St. Pete Life Magazine September/October 2018

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CONTENTS

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 l Volume 2 No. 2

SPOTLIGHT

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28-32 Ready To Shine The 4th Annual Shine Mural Festival brings a dozen mural artists from around the world to downtown St. Pete October 6-14.

A bevy of local artists, events and bike tours will all be part of the fun. Get ready, St. Pete!

61 14 50-52 Webb's City: The Musical A nostalgic celebration of St. Pete’s eclectic Doc Webb and his drugstore emporium returns for the third time to the stage of the Palladium. Arts writer Cindy Stovall talks to people behind this local favorite.

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CONNECT WITH SPL

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Find us online StPeteLifeMag.com

Editorial: editor@stpetelifemag.com 260 1st Ave. S. Suite 200-151 St. Petersburg, FL 33701

LIVE

WORK 42 Dining Out - Rawk Star Cafe Healthy vegan foods are served in the raw at this shining star on the café scene.

74 The Art of Making Beer

10-11 A Force For Art

A program at USFSP helps local craft breweries find skilled workers.

We take a look at the Brewing Arts Program and how it’s serving a much needed niche.

The Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay is giving area veterans, military and first responders a place to showcase their artwork, alongside creative programs for emotional healing and well-being.

56-57 Beauty & The 'Burg

Cindy Stovall dishes on the latest St. Pete arts scene news.

PLAY 54 Rock of Ages

An impressive exhibit, Bill Graham and the Rock and Roll Revolution, takes a walk through rock concert history at the Florida Holocaust Museum.

14-17 Neighborhoods

Living on the EDGE has never been more rewarding. We discover this once- blighted corridor along Central Avenue that is now home to hip and trendy restaurants, businesses and residential living.

38 Dining Out - Annata Restaurant & Wine Bar

67 Sips & Suds

70 Bringing Back Green Benches The former mayor of South Pasadena is on a mission to bring back the classic green benches that once made St. Pete famous.

Beach Drive’s hidden secret is Chef Joshua Breen and his creative menu.

The only problem is deciding what to order.

Explore the world of palate pleasing red blends. Edith Swierzbinski fills us in on some winning combinations.

62-64 Travel - Hammock Beach Resort

This hidden enclave on Florida’s northeast coast is the perfect vacation spot for active families, golfers and epicureans.

46 Fashion - Shine On 40 Dining Out - Stillwaters Tavern

There’s a lot to like about the classic American dishes that blend harmoniously with Old World flavors at Stillwaters.

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In tune with our cover story, Megan Simons points out fashionable ways for women to shine.

48-49 Fashion - Global Traveler Ro Martinez Rimes tells us how men can stay cool with attire made for the Bohemian lifestyle.

65-66 Travel - Grownup Getaway

Naples offers a sophisticated retreat for those who enjoy the finer things in life.

76 SPL Scene

The social scene, galas, grand openings and fundraisers around town.

WELCOME TO SPL Can it already be Fall? Where did the summer go? Well, let’s be honest. Here in Florida, it’s summer until November, so maybe we can squeak a few more weeks in.

With the Fall comes the start of exciting new seasons in our local performing arts. We look forward to seeing what our exceptional theater groups have to offer, along with Florida Orchestra and St. Pete Opera. Be sure to check out our listing of the annual arts festival – SPF18 – coming in October with two weeks of splendid performing arts throughout the city. We love the concept of the pop-up art events – don’t be surprised if you see someone dancing through the lobby of your downtown building!

Our talented and knowledgeable arts critic Cindy Stovall did a bangup job in this issue with an in-depth look at the return of Webb’s City The Musical. It’s such a treat to read her interviews with the writer, musical director, and cast members who are bringing the entertaining true story of a legendary St. Pete entrepreneur – Doc Webb – to life. The performances are sure to be a sellout so get your tickets soon.

Our cover story for this issue was a no-brainer … the incredible Shine Mural Festival is now in its fourth year and has become an art event of such magnitude that it is truly changing the landscape of our downtown districts and beyond. The evolution of “street art” to expansive building murals painted by national and international artists has brought much attention to our ‘Burg. Hats off to the folks at St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, all the volunteers and sponsors and businesses donating food, goods and services, and to the City for supporting this arts initiative. Paint it and they will come!

The response to our magazine continues to be phenomenal.

While our magazine is target mailed to more than 20,000 St. Pete residences in preferred neighborhoods, drop-off sites are now at the St. Pete Chamber Store, EDGE Business District office and the LGBT Welcome Center. Supplies are limited. Better yet, order a one-year subscription mailed to your home by going to www.stpetelifemag.com and clicking on the Subscription link.

ABOUT US St. Pete Life Magazine is a bi-monthly print publication distributed by mail to 20,000 of St. Pete’s most discriminating readers as well as at key local outlets.

PUBLISHER/CEO Beth Ann Drake EDITOR Marcia Biggs ART DIRECTOR Alicia Brown ADVERTISING Michelle Boudreau Senior Account Executive Annette Mensch Account Executive CONTRIBUTORS Cindy Cockburn Travel/Features Kevin Godbee/Lori Brown Dining/St. Petersburg Foodies Jose Martinez Men’s Fashion Ro Martinez Rimes Fashion/Style Megan Simons Women’s Fashion Cindy Stovall Arts Writer Edith Swierzbinski Sips and Suds Ally Alanore

We hope you enjoy this issue of St. Pete Life.

Alexandria Jones

bdrake�stpetelifemag.com Publisher

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Dorian Photography

Valerie Bogle

Beth Ann Drake

Marcia Biggs

editor@stpetelifemag.com Editor

CO-FOUNDER/BUSINESS MANAGER Ralph Zuckerman

Cover Photo by VisitStPeteClearwater.com

Gulfport Sunset Photo by Larry Busby

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KINDNESS

A Force for Art Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay offers creative healing

BY MARCIA BIGGS If these walls could speak. They are filled with pain, love, beauty, hope, honor and despair. Paintings, both brilliant and dark, of tanks and soldiers, eagles and guns, delicate Asian art, a bouquet of flowers.

Photographs of a forlorn sailboat at low tide, children in a Vietnam village. Like Jesus, a framed portrait of General Norman Schwarzkopf smiles down gently on it all.

The Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay (VACTB) is giving area military, veterans, and first responders a place to showcase their artwork. But it also has another mission – to provide a creative outlet as therapy for emotional healing and to possibly save lives. Programs encourage veterans and current military to share their struggles and hopes. Therapy and wellness come in the form of

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painting classes, theatrical performances, creative writing, spiritual and emotional workshops, live music events.

“Our programs primarily address mental health, suicide prevention and education,” says retired U.S. Army Major Scott “Mack” Macksam, the founder and executive director of the Art Center. “We are the only center like this in the state of Florida.

We’re growing, gathering data, the surveys and testimonials all point to the arts as therapeutic, healing.”

Not an artist himself, Macksam had the idea five years ago that a center that focused on veterans who were artists might be beneficial. His mission: create a program that could help heal through art – all forms of art. It took three years of planning and

finally came to fruition when the 501-(C)3 not-for-profit center opened in March 2017.

The Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay is building strong ties within the local community. In addition to partnering with St. Petersburg College, USFSP, and other arts and veterans groups, the program provides support for classes and courses at the Morean Arts Center and the Dunedin Fine Arts Center.

“My hope is that this program will serve as a model for other veterans alternative therapy programs across the country,” says Macksam.

Tucked away in Gaslight Square near Tyrone Square Mall in south St. Pete, the center has converted two office spaces into art galleries

KINDNESS and a classroom. The art is good, surprisingly good, and diverse.

It’s all for sale – a means to help support the artists and center, which relies primarily on donations and fundraisers, says Macksam.

Numerous local philanthropists, organizations and businesses have provided support, not only through funding but donations of arts supplies, marketing materials, and event space.

When Larry Busby, a former Navy Petty Officer, left the military he lost his way. He was in Beirut, flew missions, high stress and dangerous stuff. After the service, he worked in high-stress jobs like wildfire strike teams and FEMA disaster relief.

Suffering from severe depression and alcoholism, losing his home, with financial and relationship problems, he attempted suicide.

“I had a meltdown,” he said. “My counselor suggested I find a hobby, so I went out and bought a digital camera.” He never looked back.

Now soundly on his feet, Busby, 58,

found solace and inspiration behind the lens of a camera. Nature and photography became his therapy.

He would spend hours capturing a sunrise or sunset at the beach.

He took photography classes, was soon offered exhibits, published in magazines. His work is on display at the VACTB. He credits the Center, where he now volunteers, for offering veterans a place to express themselves, to receive recognition and be proud.

“Art is therapy,” he espouses.

“Everyone has their own way of coping with their problems.

Photography is my therapy, it’s like meditation to me – a zen thing. It got me out of myself. I would get lost behind the lens.”

The Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay is located at 6798 Crosswinds Dr. N. in St. Petersburg; hours are Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. For more information, email vactb@outlook.com

Navy veteran Larry Busby found healing through photography. His work is on display at The Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay.

Veteran’s History Project William Howard Small Jr. was a member of the United States Air Force Band during the Vietnam war. He doesn’t remember much these days, but he does recall marching in the Mardi Gras parade and sleeping on an aircraft carrier, playing Big Band and jazz and blues classics at military bases, and having a darn good time in the nightclubs afterwards. Living in St. Pete now, he still plays Jenny, his trombone, whenever he can sit in on a gig or open mike night. He considers himself one of the lucky ones.

Small was one of nine veterans invited to the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay on August 1 to recall his life in the military for the Veterans History Project. A program of the Library of Congress, the project records and preserves stories of military veterans and civilians who served as support. Six years ago, Melissa Moré, director of volunteer services with

A crew of high school volunteers mans the cameras and recording devices while trained volunteer vets softly, gently conduct the interviews. Some subjects are more fragile than others. Some remember a lot, some just a little, some bear the scars of emotional and physical trauma, alcoholism, homelessness, family problems.

Suncoast Hospice, a part of Empath Health, started organizing sessions in St. Petersburg. The last two years she has been working with Scott Macksam at the Veterans Art Center.

“We thought this offered a great opportunity to collect stories of hospice patients before it was too late,” she explains. “So far we have interviewed 78 veterans in Pinellas County.”

Moré looks at the Art Center as a perfect fit because the project is about telling stories and “storytelling is a form of art … a lost art,” she says. “That’s why it’s important for the teens to be a part of this. These are the stories they don’t hear about in school or at home. It’s really powerful for them.”

To learn more about the Veterans History Project contact Scott Macksam at vactb@outlook.com or go to www.loc.gov/vets

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EVENTS

Here’s what’s coming up at Mahaffey Theater this fall: Troye Sivan: The Bloom Tour Sept. 28 7:30pm / $35.50 - $48.50 David Byrne – Sept. 30 7pm / $59.50 - $175 Danny Gokey – Oct. 7 7pm / $25 - $75 Benise Fuego! – Oct. 12 8pm / $27.50 $120 World of Dance Live! – Oct. 16 7:30pm / $35 - $125

The colorful Latin performer Benice brings his show to Mahaffey Theater on October 12.

Maxwell – Oct. 18 7:30PM / $46 - $96 Christina Aguilera – Nov. 13 7:30pm / $82 Sesame Street Live – Oct. 21 2pm & 6pm - $507 / $15 - $65 IL Divo – Nov. 20t 8pm / $75 - $355 98 Rock’s Not So Silent Night with Hanson String Theory – Oct. 26 8pm / $39.50 - $89.50 Halestorm – Dec. 16 7pm / $53 - $68.50 Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker The Simon and Garfunkel Story – Oct. 28 – Dec. 26 7pm, Dec. 27 at 3pm & 7pm / $34 7pm / $29 - $59 - $99 Daughtry – Nov. 8 7:30pm / $49.50 - $95 Simple Minds – Nov. 9 8pm / $40 - $65 Ray Lamontange – Nov. 11 7:30pm / $49.50 For tickets and more information, go to themahaffey.com or call (727) 893-7832.

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As the only BayCare hospital in St. Petersburg, we’re dedicated to improving the health of our community.

In 1997, as one of BayCare’s founding hospitals, St. Anthony’s Hospital helped us establish our high standards of care. St. Anthony’s mission, improving the health of all we serve, along with our long history of compassionate care and stateof-the-art medical services, makes us one of BayCare’s flagship hospitals. And, even though we’re the only BayCare hospital in St. Petersburg, St. Anthony’s has the support of the entire BayCare network. In fact, in the last two years alone, that support has translated into $50 million in improvements, further strengthening St. Anthony’s health care commitment to our community. Humanity At Work .

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NEIGHBORHOODS

Life on The EDGE

BY MARCIA BIGGS Somewhere between Ferg’s dog park, the outdoor patio at Hawkers, sipping suds at Green Bench Brewing, kicking back at Grassroots Kava, shopping for handmade soaps at Milagros, and lining up for a taco at Bodega, I get the distinct feeling that, heck yeah, I could live here. The fact I could walk a few blocks and be at a Rays game or hop a Central Avenue trolley to the beach are bonus points.

In the shadow of the spaceship known as Tropicana Field, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and 16th streets, lies the EDGE District, a vibrant and eclectic commercial and residential community in the urban core of St. Petersburg. Its seven-block length, and two-block width between First Avenue South and First Avenue North, encompasses majestic palms, historic buildings, and more than three dozen murals coloring the landscape.

A wide array of locally-owned, independent businesses, make this one of the fastest growing and most sought-after destinations in Tampa Bay. Today’s EDGE District offers something for everyone, all within

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easy walking distance. A wide range of boutiques creates a shopper’s paradise – from fine art, jewelry, men’s and women’s apparel, bohemian couture, custommade paddleboards, and high-end home theater systems, to artisanal soap, tropical plants, coastal chic decor, vintage home furnishings, and books.

The EDGE District is home to 19 eateries, with major players including Ferg’s, Hawkers, Buya, Red Mesa Mercado, Bodega, Engine No. 9, and Brooklyn South.

Two more restaurants are slated to open in coming months, one of which is the longawaited Dr. BBQ featuring Chef Ray Lampe.

The Business of The EDGE The EDGE District is also an historic, awardwinning Florida Main Street and Main Street America™, run by the EDGE Business District Association (EBDA). In 2011, the association leaders named the district the “EDGE District” and in 2014 after achieving Main Street status, began an extensive revitalization program. These measures have been instrumental in transforming the once-blighted area to its current thriving status.

In 2014, Barbara Voglewede came on board as the Executive Director of the EDBA. “It was still a blighted area at that time, only four years ago,” she said. One of her first goals was to formulate a district master plan. It successfully found funding for and then guided the development of the final 130-page plan which was adopted by the City in 2016.

The plan’s scope focuses on improving the district’s aesthetics and creating a “sense of place,” said Voglewede, while encouraging businesses and investment. For the past

NEIGHBORHOODS two years, the EBDA has been working in partnership with the City on the Plan’s major projects: a new parking garage, gateway markers, Baum Avenue beautification, landscaping and streetscape improvements, and district-wide banners.

Build it and they will come

The awakening district has proven attractive as a place to live in recent years. Two residential complexes – Fusion 1560 and 1010 Central Ave. -- are both near 100 percent capacity. More apartments are coming.

Opening in the EDGE District later this year is 930 Central Flats with 218 luxury apartments.

Three more nearby developments are expected to bring more than 800 apartments to the area within the next couple years, according to Voglewede. This does not include whatever becomes of the property now home to the Trop and its multitude of parking lots. With these new apartments hovering around $2,000 for a one-bedroom and $2,500 for a two-bedroom, the price for trendy downtown living, even in The EDGE, continues to rise.

Betsy Frost came here in 2016 to work as manager at Fusion 1560, a 325-room luxury apartment in the heart of the Edge District. She “completely fell in love” with the neighborhood and now lives at Fusion.

“I love the walkability of the district,” said Frost, who is the also president of the EBDA. “Everything you need is right here or close by.” She feels an energy in the residents who live there, she adds, most are young and enjoy getting out and socializing.

EDGE business owner Leslie Curran grew up in St. Pete and served on City Council for 16 years. She opened ARTicles frame shop and gallery in 2004 on a run-down block of Central Avenue, despite people “telling me I was crazy.” She remembers the neighborhood from her childhood when her father worked at an office building just up Central Ave. She has witnessed the transformation of this slice of the city from gritty and forlorn to hip and trendy.

As a business pioneer and local leader, Curran was instrumental in crafting the Central Avenue Revitalization Plan, working with the city, local associations and business owners to address issues like landscaping, traffic and land use. She still serves on the Central Avenue Council helping to guide the future development of Central Avenue from the downtown waterfront to west of the interstate.

“It’s been quite an evolution since after the SunDome was built,” she said. “When Fusion got built (2011) it changed everything. Before, we had Ferg’s and one Chinese restaurant, now over 15 restaurants of all kinds and a very diverse mix of businesses that makes it attractive. You can walk downtown from here.”

A salute to the past An important key to the district’s revitalization for Barbara Voglewede has been capturing, preserving, and celebrating the district’s history. Very little had been collected about the district’s past, so the EBDA’s EDGE District History Project set to work on conducting its own research and in 2016 through grant funding, completed the district’s first historic structures survey.

