ST PETERSBURG
Eighth Annual St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs – Feb 18-21
This year’s 3-1/2 day event begins with a Keynote Address at the Palladium, 5pm Feb. 18, and ends with a Closing Address at Fox Hall – Eckerd College, 7pm Feb. 21. Panel Discussions are daily 8am-5pm, Feb. 19–21 at University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) Student Center and Kate Tiedemann College of Business.
The St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs is a cooperative venture of a group of civic-minded St. Petersburg residents and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Panels of distinguished diplomats, military, media, and academic experts discuss critical international issues of the day at each annual conference. Admission is free and open to the public.
Mayor Rick Kriseman last year proclaimed the creation of St. Petersburg International Week to run concurrently with the conference. During the week of Feb. 17-21 additional activities will be offered. Some have a small fee.
Visit https://www.worldaffairsconference.com for topics, speaker profiles, panel members, cost if any and other details.
One City Chorus’ Annual Palladium Concert
St. Petersburg’s exuberant 120-voice chorus returns to the Palladium with their unique blend of songs about social justice, civil rights, diversity and equality, and sheer entertainment Sunday, Feb. 16th, at 4pm.
The Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg ADMISSION: $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Children 12 & under – FREE with accompanying adult. Call 508-487-0477 for info.
Preserve the ‘Burg – Who’s On Board?
The newly appointed board president is Ken Grimes, Vice President of Development for Global Medical Response, the largest medical transport company in the world. Ken has lived in St. Petersburg since 1999 with his wife Elizabeth and two children, Sara and Brandon. He joined the board of Preserve the ‘Burg (then St. Petersburg Preservation) in 2014 and served as the Development Committee Chair during many of PTB’s most significant years of growth. Ken previously worked in various capacities for Bayfront Hospital for more than 30 years, including as a flight paramedic and eventually as the Director of the Bayflite program. Preserve the ‘Burg is also welcoming four new board members:
- Bob Carter, President and Owner of the Carter Group
- Jackie Crain, Executive Leader
- Sharon Hayes, CEO of Bayfront Health
- Harry Heuman, President H3 Development Solutions
ST PETE BEACH
Centrifuge Indoor Eco-Cycling Hooping and Boot Camp clients are “building up” next to PJ’s Oyster Bar in St. Pete Beach. Fun workouts are the order of the day at this new gym in town. Former weight lifter, body-builder, founder and class leader Emma Baiz says things will really pick up when it starts heating back up outside. “People that are now riding 5-20 miles outdoors have a far safer, more comfortable way to keep up the workout as the temperature increases. It is much safer in a lot of ways,” Baiz mentions.
St. Pete Beach Crab and Music Festival on Corey Avenue March 27-29. Bands this year include, on Friday: North Jetty Allstars (classic rock, yacht rock, bluegrass, blues), Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio (soul, rock) and Free Fallin’ (Tom Petty Tribute Band). Saturday performances are by: Ari & the Alibis (funk, jazz, samba), West Coast Steel Pan Band (jazz, Caribbean), The Verge (classic rock ‘70s to present) and Fleetwood Max (Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band). On Sunday enjoy: Bryan Spainhower (Musica Eclectica: fusion of flamenco, jazz, rock & country), JP Soars & The Red Hots (soul, blues) and The Black Honkeys (rock, soul).
On Fridays through April 10th 10am-2pm AARP Tax Aides will help St. Pete Beach residents file tax returns at City Hall (upstairs in the conference room). AARP provides tax service for people of all ages free of charge.
Tax forms will be available at the Library for self-filers. Filers do not need to bring tax forms to the AARP event.
St. Pete Beach is going through some major changes in its restaurants this spring. Silas Dent’s old haunt is preparing to reopen as the newest Caddy’s Restaurant in the area with restaurants / bars now in Sunset Beach, Indian Shores, Gulfport and Downtown St. Petersburg, where you will also find a related Yard of Ale and MacDintons. They got a prime waterfront location with plenty of parking, walking distance from the biggest hotels in town. Meanwhile the former CrabDaddys and Shark Tales (at 75th and Sunset in St. Pete Beach) are being renovated by a team from The Reef and Toasted Monkey and will have new names soon. Last year Sea Hag expanded its new Gulf Blvd location where Selene had been. Fetishes Fine Dining & Wine Bar closed, sold its building and is about to become the first location of FoCheezy, a new Robert Hesse, chef-inspired grilled cheese concept with a food truck involved. More later.
