Green Bench Monthly Vol. 7, Issue 8, August 2022

VOL. 7, ISSUE 8, AUGUST 2022

Green Bench Monthly

St. Pete’s Community Magazine

Creative Grape: A Neighborhood Wine Bar Brings Art, Music, and Great Food pg. 16

Remembering Baseball in

Sunshine Park pg. 6

Create, Collaborate and Perform

The MAR pg. 10

Events Calendar

ArtWalk, Yoga, & Gems pg. 22

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Publishers Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor Mary Jane Park

Contributors Tina Stewart Brakebill Suzanne Driscoll Brian Zucker

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Photographers Brian Brakebill Kristina Holman Musaweron Photography

Cover Photo Creative Grape.

Jeff Herman, Owner, Leslie Culbertson, General Manager, and Yusuke Ouchi, Owner-Chef Photo by Kristina Holman

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

IN THIS ISSUE 4

From the Bench

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Remembering Baseball in Sunshine Park, 1914-1919

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People of St. Pete: Ray Wunderlich III

10 The MAR: A Space to Create, Collaborate and Perform 14 Local Author Brings Life Lessons through Children’s Books

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16 Creative Grape: A Neighborhood Wine Bar Brings Art, Music and Great Food 18 Parks of St. Pete: Riviera Bay Park 20 Downtown Developments

by St. Pete Rising 22 Events: ArtWalk, Yoga, the Gem Show, & More

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From the Bench

Mayor Welch at the Historic Gas Plant District Press Conference announcing that he will restart the RFP process for Tropicana Field.

Photo by City of St. Petersburg

A note from the Publishers Hello, friends. Starting this month, we are partnering with American Stage to give away FREE tickets to their upcoming shows (see ad on pg.5).

To enter, visit our Facebook page (greenbenchmonthly.com/facebook), look for the American Stage giveaway post, and tag a friend you’d like to see the show with. It's that easy! The winners will be announced on August 19th.

Last month, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch announced that he would restart the process of selecting a master developer for the 86-acre Tropicana Field site in downtown St. Pete (pg. 22). The city is asking for your input on this process. To submit a comment, visit https://form. jotform.com/210254356325045 In case you missed it, St. Petersburg residents can now build accessory dwelling units or garage apartments on their home’s property after the city council officially approved the housing option last month. For more information visit stpete.org/residents/current_projects/planning_ projects/housing_initiatives.php

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Tony and Ashley Sica Publishers / Owners

Kids go back to school this month! Reach has launched their annual “Sponsor a Backpack” program, which helps families and students that may be struggling get everything they need to set them up for success. You can sponsor a backpack for only $5! To donate, visit https://reachstpete. churchcenter.com/giving 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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Remembering Baseball in Sunshine Park, 1914-1919

Spectators watching game between Phillies and Browns, 1915, at ballpark located near Coffee Pot Bayou on 22nd Ave. N. Photos courtesy of the St. Petersburg Museum of History

By Tina Stewart Brakebill By 1914, St. Pete’s population had grown to over 7,000, from only 1,600 people in 1900. Numerous new homes, businesses, and public works also changed the shape and feel of the city. New roads, rails, and

trolleys made getting around a lot easier. and for a few short months in 1914, brave souls could even arrive via air on the St. PetersburgTampa Airboat Line. St. Pete leaders, contrary to those in other growing cities of the era, chose not to rely on industrial development; instead, they staked the town’s future on tourism. “America’s favorite pastime” was seen as a potentially powerful magnet to attract winter visitors to the Sunshine City.

“The Sunshine City has the inside track” Led by Al Lang, boosters found a team looking for a change: the last-place St. Louis Browns. St. Pete’s weather and local connections were rumored to have put it on “the inside track.” As a further enticement, the newly formed St. Petersburg Baseball & Amusement Co. promised the team free room and board and a new training facility and baseball stadium. This sealed the deal. Soon after, Sunshine Park began to emerge from the overgrown lot adjacent to Coffee Pot Bayou. Workers cleared the Florida pines, planted grass, and packed fine-grade clay imported from Jacksonville around the bases in order to “protect base runners from scratches and bruises when rolling and

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Baseball writers, Coffee Pot Park, 1914. L-R: Jimmy Gantz, Robert Maxwell, Da? Hittman, Jim Nasium.

