Green Bench Monthly Vol. 6 Issue 12, December, 2021

VOL. 6, ISSUE 12, DECEMBER 2021

Green Bench Monthly* St. Pete’s Community Magazine

St. Pete Snowfest & More Holiday Events pg. 22

Gifts & Books

Wings Metaphysical pg. 12

Baybes Who Brunch

Boujee Bites for Santa pg. 18

Downtown Developments

Food Hall & More pg. 21

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18 6 Publishers Ashley & Tony Sica

Editor Mary Jane Park

Contributors Tina Stewart Brakebill Suzanne Driscoll Gabrielle Reeder Brian Zucker

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Photographers Brian Brakebill Kristina Holman

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover Photo

Snowfest by City of St. Petersburg

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From the Bench

Contact

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

Remembering the “World’s First Celebration of the Sun”

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People of St. Pete: Jon Coren

17 Business Majors Minor in the Environment for Class Project 18 Baybes Who Brunch: Boujee Bites for Santa

12 Wings Metaphysical Gifts and Books: Many Paths Lead to the Divine

21 Downtown Developments: Milkshake Bar, Food Hall, & More

14 Edwin Ambert Interiors: Unique Designs for Any Space

22 Events: Christmas Light Maze, Markets, Art Shows & more!

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White Pelicans at Crescent Lake. Photo by John Ficken Photography

From the Bench

For last-minute stocking stuffers and gifts, check out Wings Bookstore (pg. 12). And don't forget sweets... for Santa? (pg. 18).

We hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2022!

A note from the Publishers Welcome back, snowbirds!

This is the first issue since the start of covid that we have a two-page spread of events (pg. 22)! We've got the scoop on holiday celebrations, markets, and everything in between.

If you are looking for a cause to support this month, please consider making a donation to Clothes To Kids. They provide new, and quality used clothing to low-income or in crisis school-age children, free of charge. New socks and underwear are always needed. Visit their website for a complete list of items in demand. Their St. Pete store is located at 2168 34th St S. Donations can be dropped off from 9am-4pm each week day. clothestokids.org/donate

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Tony and Ashley Sica Publishers / Owners

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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You don’t know sunshine until you come to St. Petersburg, Florida. 1953 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

Remembering the “World’s First Celebration of the Sun”

By Tina Stewart Brakebill In December 1925, a cold and rainy week cast a rare shadow over the Sunshine City, perhaps foreshadowing the downward slide of local land-speculation schemes. By spring 1927, the whole mess had collapsed.

Hoping to revive flattened land sales and the building trades, a variety of business leaders came together to strategize. Near the end of that year, serendipity seemed to shine upon their plans when a marketing ploy brought thousands of eyes and ears to St. Petersburg for a celebration predicted to make “a noise big enough to sound its echoes around the world.”

A Sunshine Offer The celebration on Dec. 17, 1927, can trace its roots back to September 1910, when Lew Brown, a St. Pete enthusiast and editor of the Evening Independent, launched a promotion in which he gave away newspapers on any day that the sun failed to shine from sunrise to 2:30PM. This “Sunshine Offer,” as Brown dubbed it, was noted in the popular Sunday editions of newspapers nationwide, reaching, according to Brown, as many as 14 million subscribers. As 1927 progressed and the sun continued to show itself, local boosters saw an opportunity to harness those rays for something bigger than a free paper. The Chamber of Commerce, the Advertising Club, and the St. Petersburg Real Estate

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Board already had joined forces in the wake of collapsing land sales, but the “Why Club” emerged from this collaboration as the power behind their efforts to market the region. Officially an auxiliary of the Chamber, the group required only that its membership was to be a “booster for St. Petersburg and Florida.” As 1927 moved into its final months, the Why Club put together plans for a grand marketing event: “a world-wide celebration of the Sun.”

“Sing the Amazing News” Confidence was high as the morning edition of the St. Petersburg Times spared no hyperbole in its description of the day’s plans.

