Green Bench Monthly Vol. 7, Issue 7, July 2022

VOL. 7, ISSUE 7, JULY 2022

Green Bench Monthly

St. Pete’s Community Magazine

Girls Rock St. Pete pg. 10

People of St. Pete

Tom Lally pg. 9

Parks of St. Pete

Shoreline Fishing pg. 18

St. Pete Rising

Coming Soon pg. 20

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Publishers Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor Mary Jane Park

Contributors Tina Stewart Brakebill Suzanne Driscoll Brian Zucker

Photographers Brian Brakebill Kristina Holman Musaweron Photography

Cover Photo Girls Rock St. Pete Kailey finds her rhythm after just 5 days on the drums. Photo by Becky Rudolf

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

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IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Bench

18 Parks of St. Pete: Shoreline Fishing

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High Hopes and Flying Follies: St. Pete Looks to the Skies

20 Downtown Developments

by St. Pete Rising

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People of St. Pete: Tom Lally

10 Girls Rock St. Pete: Self-Confidence Soars After a Week of Rock ‘n’ Roll

22 Events: "The Fourth", Open Mic Night, PAVA’s 33rd Annual Cool Art Show & More!

14 Jeff Thomsen - Realtor: Full Service, Lower Fees, and Phenomenal Results

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From the Bench

Longtime advertisers, Nancy and Charlie Parker, announced they are selling the business. From all of us at GBM, we wish you the best in your next chapter!

Photo by Brian Brakebill

A note from the Publishers Summer is here! Hopefully, your AC is working well, and you are staying cool. Despite the heat, there’s still plenty happening indoors. Hop over to our events calendar to see what’s going on this month (pg. 22).

Longtime GBM advertiser and St. Pete pottery icon Charlie Parker announced he is stepping down from day-to-day operations. Contractor and ceramic artist Bo Countryman and ceramicist and glass artist Gabriella Schmid have bought the building and business. The name will remain Charlie Parker Pottery. Charlie will stick around the shop to help with the transition, so stop by and say hello! Charlie Parker Pottery is located at 2724 6th Ave S. St. Petersburg Libraries now offer free Wi-Fi hotspots on loan to library card holders. Hotspots can be borrowed for up to 14 days and must be returned to the same library. For more info, visit https://splibraries. libguides.com/hotspots.

It is that time of year for Clothes To Kids (CTK) annual Drop (off) Your Drawers, underwear drive for children in need. For July and August,

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Tony and Ashley Sica Publishers / Owners

CTK will be collecting new packages of underwear. For convenience, you can shop their Amazon Wish List: clothestokids.org/dyd; or donate new packages of underwear to their St. Pete Store in Twin Brooks Commons at 2168 34th Street South. Every Pair Counts!

Till next time, Ashley & Tony

All are welcome on this bench.

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

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High Hopes and Flying Follies: St. Pete Looks to the Skies

First scheduled flight January 1, 1914.

Tony Jannus in Benoist airboat.

Photos courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History

By Tina Stewart Brakebill Banking on Tourism As St. Pete moved toward the second decade of the 20th century, many influential leaders “banked on tourism” as the path to prosperity.

They pushed for the preservation of “the natural and recreational amenities of the city including the waterfront park system” rather than pursuing an expanded industrial port. When the waterfront was dedicated as a park in 1920, it became clear that tourism had moved to the forefront of the city’s plans for economic prosperity. Efforts to draw people here escalated.

“First Commercial Air Ship Line in World!”