On the back of the photograph, Coffee Pot Park is stated as being at “1st St N at Grenada Terrace.

sliding on the ground.” Supervised by Browns manager and future Hallof-Famer Branch Rickey, workers soon installed batting cages, sliding pits, and sprinting lanes. Rickey was pleased with the results, declaring the facility “one of the best I’ve ever seen for training purposes.”

Fans were in for a treat. Sunshine Park offered spectators a choice of elevated box seats, a covered grandstand, or open bleachers. Numerous refreshment and souvenir stands provided game-day needs except for a cold beer, as Pinellas County was “dry” at the time. Excitement was high as opening day approached. After months of work, Sunshine Park was ready for the February 27, 1914, home opener, and the Times predicted “a record crowd.”

“Everybody went to the game” Opening day proved them right. Schools were let out for the day, and businesses shut their doors at noon. Fans came by special trains, extra trolley cars, the occasional automobile, and on foot. Clearly, everyone wanted to witness baseball history being made. Sunshine Park (or Coffee Pot Bayou Ball Field, as the locals preferred to call it) was filled to capacity with more than 4,000 attendees. Bleacher seats were only 25 cents, but spectators seeking a free view also perched in nearby pine trees. A woman was even seen atop the roof of a house behind center field. Simply put, “Everybody went to the game.” Not content with that summary, the Times provided an exhaustive list to prove their case: “railroad magnates, famous authors, footlight favorites, gentlemen of the cloth, ‘sporty’ men, doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, merchants, clerks, hash hustlers, cab drivers, chauffeurs, Negro laborers … fashionably gowned women and faultlessly dressed men; women in plain business clothes and men who didn’t give ‘a hang’ how they looked … [as well as] a score or more of kids who would rather see the game hanging onto the top rail of the fence.” The Browns lost to the Cubs, but that barely dampened the excitement. The Times reported that the fervor “made the pine woods and the shores of the tranquil bayou reverberate with the welcome to the national game.”

Major League Baseball had arrived in the Sunshine City!

Al Lang had been hard at work recruiting another team. In October 1914, the also-terrible Philadelphia Nationals announced they would hold spring training in St. Pete for the 1915 season. Once again, excitement was high. As happened the previous year, a holiday was declared for the opening-day game against the Cubs. The Times reminded locals and tourists that “Coffee Pot park is equal to any professional diamond in the South,” and at a fraction of the cost of others. Despite the hype, the crowds weren’t quite as large as those for opening day 1914. Including a “lively delegation [of Cubs fans] from Tampa,” 2,500 people watched the Cubs defeat the Phillies. Despite this early loss, however, the Phillies secured the National League pennant that year before closing the season with a World Series loss. Seeking to capitalize on the magic of that stellar season, they returned to St. Pete in 1916 and found a welcoming crowd, as proved by the 2,000 fans waiting at the train station. They also returned in 1917 and 1918. The Great War had begun to dramatically affect baseball’s attendance and scheduling. That shift contributed to the Phillies’ decision to not renew their contract for the upcoming year.

Workers began demolition on the mostly abandoned “Old Coffee Pot Ball Yard” in March 1919. Only five years after its opening day, Sunshine Park’s short but history-making era ended. When Major League ball returned in 1921, it found a new home.

Resources available on request.

“Equal to any professional diamond” Despite the stellar training conditions, the Browns went on to an abysmal losing season and decided not to return in 1915. Fortunately,

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People of St. Pete: Ray Wunderlich III

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.

Our focus this month is on Ray Wunderlich III. A third-generation St. Pete native, he is on a mission to protect and preserve the region’s native flora and fauna while also promoting sustainable urban agriculture. Those interconnected goals guide his ongoing path as he devotes much of his time and energy to saving, restoring, and cultivating indigenous flora and community gardens while also spreading local environmental knowledge.

Inspirations Wunderlich credits numerous inspirations for his present-day passion as an environmental steward. His father, a local nutritional medicine medical doctor, provided an example of community care and devotion to excellence that permeates Wunderlich’s sense of self. His years as a competitive long-distance runner taught him how to strive for a goal, be humble in victory, and persevere after defeat. Two interwoven influences, however, stand out: his mother and his “back yard.”