Promptly at 2:30 p.m. 100,000 attendees would “break loose in glad acclaim.” Church bells, municipal plant whistles, boat horns, chimes on belfries, and the blare of motor horns would “sing the amazing news that the sun has shown for a full 365 days on this city.” The local Masonic Grotto Patrol would then perform an exhibition drill in their “flaming uniforms” before joining a grand parade set to include horses, parade royalty, local dignitaries, tourist clubs, labor and fraternal organizations, high school and junior college students and event organizers. “This is a festival for every man, woman, and child in this city,” publicity materials proclaimed. Reality reminds us this was the Jim

St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce (Saint Petersburg, Fla.). Booklet, St. Petersburg, Florida: The Sunshine City, 1925. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.

Crow era. Black citizens were not invited as parade participants, and numerous articles applauded the plan for the “liberal use of makeup” to turn high school boys into an “escort of slaves” who would bear the throne of the “sun goddess” leading the procession. At parade’s end, the festival would move to segregated Spa Beach, where the Palais Royal Orchestra would entertain while judges decided the winner of the “bathing beauty contest.” Only girls wearing bathing suits were eligible for that silver trophy prize, but a local boy might be crowned an Adonis with a hibiscus wreath. At sunset, the crowds were to reassemble at Williams Park, where “perennial enthusiast” Al Lang would preside over a speech-laden program broadcast over newly installed bandshell loudspeakers that would culminate in the presentation of the H.B. Smitz Citizenship Cup to Brown.

“The Sun Burst into Tears of Joy” The sun did shine on the day. By early afternoon, a “huge throng” had gathered to celebrate the year of the sun, but the day didn’t quite live up to expectations. Just moments after 2:30 p.m., “the sun burst into tears of joy.” The shower swiftly ended, although rain did fall periodically throughout the day. The crowd was reported to include “the whole population of St. Petersburg … and about 40,000 visitors from 48 states of the Nation, the District of Columbia, Canada, and few other foreign nations,” but the numbers never neared the predicted 100,000 mark. Nonetheless, the “merry making” continued. Reports declared the “parade as unusual as the record that gave it color, music, countless crowds.” A local high school student and daughter of fourthseason winter visitors was feted as the “Queen of the Sunshine Beaches.”

A bathing beauty was chosen from hundreds of girls parading at the water’s edge during the Beach Festival. The Williams Park program speakers reiterated the message that “now is the time to buy in this city.” Doctor’s orders kept Brown from the event, but his son was on hand to accept his honor. And when rain again interrupted the evening, hundreds of people flooded to the Florida Theatre to end the festivities by watching scenes from the thousands of feet of “cinema film” shot that day. Did it prove, as boosters predicted, to be a “much greater moment to St. Petersburg than many here at home may think”? Perhaps, temporarily. Tourism and confidence did gain some momentum in 1928-29, but land sales remained depressed, and no festive moment could stop the big crash looming on the horizon.

Sources available on request and include extensive coverage by the Tampa Bay Times and prior research by Nevin D. Sitler and Raymond Arsenault.

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From Dalí to the Dalí As a young boy growing up in a Philadelphia suburb, Coren didn’t necessarily have a grand plan for his life, other than exploring his love for the surrealistic art of Salvador Dalí and music of Pink Floyd. His parents, however, did: He’d become “the nice Jewish doctor” every family desired, so he entered Cornell University. Suffering his first incidence of depression soon after, he left school only a few weeks into the semester. Learning for the first time that mental illness ran in his family, his mother helped him navigate through the fog of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Still, it took several years coming to terms with the diagnosis and the medications required to manage it.

Once he accepted its reality, he entered the University of Pennsylvania.

This time, however, he had his own focus. Understanding that genetics could “hold the answers about life,” he earned his doctorate and devoted his 30-year career to research and teaching. When it came time to retire, he saw an opportunity to embrace both the sunshine and his lifelong love for Dalí when he and his wife, Jaime, relocated to St. Petersburg.

While she continued her work as a psychiatric nurse, Coren began volunteering at the Dalí Museum, where he was named Volunteer of the Year for 2020. He also devoted time to mental health organizations including board of directors positions with both NAMI Pinellas County and Compeer Sarasota. In 2020, he decided to escalate his mental-health advocacy efforts. Compeer Pinellas was born of that decision.

Compeer Pinellas: Make a Difference.

Make a Friend.