Early enthusiasts promised potential visitors that even though St. Pete was a bit difficult to reach, they would be invigorated by our abundant waters and clear blue skies. Forward-thinking boosters looked to those clear horizons and envisioned new possibilities. They gathered investors and persuaded the city to build a hangar. On Dec. 17, 1913, “the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line” was launched. It was 10 years to the day after the Wright brothers first flew successfully at Kitty Hawk. Hailed as the birth of commercial aviation, this liftoff was met with high hopes. Throngs of people gathered on both sides of the bay to witness the first scheduled flight from St. Pete, which was met in Tampa with “an enthusiastic cheer.” Twice-daily flights

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began immediately. One-way tickets for the approximately 20-minute flight sold for $5. In the first weeks, many took advantage of the exciting new venture as passengers and boosters. St. Pete and Tampa newspapers bantered over passenger intentions: Were people “eager to get to Tampa” or “always in a hurry to get away”? Merchants advertised that their wares had been transported via air. The St. Petersburg Times bragged that it delivered its daily edition “as no other” to Tampa. By mid-March, thousands of pounds of cargo and 1,200 passengers had been transported without incident. Despite this auspicious liftoff, however, those original high hopes could not keep the venture aloft.

As summer loomed and snowbirds departed, passenger demand sank.

Slim profit margins disappeared, and by early May 1914, the nation’s first commercial airline had become history.

A Boom, A Bust, and ...

Ten years after the demise of the Airboat Line, St. Pete’s economy was booming. Past failures seemed unimportant in the midst of exciting new expansion. Unfortunately, when the land speculation driving that boom collapsed in 1926, the economy again took a dive.

The national economy continued to flourish, however, and tourism returned to the forefront of efforts to keep the city from falling into a deep financial pit. Boosters upped their already considerable efforts to draw people to the city; by 1927, St. Petersburg seemed to be pulling out of its economic dive.

Goodyear blimp RELIANCE over Municipal Pier, c1930.

A Blimp Confidence was high at the December 1927 “Celebration of the Sun.” According to one speaker, “now is the time to buy in this city” as population growth and tourism numbers reached record highs.

Roads, bridges, and ferries built during the boom-times helped bring these expanding crowds, and some visionaries once again looked to the skies. Despite the international buzz surrounding Charles Lindbergh’s historic 1927 flight, not everyone was convinced that “heavier than air” methods of flight were the future of passenger service. Others put their hopes on “lighter than air” airships, such as the dirigibles, zeppelins, and blimps that had been the first airships to carry passengers over long distances. Famed city booster John Lodwick claimed that “most of Florida’s travel from the North within the next 10 years will be by this type of aircraft.” He convinced the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp. to choose St. Pete as a southern base of operations. In September 1929, the city authorized funds for a municipal blimp hangar at the newly built Albert Whitted Air Field. Anticipation was high among both citizens and fliers. A local salesman characterized his blimp ride (won in a contest) as “one of the greatest trips he’s ever taken.” Invited as a passenger, Neita Schmidt “thoroughly enjoyed” her inaugural ride. As a “local girl pilot,” she predicted a “thrilling and boundless future” for blimp pilots, lamenting only that women were not yet allowed to “invade this field.”

Despite high hopes, financial realities once again poke holes in a lofty dream. The blimp arrived in its new home in January 1930, but the stock market and tourism both had crashed by then. Lodwick’s “Flying Folly” proved no match for the Great Depression and was grounded before it ever had a chance to prove its potential.

Hopes & Follies: St. Pete’s Place in History Over the next decade, airplane designs improved, and airships remained serious contenders as passenger carriers. Even as an avid airplane pilot, Schmidt raved about the blimp’s advantages, including its “windows” and the “spacious cabin” that was a “model of comfort” for passengers. Just as more communities began considering the benefits of local air travel options, the tragic 1937 crash of the Hindenburg in New Jersey marked the end of the (lighter than air) airship era. St. Pete holds a special place in the foundational history of the competition over the means of commercial flight, thanks to forward-thinking early boosters always looking for new ways to “bank on tourism.”

Sources available on request and include prior research by Nevin D. Sitler.

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Long Island Boy Looks to the Horizon Born in New York City, Lally grew up in the rural outskirts of Massapequa Park, Long Island, the oldest of five kids in an Irish Catholic family. Looking back, it’s clear that the seeds for his future were planted in that Long Island soil. Years as a Boy Scout (from Cub to Explorer) helped develop his sense of service and exploration. The epic James Michener novel Hawaii opened his eyes to the wider world and inspired the desire to travel. (Ironically, Hawaii is one of only three states he’s never visited.) These horizon-widening discoveries also contributed to his hopes of becoming an aerospace engineer. After finishing high school, he entered SUNY Farmingdale.

