12 minute read
Dining Out
Eat Your Veggies
From spring salads to cauliflower crust veggie pizza, Paradise blooms with veggie appetizers, meals and cocktails. In addition to serving greens, many restaurant kitchens are going green and using sustainable practices including minimizing food waste, using bio-degradable containers and eco-friendly cleaning products. The big restaurant trend of 2021 is using sustainable foods that are organic, local and fair trade – all of which support the long-term maintenance of ecosystems and agriculture.
Feed your mind and body with plant-based dishes and give your gut a break. You can always count on Asian restaurants such as Nori Thai and Basil Leaf for excellent veggie fare. We like Nature’s Patch, Sprouts, Fresh Market, Rollin’ Oats and the new Seminole City Center Green Market Café for grab & go veggie bowls/dishes. Celebrate Earth Day month with a few of these delicious vegetarian meals from our fave restos and food trucks. (menus subject to change, call ahead)
GULF BEACHES
North Beaches: Havana Harry’s offers an excellent vegetarian Cuban. Jake’s Coastal Cantina Mexican veggie bowl with meatless Oumph is an amazing deal; add a side of roasted street corn or fried jalapeno coins. Kooky Coconut’s veggie burrito, Ippolito’s vegetarian antipasto sandwich and all the salads at Guppy’s and Salt Rock Grill are deeply satisfying.
Madeira Beach: Lucky Lizard Tap House serves a delicious roasted corn Caesar salad. Mad Beach
Craft Brewing’s falafel is served on arugula with a side of vegetable roast, lemon wedges and cilantro crema.
Treasure Island: BGBR Kitchen & Bar’s tomato bruschetta jar, pan-seared edamame pods, roasted beet salad with goat cheese and raspberry basil smash cooler are swoon-worthy. Middlegrounds Grill offers a gluten-free menu, artichoke smoked gouda fondue and delicious grilled asparagus salad drizzled with a sundried tomato ratatouille. Taco Bus’s El Borrito Bols, especially the portabella ranchero and vegan steak, rock.
St. Pete Beach: The Toasted Monkey’s Buffalo cauliflower florets and housemade hummus with a side of live music makes my day. Society Table’s goat cheese fritters, roasted mushroom flatbread and potato leek bisque will captivate you. Skidder’s Sunshine Salad, spinach pie, Greek antipasto and eggplant parmesan sandwich are delish. At Rumfish Grill, try the Three Dips (chick peas, avocado cilantro, beet feta and grilled naan or grilled cauliflower cakes.
Grace’s Beet Salad We can’t wait for Two Graces near freeFall
Theater to open but until then, we love Grace Restaurant’s elegant fare especially the Grace Wedge with buttermilk horseradish dressing, grilled Caesar salad, roasted butternut squash with quinoa, fava beans, broccoli, golden raisins and pine nuts and the Stuart cocktail (Butterfly Blossom infused 360 Sicilian Lemon Vodka with fresh lemon).
At the Dewey Beach Bar & Grill, start with the golden beet salad with a brown butter sage vinaigrette, fried brussel sprouts or the burrata with garlic confit, then sup on the quinoa bowl with black beans, wild mushrooms, roasted corn, squash, green apple, radish arugula salad, pepitas and smoked chimichurri vinaigrette.
Gulfport: In Gulfport, you’ll appreciate the savory pastas at Pia Trattoria or Tutto Bene and Neptune’s Grill (stuffed grape leaves, hummus, Greek salad, spanakopita). Stella’s black bean cakes, quiche and banana nut bread French toast start the morning right.
DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Cider Press Café Without a doubt, The Mill and Cider Press Café are the go-to places for vegetarian delights. The Mill’s supreme salads include an Heirloom Watercress (beet jam, sugar snap peas, watermelon, oven-dried cherry tomatoes, watermelon radish, roasted cashews, honey goat cheese, watermelon vinaigrette) and Phyllo Feta salad; add the fried green tomatoes and goat-cheese stuffed peppadews. Cider Press Café’s vegan menu is outstanding, especially the veggie lentil loaf, truffle shuffle and ghost bean burger.
