Green Bench Monthly Vol. 9, Issue 3, March 2024

St.

Publishers

Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor

Mary Jane Park

Contributors

Suzanne Driscoll

Emily Harris

Monica Kile

Candy Porter

Lynn Waddell

Brian Zucker

Photographers

Kristina Holman

Ryan Kern

Keith Kenney

Chris Ryan Cover

Photo

Contact

5

St. Pete History: Becoming God's Waiting Room

People of St. Pete: Erica Sutherlin

10

From the Bench

A note from the Publishers

Hello Spring! We've been soaking up the gorgeous weather and taking in all of the great events this time of year brings. We had the pleasure of seeing Cirque du Soleil’s Bazzar at the Trop — if you are considering going, don’t wait! It was our first time seeing a Cirque du Soleil performance in a tent and, wow, it was spectacular.

This month, we dig into the history of how St. Petersburg became “God’s Waiting Room” (p. 6). Erica Sutherlin of @studio620 shares her story with us. You MUST check out her new line of bourbon (p. 9). Also, this friendly and probably unwanted reminder; it's tax season. Don’t stress if you’re running behind, Vernon and Vernon have you covered (p. 10). Fifth Ave Pediatrics is taking the best care of kids, it's where we bring our daughter. Read more about their practice and tips for keeping your kids healthy year-round (p.16). And for your furry kids, Maligators is here to help with training (p. 14).

The events keep coming, with the Spring Festival and Easter Egg Hunt at the Pier, Paddy Fest at Williams Park, and more (p. 22).

Enjoy!

Till next time,

Ashley & Tony

This issue is brought to you by advertisers and reader support. If you enjoy our stories and want to support independent media, visit greenbenchmonthly.com/support. For advertising info, 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.

Cirque du Soleil's Bazzar is on stage through March 24 at Tropicana Field. Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

Tony and Ashley Sica Publishers / Owners

Becoming God’s Waiting Room

By Monica Kile, Historian and Tour Guide with I Love the Burg Tours

We’ve all heard the jokes. “God’s Waiting Room.” “World’s Largest Above-Ground Cemetery.” “Home of the newly wed and the nearly dead.”

St. Petersburg was once world famous as a haven for old people. Heck, they even made a movie about it, a blockbuster at that: Cocoon

But where did this image come from?

Welcome to Gerontoville

The 1960 United States Census helps tell the story. It reveals a dense concentration of older citizens living in Census Tract 15, which stretched from Ninth Street (today’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street) to the bay, and from Fifth Ave. N to First Ave S; basically the downtown core. The

age statistics in this tract of 3,000 residents were so striking that it earned the area yet another dubious nickname: Gerontoville.

In Gerontoville in 1960, there were more residents over the age of 85 than there were under the age of 45. Nearly 60 percent of the 3,000 residents in the census tract were over 70 years of age, compared to the state average of 6 percent. One-third of them were widows, and an additional 321 were widowers. Only 558 of the 3,000 residents worked. All but one woman in her 50s and one baby were white.

The residents of Gerontoville exclusively lived almost exclusively in old buildings. Nearly 90 percent of the rental units in the tract were built before 1940, and 651 of those units shared a common bath.

People playing shuffleboard - Saint Petersburg, Florida. 20th century. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

An Aging Downtown

So, how did downtown St. Petersburg become Gerontoville?

From its earliest days as a resort city, St. Petersburg attracted an older demographic. Who else could afford to spend the winter months relaxing in Florida? Affluent, or at least comfortable, retirees flocked to St. Petersburg beginning in the 1910s. The population exploded in the 1920s, where the count of year-round residents grew from 14,000 to 40,000, a number that doubled in the winter months.

In the 1910s, most visitors stayed in hundreds of tourist apartment buildings or dozens of small hotels. During the 1920’s boom, several large masonry hotels were built in the city, bringing the hotel-room inventory from fewer than 500 to more than 3,000. Visitors played leisurely games of shuffleboard, ate their meals at one of a dozen downtown cafeterias, and whiled away the rest of their time sitting on the thousands of green benches that dotted the city sidewalks.

