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CONTENTS MAY / JUNE 2018 l Volume 6
SPOTLIGHT 28-40 Made In St Pete
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From coffee, hand-crafted beer and vodka to natural skin products and an urban hydroponic farm growing greens and herbs, the ‘Burg is becoming an epicenter for locally made and sourced products that are gaining national recognition. We feature a selection of home-grown businesses and talk to the proud entrepreneurs who had a dream and went for it, choosing the Sunshine City as their home base.
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30-32 Duncan McClellan Our Spotlight person this month is nationally recognized glass artist Duncan McClellan. Arts beat writer Cindy Stovall gives us an inside look during a chat and visit to his popular gallery and hotshop in the Warehouse Arts District.
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CONNECT WITH SPL
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Find us online StPeteLifeMag.com Facebook.com/StPeteLifeMag Twitter: �StPeteLifeMag Advertising: 813.447.9900 bdrake�stpetelifemag.com Editorial: editor@stpetelifemag.com
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260 1st Ave. S. Suite 200-151 St. Petersburg, FL 33701
LIVE
WORK
14-15 Neighborhoods
It’s a Jungle out there. We explore the hidden Jungle Prada community and the rich history it embraces going all the way back to the landing of Spanish conquistadors.
52 Beauty & The Burg
Cindy Stovall dishes on the latest St. Pete arts scene news.
66 Home Design
12 Conversations
Retired NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott has landed in St.Pete, but her busy life still has her traveling around the world promoting science, the arts and protecting Planet Earth.
18 Conversations
More homeowners are opting to convert extra bedrooms into home offices which in turn can be used as guest rooms. Functional living space is what it’s all about.
57 Visions of Dali’s Spain
A new photographic exhibit by renowned Florida Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher opens in mid-June at the Dali Museum.
Cindy Cockburn sits down with the new St. Pete City Council member to learn about her mission to support neighborhoods and the environment.
60-61 St Pete News
Happenings and news you can use in the business and academic communities.
56 James Museum
42 Dining Out - Callaloo
We take a peek at St. Pete’s newest museum and see what they are up to this summer. (Look for a full story in our next issue.)
St. Pete welcomes the new Callaloo restaurant in the lovingly restored Historic Manhattan Casino. The menu harkens to Southern and Floribbean cuisine, a welcome addition to the ‘Burg’s restaurant scene.
70 Kindness
47 Dining Out - Flute & Dram
52 Fashion & Art
Beach Drive is feeling even more glam lately with the opening of a new champagne and caviar bar.
The Junior League of St. Petersburg teams up with Edible Peace Patch in their mission to bring healthy gardens to local schools. The influence of art on fashion has been a constant throughout the decades. We take a closer look.
PLAY 45 Sips & Suds
Don’t blush when you order rosé. It’s the perfect wine for hot summer days (and nights).
58-59 Boys of Summer
We cheer on our local Rowdies soccer team and check out the latest Rays game deals at the Trop this summer.
54 Mahaffey Class Acts
The Mahaffey Theater celebrates 25 years of introducing schoolchildren to the performing arts.
68 On The Roof
46 Dining Out - Maple Street Biscuit Company
Un-notch your belt and forget the diet. Hearty dining based on piled-high biscuits awaits.
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Conservation professionals and students at USFSP work together to create a nesting habitat for migrating Least Terns on the roof of the Poynter Library.
73-80 SPL Scene
The social scene, galas, grand openings and fundraisers around town.
62 Travel
Thinking of a summer getaway? The Surry County Wine Trail in North Carolina might be just the ticket. Drop in on Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy while you’re there for a little taste of Mayberry.
Steve Weintraub (Founder/CEO), Julie Weintraub (President), Patty Weintraub (Vice President, Sister), Sons: left to right: Steven Weintraub Jr. (Gem Cutter), Troy Weintraub (Diamond Consultant), Adam Johnson (Sales Consultant) & Christopher Weintraub (GIA Graduate), plus Daughter, Emily Johnson (Sales Consultant) & Daughter-in-Law, Sujen Weintraub (Inventory Specialist)
For over 30 years we’ve believed in family values and the importance of building long lasting relationships with our valued customers. When you shop at Gold & Diamond Source our goal is to make you feel at home in our warm family environment. We value you and we believe in giving you the best jewelry shopping experience in all of Tampa Bay.
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WELCOME TO SPL Dorian Photography
Valerie Bogle
ABOUT US St. Pete Life Magazine is a bi-monthly print publication distributed by mail to 20,000 of St. Pete’s most discriminating readers as well as at key local outlets. Follow us daily online and in social media on St.PeteLifeMag.com. Here, you’ll find the magazine’s features, archived articles, digital only content and promotions.
PUBLISHER/CEO
Beth Ann Drake
In this issue we celebrate the locally sourced products that are “Made in St. Pete” and salute our entrepreneurs and hard-working “imaginators” who had a dream and followed it to final creation. Determination, strength and pride are hallmarks of those behind these products. And those qualities we see coming alive with new businesses opening every day here in the ‘Burg. Take a morning to drop in at the 1 Million Cups sessions held at the Greenhouse every Wednesday, like we did recently, and you will see the spirit of entrepreneurship alive and well. We selected the well-respected glass artist Duncan McClellan as our cover story for this issue. Duncan is our poster child for “Made in St. Pete,” highly regarded in both local and national arts circles and someone who makes St. Pete proud for his humble demeanor and willingness to help others. Our Spotlight on “Made in St. Pete” was enlightening to research, to say the least. It became clear early on that one of our top locally made (and enjoyed) products is no secret to anyone – hand crafted beer! We tip a mug to all the brewers and owners who are making the St. Pete/ Clearwater craft brewery scene one of the hottest in the country. The “spirit” is also alive in several local family-run distilleries, with a new one on the way this summer. This issue kicks off the summer season, which for most of us does not slow down. Soccer and baseball season are upon us, as well as a new concert lineup at Al Lang Stadium. And the recent opening of the James Museum offers yet another venue to enjoy the arts in our community. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did bringing it to you!
