Downtown Concierge by Nanette Wiser
Our resolution for the New Year is to shop and eat local in between acts of kindness and giving back to the community. Paradise News thanks you for all you do and will do in the New Year!
Movie Stars: We hope you saw the vibrant arts scene on PBS with Eric the Travel Guy, episode featuring DTSP’s vibrant arts scene (local muralist Derek Donnelly), glass blowing at Morean’s Glass Studio in St. Pete). See for yourself at ArtWalk monthly!
Who’s Who: Mark your calendars for the St. Pete Chamber’s annual meeting Thursday, January 23 at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater with a 5 pm VIP reception and program that begins at 7pm. This celebration of the accomplishments of the past year, recognition of community leaders and a discussion of the vision for the future of the Chamber and the community is not to be missed. For tickets or membership information, contact Courtney Smith at csmith@stpete.com.
Sip Sip Hooray: What’s trending for 2020 nationally is already in play in sizzling downtown St. Pete drinking scene. We’re drinking hard seltzer, natural wines and Beaujolais-inspired lighter red wines. We’ll see more hard tea, coffee and kombucha, a boom in hyperlocal beer and a new wave of wines marketed to millennials. We also look forward to the opening of CellarMasters Wine Bar & Bottle Shop in what is an explosion of wine bars downtown where you can sip this season’s hottest trends. Our craft brew explosion helped earn Tampa Bay the best beer city designation from SmartAsset as 37 out of top 50, ahead of Orlando, the only other Florida city on the list.
Dine & Dash: So-Cal inspired Taco Sun is now Grumpy Gringo, with a new location downtown in addition to its 22nd St. location. Lonni’s Sandwiches has relocated a few doors down on Central and Chick’n’Cone now serves fried chicken in a hand-held waffle cone at Lonni’s former location.
Il Ritorno’s Greenstock is now open, with unique salads, dressings and paninis in its plant-friendly menu. Coming soon is another vegetable-centric concept, Tossed Salad & Wraps.
Live music, wine and java come to 4th Street North, straight from Seattle. The Blend serves wine, craft beers, coffee, kombucha, edible delights and entertainment on the alfresco patio.
I’m an ethnic eats explorer, so The Twisted Indian in Baum Market caught my attention, with a Indian/Mex concept that includes my go-to dishes (chicken tiki masala, lamb korma, curried chickpeas) but served Mexican style inside a taco or flour tortilla/burrito, in a bowl or a naan-wich. The yogi fries with mozzarella, tikki masala sauce, raita yogurt and cilantro can be topped with chicken for an mmmm-good comfort dish.
Jeffrey Jew’s Lingr on 6th St. opens this spring. Known for his fine, fun dishes at Bella Brava and Stillwaters Tavern, Executive Chef Jeffrey Jew delivers a Nordic/Asian mash-up from his family roots at this casual upscale eatery. Jew competed on Bravo’s “Top Chef” series and won the Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games,” and his menu will feature sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients.
Also highly anticipated for spring is celebrity chef Fabio Viviani’s La Pergola, an upscale Italian restaurant sure to be both elegant and extraordinary.
Open soon is Bayboro Brewing’s 5th Ave. South 2,500-square-foot space with 20 taps and bottled brews. Dessert fave Swah-rey is opening a 3rd location at SPC Gibbs and another location in St. Pete this spring.
Mark your Valentine Day calendar for Gulf to Bay Food Truck’s French Fry Festival Feb. 14-15, 6 -11 pm at North Straub Park.
St. Pete On The Move: West Central Avenue’s Dead Bob is opening a 2nd location this year in Tampa. Pacific Counter’s sensational sushi pops up in Lakewood Ranch this year. And The Dali will be growing as its new 38 million dollar expansion plans are revealed to include an immersive theater, holograms of Salvador Dalí, a modern parking garage and more.
Tres Chic: Did you shop till you dropped this holiday season? Ring in the New Year with all the clever and crafty gifts for folks you might have forgotten at some unique DTSP boutiques. Start with the grand opening of Vintage Marché located in downtown St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District across from 3 Daughters Brewing. Formerly home to Brocante Market, the 15,000 square foot monthly market features vintage, antique, industrial, repurposed mercantile and will be open the first weekend of each month after its Jan. 4-5 debut Sat. 9 am – 6 pm and Sunday till 5 pm.
Shop Bop: Some of the most unique candles, art, home décor and jewelry can be found at Pieces of a Dream (love their greeting cards and owner Patty) and Retrograde. The spoken word can be celebrated at Cultösaurus (art books, graphic novels) and Tombolo Books, now opened near Black Crowe Coffee on 1st Ave. South. Look for the neato socks that look like a library take-out card, clever bibliophilia and a curated book collection that is as fun as Keep St. Pete Lit’s classes. Anchor Skate Supply showcases cool clothes and skateboards for eco-whooshing around the city sidewalks.
Up n Smoke: Man about downtown George Camarinos (Ruby Elixir) can be found at Eddy V’s most weekends with his Ash Brothers Mobile Cigar Lounge, a posh spot to buy and smoke quality stogies.
Vino Vino: Sea Salt’s sommelier sensation Jackie launches her 2020 wine dinners with Ggrich Hills Jan. 15, Chateau Montelena Feb. 12 and her Pair Like A Pro luncheons monthly starting Jan. 11 seasaltstpete.com/galleries/gallery/restaurant/
Listen Up: Local music sensation Jim Garrett heads over to Flute & Dram Wednesday nights, where Gloria West holds court on Sundays.