During the 1950s St. Petersburg’s population boomed again, with a large influx of forºmer soldiers returning to the place where they trained during World War II, their home purchases subsidized by the GI Bill. Others came because of the glut of new, affordable homes, made possible by air conditioning. (These younger homeowners were the “newly wed” in the old saw “the newly wed and the nearly dead.”) This presented an unanticipated problem for downtown: Most of those new residents were moving to the suburbs and shopping in new shopping centers built nearby. By the 1960s, downtown was dying.

Those empty tourist apartments and small hotels called out like a siren song to older retirees on fixed incomes. Many were converted to retirement homes. Air conditioning now meant they could be occupied year round, and the same things that attracted earlier, wealthier, tourists now entertained new residents. Shuffleboard, cafeterias, and the green benches made for a relaxing, and inexpensive, retirement.

A Growing Reputation of Decrepitude

Newly available public financing for subsidized housing contributed to the trend. Between 1961 and 1982, ten federally subsidized apartment towers for senior citizens were built downtown. Funded through a variety of

government mechanisms, including Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 and FHA Sections 221 and 231, buildings like the John Knox Apartments, Peterborough Apartments, Graham-Rogall, and the Lutheran Apartments began sprouting up downtown, contributing to the city’s geriatric reputation. National magazines began commenting on St. Petersburg’s image. In 1958, Life magazine wrote: “Lonely and bored, old people pass the time listlessly on a St. Petersburg, Florida sidewalk.” That same year, Holiday Magazine reflected on the green benches: “The old people sit, passengers in a motionless streetcar without destination.” The clincher, though, was when Swift’s Premium meats refused to place a full page ad in the St. Petersburg Times because an advertising executive in Chicago thought that the residents of St. Petersburg were too old to chew bacon!

From Green Benches to No Benches

City leaders decided they needed to change that image. Beginning in 1961, the green benches were taken out to be painted in pastel colors. Many never returned. Streets were turned one-way to facilitate traffic into the downtown, inadvertently making them less pedestrian friendly. Old buildings were demolished for parking lots. Cafeterias closed. In the late 1980s and early 1990s there was an attempt to remodel downtown into Bay Plaza, a reimagined city center, to be created by demolishing much of the former Gerontoville. Nothing seemed to work.

It wasn’t until the 2000s that the city saw a true renaissance. Former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker has called the revival “a 25-year, overnight success story.” Its ingredients are the subject for another article, but they once again include wealthy retirees living downtown, now mixed with a healthy dose of young professionals in their 20s and 30s living in thousands of new apartments. But one has to wonder: Do all of the residents of the beautiful new condominiums and apartments in the downtown core know that they moved into Gerontoville?

People sit in front of Liggett Drugs green benches on Central Avenue (1954).

Photo by Burgert Bros. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.

People of St. Pete: Erica Sutherlin

By Lynn Waddell

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

A Renaissance woman, Erica Sutherlin is a filmmaker, actor, poet, and bourbon entrepreneur. As incoming artistic director of Studio@620, she shadows Bob Devin Jones, who retires in June, as she prepares to take the helm of the visual and performing arts hub on July 1.

Local theatergoers may recognize her from stage roles such as Lady Macbeth in “Voodoo MacBeth,” performed at Studio@620 in 2017. More recently, she played central roles at American Stage, where she was the director of community engagement and directed its largest production to date: “Ragtime – The Musical,” in 2023. She was also American Stage’s first black female director with her directorial debut, “Dutchman.”

For larger markets, she directed the Lifetime movie “Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas,” released in 2021.

A Taste for Bourbon

In addition to her artistic endeavors, Sutherlin recently launched a new bourbon brand, Sinuous, in partnership with Dunamis Premium Spirits, in Zephyrhills. She’s working on getting Sinuous into a local liquor store and selling it online this spring.

Sutherlin hopes to use proceeds from the bourbon brand to make films that elevate women. She says she was inspired by childhood memories of listening wide-eyed as adult family members sipped bourbon and shared lively stories. The liquor is a toast to the strong women who shaped her life including her mother and aunts. “I want to celebrate all those women, and say, ‘I see you. I salute you.’”