Beth Ann Drake
bdrake�stpetelifemag.com Publisher
Marcia Biggs
editor@stpetelifemag.com Editor
MADE IN ST PETE
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EDITOR
Marcia Biggs ART DIRECTOR
Alicia Brown
ADVERTISING
Annette Mensch Account Executive CONTRIBUTORS
Lori Brown
Dining/St. Petersburg Foodies
Cindy Cockburn Travel/Features
Kevin Godbee
Dining/St. Petersburg Foodies
Jose Martinez Men’s Fashion
Megan Simons Women’s Fashion
Cindy Stovall Arts Writer
Alexandria Jones Sips and Suds
Edith Swierzbinski Sips and Suds
CO-FOUNDER/BUSINESS MANAGER Ralph Zuckerman
Cover photo provided by Duncan McClellan Gallery
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CONVERSATIONS
Nicole Stott A former astronaut and now global cheerleader for science, art and Planet Earth comes home as an engineer and manager for the Space Shuttle and ISS programs. She worked alongside the team of people responsible for the “care and feeding” of the vehicles. Prior to being selected as an Astronaut, she worked for two years at the Johnson Space Center in Houston as a Flight Simulation Engineer in the NASA Aircraft Operations Division. She flew as a crewmember onboard the shuttle training aircraft, helping to train astronaut pilots to fly the Space Shuttle. Then came her own time is space.
Since retiring from NASA after 28 years in 2015, her jam-packed schedule includes speaking at conferences and events around the world (she had just returned from the Vatican Observatory in Rome and was off to a Bosnia “Super Women” conference a few weeks later) to teaching schoolchildren about STEM and motivating corporate executives to reach for the stars. ST. PETERSBURG - The new Imagine Museum, filled with its collection of otherworldly glass art, was the perfect place to meet “The Artistic Astronaut” Nicole Stott. Appearing for our interview in a down-toearth gray t-shirt and denim jeans, Stott is serious about her current personal mission. As one who has journeyed around the planet, in space and under the ocean, the St. Petersburg resident has set her path into one that educates the public about the interconnection of arts and science and the importance of care-taking Mother Earth. A veteran NASA Astronaut, Stott was aboard two spaceflights, spending 104 days living and working in space on both the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). She performed one spacewalk, was the first person to fly the robotic arm to capture the free flying HTV
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cargo vehicle, and she was a member of the crew of the final flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery. As a NASA Aquanaut, she lived and worked for 18 days in the Aquarius undersea habitat in preparation for spaceflight. “Two things impressed me most from flying in space and it’s these principals I try to teach others -- we live on one planet and we are all earthlings,” she says. “The reality is we all share one planet. In our daily lives we need to reflect on our global interconnectivity and interdependence. We are all one crew, we share this planet and need to respect it. Everything we do from plastics and the fuels we choose to pollutants in the air affects others.” Stott’s career started at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida where she worked
A personal highlight of Stott’s spaceflight was painting the first watercolor in space in 2009. She brought a small watercolor kit with her to the space station where she painted “The Wave.” When time permits now, she works out of a home studio, painting in acrylics and oils. Stott grew up in Clearwater, attending St. Pete Junior College where she took courses in aviation administration. She went on to earn a BS degree and an MS in engineering management, but always had a passion for flight, she says. So where did the painting come in? “My paintings are all inspired by the photos I took in space or under water on the Aquarius,” she says. “I took a lot of photos.”
CONVERSATIONS PHOTO/NASA
Her small yet colorful paintings appear to be surreal images, until one realizes that they are actually views of the planet from a very different perspective. What appears to be a set of cartoon eyes is really two salt lakes in South Africa set within a desert landscape. Another is a cluster of tiny islands in the brilliant Red Sea. She also creates stunning yet simple necklace pendants with her Earth from Space images. Moving back with her family to Tampa Bay from Houston in 2017 was an easy decision, says Stott, who lives with her husband, Chris, and teenage son, Roman. “My family is still in the area and as a person who loves art and science, it’s all here,” she says. “Everywhere you look there’s something culturally interesting or unexpected. Why would you not want to be here? St. Pete is a really good place to land.”
Finding Nicole To see her “Earth from Space” art and find out more about Nicole Stott, go to theartisticastronaut.com/ and her new online project with other astronauts at constellation.earth To keep up with Nicole Stott, on Facebook go to @NicoleStottTheArtisticAstronaut Stott is one of eight U.S. astronauts who narrates an episode of National Geographic Channel’s “One Strange Rock,” a 10-episode series hosted by Will Smith. Look for the “Storm” episode, replaying through May on TV or go to natgeotv.com The series explores the fragility and wonder of our planet.
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NEIGHBORHOODS
Jungle Prada Historic ‘Jungle’ a hidden gem near Boca Ciega Bay PHOTO/SANDY BOZEMAN
BY MARCIA BIGGS Say “Jungle Prada” and it’s quite likely you’ll get a questioning look in response. Even longtime Pinellas County residents are often clueless about this little-known St. Petersburg neighborhood tucked away on the east shore of Boca Ciega Bay, just north of the bridge to Treasure Island. It’s an area rich in history, legend and lore. There is talk of Al Capone and Babe Ruth sightings and a nightclub called the Gangplank (Jungle Prada Tavern today) that was a hangout for mobsters and bootleggers during Prohibition. In the 1920s-30s, Piper Fuller Airfield was here and the Jungle Country Club & Golf Course. Today, Tyrone Square Mall sits on land once occupied by the airfield and the former Jungle Hotel is now the Admiral Farragut Academy, a private prep school and military academy.
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Longtime Jungle Prada resident Sandy Bozeman knows a thing or two about this area. The St. Pete native has been living and working as a Realtor around “the Jungle” for decades. She has served on many boards and committees, including former president of the Jungle Prada Neighborhood Association, and is on the board of the Pinellas County Historical Commission. Bozeman credits former St. Petersburg Mayor David Fischer (1991-2001) with driving the growth and renaissance of the city’s neighborhoods at a time when many were in critical need of funding for upgrades, parks and infrastructure, and restoration. It was during this time that Jungle Prada as a neighborhood association was formed, with Bozeman at the helm, inspiring residents to improve their properties and work together for the common good.