Photo by Brian Brakebill

People of St. Pete: Jon Coren

Founded in 1973, Compeer, Inc. is an international, nonprofit organization that seeks to help people overcome the effects of mental illness through the power of friendship. The concept is simple. Adult men and women volunteer to regularly spend time with an adult or youth who is receiving mental health services. Mental health experts estimate that one in five adults experience a mental illness. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people. As a longtime volunteer in various Compeer chapters, Jon understands the difference it can make when support is offered to those struggling with mental health issues.

He has forged strong bonds with the various “friends” Compeer has matched him with over the years, including his current match, Jimmy.

Wanting to provide that opportunity to others and striving to help remove the stigma often associated with mental illness, Coren decided to launch a new local affiliate.

To volunteer or seek help through a Compeer match, contact Coren at joncoren@compeerpinellas.org or (717) 525-0013. For more information, visit www.compeerpinellas.org.

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

This month we’re featuring former genetics professor and current Compeer Pinellas director Jon Coren. As a person who has lived with bipolar disorder for more than 40 years, Coren is “passionate about removing the stigma associated with mental illness and improving the quality of life for adults living with mental challenges.” Compeer Pinellas, whose motto is “Mental Wellness Starts with Friendship,” is central to that mission.

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Wings Metaphysical Gifts and Books is located at 4500 Fourth St. N. Photos by Kristina Holman

Wings Metaphysical Gifts and Books: Many Paths Lead to the Divine

By Suzanne Driscoll A feeling of peacefulness envelops you as you enter Wings Metaphysical Gifts and Books. Offering a vast array of crystals, books, jewelry, candles and tarot and oracle cards, the store offers something for everyone. It represents “All Paths to the Divine” with product offerings for numerous belief systems including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American culture, Judaism, Islam, Celtic, Druidism, and even Wicca and Goddess Energy. “Wings’ purpose is to share and

celebrate the deep knowledge of our connection to Source,” owner Alexandra Prudente says.

Prudente’s many years of experience in managing retail stores is evident with displays set up to create a “high vibe” space. She had just returned from Nashville, Tenn., when she heard about the closing of the former Unity Bookstore and knew it was the perfect opportunity to share her knowledge and love of the sacred and the mystical. “I was called to do this,” she says.

Wings opened in August 2020, in the early months of the Covid pandemic. Since many people were unable to attend church services, they were drawn to Wings for inspiration to create private, sacred spaces for worship at home. Sales quadrupled in the store’s first year.

Tools for the Mystic For those who practice yoga and meditation, there are beautiful singing bowls, Tibetan prayer bells called tingshas, and ceremonial athames that are symbolic swords to help rid one of trauma or addiction.

Raku pots can be used to store essential oils. Incense, sage and various sprays are available to help clear and christen sacred spaces. “Good thoughts” tiles and magnets provide inspiring messages, and blessed Malas are beautiful tools for meditation. Sparkling “Intentions’’ bracelets are also offered. The artist blesses each bead, and they can be specially ordered with a particular theme.

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Wings has offerings for numerous belief systems including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American culture, Judaism, Islam, Celtic, Druidism, and even Wicca and Goddess Energy

One of the most popular departments is devoted to a variety of hand-chosen crystals. Prudente says they can provide “holistic wellbeing of mind, body, and spirit, and have the capability of balancing and harmonizing our own energies within our body.”

Books by noted authors such as Deepak Chopra, Don Miguel Ruiz, the Dalai Lama, Abraham Hicks and Kahlil Gibran are available throughout the store.

There are individual tarot card and tea leaf readings with Marilyn Mackey, as well as clairvoyant readings with Janie Boisclair.

Evolutionary astrology and I Ching classes are offered by Imsara Dom at an offsite learning center.

Customers can purchase a Wings membership for $30 that entitles them to receive 10 percent off all purchases for an entire year.

Any item not in stock can be specially ordered, and the store happily accepts phone orders. Gift certificates could be the perfect solution for someone interested in anything mystical.

“St. Pete is a very open-minded city, and Wings attracts a very diverse crowd,” Prudente says. “I find this store to be very important in assisting people to find that spiritual connection. Many visit once per week and bring their friends and children. We respect all belief systems and want everyone to find the light and be happy.”

Wings Metaphysical Gifts and Books, 4500 Fourth St. N, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information on products, please visit www.WingsBookstore.com or call (727) 522-6657.