Betsy Frost at Fusion 1560

They discovered something profound – that the southeast corner of the district was actually the birthplace and genesis of what later came to become the City of St. Petersburg. St. Pete’s transformation in the 1930s from frontier town to tourist and retirement destination was also driven in part by the breweries and eateries. The first brewery was Jacksonville Brewing Co. Leslie Curran at ARTicles (1933) at 959 Central, distributing its flagship German pilsner, Jax Beer, throughout the South. Today, one of the premier craft brewers in the city, Green Bench Brewing (1133 Baum), and over 20 other purveyors of craft beer continue that heritage in the EDGE. For more information on The EDGE, go to edgedistrict.org, download the mobile app distrx.com or stop by the EDGE Business District office at 11B Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S. Barbara Voglewede, Executive Director, EDGE Business District Association, contributed to this article.

NEIGHBORHOODS

A District’s Name is Key to Identity Within a Community

The Central Arts District comprises the 300-700 blocks of Central Avenue and immediate side streets. Photo/Preserve the Burg

BY JONATHAN KILE Soho, Hyde Park, Tribeca, Fremont, Ballard, Dumbo.

What’s in a name? When it ST. PETE comes to a neighborhood or business district, a name is its identity, and that identity can bring important value to residents and business owners.

These monikers are often born through the effort to create a sense of place in an area once forgotten, and sometimes come with funding for marketing and economic development. In the 1970s, artists began getting priced out of Manhattan’s SoHo (South of Houston) neighborhood, so they moved further south and branded the area “Tribeca.” The Triangle Below Canal soon gained its own trendy artistic reputation. The SoHo name is now so iconic there are SoHos in other cities, including Tampa with its neighborhood around South Howard Avenue.

London’s famous Hyde Park name has been borrowed more than 20 times in the United States – by cities including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Tampa.

In St. Petersburg, districts have emerged as business owners try to create cohesion where a sense of community had waned. Perfect examples are the EDGE District, Grand Central and The Deuces,

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all of which are part of Florida’s Main Street Program, providing technical assistance for traditional historic commercial corridors.

These “place brands” are useful in developing expectations for visitors. According to former City Councilman and longtime community leader Jeff Danner, the stretch of Central Avenue to the east and west of Interstate 275 once included 10 strip clubs and a single restaurant.

In 2001, new business and property owners formed the Grand Central District. “The name was sort of funny,” Danner says. “We wanted to use the word ‘Central,’ but there was nothing ‘Grand’ about it, with 80 percent vacancy. The name stuck.”

Today that same area boasts more than 40 restaurants and bars, frequented – and often owned – by residents of adjacent Kenwood.

Today, visitors head to the area knowing that they’ll find eclectic and unusual concepts like Nitally’s Thai-Mex restaurant, Pom Pom’s gourmet sandwiches and Craftsman House’s combination of art, food, and music.

A decade ago, the EDGE district, adjacent to Tropicana Field, lacked the population density of nearby downtown. With fewer property owners controlling bigger pieces of land, larger mixed retail/ residential developments have replaced lots that were bulldozed

NEIGHBORHOODS during the era when the stadium was built.

This area has drawn young professionals who want to live within walking distance of work and nightlife.

Rather than refer to “That Area of Industrial Buildings Along the Old Train Tracks,” the name Warehouse Arts District was chosen as the new brand by entrepreneurial artists after the Dome Industrial District laid fallow for decades. Behind all that corrugated aluminum, artists create paintings, sculptures, glass and pottery that reach a world-wide audience.

As in SoHo, artists in St. Petersburg were feeling the pressure from rising rents, particularly when nearly 50 artists were displaced by the sale of Salt Creek Artworks.

Sculptor Mark Aeling saw the need to organize and protect the Warehouse Arts District, while drawing attention to the amazing work taking place right under our noses. Like-minded artists started by renting a trolley to extend the Second Saturday Art Walk into their area.

“The first Art Walk trolley was a disaster,” recalls Aeling. “We might have had two people use the trolley. But we retooled,

made some changes and came back a few months later with a better plan.” Aeling and others formed the nonprofit ArtsXchange on three acres in the center of the district, to maintain below-market art studio space.

“What started as an effort to support and maintain affordable space for artists evolved into a community revitalization project stretching from First Ave North to Midtown,” says Aeling. “Our first meeting had maybe 10 people. The third meeting had over 100 people who wanted to be part of the district.”

Other areas, such as the Skyway Marina District along 34th Street South and the Innovation District on the waterfront south of downtown, are organized around promoting and attracting not just customers, but investment. The combination of companies, organizations and academic programs in the Innovation District offer opportunities for collaboration and help attract professionals from outside the region. The Skyway Marina District is adjacent to Eckerd College, and includes a St. Pete College campus, and waterfront residential neighborhoods. The district’s highway access and available land give it potential for development and growth that’s unique in densely developed St. Petersburg.

The common thread is that successful districts aren’t created by just clever names and marketing. It takes hard work to develop that identity and sense of community.

Content provided by the Catalyst, St. Pete’s daily business platform. Subscribe for free at StPeteCatalyst.com

September/October 2018

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CONVERSATIONS

Alberto Alfonso Architect

Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement PHOTO/DAVID BLY

BY CINDY COCKBURN Award-winning architect Alberto Alfonso works on projects that take him around the globe, from Tampa to Tibet. Fasten your seat belt St. Pete: he’s designing a $90 million jewel called the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. The five-story, 137,100-square-foot building will house private collector Rudy Ciccarello’s Two Red Roses Foundation’s extensive collection of furniture, pottery, tile, metalwork, lighting, photography and other decorative arts from the American Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Ciccarello is personally financing the construction of the museum. Under construction since 2015, it will be complete by the summer of 2019 with a grand opening in the fall. We already admire the designer’s work with The Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center. Alberto has been working on this new venture for over five years.

His love of architecture developed at an early age as he was raised in the house of an architect: his father Carlos E. Alfonso, Sr. began his career in Havana, Cuba, and fled the country with his family in 1960 to begin a successful practice in Tampa. Cuban born, Alberto was educated at The University of Florida where he received his M.A. in 1983. Five years later, he, his brother Carlos, and partner Angel Del Monte, founded Alfonso Architects. The company has now grown to a studio of 35. His creativity is endless and he is passionate about all of the arts, an accomplished painter in his own right.

How did you initially hear about the new museum project?

I received an email from Rudy Ciccarello describing the project and asking me to visit with him in Palm Harbor. We hit if off immediately from the first meeting. He’s Italian, brilliant, and loves the arts, like I do. We had great chemistry from day one.

Where did you get the inspiration from?

From the get go, Rudy and I were in agreement

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CONVERSATIONS about the architecture of the building. It will present the art not in a stylistic way, but it should take the opposite approach in a clean, minimalist, custom way. The collection is world class, every piece painstakingly curated by Rudy. We have designed a bespoke atmosphere for each piece. The museum structure reflects the movement in its celebration of materiality, and in its joinery detailing.

Are there any museums like this in our country?

No. This will be a one-of-a-kind museum – the only one in the world dedicated to this movement in its totality. The diversity of the collection is astounding as is Rudy’s rigor to collect one-of-a-kind objects.

Every floor is devoted to an aspect of the movement, from furniture to lighting to paintings to ceramics to metalworks to photography to jewelry.

It features more than 40,000 square feet of permanent exhibition space. Did you plan for the museum starting out with this amount of space initially or did the space

grow and change through the years?

The collection is so expansive, we ended up adding a floor – about 10,000 square feet of gallery space. He’s holding back large aspects of the collections to assure the visitor experience will stay fresh.

The interior atrium of the museum rises five stories with light that fills the area from arts and crafts inspired skylights. Tell us more about the light – was this designed initially to bring in Florida elements?

A lot of the great architects of the movement like Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan dealt with light in their work– skylights – the great houses all have amazing skylights so we celebrate light here in Florida. We focus the light on the public spaces and the light in the Great Hall with the primary skylight is quite special.

We heard there is a high-end destination restaurant planned?

Yes, we will create a very special

destination restaurant for St. Petersburg.

We have consulted with the leading culinary experts in the Central Florida area.

What can we expect from the museum store design?

The store is not just to relate to the existing collection, but it will relate to the current relevance of the Craftsman movement, showcasing a variety of artisans. The store showcases the diversity in the collection including jewelry.

The lighting objects will be beautiful.

Also, there’s a library with period art for scholarly research, a children’s education center and gallery, graphic studio, auditorium open to the community and a large event space for weddings, corporate events and family celebrations.

All wonderful additions to the community.

There is a beautiful garden space as the forecourt to the museum with period fountain pieces.

Invested in St. Pete.

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Local Heart Global Reach

Smith’s 4th Street Office

Over $1.2 Million

Given to Local Organizations And Nonprofits Since 2012

727-440-9600 || smithandassociates.com St Petersburg Offices: 1100 4th Street North, St. Petersburg 330 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg

Chihuly artwork adorns all Smith office locations

Smith’s Beach Drive Office is open 7 days a week

Since 1969, Smith & Associates Real Estate has burgeoned into a leader in the luxury real estate market with international affiliations. And as their success has grown, so has their focus on giving back. Led by President and CEO Robert Glaser, this firm is entrenched in local communities, charities, and the arts. In the last six years, they have donated over $1.2 million to local organizations and nonprofits.

Over the years Smith & Associates has attracted the industry’s elite, and built a team of local experts that define themselves as a family. Realtors, Brokers, staff and management all come together to provide countless real estate solutions including relocation, developer services, commercial, property management, title, and insurance under one trusted roof.

“We have a highly-desirable real estate market, and we’ve created a company culture that is attracting the best real estate agents throughout Tampa Bay. Giving back to the communities we serve is ingrained in all we do. We support the outside passions of our team and recognize their individual achievements because they are important contributors to making Tampa Bay a better place to live,” said Glaser.

With unprecedented growth in St. Petersburg, Smith & Associates focuses on relationships and adapting to the changing market.

The company is the number one luxury brokerage firm in Tampa Bay for $1 million and above residences and has added two new office locations in the last year alone.* With continued expansion and support of hundreds of local causes, Smith & Associates is making St. Petersburg a better place to live, work and play.

‘St. Pete’ mural, painted on Beach Drive office by renowned local artist Derek Donnelly

President and CEO Robert Glaser * As of December 31, 2017

SPL NEWS

New St. Pete Pier Is On The Rise

BY KRISTIN BRETT

This time next year, area residents and visitors will be anxiously awaiting the opening of the new St. Pete Pier.

Scheduled to open in Fall 2019, the Pier has been closed since 2013 -- a long six year wait until we can once again enjoy our downtown Pier. So, what’s in store for visitors when it opens?

The Pier District comprises 26 acres of waterfront, adjacent to bustling Beach Drive with shops, cafes and restaurants.

This Pier will be dramatically different than the seven public piers that preceded it, because, while past Piers were essentially a road to a building at the Pier head, this Pier will offer things to do throughout the district. In addition to the Pier-over-water, the entire Pier approach area will offer almost limitless activities. It will be possible to not even venture out to the Pier head to find enough to do.

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DINING There will be two restaurants, a bar and two cafes at the new Pier. The Pier head will have three concepts, an upscale restaurant (Teak), a rooftop bar (Teaki) and a café (Driftwood Café) all operated by Chuck Prather, owner of The Birchwood and Canopy on Beach Drive.

On the south side of the Pier approach, you’ll find Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille, elevated above the surrounding site with breathtaking views of Tampa Bay. The restaurant’s name and Florida theme, based on the novels by New York Times best-selling author Randy Wayne White, will appeal to both residents and visitors, with family-friendly dining.

The Pavilion at Spa Beach will house a café, along with restrooms and a shady place to

sit and watch water sports and activities.

The café, operated by United Park Services, will offer “grab and go” food items as well as other, healthy, interesting and traditional food selections. They will operate a “green” business, committed to recycling and offering recyclable containers.

WATER ACTIVITY Situated on Tampa Bay, St. Pete has always had a strong connection to our waterfront and the new Pier will provide even more bayside opportunities. Spa Beach will continue to offer a downtown waterfront playground. In fact, a new breakwater and sea wall will, over time, expand the Spa Beach area. For those wanting to get out on the water by boat, kayak rentals will be available. A splash pad will provide interactive water play for kids.

SPL NEWS For boaters, some 25 transient docks will provide access to the Pier from the water, something that has not been available in the past. The docks will be located on the south side of the approach, near Doc Ford’s.

The Education Center, located midway out to the Pier head, will be operated by Tampa Bay Watch, a local non-profit organization that’s dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Tampa Bay estuary.

The Education Center will offer programs

focused on marine and environmental education presented to families and tourists during summer camps, afternoon and evening sessions. They will also provide management services for the center as an event venue for corporate meetings and special events.

GETTING AROUND Free, Disney-style trams will transport visitors to the Pier from the Gateway,

off North Shore Drive, with stops at the Pavilion, and at the Pier head. The Pelican parking lot, including a solar-canopied parking area, will provide spaces for nearly 300 vehicles, including electric charging stations. For those wanting a slower pace, expansive sidewalks around the perimeter of the Pier will be bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Transient boat slips will offer boaters a convenient place to tie up while they visit.

PIER FACTS • Pier extends 1,350 linear feet into Tampa Bay • 26 acre site, Pier and Pier Approach • Sustainability and resiliency built into design. Duke Energy Florida will build and maintain a solar photovoltaic car canopy on a portion of the Pelican parking lot. These solar panels will produce between 400kW and 650 kW of solar energy at the Pier and provide shaded parking for nearly 100 spaces.

• Free tram connecting to public transit

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SPL NEWS

Want to go Solar?

Go to solarunitedneighbors.org/stpete for more information.

Homeowners across Pinellas County are invited to attend an introductory seminar presented by Solar United Neighbors, a national organization that educates and assists homeowners interested in converting their homes to solar energy. They are organizing a new co-op, open to all of Pinellas County. Co-ops take advantage of the group’s bulkpurchasing power to get discounted pricing and a quality installation.

Volunteer co-op participants choose an installer on behalf of the entire group through an open and competitive bidding process. The

selected installer provides co-op participants a personalized proposal for their consideration. The intro seminars will be held: Tuesday, October 16 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Gladden Park Rec Center 3901 30th Avenue North St Petersburg, FL 33713 Thursday, November 15 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

West St. Petersburg Library 6700 8th Avenue North St Petersburg, FL 33710

USFSP LEEDs the Way The University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Laboratory, which houses biology, chemistry and physics labs, recently received prestigious LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Platinum is the highest and most difficult certification to earn. The Warehouse Laboratory is the first building in the USF System to receive this recognition. However, this is the fourth building at USFSP to earn a LEED certification.

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In 2014, USFSP acquired the property which was an abandoned Greyhound bus station. Instead of tearing down the structure, they began to remodel it by adding a new roof, putting an efficient heating/air system in, enhancing insulation throughout the building and improving the appearance. By recycling the old Greyhound site, the University saved $2 million. With assistance from Duke Energy, USFSP also implemented a 40kw solar carport in the parking lot just north of the labs which powers about 15 percent of the building.

SPL NEWS

Nickel Ride Launches A free ride service has launched in downtown St. Pete, using an electric shuttle as a clean mode of transportation. The Nickel Ride and Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill are partnering up to help people in the downtown area get around easier while also helping people reduce their carbon footprint. The popular downtown bar and grill is the headquarters for the free ride service.

corridor between Bayshore and 17th Street.

Go to thenickelride.com to find the app and find a route map.

contacting Lyft and Uber. Ride coverage area is limited to the Central Avenue

To request a ride, you need to download an app onto your mobile phone, similar to

“The Nickel Ride is a great way to provide our community with a free safe ride,” said Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill owner Mark Ferguson. The Nickel Ride partners with local businesses for advertising space in and on their eco-friendly shuttle. The Nickel Ride started in Fort Myers the summer of 2017, and has since expanded to Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and now St. Petersburg.

Bada Bing Water Sports

Optik! Wins Award

Bada Bing Water Sports is the newest watersports location on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg. They are open from sunrise to sunset, with a selection of rentals and tours including electric boats, kayaks, paddleboards, waverunners – even a 52-foot motor yacht. Customers can take the watercraft out themselves or hire a captain. Guided tours are available on waverunners, power boats and electric boats.

OPTIK! European Eyewear has been recognized as one of America’s Finest Optical Retailers by Invision, the magazine for American eyecare professionals. The St. Petersburg -based business was given an Honorable Mention in the international contest. Stores are judged on exterior appearance, interior appearance/design, store biography, marketing, web presence and overall individuality. This annual contest highlights the best examples of independent eyewear retailers in North America and Canada. Optik! Eyewear is located at 300 Beach Drive NE Suite 115, and the owners are Anja and Edin Jakupovic.

“Bada Bing Water Sports is going to be very exciting, especially with the pier coming,” said Doug Byrd, one of the Bada Bing Water Sports owners. Bada Bing Water Sports can be found at the City Municipal Marina on 101 Bayshore Drive NE next to Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro.

For more information, check out badabingwatersports.com or call (727) 592-1111.

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Whether it’s working or not, we will take it. Stop by and let us appraise your luxury watch.

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Photos are for illustration purposes only.

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SPOTLIGHT

Ready to Shine

The annual Shine Mural Festival is bringing more world-class art to city streets PHOTOS/CITY OF ST PETERSBURG

BY MARCIA BIGGS Creative energy will be flowing through streets and alleyways October 6-14 when the 4th Annual Shine Mural Festival brings a diverse group of a dozen mural artists from around the world to downtown St. Pete.

Renowned local artists will join the mix in the week-long outdoor art event which allows the public to watch the artists work from start to finish.

Since 2015, the Shine Mural Festival has produced 55 new murals across the city’s downtown landscape. Produced by the 501-c(3) non-profit St. Pete Arts Alliance, the festival has already established a reputation among mural artists worldwide, and has developers and building owners clamoring for a piece of the action.