A native of St. Louis, Sutherlin grew up the youngest of seven children. Sports and the arts were part of her upbringing. Her much older brother is a fashion designer and visual artist. She credits her parents for encouraging her to try new things. “They never told me no,” she says. “They just said, ‘If you do this thing, you have to do it for a year.’ ”

She took dance and art classes as a child but didn’t dream of becoming an artist. In fact, she wanted to become an aeronautical engineer or a pilot. She planned to join the U.S. Air Force but needed a credit in the arts to graduate high school. She took a drama class.

A Filmmaker is Born

“I was like, What is this world?” Sutherlin laughs and recalls her first drama class. “You mean I can just pretend I’m an engineer?”

Her drama teacher turned her on to Shakespeare by contextualizing his works in everyday life. “The way he broke it down opened it up inside of me,” Sutherlin said. “Then when I first read August Wilson’s ‘Fences,’ I was in love, and there was no turning back.”

Sutherlin earned her bachelor’s degree in theater and dance performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She returned to school in her late 30s and received her Master of Fine Arts degree in film and television production from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

In Between Degrees

When she first came to visit around 2009, she told someone, “I will never live in St. Pete.” Six months later, she moved to the Sunshine City. “That’s when I learned never to say never.”

She taught theater for nine years at Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) at Gibbs High School. Although she enjoyed teaching, she reached the limit of what she thought she could offer her students. A spiritual person, she said she felt directed late one night to apply to USC’s preeminent film school.

She was accepted and entered USC’s program in 2017 as the oldest member of her class. Her experience inspired her to work on a one-person show, a multimedia performance she plans to share at Studio@620. She has big plans for the nonprofit. “It will be a different studio,” she says, “because the leadership is different, but with the same heart.”

Erica Sutherlin in from of a mural of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong by Herbert Scott Davis at 901 22nd Street S, the future home of The Catalyst Speakeasy (opening soon)

Photos by Keith Kenney.

Vernon & Vernon CPAs: Accounting Services for Every Need

By Suzanne Driscoll

Discovering the nuances among accounting-service providers can sometimes be challenging. When seeking proficient tax guidance, QuickBooks consultancy, estate and trust planning, or IRS representation, consider placing Vernon & Vernon CPAs at the forefront of your options.

With a dedicated emphasis on strategic planning and advisory services, a significant portion of their clientele comprises medium-sized enterprises spanning various sectors. “Last year, we managed to save one of our clients over $215,000 in taxes,” co-founder Garth Vernon says. He emphasizes two primary objectives: minimizing your effective tax rate and ensuring meticulous documentation to facilitate smooth audits. The firm extends its services to individuals as well as small to large businesses.

A Legacy of Entrepreneurship

Vernon’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited during his junior year in high school, when a tornado ravaged his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas. He embarked on a venture with a friend, offering to salvage bricks from demolished houses, an endeavor that showcased his early business acumen. Vernon pursued entrepreneurship and accounting at Baylor University, then earned a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Texas, San Antonio.

Vernon commenced his professional career at Deloitte in Dallas, where fate led him to his future wife, Monica, during a corporate-training session. A wager on a Dallas football game ultimately steered them toward the St. Petersburg area, a locale Vernon had grown fond of. Transitioning

Garth Vernon, co-founder of Vernon & Vernon.

Photos by Chris Ryan

to KPMG, his encounter with a client’s tax-department predicament inspired the inception of Vernon & Vernon in 1999, with Monica spearheading the endeavor.

Forging Direct Connections with the IRS

Navigating challenges with the IRS is a forte of Vernon & Vernon, thanks to their direct access to a practitioner hotline. Garth Vernon leverages this resource daily, often assisting clients in securing penalty waivers through the First Time Abatement policy, a lesser-known IRS provision.