“Like a lot of other neighborhoods in the 1970s and ‘80s, we needed help,” she admits. Bozeman has seen the area improve and grow with new home construction a constant, yet Jungle Prada retains its “hidden” atmosphere with winding brick streets, oak canopy, lush landscapes with tropical hibiscus and palms, and the ever-present peacocks that have become part of the JP lifestyle, all tickled by Gulf breezes. Homes vary widely from modern multi-million dollar waterfront homes to small two-bedroom ranches and everything in between. “The Jungle has a lot of very interesting homes, old hex-block sidewalks, brick streets. It is a highly desirable neighborhood now,” says Bozeman. “One characteristic is that many lots are very large. It’s mainly single family homes and a varied mix of historic and modern.”
NEIGHBORHOODS The Jungle
Generations of local families continue to live and work here. Local historian and horticulturalist David Anderson is the third-generation of the Anderson family to own the property where Spanish explorers Panfilo de Narvaez and Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca landed their ships in 1528. The 3-acre Anderson/Narváez Site lies adjacent to the Jungle Prada City Park and boat ramp. Through his company Discover Florida Tours, Anderson offers guided tours of the site which includes the remains of a Tocobaga Indian mound and a hand-built museum displaying historic artifacts found during archeological digs on the property.
The Early Days
owned and operated by the Hubbard family (of Hubbard’s Marina), a fourth-generation ferry operator. Jungle Prada Tavern, just steps from the ferry on Park Avenue, is a longtime locals watering hole and dining spot. It has been through many ownership changes since it was the Gangplank back in the day, but still retains its historic bones: the original Spanish-style architecture of the interior is intact, with columns and rooms separated by broad, stuccoed arches. A pool table awaits players in the side room, a wide selection of beer is on tap at the bar, and a side patio for dining offers a breezy view of the park and water.
Often referred to as “the Jungle” area of St. Pete are the neighborhood associations of Jungle Prada ( a triangular area of around 400 homes south of 22nd Avenue N. that are on or near the waterfront; Jungle Prada City Park and Admiral Farragut Academy are located here) ; Jungle Terrace (north of 22nd Avenue N. including Walter Fuller Park and Tyrone Square Mall); and Azalea, bounded by 22nd Avenue N. and Central Avenue to the south.
PHOTOS /MARCIA BIGGS
A wealth of knowledge, Anderson describes the early days of the Jungle circa the 1920s: “This was a resort area back then … it was complete wilderness west of 49th Street so was referred to as “the Jungle, ” he relays. “A Central Avenue trolley was the main transportation from downtown St. Pete to Jungle Prada. That’s when Walter Fuller came in and developed hotels where people could stay when they took the trolley. Sunset Hotel which is now Crystal Bay Hotel was built in 1915. The first luxury grand hotel was Jungle Country Club built in 1925, and the complex where Jungle Prada Tavern now stands was built by Fuller in 1925 and included the Gangplank nightclub and speakeasy.” At Jungle Prada City Park on the shore of Boca Ciega Bay, the Tampa Bay Ferry & Water Taxi stops to pick up passengers. The service is
Carlos Lemos lives in a tidy ranch home just a few blocks from the park and tavern. He loves the neighborhood for its diversity and location. “Every home is different, it’s not a cookie-cutter neighborhood,” he says. “There are million-dollar homes on the water and small bungalows and everyone is friendly. It’s just a friendly place to live.”
NEIGHBORHOODS Plan A Visit to Jungle Prada Jungle Prada is home to the Anderson/Narváez Site, named after the Spanish conquistador Pánfilo de Narváez and his expedition believed to have landed here in 1528. The public portion of the site is a 5-acre city park with two boat ramps and serves as the launch site for Tampa Bay Ferry. The private portion, owned by the Anderson family, is where artifacts and the remains of a Tocobaga Indian mound can be toured. David Anderson is an expert historian, Master Naturalist and storyteller, offering up his knowledge on entertaining walks through the gardens. Discover Florida Tours are Wednesday through Sunday at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm; $10 adults, $4 ages 2-12; (727) 430-2677. DiscoverFloridaTours.com Tampa Bay Ferry offers round-trip water taxi transportation from the Jungle Prada City Park boat ramp. Ferry departs daily every two hours beginning at 10:10 am; stops include Treasure Island, John’s Pass and Madeira Beach. Passengers can stay onboard for a leisurely and scenic two-hour ride, or disembark at any stop to enjoy nearby restaurants, bars and beaches, then catch the next ferry. Cost $10 one leg / $19.50 all day. For complete schedule and advance tickets, go to tampabayferry.com and click on Madeira Beach Water Taxi. (727) 398-6577
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CONVERSATIONS
Gina Driscoll The new St. Pete City Council member is all about supporting neighborhoods and the environment time, she really enjoys strolling the shops and galleries and taking in our many festivities. At City Hall, Gina works on the Budget, Finance and Taxation Committee as an alternative along with her post on the HERS Committee. She’s also in the Community Development Block Grant Committee, City Beautiful Commission, Public Arts Commission and Pinellas Schools Collaborative efforts, to name a few. In the community, she has held a variety of leadership positions: St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association, Downtown Business Association ,the Central Avenue Council, St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club; and St. Petersburg Preservation. Did you always have a fire in the belly for politics? No, it came after years of community activism. I started thinking about how I can give back to the community. I love this city so much, it’s the ultimate way I can give back. I decided to run for City Council because it’s such an incredible way to serve our city. I wanted to give it my full time attention, so I resigned from my full time position at the hotel. I couldn’t be more grateful to my boss who allowed me to follow my passion and run what turned out to be a very successful campaign.