It’s all part of the buzz of the vibrant developing arts scene in St. Pete, one that now claims five arts districts and worldclass museums from the Dali to the Chihuly

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Collection to the new James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art.

neighborhood more people will want to live there.”

“International and nationally recognized mural artists are willing to donate their time to come to St. Pete,” says John Collins, executive director of the St. Pete Arts Alliance and the festival’s lead organizer.

“These are people who can get $25,000 a wall, but they are donating their time to come here because they love being here and being part of the festival.”

Collins works year-round preparing for Shine, from obtaining funding to securing artists, sponsors and buildings. City arts grants, donors and sponsors provide funding or in-kind sponsorship such as air fare and transportation, lodging, paint and art supplies, lifts, lighting, food and water. An army of volunteers is needed to prep walls, transport the artists, deliver supplies and food, and various other tasks.

And it’s become easier to get building owners to donate their walls.

“Neighborhoods and businesses are taking pride in having murals,” says Collins.

“Before, it was mainly local business owners offering their walls. It’s interesting that major developers are starting to come to us now to ask for murals, like our main sponsor this year, Salt Palm. They are building new condos and they know if they upgrade the

“We have an incredible volunteer support group and we value our partnerships with local businesses,” says Collins. “It can cost over $20,000 just for paints, then there is lift rentals, accommodations, food. We have about a dozen different restaurants donate lunches, Kahwa donates coffee. Much of our funding, up to $100,000, goes directly to local businesses.”

SPOTLIGHT PHOTO/CITY OF ST PETERSBURG

Kicking off the event October 4-6 in partnership with Carmada will be Haider Ali. The Pakistani painter is best known for his distinctive “truck art” style featuring elaborate floral patterns and calligraphy on vehicles. Haider will set up on the front porch of the Museum of Fine Arts where he will be transforming the 2009 Prius of local arts maven Mitzi Gordon into a moving work of art. Several other art cars will also be on display.

“Haider actually contacted us about being in the festival,” said Gordon, a longtime organizer of local arts events. “His truck art is known around the world, it was even exhibited in the Smithsonian, so we are thrilled to have him.”

Wrapping up the festival from 5 to 9 pm on Saturday, October 14, in conjunction with the Second Saturday ArtWalk, will

this exhibit will show their work in another light,” says Amanda Cooper, curator of exhibitions.

There will be food and a cash bar; admission is free.

When to Watch: Be advised that painting hours are unpredictable. Many artists prefer to work at night, after the heat of the day and summer rains have subsided.

be an open party at the Morean Arts Center, where the public is invited to mingle with artists, sponsors, volunteers and other collaborators and view the opening of the Shine Arts Exhibition. Art by 25 artists, both Shine mural artists and others, will make up the show which continues through October 27. “People think the Shine artists just do murals, so

Where to Watch: A map of locations was not available at the time of publication. Many of this year’s sites stretch along the Central Avenue corridor from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. west of I-275 to 40th Street.

Check the web site for updates.

To learn more about this year’s festival: shineonstpete.org Volunteers are needed, contact intern@stpeteartsalliance.org if you can spare some time before and during the festival.

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SPOTLIGHT PHOTOS/CITY OF ST PETERSBURG

2018 Shine Artists Nomad Clan – Internationally-known female duo hailing from Manchester, England, specialize in dark yet playful folkloric murals which can be seen across Europe; often celebrate local history or socio- economic issues relevant to the location.

LOOK the Weird – Lars Wunderlich from Germany is LOOK, founding member of the internationally renowned graffiti crew The Weird. Best known for his diverse, highly detailed graffiti-style characters.

DAAS – Japan-based Florida artist with a distinct geometric style reminiscent of origami folds. Bright, bold designs blend cubism and abstract techniques to create powerful human and animal images.

Belin – Spanish artist best known for his post-neocubism style reminiscent of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. His paintings, graphic designs and sculptures can be found on walls and galleries around the world.

Angela Faustina – Atlanta-based artist captures macro details of organic fruit and produce reflecting the colors and beauty of life.

Matthew Hoffman - Chicago based artist and designer whose public works have been exhibited internationally. Matthew has created large scale public installations for the City of Chicago.

Gibbs Rounsavall - Abstract artist from Kentucky explores perceptions of space through the relationships of line, shape, and color.

J&S Signs – St. Pete team of Jeffrey Sinchich and Josh Stover now based

in Portland, Oregon, create vintage hand-lettering with positive community messages.

Bekky Beukes – St. Petersburg artist originally from South Africa, her evocative ethereal forms and intricately twisted compositions can be found throughout Tampa Bay. Cecelia Lueza – Argentinean born artist best known for her vibrant public art pieces. Her geometric, nature inspired murals are often found in unexpected places such as street intersections and rooftops.

Vitale Brothers with Noirs One – Johnny and Paul Vitale have been trailblazers in the local art scene for decades. Their versatile murals and hand painted signs

can be found in countless locations throughout Tampa Bay. Ya La’Ford - Professor, painter, installation artist, and muralist operating out of St. Petersburg as well as Washington, DC and New York. Her signature use of geometric lines with contrasting light and dark colors can be seen on walls and in galleries throughout the United States.

Three Shine walls have been reserved for local artists to be announced.

SHINE 2018 is presented by Salt Palm Development with support from the City of St. Petersburg, Great Bay Distributors, Kolter Urban – The ONE St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays.

From street art to murals: How it started Greg Stanek leads bicycle and walking mural tours for Florida CraftArt and and through his company Tour St. Pete. Murals started out in Tampa Bay as “graffiti street art” in the 1990s, he says. But around 2007, appreciation for the outdoor wall art grew and those same artists soon realized they could come out of the alleys and the dark and work in the sunshine -- and be paid.

In the last 8 to 10 years, murals have really blossomed in St. Pete, says Stanek.

“A recent study estimates close to 500 murals of all sizes in St. Pete,” he comments. “Four years ago, the Shine Festival really helped promote them as a part of the identity of the city. Now they are spreading outside the downtown core. The city has embraced the arts and the murals are a big part of that.”

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SPOTLIGHT

Mural Tours Coast Bike Share and Florida CraftArt are offering Shine bike tours during the festival. Bring your own bike or try a Coast bicycle cruiser, and enjoy a guided tour of the murals. Choose from two tours from 9 am to 12:30 pm (must be 18 and older): a behind the scenes glimpse of artists creating new murals on Saturday Oct. 6, or an in-depth look at the vibrant finished artworks on Saturday, Oct. 13. Tours are $25/$20 if you BYO bike; advance tickets at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., or through oridacraftart.org/product/shine-mural-tours-by-bike/ or call (727) 821-7391 Walking Mural Tours are held from Florida CraftArt every Saturday from 10 to 11:30 am. Tickets are $19 adults, $11 for children 6-18. Mural Bike Tours are held from 10 to 11:30 am the first Saturday of every month. Enjoy a Virtual Mural Tour from the comfort of your own home. See the murals and listen to narrated stories describing each one and the artist at stpeteartsalliance.org/virtual-mural-tour/

PHOTO/CITY OF ST PETERSBURG

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SPOTLIGHT

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CONVERSATIONS

Michael Pastreich Florida Orchestra CEO Leaves His Legacy In Community

BY MEGAN HOLMES

In July, Michael Pastreich announced his plan to step down as ST. PETE the executive director of The Florida Orchestra after 11 years of leadership that sparked immense growth in the organization he first met in dire straits.

Since that time, the Florida Orchestra has seen major growth, much of it attributable to Pastreich’s plan and the direction of the impressive board that he assembled. In 2011, he reduced ticket prices to a range between $15 to $45. By lowering ticket prices, he has seen the orchestra’s audience change – attracting a younger, less predominantly white assembly. Attendance increased dramatically, peaking at a 49 percent increase in the orchestra’s 50th season.

When Pastreich took the helm at the Florida Orchestra in 2007, the organization was $3 million in debt. That may not seem like a staggering figure to some – symphonies across the country have been declining slowly as attendance has continued to lag. People just don’t seem to be as interested in seeing an orchestra as they once were. According to Pastreich, the $3 million debt was more than a small problem – in fact, having to borrow any money at all was the signal of a serious predicament for the organization.

But success was neither all about the music, nor all about the revenue for Pastreich. “My drive is to figure out not how do we make the greatest music possible, but to ask the question, ‘To what end are we making great music?’ said Pastreich. “Music in itself can’t be the goal for me.”

“Orchestras are cash rich,” said Pastreich. “By the time the season starts we have all of our subscription money in the bank, we have most of our sponsorship money in the bank, we have all this money for stuff that hasn’t happened yet. So if an orchestra gets to a point where it actually has to borrow a penny, they’re already deeply in the hole.”

And deeply in the hole they were. At the start of his tenure, midseason, Pastreich eliminated $1 million of the organization’s debt, making difficult decisions at every turn. What he didn’t expect was the reception that the board would give him at the proposal of a plan to tackle the problems facing the organization – “I think I’m reasonably good at managing a board room,” said Pastreich. “This meeting was bedlam.”

Though his plan passed by a narrow margin, over the next six months all but three board members resigned. But the plan also attracted the next three board chairs to the organization. “What I had not counted on was what a filter that plan was gonna be for the organization,” Pastreich commented.

Those ends have included reaching wider audiences through multilateral efforts. The orchestra has taken on eclectic programming, curated pop-up performances across Tampa Bay, and made an effort to reach into communities. One such end is the partnership the Florida Orchestra has made with the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. Located next door to Jordan Park, just off of the Deuces Live Historic Main Street, the Carter G. Woodson serves one of the poorest neighborhoods in St. Petersburg.

The chamber series, underwritten by one of the Florida Orchestra’s board members, utilizes a pay-what-you-can model and all proceeds go toward the Woodson Museum. The series not only brings music to a traditionally under-served neighborhood, but also encourages the traditional audience of the orchestra to venture into places they may not otherwise go.

“So it’s an example of yes, we are making great music,” said Pastreich. “People who go to the concerts, consistently the feedback is that it’s a phenomenal experience. For me, we’re harnessing music to impact the neighborhood in a way that nobody but an orchestra possibly can.”

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Subscribe for free at StPeteCatalyst.com

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CONVERSATIONS

Stylish Burger Sylvia Stanley and Gigi’s Chapeau Club

BY RO MARTINEZ RIMES When did you start Gigi’s Chapeau Club and why?

I started Gigi’s Chapeau Club in June of 2012 with just five ladies attending. These original ladies: Connie Whitehead, Eloise Rothe, Kelley Cuellar, Linda Rodriquez and I are still in the club to this day. I started the club because my hat collection was growing, and I wanted to share this passion of mine with other ladies who enjoyed wearing them as much as I did. I wore them to church and definitely at Easter and Kentucky Derby parties, but I wanted more opportunities to wear my beautiful hats. So, I decided to start a hat club, what else? These ladies and I soon became Gigi’s Chapeau Club.

To what do you attribute your club’s growth?

We meet for a themed luncheon once a month which is usually on the second Friday of the month in various restaurants in the St. Petersburg area, occasionally in Tampa and now in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as well. This club has been a wonderful experience for us all but for me it has been an opportunity to meet many kindred spirits. All of our lives have been enriched tremendously. At this time, we have 25 members in the St. Petersburg area and about 12 new members in Fort Wayne....my hometown. In the course of these years, we have become close friends and some of us are now comfortable enough to express our creativity by designing and creating our own hats. I now make most of my fascinators and hats for personal use and occasionally for friends.

How long have you been donating your beautiful hats to All Children’s Hospital?

We have been donating hats for the child patients at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg for four years now. We have a lot of fun decorating the girls’ bonnets at a private gathering at one of the Gigi’s homes. We try to deliver

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them to the hospital sometime near Easter, so the children will have something pretty to wear. We have also collected baseball caps for the boys from the Rays baseball team through our friends at St. Pete Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Can you please share with us a little about your background?

I attended Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne Campus. I studied Interior Design along with accounting. Later in my life, after a brief time living in Los Angeles, I returned to Fort Wayne.

I soon found myself working with the directors of the Miss IPFW Scholarship Pageant Program that is affiliated with the Miss America Pageant.

I became their Public Relations Director for about five years.

I promoted the reigning Miss IPFW through fundraisers and personal appearances when possible.

It was during this time that I realized how much I enjoyed working with and helping young women to become the best they can be. Unfortunately, I had to leave the pageant program after we moved to Florida in the early 2000s.

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful group of fun, kind, loving and creative women in my life. I also have a very loving and supportive husband, Lou, wonderful friends, and a “career” in millinery. I love my life here in St. Pete and live in the best city in Florida. Thank you, God and thank you, fellow Gigi’s.

“All you need is love and a gorgeous hat”. Sylvia Stanley

ARTS & CULTURE

St. Pete Performs - SPF18 Florida Orchestra Pops in the Park Oct. 20, 4 p.m. – Community performances; 7 p.m. Florida Orchestra Vinoy Park Bring a date or the whole family for free music under the stars in waterfront Vinoy Park. Food trucks and family activities will be available with a fireworks finale.

Cabaret Benefit with Paul Wilborn and Blue Roses Oct. 25, 8 p.m.

Iberian Rooster Capture the fun of cabaret at St. Petersburg’s speakeasy.

Improvapalooza!

Oct. 26 8 pm Palladium A night of laughs and spontaneous storytelling with American Stage Improv faves Hawk & Wayne and other guest artists. Adults only.

The fourth annual St. Petersburg Festival of the Arts – SPF18 will run October 1928. Celebrating the city’s reputation as a leading arts and cultural destination, SPF18 showcases the performing arts with a spectrum of special events. From opera to pop-up performances, the festival will feature theater, dance, music, and family friendly events. SPF18 is produced by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. Here are some highlights: St. Petersburg Opera Oct. 19 & 23, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, 2 p.m.

Palladium Hough Hall SPO opens the season with Don Giovanni in three performances of world-class opera.

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Florida Orchestra: Music of Queen Rock Concert Oct. 19, 8 p.m.

Mahaffey Theater Fronted by a full rock band and vocalist, the orchestra performs the legendary band’s greatest hits.

Tampa Bay Latin Film Festival Oct. 18–21 Sundial AMC Dedicated to contemporary Latin American film, the festival includes a Friday night film co-sponsored by Eckerd College’s International Film Series, including panel discussions and film screenings.

Work: Site – Dance at Work Oct. 25-26 Look for six pop-up dance works created in and for workplaces around downtown St. Petersburg.

Air-Earth-Fire-Water: Creative Collaboration Oct. 25 5:30 and 6:30 pm Steps of Museum of Fine Arts Pop-up dance & Storytelling through both words and movement created by playwright Sheila Cowley, dancer/choreographer Helen Hansen French, co-choreographer Paula Kramer, actors Eugenie Bondurant and Ned Averill-Snell, viola player A.J. Vaughan and dancers French, Erin Cardinal, Brian Fidalgo and Alex Jones.

ARTS & CULTURE

Shakespeare In the City – A Midsummer Night’s Dream Oct. 26 & 28, 7:30 p.m.

Williams Park Studio@620 and the St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival present Shakespeare in the City.

Enjoy a perfect summer evening in the park.

St. Pete Shares the Stage Dance St. Pete Oct. 27, 8 p.m.

The Palladium St. Pete’s vibrant dance community shares the stage to showcase the best in the region for a wonderful evening of dance.

Movies In The Park – Halloween Movies Oct. 27, 6 p.m. Music, trivia and party; movie starts at dark Williams Park Join an evening of Halloween fun.

Florida Orchestra: Evening at Bach’s Coffeehouse Oct. 27, 8 p.m.

Mahaffey Theater Harpsichordist and conductor Jeannette Sorrell leads an intimate evening featuring TFO’s strings including Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.

Take A Chance Dance Project Oct. 27, 2 pm ARTS46/4, First Unity Church, 460 46th Ave. N. Actors/writers, Bob Devin Jones,

Fanni Green and Maureen McDole will co-choreograph three performance pieces with Paula Kramer that infuse dance into original narratives that focus on a sense of place. Free.

Orchestra Fuego Concert & Dance – Benefit for Puerto Rico Relief Oct. 28, 5-9 pm Manhattan Casino , 642 22nd St. South Latin American music including Salsa, Merengue, Cha-Cha, Bolero and Bachata. This fun-filled dance includes a class and special dance performances. Tickets $25.

Sunshine City, The Musical – Concert Version Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m.

Opera Central- 214 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg Jack Handsome single-handedly revives the St. Petersburg tourist industry with outrageous marketing stunts but finds that winning Flora Day’s heart takes more than clever words.

The musical is a family-friendly show featuring a tap-dancing dog, singing alligators written by Dewey Davis-Thompson and Tom Sivak, All events subject to change; for an updated list go to stpeteartsalliance.org/spf-festival/

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DINING OUT

Annata Restaurant & Wine Bar

300 Beach Dr. NE St. Petersburg annatawine.com (727) 851-9582 Sunday to Thursday 4 – 10 pm Friday and Saturday 4 – 11 pm

BY LORI BROWN When Annata came onto the scene of downtown St Petersburg’s Beach Drive four years ago, it was highly anticipated. The owners of the St. Pete beloved staple Mazzaro’s Italian Market, Kurt and Mary Cuccaro, were opening Annata, which made its arrival even more exciting for foodies. It was touted as a wine bar which would offer cheese, charcuterie and tapas. Annata was thoughtfully designed with a very warm and inviting interior and also offers outdoor seating .