Fab sensational veggie dishes in DTSP include Annata Wine’s vegetarian flatbread of the day, Bodega’s tempeh sandwich, Datz’s butternut squash ravioli, Greenstock’s creative salads and wraps and Craft Kafé ‘s gluten free dishes, organic salads and vegan burger.
Sample Leafy Greens Café’s lettuce wrap tacos, The Library’s crispy avocado wedges or veggie chili, Love Food Central’s mashed garbanzo toast or barbecue jackfruit sandwich, Lucy’s Vegan Corner’s plant-based burger, gyro and banh mi or Mickey’s Café & Organics’ roasted veggie salad.
Taste test Mio’s Grill & Café’s babaganouj smoked eggplant with tahini, Greek yogurt and pita, Naked Farmer’s pecan kale Caesar, Pom Pom’s Teahouse pressed Danny sandwich (ginger cranberry chutney, almonds, red onions, brie, apples), Stillwater’s Tavern’s vegetarian pad thai, Thirsty First’s ginger salad and viva la vegan sandwich and Wooden Rooster’s veggie crepes and mixed berry spinach salad.
mid-century modern seating
At new SPB Library sign, from left, City Manager Alex Rey, Library Director Betcinda Kettells, Mayor Alan Johnson (Photo by Sara Lacuenta)
Set for Grand Reopening Week of April 26
Story by STEVE TRAIMAN
Photos by Janet Nummi
When the St. Pete Beach Library officially has its Grand Reopening week of celebrations starting April 26, visitors will find what is essentially a brand-new facility that had its original grand opening October 28, 1969. (See sidebar for tentative reopening schedule.)
“In addition to providing all materials and services at the temporary location (except programming) we also successfully dealt with the challenges of Covid-19 and instituted a Little Free Pantry to assist with food donations to insecure individuals and families.
“The library is, for all essential purposes, completely new on the inside from the roof to the floor. A/C ducts, ceiling, lighting, all new furniture and shelving, flooring. The signage inside and out has been redone in the original outdoor sign font. The landscaping, delivery ramp, new book drop, bike rack, benches, and, soon, a new parking lot are included in the outdoor improvements.”
“In addition to an expanded Children’s section, there are larger sections for Large Print books, Audio/Video CDs and DVDs, and the Friends of the Library Bookstore. “Dramatic and whimsical sea life murals in the Children’s area and on shelf end-caps were graciously donated by local artist Dean Fortune.”
Betcinda Kettells, who joined the staff in October of 2015, became the Administrator in August of 2016 and was named Director in 2020, told Paradise News, “We moved to a temporary Gulf Boulevard location in March of 2020 and provided curbside service there until we opened back up to the public in May of 2020. We continued service there until February 20, 2021, and reopened the renovated library on March 1, 2021.
Larger 12-unit public computer area with new in-floor electrical hook-up
Added Library Clerk Tom DeCair, “Although basic library materials remain roughly in their previous locations, streamlined new shelving and removal of bulky interior pillars provides plenty of space for 12 public computers, up from 10. (Social distancing limits current availability to five public computers.) “The additional space and all-new energy efficient LED lighting give the library an open, airy look that contrasts dramatically with the dark, dingy library of a year ago.“ “New seating areas with new, mid-century modern furniture include a charging station, and two charging poles that provide up to 28 additional locations for charging electronic devices. “A new generation self-service checkout machine is user friendly and can show patrons their checkouts, holds and fines, in addition to checking out and renewing items. “The City Commission has turned the alley behind the library between 73rd and Corey into a one-way thoroughfare from Boca Ciega to Blind Pass to facilitate a new, 70% larger 24-hour book drop for all library materials located on the left (driver) side of the alley. “A new ramp to the back door provides access for delivery and pickup of hundreds of books weekly from/to other libraries. back door delivery, and book drop staff access help minimize interference with library patrons. “Also new is an internal book drop for all library items being returned, that now go through a door slot to the back room for processing and can’t get dropped in places where they’re confused with checkouts or shelving.“
charging stations
St. Pete Beach Library Schedule For Grand Reopening Events
Coordinated by City Recreation Director Jennifer McMahon and Library Director Betcinda Kettells, here’s the tentative schedule for April 26-May 1 events celebrating the library’s Grand Reopening, with masks requested:
Monday, April 26, 9:30am
Ribbon cutting ceremony for special invitees, with Friends of the Library giveaway and McDonald’s coffee outside.
