The Downtown Concierge by Nanette Wiser
Love is in the air and DTSP is in season! Make your reservations now for Valentine’s Day for dinner (Sea Salt, Annata, Parkshore, Beau N Mo), a picnic, cruise or spa-sational treatments at The Vinoy or Woodhouse Spa.
The 4th Street corridor continues to blossom. John Barkett Realty, recently named one of Tampa Bay’s best workplaces (and very dog friendly), nurtures small businesses, adding Sun State Yoga next door. Of course the fabulous Chad Mize Gallery is a draw for all the hip artists and cool cats while Left Bank’s French cuisine and Provencal décor and gifts are a huge draw. In this neighborhood, you’ll also discover St. Pete Saltworks (flotation for meditation and massage), Gypsy Soul’s Coffeehouse (and fresh roasted coffee) and Liberty Health Science (medical marijuana).
Driving 4th Street past Trader Joe’s is like a global gastronomic festival, with Hook’s on 4th for sushi, Fresh Kitchen for ethnic and regional American fare heavy on vegan and gluten-free, Harvey’s 4th Street Grill for bulking up breakfasts and home-cooked comfort food, El Cap’s burgers, Capital Tacos and Noble Crust, chicken and waffle or gourmet pizza haven.
One of my favorite spots is Spice Routes near Red Mesa (which is now serving alcohol). Judy, the owner, whips up amazing soups and gluten-free food, and is available for catering. Speaking of catering and event venues, in addition to the West Event Space in Madeira Beach on Gulf Blvd, the Red Brick Church is available for weddings, events and meetings.
One sad note is the passing of Babalu’s, the ultimate bar, brew, chicken wing and downhome delights in 2020, a long-time staple on 4th near Gateway. Frank Chivas’s beloved concept Rumba Island Bar & Grill is coming soon 4th Street North (formerly WingHouse), adding to its success in both Clearwater and Oldsmar, adding tropical tastes and sangria two-for-one all day every day.
Heading back to the heart of downtown St. Pete, Urban BBQ and Brews debuted a Floribbean lunch and dinner counter featuring build-a-bowl, craft beer and tropical juices.
Have you been to Tropez on Central for hand-crafted cocktails, early bird dinner, lunch, supper and brunch with eclectic international flavors? The early bird is a 4-course prix-fixe, and we love to start with the salad, app (French onion soup dumplings), entrée (Korean BBQ short-ribs) followed by French mini-doughnuts for dessert. Friday & Saturday 11pm to 1am you can enjoy ½ off well drinks, ½ off rose and champagne and other delights.
Big news for Bandit Coffee, which added wine, beer and food to their menu this year and is getting into roasting their own coffee in 2020 in the Warehouse District. Also growing is Brick Street Farms, transforming into a Cultivation Hub with more growing space, pop up events, coffee roasting, commissary kitchen, retail center and more alfresco event space. You can find Brick Street Farms’ glorious produce in fine restaurants and now selected Publix.
The boys of summer will be back in April, and we can’t wait for a Rays and Rowdies winning season. New to downtown St. Pete this April will be the debut of the Tampa Bay Cannons at Campbell Park, who recently released their roster of Frisbee-flinging athletes.
Also highly anticipated this spring is the $90 million Museum of American Arts and Crafts, under construction for five years. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum will open with two temporary exhibitions: Love, Labor and Art: The Roycroft Enterprise; Capturing Childhood: Illustrations of American Youth; and Lenses Embracing the Beautiful: Pictorial Photographs From the Two Red Roses Foundation.
Keep St. Pete Lit, Tombolo Books, Haslam’s, the MFA Book Club and other biblio-friendly meccas are joined by two amazing author readings that prove DTSP is a booklover’s haven.
On Feb. 10th, Mirror Lake Library will feature local author and poet Gianna Russo, who founded YellowJacket Press. Named Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay Local Poet in 2017, she holds an MFA in Poetry from The University of Tampa. Gianna is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Saint Leo University, where she teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs and serves as editor-in-chief of Sandhill Review and director of the Sandhill Writers Retreat. Seating starts at 5:00. Opening remarks begin at 5:30 followed by the author’s talk. A reception & book signing will be held from 6:30 to 7:00.
Also on Feb. 10th, The Debbie and Brent Sembler Florida Holocaust Museum Lecture Series at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg presents Julie Orringer! At 6:30pm at University Student Center (USC) Ballroom USF St. Petersburg (200 6th Ave S). Orringer will speak about her new book, “The Flight Portfolio.” Based on a true story, “The Flight Portfolio” tells the tale of one young American’s quest to save the lives of artists and writers fleeing the Nazis after the invasion of France. Varian Fry, a Harvard-educated journalist and editor, recognized the darkness descending over Europe and decided to take action. With a group of like-minded New Yorkers, he formed the Emergency Rescue Committee, whose mission was to help threatened artists and writers emigrate to the States. In 1940 he flew to Marseille as the Committee’s on-the-ground leader. This program is free and open to the public!
SIP SIP HOORAY: Be sure to check out this month’s craft brewery guide that covered DTSP to Dunedin. Thrillist ranked the best beers in 50 states and Green Bench Brewery’s Sunshine City IPA and Cigar City’s Jai Alai made it to the best of the best.
Finally, hats off to Hizzoner and team on the State of the Economy in St. Petersburg, presented at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art in January. St. Petersburg is larger, wealthier and slightly better educated than a few years ago. Construction set records. Employment was up. Poverty was down.