Annata quickly became known for its not only tantalizingly delicious Cheese & Charcuterie boards but boards that are a pure artistic creation that evokes and entices all of the senses.

Chef Joshua Breen has been with Annata for three years and has been given the freedom to invoke his passion for his craft in his own way. In all honesty, we have not given Annata its just due in the past couple of years. Chef Joshua started posting pictures on Facebook of specials that we could not ignore. You want to just scarf down the pictures of his sexy food with your eyes. Chef Joshua says, “While at Bricco Ristorante in Boston, where I worked under Chefs Marisa Iocco and Victor Paone, I was taught more about passion and flavors and how people eat with their eyes first and that has always been in my mind ever since.” Chef Joshua is definitely St Petersburg’s rising star in our culinary world. His specials are always so creative that it’s hard to order off of the regular menu.

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We had heard fantastic things about the Steak Crudo so we had to have it and it did not disappoint. It consists of “raw” prime beef, quail egg, gribiche, caper berries, crispy garlic and grana cheese.

The way to eat this for the most intense effect is to put some crudo on a toast point with a bit of egg, take a bite of a caper berry and combine.

Kevin ordered the Pan Seared Hogfish special - marinated in ginger, lemongrass, ponzu soy served over rice gnocchi with a vegetable stir fry (this is traditionally a Korean dish called Tteok-Bokki-Tteok) including sesame seeds, roasted peanuts and crispy garlic. It is lightly crispy on the outside, moist and tender inside with light and buttery Asian flavors that tantalize the senses. The roasted peanuts and sesame seeds give the dish a nice crunch addition to the texture with the rice gnocchi and the vegetables.

I saw a picture of Chef’s Chicken Parmigiana special and had been craving it ever since, so I was praying that they had it still that night.

And luckily they did. It is made with Colina Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Bucatini Pasta, Fresh Basil and Grana cheese. This is by far and away the best chicken parmigiana I have had the pleasure of eating. Fantastic Italian comfort food taken to the next level.

On another visit, I tried the Tuna Tartare and it is the best I have ever eaten. It is made with jalapeño citrus vinaigrette, crispy

DINING OUT

wonton, soy ponzu reduction, avocado and sits atop a seaweed salad. The seaweed salad is ingenious with this dish. The textures and flavors are so well balanced, with a bit of heat, a bit of sweet, richness from the soy and crunch from the wonton. This has ruined me for all other Tuna Tartare.

From the main menu we had also been eyeing the Oxtail Tortelloni since the last time we were there. This is a dish of Oxtail & ricotta stuffed pasta, guanciale, carrot and bone marrow brodo. This dish has wonderful homey, umami flavors combined with the perfect juicy and tender chewiness of the meat. We also shared the Pesci which is the chef’s daily inspiration. His inspiration that night was Pan Seared Black-Fin Snapper and Diver Scallops over Sweet Potato Hummus and Gnocchetti with English Pea Chimichurri. Look at the glistening sear on the snapper and the scallops. They cut like butter with just a fork.

Annata’s Famous Cheese & Charcuterie After all of that, who has room for dessert? Our server brought us the house Olive Oil Cake with Pistachio Crème and Honey. We could not resist its light and airy goodness. Not too sweet and melts in your mouth. It came with fresh strawberries and cream and two specialty gelatos – fresh strawberry and salted gelato - made exclusively for Chef Joshua by Mazzaro’s .

PHOTOS/ WWW.STEPETERSBURGFOODIES.COM

Pan Seared Hogfish

Oh, and did I mention that they have a superb wine program and have won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence three years in a row - they were just recently awarded for 2018. Annata does not take reservations and are always busy, so go early and prepare for a bit of a wait. Or maybe you will get lucky and find a spot at the bar. There is a reason Annata is always full! Isn’t it time you find out why?

Lori Brown and Kevin Godbee write about the local restaurant scene at stpetersburgfoodies.com

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DINING OUT

Stillwaters Tavern

224 Beach Dr. NE St. Petersburg stillwaterstavern.com (727) 350-1019

PHOTO/ WWW.STEPETERSBURGFOODIES.COM

Grilled Norwegian Salmon

BY LORI BROWN Stillwaters Tavern is, in their own words, “A Modern American Tavern, where classic American dishes blend harmoniously with Old World flavors. The menu highlights items from both land and sea, with a focus on bringing unique flavors from our kitchen to your table.” They work with local artisans and farmers to serve the best available seasonal foods. The restaurant and its menu is a collaboration between Chef Jeffrey Jew and Director of Operations Thomas Sanborn. We know that they personally travel both nationally and internationally to seek inspiration for new dishes.

This night, my mother and father were joining Kevin and me for dinner. We have learned in our recent visits that Chef Jeffrey makes some of the best fresh soups around. Regularly on the menu is their amazing New England Clam Chowder, but we always ask about the soup of the day because it is typically fantastic. Tonight’s was a homemade vegetable soup. And as expected, it was bursting with flavors from the nice mix of spices and vegetables.

My mother ordered the Grilled Norwegian Salmon with cheddar grits, braised greens, succotash and Virginia ham pan jus. It was definitely the winner visually, though all of the presentations were stunning. My father ordered the Blue Crab Spaghetti made with Maryland style blue crab, fresh spaghetti, heirloom tomatoes, fresh herbs and Old Bay bread crumbs. He didn’t leave a bite on his plate.

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Kevin ordered the Pan Fried Ramen with smoked pork, Chinese sausage, market veggies, a marinated soft boiled egg, toasted peanuts, bean sprouts and Thai basil. Basically, this is a broth-less ramen dish that he describes as “succulent and savory, like an elevated Asian comfort food.”

I chose to order the Hanger Steak and I am thrilled I did. It is wood grilled and made with roasted seasonal vegetables, buttermilk mashed potatoes and house steak sauce. The steak was cooked a perfect mid-rare and the carrots and trumpet mushrooms a perfect mix with the mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes, especially well made ones, are not easy to find on menus these days. This dish was a complete overall success.

Hardly ever do we order dessert, but mom was looking like she wanted to. So I suggested that we share the Dark Chocolate Cremeaux. It is made with peanut butter pretzel and finished with chocolate caviar pearls. The ooohs and aaaahs all around the table were all warranted for this creamy delicious perfection of yumminess. It was the perfect size for all of us to share.

If you’ve never been or it has been a while since you last visited Stillwaters Tavern, you are in for a real treat!

Lori Brown and Kevin Godbee write about the local restaurant scene at StPetersburgFoodies.com

DINING OUT

Rawk Star Café

740 Central Ave. St. Petersburg rawkstarcafe.com (727) 440-6026 Monday – Thursday 7 am – 7 pm Friday-Saturday 7 am – 9 pm Sunday 11 am – 5 pm PHOTOS/ WWW.STEPETERSBURGFOODIES.COM

Raw Burger

BY LORI BROWN Mike and Arielle Collins are a brother and sister team born and raised here in St. Petersburg. Now they are the proud proprietors of Rawk Star Café downtown. There is one other location in Oldsmar that has been around for eight years.

Mike and Arielle fell in love with the plant-based, raw and organic driven concept and asked the owners for years to let them buy a franchise. Mike says, “this took five years to come to fruition. They weren’t established in order to franchise.” They finally went through the process. Now Mike and Arielle’s dream of bringing the Rawk Star Café brand to St. Pete, is alive and cooking (so to speak).

Mike describes Rawk Star as “a business with a purpose and with lots of heart behind it.” And do they ever mean that. The cafe opens at 7 am but they are in at 5 am. “At 5 in the morning we are doing everything from making the burgers, which require about eight hours of preparation. And everything we use here is 100% organic, soy free, requires nuts, seeds, spices and vegetables and that is all we are using in the food. There are no burners, no grease trap, no gas line. All we require for our food preparation is dehydrators.”

Some of Rawk Star’s offerings are their plant-based, raw, organic version of burgers, pizza, onion rings, spaghetti, tacos, salads and, of course, desserts. The original Rawk Star does not sell alcohol, but the St Pete location does offer all organic beer and wine. They even have gluten free beer. They also have Mother Kombucha on tap and they make smoothies, organic pressed juices and wheat grass shots in-house.

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They were so excited about their sweets offerings that they started us off with dessert. We weren’t going to argue. And boy were we in for a surprise. They do pies, cheesecakes, donuts, different macaroons, chocolate turtles. They sweeten the desserts with agave, stevia and erythritol.

Our first treat was what they call Bullet Balls. These are made from bulletproof coffee, cashews, cashew butter, coconut flakes, cacao nibs, lucuma, sesame seed butter, Smart-E, vanilla bean, vanilla stevia and sea salt. It was like popping a shot of creamy mocha cold coffee in your mouth. You would never know that this was not made with sugar or traditional chocolate.

The same goes for the La Caramel Turtle bites which look like chocolate, taste like chocolate, but is not traditional chocolate.

It is what they call raw chocolate. To create the raw chocolate they use cacao butter, cacao, agave, lucuma, vanilla bean and spices.

Next up was Blueberry Cheesecake and Key Lime Pie. How do you make cheesecake or key lime pie without cheese, you ask?

They create the elements of cheese for the cheesecake with cashews which give it the creamy texture and flavor. Same elements are used for the Key Lime Pie just different flavoring techniques. We were completely stunned by how good these desserts were.

Mike and Arielle are full vegan. In Arielle’s words, “Sometimes the word vegan can be off-putting. People think oh, that’s not for me. I am not vegan, I can’t eat there.” At Rawk Star they strive to infuse everything with tons of flavor so that anyone

DINING OUT feels they can eat there. “We want to make sure that there is something for everybody.”

Okay, now for these carnivores to try plant-based, raw, organic, flavor infused food. We started with the Thai Lettuce Plate with Guacamole and Crack (their version of crackers or chips). Mike says that this dish is one of the easiest for meat eaters to start with. The “meat” consists of ground walnut and different spices.

Carrots and walnuts are what give it that meaty sort of texture.

The taco’s “nacho cheese” sauce is made primarily of red bell peppers.

The Thai Lettuce Wrap was our personal favorite. Simple ingredients packed with flavor. Another easier dish for newbies to enjoy are the salads. Drumbeat Salad is a blend of organic, mixed baby greens served with freshly chopped cucumber, celery, carrots, tomato and red bell pepper with an eggless nut pate as a protein substitute. The dressing is raw hemp seed oil and raw apple cider vinegar for a great tangy flavor.

Also on the menu: • Egg-less Wrap made with their Egg-Less Nut Pate (macadamia nuts, cashews, turnip, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, lemon, etc.) wrapped in a collard leaf with mixed baby greens, cucumber, celery, carrots, tomato, and red bell pepper.

• Rawghetti is zucchini pasta and kelp noodles served with a hemp pesto sauce, topped with fresh veggies.

• Raw Burgers are made with sunflower seeds, shiitake mushroom, sun-dried tomatoes, green cabbage, zucchini,

carrots and select herbs - served between their flatbread consisting of sunflower seeds, freshly ground flax seeds, black sesame seeds and coconut. Each burger is topped with their house tahini mustard sauce along with organic baby lettuce, sliced tomato, cucumber and a dehydrated onion ring.

• Raw Chili Plate made with fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, carrots, celery, shiitake mushroom, red bell pepper, and jalapeno and cayenne served over a bed of thinly chopped zucchini, and then topped with a macadamia nut “sour cream,” fresh tomatoes and their house-blended Prama Sprinkle.

Carnivore or vegan, check out Rawk Star Café, if even for the desserts. You will be completely surprised!

Lori Brown and Kevin Godbee cover the restaurant scene at stpetersburgfoodies.com.

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FOOD BITES

I’ll Have The Snapper

Fans of the Animal Planet’s hit series “Tanked” might recall the 2014 episode that featured the installation of a 33,500-gallon aquarium in the new RumFish Grill on St. Pete Beach. Taking up an entire wall of the dining room, the aquarium offers diners a serene backdrop of the magical underwater world of the Gulf of Mexico, with its colorful coral and indigenous fish including snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, grouper, snapper, a nurse shark and even an eel.

RumFish has made the most of the tank by offering visitors a “Swim With the Fishes” experience – a 10-minute drop-in snorkel that might just be as entertaining for diners as it is for the participants. The session includes a behind the scenes tour highlighting ecoinitiatives and tank management. Cost is $35 plus tax; visit swimwithourfishes. com or call (727) 329-1433 or ext. 3531. ........................................

The beachside RumFish Grill at Guy Harvey Outpost has a sibling. Southwest Airlines passengers will see the eyecatching aquarium of the RumFish Grill at Airside C at Tampa International Airport. The airport’s makeover in the last two years has resulted in an outstanding array of eateries, many representing Tampa Bay establishments.

Choices include Cigar City Brewing, Columbia Café, Goody Goody, Pappas Fresh Greek, Four Green Fields, Buddy Brew, Bella’s Cafe, and much more.

Shake It Up Whether you’re the adventurous or simplistic milkshake enthusiast, these five spots in the ‘Burg serve up dreamy, creamy concoctions to satisfy any craving.

Mini Doughnut Factory • 730 4th St N 2nd & Second • 201 2nd Ave N. URBAN Creamery • 689 Central Ave Dairy Inn • 1201 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N. Annex at 400 Beach • 400 Beach Dr NE. StPetersburgFoodies.com

St Pete’s Picture Perfect Real Estate Group

Pia Hiotis 614-561-5996 • Cynthia Serra 727-580-3335 • Dan Casper 773-965-6465 • Connie Lancaster 727-741-2000

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1100 4th Street North • Suite 200 St. Petersburg, FL 33701

FOOD BITES

Wine Award

Kudos to Rococo Steak for being awarded the 2018 Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for the fifth year in a row. The award recognizes that Rococo Steak’s wine collection displays excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions from top producers, along with superior presentation. Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a

deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team. More than 4,000 entries are submitted to Wine Spectator each year for consideration. Rococo Steak is located at 655 2nd Ave. S. in downtown St. Petersburg and is part of Caledon Concepts, a boutique restaurant group that includes Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant and Che Lounge. rococosteak.com

Great Expectations Several highly anticipated establishments coming to St. Pete this fall:

chef Rachel Bennett during breakfast, lunch and dinner. peabodyrestaurant.com.

The Peabody: The minds behind Tampa’s Oxford Exchange will bring The Peabody to the research and education building of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, 600 Fifth Street S. The library-inspired dining room — billed as a community gathering place and open to the public — specializes in light bites from executive

Crafty Squirrel: The buzz here is all about specialty drinks served in teapots — alongside artisan pizzas and 60-plus beers from around the globe — in the building formerly occupied by Fortunato’s Italian Kitchen at 259 Central Ave. Pinky up or down?

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Grab your group and get hooked on happy hour specials every afternoon, float by for live entertainment in the evening or dive into a unique dining experience next to our 33,500 gallon aquarium!

6000 Gulf Blvd. | St. Pete Beach RumFishGrill.com | 727.329.1428

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FASHION

Shine On

Make a statement with metallics, gems, and eye-catching accessories

BY MEGAN SIMONS When it comes to fashion, what do you do to shine bright like a diamond?

You surely can wear sequins head to toe. They are magical and will give you the dimension of light added to a color, they are also very trendy. I love how sequins give heaviness to a fabric and how they sensually drape on a body, but I can also understand that the flamboyant and attention-grabbing outfits can be intimidating and over-thetop for some of the fashionistas out there.

There are many ways to glam up the little black dress, take an outfit from day to evening or simply use metallic fabrics during daytime without looking overdressed. If you want to use two or more shiny upgrades to your outfit, do not match them.

Instead of matching the colors, rather have fun and mix with other metallic tones. Imagine your gold shoes with a bronze bag, or even better - introduce color to your shine, and add emerald earrings. Try to go for the blue, green, orange, red or purple. Don’t be afraid to attempt to wear something new, out-of-the-box. Combining several metallic shades and colors may be more rewarding, and an easier update to your existing wardrobe than you would ever imagine.

Contemplate exciting and exceptional accessories, like Mary Frances handbags added to your attire. Richly embellished,

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often with multi-colored rhinestones, whimsical, three dimensional shapes and inspiring themes, they are world-class handbags and there is something to meet every taste and style.

You can not only enhance a simple look, but add charisma and a personal touch with such a unique piece as an accessory.

Let’s not forget about the obvious accessory - jewelry.

Your first decision is – jewelry or clothing? What do you want the focus of your outfit to be?

If you’re wearing bold clothing, then it’s a good idea to go with smaller, more subtle jewelry pieces as a supplemental highlight. A simple outfit will almost always look transformed into something special with the right jewelry. Choose one piece that really makes a statement, such as the magnificent jewelry by designer Rodrigo Otazu. He has designed jewelry for celebrity clientele such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears. If you know Rodrigo, you also know that his designs have the irrefutable ability to make you stand out in the most voguish crowd, look chic but also edgy.

One statement necklace is all you need with any outfit.

Megan Simons is owner of Pippa Pelure, a women’s fine clothing and accessories boutique in downtown St. Petersburg. She can be reached at pippapelure@ tampabay.rr.com

EVENTS

Celebrating Cultures This year, the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) Annual Folk Fair reminds us who we are: a fabric of cultures woven into a United States. SPIFFS 44th Annual International Folk Fair will be held October 25-28 at Vinoy Park. The festival showcases arts and crafts, music, food and performances from three dozen cultures, each representing immigrants from nations across the globe. The groups will unite in a Grand Parade of Nations, culminating in a swearing-in ceremony of new American citizens.