Harnessing Technological Advancements for Optimal Efficiency

The firm prides itself on its tech-forward approach, having eschewed physical file rooms for over 15 years. Embracing artificial intelligence this year bolsters their scanning accuracy, while seamless integration with QuickBooks online streamlines client collaboration. Beyond mere obligations, the team at Vernon & Vernon consistently exceeds expectations, ensuring swift turnaround times and comprehensive support across a spectrum of accounting services.

Garth Vernon’s personal fulfillment stems from devising tax-saving strategies for clients while fostering an environment of exceptional service delivery infused with enjoyment.

Vernon & Vernon’s offices are 424 22nd Ave N in St. Pete. For information, visit www.VernonVernon.com, call (727) 393-1922, or email admin@VernonVernon.com

Shuffleboard is Cool Again: The St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary

By Suzanne Driscoll

It’s a Friday night at the Shuffleboard Club, and players are unloading their coolers and carrying in pizza boxes for a fun night of shuffleboard. It’s no longer a game just for seniors; today the club has over 2,700 members, and 70% of them are under 50. “We have league nights, and it’s so much fun to see a team of twenty-somethings playing against a team who are all over 70,” Executive Director Christine Page reports. “Everyone has a great time and learns from each other.”

Every Friday night, nonmembers are welcome to play at the club for $10 per person. All are welcome to bring their own food and drinks, and lively music adds to the vibe.

A Proud History

The club started in 1924 with two courts at Mirror Lake Park and grew to be the largest club in the world. It once boasted memberships totaling 5,000 people. By the 1980s, that had dropped off dramatically. In 2005, president Mary Eldridge teamed up with a local artists collective to offer free play on Friday nights, and the sport took off from there.

Annual memberships cost $50 for individuals and $90 for families. Individual members can bring three additional people to fill out a court, and families can bring an additional six people to fill out two courts.

Club members gather for 100-year photo op.

Photo courtesy of The St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club

Members are welcome to come and play with access to the equipment anytime between 5 a.m. and midnight every day. They attend membersonly events, get discounts on merchandise, and are able to rent the club to host a party or wedding. There are Beginner Boot Camp classes and Skills Labs, all free to members and only $10 for non-members.

Last October, the club hosted nearly 100 players from eight countries for the 40th World Shuffleboard Championship. In October of this year, it will host a centennial tournament.

Reaching Out to the Community

As its next century begins, one of the club’s main goals is to reach out to underrepresented parts of the St. Pete community. “We host school field trips and outings from the YMCA’s summer camps, and plan to visit recreation centers where we can give demonstrations,” Page says.

“As St. Pete grows, a lot of changes are happening. It’s nice the club is still here and continues to be an important part of the culture of this city.“

The St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club is at 559 Mirror Lake Drive N. For information, please visit stpeteshuffle.com or email info@ stpeteshuffle.com.

Photo by Ryan Kern

Photo by Ryan Kern

Maligators Dog Training: Teaching Obedience to Every Dog

By Suzanne Driscoll

If your dog barks all the time, steals food, wets the floor or jumps up on visitors, consider the dog training services offered by Maligators in Largo. The facility is set up with a typical kitchen, dining and living room area so your pet will have all the temptations it would find in your home.

“In addition to enjoying life with a well-trained dog, professional training is a great way to help avoid any liability issues resulting from

your dog potentially biting another pet or person,” founder Christina Roussell says.

She and her husband, Joseph Eggitt, opened Maligators in 2022 after running a franchise training facility for eight years. They wanted to offer more personalized services and overnight boarding so they can reinforce what a dog learns in the studio.

From left to right: Joshua with Ella, Christianna with Bebo, Christina with Mello, Joseph with Rufio, and Candice with Zeppelin

Photos by Chris Ryan

Classes for Every Age and Behavior

“We use balanced style training with any dog, no matter the age, size, breed or temperament” Roussell says. “We offer a variety of training packages that are tailored to your dog so that your goals are reachable even with a busy lifestyle.”

Private training lessons are for owners who want to be fully involved with their dog’s behavioral progress. Lessons can take place in your own home, at the facility or at an alternate meeting place.