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Photos of a remodeled home in St. Petersburg, designed by Edwin Ambert Interiors. Above: kitchen redesigned to make more space. The new layout features a double oven, along with a custom hood over the stove top. The island was also expanded to give more counter space, and painted with a complimentary color to stand out from the rest of the kitchen.

Edwin Ambert Interiors: Unique Designs for Any Space

By Suzanne Driscoll

Edwin and Tania Ambert, owners of Edwin Ambert Interiors.

Photos courtesy of Edwin Ambert Interiors

Edwin Ambert Interiors invites potential clients to “Imagine … what if? It is a question you ask yourself often as a designer,” owner Edwin Ambert says.

Whether you are looking for a new, fresh look or an altogether new theme for your home, business or even a yacht, husband-and-wife team Edwin and Tania Ambert can provide the perfect design. “We create many different types of styles from eclectic, modern, Art Deco, transitional to traditional design, and you can expect from us the same high quality of craftsmanship for every project,” Edwin Ambert promises.

The couple pride themselves on working closely with each client “to ensure that the plan will focus on their concept and budget while at the same time, delivering an innovative, sophisticated and timeless design,” Tania Ambert says. This work ethic is what led to their firm being awarded the Houzz Award for Client Satisfaction and having a five-star rating on Google Business as well as on Thumbtack.

A Variety of Services “Our favorite part of interior design is helping our clients bring their dream space to life, even if they came to us unsure of what that meant at first,” Tania Ambert says. “Some people come to us knowing exactly what they like or want, and others come to us needing our full guidance and vision.”

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The homeowners are wine enthusiasts, so Edwin Ambert created a beautiful wine rack wall with lighting opposite the gorgeous dining table and chairs we selected for them.

Edwin Ambert Interiors offers all of the many aspects of design under one roof: concept and design development, furniture layout, space planning, sketches, computerized virtual-reality renderings, material and color selections with specs, preliminary and final budgets, furniture and soft goods, decorative lighting, cabinetry, moldings and trims, wall and flooring finishes, artwork and accessories, design consultations, property evaluations, project management, purchasing, warehousing, installation and just about everything else from floor to ceiling and in between. They also provide furniture, fixtures and equipment services and installation for commercial projects in hotels, timeshares, retail stores and restaurants.

The Amberts well understand that each residential project is unique.

By getting to know their clients, they can create interior living spaces that reflect both their lifestyles and personalities. They are known for creating quality, enduring interiors where attention to detail is reflected throughout the scheme. Subcontractors are closely managed to ensure design specifications and quality of workmanship are followed.

No Job is Too Challenging Serving clients in Saint Petersburg, Largo, Clearwater, the greater Tampa Bay area, and throughout Florida, the Amberts do not fear a challenge. “Yachts can be especially fun because you are working with a very different skill set for often-confined spaces, as well as materials that need to withstand harsh weather conditions,” Edwin Ambert says. “This ability to maximize small areas translates well into working with clients with older homes that have small rooms and/or little to no storage space.”

The Amberts recently relocated their business headquarters to the Saint Petersburg area from southwest Florida. Edwin is originally from central Florida and Tania grew up in Tampa and has family in St. Petersburg. “Being close to family again is priceless for us,” Tania Ambert says. “We began visiting family that moved near downtown St. Petersburg, and we fell in love with the area almost instantaneously. We knew this is where we wanted to be. We look forward to the opportunity to make St. Petersburg an even more beautiful place to live from the inside out.”

Edwin Ambert Interiors is at 180 Mirror Lake Drive N, St. Petersburg. For a consultation please call (727) 230-9929 or visit EdwinAmbertInteriors.com.

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Left: The group collecting trash during the cleanup on Nov. 12 at Sawgrass Lake Park. Right: The group weighing the trash after the cleanup. They collected 8.27 pounds of trash. From left - Thomas Mezgebu, James Franch, Paola Arnaldes, Thomas O’Halloran and Abdul Muqeet.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Mezgebu

Business Majors Minor in the Environment for Class Project

By Gabrielle Reeder Instead of making Shark Tank-esque pitches to professors or inventing a new business, the business honors program at the University of South Florida asks students to complete a community service project.