Characterizing her as a “strong woman” and “super mom,” he recalled how she skillfully managed the home, businesses, and social lives of the entire family. Wunderlich also credits her for his introduction to a wide variety of interests from the arts to the wilds of their coastal “Pink Streets” neighborhood. She volunteered, painted, gardened, ground her own wheat for bread, wrote a cookbook, and encouraged him to explore his local environment. His expansive “back yard,” now Pinellas Point Park, was lush with tiny mangroves and open bay water as well as pine and oak trees further inland and wild grasses throughout. Years spent exploring this natural playground nurtured a deep appreciation for the local and native land- and waterscapes.

“I believe in projects” Decades later, his appreciation for this environment along with the lasting effects of his mother’s influence serve as the guiding lights for Wunderlich’s multifaceted approach to protecting and preserving our endangered indigenous flora while also serving the local community. He

Photo by Brian Brakebill

summarized his strategy with a simple statement: “I believe in projects.”

Over just the last two decades, he has helped spearhead efforts to restore “pocket parks” (like Little Bayou Preserve and Pinellas Point Park) by removing invasive species and planting native trees and shrubs; halt and/or reroute disc golf courses to protect natural vegetation and indigenous shell mounds; and replenish established parks (Fort De Soto) by planting pines. One of his most ambitious projects, however, is the founding of Wunder Farms Organic Community Gardens.

Wunderlich established this volunteer group in 2010 as a means to “provide the most nutrient-dense produce to the neediest populations in our community” while simultaneously educating people on sustainable practices in organic urban farming. Originally operating from the Pioneer Settlement Garden and the Edgemoor Community Gardens, Wunder Farms is cultivating and educating from the raised garden at Allendale Methodist Church. This verdant organic garden successfully provides thousands of pounds of fresh produce to Day Star Life Center and garden volunteers each season.

Provide. Educate. Cultivate.

Wunderlich knows that not everyone appreciates his efforts or persistence. He jokes that he has been “a pain in the city’s (let’s say) rear-end” for 20 years. Despite occasional failures and the not-sooccasional push-back, he is determined to bring his sense of integrity and follow-through to his projects as he strives to protect and preserve the region’s native flora and fauna while also promoting sustainable urban agriculture.

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The MAR: A Space to Create, Collaborate and Perform

Owners of the MAR, Heather and Dave Hamar.

Photos by Kristina Holman

By Suzanne Driscoll The performing arts are so popular in St. Pete that it can be a real challenge to find the space needed to rehearse, offer classes or perform.

So after a long career in all aspects of the entertainment world, husbandand-wife team Dave and Heather Hamar decided to open the MAR St. Pete, a performing arts studio and incubator.

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Whether you want to rehearse, teach a class, hold a workshop or record, it’s the perfect spot for creative collaboration. Current resident companies of the space include the Ballet Academy of St. Petersburg, Diva Dance Florida Suncoast, Synchronized Swimprov, Hip Expressions Belly Dance, and ROCA Productions.

Co-owner Heather Hamar moved to Tampa in 2006 to work for Busch Gardens after receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from Sam Houston State University. She has done everything from event management and casting to production management and performing. Dave Hamar is originally from Tampa and has a BFA in music from the University of South Florida, where he studied jazz and drumming. He also worked for Busch Gardens and today is a freelance drummer in high demand for vocalists such as Mandy Harvey as well as the bands he helped start, Anyan Devery and Modern Measure. Both Dave and Heather Hamar worked for the creative arts organization Lovewell, where they wrote full-length musicals with middle- and high-school students.

“The MAR is the perfect place to wear all of our hats,” Heather Hamar says. “MAR means ‘the sea’ in Spanish, and we also like to think it stands for ‘Mistakes Are Required!’ for all those learning to perform.”

The MAR is located in the Grand Central District at 2309 Central Ave.

A Space for Any Purpose The MAR has about 2,400 square feet of space that include a lobby, performance space, and a green room with a kitchenette. “It’s completely flexible where dance classes can be held on a floating dance floor with large wall mirrors, and easily converted to a black-box theater for live performances,” Dave Hamar reports. “Live recordings can be made, and live-streaming is also something we offer a lot.

When people walk in, they know it’s the right space for them.”

Rental rates start at $50 per hour, and discounts are available for multiple bookings.