Expanded Horizons Graduating in 1962, Lally launched his career in the aerospace industry during a decade that brought exciting new air and space technologies. By the late 1960s, he had joined the Grumman Aerospace Corp., where he helped engineer and manufacture the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) that made it possible for Apollo 11 astronauts to successfully land on the moon in 1969. Not content to look only to the skies for inspiration, Lally also was an avid photographer and music lover. Seeing an opportunity to combine both of those passions, he bought tickets to an August 1969 event billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 days of peace and music.” Arriving early, he camped on site as he experienced and documented the Woodstock Rock Festival from Richie Havens’ nearly hour-long opener to the festival’s closing by Jimi Hendrix. Lally notes with a smile: “1969 was a very big year.”

Photo by Brian Brakebill

People of St. Pete: Tom Lally

By Tina Stewart Brakebill 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.

For the past decade, Tom Lally has devoted much of his time to giving back to the community he has called home for nearly 50 years.

As the current president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA), he continues his efforts to build stronger and more inclusive neighborhood connections as St. Pete continues to grow and evolve.

Changing Horizons and a New Forever Home As the 1960s gave way to the 1970s, Lally spent many happy days traveling up and down the East Coast to see Havens play. He remained in the aerospace industry and moved to the Pall Corp., which transferred him to St. Pete. Initially hesitant to relocate from New York to Florida, he fell in love with the community almost immediately. He remained with Pall until his 2012 retirement and says he can’t “imagine ever leaving St. Pete.” As an active leader in CONA as well as the Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Committee, the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and St. Pete’s Complete Streets, Lally strongly believes in a “bottom up” approach that encourages the community to participate in setting priorities. As CONA’s president, he strives to work with neighborhoods to help understand and support their needs. He’s also passionate about connecting with often-dismissed people, including renters (he is one) and young people whose voices are vital in facing both current and future challenges.

For more information about CONA and how it can help amplify your voice as well as how you can join or start your own neighborhood association, visit www.stpetecona.org JULY 2022 /

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Mia hits the Jannus stage and plays her five-day-old song to a large crowd. Photo by Whitnie Williams

Girls Rock St. Pete: Self-Confidence Soars After a Week of Rock ‘n’ Roll

By Suzanne Driscoll Here in St. Petersburg, “Girls Rock” isn’t just a slogan. For those in the know, this summer camp provides a transformative experience focused on self-care, fearless expression and building community.

“Girls Rock St. Pete empowers girls to take up space, use their voices and to see each other as allies instead of competition,” says Executive Director Jesse Miller. “We serve girls and gender-expansive youth ages 8-17, regardless of their ability to pay or play an instrument.

Girls Rock St. Pete’s founder Rachael Sibilia was touring with her punk band when she learned about a Girls Rock camp in another city.

She came home excited to bridge her passion for music and social justice and founded the camp in 2015.

After a career in foster care, Miller wanted a new opportunity to build confidence and self-worth for the girls who fell through the cracks. “We owe it to our girls to provide the tools to live confidently

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Camp activities form trust and establish positive vibes all week long.

Photo by Marissa Rafalski

and bravely in a world that still condones gender inequity.”

Studies have shown that a collapse in the self-confidence of girls begins at puberty and often remains throughout adulthood. This can adversely impact a woman’s long-term personal and professional success as well as her mental health. Negative self-talk, body dysmorphia, depression, judgment, and anxiety can strip away self-confidence and create unhealthy lifestyle habits. “We are taught from a young age that our value is based on our appearance,” Sibilia says. “At Girls Rock we build self-worth through resilience and collective care.”

