Green Bench Monthly Vol. 6, Issue 5, May 2021

VOL. 6, ISSUE 5, MAY 2021

Green Bench Monthly* St. Pete’s Community Magazine

Parks of St. Pete: Maximo Park pg. 10

People of St. Pete

Address the Issue

Scott Drouin pg. 9

Promote Anti-Racism pg. 12

Find Your Smile at

McArthur’s Irish Pub pg. 16

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Publishers Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor Mary Jane Park

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Contributors Tina Stewart Brakebill Erin Cody Brian Zucker

IN THIS ISSUE

Photographers Brian Brakebill Kristina Holman

14 Benoot Realty: Passion, Positivity, St. Pete

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From the Bench

Cover Photo

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Non-Profit News & Needs

Maximo Park Photo by City of St. Petersburg

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St. Petersburg Junior College: The First 40 Years

16 Find Your Smile Again at McArthur’s Irish Pub

Contact

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People of St. Pete: Scott Drouin

18 Big Man’s Moving Company: Because It’s Not Just Stuff!

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

10 Parks of St. Pete: Maximo Park 12 Address the Issue: Promote Anti-Racism St. Pete

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20 Downtown Developments 22 Events

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Tropicana Field. Photo by City of St. Petersburg

From the Bench A note from the Publishers Hi friends. If you follow local politics, you know talks of the Tropicana Field redevelopment are front and center right now. Last month, the St. Pete city council voted to put all development plans on hold to reopen negotiations with the Rays. The GBM team has been discussing whether taxpayer dollars should pay for a sports stadium at all. What are your thoughts? Email hello@greenbenchonthly.com.

Speaking of the GBM team...we’re looking for a freelance writer to join us. Are you passionate about local business and communitycentered stories? Do you love to write? Do you work well on deadlines? If the answer is yes, please submit two samples of your work to ashley@greenbenchmonthly.com.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner (May 9th). If you are still looking for just the right gift, lots of our ads this month feature special offers from local businesses. To all the Tony and Ashley Sica mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and Publishers / Owners women in our lives that care for us and love us, Happy Mother’s Day! Till next time,

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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North Shore Park. Photo by City of St. Petersburg

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 submit ‘news or needs’ for publication, email hello@ greenbenchmonthly.com.

Citizen Science: St. Pete Tree Map St. Pete Tree Map is a tree inventorying tool that’s fun, free to the public, and easy to use. With your help, the City will have the information needed to manage, maintain, and grow a healthy urban forest. Once you are familiar with the process, it only takes a few minutes to add a tree to the map. To set up your account with St. Pete Tree Map, get resources for tree identification, and learn tips on measuring tree size, visit https://pg-cloud.com/StPeteFL/.

The Kind Mouse Announces “Baby Mouse Nibbles” Program The Kind Mouse is now collecting donations of baby formula: all sizes, brands, and types accepted. The Kind Mouse saw a 38% increase in tummies fed in 2020. They need your support to help feed babies too! The Kind Mouse assists families in transition and their chronically hungry children while developing the next generation of volunteers to carry on the mission of The Kind Mouse.

The Kind Mouse is located at 1801 16th Street North, Suite B. To coordinate a donation drop-off, email info@thekindmouse.org or call (727) 575-7834. For a list of items needed, or to make a cash donation visit thekindmouse.org/donate.

Safe Paws Rescue Needs Foster Parents Safe Paws Rescue is a small private, volunteer-only pet rescue operation. Their mission is to rescue, help, rehabilitate, and re-home pets in need. They are looking for foster parents to care for dogs in need of a temporary home. Safe Paws will cover all expenses; you just need to provide the love! Email safepaws.florida@gmail.com, or visit safepawsrescue.com.

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St. Petersburg Junior College - St. Petersburg, Florida. 1946. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

St. Petersburg Junior College: The First 40 Years

By Tina Stewart Brakebill In May 1929, St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC) celebrated its first graduating class. About half of the 48 soon-to-be alumni earned their two-year arts and sciences diplomas, and the other half graduated from the teachers training program. No doubt, the inaugural group of graduates imagined bright futures for themselves.

So did the college. Its first commencement program proudly notes: “The college, in its short period of activity, has increased rapidly in size and importance, giving promise of becoming a still more worthy and flourishing institution in the future.”