A cohort from the class of 2025 decided to make an impact by keeping things local.

“This campus (in St. Petersburg), especially, is heavily geared toward the environment and marine science,” Thomas Mezgebu, head of communications for the group, said. “Obviously there are big concerns like climate change or rising sea levels, and those big, daunting issues kind of give people a hopeless feeling. That’s something big that we right now have trouble to tackle, so we started with the community level.”

To incorporate the campus’ devotion to the environment, the group brainstormed possible projects until they came upon Sawgrass Lake Park.

“Let’s do something to interact with wildlife and habitat destruction and pollution,” Mezgebu said. “Let’s counteract that.”

Last month, the group partnered with Keep Pinellas Beautiful to host a public cleanup at the park. They are also holding a fundraiser for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. According to Mezgebu, every five pounds of refuse collected equates to $5 for the Estuary. The cohort collected 8.27 pounds of trash during the cleanup and is accepting donations.

“Moving forward, our hope is to expand this initiative to encompass more students and organize more cleanup events that gradually have a larger impact,” Mezgebu said.

Mezgebu was so inspired by the cleanup that on Saturday, Nov. 14, he pitched Green Dream, at an “entrepreneurship open-mic pitch.” His idea is an effort to move the project past community service into a student organization focused on helping the environment.

“We hope that in the following years, and semesters, we can bring more of the community impact into it and make this a recurring annual, semi-annual thing, where the whole community could come in,” Mezgebu said. “It could be a safer, cleaner environment, not just for the animals, but for the kids to play in and stuff like that.”

The group is compiling a video complete with pictures, videos and content related to the project in order to catalog the experience and determine what needs to be enhanced and what needs to be altered for the next cleanup.

For more info or to make a contribution, email Thomas Mezgebu at mezgebu702@gmail.com.

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Boujee Bites for Santa Article and Photos by Angelica, @BaybesWhoBrunch In all the hullabaloo that is the holiday planning, you’re probably not thinking about what treats to set out on Christmas Eve. However, in a year (or decade) that just needs a little sparkle to counteract COVID, maybe you need to start thinking big. This isn’t a year to leave out stale chocolate chip for Santa y’all. No one wants to invite that bad juju! So, if you’re looking to turn up the boujee for your Santa’s treats, I’ve got some ideas for you… and yes, three of the four happen to be Italian because I’m hearkening back to my roots with this list!

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Left: La Casa del Pane; Chocolate-Dipped Almond Horn, Pistachio Cookie, and Italian Sandwich Cookies with Apricot Right: Sorrento Sweets; Lobster Tail with French Cream

If you’re in the mood to give Santa some variety, take a loop down to St. Pete Beach to La Casa del Pane. This small Italian market blocks from the sand is not just deliziosa when it comes to sandwiches to go, they also have an extensive cookie section. Santa would be proud! Go for a festive plate with pistachio cookies, Italian sandwich cookies with apricot, and a chocolate-dipped almond horn. Leave Santa some classic reading material, a la Kipling and Barrie, next to the treats and you might just catch him taking a break before the next house.

If you want to go a little more unconventional with your sugary snack, pop over to Sorrento Sweets on Central for a lobster tail filled with French cream. Santa better come hungry, because this treat is certainly large enough for two meals, or leftovers for Blitzen.

Order yourself some extra and you can enjoy while perusing the tree Christmas morning.

Mazzaro’s Italian Market; Pistachio and Chocolate Chip Cannoli

If you’re really feeling creative (and brave around Christmas time), check out Mazzaro’s Italian Market for cannoli. No selfrespecting Santa could turn their nose up at a delicious pastry stuffed with cream (and a hint of almond paste), then sprinkled with either pistachio or chocolate chips. It makes for a sweet treat that can’t be beat! No lie, you might sneak out before Santa makes his rounds to maybe steal just one.

Embrew Tea; Peppermint Earl Grey

Finally, Santa can’t survive on sugar alone, so be sure to leave him a nice warm cup of Embrew tea. If you’re feeling extra festive, make it the Peppermint Earl Grey. Serve it up in a festive mug of sorts. Alas a partridge in a pear tree was unavailable, so a peacock mug had to do!