Local celebrated musician Steph Callahan paves the way for pint-size players as part of Girls Rock’s leadership pipeline. Photo by Eve Edelheit

Volunteers Make it Happen “Our volunteer base is a passionate crew of people with a huge range of expertise. Without them, camp just wouldn’t happen,” Sibilia says. “At the end of the week we always hear, ‘This is the camp I needed when I was young.’ ” Personnel from camp nurse to guitar teachers are needed, and many roles don’t require musical skills. The “Vibe Tribe” runs daily activities like the morning scream circle, social justice workshops, and afternoon yoga. Men are welcome to volunteer in supportive roles as part of the “Dude Crew.”

This year the camp runs from July 18-22. The public is invited to the final concert from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Jannus Live, an event featuring professional opening acts, a silent auction and interactive stations for all ages.

is scheduled to launch this fall. Girls Rock is funded by donations and offers sponsorship levels with creative benefits like backstage tours and introducing bands on stage.

Parents rave about the changes they see in their daughters after attending Girls Rock camp. One mother commented: “She made new friends, has strong female role models and is so inspired. We can’t wait for next year!”

One happy camper reports: “Whenever I get down on myself, I remember what I did at rock camp and I feel more brave.”

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please visit GirlsRockStpete.org, email JesseGRSP@gmail.com or call (813) 476-2103.

Changing Lives On the first day of camp, kids are assigned a musical instrument and form bands. They have just five days to learn the basics and write an original song together. On the sixth and final day of camp, they perform their original songs live on stage before more than 1,000 people. “Everyone is learning an instrument and being vulnerable,” Miller says. The space we create is intentional ,and once they realize it’s safe to make mistakes, they begin to explore. They have so much fun creating, they don’t realize they are learning life skills and building confidence.”

Sibilia and Miller hope to grow the program by adding afterschool classes and an instrument lending library. A new concert series

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Jeff Thomsen, Realtor with his one-year-old rescue pup, Skylar. Photo by Musaweron Photography

Jeff Thomsen, Realtor: Full Service, Lower Fees, and Phenomenal Results

By Suzanne Driscoll If you’re looking to sell your home for top dollar while saving thousands in commissions, Jeff Thomsen is a clear choice. Offering full-service real estate services, he charges less in fees, helping his clients keep more of their hard-earned equity.

Thomsen started his career in real estate while working as a teacher and school administrator in Denver. He began to remodel houses in his spare time and enjoyed designing spaces, updating homes, and selling them for a profit. But he grew frustrated paying 5 percent to 6 percent in commissions and additional miscellaneous fees. “I thought this was outrageous,” he says, “and it was cutting into my profits.”.

He figured there must be a better way and jumped into real estate full-time. Thomsen made the move to Tampa Bay to shake things up in the real estate industry.

“High commissions and extra junk fees have been the mainstay for too long,” he says. “I offer a better model – full service for less.

My clients pay a total of 4 percent commission to sell their home, and

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only 3 percent if I find the buyer myself. I never charge any extra fees, either. Most clients save $10,000 to $20,000, if not more, and I love that. My lower fees make sellers happy and also generate a lot of referral business, so it’s a win-win.”

Clients can be assured they will get the best service possible from beginning to end. “I am their one point of contact because I never hand them off to an assistant,” Thomsen says. Services include professional photos, top-notch marketing including social media, inclusion in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), strong negotiating, regular communication, open houses, and even reaching out to neighbors to personally find a buyer. “It’s all included,” he says.

As a real estate investor himself, Thomsen still flips houses and manages his own short-term rentals. This experience gives him helpful insights into working with investor clients as well as other buyers and sellers. He also has a long list of great service providers such as local banks, home inspectors, repair people and more.

Above: Jeff sold 6401 Pasadena Ave. in St. Petersburg with multiple offers for $1,350,000. Sellers saved over $27,000! Below: He also sold 3133 W Vina Del Mar in Pass-a-Grille with multiple offers for $1,000,000.