Special events such as the MARket take place to coincide with other activities in the Grand Central area of Central Avenue. For example, during the Pride in Grand Central event, there was inside space for vendors to display and sell their wares, as well as an area for vendors to sell outside in the street.

For the past two summers there has been a three-week camp offered by the Arts Conservatory for Teens where they learn all aspects of musical theater. “It’s wonderful to see kids blossom throughout their time together here,” Heather Hamar says.

The Synchronized Swimprov Jam happens on first and third Sundays, and other improv groups such as the Wet Bandits use the space as well. Recently there was a 12-hour live-stream fundraising extravaganza for the Countdown Improv Festival. “We laughed for 12 hours straight, and they reached their goal!” Heather Hamar says.

The MAR, above: performance space, below: lobby

As the couple approach the two-year anniversary of the MAR’s opening in September, they look forward to many more years of supporting the St. Pete arts community. “It’s something to be celebrated and grateful for to be part of such an amazing community of artists, theater lovers, and entertainment supporters.”

The MAR is located at 2309 Central Ave. in St. Pete. For more information or to book the space, visit www.TheMARStPete.com, call (727) 851-9001 or email Heather@themarstpete.com

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Local Author, Shelly Augsbury. Photo by Musaweron

Local Author Brings Life Lessons through Children’s Books

By Suzanne Driscoll Kids throughout Tampa Bay have made a new friend with a delightful octopus called Okalani, a Hawaiian name meaning “from heaven.” The series written and illustrated by Shelly Augsbury delivers captivating, colorful images and life lessons in a fun way.

Augsbury’s own story begins during the pandemic when all her art shows were closed. She decided to paint the 80-foot fence in front of her house. “I’ve always loved sea creatures and missed going to the beach, so I did an ocean theme with sea life and octopuses,” she says. “I even put googly eyes on them. Immediately, kids, grandparents, and young parents would gather and spend joyful moments pointing at the art. Fox News even came and did a feature story on it. My former art director suggested I write a children’s book, and Okalani was born.”

An artist all her life, Augsbury worked at national and regional ad agencies as an award-winning creative talent and won more than 30 national and international awards. In 2009, she pursued teaching as an adjunct professor in Atlanta, and started painting (www.

ShellyAugsbury.com), showing her work in galleries throughout the

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Southeast. Augsbury also teaches art to kids, so writing and illustrating the Okalani books brings together all her talents and experience.

Books That Entertain as Well as Teach “I want my books to help teach children how to grow up smart, nice and strong,” Augsbury says. In Okalani the Octopus Wants New Shoes, for example, Okalani needs a lot of sand dollars because an octopus requires eight shoes. So Okalani gets a job at Fred’s Fish Market working the swimthrough window. She doesn’t have any pockets to save her sand dollars in so she opens a savings account and learns about banking. Okalani knows that money opens up a sea of possibilities, so she helps the crabs buy school supplies and the lobsters buy groceries, learning that helping others gives herself joy as well as helping those in need.

All books are hardcover, landscape format, printed in the United States. Augsbury feels it’s important to support American businesses, “and the quality is so much better.”

Augsbury currently has six titles for different age groups: Okalani the Octopus Can Count to 10! (Baby-2 years), Okalani the Octopus Gets A Pet (Ages 3-7), Let’s Be Friends With Okalani the Octopus (Ages 2-7), Okalani the Octopus Wants New Shoes (Ages 4-8), Help Okalani the Octopus Save the Ocean (Ages 5-10), Growing Your Family with Okalani the Octopus (Ages 2 and up). Order a signed copy directly from her website: www.okalanitheoctopus.com

Giving Back to the Community Augsbury also set up a donation page, “Okalani Cares,” at www. okalanitheoctopus.com where proceeds go to give free Okalani books to needy kids. So far, beneficiaries include Ronald McDonald House and youngsters affected by abuse in the Pinellas County court system.

She also reads Okalani books via Zoom to children at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and appears in person at schools, the Glazer Children’s Museum, and various craft markets throughout the Tampa Bay area.

“Teachers, principals, grandparents, and young parents can’t get enough of Okalani the Octopus, ‘’ Augsbury reports. “But my greatest heartwarming reviews are the children who come up to me and tell me how much they love the series and what they have learned. I know this is what I’m meant to do.”

