By Nanette Wiser
SIP & SUP Chris Ponte brings Olivia, his popular Italian resto in Tampa, to downtown 225 1st Ave. N. Baba on Central has added Barbouni at Baba where you can enjoy fresh shucked oysters and gourmet tinned fish. In addition to Tampa Midtown and DTSP, BellaBrava is now expanding to North Tampa’s Hub at Bexley with its regional cucina and exceptional wine list. The Violet Stone’s delicious wood-fired, brick oven pizza has traded its food truck for Kenwood’s 2134 9th Ave. N. Named after their daughter, these former techies are foodies who make the best white pie in town…or maybe it’s the Classic topped with burrata, whole milk mozzarella, artisan tomato sauce, basil, and parmesan.
St. Pete Distillery’s expansion features an art gallery, restaurant, expanded drink menu and performance space, due to open in April. The resto partner is Cala Italian Kitchen, from the culinary geniuses behind Italy Bottega and a new Grand Central restaurant TBD, known for pizzas, sandwiches and good mangia. Charcuterie lovers will adore Graze Craze’s house-made breads, dips, jams, meats and farm-fresh produce. A Hawker’s fanatic, The Glass Noodle’s Asian street fare bowls (Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Japan) are savory, the craft beers chilled and the décor sensational. My faves are the Suki-Yaki and Sichuan Hot Pot noodle soups. Don’t miss the Khao Piak Sen, a traditional Lao noodle dish made of broth stewed with chicken, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, ginger, and soy sauce.
Cala Kitchen 
Nueva Cantina
Cinco de Mayo approaches, and there’s no better place to celebrate than Nueva Cantina for the best margaritas (strawberry, mango, blackberry), seafood enchiladas, Mexican street corn, tequila extravaganza and happy hour Tues.-Fri. 2-6pm $5 margs, draft beer, wine. Or sign up for The Cinco de Drinko Bar Crawl 4/29 brought to you by Park & Rec and Top Shelf Crawls, featuring a pre-party, exclusive drink and taco specials, souvenir beads and koozies. Bring your sombrero.
SHOP The Market at Left Bank is the perfect place for Easter décor and garden accessories, or your tea party essentials. In addition to So Chic and ReTreat, check out Valhalla Resale for gently used women’s clothing and a $49/month membership that allows you to rent three items of clothing at a time with unlimited exchanges.
FUN At 98, St. Petersburg City Theatre’s 2023-24 season looks young and sassy. After a summer hiatus, look forward to Disney’s Mary Poppins The Broadway Musical (9/29-10/8), A Christmas Carol (12/8-17) and in 2024, Don’t Dress for Dinner (3/15-3/24). Founded in 1925, it is the longest continuously running community theatre in the state of Florida.
PARTY WITH A PURPOSE The 13 Ugly Men Foundation presents the 2023 “Derby at The Pier” Party 5/6 from 3-9pm with proceeds that will benefit Phoenix House Florida. Derby hats, sundresses, seersucker suits, bow ties, high-end bourbon, specialty craft cocktails, cigars, artists at work, mint juleps, live entertainment, VIP seating and $1000 cash and prizes for “Best Hat” and “Most Dapper” contest. Proceeds will benefit Phoenix House Florida, a 501(c)3 that is passionate about healing individuals, families, and communities challenged by substance use disorders and related mental health conditions. Tickets 13uglymen.com.
