Downtown Concierge by Nanette Wiser
From St. Patrick’s Day revels to Firestone Grand Prix excitement, spring into DTSP’s delightful dining, shops and nightlife. And dog lovers, get fur-tacious at The Dog Bar for a Shamrockin’ St. Pawstrick Day.
The Night Owl: Our March faves include 3/15 The Irish Comedy Tour at The Palladium; 3/15 Poetry and Vendor Market at Black Crow Coffee, thrown by Friends of the Jack Kerouac House; 3/15 El Dub at 3 Daughters Brewery, Sunday’s with Gloria West at Flute & Dram; 3/19 Tribute to Chet Baker Studio @620; 3/20 Ale & The Witch Friends of Fil Trio featuring Daniel Navarro on Bass, Albert Newbeat Warren on Drums and Fil Pate on Guitar; and 3/22 The Hideaway’s album release from Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours. And stay tuned for the newly renovated State Theater to re-open in April, hosting
concerts and events.
Tampa Bay Blues Festival (April 3-5): Vinoy Park rocks with this annual waterfront event serving up great food, soulful blues and fun booths. The party kicks off Thursday 4/2 at The Palladium and after that, it’s three days of top acts including JJ GREY & MOFRO, Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters, Danielle Nicole, Christone “KINGFISH” Ingram, Jason Ricci, Aaron Neville, Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band, The Proven Ones featuring Kid Ramos, Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers, Dawn Tyler Watson, Larkin Poe, Rod Piazza Band with Rusty Zinn, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Bruce Katz and Backtrack Blues Band.
Edible Incredibles: In addition to The Sundial’s Armature Works food hall and Station House co-working spaces, a new food hall on Central Avenue will be built on the site of the Dome Grill at 551 Central Avenue, expanding into the 24,000 square foot three-story Central Park Food Hall.
Raise a toast to Iberian Rooster’s new executive chef Andrew Silas – formerly of Locale and The Mill. Most of the menu is new, and keep an eye for his faves: “the wings – they’re made with our super-secret Gochujang sauce and they are also breaded in potato starch so they’re super crispy and gluten free! Also, the tomato veggie pie and the “minchi pot pie” and scallops are reimagined.
3 Daughters Brewing is hosting a Florida Hard Seltzer Fest on 4/25, with 10 bars competing for king of the bubbly using their hard seltzer and St. Petersburg’s Distillery vodka in cocktail concoctions. Also boozing it up creatively is Beans & Barlour, incorporating Girl Scout cookies into kooky milkshake concoctions. Big Storm Brewing is now part-owner and serving Clearwater-based Blood Brothers’ signature Bloody Mary Mix, also on sale at the Saturday Morning Market in St. Pete.
Nueva Cantina’s Louie Spetrini created a new menu, in collaboration with former Locale chef Jeffrey Hileman and me, offering a fresh seasonal fare of Central and Coastal Mexico cuisine. They are expanding their catering and sending the Food Truck everywhere (Grand Prix, Safety Harbor Seafood Fest, Taco & Beer Fest), offering promotions (Sunday is kids eat free, Monday night is service industry night with 30% off food and 50% off liquor) as well as new dishes.
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day The Galley takes over the former Sea Dog Brew Pub space with Mary Margaret’s, an Irish Tavern featuring music and Celtic fare. Hopefully Must Wine will open its Old Northeast hangout this month as well. Replacing McAuley’s Pub at the Fusion is The Local Draught House. 4th St. North gets a Chicken Salad Chick in the old China City location. Love a Slushy? You’ll adore Uptown Snoballs on 4th Street, fruity shaved ice that delights.
With 15 years in DTSP, Bella Brava will open a new restaurant in the buzzy Midtown Tampa complex featuring Whole Foods, another Chris Ponte restaurant, Shake Shack, True Food Kitchen, Aloft, Element Hotel, an REI co-op and other retail.