Junior College: A New Idea for Florida On Sept. 13, 1927, the first class of 91 students launched their SPJC journey, despite the fact that they and the 14 faculty members teaching them were still waiting for textbooks and had to borrow rooms from the local high school. Enrollment soon grew to 102,

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but three months later, defenders were still having to explain the concept of a two-year school and sell it as an advantage, rather than a burden, to the community. In December 1927, the St. Petersburg Times extolled the cultural and economic boost SPJC provided both its students and the community at large, concluding: “Thus we believe the St. Petersburg Junior College has already justified the faith of the men and women who sponsored it.” Over the next 18 months, the school continued to prove itself worthy. By that 1929 commencement, graduates and staff had reason to be optimistic. SPJC had taken over the former St. Petersburg High School on Mirror Lake (presentday site of the judicial building), established its first scholarship endowment, doubled its enrollment, and was well on its way to full accreditation. The idea that St. Pete needed an institution of higher learning for aspiring white locals who couldn’t afford the tuition and boarding costs of an out-of-town school was clearly catching on.

The College Experience in Half the Time and a Fraction of the Cost At $50 per year, the new two-year SPJC was considerably less expensive than a four-year institution, which could average anywhere from $150 to $250 or more per year, plus the expense of books and room and board. For local students in particular, these savings made college possible. Since teaching required only a two-year certificate at the time, the teachers training graduates, almost exclusively women, were ready to meet the growing demand for teachers linked to the expanding population and compulsory school-attendance laws. The

Charles Burke and George Ateek leaving Saint Petersburg Junior College - Saint Petersburg, Florida. 1947-09-28. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

Archery class at Saint Petersburg Junior College - Saint Petersburg, Florida.

1947-11-05. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

arts and sciences graduates, mostly men, could either move on to a four-year institution or take their new skills into the job market.

This lower cost to attend junior college did not mean students had to sacrifice curriculum or the collegiate experience. SPJC offered courses in everything from history, economics, and physics to art, science, and music. Plus, when students weren’t in class, they could participate in a variety of campus clubs organized to enhance their educational experiences or to widen their horizons. The very first club, Dramatic (soon renamed The Play-Makers), was followed quickly by a contemporary literature club (dubbed the Reviewers), and a men’s-only glee club, as well as science-math, poetry, and debating clubs. As with four-year institutions, newly fashionable and exclusionary social clubs, known only by their initials, also emerged. Competitive contests had become increasingly popular as well, and inaugural SPJC Trojans fans could cheer on football and basketball teams. In 1927, the basketball team gave the “Poinsettia Ice Cream five” their first loss in SPJC’s first game before they went on to consecutive successful seasons, and in 1929, SPJC fielded an undefeated football team. Students also anticipated the fun of the popular May Fete.

reverting back to its successful two-year model in 1938. That same year, officials began plans for expansion to accommodate the growing enrollment, which by 1941 stood at 317 students. The local community raised nearly $100,000 to help SPJC purchase 25 acres of empty land.

With the help of federal Works Progress Administration funds, the school moved in 1942 to a new campus at Fifth Avenue N and 66th Street. With room to grow, SPJC transitioned from a private nonprofit to a fully public institution in 1948. Unfortunately those growth plans did not include Pinellas County’s Black population. SPJC’s refusal to integrate (even after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision mandating desegregation) contributed to the establishment of Gibbs Junior College (GJC). Opened in 1957 with 254 students, it quickly relocated from a borrowed space in Gibbs High School to its own facility. By 1964, it had grown to more than 900 students. Its success, however, had not stopped efforts to desegregate SPJC. In 1961, with the help of the Ambassador Club, Rosalie Peck and Frankie Howard became the first Black SPJC students. By 1967, GJC had been absorbed into the SPJC system and, continuing its expansion, SPJC had added another campus in Clearwater. Many changes were still ahead, but 40 years after the fledgling school’s first students sat in borrowed rooms, St. Petersburg Junior College, with its three campuses and more than 8,000 students, certainly had “justified the faith of the men and women who sponsored it.”

Changes Even as the Great Depression and World War II offered challenges, SPJC continued to grow and adapt. After gaining full accreditation in 1931, it briefly offered three-year programs before

Full sources available on request.

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Photo by Brian Brakebill

People of St. Pete: Scott Drouin

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 shines a light on one of the many people that make St. Pete unique.

This month we’re focusing our attention on Scott Drouin.

A Tampa Bay native, Drouin joined the St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation department in 1999. A teen himself at the time, he assisted with the teen programs at a neighborhood recreation center.