Gina Driscoll wears many hats in her busy life as a new City Council member. Her many passions are varied but it always comes down to one basic fact: she’s passionate about St. Petersburg and Florida. Most of all, she wants to help keep our environment healthy and is currently the Health, Energy, Resiliency and Sustainability (HERS) Committee Vice Chair. Gina Driscoll grew up in Dade City as the oldest of six children. Her studies and career led her to Orlando and North Carolina before returning to Florida to call St. Petersburg home. After studying at the University of Tampa and University of Central Florida she has held a variety of jobs, mostly in the hospitality and sales world. She last worked as the Sales and Marketing Manager for the Hampton Inn & Suites on Beach Drive in Downtown St. Petersburg. She is a very familiar face around town to all of us who live, play and work here. She has called downtown home since 2006. Gina’s the one with the big smile, happily walking her two dachshunds along the waterfront at sunset, or hopping on a bike from the convenient bike share to meet with friends. During rare down
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How is it going after six months on City Council? I love being out in the neighborhoods meeting residents and working on the issues that are important to them. Mine is a very large and very diverse district. There are 20 different neighborhood associations in my District 6. I will make it around to all of them! What is your vision for the city? My vision is about unifying our neighborhoods so that no matter which one you are, you will say this city is for me. That means creating equity and sharing our successes throughout the city. We’ve had so much success downtown, I want to see other neighborhoods seeing that kind of success. We can see that already as development moves west and south of downtown. How do you feel about the growth in St. Pete? I see our growth continuing, and I want our development to grow in smart ways. It’s a natural next step to grow as an arts community. Our city has shown that art means business. We see the Dali Museum, the new James Museum, Imagine Museum, the Chihuly Collection and looking forward to the new crafts museum. The arts are a very solid foundation for us as an international destination for business and tourism.
CONVERSATIONS Do you give yourself a day off? My work week seems like it’s 24/7. When Earth Day 2018 came around, I was at Williams Park chatting with locals and out of towners about the important work creating awareness about reducing single use plastics. The good news is St. Pete is very environmentally progressive. We’re always looking for ways that we can be better stewards of our environment. What has been your best accomplishment so far? On Tuesday, April 10, I joined a group of local businesses to formally launch #nostrawsstpete, an organized effort at reducing the use of plastic drinking straws. They can’t be recycled and have proven not just an eyesore on our beaches but a danger to the coastal environment and its wildlife. Supporters are asking local bars and restaurants to only provide plastic straws upon request, while encouraging patrons to order their drinks with “no straw.” Within the first ten days, we had 55 businesses sign up. The campaign is off to a great start! Where do you like to take visitors to St. Pete from out of town? It’s so hard to decide! The Canopy at the top of the Birchwood is a must for the views. I love having breakfast at the Hangar at Albert Whitted Airport. It’s a cool way to see a different side of St. Pete. The Dali Museum and the Edge District are favorites, as well.
The American Soldier
335 2nd Avenue NE • historystpete.org A celebrated collection of historic American military photographs has arrived back in St. Petersburg, and this time for good. The St. Petersburg Museum of History announces that A Photographic Tribute: The American Soldier – has opened in the Museum’s main gallery. A dramatic exhibition of nearly 70 wall-to-wall photographs capturing the essence of American soldiering for more than 150 years, the exhibit will take guests on a soldier’s journey from the Civil War to the streets of Baghdad. The oversized, award winning photographs capture the emotions of danger, frustration, humor, camaraderie, death and victory that American soldiers encountered in this odyssey through history. The exhibit includes military artifacts including weaponry, uniforms and equipment. The American Soldier made its St. Petersburg debut in 2014 to recordbreaking attendance for a three month run. Originally on loan from curator Cyma Rubin and her Business of Entertainment, Inc., Rubin decided to retire the world renowned traveling exhibit in 2018 and graciously gifted it to the St. Petersburg Museum of History, where it will now becomes part of the Museum’s permanent collection.
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Daily Wine Tastings PHOTOS BARRY LIVELY
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EVENTS
Tibetan Monks At Florida CraftArt American Stage
500 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Opening ceremony: May 29, 10:15 a.m. • Dissolution ceremony: June 3, 1 p.m. Eight Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India will create a sacred sand mandala May 29 to June 3 in Florida CraftArt’s exhibition gallery. Numerous events and programs will happen in conjunction including an evening reception, tai chi class, art workshops, group meditation, and a panel discussion on “Tibetan Buddhist Response to Our Times.” For more information, call 727.821.7391 or go to floridacraftart.org/events/tibetan-monks-sacred-sand-mandala-2018
American Stage Theatre moves back inside for the summer after a highly successful run of “The Producers” at Demens Landing Park. Next up May 23 to June 17 is “Strait of Gibraltar,” one of the company’s 21st Century Voices Selections. Miriam, a Jewish woman, and Zameer, a Muslim man from Morocco, meet at a party and fall in love at first sight. When Zameer tells Miriam he’s undocumented, she offers to help; but, is everything as it seems? A smart, riveting play that looks at love, truth, prejudice, and civil rights in the age of the Patriot Act. Following this, “Bad Jews” runs July 11 to August 5. After their grandfather dies, three cousins engage in a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith, and legacy. americanstage.org
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EVENTS
St. Pete Pride
Up to 200,000 people are expected to converge in the ‘Burg for the 16th annual Pride Parade on June 23. Expect a lively crowd (oh, yes!), dance music and a dazzling display of sequins, beads, leather and feathers. The party starts at 2 pm and the parade kicks off at 7:15 pm.; route moves along Bayshore from 5th Avenue North to Dali Boulevard, ending with a fireworks finale at 9:45 pm. On Sunday, June 24, the action moves to Central Avenue in the Grand Central District from 11 am to 5 pm with a massive street festival. A concert, with acts to be announced, kicks off festivities on Friday at 7 pm in North Straub Park. Several related events have also been planned, check out stpetepride.com or go to the Facebook page to keep updated.
Jazz at the Palladium
Jazz lovers will be in paradise this summer with performances on tap at the Palladium’s nightclub-style Side Door. Pick from these sultry sounds: May 22 - Helios Jazz Orchestra with Jamie Perlow - Big Band favorites from this 18-piece orchestra directed by David Manson June 15 - Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo impresses with a mix of traditional Latin sounds, jazz and innovation. June 17 - Nate Najar, Dan Levinson, Tommy Cecil - Swing Trio presents an evening of entertainment on guitar, clarinet and bass The Palladium is located at 253 Fifth Avenue N. in downtown St. Petersburg. Call the box office at 727.822.3590 or go to mypalladium.org for ticket information.