Puppy training, for those five months and under, uses food and positive luring techniques to teach your new family member the skills needed to successfully integrate into your household. Packages start at $675.

The board-and-train program is designed for pet parents who don’t have enough time to train their dog or may be going out of town. Staying at the home-scenario training facility, trainers will promote

your dog’s best behavior while teaching it new skills and commands. “We find that you will see faster results with our board and train program because people understandably love their pets and tend to spoil them,” Roussell says.

Group classes take place at 10 a.m. every Saturday. Attendees are asked to complete two private lessons or a board-and-train program first.

The board-and-review program is for clients who have already completed the board-and-train program or private lessons. It’s great for owners who may be going on vacation and want their dog’s training skills to be fine-tuned while they’re away.

For information or a free consultation, please visit www. MaligatorsDogtraining.com, call (727) 378-2220 or write to MaligatorsDogTraining@gmail.com. The facility is at 12890 Starkey Road, Unit #4, Largo.

Maligators offers private and board-and-train programs. For more info visit MaligatorsDogTraining.com

Fifth Avenue Pediatrics: Giving the Personal Touch to Every Patient

By Suzanne Driscoll

“We take an old-fashioned and personal approach at Fifth Avenue Pediatrics, and actually answer the phone,” Dr. Pamela Patranella says.

Fifth Avenue Pediatrics is the oldest existing practice in St. Pete, founded in the 1940s. “We focus on preventive care, parental guidance, promoting a healthy lifestyle and mental health, as well as early detection of illnesses and prompt treatment,” Dr. Patranella says. “We prefer to treat our patients here whenever possible rather than referring them to a specialist.” Comprehensive care is provided from birth until age 22.

After graduating from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and Texas Tech University School of Medicine in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Patranella did her internship at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg; she knew she wanted to relocate to this area. She joined the late Dr. John Cordes in 1987 at the current Fifth Avenue location. Today, she and Dr. Julie Johnson, Dr. Sally Smith, Dr. Tanya Liberato, and family nurse practitioner Beth Slyder, offer every patient the personal attention required.

Telemedicine for Certain Conditions

Telemedicine services connect the doctors and patients virtually when they are unable to come to the office in person. The option also is great for college students away from home who have ongoing conditions that need to be managed.

Choose the Right Pediatrician Before You Deliver

It’s always a good idea to choose a pediatrician before your new baby arrives. The doctors at Fifth Avenue Pediatrics offer a complimentary meeting to help you decide whether their practice is right for you. They review their well-child care schedule, availability by telephone and after hours, handling of emergencies, and management of your child should he or she require care in the hospital. They

Back Row : Lesly Bryant LPN, Audrey Long, MA, Beth Slyder, APRN, Milli Patranella MA, Julie Johnson MD, Sally Smith MD, Valerie Smith, Billing Specialist, Sha’kiera Williams LPN, Mary Pippenger LPN, Jason Pippenger, Front Desk Receptionist Front Row: Emily Seggebruch Front Desk Receptionist, Pamela Patranella MD, Tanya Liberato MD, Kayla Potts, Office Manager.

Not pictured: Sydney Norton LPN, Krysta Hall RN, Laura Mowczan MA, Selena Molina Front Desk Receptionist, Julie Moore BSN

Photos by Chris Ryan

can answer questions regarding infant feeding, circumcision, and immunizations and address any other concerns.

Fifth Avenue Pediatrics is closely associated with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and Bayfront Health. If you deliver your baby at Bayfront Baby Place, simply inform your obstetrician, and one of the Fifth Avenue doctors will examine your baby daily until discharged.

Keeping Kids Healthy

It goes without saying the best way to keep kids healthy is to make sure they eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, get all the necessary vaccines and don’t skip those annual checkups.

Angel from Sarasota rates Fifth Avenue Pediatrics as “by far the best place ever. We have seen all of the doctors here, as well as the nurses. If you call with questions they speak to you right away! I am a new mother and paranoid. …They never judge – they always speak to you respectfully and help with whatever is needed. If you're still worried they tell you to bring your baby in, again with no judgment and always super sweet with a kind smile and love for your little one! I drove from Longboat Key for my son’s first year. We have now moved to Sarasota and we keep driving the distance for appointments, as we couldn't be happier.”