Sellers saved over $30,000! Photos courtesy of Jeff Thomsen

Giving Back to the Community Thomsen commits to contribute at least 10 percent of his earnings to charity. “I’m passionate about helping children who lack support at home, so I sponsor two kids through Compassion International and also mentor a youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters. I’m thrilled to donate to these organizations as well as to local churches.” As a veteran, he also serves as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve.

Great Service for a Lower Price One of many happy clients, Eric O. reports, “I found Jeff via a newspaper ad and he was EXCELLENT. He was responsive, knew the market, got it listed at the correct price, and got it sold with no problems. He offers great service but doesn’t charge as much as “traditional” agents who I think charge too much. You’ll save a lot of money and get great service as well.“ “I provide the highest level of service and marketing to all of my clients, no matter what the price point,” Thomsen says. “My listings get excellent market exposure and often sell over asking price with multiple offers. Recent clients were thrilled that they were able to save over $30,000 in commissions with me while still getting over their asking price.”

Call Thomsen at (727) 222-0099 or write to Jeff@JeffThomsen. com. For more information, go to www.GoWithJeff.com.

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As our community grows, so does our ability to care for it.

Our new patient tower is open.

For 90 years, St. Anthony’s Hospital has treated the community with extraordinary, compassionate care.

That continues with our newest project: a 90-bed patient tower, featuring all private rooms, plus a new lobby and Seventh Avenue entrance. We’ve also renovated select cardiovascular and respiratory spaces and moved and upgraded the cafeteria and dining area. This expansion increases our ability to offer even better care and an enhanced patient experience. As the needs of our community grow, so does our commitment to meeting them at St. Anthony’s Hospital, the only BayCare hospital in St. Petersburg.

Learn more: StAnthonys.org

OUR NETWORK BayCare Behavioral Health • BayCare HomeCare • BayCare Laboratories • BayCare Medical Group BayCare Outpatient Imaging • BayCare Surgery Centers • BayCare Urgent Care

OUR HOSPITALS

Bartow Regional Medical Center • BayCare Alliant Hospital • Mease Countryside Hospital • Mease Dunedin Hospital • Morton Plant Hospital Morton Plant North Bay Hospital • St. Anthony’s Hospital • St. Joseph’s Hospital • St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital • St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital St. Joseph’s Hospital-North • St. Joseph’s Hospital-South • South Florida Baptist Hospital • Winter Haven Hospital • Winter Haven Women’s Hospital

BAYCARE.ORG 22-2212274-0622

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Father and son fishing at Bay Vista Park. Photo by City of St. Petersburg

Parks of St. Pete: Shoreline Fishing

By Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Pete 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. We also have 76 tennis courts. 33 football/soccer fields, 31 baseball fields, nine volleyball courts, four historic sites, three nature preserves, and numerous splash pads. 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.

Beginning with City Park (today’s Williams Park) in the late 19th century and expanding to the waterfront in the early 20th century, St. Petersburg’s parks have a long history of providing patrons with a variety of amenities. Today, St. Pete can boast more than 150 city parks and numerous Pinellas County parks. According to the Trust for Public Land, 77 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park. Offerings vary, and often include picnic areas, playgrounds, and fitness trails. St. Pete also has parks with boat ramps, beaches, splash pads, nature preserves, historic sites, and disc-golf courses. Dogs and skaters even have their own parks. Throughout the community, parks provide numerous tennis courts, basketball courts, football/soccer fields, softball/baseball fields, volleyball courts, and even a jai-alai court.

The Parks & Recreation Department also offers classes, service projects, camps, and numerous after-school educational programs. Choose an activity, or choose to relax, and there’s a park or recreation center that fits your needs.