If you can’t wait until January to see what I’m eating, then check more content out on Instagram or Facebook @baybeswhobrunch or contact me at baybeswhobrunch@gmail.com . In the meantime, if you need me you can find me standing on a barstool or holding my food up to a pretty wall with a camera in my hand around the Bay and beyond!

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The Crane is coming soon to 575 Central Ave

Central Park Food Hall is coming soon to 551 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.

Gateway Subs is now open at 3112 3rd Avenue North in Historic Kenwood. The menu features eight hearty gourmet subs served on a freshly baked hoagie roll, such as “Funny You Should Ask” with salami, ham, hot capocollo, provolone, onion, lettuce, and tomato. Gateway Subs also offers salads, breakfast breads, vegan shakes, and freshly roasted coffee.

A mixed-use development is coming soon to 800 2nd Avenue South in downtown St. Pete. The project will be anchored by a state-of-the-art Moffitt Cancer Center and will also include a mixed-use modern multifamily residential tower with a workforce housing component, activated ground floor retail, a public-access parking garage, and an expansion site for United Insurance Holdings Corp. headquarters.

The Crane, a casual steak and seafood restaurant, is coming soon to the former Wig Villa space at 575 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete.

The centerpiece of the restaurant will be a white marble circular bar where handcrafted classic cocktails will be served. One of the signature seafood dishes will be a pan-seared snapper with a coconut curry drizzle over a bed of parmesan risotto. The Crane’s appetizer menu includes selections like the lobster and shrimp egg rolls served with a sweet mango and pineapple dipping sauce. The Crane is expected to open in early 2022.

The Yard Milkshake Bar is coming soon to 111 2nd Ave NE Suite 103 at the Plaza Tower & Courtyard Shops in downtown St. Pete. The Yard has a massive menu of desserts, offering everything from milkshakes, ice cream bowls, and edible cookie dough. The indulgent, over-the-top milkshakes include options like Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss, Cookies N’ Worms and seasonal offerings like Pumpkin Spiced Latte and Pumpkin Oreo Cheesecake. The Yard Milkshake Bar will open in the first quarter of 2022.

Central Park Food Hall is coming soon to 551 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. The project officially broke ground in November, bringing the one-of-a-kind three-story food hall one step closer to reality. In addition to three floors of culinary experiences, a basement will be excavated under the former Woolworth’s building for a high-end speakeasy bar. The rooftop at Central Park will be home to Kojo, a full-service Asian-inspired

restaurant and bar complete with a small park and leisure area overlooking Central Avenue. The second floor will be occupied by Speaks Clam Bar, offering classic Italian entrees, seafood dishes, and cocktails. Central Park is targeting an end of 2022 debut.

Tuxedo Court, a 15-story apartment building, is coming soon to the northeast corner of 4th Avenue South and 8th Street in downtown St. Pete.

The project will contain 260 apartments and 2,700 square feet of ground floor retail or restaurant space. The community amenities include an outdoor pool deck, outdoor kitchens, a fitness center, and a clubhouse / game room.

Impressively, the building will also have 475 bicycle parking spaces including dedicated storage areas in each residential unit. No timeline for construction has been announced; however, the developer will likely close on the purchase of the site in early 2022.

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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EVENTS A Virtual Christmas Carol When: at your leisure Where: Virtual Cost: Donations encouraged Virtually celebrate the story of Scrooge with the St. Petersburg City Theatre Mainstage. The troupe will haunt you with the ghosts of Scrooge’s past, present and future. spcitytheatre.org

Enchant St. Pete When: Through Jan. 2nd, see website for times Where: Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive Cost: Tickets $25 & Up Christmas Light Maze, Market, an Ice Skating Trail, seasonal food and beverage, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and more. enchantchristmas.com

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Miracle at Mezzo When: all month long, see website for hours Where: Intermezzo, 1111 Central Ave Cost: Free Admission A Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in a festive setting. intermezzo.co

The Night Before When: Friday, Dec. 3rd - Friday, Dec. 24th, see website for showtimes Where: freeFall Theatre, 6099 Central Ave Cost: Tickets $25 - $55 A friend group and Stephen Sondheim, the cat, present a family-friendly story about chosen family. freefalltheatre.com