Twenty-two years later, he’s back at a recreation center, now as a supervisor.

Proudly Local Drouin has been in the area his whole life. His parents grew to love the Tampa Bay area during his father’s time stationed at MacDill Air Force Base. After his dad left the service, the family stayed.

The couple settled on this side of the bay, established careers as St. Petersburg-based elementary schoolteachers, and raised two boys under the Florida sun. Drouin and his younger brother absorbed their parents’ attitudes about the value of education and community.

As a teen, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and entered St. Pete College, vaguely planning to become a teacher. At the same time, he saw an advertisement for a part-time job at a local recreation center with the city’s Teen Arts, Sports, and Cultural Opportunities

(TASCO) Division. “That sounds fun,” he thought. He got the job.

Making a Difference Drouin was only 19, but he was right about the job. It was fun. It also was important. Offering a wide variety of special events, camps, and after-school programs focused on technology, sports leagues, and recreation, TASCO “prides themselves on promoting good sportsmanship with a lot of fun while affirming positive learning experiences,” he said. Already, he was helping to provide kids with opportunities they might not have had otherwise. In 2006, he became a full-time employee. Aside from a brief time with adult sports leagues, he has worked with youngsters ever since and is a Parks & Recreation supervisor at the Shore Acres Recreation Center.

Looking to the Future Professionally, Drouin is taking part in this year’s Leadership St. Pete® program, which is designed to develop community leaders. The class project is focused on WestCare’s transitional housing facility at the Mustard Seed Inn. Drouin said he has “loved” the challenging six-month effort. “It makes me want to get out and do more for my community,” he said. Drouin and his wife, Jessica, an elementary school math coach, are parents to a 2-year-old daughter, Emilia, with another daughter, Magnolia, on the way in July. “I’m sold on this girldad thing,’’ he said.

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Maximo Park is located at Sunshine Skwy Lane S. & Pinellas Point Dr. S. Photos by Brian Brakebill

Parks of St. Pete: Maximo Park

By Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Petersburg 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. 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.

It’s Got it All!

History on Top of History

Located where Boca Ciega Bay joins Tampa Bay, Maximo Park offers visitors a spacious, beautiful, and shady spot to relax, play, or learn. With recreation trails, boat ramps, shoreline fishing, two playgrounds, picnic shelters, a beach, an observation tower, and an 18hole disc golf course, this park has it all! At 70 acres, it is the largest of St. Pete’s four archeological sites documenting the lives of the area’s indigenous cultures.

Evidence unearthed during a 1973 University of South Florida excavation shows that current-day Maximo Park was settled by people at least 4,500 years ago. By the 15th century, present-day Maximo Park was part of a much larger village and served an important town center for the indigenous Tocobaga peoples until the effects of European contact resulted in the elimination of the Tocobaga in the early 18th century. Afterward, the area was used as a fishing and hunting spot but

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remained largely empty of permanent settlers for many decades. Then in 1843, Antonio Maximo Hernandez established a homestead on the land, which is where Maximo Park gets its name. You can learn more about the region’s long history by reading the informational signs provided throughout the park. If that doesn’t satisfy your appetite for history, a virtual tour of the archeological sites is available at www. stpeteparksrec.org/maximopark/.

Get Moving or Not: Maximo Let’s You Choose Are you looking to relax and take in the beautiful view? Or does hiking, biking, fishing, boating, or throwing a disc sound like a perfect way to spend your day? Either way, Maximo Park has you covered. The beach offers a relaxing place to read a book or spend the day letting bay waves ease life’s stresses. If you are looking for a longer view, then climb the stairs to the top of the 50-foot observation tower where you can see for miles. Plus, with numerous trails, ramps, beaches, and an extensive shoreline, you can get moving on foot, wheels, or hull.

Maximo’s most popular feature, may be the 18-hole Tocobaga Disc Golf Course. As the Professional Disc Golf Association describes, it winds “through canopies of exotic plants” and has fairways that “range from open to wooded, several with water looming.” On any given day, you’ll find enthusiastic players of all skill levels driving and putting frisbee discs on the 5,385-foot course. Even if you don’t play, it’s fun to watch. Next time your family, friends, and well-behaved leashed pup can’t agree on an activity, choose Maximo Park. It’s got it all!

Thanks For more information about Maximo Park or St. Pete’s many other parks, visit www.stpeteparksrec.org or call (727) 893-7441.

