DOWNTOWN CONCIERGE
By Nanette Wiser
Between Oktoberfest and Halloween is our favorite sports holiday in CHAMPA Bay. Hoping the Tampa Bay Rays bring the World Series back to DTSP on Oct. 5, the kickoff of baseball post-season playoffs and storm into the World Series Oct. 26-Nov. 3. Welcome back the St. Petersburg’s Saturday Market Oct. 2nd at Al Lang Stadium and the SHINE Mural Festival Oct. 15-24, with 16 new murals and four events.
EDIBLES: With a new contemporary menu from Chef Jason Lutz at 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House, Jacob Linzey and Volet Hospitality have big plans for Beach Drive, knocking down the walls of Alto Mare and Annata for an expanded charcuterie, small plate and seafood menu with a wine bar feel. With live music Sunday afternoon at Trophy Fish, you can enjoy the fried street corn, wild Gulf shrimp skewer, Dayboat fresh catch or smoked shrimp burger al fresco with potent drinks and local beers.
Pin on Café Asian Fusion, the sister resto of Pin, Wok & Bowl, is terrific, from the green tea cheesecake to the fresh fruit lychee yogurt smoothie. Start with the Korean wings and sushi pizza, then enjoy sushi stacks (Big Hut tuna, salmon, shrimp tempura, edamame, cuke and more) or specialty rolls (spicy tuna Fire Cracker, salmon/cream cheese Touch Down Roll.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is my Pier fave during the week, for the Bayamo black bean dip, Caribbean jerk chicken tostados, shrimp scampi flatbread, Southwestern Cobb salad, banana leaf snapper and conch chowder.
Burg Cookie Co. (Reese’s Pieces, gluten-free/vegan chocolate chip) and Maddie’s Cakes (double chocolate brownies) will open together on 9th St. and 1st Ave. South for sweet delights. Load up your spud at The Half Baked Potato with dozens of toppings, served baked, mashed or smashed on Central Ave. 22 South Food Hall features Louie’s Italian Kitchen, with some of the best lasagna and eggplant parmesan for the perfect Nonna Sunday dinner.
Kick off the 7th annual SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival on October 16th from 2-11pm at Bayboro Brewing with the release of “Spraycation,” a strawberry, orange, passionfruit ale brewed to support the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s award-winning mural festival.
FUN: Zubrick Magic Theatre continues to be the hottest ticket Thursday-Saturday in DTSP. Get your tickets now for The Mersey Beatles at The Palladium Oct. 28, yeah yeah! The Off-Central Players new production of “Plot Points in Our Sexual Development” will feature an art exhibit themed for the show, “Rainbows, Love and Sexual Diversity” for 2D artworks at Studio Grand Central. www.studiograndcentral.com/call-to-artists Mark your calendars for the Firestone Grand Prix, moved up from March to Feb. 24-27, 2022.
HALLOWEEN: Are you ready for Downtown costume capers? Get your game on at ArtPool, CASA Thrift Shop and other gently used clothing stores. On Oct. 31st, we’ll be doing the Monster Mash from noon to 5pm at Grand Central’s FrankenPride. On Oct. 30th 4pm, it’s the Halloween Bar Crawl. Register at the Whiskey Exchange party 2-4pm, then head out to Pour Judgement (5-6pm), Crafty Squirrel (6-7pm), Thirsty First (7-9pm) and One Night Stand 9-11pm) and compete for prizes and costume categories. Check FB for your favorite local bar costume bash.
