NEW YEARS EVE
For New Years Eve, our August/ September issue cover subject, Da Sesto Italiano promises to outdo himself with a very special wine dinner menu for $120/person. You can stay until midnight or join us later at the St. Pete Coliseum, the largest dance floor in the southeast U.S., where Swing Dance News presents The Jive Aces, Britain’s top Jive & Swing Band. We will be in the balcony celebrating New Years and Pete’s Birthday. Come by and say hi! Swing Dance Lesson starts – 8 pm. Dancing 9 pm – 1 am. Tickets are only $35.
Private Alcoves for 28 may still be had. You may bring your own food to this event or purchase a variety of items from the Coliseum snack bar (everything from ice cream to popcorn to coffee). For drinks, the Coliseum runs a full cash bar with beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks bottled, water and champagne. No outside beverages are allowed into the coliseum and no coolers are allowed. First Night is going on too in downtown St. Pete, offering multiple venues with full access for those prepared with lighted First Night buttons, available for $12 adult, $5 for children under 13 in advance from numerous venues. First Night St. Petersburg is the “LARGEST family-friendly New Year’s Eve Celebration of the Arts in the great State of Florida.” Ring in the New Year with music, drama, games, comedy, lights, dance, fire, bubbles, stories, creative fun, fireworks and much more! For all the details, visit http://www.firstnightstpete.com
ST PETERSBURG
Two self-serve beer walls are slated for downtown St. Petersburg Pour Taproom, 225 2nd Ave N. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 – Pay by the ounce, not by the glass. Just pour a few ounces, then try something else, and then choose what you like the best. The Nations largest (for now) self-serve taproom with 85 taps is opening very soon.
A 2nd, part of the Oak & Stone, is expected early in 2018, next to the new Hyatt Place at 199 Central Ave. Oak & Stone plans to feature a menu of signature wood-fired pizza and other chef-inspired fare, alongside more than 60 rotating, pour-’em-yourself drafts The emphasis is on American craft beer, local breweries and regional favorites.
Each guest has a radio-frequency wristband, which permits a total of 40 ounces/person and allows the certified beer servers to track who’s pouring what — and how much — to calculate a tab. It’s a 6,000-sq-ft, 300-seat dining room with an open-air kitchen, big-screen TVs, billiards & a full bar. The 3,000-sq-ft outdoor deck accommodates al fresco dining and games of corn hole. Joe Seidensticker & Brett Decklever who launched a west Sarasota location last year are general managers.
For 20 years, Sailing Florida Charters and Sailing School has been departing daily from the Vinoy Basin. Their 26 yachts available for charter include power, sail, and fishing boats. The newest addition is a USCG inspected vessel for up to 30 passengers. Featuring a spacious deck with multiple beanbag seating, two large trampolines and a centralized cockpit, Heron is perfect for hosting large groups and never ending relaxation and fun! This yacht is a unique venue for Christmas parties, weddings, corporate events, family gatherings and groups from 12-30 passengers. For detailed information on sunset, half-day, or day charters click: http://www.sailingflorida.com/heron-catamaran-30-passenger-sailing-yacht/
Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill Passes A Quarter Century
Mark Ferguson, aka Ferg’s, has been serving up some of Tampa Bay’s best burgers and brews for the last quarter-century. With 18 years of high school Phys. Ed. teaching under his belt, he knew one thing: he loved sports, drinking, eating wings, and his community. In 1991, Mark purchased an old Sunoco station in St. Pete’s Gas Plant District with hopes of creating “a freshness” in a once-rundown area. As a native, Mark aimed to make Ferg’s a place for the community to gather and wanted everyone to feel like it’s for them. Beach locals will remember Ferg’s expansion to the beach, when he (and partners) owned Philthy Phils in St. Pete Beach for a number of years after Bee & Phil moved on. With a knack for finding a way to make the best of things, it has become a Ferg’s tradition to use recycled materials in the restaurant structures to create unique buildings. Ferg’s maintains a part of history by reusing wood and metal pieces from local schools and hospitals, like St. Anthony’s, to build character while also saving the environment.
“I think everybody needs to recycle — we recycle beer cans, plastic, everyday,” Mark said, “We recycle everything we use in the restaurant.” With a focus on maintaining the local environment and the culture of Tampa Bay, most of those recycled cans of IPA and glass brews come straight from brewers in the area.”
PandaDoc Opens East Coast Headquarters in St. Petersburg PandaDoc partners with Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation to boost tech economy in the peninsula— PandaDoc, developers of the award-winning document automation platform, today announced the opening of their East Coast headquarters in St. Petersburg. The PandaDoc offices are located within Station House, a regional epicenter for business, co-work, and entrepreneurship, on the 3rd Floor at 260 1st Ave S., St. Petersburg
Clothes To Kids needs children’s school shoes and pants!