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Promote Anti-Racism St. Pete offers free anti-racism signs and book rentals. Photos courtesy of Promote Anti-Racism St. Pete

Address the Issue: Promote Anti-Racism St. Pete “It started with the uprisings over George Floyd’s death last summer,” says Madeline Mahon, founder and director of Promote AntiRacism St. Pete.

“I wanted to find a way to show solidarity and support for people who, like myself, were unable to attend the protests. I ordered a 10 pack of BLM signs from Signs of Justice, and offered the remainder on NextDoor for free. Due to the amount of interest, I started raising money to fund a variety of signs while continuing to offer them for free or donation.”

active role, while continuing to educate herself and expand her comprehension. “By listening to Black anti-racism educators, I began learning and considering what more I could do, as a white woman, to help support the movement for racial justice,” she says.

“This led me to begin partnering with one of the sign recipients, Kayla Brown, to create a small library of books by BIPOC authors Madeline Mahon, founder and director of Promote Anti-Racism St. Pete, that we could lend to anyone with her dog Triton who wanted to work on their ant-racism journey (no matter if they were new to the work or been engaged in it for a while). At the time, libraries were also closed due to Covid. Early on, I had given some signs to Rev. Andy Oliver at Allendale United Methodist Church, and he generously offered us space at the church to use.”

As Promote Anti-Racism St. Pete took off on Nextdoor and Instagram, they linked up with other like-minded groups, donating signs to local activist groups like Tampa People’s Protest and Black Lives Matter Pasco, and handing them out at Roll to the Polls events, organized by the Carter G. Woodson Museum.

Listen and learn

Dismantling white supremacy

Madeline has been busy. So many of us have felt hopeless over the past year, recognizing the rot of racism in our country, but unsure what to do about it. Allyship is often seen as passive, but Madeline has taken an

“We’re like a free gateway into the movement for those who don’t know where to begin or how to get involved,” Madeline says of the group. “We would love to see more people (white people especially)

By Erin Cody

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putting in the time, effort, and work to read the books. This, in turn, helps to begin to dismantle white supremacist behavior and biases, unconscious and overt, and allows you to bring those tools and knowledge to actively engage with local BIPOC-led organizations who are tirelessly working to better St. Pete for all. Our goal is to continue to recruit and direct locals, as long as the grassroots organizations are still doing the groundwork.”

“If you’re new to anti-racism work,” she continues, “and need help figuring out next steps and/or new to the area and looking for ways to get involved in St. Pete, we can offer you a free anti-racism sign, free book rentals from a library with over 35 titles, and direct you to resources, education, organizations, events, and joy.”

“We welcome volunteers who are actively dismantling white supremacy in their life, and who want to offer their time to host the library and/or have ideas on how to build additional supportive background initiatives to engage more people, without trampling on/ taking over any BIPOC-led work. Also even just sharing our posts on Instagram is helpful!”

Thanks so much to Madeline Mahon, and co-founder Kayla Brown, for bringing Promote Anti-Racism to St. Pete! To stay upto-date on their initiatives and events, follow Promo Anti-Racism St. Pete on Facebook and Instagram, @promoteantiracismstpete, or email hello@promoteantiracismstpete.org. They currently have a GoFundMe set up to support their work, and also accept cash and check donations.

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Left to right: Geert Benoot, Catherine Benoot, & Matthieu Benoot.

Photos by Kristina Holman

Benoot Realty: Passion, Positivity, St. Pete

by Erin Cody “Every negative makes way for positive change,” Geert Benoot says of the past year. This bright outlook is a hallmark of Benoot Realty, which Geert runs with his wife, Catherine, and son, Matthieu. With four generations in real estate, the Benoot family has seen it all, making them uniquely suited to keeping their feet on the ground and eyes on the horizon even in the most uncertain of times. Their trademark knowledge, expertise and personal connection has shone through during the past year, and business has continued to thrive.

For the Love of the ‘Burg Ever the inspiring bunch, Benoot Realty has continued to bring joy and solace to their friends, clientele and community. “It’s made us appreciate the little things in life,” says Matthieu Benoot. “Like going for a picnic with the family here at the park in downtown, spending more

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time with loved ones, and appreciating the small details and gestures that one normally overlooks. We are very lucky to live in a state that has so much to offer!”

St. Pete has turned out to be a hot destination for those fleeing bigger cities like New York and Chicago. “Residents and customers understand and appreciate the great area we live in,” Geert Benoot says. “Just look outside! St. Pete is a young, vibrant, happy, professional area. Prospective buyers want to move here for a good reason!”

