Green Bench Monthly Vol. 6, Issue 3, March 2021

VOL. 6, ISSUE 3, MARCH 2021

Green Bench Monthly* St. Pete’s Community Magazine

Downtown Developments: New plans unveiled for the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum & More!

pg. 20

Remembering Fabulous

4th Street pg. 6

Bring Home the

Restaurant Experience pg. 14

Non-Profit

News & Needs pg. 19

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Sunken Gardens postcard. State Archives

Fish spread - Trophy Fish

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Publishers

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Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor Mary Jane Park

Contributors Tina Stewart Brakebill Erin Cody Brian Zucker

Photographers

Painting by Steven Kenny for auction to support Woodson Warriors

Brian Brakebill Kristina Holman

Cover Photo Rendering of the Dr. Carter G Woodson Museum by WJArchitects and Huff + Gooden Architects LLC

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

Indie Flea. Photo by Becky Rudolf

IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Bench

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Remembering “Fabulous Fourth Street”

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People of St. Pete: Lynn Waddell

14 Take-Out to Bring the Restaurant Experience Home 16 Parks of St. Pete: Elva Rouse Park & Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum

10 Supporting Local Scholars: Woodson Warriors Scholarship Fund

19 Non-Profit News & Needs

13 Lil’ Pups and Pals Bring Joy to the ‘Burg

22 Events

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From the Bench A note from the Publishers Happy (almost) Spring! This time last year, we had no idea how quickly our lives would change. The March 2020 issue of Green Bench featured more events than we care to count. Shortly after that issue hit mailboxes, the pandemic canceled everything, including this magazine for a little bit. Times have been tough, but with vaccinations on the rise and more people wearing masks, we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This month’s cover features a rendering of the new Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum (pg. 20). The city has pledged $1 million to help with construction, but that’s just a small portion of what is needed to build the new museum. Our community needs this museum, and the museum needs our community’s support to make it happen. Donate, volunteer, spread the word—whatever you can do to help make this vision a reality. Visit woodsonmuseum.org.

If you’re an avid reader of the Bench, you know we often run stories about St. Pete’s not-for-profit organizations. This year most have stepped up for our community in a big way, but we don’t have space to cover all of them every issue, so this month,

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Brown Pelican. Photo by Brian Brakebill

we’re adding in a column featuring Non-profit News and Needs (pg.

19). It will feature short updates to help fill in the gaps. Check it out, and if you have time or resources to give, please consider doing so.

Till next time,

Tony and Ashley Sica Publishers / Owners

hello@greenbenchmonthly.com

*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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Gandy Bridge - November 27, 1924. Photo by Burgert Brothers, State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

Remembering “Fabulous Fourth Street”

By Tina Stewart Brakebill In the decade after the Great War, St. Pete boomed. The city’s full-time population multiplied with nearly 12 new residents arriving every day. Building permits skyrocketed. The city borders expanded. New and improved roadways and bridges crisscrossed the peninsula and beyond. The November 1924 bridging of the bay that connected St. Pete to mainland Florida and the rest of the country was publicized around the globe. By December 1925, national newspapers including the New York Times had advertising that featured the ease of accessing the “wonderful winter playground” of the “sunny Pinellas Peninsula” via the Gandy Bridge. New hotels and entertainment venues were already on the rise, and the Gandy Bridge opened up a whole new area for development and a wider potential target audience. For the next 30 years, the Fourth Street corridor would be virtually unchallenged in its response to the needs and wants of this growing market.

“The longest motel street in the world” As car ownership for average Americans expanded and driving vacations became increasingly common, so did the need for lodging. Fourth Street development met this need with enthusiasm.

Dominated by the emergence of “mom and pop”-managed motels (motor-hotels), these Fourth Street motor-lodge venues were meant to cater to vacationers on wheels. Billboards placed as far away as Chattanooga, Tenn., directed travelers south to St. Petersburg’s Fourth Street. Jim Crow segregation still dominated in the South. For white vacationers, the smaller, less expensive, and family-friendly motels offered a perfect alternative to the fancier downtown or golf-course

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Aerial View of Florida’s Wild Animal Ranch - 4th Street and 48th Ave. N. Courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History

adjacent hotels. By the mid-1950s, Fourth Street was being celebrated as a “3,000 room palace” and the “longest motel street in the world.”