Folk dancing and music will be performed throughout the festival on two stages. Some highlights include Giving Tree Music drum circles, Polynesian dancers, student performers and music featuring the Mongolian “Horse Head Violin” (Morin Khuur). Look for local favorites such as Urban Gypsies, Brazilian Samba by O Som Do Jazz,

October 19-23 The Palladium Theater Sung in Italian with English projections above the stage.

New Horizon Band of Gulfport, Irish Lift Band and The Islanders Greek Band. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for students and free for children under six. Go to www.spiffsFolkFair.org

St Pete Oprah Artistic director Mark Sforzini brings the sexy, irresistible Giovanni to life! When the illustrious conquistador kills the father of Donna Anna, events are set in motion to bring the handsome, arrogant youth to justice. Mozart’s popular opera is often referred to as a dramma giocoso blending serious and comic action – add supernatural elements and the riveting musical score and you have an evening of great entertainment. Go to stpeteopera.org or call (727) 823-2040.

Pippa Pelure invites you to

Rodrigo Otazu Trunk Show Starting Friday Sept 21, 11:00 am

Be the first to see and own a piece of Rodrigo’s famous Bali collection.

Rodrigo is considered one of most influential jewelry designers, working with many celebrities from Lady Gaga, Madonna, Kathy Perry, J Lo and many more.

Every woman should have a piece of Rodrigo Otazu.

Create The Bedroom of Your Dreams

Luxury Sleep Spaces Master Suites, Guest Rooms, Yachts 571-471-3600 • BedsideRetreat.com

Pippa Pelure

50 Beach Drive NE • St. Pete (727) 623-0926 Visit us on Facebook - Pippa Pelure September/October 2018

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FASHION

Global Traveler Men can hit the road in comfort and style by simply going Bohemian

BY RO MARTINEZ RIMES Boho is a blend of color, ethnic touches and texture layered to perfection. Call it hippie, gypsy or tribal. I call it eclectic poetry. Boho hints at adventure, as if a well-traveled fashionista found treasure in pieces crafted by artisans from the other side of the world.

Boho or Bohemian style was made popular by Bohemians. Some view them as a group of artists or gypsies. Others view them as free-spirited adventurers who refused to conform to the norm. Today, Boho is more a look than a way of life. Men are at home with this style because of its ease. Mixing appeals to men who do not worry about the perfect matching combination.

Rick Saltarelli, of Salty Breeze Cruise Planners, shared this great travel tip: “The days are long gone when one traveled with multiple suitcases and large steamer trunks. Today’s savvy travelers know that the airlines limit baggage in three ways: number of pieces, size of luggage, and weight. Travelers should understand the type of weather they will encounter over the length of their trip and pack accordingly. Having layers that you can peel like an onion is always a good idea. I also suggest that it may be easier to do laundering part of the way through a trip than it is to pack and transport a second piece of luggage.”

Select and pack suitable clothing to enjoy your holiday the moment you arrive. When packing follow our advice: Fabrics: Choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, silk, linen, and wool in solid colors or prints inspired by tribal patterns. Natural fabrics wear well and breathe, keeping you cool. Comfort is always important when it comes to wardrobe but paramount while on vacation.

Photos by angelamannphotography.com Concept and styling by Ro Martinez Rimes Apparel provided by Sartorial Inc Makeup and Hair by Monique McLaughlin, makeupandhairbymonique.com Jewelry by Tiffany Garvin, originallyuniqueaccessories.com

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Accessories: Reach for accessories: hats, scarves, necklaces and bracelets made from hand crafted natural materials. “Originally Unique Accessories is a custom handmade jewelry line for men and

FASHION women. The Bohemian look is one of the hottest looks out right now. That’s why I wanted to create a modern and unique look for anyone who wears it. It can make a bold statement anywhere they go,” said Tiffany Garvin.

Do your research: Speak to your travel agent or surf the web to find weather conditions for time of the year you plan to travel.

Planning prior to packing day will allow you to prepare for the climate.

Easy care: Spending less time arranging for dry cleaning means you will have more time and money to enjoy on vacation. Choose clothing made from washable, lightweight fabrics that dry quickly.

Care for your investment and expect to wear tried and true pieces a decade from now.

At St. Pete’s Sartorial Inc., their fashion forward merchandise is perfect for the discriminating world traveler who demands quality over quantity. Natural fabrics, lightweight and stylish, not only

travel well but wick away moisture resulting in ultimate comfort.

Owner Jose Martinez suggests Cone Mills mid-weight jeans that have “just the right amount of stretch. Super-soft and incredibly comfortable through seat and thigh. It comes in a subtle wash that requires no break-in,” he says.

Blending pieces creates a one-of-a-kind look that is effortless and artistic. Try not to copy what you see on the runway or magazines; use it as inspiration to develop your own Boho style. Look for lightweight clothing that can be layered for function and style and removed as needed. With a little planning you will look fashionably ready for any occasion and type of weather. You worked hard to create your itinerary so don’t be ill prepared, looking good is easy when you know what to pack. Bon Voyage!

Ro Martinez Rimes and Angela Mann are part of the Angela Mann Commercial Photography creative team. They can be reached at (727) 518-4977.

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SPOTLIGHT

Webb’s City The Musical

A Nostalgic Celebration of St. Pete’s Eclectic History Returns

Webb’s City: The Musical Friday, Sept. 21 8 pm Saturday, Sept. 22 8 pm Sunday, Sept. 23 3 pm The Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Avenue N., St. Petersburg Tickets $29, $39 mypalladium.org or (727) 822-3590

Five Decades of the American Dream in The Story of One Man

BY CINDY STOVALL

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Dancing chickens? Mermaids swimming in a tank by the gift shop? Maybe you’d like a haircut and a shoeshine while having your prescriptions filled and new tires put on your car. Oh, and don’t forget the toothpaste and some socks. Sounds like the ultimate retail/entertainment fever dream, but as Dorothy would say about Oz, “It was a really truly live place.”

forerunner of the megastore shopping center. Desperate to attract customers during the Great Depression, Doc Webb incorporated the popular Florida tourist attraction vibe to go along with the meat market, hardware store, beauty salon, travel agency, cafeteria, clothing store, and of course, pharmacy. And that just scratches the surface!

St. Pete natives of a “certain age” have direct knowledge of this bizarre retail reality and they remember Webb’s City with fond nostalgia and the inevitable chuckle. The brainchild of medicine man turned entrepreneur, James Earl “Doc” Webb, Webb’s City became the

Doc’s prevailing philosophy was, “stack it high and sell it cheap.” He was a loveable huckster, known as the “P.T. Barnum of retail,” and he was a driven man, bent on success at any cost. To attract the coveted tourist trade, beside the chickens and mermaids, there were also chimps,

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baseball playing ducks, zucchinis shot from cannons in the parking lot, citrus shipping, and an Arthur Murray dance studio on the roof. And it worked!

At the height of its success in the 1940’s, Webb City encompassed 10 city blocks with some 77 different stores and grossed $4 million dollars per year. Thousands came from near and far to see the wonder that was Webb’s City. It was known as the ‘World’s Most Unusual Drug Store” and is even credited with the invention of the “10 items or less” express lane.

But all good dreams must come to an end. With the advent of widely available

SPOTLIGHT shopping centers and some questionable business moves like 2 cent breakfasts and 1 dollar bills sold for 95 cents (sometimes a volume business just doesn’t quite add up), sales and crowds dwindled until, finally, the doors closed for good in 1979. But five decades is a pretty good run by any standard, and the legacy will live on forever.

On with the show Enter playwright Bill Leavengood. A St. Pete native, Leavengood is a prolific storyteller and educator. Though he has been the playwrighting and theater director at Shorecrest Preparatory School for over a decade and adjunct professor at USF, Leavengood is a two-time Eugene O’Neil Award winner with Off-Broadway success at Circle Repertory, Primary Stages, Town Hall, and The Chelsea Playhouse.

His 50+ plays have also been produced around the country, and if that isn’t enough, he is a successful author, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and dramaturge.

In 1999, as Pinellas County was preparing to celebrate its centennial, Leavengood wanted to participate with a local story, produced for the stage. When his first idea of Gasparilla met with stony silence (organizers weren’t keen on celebrating a Tampa event for a Pinellas celebration), Leavengood came up with the concept for Webb’s City. The play was a rousing success and before long, made the rounds at venues such as the Mahaffey and Ruth Eckerd Hall. With performers like Eric Davis (founder and artistic director at freeFall Theatre Company), and Roxanne Fay in early productions, Webb’s City: The Musical achieved such great popularity, that Leavengood and his wife decided to start a notfor-profit company, “Will Not Di Artists” to keep it going for future audiences.

Enter Paul Wilborn, Executive Director of the historic Palladium Theater. Wilborn is a Tampa native, but he was working as a journalist in Los Angeles at the time of the first Webb’s City: The Musical production. An accomplished musician himself, Wilborn recounts: “When I returned to town to take over the helm at the Palladium in 2007, someone gave me a soundtrack and I was blown away. I knew that a show of this quality with a local theme was just what I was looking for.”

The current upcoming production, in concert format, will be the show’s third time on the Palladium stage. “Lee Ahlin’s music is original, authentic, and just stays in your head,” says Wilborn. Ahlin, the composer, was a co-worker of Leavengood’s at Shorecrest and is widely considered one of the best by all who have had the pleasure of performing his songs. Wilborn says that one of his favorite songs in the show, “Wasn’t it a Good Ride,” has been requested by many friends for multiple events – even a funeral. “I’m thrilled to have Webb’s City: The Musical back at the Palladium.”

Casting Call Enter the cast. For this interview, I had the pleasure of meeting, not only with Bill Leavengood and Paul Wilborn, but also with Jim Sorensen, actor and managing director at American Stage, Cranstan Cumberbatch, actor and filmmaker, and Charles Reynolds, an attorney and lifelong friend of Leavengood.

Sorenson plays Doc Webb himself, conspicuously against type, as Webb was notably short and Sorenson tops 6 feet.

“They had to edit all dialogue and song references that dealt with height. All the ‘littles’ and ‘smalls’ had to go,” Sorenson chuckled.

Jim Sorensen shines again in the lead role as Doc Webb.

Bill Leavengood, right, and Lee Ahlin.

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SPOTLIGHT The lone man in the room not from the Bay area, Sorenson enjoyed learning about Webb and all of his entrepreneurial shenanigans. “I was especially taken with how much Doc Webb was ultimately loved by the community, but also moved by how much his most intimate relationships suffered as a result of his ambition. He is a full, rich character that translates well in any story.”

Cranstan Cumberbatch plays Leo, Webb’s lifelong friend, confidant, and advisor.

The Leo character is a fictional amalgam representing the African American community of the time, but it was important to Leavengood to have the role be that of peer and friend, not subordinate. “ I am thrilled to be part of this production,” Cumberbatch says. “I remember a little about Webb’s City growing up ... something about chickens,” he smiles. “But it was on its way out when I was small.” A scene near the end between Webb and Leo at the Green Benches in Williams Park is especially moving, both historically and emotionally.

But, I’m a writer not a spoiler, so you’ll just have to go to the show to see it!

Charles Reynolds grew up in St. Pete with Leavengood. They were students together at Shorecrest, and though he is an attorney, not a professional actor, Reynolds loves getting to indulge his thespian pursuits for Webb’s City: The Musical. He plays the key antagonist, Frank Hubert, another character amalgam that represents a very oppositional business community. “The best part of playing Frank, is getting actual jeers and hisses from audience members leaving the theater. That’s when I feel I’ve delivered,” Reynolds laughs.

Of course, real life characters figure prominently in Doc Webb’s story. For instance, Webb’s two wives and his embattled son are present, clearly portraying the sometimes wrenching cost of success. Local legends Nelson Poynter Jr. and Lou Brown of the long defunct Evening Independent make appearances as well, adding to the historical authenticity of the piece. Ever loyal to his local talent resources, Leavengood uses his Shorecrest students in the cast and ensemble as well.

Everyone in the room agrees that Webb’s City: The Musical is a universal, yet locally

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inspired story, expertly told with complex characters and beautiful, Broadway quality music. It has all the history, conflict, love, loss, and laughter that you could ever possibly want in a stage show. Leavengood sums it up: “It’s five decades of the American Dream in the story of one man.”

To hear the full length interview of this story on the Beauty & The ‘Burg Podcast go to www.heliumradio.com or download the Helium Radio APP

EVENTS

Good ‘Burger Awards

A Good ‘Burger is a business, organization, or individual in greater St. Pete making a positive impact in our community. The 6th annual Good ‘Burger Awards, presented by the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, brought a packed house on August 30 to the State Theater.

The evening kicked off with mixing and mingling with nibbles and noshes supplied by local restaurants and sponsors. The awards began with a welcome by Chamber of Commerce President Chris Steinocher and Mayor Rick Kriseman, with emcee duties handled by DJ Fresh.

Winners of the 2018 Good ‘Burger Awards were: Arts and Culture - The Dali Museum Hot Spots & Hangouts - Saturday Morning Market Eats & Treats - Locale Market Community Conscious: Grassroots - Preserve the ‘Burg Community Conscious: Large - Friends of Strays Animal Shelter Makers & Creators - St. Petersburg Distillery Cool Companies: Small - Coast Bike Share Cool Companies: Large - Raymond James Financial New Biz on the Block - SPCA Tampa Bay Veterinary Center People’s Choice - Candace Hulcher, Boys & Girls Clubs Most Valuable Burger - Tom James Tom James, Chairman Emeritus of Raymond James Financial and founder of St. Pete’s new James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, received the top award – Most Valuable ‘Burger.

PHOTOS/RAFAEL SERRANO SKYSHUTTER MEDIA

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ARTS & CULTURE

Rock Of Ages Exhibit takes a walk through rock concert history – and it’s a real trip

BY MARCIA BIGGS

In an unusual move, the Florida Holocaust Museum is stepping outside the box in presenting Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution. But this collection of rock and roll concert history is stunning - and the story behind the legendary rock concert promoter leaves the viewer with a sense of awe.

The connection to the Holocaust, you ask? In the first gallery, the visitor quickly learns that young Wolfgang Wolodia Grajonca was an orphaned Holocaust refuge, shipped to the United States at the age of 11 to escape the brutal Nazi terrorism happening in Europe. This experience fueled Graham’s lifelong passion and advocacy for justice.

How good is this collection? Next stop is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. It’s that good.

Recognized as one of the most influential concert promoters in history, Graham launched the careers of countless rock and roll legends in the 1960s at his famed Fillmore Auditorium. He conceived rock and roll as a powerful force for supporting humanitarian causes and was instrumental in the production of milestone benefit concerts such as Live Aid (1985) and Human Rights Now! (1988).

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution is billed as a retrospective about the life and career of Graham, but it is much more. Mainly a photographic exhibit, those of a certain age (Baby Boomers, mainly) will be

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drawn in by the powerful images taken during concerts and backstage of legends of the rock world from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

A number of photos were taken by Baron

Wolman, Rolling Stone’s Chief Photographer during this time, who is coming in for a special public event on October 24.

It’s a walk through rock concert history, with each gallery moving through the decades showing images of our favorite artists and concerts. Woodstock. Live Aid. Jimi, Janis, Aretha. Crosby Stills & Nash. Jefferson Starship. Santana, Fleetwood Mac, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, and the Rolling Stones. For an extra shot of nostalgia, look for “listening stations,” headsets on the wall next to each of the major bands represented, where you can listen to live recordings of concerts held at Bill Graham’s venues.

Throw in some authentic concert posters, Santana’s guitar, an outfit worn by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin’s tambourine, Keith Richards’ beat-up leather boots, and a selection of video and movie clips and you’ll think you entered rock and roll heaven. (Sadly, many of the subjects are now deceased, including Graham who perished in a helicopter crash in 1991.)

If you have not yet visited the museum, now is the time to go. Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution depicts an important part of American history. It will be on display through February 10, 2019.

The Florida Holocaust Museum is located at 55 5th Street S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. For more information, go to flholocaustmuseum.org

ARTS & CULTURE

James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art An outstanding juried show of wildlife art, Art and the Animal, is the first special exhibition to take center stage at the new James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. Organized in collaboration with The Society of Animal Artists (SAA), the exhibition includes the option for guests to purchase art from the show.

An international slate of artists are represented in the 125 paintings and sculptures on display in the 58th annual exhibition from the SAA featuring wild and domestic creatures great and small, on land, sea and air, in a wide range of media and artistic expression.

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art is located at 150 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. For more information go to thejamesmuseum.org or call (727) 892-4200.

Stacked Coyotes & Ravens by Andrew Denman

Society of Animal Artists – Meet the Artists October 5 6-8 pm Enjoy cocktails and light bites while mingling with nearly 50 members of the Society of Animal Artists. Attendees receive one complimentary beverage; cash bar available.

Tickets $50; $45 for members; available on the web site.

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ARTS & CULTURE

The kids are back in school, new seasons of art and theater begin, and we Floridians dare to hope for relief from constant humidity and 90+ degree temperatures. Overall, it’s a wonderful time of year here in our beautiful ‘Burg, and so I share a small sampling of all the cultural delights of Autumn.

