By Nanette Wiser
From Localtopia to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, downtown is hopping with entertainment, festivals, new restos, shops and bars. Be sure to get your tickets and set sail March 11th to The Greatest Show spectacular gala, featuring live music, entertainment, delish drinks, and dining. info@thegreatestshow.org
DINE & DRINK Welcome Jay & Luigi, a new fast casual pizza, to Fourth St. N, a new Ciccio concept. We love co-owner/chef Yusuke Ouchi’s Creative Grape, a casually sophisticated gallery and wine bar in The Shoppes at Kenwood. Enjoy live music and small plates such as shrimp ceviche, lamb pastitsio (ditalini, ground lamb, mornay sauce topped with ricotta & pecorino), charcuterie and boutique wines.
Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani’s Taverna Costale on Central Avenue serves up coastal Italian fare, local seafood, fresh pasta, pizza, dry-aged steaks, and craft cocktails. This modern, upscale restaurant is perfect for parties, canoodling in the hip bar and there is even a dog-friendly patio and menu.
Salty Nun comes to Grand Central District, replacing Swinger’s Patio Bar and The Queen’s Head Pub. Gulfport Stella’s and Salty’s (now closed) know a thing or two about exceptional food, whimsical décor, and yummy libations. Squeeze Juice Works’, a new vegan café, and The Works in uptown St. Pete offers grab-and-go healthy fare.
On February 19, enjoy the Publix Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival at Dr. Carter G Woodson African American Museum featuring a collard green cook-off, live music, market, and games.
On the horizon are some sensational new eats including Black Cattle Burger Company in the former Grumpy Gringo, and Flip Crepes and Waffles, a dessert café is in swah-rey’s Central spot. Zoie’s Bar and Restaurant farther up Central will host drag shows when it opens.
St. Petersburg-based Flying Boat Brewing Co has been sold to King State, the popular Tampa-based restaurant, coffee roaster and small-batch (turned bigger-batch) brewer.
Closer to the beach, we’re looking forward to Kelly’s Roast Beef, a Massachusetts favorite for roast beef, clam chowder and lobster rolls in the Pasadena Steakhouse. On Central near freeFall Theater, Two Graces is a smash hit. Pop Goes The Waffle food truck gets a home in Gulfport featuring Sara Fludd’s unique waffle creations.
SHOP Pageboy, a vintage market & apothecary, curates reimagined vintage furniture, lighting, art, tea towels, greeting cards, body and sun products, candles, diffusers, flowers, chocolate and more. They can help you decorate or plan your next event as well.
BRUNCH BUNCH Get your tickets now for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s Brunched 2/19 1-3pm at Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater. Enjoy unlimited breakfast bites, a Bloody Mary competition and waterfront view. Restos include Anchor and Brine, Bulla, American Social, Luv Child, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Park & Rec, Shuffle, 7th + Grove and many more. General admission $25; VIP $55 (three complimentary drinks, early admission, entry, VIP-only raffle, and exclusive gifts). www.brunchedtampabay.com
TIDBITS Downtown is going up, up and away. The Nolen will be a 23-story residential tower near Beach Drive on Fourth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg City Council, meeting as the CRA, approved the mixed-use Orange Station development and The Kolter Group’s 41-story tower. St. Pete-based HP Capital Group and Chicago-based Tandem Partners will build a 19-story residential building at 1641 and 1659 First Ave. N. HP Capital Group is also the group developing the 18-story Reflection condominium tower near Mirror Lake. The highly anticipated Peak Surf Park location is coming soon. If you love salads, sweetgreen will open in the Edge District.