Matthieu Benoot adds that new residents come seeking our weather, open state, taxes, walkability, and things to do.

Now is the Time!

You may be wondering, “Is this really a good time to buy or sell?

Even for a local?” Absolutely! With interest rates so low it is a perfect time to buy, and if you’ve been thinking about selling, why not do so while there is so much interest in the area?

With decades of experience and an abundance of glowing reviews across the internet, you can be certain that the wonderful folks at Benoot Realty will guide you through the entire process with success and a smile. No property is too big or too small. “The time to sell or buy is now,” Geert Benoot says. “Don’t sleep on it, or you won’t sleep in your new home!”

Their sage wisdom, abundant enthusiasm, and personal touch will ease any stress and leave you with both a great real estate transaction and some amazing new friends. Experience the brilliance, passion and positivity of Benoot Realty for yourself.

In addition to the friendly faces at Benoot Realty you will also find custom art by Catherine Benoot (catherinebenoot.com)

Call Benoot Realty at (727) 944-4000, email at info@ benootrealty.com, or stop by the office at 70 Beach Drive NE to chat or receive an in-depth, complimentary, no-obligation consultation.

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Marc Bona and Arthur Paula, owner’s of McArthur’s Irish Pub located at 9246 4th St N. Photos by Kristina Holman

Find Your Smile Again at McArthur’s Irish Pub

By Erin Cody “When folks come to the pub they’re treated like they’re home.

That is the Irish Culture and we live it every day,” beams restaurateur Arthur Paula. Hailing from Ireland, Arthur grew up in his family’s pubs and restaurants, dreaming of someday owning his own. After spending a lifetime in the biz, he and partner Marc Bona decided to open an authentic Irish pub in their hometown of St. Pete in...2020.

he shares. “To build fellowship, bring families together, and go through what the community is going through at the time, good or bad.” Arthur and Marc brought this important sense of community to our town when we needed it most. On a given night, you’ll find a bunch of friendly locals, many of them regulars, and even a number of Irish expats who hang out at the pub for a taste of home.

Keeping Culture Alive

Ultimate Comfort Food

Opening a new pub is a tall order even in the best of times, but luckily between his decades of experience in the bar and restaurant industry and his firm grasp of the raucous hospitality and community culture of the Irish, Arthur knew how to keep his new venture, McArthur’s Irish Pub, not just alive, but thriving. “We stayed true to our brand and kept the culture and atmosphere alive on a smaller scale to make it through,” he says. “We were the first pub to put the Irish Musicians back to work playing in the parking lot after reopening. Words cannot describe the amount of support from our local community that helped us through the last year that and a few Irish Blessings!”

“In Ireland, the pubs are an important part of every community,”

Speaking of taste, you’ll find the ultimate comfort food on the menu at McArthur’s. Arthur’s personal favorite is the pub’s take on a classic Irish dish, traditionally enjoyed late-night after an evening of drinking. The “Irish Toastie” is an epic sandwich packed with tavern ham, grilled tomato, a bunch of melted cheese, and house-made honey mustard. Pop in any weekday before 7 pm to enjoy some killer happy hour drink specials in preparation for your Toastie.

McArthur’s brunch, complete with optional bottomless mimosas, is really one to write home about. Loosen your belt in preparation for, among other options, a Traditional Full Irish Breakfast. Called a “Fry Up” back in Ireland, this beast includes two eggs with plenty of Irish sausage, Irish rashers (similar to Canadian bacon), potatoes, toast,

McArthurs Reuben Rolls

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Harp Beer-Battered Fish Bites

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Cottage Pie

Guinness Stew

Much of the bar’s wood details are a true labor of love, custom made by Marc and Arthur.

grilled tomatoes, and topped off with baked beans. From grub to booze to decor, McArthur’s embraces traditional Irish pub culture, but in no way more than through their incredible live Irish music. It is truly something to behold!

Joy & Togetherness “We have Live Irish Music every Friday and Saturday starting at 7pm,” beams Arthur. “All of our musicians are from Ireland, playing all the best of Irish music and pub favorites from around the world. On the second Sunday of the month at 4pm we have a Traditional Irish Session, and we have open Mic every Wednesday at 7pm for all the local talented musicians to jam out.”