Fifth Avenue Pediatrics is at 2855 Fifth Ave. N in St. Petersburg. For information, please call (727) 323-2727 or visit www. FifthAvenuePediatrics.com. A physician is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

Sunday Market St. Pete

By Candy Porter

There’s a new kid on the block, and what a welcome addition to the neighborhood it is! As of January, Sunday Market St. Pete opened its public venue at the architecturally iconic St. Petersburg High School. Owned and operated by well-established, hyperlocal market producer Tampa Bay Markets, Sunday Market St. Pete is open for public enjoyment every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., come rain or shine.

Location, Location, Location

Located at 2501 Fifth Avenue N in the Historic Kenwood district of St. Pete, the school grounds offer market attendees plenty of conveniences: easy access to the venue, lots of free parking, free admission, free live musical entertainment, clean building-housed restrooms, dog-friendly fun, and an abundance of enticing local artisans and food vendors.

Locally Operated, Locally Sourced

Tampa Bay Markets has a 14-year track record of successfully creating and operating community-focused market events. The organization operates 13 different local markets throughout the Tampa Bay area, with Sunday Market St. Pete being the organization’s newest addition.

“Our focus is local,” says Tampa Bay Markets co-owner Greg Barnhilll. We want to offer what is fresh, green, renewable, handmade, and recyclable. We also created a special farm-to-market program to encourage and provide access for local growers to sell their produce and products to the public.”

Co-owner Tiffany Ferrecchia oversees all operations for Tampa Bay Markets, making sure every aspect of what they do provides a top-notch experience for both vendors and attendees. “We’re always looking for new vendors,” she observes. “We designed Sunday Market St. Pete to be weekly, specifically so our vendors could realize consistent cash flow. In addition, we are thrilled to bring a robust array of high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables along with featured makers and artisans to this historic neighborhood.”

Tampa Bay Markets Co-founders, Tiffany Ferrecchia and Greg Barnhill. Photos by Chris Ryan

What’s It All About?

Sunday Market St. Pete offers over 75 vendors on a rotating basis. This writer journeyed to the market in mid-February to check it out. My impression? Yowza!

The lineup of food offerings was taste-temptingly impressive: Venezuelan, Korean, French, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Wood-fired Pizza, Indian, and good old American barbecue, to name a few. (Oh, I forgot the British scones.) There were fresh fish dips, Kentucky beer cheese dips, multipurpose bruschetta topping, maple syrups, spices, nuts, and the ever-popular caramel corn.

Did I mention the plants? Cut flowers, herb plants, large garden plants, air plants. You name it: If it was a plant, it was there. The market also boasted local artisans offering their handmade jewelry, cute lawn décor, accessories of all kinds for humans and their four-legged friends, and several unique clothing vendors. (Shopper’s confession: I bought two gorgeous tie-dyed silk pillowcases as a Valentine’s Day present for myself.)

To my mind, the crown jewel of Sunday Market St. Pete is its large produce tent, a veritable feast for the eyes. Tables and tables and stacks and stacks of luscious-looking fruits and vegetables of all kinds. Gazing at the vibrant colors of this produce bounty was a breath-taking experience that made my Sunday Market St. Pete adventure is worthy of my time.

For information, or to become a vendor, visit tampabaymarkets. com or on Facebook and Instagram @sundaymarketstpete.

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 Huntsman, an upscale casual restaurant focusing on foraged, hunted, and farmed ingredients, is coming soon to 200 Central Avenue in the space formerly occupied by The Mill in downtown St. Pete. Grilled antelope, Sitka deer street tacos, and elk tenderloin are among the wild game dishes that will be served at The Huntsman. The restaurant, which also has a location in Tallahassee, also caters to vegans and vegetarians with dishes such as the popular crushed chili cauliflower that’s tossed in a sweet and spicy citrus glaze, and black bean and sweet potato enchiladas. The Huntsman plans to open later this year.