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Santa in the Park When: Dec. 4-5th, 10th - 12, 17th - 23rd from 6pm - 9pm Where: North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr NE Cost: Free Enjoy a meet-and-greet with Santa in the park! Cameras are welcome. stpeteparksrec.org

A Very Merry Market When: Wednesday, Dec. 8th from 5pm - 8pm Where: Great Explorations, 1925 4th. St. N. Cost: Free Admission This indoor and outdoor market supports local artisans and independent businesses, as well as 2 local non-profits: Great Explorations Children’s Museum and the historic Sunken Gardens. greatex.org

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol When: Wednesday, Dec. 8th Sunday, Jan. 2nd

Where: American Stage Theatre Company, 163 Third St. N Cost: Tickets $32 - $75 Instead of learning about Scrooge’s past, take a look into Jacob Marley’s life. americanstage.org

Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday When: Friday, Dec. 10th at 8pm Where: The Palladium, 253 Fifth Ave N Cost: Tickets $30 - $40 Spice up your night with Najar’s jazzy guitar beats, Daniela Soledade’s elements of bossa nova, Adrian Cunningham’s stylish swing, some flute flairs, and more. mypalladium.org

The Florida Orchestra Presents Holiday Pops When: Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2pm and 8pm Where: Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S Cost: Tickets are $18 - $55 This family-friendly event is slated

to sing classic Christmas songs performed by the Mela Dailey and Lumina Youth Choir. themahaffey.com

St. Pete Winter Market When: Saturday, Dec. 11th from 3pm - 9pm Where: 12 venues in the Warehouse Arts District Cost: Free Admission 200+ Vendors, Santa Reading & Strolling the Pinellas Trail, Holiday Decor, Luminaries at Sunset, Music & More! bit.ly/st-pete-market

BE BEATS at St. Pete Pier When: Sunday, Dec. 12th from 8am - 9am Where: The Pier, 800 2nd Ave NE Cost: by donation This morning workout will get you moving, equipmentfree, mat optional. Register to enjoy 10% off your bill

at the Driftwood Cafe at St. Pete Pier! Show your Body Electric registration to receive the discount. Register at thebodyelectricyoga.com

RSVP email callieyork@ artfusiongalleries.com. New artists, live music, and a wine bar. artfusiongalleries.com

4th Annual Boston Tea Party, Boston Terrier Pet Walk

When: Saturday, December 18th from 9am - 2pm Where: North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Dr NE Cost: $5 wristband includes all activities, can be purchased the day of the event There will be toboggan slides for adults and children, inflatables, arts and crafts tents, food trucks and more. stpeteparksrec.org

When: Sunday, Dec. 12 from 2pm - 4pm Where: Pioneer Park, 50-98 Bayshore Dr SE Cost: Free Join us, for the love of Boston Terriers and meet other Boston Terrier owners. Gather at Pioneer Park before heading out along Beach Dr. Please follow all applicable leash laws. Other breed siblings are welcome. jimnixon727@gmail.com

Basel on the Bay When: Saturday, Dec. 18th from 6pm - 10pm Where: Art Fusion Galleries, 106 Central Ave Cost: Free Admission, to

Snowfest

Movies at the Museum: Frank Lloyd Wright: Murder, Myth, & Modernism When: Sunday, Dec. 19th from 2pm - 4pm Where: Museum of The American Arts and Crafts Movement, 355 4th Street North Cost: included with admission

DECEMBER 2021 /

Matthew Rhys narrates a documentary investigating the death in 1914 of Frank Lloyd Wright’s mistress in a brutal axe murder and fire that has never been solved. museumaacm.org

First Night St. Pete When: Friday, Dec. 31st, starting at 4pm Where: Downtown St. Pete Cost: Children $5, Adults $12 Eight hours of music, interactive exhibits, literary arts, aerial arts, street performers, fire sculpture, labyrinth, bubble stomp and so much more. firstnightstpete.com

Don CeSar Beach Polo Classic When: Jan. 8th - 9th, 2022 Where: The Don Cesar, 3400 Gulf Blvd Cost: $45 & up Experience the horses run on St. Pete beach. donbeachpolo2022. eventbrite.com For more events, or to submit an event, visit greenbenchmonthly. com/events

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