From La Mar Motel at 88th Avenue N to Banyan Tree Motel at Sixth Avenue North, more than 100 motels vied to attract tourist dollars.

Neon signs brightly displayed their Florida holiday-themed names (from the Azalea Court and Orange Motel to the Sunset Villa and Suntan Motel) and touted their low rates, (optional) air conditioning, and efficiencies. Popular postcard advertisements showed off motel

Florida Wild Animal Ranch. Postcard collection.

Courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History

pools and spacious parking lots while also emphasizing their proximity to Fourth Street’s numerous restaurants and popular attractions. From nearby Derby Lane to Sunken Gardens, Fourth Street had it all, including the wonders of the Florida Wild Animal & Reptile Ranch and Earl Gresh Wood Parade.

Florida Wild Animal & Reptile Ranch: “bring your camera” For 21 years, the Florida Wild Animal & Reptile Ranch was one of the largest and most diverse animal menageries in Florida as well as the home of a lucrative side business manufacturing and selling snake- and alligator-skin products. Opened in December 1938 by former circus roustabout and animal wrangler Sterling William Thomson, this landscaped, seven-acre zoo was a tourist favorite. The ranch’s brochures excitedly invited guests to “bring your camera” and “COME AND SEE WHY EVERYBODY SAYS IT’S THE GREATEST ATTRACTION OF FLORIDA’S WEST COAST!” Assisted by other former circus performers, including Thomson’s wife, Joan Spalding, a former trapeze artist and aerialist, the ranch showcased an 850-pound Russian Brown Bear as well as giraffes, kangaroos, ostriches, porcupines, alligators, crocodiles, zebras, camels, snakes, and Florida Panthers. It even had an elephant named Indi. In the 1940s, long before much thought was given to animal rights, the ranch took two infant chimpanzees from their mother and brought them home to star in its animal “shows.” In the 1950s, the ranch added a grandstand stage and expanded its collection with exotic birds and aged-out circus animals. In 1959, as traffic and business moved beyond the Fourth Street corridor, the animals were sold, and the ranch also closed its doors for good.

Earl Gresh working on wood at the Wood Paradise attraction in St. Petersburg (1953). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

purchase, Gresh’s wooden wonders, which included fishing lures, tackle boxes, purses, and jewelry as well as to admire other carved pieces from around the world. In particular, they marveled over the museum’s centerpiece, a 3-ton, 11-foot-wide cross-section of an ancient cypress tree in which Gresh had carved historical figures from across the centuries and inserted them into the tree-ring timeline.

They also came to view Gresh’s hand-carved “paintings in wood” depicting the life of Christ in more than a dozen separate scenes. This “most worthwhile attraction” was a mainstay on Fourth Street until transportation innovations and rerouted traffic led Gresh to close its doors and auction off its contents in 1958.

An Era Ends Ironically, expanded transportation connections gave birth to Fabulous Fourth Street’s success. Expanded connections also contributed to its diminishment, as the advent of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, U.S. 19, and the Howard Frankland Bridge rerouted traffic and business away from Fourth Street. Today, Fourth Street has rebounded as an economic corridor, but only Sunken Gardens and a handful of the 100-plus motels remain to remind us of those early decades when visitors could follow the neon lights down Fourth Street’s version of Florida’s “wonderful winter playground.”

Source available on request. Special thanks to the previous research by St. Pete Catalyst and Preserve the ‘Burg.

Earl Gresh Wood Parade: “the most worthwhile attraction” Most recently the site of the Melting Pot restaurant, the building Earl Gresh constructed in the early 1930s was both a showcase of his work and a showplace for additional wood creations. As an early brochure notes, “The architecture of Kent, England was chosen … because it offers the best opportunity for displaying the work of wood craftsmen.” Opening in January 1940, the Wood Parade was a nationally acclaimed workshop, gift shop, and museum. People came from all over to pay 25 cents to view and, it was hoped, to

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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 shines a light on one of the many people that make St. Pete unique. This month we’re casting our light on author and journalist Lynn Waddell.