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EVENTS
Movies In The Park Bring family and friends to enjoy free film classics and live music each Thursday evening in May on St. Petersburg’s beautiful downtown waterfront in North Straub Park. The fun begins with music at 7 pm and movies at dark in the park on Beach Drive between 4th and 5th Avenues NE. Bring a picnic or purchase food and drink (including beer and wine) from some of the best of the ‘Burg’s vendors. May 17 - Father of the Bride (1991) starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Diane Keaton May 24 - Back to the Future (1985) Time travel at its best, starring Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson May 31 - Batman (1989) starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger On-site bicycle valet parking will be available thanks to Coast Bike Share. This is the 9th season for Movies in the Park, sponsored by Preserve the ‘Burg.
Cocktails & Collections
This might not be Manhattan but you can get one every third Thursday of the month when the Museum of Fine Arts presents a new networking happy hour event - Cocktails & Collections (formerly the Porch Party) from 5 to 7 pm. Mingle in the Museum garden and galleries while enjoying live music, a cash bar and hors d’ouevres in the gardens. A different work in the collection will be highlighted each month along with its own art-inspired signature cocktail and custom home-brew. A real deal at only $10 (free for members). mfastpete.org/programs/adult-programs
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EVENTS
Unity And The Arts ARTS464 is the name of a new First Unity arts initiative conceived by St. Pete thespian and First Unity Creative Director Becca McCoy. The refurbished 5,400-square-foot Sanctuary space allows for flexible seating configurations, with upgraded theatrical sound and lighting, projection capabilities, visual art gallery, reception areas, and ample free parking. The imaginative public program continues through August and includes: June 16, 6-8pm – “POV: The Seven Deadly Sins” Local writers connect with a curated exhibit by local artists and one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Featured artists scheduled to include D. YaeL Kelley, Zulu Painter, Jennifer Kosharek, Nathan Beard, Charlie Parker, Carrie Jadus, junk yard, Janos Enyedi, and Spathose. Writers scheduled to include Arin Greenwood, Lisa Powers Tricomi, Heather Tinnaro, Elizabeth Brincklow, and Shelly Wilson. Tickets $15 July 20, 7-9pm – “Trust Me: An Immersive Theatre Experience” First Unity’s whole campus becomes the stage for a one-of-a-kind adventure featuring an evening of environmental, participatory storytelling. Tickets $25
August 24, 7-9pm – “Sound Bites: A Culinary Experience with the Ibis Quartet” An eclectic evening of string music, fine cuisine and conversation. Tickets $30 all-inclusive (food and concert) The First Unity Spiritual Campus is located at 460 46th Avenue North in St. Petersburg. For more information, go to arts464.org
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EVENTS
Bicycle Mural Tours PHOTO/MARCIA BIGGS
Coast Bike Share, St. Petersburg’s bike share system, is offering Mural Tours by Bike in partnership with Florida CraftArt on the first Saturday of every month. Beginning at Florida CraftArt, 500 Central Ave., you’ll ride a comfy Coast cruiser bike through side streets and alleys, past hidden stores and courtyard bars, to uncover public art in unexpected places. The guided mural bike tour covers a 22-block radius across four arts districts with frequent stops. Cost is $20 BYO bike/$25 with bike rental; must be 18 or older, helmet required. Go to floridacraftart.org/product/mural-tours-bike or call 727.821.7391 to reserve a spot.
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Summer Camps at SPCA
Kids can get hands-on experience and learn all about the needs and concerns of critters large and small during weekly summer camps sessions at SPCA Tampa Bay’s Camps for Kids. The one-week camps start May 28 and run through August 10. Campers engage in educational and animal-themed activities and crafts, have lots of opportunities to meet a variety of new animal friends, and will enjoy a one-of-a-kind camp experience. Camps include Animal Behavior and Training, Filming Fido, Pampered Pets, Urban Wildlife, Animal Careers and more. Register early as camps fill up quickly. Fees vary; all camps are held at the SPCA shelter facility in Largo, 9099 130th Avenue N. Call (727) 586-3591 or go to spcatampabay.org/pet-camps-workshops
SPOTLIGHT
MADE IN ST PETE
Independent thought, creativity and a strong entrepreneur spirit is what St. Pete is all about. Everywhere you turn a new business has taken flight, a new idea born to ride the waves of Tampa Bay and perhaps across the nation. In this special feature, we salute a handful of the many dreamers in this amazing city who have succeeded in their dreams. We are proud to say they are ‘Burgers all, having chosen to establish their vision in the Sunshine City.
Florida Pure Sea Salt
Infused with imagination these flavorful salts are a hit with chefs and home cooks The brainchild of Maureen “Moe” Cacioppo just a year and half ago was a way to combine her two passions of cooking and the outdoors. Using 5 gallon buckets and lots of muscle, Cacioppo hand harvests salt from Florida waters, drying, infusing with flavors and packaging from her Tampa Bay facility. “We are very careful to only harvest from the cleanest possible waters,” she adds.
salt), Cacioppo adds, and the process for one batch can take anywhere from 4 days to two months. “Our success has come through aligning in partnerships with local businesses and restaurants,” says Cacioppo. Several St. Pete restaurants cook with her salts and use them in cocktails, such as The Mill. Purchase Florida Pure Sea Salts online at floridapureseasalt.com or find them at Locale Market, ZaZoo’d, and the St. Pete Store at the Chamber of Commerce.
Sixteen flavors that come in 4-ounce bottles ($15) include bestsellers maple bacon (great on eggs), lime (perfect as a rim for margaritas) and sriracha (the perfect Bloody Mary rim). The healthy sea salts are for consumption only (sorry, no maple bacon baths), packing a punch with 75 natural minerals. Small batches are produced just a few pounds at a time (one 5 gallon bucket produces one gallon of
INDIES ON THE RISE An online directory for independent, locally owned businesses and entrepreneurs, keepstpetersburglocal.org is a great “goto” resource and way to support our local economy.
