Tampa International Airport offers nonstop service to London, Mexico City, Panama City, Frankfurt, Zurich, Amsterdam and more. In the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024, according to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, 1.4 million international passengers represent a new record, about 200,000 over 2023. Odise Armata, affectionately known as “Odi”, is a St. Pete Beach Treasure. Odi’s Mediterranean Kitchen is a restaurant, with Gyros, Platters and great fries, a nice selection of beverages including beers and imported wines for every palette and budget, but also a deli offering amazing fresh salads, olives, beets, Feta Cheese, Home-made stuffed grape leaves, olive oil and a selection of Mediterranean confections, including desserts made by Odi’s wife Mirella, who also operates the salon next door. Find him at www.Odiskitchen.com or on Facebook. The big scoop is that Odi’s place is beginning to offer dinner Thursday through Saturday each week, with a happy hour hosted by spirited, long-time local Odi has known for more than a decade. Johnny DeRosa is one of very few individuals ever featured on the cover of Paradise News, in August of 2009, VOL 16, NO 7, when he visited every state capitol after the oil spill devasted tourism here, carrying the message that Pinellas Beaches were oil free.
Suntan Art Center Inc. a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization of artists, for artists was displaced by Helene and Milton from the historic Don Vista Building in St. Pete Beach and is now located at 401 19th St. St Pete Fl 33712. The center offers classes, workshops and exhibit opportunities to its members. For example, the artists and creators of Suntan Art Center present Art on the Patio, a weekly market held beachside on the patio of Paradise Grille (900 Gulf Way Pass – A – Grille). The market which has been a favorite for visitors and locals for the past 20 years runs from 9am – 2pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during season (Jan – April) Saturdays and Sundays year-round. Need a souvenir of your vacation in Pass-A Grille, a last-minute hostess gift or something special for yourself? These local artists have you covered! What treasures can you find? Jewelry, hand painted signs, clothing, paintings, candles, local photography, gifts, home décor, hats, sun shirts and more.
Visitors to the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg, can see the legendary Arlyn Table, arguably the most important piece of furniture ever created by master craftsman and artist George Nakashima (1905-1990). The magnificent table has been in the collection of the Two Red Roses Foundation since it was purchased in 2006 at Sotheby’s New York sale of the famed Arthur and Evelyn Krosnick collection and is currently on view, along with six Nakashima Conoid dining chairs, in the gallery that bears his name. The Arlyn Table has a unique story. Nakashima created the piece in 1988 for his Princeton, New Jersey patrons, Dr. Arthur Krosnick and his wife Evelyn. “Arlyn” is an acronym formed from the couples’ first names. The nine-foot-wide table is made from a cross-section of burled redwood originally from the San Francisco Bay Area’s Muir Woods. The tabletop features ten holes, three butterfly joints, and an intricate ragged edge that sits atop two intersecting black walnut slabs.
Love is in the air, and The Wharf is always a great date spot. In addition to live music Wednesday-Saturday 6-9:30 pm with Rob Tyre, check their Facebook for Valentine Day specials as well as their popular grouper sandwich and seafood specials. Stop in any Saturday and Sunday for mimosa specials and all your favorite sports games on TV. Happy hour is Monday-Friday 3:30-6pm. By the end of February, the back dining room with a waterview will seat more friends and family and the boat docks and back patio should be done. From mai tais to margaritas, the specialty cocktail list, wines and beers plus peel n’ eat shrimp are a gameday favorite, as are Fish Fry Tuesday and Taco Wednesday. Mardi Gras flavors abound from the gumbo to the hush puppies! https://www.facebook.com/WharfPAG/
The Tomkats Jazz Orchestra plays Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7pm at Pass-a-Grille Community Church, 107 16th Ave., St. Pete Beach, the first of the Church’s Spring Concert Series that runs every second Thursday into April. Thursday, Feb. 27th there’s BeatleBeat, March 13th, Greg Billings and the Stay Up Late Band plays. cx Then Stormbringer on March 27th and Black Honkeys on April 10th. Bring a lawn chair, a beverage, snacks and a donation ($10-20/person suggested) for the Good Samaritan Food Pantry and The Church’s Post Hurricane Rebuilding Fund.
TORCH! …a musical roast of love! Laurie Loyst, was a New York City Cabaret artist, who owned a musical pariody company and was an entertainer on cruise ships and more. The St Pete Beach resident comes out of retirement with a show on Valentines Night, Friday, February 14th at the Warren Webster Community Center in Pass-a-Grille. She recruited The Scorchin’ Hot Band, three musicians with incredible credentials! Pianist Robin Swenson has toured and recorded with Frankie Valli, Air Supply, Helen Reddy, and more. Bassist Mark Neuenschwander is currently playing for Andrea Bocelli’s Florida concerts and is in charge of the band. He has worked with Billy Eckstine, Cab Calloway, Bob Hope, John Travolta, Michael Feinstein, Rosemary Clooney…and an endless list of Who’s Who. And drummer Albie Berk has spent the better part of his life as the personal drummer for Joel Grey, Debbie Reynolds, Suzanne Somers, Michael Feinstein, Tony Danza, and more. Tickets ($35) can be reserved by emailing laurie.loyst@gmail.com
Does your Valentine Love the Beatles Music? Imagine, the Music of the Beatles One City Chorus, St Pete’s 100 voice community chorus, takes the audience on a journey of the best-loved songs of the Fab Four! Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 4pm Hough Hall (doors open 1 hours prior to the show) Tickets: GA: $25 ($20 until 2/16/25)
The St. Pete Economic Development Corporation holds their annual meeting
Wednesday, February 19 – St. Pete Museum of History
- 3 pm Check-in and Welcome Reception
- 4 pm Program
- 5 pm Community Connections Reception
- 6 pm Adjourn
You’ll be hearing from some of the companies that have relocated to St. Pete and will be unveiling a new EDC logo and website. Reserve your spot here at bit.ly/edcannual2025.