People of St. Pete: Lynn Waddell

Photo by Brian Brakebill

By Tina Stewart Brakebill From the Farm to Sin City Born and raised on a small cattle farm outside of Tuscumbia, Ala., Lynn Waddell was a typical farm kid. She helped feed the cows twice a day, hunted for eggs in the barn loft, participated in 4-H, and raised prize-winning calves. By age 16, she also was writing a weekly column for her local newspaper, a job that nurtured her ambition to tell the stories of the people and places she encountered. She soon headed south to earn her degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. After two years as a reporter for the Birmingham News, she jumped at the opportunity to take her skills to the casino beat in Las Vegas. Reporting for the Las Vegas Sun was everything she hoped for and more, the “more” being the chance to work as a researcher for Showgirls. The film was a box-office disappointment, but her experience reinforced Waddell’s desire for further change and an opportunity to tell better and more in-depth stories. That opportunity came via a fellowship, sponsored by the prestigious Poynter Institute, at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where she earned her graduate degree in communications with an emphasis on media ethics.

St. Pete & Florida Stories St. Pete quickly felt like home. After graduation, Waddell decided to stay and explore the many stories Florida had to offer. Initially, she was part of the news staff at the Weekly Planet (now Creative Loafing), writing long-form pieces that explored different aspects of Florida

life. This tenure was followed by a decade of successful freelance work for major national outlets including Miles Media, the Christian Science Monitor, the New York Times, the Daily Beast, and Newsweek.

Waddell married Florida native James Harvey, settled into the Euclid-St. Paul neighborhood, and considered other ways to pursue her passion for storytelling. She had met multitudes of fascinating people in her years of reporting whose stories begged to be told.

The result was Fringe Florida: Travels among Mud Boggers, Furries, Ufologists, Nudists, and Other Lovers of Unconventional Lifestyles.

Fringe is a State of Mind Researching and writing the book was exhausting, exhilarating, and illuminating. Although the unconventional lifestyles she explores in the book are not her thing, her reporting did reinforce the idea that discovering your own “fringe” can be positive. She knows that the only way to grow is to continue to challenge yourself. Waddell still works as a freelance writer and has been exploring additional avenues that take her out of her comfort zone. She has rechanneled some of her creative energy into an Etsy shop specializing in vintage jewelry. A long-time collector, Waddell approaches these pieces with a storyteller’s touch: researching the history behind each as she tries to understand its place and time. She looks forward to the days when she can return safely to estate sales and auctions, but until then, you can find her at www.fringevintageshoppe.etsy.com. Just look for the photo of her favorite golden retriever, Sandy.

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The 2019/2020 Woodson Warriors. Photo courtesy of the Woodson Warrior Scholarship Fund.

Supporting Local Scholars: Woodson Warriors Scholarship Fund

By Tina Stewart Brakebill In 2019, local artist Jane Bunker reached out to the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum to discuss how she could combine her love of painting with her desire to be of service to the local Black community. Soon afterward, the Woodson Warriors Scholarship Fund was launched. That first year, Bunker auctioned 20 of her own paintings, raising more than $40,000. That initial funding helped 17 young Woodson Warrior scholars fulfill their college dreams.

The Lows & Highs of 2020 COVID-19 concerns forced the postponement of the planned 2020 auction, but that didn’t end the effort. Knowing that the effects of the pandemic would likely make it even more challenging for local African American students, Bunker continued to donate paintings for online purchase, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund. The museum continued to spread the word about the opportunity to support the scholarship fund. As a result, online sales raised more than $40,000 and numerous community members and businesses stepped forward and made donations.

Their generosity helped ensure that the Woodson Warriors

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Scholarship will continue to support the ongoing promise of future Black scholars and community leaders.

