE Cost: FREE Admission Free live music and yoga, food trucks, 125+ vendors and more. www.awakeningintothesun.org
Carnivorous Plant Pop-Up
When: Thursday, Feb. 24th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm Where: The Ale and the Witch, 111 2nd Ave NE When: Tuesday, Feb. 15th Cost: FREE Admission Friday, Feb. 18th Where: USF St. Petersburg Student Join carnivorous plant nurseryman Kenny Coogan as he shares the Center, 200 6th Ave S murderous qualities of these Cost: FREE General Admission; wicked plants! With over 650 VIP packages starting at $100 species found globally, and The conference will bring
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Green Bench Monthly P.O. Box 76095 St. Petersburg, FL 33734
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