BY CINDY STOVALL

Presented at Opera Central in Preis Hall with a cast of wonderful singers and a chamber orchestra. stpeteopera. org

ON STAGE freeFall Theatre Company has dedicated the new 2018-19 season to the theme “A Brighter Tomorrow.” And what better way to begin than with the longest running musical in theater history, The Fantasticks. (I learn something new every day writing this column.) Based on “Les Romanesques”

by Edmond Rostand, it’s a timeless tale of love, family, and how plans to manipulate life often go awry and must be overcome. Add the special freeFall touches like puppets (yes, puppets), actor musicians, and some wonderful surprises and you get a unique and captivating take on a classic. The Fantasticks opens on September 22 and runs through October 21. freefalltheatre.com The St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival enters its fifth year with the wind at their backs. Veronica Matthews, Artistic Director, has found many creative ways to subsidize the company’s two full length productions per year in a way that puts the fun in fundraising. You can even catch single “In a Day” readings of Shakespeare’s works at the Studio @620 each month in anticipation of the full productions (Check thestudioat620.org for schedule). This fall, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will open on October 26 at the re-emerging historic venue, Williams Park, right in the heart of downtown. This wildly satisfying romantic comedy is one of my personal favorites, so I’ll see you in the park! Runs through November 11. stpeteshakesfest.org

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MUSEUM HAPPENINGS

St. Petersburg City Theatre has been a mainstay in community theater since 1925. That’s quite a run – one that deserves our applause and support. We almost lost this treasure this past year, but a tenacious fundraising campaign has kept the footlights on. Now I appeal to you to help keep the curtains going up in the upcoming 94th season by supporting this gem in St. Pete’s theatrical crown. The youth educational programs and camps at SPCT are second to none. With that in mind, check out the youth production of The Addams Family on Oct. 26-27, just in time for Halloween. Looking ahead, we find the always anticipated “A Christmas Carol” on the calendar opening on December 7. spcitytheatre.org Make sure you catch “Pinocchio” November 9-18 at the St. Pete Opera Company. The wooden boy learns the value of telling the truth in this classic story, set to music of Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Offenbach, and more. The whole family is welcome to this one-hour performance suitable for all ages.

This Is Not A Selfie: Photographic SelfPortraits from the Audrey and Sydney Irmas Collection opened at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg in late August. In its first appearance on the East Coast, this collection from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art explores the history of the self-portrait in the art of photography. Sixty-six pieces spanning over 150 years are on display, including works by Andy Warhol, Diane Arbus and Cindy Sherman. Three interactive areas will allow patrons to express their own selfie creativity through exploration of light, shape and reflection. Runs through November 25. mfastpete.org The Dali Museum hosts the year’s biggest surrealist soiree on October 20 with the event, Suenos de Dali: Dali in NYC. The theme traces Dali’s footsteps in the city that never sleeps from his first American solo show, to Andy Warhol’s birthday at Studio 54. Of course, there are many weird steps in between and you can experience it all, from Broadway to Central Park starting at 8 pm. Tickets: www.thedali.org The current exhibit: Clyde Butcher: Visions of Dali’s Spain is not to be missed and runs through November 25.

The Imagine Museum is host to the work of many of history’s most important glass

ARTS & CULTURE

GALLERY & ALTERNATIVE SELECTIONS Creative Pinellas is an organization that tirelessly supports the arts throughout the county via education, collaboration, grants, and generally great programming.

To help us get to know some of the best and brightest new artists, Creative Pinellas is launching “10 Artists That Should be on Your Radar: Emerging Artists Exhibit”. The exhibition starts with an opening reception on Sept. 27 at 6 pm in the Gallery at Creative Pinellas’ Largo campus, and will feature live performances as well as the premier of the new visual art created for specifically for the show. To optimize

the community’s ability to see the work, the Gallery will continue to be open for the weekend through Sept 30. Kudos to Executive Director, Barbara St. Clair.

PHOTO/MARCIA BIGGS

artists. A very special exhibit currently graces the galleries, so make sure you see the beautiful work of Paul Stankard in a collection entitled Unseen Worlds.

Stankard has been an internationally acclaimed studio glass pioneer and glass paperweight master since 1961. His work is on display at over 60 museums worldwide. This exhibit of his paper weights takes us inside an intimate world of natural beauty. It runs through January 13. imaginemuseum.com

Here’s something great for locals and out of town visitors alike. The Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club hosts “Art Fridays” each week from 5:30-7:30 pm.

Hosted by Bella Unica Art Gallery & Events in the main lobby, each week showcases the work off one of our amazing local artists. The program effectively introduces guests to great Florida talent. It’s also a great way for the Vinoy to entertain guests and support local artists at the same time!

We love a win/win.

In closing, I’d like to share a special event for a very good cause. The 6th Annual Yoga Fest happens on Oct. 21 (10 am) at beautiful and historic Sunken Gardens and features many of Tampa Bay’s best yoga studios and teachers. Proceeds will benefit a yoga, meditation, and mindfulness program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?

‘Til next time….

Cindy Stovall’s Beauty & the Burg podcast covering the arts in St. Petersburg airs on Wednesdays at 6 pm at heliumradio.com.

Archives of previous shows are available.

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CONVERSATIONS

Frank Biafora

Open Partnership Education Network, USFSP Frank Biafora, sociologist, outgoing administrator, and incoming executive ST. PETE director of the Open Partnership Education Network (OPEN) at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg (USFSP), has enjoyed a long, successful career in higher education. Biafora has been facilitating partnerships between the University and the business community since he moved to St. Petersburg and took on the role of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 2007.

As Dean, Biafora has had a hand in the creation of numerous innovative programs that connect students to high impact learning opportunities and allow higher education to be more nimble in meeting the needs of employers. Paying special homage to St. Pete’s growing brewery scene, Biafora was integral in the recent creation of USF’s Brewing Arts Program.

What organizations are you involved in?

Pinellas County Urban League (PCUL) where I was chair of the board for the past two years, member of PCUL Board for six years total.

New member of Florida Humanities Council, Board of Directors. Before that, chair of Board of American Stage Theater Company. Was involved in Leadership St. Pete and in Alumni Association of Leadership St. Pete.

What gets you out of bed every day?

I have two children who are 8 years old, and they get me out of bed every day, so that’s a lot of fun. But what gets me out of bed professionally is the work that I do at the university, and the fact that we are educating the next generation of leaders here in St. Pete and in our community.

Why St. Pete?

I love St. Petersburg. I think St. Petersburg is a groovy city. I find that the people here – much like I do – we truly love the vibe of what St. Petersburg has to offer: The culture, the people. I just think that it’s one of the finest places I’ve ever lived, and the thought of ever moving out of St. Petersburg is something that pains me more than anything, to tell you the truth.

Who are some people that influence you?

Moving here to St. Petersburg, I’ve had the fortune and

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opportunity to live next to two former mayors, and they’ve been extraordinary mentors to me, too. One is Bob Ulrich, former mayor, and also Rick Baker. They’ve helped integrate me into the community, and I look to them all the time for mentorship and guidance.

What is one piece of insight – a book, methodology, practice – that you would share?

To me, one insight that’s helped get me through, and helped with my success, is visualizing success. The whole idea of just spinning your wheels and trying to go somewhere without knowing what your goal is is kind of a waste of time. And so you can be a real generalist, or you can be meaningful and specific.

I truly believe in the power of visualization, and wrapping my brain around that. I do that in the mornings through my ritual meditation. If I could give any word of advice to individuals, and to people who aspire to accomplish something, I think that you visualize yourself actually succeeding in whatever it is you want to accomplish. And then things will fall into place for you to help you get there. People will come into your place whom you didn’t even recognize, and all the serendipitous moments that happen. I believe that there’s some power out there that we can draw upon, and people recognize that in people, they see the energy, they feel the energy, and they want to help successful people succeed. Visualizing your success is one of those things I would recommend.

What’s next?

I’m going to be splitting my time, I’m going to take half my time on a re-entry sabbatical, because more than anything else I am passionate about getting back into the classroom again and teaching students. So I’m going to spend this fall semester preparing my lectures and my classes, so that I can hit the ground running starting in the springtime. The other part of my time will be spent as the executive director of OPEN, and sharing the fantastic opportunities that that affords not only the university, but the community through collaborative partnerships.

Content provided by the Catalyst, St. Pete’s daily business platform. Subscribe for free at StPeteCatalyst.com

CONVERSATIONS

Dr. Mona Henri VIP Eye Care & Optical Boutique

Dr. Mona Henri, right, and Dr Kaitlyn Rothberg, are opening a new VIP Eye Care location in Feather Sound.

BY ALLY ALANORE What sets VIP Eye Care & Optical Boutique apart from other optical shops?

We believe that all of our patients and clients deserve a V.I.P experience when it comes to their vision. Dr. Rothberg and I have an amazing and skilled staff who carries that philosophy through to every patient and customer encounter. Our patients and customers aren’t numbers and dollar signs to us. They are part of our V.I.P. family, so how you look, see and feel in your glasses is important to us.

How did VIP Eye Care come about?

My optometric career began in 1991 working in a retail optical chain. I found over the years there was increased pressure to see as many patients as you could and there seemed to be no concern for the actual care or experience the patient had in that setting. I wanted to offer a different and better experience for them. My partner of 13 years, friends and patients encouraged me to open my own practice in 2010. In July 2016, Dr. Kaitlyn Rothberg joined our practice and we grew tremendously. Due to this growth in our

practice and the St. Petersburg area, we decided to open a second location together in St. Petersburg to meet the demand.

What can customers expect from your future location in Feather Sound?

Dr. Rothberg and I want it to mirror the current location with our exam and customer service philosophies. We are expanding our eyeglass lines. Therefore, if a customer can’t find the perfect pair of glasses at our current location, they can visit our Carillon Optical Boutique to browse additional lines. This location will be closer for those traveling from northern Pinellas County. We will also be offering earlier appointment times two days a week for those wishing to come in before work.

What are your favorite eyeglass frames and trends?

I love frames that are colorful, fun and lightweight. My personal favorite lines are Modo, Bellinger, Prodesign, Woow, JF Rey and Blackfin. There are so many wonderful choices in frames, lenses and

lens treatments these days. This results in more people embracing the fact that they need to wear eyewear instead of thinking it’s horrible news. As far as eyewear trends, my favorite is more in the new blue light protective coatings and lenses to protect us from the blue light reflected off our computers, phones and pads. Usage of these devices is hard to eliminate, and it’s having major effects on our eyes and body. Any advances in eyewear to minimize that effect is always a win for the patient.

What do you love about having your office in St. Petersburg?

I grew up in St. Petersburg and have seen it evolve from a sleepy town to a progressive sought-out place to live. I love the diversity of our clientele. We truly enjoy our location in the beautiful JMC center here in Northeast St. Petersburg on Fourth Street. It’s wonderful to see the changes and growth in our immediate area.

Find out more about VIP Eye Care & Optical Boutique at vip4myeyes.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

Producing Artistic Director Stephanie Gularte’s third season is themed “LIFE. OUT LOUD.” and will feature a diverse lineup that includes four Tampa Bay Area Premieres, four female playwrights, two Pulitzer Prize winners, a Tony Award-winning musical and an American classic that continues the American Legacy Series. The 2018-2019 Main Stage Series presented by Raymond James is as follows: Between Riverside and Crazy Oct. 3 - Nov. 4 Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley Nov. 28 – Dec. 30 Pipeline Jan. 23 - Feb. 24 The Roommate March 13 - April 7

Long Day’s Journey Into Night May 29 - June 20 Fun Home July 17 – Aug. 18 American Stage in the Park Mamma Mia! April 10-May 12

Tickets can be purchased in advance at americanstage.org or the box office at 163 3rd Street N., St. Pete., or by calling (727) 823-7529.

SEASON OPENER The winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize, Between Riverside and Crazy tells the story of ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington and his newly paroled son Junior. They have spent a lifetime living between Riverside and crazy. The dog is a nuisance, the landlord wants him gone, and the NYPD is demanding a settlement on an outstanding lawsuit. After an enlightening encounter, Pops decides to take things in his own hands with a final ultimatum, while everyone else hustles to get what they think they deserve. The show runs Oct. 3 Nov. 4; contains mature content and strong language.

Join the fun on social #NotaSelfieMFA

@mfastpete

Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #5, 1977, gelatin silver print, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Audrey and Sydney Irmas Collection, © Cindy Sherman, Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York

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EVENTS

MarineQuest /St. Pete Science Festival

A family-friendly day of education about science, marine life and the environment will take place on October 20 from 10 am-4 pm when MarineQuest and the St. Pete Science Festival take over the waterfront campus of the USF St. Petersburg and Poynter Park along Bayboro Harbor. Kids will love this celebration of the wonders of hands-on science, technology, and marine life sponsored by USFSP and the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE. This is the the annual open house of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute when you can tour the main building, where staff members

Belinda’s Back

A Tampa Bay favorite during the 1980s-‘90s with her group Kool Reflektions, jazzy songstress Belinda Womack joins the 18-member Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by David Manson, in a program of big band favorites on October 2 at the Palladium Side Door. So where has she been all this time? In the mid-‘90s,

will be on hand to discuss their research and answer questions. Laboratories will be open, and displays will show some of the cuttingedge research going on at FWRI. Touch tanks and educational exhibits allow kids to touch sharks and rays, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and other marine critters commonly found in Florida's waters. See exhibits by dozens of local and national conservation and science organizations, aquariums, and other groups. Admission is free. Park for free at SouthCore Parking Garage, 101 1st Avenue S. and a free shuttle will take you to the campus. For more information, go to myfwc. com/research/about/connect/marinequest/ and stpetescifest.org

Belinda pursued musical ministry and motivational speaking, traveling from the Netherlands to Africa, to South America, the Caribbean and West Indies. A magical evening is in store for her fans! Tickets $20 and $30; go to mypalladium.org or call (727) 822-3590.

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TRAVEL

Hammock Beach Resort

Stay and play in style at this family-friendly enclave

BY MARCIA BIGGS Finding Hammock Beach Resort, snuggled along the northeast Florida coast between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, is the first hint that something special awaits. The winding street that twists and turns though Old Florida oaks finally brings one to a virtual Mediterranean city rising from the ocean. A luxury Salamander Golf & Spa Resort, the gated community entices visitors to relax and enjoy the best life has to offer, with tropical ocean breezes, swaying palm trees, and, above all, the sparking blue Atlantic Ocean.

Stretching for nearly two miles along a white sandy beach, Hammock Beach Resort is a destination where guests can never leave if they so desire thanks to an extensive schedule of family activities, two championship golf courses, tennis courts, five pools, and an array of bars and restaurants.

Accommodations vary, with over 300 modern and well-appointed condo suites, a smaller 20-room lodge with hotel-style rooms directly on the beach, and home-style villas scattered throughout the property. Minutes away, Yacht Harbor Village offers condos perfect for boaters and anglers, with a marina and docks and the tennis center just steps away.

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Upon arriving, I swept open my balcony doors to greet the cooling Atlantic breezes. But soon it was time for happy hour in the stately elegance of the Lobby Bar. Here you can pick up a gourmet coffee or pastries in the morning, then come back later in the day or evening for a hand-crafted cocktail (try the Blue Atlantic Martini just because). It’s easy to meet other resort guests who, by the way, come from near and very far.

Golfing and Dining Golfers will be in paradise with two championship 18-hole golf courses, both consistently recognized by Golf Magazine, Golf Week and Golf Digest. Designed by legends of the game, each course is enhanced by spectacular views of the natural landscape. The Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course has been meticulously restored and opened this spring after being destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Renowned as “Florida’s Ocean Course,” this top 100 golf course not only winds along pristine wetlands and lakes, but also plays six holes directly on the Atlantic Ocean.

The Conservatory Course is a Tom Watson design and recognized as one of the toughest courses in Florida, 140 acres of varying elevation and undulating greens not commonly found here.

TRAVEL The course features waterfalls, babbling brooks and veneered field stone work. Look for ospreys, egrets, herons and other beautiful shorebirds along your way.

Two fine restaurants at the resort offer unparalleled food, wine and service. For a spectacular view of the ocean, the Atlantic Grille is a must.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the airy restaurant with floor to ceiling windows affords magnificent views of the ocean.

It’s open to the public and is renowned for an astounding Sunday Brunch.

The resort claims exceptionally talented chefs who specialize in sushi, Italian, European and American cuisine. With an emphasis on freshly caught seafood, the Atlantic Grille’s “Shore-to-Table” experience is a must. After a day on the course, come here to the lounge for a craft beer and a selection of international appetizers and tapas. An outdoor deck offers relaxing views of the golf course and the ocean beyond.

Delphinos, for more elegant dining, is the perfect choice for a romantic dinner with an extensive wine list and sommelier to help guide you. Delphinos specializes in meticulously prepared Italian cuisine, steaks, and seafood, with service to match, making

this dining experience a special evening. It’s also a great place for a group dinner.

Perfect for Families Hammock Beach Resort is made for families with nonstop organized activities.

Be sure to check the events calendar upon arrival for fun stuff like volleyball games, karaoke nights and golf car drive in movies, cooking classes with the chefs, and paddleboard lessons. A large pool complex features multilevel pools for children and adults, along with an indoor pool and three smaller pools throughout the resort.

A special program for kids ages 4-12, the Kids Crew offers organized group activities to give parents a break. Resort amenities include eight clay tennis course, putt-putt golf, and bicycle rentals. The Spa at Hammock Beach is a must for a pampering. I loved the facial that included hot stones, one of their signature treatments.

The Spa is open to the public, so even non-guests can enjoy it.

Be sure to inquire about Florida resident rates and packages such as the Couples Golf Package which includes breakfast and one round of golf per person per day. Go to hammockbeachresort.com for more information or call (866) 841-0287

Captain’s BBQ Ready for a taste of real Southern barbecue? Just a hop, skip and jump from the resort, this roadside barbecue joint at Bing’s Landing has been dishing up home-smoked meats from ribs and chicken to pulled pork and beef brisket for decades.