2021: Let’s Do It Again Once again this year, COVID-19 protocols meant no live, inperson auction. Instead, the museum will host the Woodson Warrior Scholarship Auction virtually, beginning at 5 p.m. March 14. Register for the FREE event at www.qtego.net/qlink/woodsonwarriors. In addition to live entertainment, music, and prizes, Auctioneer Jason Alpert will auction major works donated by five of St. Pete’s favorite local artists. For more information as well as descriptions of additional silent-auction pieces, visit www.bunkerscholarshipauction.com/thepaintings. If you miss the live event, you can still help. Contact Bunker at janewbunker@gmail.com or (505) 577-8018 for information about buying art and donating year-round or visit www.woodsonmuseum. org/support/woodson-warrior-scholarship/ to meet some of the students and find out more about how you can help fulfill their dreams.

For more information about the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum events, exhibits, and opportunities to get involved visit woodsonmuseum.org.

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Aron Bryce and his Italian Greyhound, Koda. Photo by Kristina Holman

Lil’ Pups and Pals Bring Joy to the ‘Burg

By Erin Cody Aron Bryce, creator and organizer of Small Dog Community of St. Petersburg and the Italian Greyhound “Iggy” Community group, adopted his Greyhound, Koda, in 2020. Wishing to socialize his new pup, Aron considered an Iggy meetup group to be a great opportunity for the pups to run and play with their peers. He began hosting outdoor meetups back in September.

The group became so popular that he decided to create another for under-25 pound doggies of all breeds. “I saw the meetups as a perfect activity in the pandemic,” he says. “It can be done outside, distanced, and people can wear masks on top of that. So I started hosting my own meetups, which ultimately led me to starting my own group.”

Building community when we need it most “Italian Greyhound Community of St. Petersburg and the Small Dog Community of St. Petersburg groups are true products of the pandemic,” he shares. “They have been life-savers for so many people.

Getting out of the house and safely socializing with others - and allowing your dog to socialize and run as well - has been a truly valuable thing in this crazy world we’re living in.”

Aron is very pleased that the meetups have grown a real sense

of community. “Friendships have been formed in that interwoven network of dog lovers,” Bryce said. “People have hosted birthday parties for the puppies. We have had ‘yappy hour’ with our pups, outside and distanced at breweries. The group has gone from just strangers meeting up at a park to friends actively looking for ways to responsibly socialize (with our pups). The genuine happiness and human connectivity that the meetups provide are a breath of fresh air.”

All about that ‘burg “I love St. Pete more than anywhere else in the world,” he states.

“I love its residents -- my St. Pete family -- and all of their dogs as my own. Anyway I can help build bridges between us and bring us together, even if through our dogs, I think that is worthwhile. Anyone local with an Italian Greyhound is invited to join Italian Greyhound Community of St. Petersburg and anyone with a small dog (25 lbs or less) is invited to join the Small Dog Community of St. Petersburg.”

We could all use bright spots in our weeks. Bryce and Koda would love to see you! To get in on the fun, hop over to Facebook and search for the Italian Greyhound Community of St. Petersburg and Small Dog Community of St. Petersburg.

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Wine and Cheese Board with Prosciutto. @hbsforlife

Take-Out to Bring the Restaurant Experience Home

by Erin Cody

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Top: Dessert Crepe. Bottom: Beer and Wine. @thewoodenrooster

While Florida in March is ideal for outdoor dining, many of us are still choosing to bring home our favorite meals until life gets back to normal. After all this time, however, at-home dining can feel mighty monotonous. I bet we’re all itching for novel experiences.

Here are a few takeout food & drink options to make meals at home - or on your patio! - feel more special.

Happy Hour from Hawthorne Bottle Shop Both working from home, the hubs and I have recently taken to going outside to enjoy a drink and a small bite to mark the end of the workday. With play, work, and relaxation mostly taking place in the same space day after day, finding little ways to signal the end of each section can feel significant. Like the Italians, watch the sunset after work with a lovely aperitivo in-hand.