You can order Okalani the Octopus signed books directly from www.okalanitheoctopus.com or on Amazon.

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Creative Grape is located at 3100 Third Ave. N. in the Shoppes at Historic Kenwood. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Photos by Kristina Holman

Creative Grape: A Neighborhood Wine Bar Brings Art, Music and Great Food

By Suzanne Driscoll As the theme song from the old TV show Cheers puts it: “You want to go where everyone knows your name.” Co-owner Jeff Herman hopes that his wine bar, Creative Grape, in Historic Kenwood, will become just that type of place.

Herman worked for an international insurance company for 40 years and lived all over the world. He often traveled to St. Pete to work on an investment project, and he fell in love with all the historic homes.

“Why am I paying the astronomical prices for an apartment in New York City when I can have a lovely home here?” he thought. He and

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his son made the move to Historic Kenwood four years ago. Creative Grape opened in early 2021, when Herman thought COVID was a thing of the past. Not until December was everything finally ready for customers.

“The arts have always been a passion of mine,” says Herman, “as I started out in life as a musician, poet and playwright. But I quickly realized I needed a different career so I wouldn’t be poor.

Creative Grape combines my appreciation for art, music, poetry, and of course wine!”

Serving Wine, Beer and Great Food Today, success is a family affair with Herman’s sister Leslie serving as general manager. Sadly, Herman’s wife died five years ago.

Yusuke Ouchi, now Herman’s partner, joined the family to help take care of Herman’s son, who was then 9. Ouchi, who worked in a sushi bar in New York City, is Creative Grape’s chef and co-owner.

“I attribute part of our early success to the great food we serve,” Herman says. “We offer small plates using all fresh ingredients for such items as Neapolitan meatballs, souvlaki, Japanese dumplings, shrimp ceviche, and a substantial charcuterie board.” Be sure to check out the Lite and Liquid Sundays, when $4 mimosas are served along with fresh muffins and quiche.

Herman invested in a wine-dispensing system that keeps open bottles fresh. The eclectic selection of wines offered is reasonably priced as “our clientele is the neighborhood, and we don’t want to be snobby about it,” he says. Also on the menu are beer (about half

Creative Grape is available for community group meetings and happy hours

From left to right: Jeff Herman, Owner, Leslie Culbertson, General Manager, and Yusuke Ouchi, Owner-Chef

are from local microbreweries), ciders and hard seltzers, as well as a variety of soft drinks. Gateway Subs is next door and shares a front patio with Creative Grape. Dogs are more than welcome out on the patio.

A Community Art Space Creative Grape is much more than a wine bar with great food.

Herman wants it to be a neighborhood gathering place that supports the arts. It showcases the work of artists and photographers, and offers live music from performers including Josh Plummer, Jamie Thomas, and Joe Farren who play original music as well as covers.

A cozy fireplace with comfy couches is the perfect spot to gather with friends and peruse the poetry books Herman has collected over the years.

Herman offers the space for community group meetings and happy hours to organizations including the North Kenwood Neighborhood Association, the Kenwood Art Alliance, and the Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood, with which Creative Grape has collaborated for the current show that runs through the end of August.

Creative Grape is all-inclusive and welcomes people from all walks of life. “The other night we had two, three-generation families visit Creative Grape – grandparents, parents and their kids,” Herman says. “That’s the vibe we’re going for.”

Creative Grape, 3100 Third Ave. N, is in the Shoppes at Kenwood. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday. For information: creativegrape.com; www.facebook. com/Creativegrape/

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Parks of St. Pete: Riviera Bay Park

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, St. Petersburg’s parks have a long history of providing locals and visitors with a wide 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. Park amenities vary depending on location and size but can include picnic areas, playgrounds, beaches, boat ramps, fishing docks, playing fields, sports courts, fitness equipment, trails, nature preserves,

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Riviera Park is located at 8131 Macoma Drive NE. Photos by Brian Brakebill

art installations, and historic sites. Dogs and skaters even have their own parks. The Parks & Recreation Department also offers classes, service projects, camps, and a variety of after-school educational programs. Choose an activity, or choose to relax, and there’s a park or recreation center that fits your needs.