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“Gone Fishing” Water is a central feature in many St. Pete parks. With more than 80 lakes, the city has an abundance of shoreline fishing opportunities, although not all offer year-round activity. Popular spots such as Booker Creek, Childs Park Lake, and Crescent Lake are open for fishing only in the summer. Numerous other parks do provide locals and visitors a variety of freshwater and saltwater spots throughout the year. Those include the saltwater lakes at Bartlett Park and Fossil Park, and freshwater opportunities at Walter Fuller Lake, Lake Maggiore, Lake Eli (also known as Little Lake Maggiore), and Mirror Lake. Radiating out from Mirror Lake’s downtown location to Walter Fuller to the west, Fossil Park to the north, and Lake Maggiore and Bartlett Park’s Salt Creek to the south, they offer easy access from almost anywhere in the city and a variety of environments and sizes. For exact park locations or for information regarding shoreline fishing, contact the department at (727) 893-7441 or visit www.stpeteparksrec.org/parks.

Fishing dock at Bartlett Park. Photo by Brian Brakebill

“If the Fish Don’t Bite” As the song says, “A bad day of fishin’ beats a good day of anything else.” Locals will attest that St. Pete is a great place to fish. Lakes are often stocked, and nature encourages abundant local spawning.

Anglers are encouraged to be thoughtful toward other park guests and the surrounding neighborhoods. This consideration includes things like cleaning your catch at home, using provided trash containers, and removing any litter you may create. Hopefuls should fish only from the shore or from designated fishing docks and remember not to encroach on private property or create excessive noise. Park visitors should obey all posted signs and guidelines. For example, cast netting is permitted only at Lake Maggiore and Lake Eli (Little Lake Maggiore); no crab traps are allowed in any city lake.

Following the rules helps to maintain the city’s lakes. For information about licensing and limits, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at www.myfwc.com/license/

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Welcome to the Farm - a concept by country music superstar, Chase Rice, is coming soon to 216 1st Avenue North

Downtown Developments

35-story apartment tower and 13-story hotel coming soon to corner of 2nd St N & 3rd Ave N, replacing Fit2Run and Hotel Indigo

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.

Welcome to the Farm is coming soon to 216 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete (formerly MacDinton’s Irish Pub). Inspired by his own farm in Tennessee, country music superstar Chase Rice is opening the live music country bar on the Jannus Block this summer. The bar will offer an expansive whiskey menu along with themed cocktails, such as “Bennington’s Flask” named after Rice’s favorite buffalo. The interior will feature cowhide benches lining the back wall and a large red, white, and

blue neon star hanging above a hardwood dance floor.

A 35-story apartment tower and 13-story hotel has been proposed for downtown St. Pete. The development is planned for a 1.48-acre lot currently home to Fit2Run and the Exchange Hotel. The project will feature 361 apartments and a 184-key hotel and is being developed by Tampabased investment firm Ally Capital Group and Delray Beach-based Kolter Group, which developed ONE St. Petersburg and the downtown St. Pete Hyatt Place and is in the process of developing a pair of condo towers, Saltaire and Art House.

Good Fortune St. Pete is coming soon to the ground floor of Station House at 260 1st Avenue South in downtown St. Pete. This is the latest concept from Stephen Schrutt, who also owns The Avenue, Park & Rec, No Vacancy, and Dirty Laundry. Good Fortune will serve sushi and a variety of Asian dishes with specialty drinks, including Japanese whiskeys and different styles of sake, beers, wine, and bubbles. The 6,000 square foot open-style space will feature dining tables for guests, a 12-person sushi bar, a 14-seat bar and cocktail lounge, a private karaoke room, and an outdoor patio.

Sky St. Pete, a 20-story, 246-unit apartment tower is coming soon to the corner of 17th Street North and Burlington Avenue in downtown St. Pete. The project will include a sixth-floor rooftop pool and lounge

Good Fortune St. Pete is coming soon to the ground floor of Station House at 260 1st Avenue South

Sky St. Pete, a 20-story, 246-unit apartment tower is coming soon to the corner of 17th Street North and Burlington Avenue

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

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Where’s Jubes, an Aussie brewpub, is now open at 279 Central Avenue

with indoor and outdoor poolside seating. Additionally, an expansive sky lounge will be located on the 20th floor at the southeast corner overlooking the EDGE District with views of the downtown St. Petersburg skyline.