Hawthorne Bottle Shop offers the perfect take-out happy hour to close your at-home workday in style. Order ahead on shop. hbsforlife.com and schedule to pick up your happy hour goodies when your day comes to a close. Choose a snack and a bottle from their curated selection of food, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks, or pick a combo and let them figure out the delicious details. A hefty cheese board and a bottle of wine will only set you back $24, and for another $3 you can add prosciutto to the mix. Just leave a note with your tastes and preferences on your order, and the pros will prepare your perfect take-out happy hour. 727-800-2810, hbsforlife.com.

Top: Margarita. Bottom: Day Boat Fish @trophyfishstpete

Brunch from The Wooden Rooster Enjoy a scrumptious booze-optional brunch-to-go from the Wooden Rooster any time the mood strikes! With amazing savory and sweet crepes, you, your sweetie, and even little ones can enjoy the full array. Begin with a latte and breakfast crepe like The Burg, a

collection of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and asiago, then move on to an epic dessert crepe like Bananella, Nutella, banana, toasted hazelnuts, and banana crunch ice cream. To add a little more zing to your weekend, you can also take out a $5 bottle of beer or $20 bottle of wine to enjoy with your meal. Just give ‘em a call to see what bottles they have available that day. 727-822-7373, thewoodenrooster.com.

Multi-course dinner from Trophy Fish At Trophy Fish, you can take out the whole nine yards - even cocktails! Give them a call to select your perfect appetizer, entree, and dessert. Order a few days ahead and they’ll prepare you a vacuum-sealed cocktail kit so you can create any of their cocktails from the comfort of home. Fin and Tonic, anyone? You can also take out any of their bottled wine and beer, and they’ll even fill up any growler you bring in! 727258-7883, trophyfishstpete.com.

Don’t settle for bland and monotonous food and drink just because you aren’t going out! Mix things up and remember the spice of life. Fun and interesting experiences needn’t be ones that make you feel unsafe.

The time will soon come for you to make your way back out into the world without feeling at-risk, but in the interim, you can toast to the good life from your very own abode.

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Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum. Photos by Brian Brakebill

Parks of St. Pete: Elva Rouse Park & the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum

by Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Petersburg is home to more than 150 parks, offering a wide variety of possible activities. There are more than 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. Simply put, choose an activity, or choose to just relax, and there’s a city park that fits your needs.

A Waterfront Park with Something for Everyone Located on North Shore Drive, between 10th and 13th avenues NE, Elva Rouse Park offers attractions including tennis courts, an outdoor gym, beach volleyball courts, a wilderness area, and a portion of the Bayside Recreational Trail with plenty of benches for dolphin spotting. There’s also free parking adjacent to the park. Its most unusual offering may be the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum.

This park within a park is home to more than 500 palms and cycads representing some 150 species from around the world. It’s the perfect waterside spot for relaxing, enjoying nature, and maybe learning a little something as well.

A History The area originally was a miniature golf course that became too expensive to maintain. The city decided to follow the suggestion of devoted park volunteer Elva M. Rouse and turn the unused space into an arboretum. Gizella Kopsick, a friend of Rouse’s and passionate palm admirer and park volunteer. donated the initial funds to establish the arboretum. When it was dedicated on May 16, 1970, in honor of Kopsick’s 100th birthday, it offered 60 flourishing palms representing 10 species in a beautiful waterfront setting with room to grow. People could meander through the palms on the wheelchair-friendly brick

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path or sit quietly under the gazebo or on one of the numerous benches and enjoy nature.

The Arboretum Today Celebrating its 51st year, Gizella Kopsick Arboretum has continued to grow since its dedication, thanks in part to Kopsick’s generous gift of stock. Signage helps visitors identify and learn about the origins of the palms and cycads that now line the walkway, and visitors can contact the city to arrange free docent tours. Otherwise, the arboretum offers a beautiful spot for relaxing or taking in the occasional wedding ceremony. Maintained by the City Beautiful Commission, with guidance from the city’s Parks & Recreation Department, the arboretum benefits from contributions from the public. For example, the Gift Tree Program uses donated funds to purchase a tree to be planted on city property in honor of a person or organization. The public also can take advantage of the Paving the Future Brick Program whereby a tax-deductible donation funds a custom-engraved paving stone to be placed alongside the paths of the palm gardens. It’s a great way to keep this beautiful addition to St. Petersburg’s waterfront flourishing.

