DOWNTOWN CONCIERGE By Nanette Wiser
The accolades for downtown St. Pete just keep rolling in. Best city for remote working. The St. Pete Pier, best new attraction (USA Today) and Building of the Week on www.World-Architects.com 2020. Another movie shot in St. Pete debuts in February, Fear of Rain with Harry Connick, Jr. and Katherine Heidelberg. WWE will tape its Raw and SmackDown ThunderDome shows inside the Trop as well. And the beat goes on
Coming this spring/summer, we look forward to Grand Central’s Job Site Burgers, stuffed any way you want; Mutts and Martinis dog waterpark and bar; Central Park Food Hall’s 24,000 square foot space where you can nosh Italian, healthy Euro dishes, fresh pasta and cocktails with a third-floor rooftop Chef Natalia Levey’s new concept restaurant. Celebrity chef Jeffrey Jew’s highly anticipated Lingr Restaurant serving Nordic and Asian-inspired dishes is still in the queue on 6th St. S.
From Lolita and Sophia’s owners comes a new concept, Sammy + Paco’s, in Kenwood. Named for their cats, the café/market/bakery should be as delicious as its sisters.
Casual eateries abound. There’s more roti and kebabs on the horizon on Dr. MLK St. N with Mowgli’s Tiffin Indian street food. On 4th St., Grain & Berry will serve juice, avo toast, yogurt parfaits, fruit smoothies and acai bowls. Chef Mel’s Three Generations Food Truck will park its delectable dishes like fried lobster and peach cobbler at the emerging Manhattan Casino Food Hall. The Lure Ono on Central Avenue is the spot for great grilled cheeses.
Hyde Park Village’s Sorrento Sweets is coming to the old Brew D Licious café on Central. Java lovers look forward to a jolt from The Chelsea in WADA where tea and coffee and décor will be the catch of the day. The Plaza Tower and Courtyard, home to The Ale & The Witch and Dracula’s Legacy Wine Bar, will welcome Paradeco, featuring baked goods, avo toast, breakfast sammies and yummy espresso drinks.
Also, on the horizon in West Central in the former Reading Room near freeFall Theater is Two Graces, big on outdoor dining in pergolas with pastas, pies, wine and brews. Lala’s Ameri-French cuisine and private karaoke rooms, adjacent to the Grand Central Brewhouse, is also on tap. For a taste of Havana, check out Bar Chica’s rum coctions inside Bodega St. Pete?
Tombolo Books and Books + Bottle are the perfect place to unwind with a friend and B+B offers a book club, tastings and a new signature small batch coffee blend, Methodical Coffee as well as Desiree Noisette’s Mermosa blends. Yoga is back at The Mall at Sundial and The Pier, namaste for all (see Facebook pages for times/days).
Our favorite sommelier Jacqueline Eash is offering wine dinners (2/8 Italian), Italian Brunch & Bubbles (2/13), a wine dinner with Michael Honig (2/24) and her popular Pair Like A Pro, Italian Style (2/27) at Sea Salt St. Pete. 3 Daughters offers live music, musical bingo, trivia its and debuts its Double Hooked Double IPA hits shelves and tap lines.
Ceviche will take over the Moon Under Water location on Beach Drive and reimagine its tapas and décor. Moon Under Water’s future location uncertain at this time.
Creative Clay now hosts a first Friday Art Market from 10am-2pm. And we are looking forward to the spring debut of The Factory. I’ve been reading Andy Warhol’s biography and visited the space during a holiday indie festival, the brainchild of Liz Dimmitt and her posse. This is Tampa Bay’s first immersive art and technology experience, and the inaugural exhibition will feature 60+ artists. The 15,000 square foot choose-your-own-adventure destination opens in Spring 2021. www.fairgrounds.art/artists
Take a gander at what’s hot on MLK District. You’ll discover new favorites such as NOVA 535 event space, St. Pete Saltworks, Lash Addict Studio, Gypsy Soul Coffeehouse, Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery, Sun State Yoga, Neat Neat Neat, Uptown Eats and the Mize Gallery, who will soon be joined by artist Becky Beukkes’ gallery. And an old favorite of ours is Sunset Grill for huge breakfasts, burgers and wings.