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Looking for a unique gift or piece of art for your home? Our talented community artists and makers present their work at the St. Pete Indie Market. The market is moving indoors June 2 when it will be held from 10 am to 2 pm every first Saturday at NOVA 535, 535 Dr MLK Jr St N. The night market
moves indoors June 22 from 6 to 10 pm every fourth Friday at the Historic State Theatre, 687 Central Avenue N. Both markets will feature music and a full bar; admission is free. The market returns to Green Bench Brewing Co. October through May.
Kahwa Coffee
MADE IN ST PETE
Still Growing, The Local Company is Marking A Decade of Java Success
Raphael and Sarah Perrier, owners of Kahwa Coffee, celebrate 10 years in business.
BY MARCIA BIGGS Not long after Raphael and Sarah Perrier opened their first Kahwa shop in St. Petersburg in 2008, the smell of coffee turned into the smell of success. Ten years later, the couple has created a St. Petebased coffee empire, selling to more than 400 restaurants, hotels and businesses locally, across the country and in the Caribbean. Every day, from 300 to 800 customers stop in at one of 12 Kahwa shops and drivethrus across Tampa Bay and Sarasota . In April, the Perriers celebrated the opening of their newest café in Miami Beach, and plans call for three more shops to open at International Plaza, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton. Good luck? Not a chance. The Perriers set their sights “to be one of the biggest” from the beginning, says Raphael. Today, Kahwa coffee is served at many fine restaurants in St. Pete and the familiar school-bus yellow bags can be found in
shops all over Tampa Bay. (Look for Kahwa this summer in Whole Foods and Publix.) Roasting and bagging nearly 5,000 pounds of beans every week, the company has outgrown their roasting facility and is moving for the third time in June, this time to an 11,000- square-foot location in the Gateway district. Beans come from regions around the world, but it’s the blending that makes Kahwa coffees a cut above the rest, says Raphael. “It’s like grapes and wine,” he explains. “The blending process is what makes our coffee unique. We come up with special roasts of the week that can be fun or exotic. Our customers appreciate this.”
way of saying thanks. Says Raphael: “We love it here in St. Pete. The people are so friendly and welcoming. By donating, we feel we are giving back to the community that supports us.” For locations and more information, go to kahwacoffee.com
Since moving to St. Pete from Philadelphia in 2005, the Perriers have forged a relationship with the community. They live with their two children in Allendale and love everything about living and working in the Burg. Nearly every week, they donate coffee to local non-profit events and fundraisers as their
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SPOTLIGHT
Duncan McClellan
MADE IN ST PETE
Artist, teacher, mentor, philanthropist, all describe St. Pete’s visionary glass artist PHOTO/SHERI KENDRICK
BY CINDY STOVALL A prolific artist and community advocate, Duncan McClellan’s three-decade body of work has become synonymous with excellence and beauty, coveted by collectors around the world. The Duncan McClellan Gallery, operating and ever expanding since 2009, has become the must-see destination of all who come to explore the Warehouse Arts District. Among the myriad of talented artists and eclectic galleries that call the district home, Duncan McClellan was a driving and pioneering force in its creation and subsequent success. Now, Duncan has turned his attention to mentoring emerging artists, showing children, through art, the importance of all academics, and collaborating with other top tier glass artists to bring our community a perpetual, constantly changing, feast for the eyes. And it’s all happening right here in St. Petersburg. “I grew up in Tampa,” McClellan recounts. “But when I started to think about creating a space to support my work and the other ideas I wanted to explore, I found the governance and general atmosphere at that time somewhat uninviting. After meeting Chuck Boux in New York, he told me he was opening a gallery in
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St. Pete. As I spent more time here, I found that I was crossing the bridge up to four times a day!” “That’s when I knew that St. Pete was where I belonged. I loved the people here, the city layout and the overall vibe. Soon after, at an event for one of the many charities we support, I was speaking with an attendee about how interested I was in moving here. I didn’t realize at the time that it was St. Pete City Councilman Herb Polson. The next day, I received a call from the Mayor’s office, inviting me to a Rays game to talk about the possibility of coming to St. Pete. I have to tell you, it was really impressive.” McClellan credits artists Mark Aeling and Catherine Woods as being instrumental in helping him find the building that would become Duncan McClellan Gallery. Aeling is the owner of nearby MGA Sculpture Studio at the SoftWater Studio complex, alongside his wife, Carrie Jadus of Carrie Jadus Fine Art & Portraiture. He has been a consistent and longtime leader in the growth of the Warehouse Arts District – a future story to be sure. Building an Arts Campus The building McClellan purchased was formerly a tomato packing
SPOTLIGHT plant, long abandoned and site of various and sundry “illegal activities.” In the short time since taking possession of the property in 2009, a total transformation has taken place. Visitors enter the expansive 8,000-square-foot campus directly into gallery space that houses not only McClellan’s work, but the art glass of masters of the craft from around the world. There are several rooms filled with breathtaking pieces that make it difficult not to whisper “WOW”. I say, don’t resist the temptation. The colors, the lighting that plays perfectly off each piece, and the sheer quality of the work appeals to all who come in. How much you know about art, glass making, or design is irrelevant. The appreciation and effect on the senses is universal and lasting. The studio opens out to a very inviting and comfortable patio space where patrons can lounge, listen to music, take glass etching classes, or just be part of the crowd enjoying the wildly popular Second Saturday ArtWalks. The venue is even available for private events. Sounds amazing, I know, but there’s more! Beyond the patio is a path that winds through an immense outdoor space lined with art glass, sculpture, Florida flora and fauna, and some of the most beautiful orchids you can find
PHOTOS/DUNCAN MCCLELLAN GALLERIES
outside of a nursery. During his three days off a month, McClellan is delving into horticulture, another passion, as he works to perfect a means to help orchids literally grow ON trees. I could tell you more, but it’s top secret… Did I mention that McClellan and his beautiful wife, Irene, live on the premises? “It’s either a gallery, a home, an educational complex, or a three-ring circus. We’re still trying to decide,” he jokes. Several years after acquiring the original building, McClellan purchased the property next door and, along with right hand man Jacob Stout, designed and built one of the first hotshops in St. Petersburg. The magic happens here as a team of artisans, led by Stout, work in precisely timed tandem to oversee each phase of the glass blowing process. McClellan compares them to a “surgical team working in concert.” “Timing is critical to glass blowing as any cooling can make it impossible to move to the next phase,” he explains. Interest in the workings of the hotshop grew so much, that McClellan and his team have developed a mobile hotshop that travels to schools and events in our community to demonstrate how art glass is made.