Guide to parks For more information about Elva Rouse Park, Gizella Kopsick Arboretum, or any of the city’s additional many parks, visit stpeteparksrec.org or call (727) 893-7441.

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Friends of Strays Animal Shelter is located at 2911 47th Ave N

Clothes to Kids is located at 2168 34th St S

Non-Profit News & Needs

Many of St. Petersburg’s not-for-profit organizations provide vital services to our community. If you have time or resources to give, it can go a long way to helping those in need. To submit news or needs for publication, email hello@greenbenchmonthly.com.

Friends of Strays is Paving the Way to a No Kill Pinellas

With the help of a $250,000 grant from Best Friends Animal Society, Friends of Strays Animal Shelter’s new Pinellas Cats Alive! program is estimated to save the lives of 2,800 community, or free-roaming, cats in 2021. Pinellas Cats Alive! is a Return-To-Field (RTF) program, the widely recognized lifesaving method that avoids euthanasia of healthy yet unadoptable cats. RTF reduces community cat populations through the proven practice of humanely trapping, spaying/neutering, vaccinating, and then returning the feral or free-roaming community cats to their place of origin. It is the humane option for community cats that would have otherwise been euthanized, while also working towards the goal of reducing the overall community cat population. For more info about Friends of Strays, visit www.friendsofstrays.org.

St. Petersburg Free Clinic: From Volunteer to Chief Operations Officer

Shaina Bent will fill a role new to St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Chief Operations Officer! Shaina shares, “When I began as a volunteer with the Free Clinic eight years ago, I was completely unaware of the level of need in our community. I quickly learned that so many members of our community faced challenges and hardships that seemed unimaginable – not having enough food to feed your family, living with an illness because

you don’t have access to quality, affordable healthcare, or suddenly finding yourself with nowhere to live. Our core values of dignity, compassion, and respect drive what we do and are one of the reasons the work of the Free Clinic is so important to me. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to serve our community and the Free Clinic in my new role.” For more info about St. Petersburg Free Clinic, visit stpetersburgfreeclinic.org.

Clothes To Kids Has Huge Need for Clothing & Shoes

Clothes To Kids (CTK) has a huge need for elementary school clothing and shoes, and young men’s middle and high school clothing.

Clothes To Kids provides bags of “Clothes To Go” to school-aged children (Pre-K4 to 12th grade) in need in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

CTK clothing racks are very low and in need of the following items: Little girl tops sizes S-XL; Little girl shorts and pants sizes 12,14,16; Little boys Jackets size M, L, XL; Young Men’s short sleeve shirts size S and M; Young Men’s Jeans ALL sizes; Youth girls socks size M; Girls and Boys shoe sizes 2,3 and 4. Please donate new or gently used clothing, shoes, and jackets to Clothes To Kids at their locations in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. $50 provides one child a week’s worth of school clothing. Help Clothes to Kids clothe a kid and change a life. All donations are gladly accepted Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm. For more info about Clothes to Kids visit www.clothestokids.org.

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Rendering of the Dr. Carter G Woodson Museum African American Museum.

Coming to the corner of 22nd Street and 7th Ave South

Award-winning illusionists Chris & Ryan Zubrick opening Zubrick Magic Theatre at 1211 1st Avenue North

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 Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum is coming to the corner of 22nd Street and 7th Avenue South. The City of St. Pete has now allocated $1 million for the museum’s new location, which will feature an impressive, Jazz-inspired design. The 29,000 square foot building will have two permanent collection galleries, a traveling exhibit gallery, a sculpture garden, an outdoor covered event space, and a 500-seat event forum. In addition, there will be a book and gift shop, catering kitchen, and administrative offices on site.