Crepeway Caffe is now open at 1572 Central Avenue inside the EDGE Eatery food hall in the EDGE District. Chef Dinos has owned and operated La Creperia Café in Ybor City for nearly 20 years and has finally brought his famous crepes across the bay. The cafe serves sweet and savory crepes as well as other breakfast items like avocado toast, croissants, croque monsieur, and croque madame, among others. The cafe also has a full coffee menu.

First announced in January 2022, Sweetgreen’s arrival in St. Petersburg is back on track. The Los Angeles-based, fast-casual restaurant, which serves made-to-order salads, leased space at 1114 Central Avenue in the EDGE District over two years ago but faced construction delays almost immediately. However recently, a construction crew was spotted on-site again. Ben Mandell, CEO of Tricera Capital, the real estate investment firm that owns the property, told St. Pete Rising the restaurant will likely open sometime this summer.

Octopus Kokkinisto | The Huntsman coming soon to 200 Central Ave

Nutella Crepe | Crepeway Caffe now open in the EDGE Eatery

Sweetgreen's coming soon to 1114 Central Ave

A 33-story tower, tentatively titled “3rd & 3rd”, has broken ground at 235 3rd Street South at the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue South and 3rd Street directly across from the Publix-anchored University Village shopping center in downtown St. Pete. It will include 268 apartments and over 15,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. At 375 feet, the building will be among the ten tallest in St. Petersburg once complete. The building is expected to take two years to build and is scheduled to be complete by mid-2026.

Spellcrafter, a metaphysical shop, is now open at 2914 1st Avenue North in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District. The new spiritual store has an array of offerings including tarot and oracle cards, psychic readings, ritual supplies, spiritual workshops, herbs, oils, candles and a large selection of crystals and gems. Owners Madison Walsh and Christy Howard also own The Healing Hedge Witch in Tarpon Springs. Their mission is to help their communities improve health, mindfulness, and intentional living.

Sandbox VR, a first-of-its-kind virtual-reality gaming experience, is coming soon to 2228 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The technology allows players to see and physically interact with one another while feeling like they are in the middle of an action movie. Currently, the Washington D.C.-based company offers eight shared virtual reality experiences, some of which are based on popular media such as “Star Trek” and Netflix’s “Squid Game.” Sandbox VR is expected to open in the second half of 2024.

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.

Spellcrafter now open at 2914 1st Ave N

Sandbox VR coming soon to 2228 Central Ave

MARCH 2024

EVENTS

Cirque du Soleil’s BAZZAR

When: Performances through March 24

Where: Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr

Cost: $42 & up

In Cirque du Soleil BAZZAR, an eclectic lab of infinite creativity where a joyful troupe of acrobats, dancers and musicians craft an awe-inspiring spectacle. Led by their maestro, they band together to invent a whimsical one-of-akind universe. In a place where the unexpected is expected, the

matching your SNAP purchase on Florida fruits and vegetables. saturdaymorningmarket.com

Sunday Market

St. Pete

When: Every Sunday 10am-2pm (through May)

Where: St. Pete High School, 2501 5th Ave N

Cost: Free Admission

Over 75 vendors, including local growers, artists, makers, culinary artisans and community partners. Featuring live local music performed during all open hours for attendees to enjoy while shopping, snacking and socializing. The market offers free parking onsite, is family-friendly, pet-friendly, free to attend and open to all in the community. tampabaymarkets.com

Historic Kenwood

Artist Enclave

Studio Tour

colorful group imagines, builds and invents vibrant scenes in an artistic and acrobatic game. cirquedusoleil.com

Saturday Morning Market

When: Saturdays 9am - 1pm

Where: Al Lang Stadium Parking

Lot, 230 1st St SE (through May)

Cost: Free Admission

Over 125 vendors, including family-owned farms, ready-toeat, and artisan foods, handmade crafts, & more! Live music by local bands. Saturday Morning Market offers food assistance by