McArthur’s radiates joy and togetherness - just what so many of us have been missing over the past year. The Irish know how to do it right, so do yourself a favor and join in the fun! Find your new sense of community over a pint, a laugh, and some downright brilliant live music. Slainte!

McArthur’s Irish Pub is located at 9246 4th St. N. For more info, give ‘em a call at 727-914-7474 or visit www.

McArthursIrishPub.com.

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Josh and Brooke Anderson, owners of Big Man’s Moving Company. Photo by Brian Brakebill

Big Man’s Moving Company: Because It’s Not Just Stuff!

Tina Stewart Brakebill The items we surround ourselves with are not “just stuff.” Every piece has a story. Your couch is not just a place to sit; it’s the first piece of furniture you picked out together. The headboard on your bed was once your grandmother’s, gifted to you when she moved into her swanky over-50 condo complex. You bought that abstract painting on an impromptu road trip to the Keys. The memories held in that stuff help make a residence a HOME. They are important

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and when you make a move, your moving company needs to treat them as precious cargo. Big Man’s Moving Company understands this, which is why they were voted the 2020 Tampa Bay Times People’s Choice for No. 1 Mover in Tampa Bay. Big Man’s owners and operators, Brooke and Josh Anderson, are passionate about maintaining the high standards that have kept their customers happy for the past four years.

Big Man’s Moving Company voted ‘Best of the Best’ for Tampa Bay Times People’s Choice 2020 awards. Photos courtesy of Big Man’s Moving Company

For the Sunshine

“We Can Do It Better.”

If it wasn’t for our ubiquitous sunshine, Tampa Bay might have lost out on the exceptional quality Big Man’s Moving brings to the relocation game. Born and raised in the small town of Aliquippa, Pa., Brooke Anderson headed south to attend college at West Virginia University. Meanwhile, 600 miles to the northwest, Josh Anderson left his tiny hometown of Horicon, Wis., to play basketball for the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and then join the military. Each graduated college in 2005, and still unknown to each other, both moved to Tampa Bay seeking sunshine and warmth. Seven years later, a chance meeting put them together when Brooke ran into an old college friend while renting kayaks. Asking whether she “still liked tall guys,” he set her up with his 6-foot-8-inch co-worker, Josh. They had their first date that night. “That was it,” she says. The next day, she told her mom, “I’ve met the guy I’m going to marry.” They’ve been together since that day in April 2013, loving the Tampa Bay life, especially biking, boating, locally brewed beers, and baseball. They are only four stadiums short of their goal to visit every Major League Baseball park.

After working in the corporate world for 14 years, the couple were looking to embrace their shared entrepreneurial spirit in a way that allowed them to feel more connected to the community. Soon after they began to brainstorm, a bad moving experience turned into a good one when both were inspired by the same thought: “We can do it better.” Using wedding gifts to buy their first truck, they quickly built a stellar reputation by providing outstanding customer support and quality service. They now have six new trucks and 20 employees, all screened and hired by Brooke Anderson. “If I wouldn’t send someone to my 93-year-old grandmother’s home,” she says, “I wouldn’t send them to your home.” The company has successfully moved more than 3,300 households. Big Man’s Moving also can handle the heavy labor if you need help packing, loading, or unloading. Whether you want a company to handle your local, statewide, or out-of-state move or offer some extra hands for labor, Big Man’s Moving can help.

For more information about their full services, guarantees, insurance, and free estimates, visit www.bigmansmoving.com or call (727) 772-3458.

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Pete’s General is opening a second location at 2361 1St Ave S

Cake Drip is coming soon to 1104 Central Ave

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.

Pete’s General is opening a second location at 2361 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District. Owners Steven and Sara Peterman debuted the original Pete’s General at 495 7th Avenue North in 2019 and cannot wait to bring their famous fresh-made bagels and baked goods to another St. Pete neighborhood. Pete’s offers seven varieties of bagels every morning – everything, onion, sesame, garlic, poppy, salt, and plain. Pete’s General’s second location is expected to open this summer in the Grand Central District. In the meantime, check out their original location at 495 7th Avenue North in Historic Uptown.

The Nolen, a 23-story boutique condominium building, is coming

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soon to 4th Avenue NE in downtown St. Pete. The Nolen will have 31 residential units, 63 parking spaces, and 1,260 square feet of groundfloor retail space. According to preliminary site plan documents, the Nolen will feature a garden entrance with “climbing vines” and landscaping. The street-level features rounded arched windows with coquina stone cladding. The Nolen is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2022.