Zubrick Magic Theatre is coming soon to 1211 1st Avenue North Suite 101 in the EDGE District. After performing over 7,500 shows for more than 2 million people overseas, award-winning illusionists, Chris & Ryan Zubrick, decided to permanently bring their astonishing brand of magic and grand illusion back to the mainland: more specifically to St. Pete. The Zubrick’s exhilarating blend of sleight-of-hand, familyfriendly comedy, and breathtaking grand-scale illusions will be debuting in St. Pete this summer.

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Hops 2.0, a beer bar and cafe, is coming soon to 225 2nd Avenue North, which was formerly Pour Taproom, in downtown St. Pete. After Hops and Props were told their lease would not be renewed at the St. Pete Museum of History, the owners started searching for a new home. Hops 2.0 will offer 28 beers on tap and many more in bottles and cans. The food menu will feature long-time favorites such as smoked meatloaf, brisket, and mac and cheese as well as a host of new items.

Original Flavor 1889, a pizza and wine bar, is coming soon to 409 Central Avenue, which was formerly home to Bombay Grill. This new pizzeria will be run by two natives of Naples, Italy, where the Neapolitan pizza was born. Unlike NY-style pizza, Neapolitan pizza has a super-thin base with a crispy but light and airy crust. Not in the mood for pizza?

The menu will also offer a veggie bowl and a variety of pasta. Wash it all down with a glass of red or white wine (also imported from Italy). At 2,000 square feet and an inside seating capacity of 51, there’s plenty of space to social distance. Outdoor café seating will also be available.

Hops 2.0 coming soon to 225 2nd Avenue North Original Flavor 1889 coming soon to 409 Central Avenue

The Job Site is now open at 2063 Central Avenue

Retreat St. Pete is now open at 1940 Central Avenue

The Job Site, custom stuffed burgers, is now open at 2063 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The Job Site allows you to flex your creative muscles by determining every ingredient that goes into your burger -- the bun, meat choice, toppings, and most importantly, the stuffing. Or choose a pre-built combination such as The Crane, a burger stuffed with cream cheese, sweet plantain, and chimichurri, and then topped with guacamole, melted Monterrey and cheddar cheese, a sunny-side-up egg, bacon, crispy onion, and homemade BBQ sauce.

Retreat St. Pete, a high-end consignment shop, is now open at 1940 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. Refresh your home with furniture pieces that you won’t find anywhere else, or splurge on authentic designer bags and shoes. Retreat is owned by celebrity and entrepreneur Rhonda Shear along with her husband Van Fagan.

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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VIRTUAL & OUTDOOR

EVENTS

To submit event info, visit greenbenchmonthly.com/events/community/add At this time, we are only accepting submissions for virtual events, and outdoor events that require masks and/or social distancing.

Bike Your Own City Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt When: through March 31st Where: St. Petersburg Cost: FREE Celebrate Florida Bicycle Month by joining Forward Pinellas for a free biking scavenger hunt!

Throughout the month of March, participants will be challenged to find 20 items while biking throughout their own community and submit a “selfie” or picture of their bike using the interactive online form. Once you register, you’ll receive the scavenger hunt locations and instructions

for how to share your “selfie.”

You’ll also have the opportunity to support local businesses, and get involved on social media for a chance to win a T-shirt, bike lights, gift cards and more! To register, visit bit.ly/byc21

Woodson Warriors Scholarship Auction When: Sunday, March 14th starting at 5pm; live auction at 5:30pm Where: Virtual Cost: FREE Admission The second annual auction will be held virtually at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American

Museum. Live auction artwork

by Jane Bunker, Steven Kenny, Mark Aeling, Brenda McMahon, and Duncan McClellan. Art will be on exhibit by appointment March 1st-13th at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, 2240 9th Ave. S.. All proceeds from the sale of these items and donations will be awarded to African American college-bound scholars from St Petersburg, Florida. To attend, register (free) go to woodsonwarriors.home.qtego.net

McArthur’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration When: Wednesday, March 17th doors open at 9am, Music starts at 11am Where: McArthur’s Irish Pub, 9246 4th St N Cost: Free Admission Live entertainment all day!