The Bay Area Renaissance Festival is operated by the same event producers as the Michigan RenFest. Held for years now at 12838 Auton Rd, Dade City, FL 33525, the “local” event returns for 6 weekends, Feb. 15 – March 30, 2025 Adult tickets at the gate this year are $25.95 with discounts for seniors, kids. Dress up and be a part of it, bring your well-behaved pet or just come, eat, drink, be merry, take pictures. The 90-minute drive there is increasingly rural, getting you ready for the time warp back to Sixteenth Century England. Theme Weekends include: Feb. 15 – 16 • Once upon a time https://bayarearenfest.com/once-upon-a-time/ Feb. 22 – 23 • Highland Fling https://bayarearenfest.com/highland-fling-2/ March 1 – 2 • BARKbarian Brewfest https://bayarearenfest.com/barkbarian-brew-fest-2/ March 8 – 9 • Heroes and Havoc https://bayarearenfest.com/heroes-havoc/ March 9 • Ladies & Lords Shopping Day https://bayarearenfest.com/lords-ladies-shopping-day/ March 15-16• Shamrocks and Shenanigans https://bayarearenfest.com/shamrocks-shenanigans-2/ March 22-23 • Viking Invasion https://bayarearenfest.com/viking-invasion-2/ March 29-30 • Buccaneers and Ballgowns https://bayarearenfest.com/buccaneers-and-ballgowns/
March 8 & 9th, Treasure Island hosts Back to the Beach: Sand & Kites & Coastal Delights. on Treasure Island Beach March 8 and 9 from 10 am – 6 pm daily. Visitors will see sandcastles beyond their wildest imaginations. Also, on March 8 & 9, just outside The Imagine Museum, on Central Avenue near 20th St., some of the area’s finest artists are featured in the season’s 2nd fine art festival in this new location. This outdoor boutique art show features 50 talented, juried artists across various disciplines and runs from 10 am – 5 pm daily. With something for everyone at every price point, the event offers free admission, with donations supporting arts and education initiative.
There is a municipal election March 11 that could change your representation in local government.
Two council seats are open in Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach and South Pasadena with three and four candidates to choose from. District 4 in Redington Shores and 16 referendum questions will be decided.
In St. Pete Beach, District 2 incumbent commissioner Lisa Robinson defends her seat from challenger Grant Izzi.
In Treasure Island both the Mayor and City Commissioner District 2 will be chosen. Commissioner and Vice Mayor John E. Doctor, who became Mayor when Tyler Payne resigned after the storms, faces Doyle Wayne Johnson. Chris Clark faces Diana L. Crabill in District 2.
Three are running for Gulfport Ward 2 Council member, including our columnist and ‘Gulfport Matters’ Facebook page operator, Marlene Shaw, who had also worked for the city some years ago, who faces Bryan E. Chalfont and Christine Anne Brown.
Sam Henderson has been Mayor of Gulfport for years. Long-time resident Karen Love also wants the job. She has been a tireless volunteer for the Pink Flamingo Home Tour and other worthy community efforts for decades. They are opposed by relative newcomer, John William Liccione, whose community spirit is more global. According to his website and an email he sent out recently.
“A domestic violence survivor and exonerated prisoner, John has faced and overcome profound personal challenges, transforming these experiences into a lifelong mission to fight for justice and equity. Now, as a candidate for Mayor of Gulfport, John is bringing his passion for service and societal problem-solving to the local level, ready to make meaningful changes for the residents, homeowners, and businesses of Gulfport.”
As a recent Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, John demonstrated his ability to craft policies that benefit all people and small businesses—not just the wealthy and powerful. John enjoys writing and performing comedic political satire as well as traditional folk, bluegrass, and alt rock and classic soft rock with his acoustic guitar occasionally at the North End Tap House on Tuesday open mic nights.
After the recent Gulfport City Council Meeting, John researched and wrote a scathing report accusing the County and State disaster recovery contractor with filing fraudulent reports. It said in part: My Fellow Gulfportians! At Jan 21st’s City Council meeting, “…I heard the words “Tidal Basin!” uttered like a curse by the lady sitting next to me, and from others, and my antennae shot up. Tidal Basin? Tell me more.” John pointed out in a recent group email that The Tidal Basin Group, “is the company the State of Florida is cramming down the throats of Pinellas County coastal cities for FEMA-funded storm damage assessment inspections. They have State and Pinellas County contracts for this. It turns out their inspectors have been filing false claims of substantial damage on what are undamaged or slightly damaged properties…so far…until now, with impunity. This must stop: now. So, how do we stop the bleeding?” John’s independent media company, The Crabber News, where he’s Founder, CEO, and sole owner, has just wrapped up the first phase of its preliminary investigation into this emerging scandal, dubbing it “TidalGate.” On January 27th, they published the results of its preliminary investigation in a scathing exposé entitled:
“TidalGate: Disaster Recovery – the New Medicare in Florida.”