Celebrate everything strawberry at Noble Crust through March 15th; tag it and post it in the Florida Strawberry Growers by taking a selfie and posting for prizes @Flastrawberries and using this hashtag: #2020FlaStrawberry. The 4th St. eatery features Florida Strawberry Arugula Salad (Florida Strawberries, Goat Cheese, Candied Pecans, Red Onion, Tarragon
Vinaigrette), Buttermilk Creme Brûlée, “Boozy” Glazed Florida Strawberries, Fresh Whipped Cream, Shortbread Cookies.
Community Café finds a temporary home at the Allendale United Methodist Church where they will host a weekend pop-up restaurant and other events. They will be open Fri-Sun, 11am-11pm.
Shop Bop: Modern Optics Eyewear is the newest Central Ave. hotspot to get those cool shades and look smart/sexy glasses. Stash Yarn Shop on
1st Ave. N offers knitters and crochet aficiandos stylish yarn and ideas. Two-Fold Bicycle Shop on Central gets all my attention, as I can stash the bike in the trunk for a road trip. Looking for a unique outfit? Stop in at Cozette’s Boutique or Illume Organic Apparel on Central Ave. And the best shopping of all is 2nd Saturday Artwalk, where a free trolley takes patrons to more than 40 galleries around the city’s core from 5-9pm stpeteartsalliance.org/artwalk.
Never Forget: In addition to exploring the Anne Frank exhibition at the Florida Holocaust Museum, mark your calendars for 3/15@2pm for Book Talk: Witness for My Father, featuring Barbara Bergren.
Barbara Bergren is a lecturer and Holocaust educator who visits schools, religious organizations, and community groups speaking about her father’s experience during and after World War II. Witness For My Father is the story of how an African-American troop broke the rules and nurtured her father to health after his liberation from Dachau.
Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood: Tour the 5th Annual Artist at Work; Saturday, March 21, 10am-5pm; Sunday, March 22, 12-5pm. Enjoy two days exploring the architecturally rich neighborhood of Historic Kenwood while you view the exhibits of 33 artists at 21 different stops. The self-guided tour will include work by ceramicists, sculptors, jewelers, photographers, illustrators, and fine art painters.
Parties For a Purpose: Honor the life and literary legacy of Jack Kerouac, writer of On The Road, on 3/14 at The Flamingo Bar, in honor of what would have been his 98th birthday (3/12) for an evening of open mic poetry, live music, raffle prizes and silent auction; make sure to take home a limited edition screen-printed shirts designed by local artist Chad Mize. Hosted by The Friends of Jack Kerouac House. (Don’t miss the Flower Power exhibition at Mize’s Gallery opening April 3rd, featuring 36 artists interpreting Beat Poet’s Alan Ginsberg’s call to action to transform war protests into peaceful affirmative spectacles.)
Step out at Studio@620’s annual fundraiser 3/27 at 7pm featuring the dynamic St. Pete Florida Blues Band featuring guest appearances from members of The Fabulous Nosecaps, The Scheiber Family, JJ Pattishall, Palladium’s Paul Wilborn and the Pop Tarts, Eric Deggans, The Hunks of Funk, Lillian Dunlap and scribemeister Roy Peter Clark. And don’t miss Studio@620’s monthly “Never No” Improv show, Tuesdays at 7pm.
On March 29th from 4-7pm, THE DALI’s highly anticipated fundraiser Los Vinos de Dalí will feature an expanded selection of food and beverages from new and beloved local restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, distilleries and more. In its 9th year, the party convenes on the waterfront behind the museum in an air-conditioned tent, with seating inside the tent and outside on the plaza. The Museum’s Avant-garden, with its winding labyrinth, Wish Tree and whimsical mustache sculpture will also be open for guests. Get your tickets in advance; it’s sure to sell out. TheDali.org/vinos
Your ticket also provides access to the Museum’s galleries from 10am-5:30pm, including the special exhibition, Midnight in Paris, 1929: Surrealism at the Crossroads. You’ll also sample the museum’s new exclusive beer in partnership with Motorworks Brewing, offering first tastes to event attendees. On April 4th, the Heels to Heal Fashion Show will be in St. Pete at the The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art and raises money to provide FREE counseling services and resources to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.