BIG CYPRESS GALLERY By Nanette

Celebrates 30 Years

Clyde Butcher is Florida’s answer to Ansel Adams, and their photographic legacy was showcased in a spectacular James Museum’s exhibition celebrating nature. Now, the talented photographer and his wife will celebrate 30 years of beauty and art at Big Cypress Gallery Sept. 2, 10am-3pm. On Aug. 16, Clyde will give a free lecture at Capitol Theater at 7pm. clydebutcher.com

Join them for this free milestone event and get your books and their artwork signed. You’ll have the exclusive opportunity to view and purchase two of Clyde’s new special commemorative art pieces, each intricately tied to the gallery’s history.

Says Niki about their journey to opening Big Cypress Gallery: “If a magic fairy had appeared at our wedding back in 1963 told us that we would move to Florida where we would open a gallery and build a home in the middle of the swamp, we would have rolled on the floor laughing.

Wiser

We could not have imagined the excitement, adventure, sorrow, and joy we would experience on our journey together and how the swamp would become so intricately part of our story.” The Butchers purchased the land in 1992 from Leon Whilden and built the Gallery, now a cultural and eco-mecca.

Big Cypress Gallery is located at 52388 Tamiami Trail, Ochopee; the gallery is open seven days/week 10am-5pm. Located along the scenic Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41), 47 miles east of Naples and 36 miles west of Miami at Mile Marker 54.5, about half mile east of the Big Cypress National Preserve Oasis Visitor Center. Behind the Gallery, you can take a swamp walk eco tour or photo safari; there are event cottage and bungalow rentals. 239-695-2428

South of Sarasota is Clyde’s Venice Gallery and Studio at 237 Warfield Ave. S open Tues.-Fri. 10am-4:30pm and by appointment on weekends. 941-486-0811 sports bar with $5 happy hour. I love the Buffalo Bleu Chicken Quesadillas, burgers, and Spicy Steak Wrap.

Climate change is already affecting our access to and cost of fresh food. There’s hope thanks to innovators such as Brick Farms (hydroponic gardens) and Brooklyn’s Smallhold owners with a mission to feed more Americans mushrooms now have macrofarms around the country and can be found at major grocery stores and well-known restaurants. Eat local, think global!

The restaurant business is brutal. Long hours, rising food costs, worker shortages and health issues. We sadly say aloha to Stan’s Tapas, Acropolis on Central, Zoie’s, Caddy’s Gulfport, and Black Radish. Sekushi on the Plaza has the right idea; they’ve lowered prices on 50 menu items, are open for lunch Mon.-Fri. and offer happy hour food and drink specials noon-6pm as well as new dishes such as Wagyu Sliders and Bao Buns. Also serving lunch is Clear Sky on Park with happy hour 2-6pm; the pork belly flatbread is delish.

Another budget buster Five Bucks Drinkery is expanding to Seminole, taking over the former Sea Hags/Seminole Smokehouse resto next to Brooklyn Pizza. With the original downtown and a second location in Pinellas Park (the old Pete & Shorty’s), it’s sure to be a family favorite and

Mad Beach Craft Brewing Co. owners have opened Sesh St. Pete brewery and restaurant on Fourth St. in the former Melting Pot location. From the decadent chocolate martini to surf ‘n’ turf and my fave, Bloody Mary poached JUMBO tiger shrimp with house smoked cocktail sauce on a celery salt rimmed martini glass.

What’s new? In Magnolia Heights, Golden Isles Brewing Co. is turning the old gas station at 3000 Dr. MLK St. N. into a new brewery. Red Mesa Mercado brings SoCal Mex this fall in the former Two Graces location near freeFall and The Chattaway is now serving a weekend brunch buffet.

Parasol has opened in The Vinoy Resort & Gulf Club, a must-drop-in for macarons at the bakery.

3,000-square-foot space and will feature 500 mezcal and tequila choices.

By Nanette Wiser

Carnivores rejoice! Boulevard

In Dolphin Village, Playa Bowls is sure to be a hit with beachgoers as is Julio’s Latin Twist in Tyrone, a gift from Julio Pagan, the Empanada King. Lolita’s Wine Market is open in the Warehouse Arts District inside the Historic Seaboard Train Station with an expanded menu and an alfresco garden dining area, perfect for a pre-ArtWalk rendezvous before exploring Morean Center for Clay. Tequila Daisy takes over the

Portillo’s is no longer the only hot dog destination in town; Coney Island Hot Dogs will serve John Morrell all-meat hot dogs. And if you love onion rings, roast beef sandwiches, lobster rolls and Ipswich clams, line up for Pasadena’s new Kelly’s Roast Beef, a Boston beloved transplant. For brick pizza and house made pastas, look no further than Cala Italian Kitchen at St. Petersburg Distillery in the Warehouse Arts District, of the distillery’s new shipping container village.

Burgers & Tap House is a casual dining, indoor/ outdoor restaurant serving American cuisine with jazz Sundays. Meat lovers rave about their burgers, especially the Mac N Cheese or Sunny Side. Take a ride to the Hard Rock for soccer star Lionel Messi’s Milanese-style Chicken Sandwich, one of his favorite Argentinian sandwiches growing up; he joins SoFla Major League Soccer team.

Two new specialty groceries are highly anticipated. Rumor is that Sprouts Farmers Market is coming to the Skyway Marina District in St. Pete while locals can’t wait for Fresh Market to open in Seminole City Center in Earth Fare’s location, hopefully by the September 1st Friday concert!

Caddy’s St. Pete Beach will be replaced by Taverna by the Bay.

MONDAY - THURSDAY 8AM - 11AM FRIDAY - SUNDAY 8AM - 1PM

Bogo Breakfast

MONDAY - THURSDAY 8AM - 10:30AM

Valid at our Treasure Island location for orders up to $15. One per table, per visit. Cannot be combined with any other offer or special. Expires 10/31/23.

By Danielle L. Vaughn, Esq., B.C.S., LL.M.