The Cake Drip is coming soon to 1104 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. After a massively successful opening in Hyde Park Village last month, The Cake Drip has decided to open a second location in

COhatch is coming soon to 15 8th St N

Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz is coming soon to 111 3rd Ave N

St. Pete. The Cake Drip offers a DIY chocolate bar flight tasting and cake decorating experience that you won’t want to miss. There are also yummy desserts that can be ordered to-go, such as macaroons, cake drip cups, popcorn, and customized treat boxes. The Cake Drip is hoping to open in early June.

COhatch, a coworking space, is coming soon to 15 8th Street North in downtown St. Pete. The 4-story, 14,000 square foot building, also known as the historic Harlan Hotel, is expected to have 25 to 30 private offices available and space for 150 to 200 coworking members.

Best of all, a restaurant and bar will be opening on the ground-level.

COhatch is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz is coming soon to downtown St. Pete.

It will take over the space formerly home to Five Guys Burgers and Fries at 111 3rd Avenue North. Specializing in ultimate comfort food that appeals to all ages and backgrounds, Fo’Cheezy puts a twist on

the ordinary grilled cheese with a menu of 13 innovative, one-of-akind melts. The “Hot Mess” is made with crispy cheddar cheese curds, smoked gouda, cheddar fondue, braised beef short rib, pickled red onions, crispy tots, horseradish aioli and poutine beef gravy. A grand opening is expected in late June.

Local chef Jason Gordon (formerly at Brass Bowl and The Big Catch at Salt Creek) and his fiancé Ashley Simmons have just signed a lease at 2134 9th Avenue North to house 727 PREP, their chef-crafted meal prep company. The new location will allow customers to pick up their meals, instead of paying extra to have them delivered. They offer meals such as “The Mumbai” which consists of braised chicken with coconutcurry sweet potatoes, jasmine rice, and chana masala.

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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Photo by Brian Brakebill

EVENTS heART & Soul - A Virtual Evening of the Arts When: Saturday, May 8th from 6pm - 8pm Where: Virtual Cost: Free Join St. Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for an “Evening of Arts” showcasing the transformative and healing power of the arts through music, poetry, dance, and literature. Event features artists from around the country, including California, Atlanta, New York. Includes our own local St. Petersburg gospel singer J.E White and the Art Conservatory for Teens. Event will be hosted by Broadway Actress Terry Burrell. www.dststpete.eventbrite.com

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Monthly Wine Talks at HBS When: Tuesday, May 11th from 6:30pm - 7:30pm Where: Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, 2927 Central Ave Cost: $20 for a flight Nothing fancy, just fermented grapes + a glass!

Slide on in for Wine Talks each month and join us to sip + savor wines from all around the globe.

Reserve your spot today! hbsforlife.com

American Stage’s Pop-Up: ‘Uncaged’ When: May 14th - 16th starting at 7 pm Where: The Factory St. Pete, 2622 Fairfield Ave S Cost: Member Pricing + Early

GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / MAY 2021

Access $24 (Save $6), General Admission Lawn $30 A fun evening of celebration and laughter with songs, scenes and sketch comedy. Join American Stage live and in person for a limited pop-up event in this safe and socially distanced outdoor venue. Entertainers will perform a set of comedic vignettes that celebrate the art of laughter with your friends on the lawn! americanstage.org.

Bath Day at Pinellas Ale Works Benefiting Friends of Strays

Preserve the ‘Burg: Movies in the Park!

When: May 20th from 7pm - 10pm Where: North Straub Park, between 4th Ave. & 5th Ave. NE at Beach Dr Cost: $10 for individual adult entry; children under 15 are Free The evening starts with live music at 7 pm followed by ‘Two Weeks Notice’ on the big screen at dusk.

Advance purchase ticketing is required. preservetheburg.org

South St. Pete Marketplace

When: Every Tuesday from 4pm - 8pm When: Sunday, May 16th Where: Historic Manhattan starting at Noon Casino, 642 22nd St S Where: Pinellas Ale Works, Cost: Free admission 1962 1st Ave S Produce, music, flowers, art, Cost: Baths are $10.00; all and snacks. proceeds benefit Friends of Strays southstpetemktplc@gmail.com Enjoy a PAW Pint while your pup gets a bath. A win-win! This For more events or to submit event event is weather-permitting. info, visit greenbenchmonthly.com/ pawbeer.com events/community/add

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

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