When: Saturday, March 16Sunday, March 17 10am - 6pm

Where: Historic Kenwood, starting at 5th Ave N and 28th St S

Cost: Free

View the exhibits of 30 artists at 19 different stops. Radio St. Pete will be broadcasting. This self-guided tour includes work by ceramicists, sculptors, jewelers, photographers, mixed multi-media artists, fine art painters and performance artists. Maps at all tour stops, begin anywhere you like. Maps also available online, and at Woodfield Fine Art Gallery and Craftsman House. kenwoodartistenclave.org

2nd Annual Paddy Fest

When: Saturday, March 16Sunday, March 17th noon-9pm

Where: Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave N

Cost: Free Admission

St Pete’s Largest Ever St. Patrick’s Day Festival Returns with 2 days of Family Fun and Festivities with tons of Irish Food & Drink and live Irish music, food trucks, vendors, Celtic Games, kids zone and more! Paddyfeststpete.com

The Optimist Club of St Petersburg

100th Anniversary Celebration

When: Saturday, March 23, 1pm - 5pm

Where: Gulfport Lions Club, 4630 Tifton Drive South

Cost: $10

The Optimist Club of St Petersburg will be holding a Celebration Fundraiser. All proceeds will be used to benefit the youths in our community. Mason Dixon from Q105 will be attending. Food, Raffles, Silent Auction and 50/50 will be held. optimistclubofstpetersburg.org

Sunken Gardens Spring Plant Sale

When: Sunday, March 24 noon - 3pm

Where: Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St N

Cost: Admission to Sunken Gardens, no pre-registration required

Cirque du Soleil Bazzar at Tropicana Field through March 24

Celebrate the start of spring!

Enjoy a variety of vendors selling carnivorous plants, unique orchids, native plants, & more at our spring market. stpete.org/events

6th Annual Boston Terrier Pet Walk

When: Sunday, March 24

2pm - 4pm

Where: Pioneer Park, Central Ave & Beach Dr

Cost: Free to attend, Pet donations accepted The event will return to Pioneer Park for this year’s Boston Terrier Pet Walk. In warmer weather and while numbers of CIRDC are low in St Pete. Walkers are asked to be cautious, space out (before, during and after the walk) and remain home if your Boston has any signs of ailment or respiratory issues. bostonterriersofstpete@gmail.com

Healthy St. Pete: Kayaking Adventure

When: Tuesday, March 26 6pm7pm (4th Tuesday of each month)

Where: Coffee Pot Park, 1st St NE & 31st Ave. NE

Cost: Free. Enjoy a great work out on the water. All fitness levels welcome! Ages 16+. Class size is limited. Pre-registration is required. events.stpeteparksrec.org

Roser Park Tour of Homes

When: Saturday, March 30 at 10am - 3pm (last check-in 2pm)

Where: Historic Roser Park Neighborhood

Cost: Advance tickets are $25 until

March 23rd; $15 option if you’d like to opt out of the wine tasting. This year’s Roser Park Tour of homes will feature five historic homes including one home used by the Ronald McDonald House which hosts families of children who are hospitalized at the nearby hospital. Two of the homes have never been on a tour of homes before! historicroserpark.org

St. Pete Pier Spring Festival & Easter Egg Hunt

When: Saturday, March 30 11am - 7pm

Where: St. Pete Pier, 600 2nd Ave NE

Cost: Free to attend

Get ready for the second annual Spring Festival filled with familyfriendly activities, Easter Egg Hunt, Bounce Zone, & much more! stpetepier.org

7th Annual Dyngus Day Celebration

When: Monday, April 1 doors open at 3:30pm

Where: St. Petersburg Polish American Club, 1343 Beach Dr

Cost: Dinner $14

Come celebrate the end of Lent and the beginning of Spring. Cash bar. A Polish platter dinner is served from 4 to 6 pm. Dancing to the Generations Band is from 5-8 pm. Polka dance lesson at 6 pm. For info or tickets email Ken Jakubowski kmjak@aol.com

For more events, or to submit event info, visit greenbenchmonthly.com/events