Tuesday, April 27, 4pm
Kids’ Day, with after-care and Gulf Beaches Elementary 6, 7 & 8-year-olds invited for youth area and community room for crafts, with parent pick up at the library.
Wednesday, April 28, 5-6pm District 4 Residents’ Day Tours
Thursday, April 29, 5-6pm
Districts 2 & 3 Residents’ Day Tours
Friday, April 30, 5-6pm
District 1 Residents’ Day Tours
Saturday, May 1, 10am-Noon
Book End Celebration with Treasure Island and South Pasadena residents invited. After inside tour, outside kids can touch a fire truck and police vehicle, with mimosas for adults and refreshments from Chick-fil-A, with the St. Pete Sax Quartet playing during event.
Outside drive thru book drop Self service digital checkout machine LED lighting and streamlined shelving with Dean Fortune endcap murals
CITY OFFICIALS COMMENT
Mayor Alan Johnson told Paradise News, “The St. Pete Beach library was constructed in its current location in 1969 and has been a part of the city’s history ever since. While some of our residents think ‘no one uses a library anymore’, those people need to spend some time there - it’s busy!
“More importantly it’s a place where our community congregates. SPB is a resort destination as well as a Gulf Coast beach town. We are the #1 beach in the country this year and that is not just because of what Mother Nature blessed us with, but also because of our people, our community!
“The library is a big part of that, it’s where people come, congregate and in part help to create that community. Visitors come and enjoy our resorts and other amenities, but it’s the warmth of our residents and the sense of community that makes them feel welcome and anxious to come back.
“Renovating the building brought it up to modern standards while maintaining the historic architecture which will continue the city’s enduring character for many years into the future. In my opinion preserving our community is priceless.”
City Manager Alex Rey emphasized, “It’s not often a community has the opportunity to modernize and restore a building to a design that is in keeping with its history and its future. While that’s no easy task, it’s one that the people behind the St. Pete Beach Library renovation took to heart and succeeded brilliantly.
“The library was designated as a historical structure in 2020 and the plans for renovation of this 1969 building were aimed at modernizing its service capabilities and amenities while staying true to its late mid-century roots.
“With a new roof, windows, ceiling, and lighting, we were able to give the facility the modernization it required. We didn’t want to lose the charm and retro vibe. The design, branding, colors and outside landscaping were chosen with these things in mind. The outcome is captivatingly modern, and yet nostalgic. It’s a shining example of how a library can be a community focal point by exemplifying the community’s personality.
“In addition to lending media, the library is a place for entertainment, group gatherings, and computer usage, as well as educational and social programming. To bolster these efforts, the Friends of the Library has donated over $26,500 and are on track to purchase additional items as well.
“The overall $2.6 million renovation will help the library continue its valuable offerings to the people of St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and the South Pasadena communities in a building that benefits the whimsical personality of our award-winning beach town.”
Added Vince Tenaglia, assistant city manager and point person on the project, “We were very lucky with great contractors like Hennessy who kept the job on target. The City Commission really came through with about $2.6 million to fund the project, plus about $130,000 from the PPLC library consortium and over $26,500 from the Friends of the Library.
“Special thanks to Recreation Director Jennifer McMahon and Library Director Betcinda Kettells for coordinating the Grand Reopening week of celebrations for all the library’s publics.”
“What started out as a roof repair ended up as a brand-new library of which our entire community can be very proud!”
[Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Betcinda Kettells, Tom DeCair, Mayor Alan Johnson, City Manager Alex Rey, and Assistant City Manager Vince Tenaglia for their excellent comments and input.]
[Steve Traiman is president of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman, St. Pete Beach, providing business writing services at traimancreativecopy@gmail.com or by phone to 727-363-7531.]
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