By Peter Roos
ST. PETERSBURG
Maddy’s Spa at 5332 Gulfport Blvd. feels a lot like getting pampered at home. Housed in a vintage wooden cottage witha history, there are separate rooms with multiple stations for hair, facials, pedicure, manicure, massage, and slimming options. “Our local clients keep us alive.” says Maddy, “We treasure every new one that walks in.Wedding parties are our gravy, and this time of year, we have the time to give them our complete attention.” Call 727-388-2008.
SunRunner to Stimulate Development Around StationsThe SunRunner bus rapid transit (BRT) is expected to start running from downtown to SPB beach in August.To increase walkability and economic activity at select nodes, which would also support BRT ridership,Kimley-Horn, a planning and design consultant based in North Carolina, developed a transit-oriented development study called “SunRunner Rising.” Forward Pinellas recently discussed the study, and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board members voted on it May 25. The 10.3-mile SunRunner will have a total of 30 stations. ST. PETE BEACH
July 9th the city will open a time capsule that was buried near the brand new St. Pete Beach police headquarters on July 9, 1997. It should be interesting to see the changes in the past quarter century. For example, the police department was eliminated and its headquarters was demolished after the city embraced the Sheriff’s department, saving the city millions annually. There should be a copy of Paradise NEWS in there, probably with details about the last big concert in Pass-a-Grille. The Spin Doctors were a relatively unknown band that was booked as the last concert of a Spring Concert Series. The venue at Sand Key Park had a scheduling conflict, and promoters learned about the new Gulf Beaches Historical Museum needing a roof, so the venue was changed to Pass-a-Grille. The very same night, a better known band, Three Dog Night, was playing at the Tierra Verde Club made famous by Guy Lombardo. As luck would have it, the Spin Doctors had their one big hit two weeks before the concert date and 10,000 people wanted to be at the concert. Another couple thousand were headed to Tierra Verde. About half made it. Many of the rest parked where they were and walked. The ensuing traffic snarl was epic, blocking the interstate exit at the Pinellas Bayway for ¼ mile in each direction. The Museum raised $16,000 in four hours.
If you have not eaten in at Basil Leaf, 6355 Gulf Blvd., lately, you are in for a surprise. It looks more like Nori Thai and less like Annie Moore’s Irish Pub now. Owners Joy Xavagong has redecorated with granite, slate and Joy’s favorite colors. The bathrooms, which were a weak point, are now accessible and awesome. They have also improved their take-out system to handle the volume they had during the pandemic. Next door, Odise Armata and his wife Mirella have added outdoor seating to complement the tables inside Odi’s Mediterranean Kitchen, offering award-winning gyros, dinners, amazing salads and deli from 10-6 Mon.-Sat. 727-564-0100. Mirella’s Talent Salon is adjacent, staffed and ready to provide expert haircare of all comers in this slower season. Dolphin Beach Resort soldSCG Beach Hospitably, led by the Bucaneers’ Co-Chair Bryan Glazer, purchased the Dolphin Beach Resort, with plans to renovate. In August 2018 the Glazers acquired The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in downtown St. Petersburg for $188.5 million, or $512,000/room. The Vinoy resort is undergoing a massive renovation and repositioning. Phase 1 is scheduled to complete at the end of this year. The Plasencia Group helped with this transaction and the sale of “more than 2,500 rooms across the Sunshine State in the past year, at an average value of nearly $350,000/room,” according to The Plasencia Group. “We look forward to seeing what the Glazers have in store for this generational resort that holds a spot of pride in the heart of St. Pete Beach.”
A Road on the Sand? At the suggestion of staff, city commissioners will consider a new and all-encompassing beach ordinance that incorporates new regulations for using St. Pete Beach’s sandy beach. A draft ordinance submitted to the city’s Beach Stewardship Committee states that permits to drive on the beach will be restricted to public works and public safety vehicles, those involved in permitted commercial activities or special events, and those involved in mechanical beach cleaning. Russ Kimball was named 2022 Tourism Person of the Year at the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce annual tourism gathering, May 5th. Longtime General Manager for Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Russ Kimball was called “the backbone” of the tourism industry. He has served on a countless boards including the Tourism Development Council.
Previous Tourism Person of the Year Award Winners include: Tony Satterfield, Tim Bogott, Clyde Smith, Keith Overton, Gregg Nicklaus, Steve Westphal, Frank Chivas, Nicklaus Family and Maryann Ferenc. For more information, please contact Robin Miller at info@tampabaybeaches.com or visit TampaBayBeaches.com.
GULFPORT
July 1st BarBQ and Veteran’s Ribbon Paver Campaign
Gulfport’s Senior Center Foundation is a volunteer group supporting the area’s only public senior center which welcomes seniors countywide. They sponsor events for the Senior Center including the Stars & Stripes BBQ, being held July 1, 5pm. Bring your friends and family for a late afternoon of fun, entertainment with hot dogs, hamburgers and all the traditional fixin’s. Tickets $10/person.
Proceeds will support the Gulfport Senior Center Foundation’s Building Fund. Get your tickets here with a small convenience fee. Online @ Eventbrite or at the Foundation Office 9:30am-1pm Mon.-Fri. or at Gulfport Beach Bazaar, 3115 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport
The Gulfport Senior Center Foundation is planning a “ribbon of engraved pavers” in Gulfport’s Veteran’s Memorial Park at 5350 31st Ave. S near the waterfront. The beautiful Veterans Memorial Park on Boca Ciega Bay is the quintessential location to pay tribute to our military veterans and the honorable members of our communities they fought so hard to protect. Donors not only get the satisfaction of honoring their loved one with a permanent and public token of appreciation, but they can also take pride in knowing that their donations will help the Gulfport Senior Center Foundation to continue to raise and distribute funds that support and enhance the health, educational, social and recreational programs and services of the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center. Donors can purchase customized engraved bricks to memorialize a loved one or friend.
Two sizes are available: 4”x 8” for $100 and 8”x 8” for $175. The ribbon cutting is Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
For information about ordering, please follow: www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/gulfportfoundation
Military logos are available at no additional cost for bricks honoring veterans. Miniature souvenir bricks are also available with purchase of full-size pavers. The Gulfport Senior Center Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Reserve your seat for the next WE Convene happening on Thursday, June 23, from 8-10am! Join Creative Pinellas and co-hosts Clearwater Arts Alliance & St Pete Arts Alliance for the upcoming WE Convene session on the economic needs and well-being for artists, with Keynote Speaker Laura Zabel. Laura is the executive director for Springboard for the Arts, an economic and community development agency run by and for artists. This important talk will discuss how to ensure artists and arts organizations thrive in Pinellas County. This event will be held at Creative Pinellas located at 12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo. Free and open to the public. www.eventbrite.com/e/we-convene
Agritech company Phospholutions, a sustainable fertilizer startup based in State College, Pennsylvania, has a new hub in St. Petersburg and hopes it will help bolster the area’s agriculture sector. University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced Wednesday morning that she had selected Christian Hardigree to lead the St. Petersburg campus into the future as its next regional chancellor. The St. Pete Pier is one of the finalists in the Urban Land Institute’s 2022 Americas Awards for Excellence. There are 21 finalists in total. It was the only Florida finalist named.