SPOTLIGHT DMG School Project That leads us into the next phase of McClellan’s vision to expand the gallery’s mission well beyond the creating, showing, and selling of art glass. The DMG School Project was conceived and developed to share the art of glass making with school age children as well as to mentor and support emerging glass artists. The mobile hotshop is deployed to schools in underserved neighborhoods where the students not only learn about glass blowing, but how many other subjects like chemistry and algebra are applied. “They learn that many subjects are relevant, not only to glass blowing or art, but to most realworld endeavors,” he says. “Our only rule is that every student in the school participates.” Needless to say, the program is wildly popular with up to 400 students attending at any one visit. The Residency Program is another active concept in the DMG School Project. Emerging artists that are not yet established, or perhaps new graduates, apply and are selected to train with Duncan and his team for over a month. It covers not only the technical process and design of art glass, but other vital elements in the business of art, like marketing, managing, and successfully showing. They receive this invaluable mentoring tuition free as well as a stipend to cover living expenses during their time here. Upon completion of the program, these protégés are given a show. “Hopefully, they either make enough revenue to reinvest in themselves moving forward, or leave with a body of work that
helps them break into the field successfully,” explains McClellan. “It’s one of the most vitally important and, frankly, expensive things that we do here at DMG.” So how are these programs subsidized? “We do not have fundraisers,” McClellan is very clear on this point. “We depend on grants and all revenue from event rentals goes to pay for these programs. We are also very fortunate to have incredibly generous patrons who, upon learning about what we’re doing, want very much to help.” Duncan epitomizes the spirit of collaboration and a great desire to showcase his contemporaries. “We have grown to become one of the largest glass galleries on the East coast. That is due in large part to our artists.” McClellan, clearly taught to share in his formative years, is thrilled with the advent of more glass art in St. Pete. The Morean’s Chihuly Collection has been a stunning success adding another hotshop in the ‘Burg, and the newly opened Imagine Museum is causing more great glass buzz. “St. Pete is clearly a true destination for glass art and we’re so happy to be a part of it,” he says. Duncan says that the DMG motto is “More than a gallery.” It’s easy to see why that qualifies as a candidate for understatement of the year. Thank you, Duncan McClellan, for helping to plant the seeds that have made the entire arts community of St. Petersburg bloom. Cindy Stovall covers the arts in St. Petersburg for St. Pete Life.
Visit The Gallery The current exhibition, which runs through June 4, is “Northern Neighbors: Canadian Artists Working in Glass.” Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Etching classes are held every third Saturday on the patio from 10 am – 2 pm at a cost of $35. It’s a great opportunity to get your friends together and enjoy the lovely space that is the Duncan McClellan Gallery. For more information, go to dmglass.com or call 855.436.4527. The gallery is located at 2342 Emerson Ave. South, St. Petersburg
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Beer Is Here
MADE IN ST PETE PHOTOS/VISIT ST PETE CLEARWATER
St. Pete Brewing – Small, laid-back and in the heart of downtown’s Central Arts District, what’s not to like about this locals favorite, an indoor-outdoor pub with a dozen tasty drafts on tap. When the roll-up front wall is up at night you might actually feel like you’re in the islands, mon. stpetebrewingcompany.com Green Bench Brewing – Gaining national recognition as St. Pete’s mustvisit brewery, Green Bench is a favorite of downtown millennials who gather inside or in the large adjacent yard to play games. Great for date night or a group evening out, with an abundance of Central Avenue bars and restaurants nearby. greenbenchbrewing.com 3 Daughters Brewing – This sprawling warehouse and bar in Midtown has a huge fan base with outside space for socializing, and games from corn hole and ping pong to shuffleboard and foosball.
Green Bench Brewing
St. Pete is “hopping” mad about craft beer Small batch breweries are on the rise, with brewmasters concocting specialty beers that are consumed nearly as quickly as they are released. In the ‘Burg, locally made beer is on tap at most bars and restaurants (woe to the establishment that does not offer them). We can’t pick favorites, they are all worthy of a visit , but here are the top breweries according to Yelp (in no particular order).