Elementary boys and girl’s school shoes small sizes 11-8 and boys and girls pants sizes 6-16 are needed. As we get to cooler weather there are many school children that need shoes that fit and clothes that keep them warm. Donations may be dropped off from 9am – 4:30pm M-F at 2168 34th St S., St. Pete. Cash donations are also needed to purchase clothing in short supply, new underwear and socks. For information or to schedule an appointment to shop, call 441-5050 or see www.clothestokids.org.
BEACHES
St. Pete Beach Legion Post 150 Fake NEWS Widely REPORTED
A newspaper article reported claims that suspicious financial situations existed under the watch of Mike Finnerty as Commandant of the Legion Post in St. Pete Beach. Those in the know who were queried, including the Post’s Sergeant at Arms said the claims were completely false. Reporters had been called about the concerns, but were asked not to publish anything until after a “hearing” that would ascertain whether anything was amiss. The local newspaper, could not wait and published the story prematurely. The story said only that it was under investigation, At the hearing, the claims were put to rest and after Mike Finnerty was reinstated as Post Commandant. The local radio and tv stations meanwhile capitalized on the speculation and the reputation of a couple who had worked very hard to help support the troops and their veterans was needlessly tarnished.
The Friends of St. Pete Beach Library’s Annual Fall Basket Silent Auction is happening now through December 15. Proceeds benefit Friends of the St. Pete Beach Library. Bid on items in the Library.
Become A Lifeguard At The St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center
Become a certified lifeguard. Participants must be 15 years or older and must complete a pre-test in order to continue in the class. The pre-test consists of treading water for 2 minutes using legs only, swimming 300 yards without stopping, and surface dive following a 20-yard swim to retrieve a brick from the bottom of the pool. The class will be held on Dec 18, 19, 20, 21. Participants must attend all four days. Classes will meet from 8am-4pm. Cost; $200. Call (727) 363-9264 or visit www.spbrec.com.
Pass-a-Grille Community Church THRIFT SHOP CHRISTMAS & YEAR END SALE
The Thrift Shop of Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church welcomes shoppers to their “one-stop” Christmas event. A wide selection of Christmas cards, decorations,
festive wrap, quality jewelry, toys and stocking stuffers fill the shelves. All items, except jewelry, will be reduced by 50%. A broad range of new and quality used women’s and men’s clothing, linens, small kitchen appliances, household items, knick-knacks, paintings, books and games are among the available items.
Proceeds support local charities such as Clothes for Kids, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Pet Pal, a veteran’s organization and church missions. The shop is open Tuesday, Wed, Thurs & Sat 9 – noon. Closed for Christmas Dec. 21 – January 3. Located at 17 Ave. & Pass-A-Grille Way, St Pete Beach.
Chowder Challenge Report
The 2017 Chowder Challenge was surprisingly well attended, in spite of a grey day with occasional sprinkles. Over 500 chowder heads sampled over a dozen chowders and the Pass-s-Grille Woman’s Club raised over $9,000 for charity in 5 hours on a rainy mid-Nov. Sunday afternoon.
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the 2017 Chowder Challenge:
- Judges Choice – TradeWind’s Rumfish Grille
- “Golden Ladle” – Mad Beach Fish House
- “People’s Choice” Best Chowder – Brass Monkey – 1st, Shells – 2nd, & Chill – 3rd
TREASURE ISLAND
Treasure Island city commissioners today named Garry Brumback as the new Treasure Island City Manager. Brumback, 60, is currently town manager of Southington, Connecticut. He has been with the town 7 years. He said he could be on the job in Treasure Island mid-to-late December. Brumback replaces Reid Silverboard, who retired after 10 years as Treasure Island city manager in May 2017. Southington is the third community Brumback has worked for as a manager, a career he entered after retiring as a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Prior to Southington, he was city manager for three years in Baytown, Texas, and assistant city manager in Clearwater, where he worked for 8 years.
TIERRA VERDE
Join Tampa Bay Watch this winter break for their new and exciting kids Estuary EDventures Winter Camp, January 3-5, 2018! Each camp includes a day of marine science labs, animal encounters, estuary exploration, and sea-themed crafts and games! Day sessions are 9am to 4pm and before and after care is available.
Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting 10-20 hard-working volunteers (per work day) to help build oyster domes at their Marine Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde. The projects take place on specified weekday mornings from 9 am until noon. The minimum age to participate in this project is 16 years old.
SKYWAY MARINA DISTRICT
OLLI at Eckerd College Offers Winter Catalog of Courses. The Osher Life Long Learning Institute – Tampa Bay Chapter, based at Eckerd College has published its Winter Catalog for a whole host of interesting courses available to experienced learners. Courses start in mid-January, but you can start to peruse the offerings online around the middle of December. OllI offices will be closed until January 2nd for winter break, so you will have to wait until then to get questions answered, but there is a lot of info in the catalog. Go online to www.eckerd.edu/olli and join OLLI through the end of 2018 for $49.