Yummy side dishes include mac and cheese, baked beans, cole slaw and a corn muffin and the cheesecake is legendary.

Locally owned by Chef Michael Goodman and Captain Chris Herrera, Captain’s is listed on Trip Advisor as one of the Top 10 BBQ Spots in the nation.

5862 N. Oceanshore Blvd. | Palm Coast, FL 32137

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TRAVEL If You Venture Out …

Marineland Dolphin Adventure marineland.net Only a 20-minute drive, this legendary Florida tourist attraction opened in 1938 as Marine Studios, a popular destination for Hollywood filmmakers to capture underwater footage for motion pictures (“Creature of the Black Lagoon” ring a bell?) and newsreels. In the 1950s, the facility became Marineland and one of the state’s most famous attractions. After falling into disrepair and closing for renovations in 2004, the facility reopened in 2006 as a dolphin conservation center with marine conservation, research and community education the primary focus.

ST. AUGUSTINE floridashistoriccoast.com A short drive from Hammock Beach resort awaits St. Augustine. Each time I visit, I appreciate it even more, not only for its history, but also for its evolution as a city of arts and culinary adventure. Cross over the Bridge of Lions and allow yourself to be captured by its romance and wooed by the genuinely friendly folks who live and work here.

During winter months, when the summer tourists and school buses slow down, is my favorite time to visit. The sweltering summer heat and humidity has subsided

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and the locals know how to do the holidays right. From mid-November through January, 3 million white lights illuminate St. Augustine’s historic district during Nights of Lights. Take a trolley tour and enjoy the cool evening breeze (try to do this on a weekday as lines can be long on weekends.)

Some of my favorite things to do in St. Augustine: • Tour the waterfront fortress Castillo de San Marcos with breathtaking views of Matanzas Bay. • Stroll along the brick streets off the beaten path to get the real feel of St. Augustine.

Marineland is one of only a handful of marine parks in the state that allows visitors to interact with dolphins. For an extra fee, guests can get up close and personal with the resident dolphins and a trainer for 30 minutes. I can attest that it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so splurge if you can manage it. If you can’t afford the $200-plus for an interactive dolphin encounter, consider the less expensive Behind the Seas Tour. It’s a backstage tour where you can learn about Marineland’s pioneering work in dolphin research and history. I enjoyed this nostalgic guided tour where I could see actual underwater filming cameras, props, and memorabilia from the old movies filmed here.

• At night, take a carriage ride (great for couples) or a guided ghost tour (great for families).

• Enjoy a taste of the city’s authentic Spanish heritage at the Columbia Restaurant located in the heart of the Old Town. Along with its trustworthy menu of paellas and other dishes, the service is first-class in traditional Columbia style. (If you have ever visited the locations in Tampa Bay, you know what I mean.) It’s a real kick to stroll throughout the two-story restaurant and see the historic photos from the original Ybor City location and old newspaper clips from the Tampa Tribune and other local publications. - Marcia Biggs

TRAVEL

Grownup Getaway Naples offers a sophisticated retreat for those who enjoy the finer things in life PHOTOS/PARADISECOAST.COM

BY CINDY COCKBURN A recent survey shows that 57 percent of travelers prefer to take several long weekend trips instead of one long vacation.

For years, we would head south over the Skyway bridge to Sarasota with the gourmet dining and unique shopping options in St. Armand’s Circle. Sitting outside at Cafe L’Europe, with its Old World ambiance, and shopping at Foxy Lady, was heaven.

True confessions. I have a new favorite short and sweet mini-vacay alternative: NAPLES! This magic kingdom for grownups, less than three hours south of St. Pete, is what USA TODAY called the “Best Destination for Luxury Travelers.”

On this Girls Getaway, we head south to the heart of Old Naples where we have made reservations for the Inn on Fifth. Love that it’s right next to Ocean Prime. Martinis, here we come. Our car is whisked off with

the young bellman at valet. The hotel’s complimentary Tesla X has cool “wings” (that open up as doors) for transportation around town for the next 24 hours.

Modern, pristine, impeccable service, the hotel is close to over 30 restaurants, 50 shops, galleries, theaters and the beach.

If we book the Club Suite level, it includes complimentary amenities from continental breakfast, full bar in the evening and snacks and beverages throughout the day. Rates for a simple room are $229 in low season (Sept/Oct) and then jump up to $399 in high season. The Club levels go as high as $899 or just $459 for Fall.

The focus of present day life in Naples are the two main districts: Fifth Avenue South and Third Street. Shops are all around Third Street South, described as “glamour and good times since the 1930s” and the birthplace of Old Naples.

Dining Out Naples’ reputation for being older and sleepy has changed. The sidewalks no longer empty after 9 pm. There’s great live music and a dancing scene outside at the popular Continental restaurant, known for topquality cuts of steak. Campiello Ristorante & Bar lives on as the well-known gathering place for pre and post shopping and peoplewatching day and night. The popular Bar Tulia, is just a few blocks away from our hotel on Fifth Avenue.

Voted one of the “best small-town food scenes” across the nation, critics applaud the leading culinary entrepreneurs in town.

Fabrizio and Ingrid Aielli’s restaurants are award-winning and fun. Sitting outside one Saturday night at Barbatella, this spirited Italian trattoria offers lunch and dinner on shopping-friendly Third Street South.

Oh-so-European, the courtyard is anchored by one of downtown’s iconic fountains.

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TRAVEL The wine room is known for its community table and stunning green wall and ceiling medallions, and a dining room with an open kitchen, pizza oven from Naples, Italy, and retail shop selling gelato and artisan food items.

A few steps away is their original and popular Sea Salt (the original “sister” restaurant to the one we have at Sundial) with indoor/outdoor seating options, a soaring wine tower, lively bar, Italian and seafood items. Just opened, the locals are buzzing about Dorona, the latest addition of their restaurants. This modern Italian steakhouse features custom cuts of beef

with rosemary roasted potatoes with every steak.

Naples Winter

Wine

We loved Jane’s Garden Café on 3rd Street South with its tropical feel. Loved the menu demanding we “Take Time to Relax and Enjoy Life!” Amen. We plan to visit the new Bevy restaurant next time, located in a vibrant neighborhood bistro on 12th Avenue and popular for brunch. Their Sip + Socialize tagline says it all.

Festival

Shopping options are amazing. Our favorite unique gift shop is a boutique owned by Bruno Dhaine. Look for his large BRuno sign on Third Street South. Selections range from jewelry to china. We walked away wearing very oh-la-la French blue IZI PIZI glasses ($45) and he offers dozens of fun frame styles for “readers” in bright colors. For designer clothing and accessories, we head to the nearby Marissa Collections, known for their trunk shows every week. The jewelry, dresses, jackets, accessories are exceptional.

For more information on visiting Naples, go to paradisecoast.com

January 25-27 The Ritz Carlton Pack the gowns and jewels. Residents and visitors take their winter “in season social scene” very seriously here. The Naples Winter Wine Festival attracts visitors from around the globe. Over $170 million for children’s charities with celebrity chefhosted dinners is a who’s who. Ticket packages for the 2019 event start at $12,500 per couple for a Double Magnum package and $30,000 for two couples for a Jeroboam package. Guests know the spa treatments, fine dining and services for their visiting “ladies and gentlemen” are famous. There’s a new set of challenges over 36 holes of championship golf. The insider secret beach resort scoop: stay at the Edgewater Beach Resort Naples.

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SIPS & SUDS

Red Blends Palate-Pleasing Blends range from simple to sublime

BY EDITH SWIERZBINSKI Red blends have become a very popular category even though most consumers have been drinking red blends all along.

Many red wines are blended with a small percentage of other grapes to add a little something to the wine profile. Many winemakers will agree that it is a signature or particular calling card of the winery and producer.

California law only requires a wine to include 75 percent of the grape variety

on the label. Your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon may include 10% Syrah and 15% Merlot and you would never know.

Some of the world’s most famous wines are, in fact, red blends. Take Bordeaux, where they grow several grape varieties and blend them together to create a complete wine, each grape making up a piece of the pie. Sort of hedging their bet as to not depend on one single grape variety especially in difficult growing conditions. This is also why certain wines throughout the world are referred to as a “Bordeaux blend” — they are made from some of the six classically blended Bordeaux grape varieties. The Rhône Valley is another famous region for blending, but again, no one would argue that a Bordeaux blend and a Rhône blend are the same style of wine.

That is why when a customer asks for a red blend recommendation, I will followup with a question and ask whether they would prefer a Cab, Zin, Grenache, Syrah or Merlot heavy blend. These varietals are the most commonly requested. One of my favorite wine categories when the weather gets a bit more comfortable are red blends. There are many red blends that have an October feel to them such as the large brands of Apothic, Troublemaker and Ghost Pines.

Versatile, easy to drink, affordable and offering a large variety, red blends are the way to go whether on a budget or building a nice wine collection.

Ziobaffa Super Tuscan 2013 - 80% Sangiovese, 20% Syrah (James Suckling-91 points) Organic Toscana has a deep garnet color and an intense bouquet, elegant and fruity, with lovely aromas of violets.

Rich and decadent with cola, berry and chocolate character. On the palate is full,

warm with perfectly balanced tannins with hints of licorice, spice and red fruits.

Pairs perfectly with roasted/grilled meats, stews, pastas with red sauces, pizza and firmer cheeses. Ideally serve at about 60°F. $12 Angels & Cowboys 2016 - 61% Zinfandel with a supporting cast of Petite Sarah, Malbec and Syrah Saturated garnet in color with a nose of bramble berries and briar fruit scented with star anise and vanilla. Fruit forward with dark cherry, fig and mixed berry pie with hints of baking spices, butterscotch and earthy tones.

Luscious and generous on the palate with opulent red and black fruit ranging from red currant to boysenberry accented by creamy vanilla and exotic spice. Bright pomegranate notes reveal balanced acidity. Full-bodied with juicy tannins.

Smooth with a lengthy, firm, sweet oak finish. 6 months in 30% French Oak. $17 Operation Dragoon Cotes du Rhone 2015 - 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah Elegant and fruity, with lovely aromas of strawberries. The palate is full, warm with perfectly balanced tannins with hints of licorice, spice and red fruits. Offers lots of peppery herbs, spice and juicy berry fruit.

Medium-bodied, beautifully textured and straight up delicious, it’s impeccably made and ideal for drinking over the coming couple of years. Fresh wild strawberries and herbs de Provence with a hint of smoked meat and lavender on the finish.

Fine tannins and bright acid. A very clean expression of the Rhone Valley. $23 Check out the red blend section at your favorite wine retailer. You may discover delicious new or good old favorites. Enjoy!

Edith Swierzbinski is owner of 4th and Vine, a boutique wine shop in St. Petersburg.

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EVENTS

Open Streets St. Pete’s annual bike and pedestrian street celebration, Open Streets, will take over Bayshore Drive SE this year from 1st Avenue SE to Dali Boulevard on the downtown waterfront. Each year the location moves to a different neighborhood, where the city streets are closed and re-purposed to enjoy safe and open, car-free activities.

This year, Open Streets runs adjacent to the water passing Al Lang Field, the Mahaffey Theater and the Dali Museum and will include Albert Whitted Park. The family-family day of fun will be October 28 from 11 am to 4 pm. The bicycle advocacy group Shift St. Pete encourages cyclists, walkers, runners, skaters and all forms of people-powered movement to take the street. Look for outdoor fitness classes, yoga, live music,

food, interactive art, games for kids and adults, and giveaways.

“From its inception three years ago, Open Streets St. Pete has sought to highlight different sections of our city, and give visitors a chance to experience these areas without cars,” said committee chair Cesar Morales.

“We’re excited to bring our event to a section of waterfront that people often only pass through.

It’s a chance to showcase an area that has seen dramatic improvement in pedestrian and bicycle access, and have a beautiful day in the shadow of a world-class museum and hub for the city’s performing arts.”

For more information, go to openstreetsstpete.com or facebook.com/ openstreetsstpete

Every other month, the St. Pete Museum of History hosts “Happy Hour With the Historian” with guest speakers who share stories on a variety of topics. Doors open at 6 pm with program starting at 6:30 pm; cash bar. Coming up: Sept. 13 - Mark Denote on Tampa Bay Beer: A Heady History, and Nov. 8 - Sam Henderson on Guiding Gulfport: Small Town Politics. Admission $5; go to spmoh.com for more information.

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EVENTS

Free Museum Day

Movies in the Park

Free film classics and live music are on tap each Thursday evening in October in Movies in the Park, on St. Petersburg’s beautiful downtown waterfront in North Straub Park.

Presented by Preserve the Burg, the fun begins with music at 6 pm and movies at dark in the park, on Beach Drive between 4th and 5th Ave NE. To see the movie lineup, go to preservetheburg.org/moviesinthepark

Stay Healthy, St. Pete As part of SPF 18, select museums and cultural institutions are offering free admission to Pinellas County residents with ID on Saturday, Sept. 22. Participating venues include: • Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, 2240 Ninth Ave. S., www.woodsonmuseum.org • Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth Street S., www.flholocaustmuseum.org • Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave., www.imaginemuseum.org • Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE, www.mfastpete.org • St. Pete Sculpture Experience, 780 Central Ave. • The Dali, 1 Dali Blvd., www.thedali.org

Learn about healthy lifestyles to benefit people, animals, and the environment at St. Pete Health Fest coming to Williams Park on October 6. The event will feature local and nationally renowned speakers and health professionals, live music and dance performances, food preparation demonstrations, healthy activities for children, yoga and fitness classes, healthoriented vendors, humane education, an animal rescue zone, an artist zone, plant-based food, rock climbing, and more! The event is free and open to the public. The festival is organized

by Solutionary Events, a non-profit educational outreach organization with a mission to create healthy communities through leading socially responsible plant-based events.

Williams Park is at 350 2nd Ave N, St. Petersburg; admission is free. Learn more at StPeteHealthFest.org

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SPOTLIGHT

Honoring St. Pete History One man’s passion aims to bring back the city’s legendary green benches PHOTO COURTESY OF ST PETERSBURG MUSEUM OF HISTORY

BY ALLY ALANORE “One picture is worth a thousand words, but I think this speaks for itself,” said Dick Holmes, former South Pasadena Mayor, as he pointed to his vast collection of green bench memorabilia in his apartment.

Holmes has been advocating for the return of St. Pete’s venerable green benches for 27 years. He now resides in The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay where he sold his car to install 15 green benches around the facility.

The green benches wrap around Boca Ciega Bay to create the Green Bench Stroll.

Holmes walks this stroll twice a day; once in the morning, and once in the evening saying hello to everyone along the way. He

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makes sure to pick up all the trash around the benches to keep the path in tip-top shape, and he always stops at the same water fountain to get a drink of water.

The city of South Pasadena now has 24 of the recycled, 21st-century green benches. The green benches are “forever benches” because they will not fade, warp or rot. Additionally, they are environmentally friendly because each one is made up of 800 recycled milk jugs.

“Hurricane Irma took out three trees last year, but she didn’t touch the benches,” said Holmes. “They really are forever.”

City of Green Benches The history of St. Pete’s green benches dates back to 1906 when real estate salesman Noel Mitchell decided to place an orange bench covered in advertisements outside of his shop on Fourth Street N. and Central Avenue so people could rest. People loved the bench, which encouraged other businesses to build their own. Eventually, St. Petersburg was covered with benches of all different colors and sizes.

In 1916, Mayor Al Lang required that all benches have to be uniform. On Oct. 1, 1917, an ordinance was passed, which stated that all benches must be forest green with the same length, height and words, said

SPOTLIGHT Holmes. The city then became known as “The City of Green Benches.”

According to Holmes, the city passed another ordinance to take all of the green benches off the street. “They said it looked like heaven’s waiting room. There were too many old people sitting around talking about the weather,” said Holmes. “They wanted a new intergenerational look for St. Petersburg.”

So, they did away with the green benches.

“I have been a crusader for older people all of my life,” said Holmes. He became the president of the South Pinellas Senior’s club for five years, during which he advocated for the return of the green benches.

“I will always go back to the ‘60s when they took a beautiful history, an icon and a Tampa Bay treasure, and said benches will be every color but green,” said Holmes. “They wanted to destroy that history, but I didn’t think that was right.”

Celebrating and Fundraising Every year, The Fountains at Boca Ciega

Bay will have a birthday celebration for the green benches, said Holmes. The second annual Green Bench Stroll will be held October 3 where the mayor will be unveiling the new green bench signs, which will mark the official start of the Green Bench Stroll. “(The green benches) are bringing us all together,” said Holmes. “And that’s what they represented to St. Petersburg back in their 45-year heyday. It was togetherness and hospitality.”

Holmes combined the history of green benches with the mission of Alzheimer’s disease after his wife, Edith Holmes, suffered from the disease before her death.

The Fountains of Boca Ciega Bay supports the Green Bench Stroll and the Alzheimer’s Association. In fact, one of the green benches is called the ALZ Bench. It is longer than the typical green bench, and it is the only one of its kind. Holmes donated this bench in order to thank his community for the annual Green Bench Stroll.

The Fountains at Boca Ciega also hosts an annual charity ball which is October 4. It is a fundraiser that goes toward the Florida Gulf

Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“There is dancing, auctions, entertainment and all the beer and wine you can drink,” said Holmes. “It is a fun affair that residents look forward to.”