Featuring The Brayzen Heads. 21 & Up. Visit www. mcarthursirishpub.com or call (727) 91-Irish (914-7474).

Indie Flea Spring Marketplace When: Saturday, March 20th Sunday, March 21st from Noon - 5pm Where: Coastal Creative, 2201 1st Ave S. Cost: FREE Admission Shop some of the best locally made and hand-crafted goods, Mid-century furniture, vintage clothing, home goods, plants, food, music, art and design in a well-ventilated 2,000+ sq. ft. warehouse space. There will also be a small open air outdoor

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market for visitors to enjoy artisanal take out food and more shopping. Masks and social distancing will be required.

Attendance will be regulated.

Visit www.facebook.com/ events/2823916731196826

Women’s History Month Workday When: Saturday, March 27th from 10am - Noon Where: St. Pete Youth Farm, 1664 12th St S Cost: FREE Come together to acknowledge amd celebrate women in the community that make a difference in growing and providing nutritional food. There will be lots of outdoor activities and something for everyone to enjoy! Visit www.facebook.com/ events/1076580566194914

Volunteer with Reach St Pete: Motel Outreach When: Sunday, March 28th from 5pm - 6pm Where: Bayway Inn, 4400 34th St S Cost: N/A - Volunteer Reach St. Pete works to prevent, alleviate, and eliminate homelessness by bridging the gap between people and resources.

All volunteers must wear a mask, gloves, and will have access to sanitizer, and temperature checks. Areas to volunteer: Check-In, Dinner Distribution, Drink Distribution, Hygiene Item Distribution, Clothing Distribution, Kids Crafts/toys/ books area. To register, visit reachstpete.org

MFA Homeschool Hours: Math & Masterpiece When: Wednesday, March 31st from 10am - Noon (last Wednesday of every month) Where: Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr NE Cost: Free for members; or with the cost of admission (advanced ticketing is required) Homeschool groups and families are invited to join the MFA on the last Wednesday of the month for a look at the culture, history, math, and science of art! This month the program will explore some of the math behind MFA’s favorite artworks. Visitors will receive a pre-packaged learning bag with a guide and activity.

Museum docents, educators, and other specialists will meet in the galleries to lead conversations and answer questions. All ages are welcomed; the program is geared towards grades K-6. For more info, visit mfastpete.org.

Palladium Live!

When: See schedule Where: Virtual Cost: $25 per show Palladium Live! brings your favorite artists and performers right to your HOME. Shows can be viewed online with any computer or internet-capable device. Palladium Live Schedule: *March 19 - Saxophonist Jeremy Carter, with his Rubber Band, featuring two keyboard players and a powerful rhythm section *March 26 – Damon Fowler with a five-piece band *April 9 – La Lucha with James Suggs and Ken Peplowski.

*April 16 - An Evening of Dance Featuring Artists from BEACON *April 23 – A special bossa nova show featuring Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar April 30 – This Bird Has Flown, a jazz tribute to the Beatles, led by singer Ona Kirei *Members of the Palladium Creative Class of 2021.Purchase tickets at mypalladium.org.

Saturday Morning Market When: Every Saturday from 9am - 2pm Where: Al Lang Stadium, 230 1st St SE (through May) Cost: Free Admission Also known as “The heart of St. Pete”. Vendors and customers are required to wear a face mask at all times. The drive-thru is open.

To place your order online, visit stpetersburg.localfoodmarketplace. com. For more info, visit saturdaymorningmarket.com

Second Saturday Art Walk When: Second Saturdays Where: Central Arts District, EDGE District, Grand Central District, Warehouse Arts District and downtown Waterfront Arts District Cost: FREE to attend Explore 20 trolley stops; 40 studios and galleries and some 200 artists of all disciplines. Take advantage of the FREE ArtWalk Trolleys that run every 30 minutes. View the list of galleries open in person and/or online at stpeteartsalliance.org/ artwalk

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