A Neighborhood School (Eventually) Becomes a Neighborhood Park In 1927, the newly built two-story Rio Vista Elementary School opened its doors to a small group of neighborhood students. During a booming decade, the city anticipated a rapid growth in enrollment.

Almost as soon as the school opened, the local expansion came to a crashing halt, and the school sat empty during most of the 1930s and ‘40s. The long-anticipated neighborhood growth finally happened in the golden postwar era, and Rio Vista reopened in 1950. For nearly 60 years, students filled its halls before it closed for good in 2009, a result of falling enrollments. For four years, the abandoned school sat empty as leaders debated over the best use of the land. Finally in 2013, the school came down, and the eight-acre Riviera Park was born. Two cornerstones and a historical marker remind visitors of the neighborhood landmark, but the new park far surpasses the confining limits of the small school that once stood at its edge.

Playgrounds, picnic areas, beaches, boat ramps, fishing docks, playing fields, sports courts, fitness equipment, trails, and more await at Riveria Bay

Mosaic work by Tom Pitzen

Outdoor Fun at its Best Riviera Park, at 8131 Macoma Drive NE, offers convenient parking, bathrooms, drinking fountains, and an abundance of amenities for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether a visitor wants to walk, run, bike, hit a ball, play some hoops, pump some iron, or relax, the park can accommodate. As you meander along the walking trail, a Flora & Fauna Sculpture Hunt provides a great opportunity to learn about Florida’s native plants and animals while also appreciating the beautiful mosaic work of Tom Pitzen. If something a bit more strenuous is the goal - tennis courts, basketball courts, and a full contingent of exercise equipment are available. For those looking to picnic or relax, the park offers numerous benches throughout the park as well as four covered pavilions. One has a large grill. There is also lots of open green space for frolicking dogs and people, practicing yoga, or enjoying a pick-up game. It’s a great location for cyclists as well. North Bay City Trails connects Riviera Park to First Street NE and Weedon Island by bike. Whether you’re coming by foot or wheel, it’s a great neighborhood park.

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

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Chiki Churros Dessert Bar is coming soon to 685 Central Avenue

Downtown Developments

Cava, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant, is coming soon to 1320 4th Street North

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.

Chiki Churros Dessert Bar is coming soon to 685 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete (previously home to The Lure Ono). Chiki Churros will offer a wide selection of fresh hand-made churros, ice cream, milkshakes, slushes, coffee, and homemade sodas. In addition to offering tradition-style churros, Chiki Churros will also serve the dessert in a few new ways, such as churro poutine and churro corndogs. The dessert bar is expected to debut in August.

Cava, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant, is coming soon to 1320 4th Street North in St. Pete. Cava features a food assembly line, similar to Chipotle, that lets diners customize their meal using an assortment of bases, spreads, proteins, toppings, and dressings. The menu offers buildyour-own salads, rice bowls, grain bowls, and pitas. Protein options include spicy lamb meatballs, harissa honey chicken, grilled chicken, grilled meatballs, braised lamb, and vegetarian options like falafel and roasted vegetables. An opening date has not been announced.

Last month, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch announced that he will restart the process of selecting a master developer for the 86-acre Tropicana Field site in downtown St. Pete. Former Mayor Kriseman had released a Request for Proposal (RFP) in 2020 and selected Midtown Development before leaving office at the end of 2021, however City Council never approved the selection. A new RFP is expected to be released in August and a development agreement submitted to City Council for approval in the fall. As for the Tampa Bay Rays, they still have not decided where to build a new stadium.

YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg has begun exploring the potential for the redevelopment of the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA, which is their flagship location at the intersection of 1st Avenue South and 31st Street. After meeting with ten developers, the YMCA has narrowed the

Mayor Ken Welch will restart the process of selecting a master developer for the 86-acre Tropicana Field site

After two successful years at the St Pete Pier Marketplace, Lily Rose Jewelry Co is coming soon to 209 1st Street North

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

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Lake House is coming soon to 200 Mirror Lake Drive

list down to five semi-finalists. Although the 11-acre property may be developed in the future, the YMCA expects to continue operating on site in some capacity. Discussions with developers are ongoing and expected to continue throughout 2022.