Construction is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2023 with a completion by the end of 2025.

Where’s Jubes, an Aussie brewpub, is now open at 279 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. From the owner of The Oyster Bar and Crafty Squirrel, Where’s Jubes is a 1,600 square foot pub featuring repurposed poplar from Australia, industrial steel, four brew tanks, and extensive outdoor lounge seating. The menu features premium meat cuts, local beers, and Aussie-inspired cocktails. Currently, Where’s Jubes is serving guest beers with house-brewed beers coming in a few weeks.

A Moxy Hotel by Marriott is coming soon to 1234 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. Site work on the 163-key hotel started a few weeks ago after the project landed a $42 million construction. Complimenting the hotel will be an outdoor garden and retail paseo as well as a refurbished four-story 17,000 square foot building that will house retail, a restaurant, and commercial space.

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.

A Moxy Hotel by Marriott is coming soon to 1234 Central Avenue in the EDGE District

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North Shore Aquatic Center

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

JULY 2022

EVENTS $1 Splash Days at City Pools

“The Fourth” at St. Pete Pier

When: Monday, July 4th from Noon - 4 pm Where: North Shore and other city pools Cost: $1 Make a splash this summer with $1 Splash Days at all City of St. Petersburg pools! stpeteparksrec.org/pools/

When: Monday, July 4th from 4pm - 10pm Where: Primary Location - Spa Beach Park on the St Pete Pier, 600 2nd Ave NE Cost: Free Admission This event is filled with fun activities for all, including the 2nd annual St. Pete Pier Run,

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Photos by City of St. Petersburg

Craft Beer Garden, Food Trucks & Vendors, Live Music on the Visit St. Pete Clearwater Main Stage, roaming entertainers, and so much more! The traditional Fourth of July fireworks show sponsored by the City of St. Pete is scheduled for Monday, July 4th, at 9 pm and will be visible from the entire Downtown waterfront. stpetepier.org

Water Conservation Workshops: Intro to Micro Irrigation When: Wednesday, July 6th from Noon - 12:45 pm Where: Online Event Cost: Free

What is drip irrigation? Is it the same as micro-irrigation? Learn the difference and how to start changing your existing sprinkler system to save up to 60% on your water use. stpete.org/ waterconservation

Trail Fun Run When: Saturday, July 9th from 9am - 10am Where: Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S Cost: Free Join Healthy St. Pete and the St. Pete running company on the second Saturday of every month from 9 - 10 AM. healthystpetefl.com

The Coliseum

Blah Blah Blah!

Open Mic

When: Tuesday, July 12th from 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm Where: The Studio @620, 620 1st Ave S Cost: $5 Open Mic is a Literary Storytelling and Prose event brought to you by Wordier Than Thou and the Studio @620. Each month starts with a reading from a recently published work by a featured local author, then we open up the mic to give seven minutes each to area storytellers and prose writers. Meet local authors, and listen to interesting stories from locals. Each month there will be a theme.

Thestudioat620.org

PAVA’s 33rd Annual Cool Art Show When: Saturday, July 23rd from 10am - 5pm, and Sunday, July 24th from 10am - 4pm Where: St. Petersburg Coliseum, 535 4th Ave N Cost: Free Admission and Free

Parking The show will include ~60 Florida artisans that have been selected to exhibit in this impressive collection of both visual and functional art in the mediums of paint, wood, ceramics, photography, metal, glass, fiber, digital, mixed media and jewelry. PAVA will also be hosting a variety of hands-on children’s art activities for kids of all ages, and feature two demonstrating artists showcasing their skills and techniques to all show patrons. Pava-artists.org

Happy Happy Improv Show When: Saturday, July 30th from 9pm - 11pm Where: Green Light Cinema, 221 2nd Ave N Cost: $12 Presented by Sunshine City Improv Theatre and Green Light Cinema the last Saturday of every month featuring rotating improv teams, sketch comedy, music, and more! sunshinecityimprov.com

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

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