The Alzheimer’s Association hosts an annual Alzheimer’s walk. This year’s walk will be held October 13 at the Poynter Institute. “My wife inspired the green bench stroll, and she will be my inspiration when I walk for the Alzheimer’s Association every year,” said Holmes.

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FASHION

ST. PETE ART & FASHION WEEK September 13-15 Various locations stpeteartandfashionweek.com

BY ALEXANDRIA JONES PHOTO/DANIEL GALLANT

September is known for a few things: Labor Day, seasons changing, and Fashion Month.

Fashion Month is when all the editors from your favorite magazines, bloggers, influencers, etc. travel to several destinations to see what’s trending for the upcoming season. Not only are the large, major fashion regions like Milan and New York giving inside peeks, but so are smaller, lesser-known fashion regions like Tampa Bay.

private and fundraisers.

The first St. Pete Art and Fashion Week was in 2011 at the Hilton Bayfront. “There was already a Tampa Fashion Week that started the year before us and we didn’t want to step on their toes,” says Crowley. “St. Pete is known for its art, so I didn’t want to do something without adding that in.”

Putting together the first show proved to be a challenge for Crowley and her committee.

She already had relationships with a lot of designers and models because of her background in the fashion world plus her magazine. The difficult part at that time was finding the right artists to be involved with the show.

“It’s not that hard to find artists for the events now because they’ve heard about it. There are just less designers now. We also added boutiques so we have more to showcase,” she explains.

PHOTO/JOEY VADDER

Artists and designers gather every year for St. Pete Art and Fashion Week to see what’s new, find their next inspiration, and, ultimately, make connections between the art and fashion industries. Putting together the annual fashion week events isn’t new for organizer Dona Crowley. She’s been involved in the fashion world since she was a preteen and throwing events on this level for 20 years.

“I’ve modeled off and on for a while, then I taught runway,” says Crowley. “Most of my background is in advertising, marketing, and event production. I owned local fashion magazine VM for 7 years until its final issue in 2012.”

She started Luxe Fashion Group, formerly Luxe Productions, back in 2007. Event planning started as a side hustle for Crowley since she helped her friends plan their own events. Once she realized this was her passion, she never looked back. Her first (and longest run) largescale event was Tampa Bay Swim Week. Now, Luxe Fashion Group puts on 20 to 30 parties every year, says Crowley, including both

This year’s St. Pete Art and Fashion Week is September 13-15. The opening night event called “Chrome” will be held at The Estate from 7-10 pm and gives everyone a chance to meet this year’s designers including Breeze Bikinis, Dolce Couture, and Originally Unique Accessories and Pamela Roehm Fine Art & Couture. Boutiques presenting are Pippa Pelure and Sartorial Inc. There’s even a live body art show with artists using their own bodies as canvases.

The next evening is the Art/Fashion Night Market at The Raw Studios in the Warehouse Arts District from 6-9 pm. This is your chance to buy all the exclusive art and designs while watching live presentations by a few local artists. The event is free and open to the public.

The final night is the main event, a Runway Fashion Show at Station House, 260 First Ave. S. View Spring/Summer 2019 collections, sample cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and meet the designers, boutiques, and artists.

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SIPS & SUDS

The Art of Making Beer A program at USFSP helps craft breweries find skilled workers

PHOTO/3 DAUGHTERS BREWING

PHOTO/VISITSTPETECLEARWATER.COM

Left, a recent USFSP brewing arts class gathers during a study session in the lab at 3 Daughters Brewing. Right, brewmasters must be educated in science, health and safety, and modern technology.

BY MARCIA BIGGS No fine paintings or masterful sculptures were being doted over this July evening in the ballroom at the Museum of Fine Arts. Instead, the room was abuzz with several hundred kindred spirits sipping and pouring and socializing at the 2018 Beer Project – Night 2. As the culmination of a graduating class in the Brewing Arts Program at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP), five teams of budding entre-brewers, each led by a local craft brewery, competed for top honors.

pomegranate), Axius Star (a specialty saison with aromas of star anise), Old Word Rustic Saison (“a very expressive, funky backbone that pairs with the grape note”), and Trophy for Bacchus (a light pomegranate wheat ale). The crowd favorite and winner was Antiochccident, a pale ale with notes of citrus and coriander created by Green Bench brewmaster Chris Johnson and student brewers Joshua Beerman, Courtney Ciotti, Sarah Miller and Tara Deurst.

The challenge: Create a beer inspired by ancient mosaics –the ancient Antioch Mosaics, to be exact. The bizarre story of the limestone and marble mosaic slabs unearthed from the east lawn of the museum earlier this year is a story in itself. The nearly 2,000-year-old tiles originating from the ancient city of Antioch, on the border of modern-day Turkey and Syria, are now being restored in an outdoor conservation lab at the museum with an expected public debut in late 2020.

USFSP Brewing Program The USFSP Brewing Arts Program started in 2015, the brainchild of Mike Harting, founder of 3 Daughters Brewery, and Frank Biafora, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USFSP. “We had a conversation that this was a brand new industry and has no pool of employees to pick from, so there was a real need to train help,” said Harting. “So we thought why don’t we build a program that trains these people. We met with the provost at the time and she liked the idea and decided this was a program they could offer and she made the system available to us.”

The treasured tiles inspired the final Brewing Arts Program class project with student teams led by local breweries Green Bench, Flying Boat, 3 Daughters, Rapp Brewing and Mastry’s Brewing. The beers incorporated ancient flavors and techniques: Hercules’ Helles (a crisp lager with infusions of

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For the growing legion of Tampa Bay craft breweries, the USFSP Brewing Arts Program is the answer to a prayer. Over the past

SIPS & SUDS several years, the popularity of craft breweries in Pinellas County has exploded, so much that the area tourism agency, Visit St. Pete Clearwater (VSPC), is touting the area as a national beer-lovers travel destination. The “Gulp Coast,” as VSPC fondly refers to it, features a Craft Beer Trail with more than 30 craft breweries from Tarpon Springs to St. Pete. A poster of smiling Green Bench proprietor Chris Johnson, beer in hand, even greets travelers arriving at the shuttle at Tampa International Airport.

A study by the Brewers Guild of Florida on the economic impact of craft beer highlights that Florida is a relative latecomer to the craft beer scene and that we have just seen the beginning of craft beer. Total economic impacts (including direct, indirect and induced effects) were estimated at $432 million in 2013, with predictions that before long we could see as many as 500 breweries contributing to a total impact upwards of $2.5 billion in the state. And all those breweries need educated beer makers.

Nearly a dozen breweries and brewing experts provide training for USFSP

Brewing Arts Program, says Jennifer Sedillo, the program director. They include 3 Daughters, Green Bench, Cigar City, St. Pete Brewing, Yuengling, Big Storm, Rapp Brewing, Pair O’ Dice, and others. Great Bay Distributors also play an integral part through funding and education.

The non-academic, not-for-credit program consists of 10 online learning modules taking place over a 22-week period.

Modules include a historic perspective of the beginnings of the brew, water sources and quality, beer recipes and calculations, the microbiology of yeast, fermentation, bottling, canning and kegging, and finally, the business of how to start a successful craft brewery. After online completion, hands-on training at a local craft brewery teaches the student all steps in the brewing process. The program is offered twice annually; the cost is $5,000.

“Since the course is online, anyone can take it from anywhere,” says Sedillo. Thus far, 95 students have graduated from the course, she says, coming from across Florida and out of state.

Local Breweries Benefit 3 Daughters’ Mike Harting is imminently qualified to teach about business plans and marketing, Along with his wife and business partner Leigh, he oversees a massive operation out of his Warehouse District brewery which he built from the ground up. Since opening in 2015, the brewery has cranked out more than 60 varieties of craft beer and ciders served on tap and distributed to bars, restaurants and grocery stores across Florida, Georgia and the Bahamas.

Harting welcomes students into his facility where his staff educates them in a working laboratory, brewing and canning operations.

He appreciates that the program draws a diverse mix of people from all walks of life.

“It’s not just college students. We have older adults changing careers, some are returning to the workforce. There’s even a scholarship where veterans can get funding,” he says.

Micheil McElvoy was a graduate of the first

inaugural class of USFSP Brewing Arts in 2015 and today is head brewer at Mastry’s Brewing Co. on St. Pete Beach. He is joined by assistant brewer Nick Gibson, who also graduated from the USFSP program. Today, McElvoy “pays it forward,” he says, by helping to train new students in the program with a hands-on experience at Mastry’s.

“My experience in the program was invaluable as someone who went on from home brewing to a career,” he says. “It helped legitimize my role as a brewer and one of the greatest advantages was being able to meet and network with the instructors and other knowledgeable people in the local brewing industry. Also the benefit of the internship – I spent almost a month at Coppertail Brewing - was a valuable learning experience.”

Micheil McElvoy, head brewer at Mastry’s Brewing

To learn more about the USFSP Brewing Arts Program, go to usfsp.edu/brewing-arts/

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Woodhouse Spa Grand Opening Comfy robes were required attire to cut the ribbon for the new Woodhouse Day Spa located at 75 1st Street South. Mayor Rick Kriseman joins owners Ginger and Mark Lettelleir.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR ESTATE ANYWAY? Your estate is comprised of everything you own, all of your assets and all of your liabilities as well. Think of it as simply all your “stuff.” You have a lifetime of acquiring automobiles, your home, furniture, life insurance, jewelry, other real estate, bank and investment accounts, and other personal possessions. Everyone must anticipate circumstances when control over their estate becomes critically important. wouldn’t you like to be able to pass on your estate to your loved ones without subjecting them to a lengthy and expensive legal process known as probate?

Stan’s Looking Good Story..........

Stan, long time divorced from his first wife, is a retired CPA with 3 daughters. Leaving his firm, Stan retired to Florida, where he met Sharon, a retired nurse and a widow with two adult children. After a moderate courtship - finding they had much in common - they decided to marry.

Stan and Sharon consulted with their respective attorneys and selected one to prepare a prenuptial agreement that tied into their estate planning needs. While wanting to make sure to provide for each other’s comfort and wellbeing during their lifetimes, they also recognized that upon their passing that they wanted their separate assets at some point, to go to their own children. After consulting with an experienced estate planning attorney, a plan for combining their assets as well as creating a separation of assets upon the first of them to become either incapacitated or die was created. The estate plan put into place separate trusts which dovetailed into their prenuptial agreement, provided for continuing income to Sharon if Stan was the first to die, and further, in Stan’s case to create a special needs trust for his middle daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy and will need a lifetime of care. Through appropriate estate planning, we made sure their goals and desires were met and protected.

Stan’s Unfortunate Sorrowful Story......

Without Proper Planning

Stan and Sharon married without a prenuptial agreement or estate plan.

Stan suffers a stroke and is placed in a nursing home. Stan’s wife Sharon and his oldest daughter could not agree on how Stan’s medical care or his assets should be managed. Poor Stan is now left to suffer while his family fights in court over who has the right to manage his affairs and healthcare. Stan ultimately passed away without leaving a will, and having no minor children, a large portion of his estate went to Sharon. Several years later, and upon Sharon’s passing her assets, together with her inheritance from Stan’s estate, all went to her two sons. The remaining portion of Stan’s estate was divided amongst his three daughters. Stan’s handicapped child was placed in a state institution for her lifetime and whatever money her father left her was taken by the state for her care. His oldest daughter spent her inheritance and his youngest daughter made the mistake of putting the inheritance money she received into a joint account with her husband. Unfortunately, her husband’s business failed forcing him into personal bankruptcy and her inheritance from Stan was taken by her husband’s creditors.

There are a million stories of people and their families that have suffered as a result of the failure to properly plan. For many, a good story could be told.

But for many more, a sorrowful story is all too common.

At the Law Offices of Mitchell A. Sherman, Esq., we have over 30 year of practical experience in listening anticipating, questioning, counseling and assisting people to properly create their estate plans through the use of advanced directives, living trusts, special needs trusts, life insurance trusts, pour over wills, living wills and other vehicles that may be used to avoid the pitfalls of the failure to plan. Planning today is not necessarily about estate taxes. Instead, it is more and more about simply a realistic and practical path to follow in life and to control what happens to our “stuff” when we need it or our family and loved ones need it more.

Have A Heart

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The mission of the Heart Gallery of Pinellas & Pasco is to increase the number of successful adoptions of local children in foster care. A Banshee Wine Dinner to raise funds for the Heart Gallery will take place Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House, 400 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg. Cost is $100; for more information, call (727) 896-2400.

September/October 2018

LAW OFFICES OF

MITCHELL A. SHERMAN, ESQ. Attorney At Law

FLORIDA OFFICES: St. Petersburg • Boynton Beach Call 866-738-1201 or Email mas@mshermanesq.com

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Trashion Fashion 2018 at ArtPool PHOTOS/BARRY LIVELY

BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND EVENT! VALID 11/23 - 11/25 • IN-STORE ONLY

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Not valid online. Promotional gift card valid at issuing location only and expires one year from issue.

Offers may not be combined. Independently Owned & Operated. ©2017 Hand & Stone Corp.

Franchises Available.

September/October 2018

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Pilot Bank Grand Opening

• Made-To-Measure Suits, Sports Jackets and Shirts • Specials on Tux and Formalwear Rentals • Van Laack Shirts - A True Luxury Shirt • Raleigh Handmade Jeans • Strong Body and Viori Luxurious Athleisure Wear • Mizzen + Main Moisture Wicking, 4-Way Stretch Shirts • 2UNDR™ Performance Underwear • Exotic Leathers and Goodyear Welted Shoes

Sartorial Inc. Style For The Classic Male 400 Beach Drive • Downtown St. Petersburg • 727-290-6783 www.sartorialinc.com || customerservice@sartorialinc.com

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September/October 2018

Your Skin

Changes with the

Season

Injectables • Microdermabrasion • PDO Threads Chemical Peels • Photorejuvenation IPL Hair Removal • Microneedling Medical Grade Products

www.mdskineffects.com First time customer? Mention this ad and receive 10 units of Botox for $75. Dr. Mona Mangat 4965 Central Ave. 727-323-8074

Season Tickets on Sale Now

18 19

We’ll save you a great seat!

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 Disney in Concert – Tale as Old as Time The Planets Broadway Tonight Music of John Williams Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and much more!

FloridaOrchestra.org | 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286 TFO-St Pete Life Magazine.indd 1

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Art Ties Us Benefit Gala

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727.266.6767 • Schedule online at RayDuncanPlumbingInc.com 80

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September/October 2018

We wish to extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation to all of our very generous sponsors and media and vendor partners who in partnership with Old McMicky’s Farm help make the farm’s Community Giving programs possible. Your support has affected thousands of lives.

Community Programs

Thank You!

“1000 Kids” Program is committed to bringing 1000 Tampa Bay Area children who are facing serious mental, emotional and physical challenges out for an amazing fun filled day on the farm – no charge. To date, over 5500 local children have come out for a great time under the program.

“Mission I Do” provides Free $25,000 All-Inclusive Military Dream Weddings to honor the service and sacrifice of our military members and to help a military couple start a family of their own. We are privileged to have hosted Eight Free Military Dream Weddings.

“Teachers ROCK” is a Free $20,000 Teacher Appreciation Dream Wedding given to a local teacher to raise awareness and show appreciation for all of our Tampa Bay area teachers and schools.

Foster & Adoptive Children Programs include Child Adoption Education Day, Adoption Match Days, Foster Children Fun Day on the Farm and Foster & Adoptive Family Picnics.

Purple Heart Metal Recipients and their families are invited as Honored Guests at the Farm’s main event where a special ceremony is held to acknowledge and thank them for their service.

Sponsors Debartolo Family Foundation

Pepin Family Foundation

Avalon Building Corporation

Tampa Bay Times ABC Action News Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend Spectrum Bay News 9 DuPont Registry Fox and Friends

iHeart Media Newsradio 970WFLA US103.5 Beasley Media Group B98.7 99.5QYK Osprey Observer

10 News CBS Great Day Tampa Bay Stars & Stripes MacDill Thunderbolt St Pete Life Magazine Neighborhood News & Lifestyle Newspaper in Education

A Beautiful Wedding Ceremony in Florida Amanda Zabrocki Photography Amici’s Catered Cuisine Anglo Couture Atlas Technology Bella Bridesmaids Blumoon Transportation Breezin Entertainment Bricklemyer Law Group Chantilly Cakes Connie Duglin Linens Crystal Bos Photography Darin Crofton Photography Denise Ann Stationary Eva Lu Designs Events Done Right

Exquisite Events Eyes on You Salon and Spa Gill Dawg Gold & Diamond Source Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Hummingbird Consulting Jackson in Action 83 Foundation Jon’s Bridal Life Long Studios Luxe Fashion Group Marriot Waterside Marry Me Mary Maus Nissan Men’s Warehouse Clearwater Michelle Renee the Studio Northside Florist

Media Partners

Partners

Publix Aprons Events ResurgentFire Films Ryan Nece Foundation Sacino’s Formal Wear Showtime Transportation South Tampa Chamber of Commerce Spunky Spirits Tampa Wedding Studio The Destiny & Light Hair and Makeup Group The Event Planners The Video Guy Brandon The Write Stuff Truly Forever Bridal Veterans First Program Viegas Photography Whaley’s BBQ

Old McMicky’s Farm offers Educational Farm Tours to groups and individual families, Kids Birthday Parties, Beautiful Barn Weddings, Corporate, Private and Charity Events. For more information visit www.oldmcmickys.com • 813-920-1948

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