There is still plenty of room for more. The Roost location as well as three store fronts with kitchen on the south side of Corey are once again available since A Slice of New York moved, then closed, so owner Craig Munroe could focus on FoCheezy. There is new ownership at Verducci on Blind Pass and the food quality has reportedly reversed its downward spiral.
Music in the Afternoons
“Live music and dancing with a view.” The popular Music in the Afternoon Series is back at the St. Pete Beach Community Center on select Sundays from 2-4pm. Lew Barrows & the Rhythm Kings will be performing live music while guests either sit back and relax or show off their dance moves all while overlooking the beautiful Boca Ciega Bay. This event is free and light refreshments will be provided. For more information please call 727-363-9245 or visit www.spbrec.com. This event takes place at 7701 Boca Ciega Dr., St. Pete Beach FL 33706.
Upcoming dates: Feb. 23rd & March 29th
TREASURE ISLAND
BILMAR BEACH RESORT AND CAFÉ EXPANDS MANAGEMENT TEAM
The Bilmar Beach Resort announced the appointments of Harmony Miller, Beach Café Manager, and Kenny Anderson, Restaurant Manager. Miller will oversee operations and implement marketing at The Bilmar Beach Café, the hotel’s beachfront dining venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Previously, she was with Soho Leisure Group in Tampa planning marketing events for Tampa Hyde Park Café, Cheap Restaurant & Bar, The Kennedy Boutique Lounge, Whiskey North, and Whiskey Park Soho.
The Friday Fresh Market in Treasure Island Community Park continues through April. Treasure Island Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce February Mixer is Feb. 27th at Fusion at 5:30. All members, guests and prospective members are welcome. $10 for members of the Chamber, $15 for guests.
The John Morroni Memorial Dog Park was dedicated at Roselli Park on Isle Of Capri. It was just over a year funds were being raised for improvements including “yours” and “theirs” water fountains and lots more at the John Morroni Memorial Dog Park at Roselli Park. Isle of Capri Civic Association President Dominique Reiter said they sold over 100 personalized pavers for the entryway to the park, plus five benches and a fire hydrant. Maintenance for the time being is being handled by city Parks staff. Questions? Call 727-644-3343 or email dreiter1@tampabay.rr.com.
INDIAN SHORES
Legacy Vacation Resort at Indian Shores Located on the sparkling Intracoastal waters on the Gulf coast of Florida, Legacy Vacation Resort Indian Shores is a Certified B Corporation that has recently completed an eco-renovation to transform the property into one of the most socially and environmentally conscious properties in the state. If you’re unfamiliar, Certified B Corps are businesses that voluntarily meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose through third-party review. B Corps go far beyond simple eco-friendly initiatives and analyze all aspects of their business, from workers to supply chain and community in addition to benefiting the planet. Jared Meyers, Legacy Vacation Resorts CEO and Founder.
MADEIRA BEACH
The first Mad Burger Festival and Car Show will be held Sunday, April 5th, from 10-4pm at ROC Park in Madeira Beach. It will feature the Best Burger Contest, a Classic Car Show with Trophies, Food Trucks, Vendors, Live Music and More, benefitting “R.O.C. (Remember Our Children) Park” in Madeira Beach. The family-friendly event is free for spectators. A new event by the LUXE Fashion Group, led by Dona Crowley, a full-service for-hire event production and management company, which has an exciting spring season planned. They are involved in a Car Show in Key West, Feb. 23rd, 10-4pm; a Motorfest in Naples, Sunday, March 1st, 10-3; the LUXE Lingerie Show at WTR in Tampa on Saturday, March 7th, 7-11pm; and the burger festival Sunday April 5th, a Jeep Fest in Tampa, Saturday, May 16th 12-5pm, on top of a busy schedule of weddings and private events.
The Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce held its annual Installation and Awards Banquet on Thursday, Jan. 23 rd, at the new West Events Center, 13435 Gulf Blvd in Madeira Beach with Steve Hayes, the new president and CEO of Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, as the keynote speaker. Hayes was recruited to head the agency in late 2019, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge about ways to build tourism.
He joined Visit Pensacola in 2013, and developed the Destination 2020 tourism strategy for the Greater Pensacola Bay Area before accepting his position with VSPC. Prior to working with Visit Pensacola, Hayes spent more than 25 years working for Visit Tampa Bay in various management and leadership roles. The Chamber looks forward to the insights Hayes brings to the future of tourism along our beaches. The venue turned out to be an amazing addition to public spaces available on the beaches. Through a parking arrangement with Church by the Sea, parking (valet) was better than expected, and the venue, renovated with the help of Karns Construction, was indeed all it was billed to be. Bill Karns was also honored as outgoing board chair of the Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce, passing the gavel to Ken Hautmann.
