By Nanette Wiser
DINE & DRINK Think of musical chairs, with restos closing and new ones popping up in their place. Kahwa Coffee, St. Pete-based coffee roasters, is taking over the Starbucks and opening its 14th location on Park St. N. Flip Crepes and Waffles is taking over Swah-Rey’s Central Ave. location this winter and, nearby, Bonu Taverna will serve Sicilian fare. Farewell to Central neighbor Cider Press Café, who will move north to The Shoppes of Kenwood and open a vegan gastropub. Aloha to the Dome Grill, which will transform into Central Park Food Hall in 2022 with two restaurants (Kojo, Speaks Clam Bar), a rooftop bar and other eateries.
DTSP is hot, with new restos and bars rolling out in 2022. If you love The Saint and Cocktail St. Pete, you’ll adore David Fischer’s new concept, The Wet Spot with a swimming pool and bar. Look forward to The Crane’s steak and seafood, Good Intentions’ modern vegan cuisine and Jay & Luigi’s trattoria and pizzeria. For those who drive to Mazzaro’s and Fresh Market for good meats, welcome Butcher’s Mark to 4th Street N in 2022, featuring marinades and fresh cut meats such as Japanese Kobe Beef and Wagyu.
Clearwater resident Colin Means is the proud new owner of the 4th Street N Firehouse Subs in St. Petersburg at 4949 4th St. N and is giving back through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®, which has granted more than $1.3 million in the greater Tampa area. A portion of every purchase at any Firehouse Subs in the U.S. benefits the Foundation to help achieve its mission of providing lifesaving equipment and resources to first responders and public safety organizations across the country.
BREWS Check out Bayboro’s Brewing’s peanut butter chocolate stout and half burger-half bacon sandwich. The Pub also hosts veteran appreciation days with discount brews. 3 Daughters Brewing collaborated with Fit2Run to create a lighter version of Beach Blonde Ale – Beach Blonde Ale Light is crisp, citrusy and refreshing. It will be exclusively sold at Spokes in Fit2Run. Also @3Daughters is Musical Bingo Nation every Thursday night and Team Trivia on Mondays. Big Storm Brewing adds Bradenton’s Darwin Brewers to their family.
PLAY Jan. 8-9, the St. Pete Comic Con comes to The Coliseum featuring comics, anime, science fiction fantasy talent and Florida’s top cosplayers including Florida’s tallest heroine cosplayer @AmazonCosplayer. Get your tickets now to meet anime voice actors in My Hero Academia, Pokemon, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fullmetal Alchemist and Fruit Basket. Comic artists include Mike Grell, Alex Saviuk, Omar Francia, Sergio Cariello. www.stpete.floridacomiccons.com
TIDBITS January welcomes incoming Mayor Ken Welch, continuing the good work of outgoing Mayor Rick Kriseman. The city of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with Tampa Bay Watch, is helping to stabilize 700 feet of eroding shoreline and launching a living shoreline project at Lassing Park as well as providing hard bottom habitats for fish and wildlife resources and promoting water quality improvements in the Tampa Bay ecosystem.