Lily Rose Jewelry Co is coming soon to 209 1st Street North in downtown St. Pete. After two successful years at the St Pete Pier Marketplace, the owners are opening a new shop that will sell a wide variety of crystals as well as a selection of jewelry, such as necklaces, bracelets, and 108-bead malas. Lily Rose sources crystals from 40 different countries. The owners are hoping to have the new shop open by this summer.

Lake House, an 18-story 77-unit condo tower, is coming soon to 200 Mirror Lake Drive in downtown St. Pete. With the downtown skyline as a backdrop, Lake House will have unobstructed views of Mirror Lake. A 6th floor amenity deck will feature a swimming pool, a sizable event space, and a full-service gym. Lastly, a small cafe will occupy the ground-level retail space. Pricing for the condo units will start in the $700,000s. An expected groundbreaking date has not yet been established.

St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay up-todate, visit StPeteRising.com.

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AUGUST 2022

EVENTS Summer Adventures at the Imagine Museum When: Throughout August Where: The Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave Cost: FREE with admission Daily from 10am - 4pm, join the Imagine Summer Safari Scavenger hunt where you can go on a quest to find lost glass animals. Daily at 1pm, experience an otherworldly Journey of the Imagination Tour where Art comes to life. www.imaginemuseum.com

Yoga in the Park When: First Saturday

from 9 am - 10 am Where: Crescent Lake Park, Northeast corner near 22nd Ave. N. and 5th St. N. Cost: Free All levels are welcome. This workout is presented by the trainers at The Body Electric Yoga Company.

Healthystpetefl.com

Second Saturday ArtWalk When: Second Saturdays (Aug. 13th) from 5 pm - 9 pm Where: Central Arts District, EDGE Business District, Grand Central District, Warehouse Arts District, Uptown Arts District, and downtown Waterfront

Yoga in Crescent Lake Park. Photos by City of St. Petersburg

District Cost: Free to attend Walk, drive, or take the trolley - it’s back! The trolley stops at over 40 ArtWalk venues. The Waterfront District galleries can be seen by using the free Downtown Looper, which runs every 15 minutes. Map available online. stpeteartsalliance.org/ artwalk

from 5 pm - 9 pm Where: Woodfield Fine Art, 2323 Central Ave Cost: Free to attend Beautifully crafted abstract expressionist art. woodfieldfineart.com

Saturday Morning Market

When: Wednesdays at 6 pm Where: Awakening Into Wellness, 1990 Central Ave Cost: $22/Drop-In Nia is a sensory-based movement practice and a fun, creative way to get fit, relieve stress, self-heal, and move your body with joy, pleasure, and awareness. No experience is necessary, all bodies welcome! Hip-expressions.com

When: Saturdays from 9am - 1pm Where: Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave N (through Sept.

10th) 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 matching your SNAP purchase on Florida fruits and vegetables.

Saturdaymorningmarket.com

“EXPRESSIONS” the Art of Bob Lawson When: Exhibit dates August 12th - September 3rd; Opening Reception: Friday, August 12th

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Nia: Mindful Movement Workout with Melia O’Neal

Surreal Summer Nights at the Dalí When: Thursday, August 18th from 5pm - 8pm Where: The Dali Museum, One Dali Blvd.

Cost: Adults $12.50 after 5pm Enjoy a surreal summer night at The Dalí as the Museum lights up the evening with a live DJ performance. Sip on a

The Dali

signature surreal cocktail from Café Gala and then cool down with the melting clocks in our permanent collection at a comfortable 72°F. Enjoy extended hours, entertainment and all the Museum has to offer at reduced admission. Advance timed tickets are required. Visit the website and select Thursday Night after 5 pm ticket for August 18.

Thedali.org

Get Fit St. Pete Bootcamp Workout w/ Burg Fitness When: Saturday, August 20th from 9am - 10am Where: St. Pete Pier Family Park, 600 2nd Ave NE

Cost: Free Get Fit St. Pete! Join Burg Fitness for free a Bootcamp workout.

Attendees will be strongly encouraged to physical distance.

Located at the Family Park on the St. Pete Pier. stpetepier.org

St. Petersburg Gem Show When: Friday, Sept. 2nd Sunday, Sept. 4th from 10 am - 5 pm Where: The Coliseum, 535 4th Avenue N Cost: $5 Entrance fee. Free parking.

Experience the spectacle! Over 15,000 sq ft of fabulous vendors. hrgemshows.com

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

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