GULFPORT
Gulfport’s Pink Flamingo Tour of Homes recurs for the 15th year on Saturday, March 7th, from 11am-5pm in an unusually high and dry part of Gulfport known as “The Bluff.” The homes – which range from 100-year-old classics to amazing mid-century remodels – are close enough for walking or biking, and shuttles will circulate throughout the tour.
Tickets are $20 at the Gulfport Welcome Center and Gulfport Beach Bazaar or pinkflamingohometour.com/buy-tickets. Day of tour tickets are $25. The Pink Flamingo Home Tour is a fundraiser for the Gulfport Merchants Chamber. For more information see pinkflamingohometour.com. Paradise NEWS was named BUSINESS OF THE YEAR in 2007 after we ran a cover story about the Pink Flamingo Home Tour. Attendance doubled and stayed pretty steady since at 700-850.
Gulfport Historical Society needs volunteers to act as hosts during two-hour shifts at the Gulfport History Museum. Attend the volunteer open house on Saturday, Feb. 8th from 10am-1pm, at the museum (5301 28th Ave. S, Gulfport). Lunch and soft drinks are on them! You don’t need to know a lot about Gulfport’s history to volunteer; you just need to enjoy meeting and talking to people. Society members will train volunteers in a fun, friendly, learn-as-you-go atmosphere. Dog lovers can bring their canine pals with them when staffing the museum. Contact Lisa Sieg at 585-857-7188 or volunteer@gulfporthistoricalsociety.org.
TIERRA VERDE
There’s a Sunday Market in downtown Tierra Verde from 9-2 and another on Corey Ave. in St. Pete Beach from 10-2. Visiting them both is a great way to get some fresh air and get some of your steps in for the day while also getting some fresh produce or that new piece of art you’ve been needing.
ISLA DEL SOL
Island Life Animal Hospital has opened at Isla del Sol Shopper’s Village, offering full-service veterinary care on the Pinellas Bayway for dogs and cats, as well as select exotic and pocket pets. They offer vaccinations, wellness and sick exams, dentistry, surgery, diagnostic laboratory, and geriatric pet health care and they accept pet emergencies during regular business hours. (8-6 M-F) Drs. Pierce and Gallo say they planned their ideal vet practice carefully and are getting high praise for it from early Google reviews online. islandlifeanimalhospital.vet Call (727) 289-3776
SKYWAY MARINA DISTRICT
The Sixth Annual May Day Race is scheduled for May 1
Ceridian will again host this exciting event including an 8K race through beautiful Clam Bayou, a Kids Dash for Cash and a post-race party with food, fun and vendors. They are once again earmarking the proceeds from this event toward improvements for the Skyway Marina District Association (a registered 501c3) as well area schools and school age programs. The Race Committee is seeking sponsors and/or vendors for the 2020 May Day Race. Please contact Misty at 727-466-7173 or maydayrace@gmail.com if you have any questions about the event.
PINELLAS COUNTY
PIE set an all-time passenger record for the fifth consecutive year. In 2019, 2,288,692 passengers flew to/from 57 non-stop destinations. 2019 was up 2% over 2018. Dec. 2019 was a 12% increase over December 2018 with 196,331 passengers, the biggest Dec. in history. PIE consistently ranks amongst the lowest average round-trip airfare with PIE’s average fare at $127.85 compared to U.S. average fare of $345.09. For the third quarter of 2019, PIE ranks 11th lowest in average airfare out of 420 airports.
TAMPA BAY
The Tampa Bay Rays have announced ticket information for spring training “home” games. The Rays 2020 spring training season at Charlotte Sports Park is presented by Visit Tampa Bay. Single-game tickets are now on sale exclusively through RaysBaseball.com.
For single-game tickets call 888-FAN-RAYS or visit the Charlotte Sports Park Box Office, 2300 El Jobean Rd, Port Charlotte, FL 33948 (941) 206-4487. Rays ticket specials offered throughout spring training season include, with some restrictions:
- Military, Teachers and First Responders $10
- Senior Day: On Wednesday, March 4, when the Rays host the Toronto Blue Jays $15
- Exhibition Game at Tropicana: Tuesday, March 24, Rays against the “Future Rays,” $10.