Lots of parking and a wide variety of freshly made brews and hard ciders on tap. The Beach Blonde Ale is their flagship beer. 3dbrewing.com Cage Brewing – Like hanging in your neighbor’s garage? Cage is the perfect rough-around-the-edges joint to play some games and kick back with a fine selection of hand-crafted brews. Picnic tables out back and an open space invite interaction. Pinellas Ale Works – Across from Cage Brewing, PAW encourages you to bring your four-footed friends and enjoy a slightly more upscale atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating. Tap list features favorites like Sit, Stay and Off the Leash. Come! pawbeer.com Big Storm Brewing – Technically in Clearwater, beer lovers and sports fanatics will travel to the 49th Street
3 Daughters Brewery
brewery where a modern, industrial warehouse brewery and bar offers ten drafts on tap and lots of big screens. Big plus – they serve great food. bigstormbrewery.com Cycle Brewing – Arrive by bike? Bring it on in and hang it on the wall while you sip a coffee porter at this cozy art-filled bar. Cycle is a popular hangout for the downtown after-work crowd. With names like Crank, Peloton, Wheelie and Linger Longer Lager, how can you go wrong? Flying Boat Brewing – Kudos to this brewery in the Woodlawn Oaks neighborhood for the theme salute to St. Pete’s aviation history. It’s fun to chill at the bar with a tasty brew and check out the pictorial murals of the ‘Burg. Order a flight and it is delivered on a small airplane. flyingboatbrewing.com
Flying Boat Brewery
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SPOTLIGHT
Team Spirits
Breweries may be getting most of the attention, but when it comes to spirits – vodka, rum, whiskey – there’s a lot going on in the ‘Burg. Two distilleries both run by father and son teams – St. Petersburg Distillery and Kozuba & Sons – are producing some mighty fine craft spirits, and the much-anticipated American Freedom Distillery is on the way. ST. PETERSBURG DISTILLERY Since 2014, Dominic Iafrates and sons Dominic Jr. and Steve, have been crafting small batches of vodka, whiskey, gin and spiced rum in copper stills at their massive 30,000-square- foot Midtown facility. Their high-quality Banyan Reserve and Old St. Pete line of spirits are served at bars and found at dozens of package stores and grocers (even Wal-Mart) across Tampa Bay and Florida. Southern Living voted their Banyan Reserve Vodka as No. 1 Artisan Vodka in 2016 and it is the top-seller, according to spokesperson Abby Drummond. (It pays homage to St. Pete’s legendary banyan trees). Specialty spirits include Tippler’s
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MADE IN ST PETE
Orange Liqueur and a Royal Mead honey wine. Look for the Old St. Pete label with “Welcome to the Sunshine City” and the winking sun . Each box of Old St. Pete Spirits contains a vintage-inspired St. Petersburg postcard “from your friends at St. Petersburg Distillery.” No tours or tasting room yet, says Drummond, but look for their tent at many locally sponsored events. stpetersburgdistillery.com KOZUBA & SONS Founded in 2005, Kozuba & Sons was the first privately owned microdistillery in Poland. But patriarch Zbigniew Kozuba, a biochemist by training, had greater aspirations – moving his business to America. After a lengthy search, the family selected St. Petersburg and in May of 2016 opened Kozuba & Sons. The 20,000-square-foot distillery, with sons Matthias and Jacob at the helm, is located in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District housed in an abandoned icehouse.
Over 300 53-gallon oak barrels age two vodkas and two whiskeys, but the Kozubas are especially proud of their cranberry and quince cordials. Look for them at FarmTable Cucina at Sundial. Tours by appointment only, $10 and include tasting. Purchase bottles in the gift shop of the distillery at 1960 5th Avenue South. Check out their Facebook page to find special events like the new monthly Spirit of St. Pete block parties (along with Made Coffee). kozubadistillery.com A TASTE OF FREEDOM When it opens later this summer in the Warehouse Arts District, American Freedom Distillery will be a dream come true for a group of friends who served our country in the military. (The recent Hollywood movie “12 Strong” tells the story of two owners - Green Berets Mark Nutsch and Bob Pennington – and their epic 21day Taliban battle in Afghanistan.) Horse Soldier bourbon whiskeys and Rekker premium rums will be the tour-de-force. The distillery will also be home to America Neat Grill & Whiskey House restaurant. americanfreedomdistillery.com
SPOTLIGHT
MADE IN ST PETE
Cold-brewed coffee in a can enjoys widespread buzz across Florida
131 22nd Street South • St Pete 727.203.4855 • MadeCannery.com BY ALEXANDRIA JONES St. Petersburg is known for its beaches, eccentricity, and sunshine … and now coffee. Made Coffee is the brainchild of founders Michael Rideout and Taylor Prater. They met back in 2014 while working together at St. Petersburg bar Mandarin Hide. In fact, it’s the same bar where they came up with the idea for Made Coffee, a cold-brewed ready-todrink craft coffee in a can. “We were trying to find a concentrated coffee that we could use in cocktails at Mandarin,” explains Rideout. “We just started tinkering around at the house and came up with a couple ways to make the product, which is basically cold-brewing it. We started off utilizing these ingredients at the bar and it took off fast from there.” Instead of looking at the coffee brewing process to perfect the recipe, Rideout looked at the beer brewing process to get a better idea on how to do things. The avid coffee drinkers went through a year of research before they came up with Made Coffee in 2015. With a business, it goes from making a gallon at a time to making 5 gallons, explains Rideout. “The next struggle is making 1,000 gallons at a time. Now it’s
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making many thousands of gallons at a time, so there’s always that time where you learn about the equipment and tweak the process. The production side is always evolving.” All that tinkering helped them out in the long-run when Publix approached them a couple months ago about carrying Made Coffee in the supermarket officially. Before they got the final offer from Publix, there was a brief test-run where they were the ones delivering and stocking the shelves. During this time, Rideout and Prater were delivering and stocking up to 10 Publix grocery stores. “We’d be up at 5 in the morning and hitting every single store twice a week,” explains Rideout. They stocked their own shelves for 6 months when an email from the Publix corporate office appeared in their inbox saying they wanted Made Coffee to go on their shelves permanently. Once the excitement from the email went away, it was time for the small business to really go to work in order to maintain and compete against the larger companies. “We still are your local cold brew company, but now we’re competing against huge corporate businesses with
huge budgets and it is ruthless,” says Rideout. “We’re growing and we’re growing fast.” (Made Coffee is available at over 250 Publix stores across Florida, as well as markets, package stores and fitness shops.) The Made Coffee brewery is located in the heart of downtown, across from 3 Daughters Brewing. “St. Pete is life! It’s where we’re comfortable. Mike grew up here so we didn’t think about anywhere else,” says Prater. When they began Made Coffee just three short years ago, their accomplishments so far were not even a dream. “When we first started Made, I don’t think this would’ve been in our realm of possibility,” says Prater. “There’s so much more to do.”
Bodhi Basics
MADE IN ST PETE
Pure and simple products for the body and soul Kim Vorperian is a natural when it comes to touting the benefits of holistic living. The St. Pete resident is founder of Bodhi Basics (pronounced bow-dee after her dog), an all natural plant-based line of skin care and personal products that she makes out of her small production and retail facility near downtown. Vorperian is adamant about using only high-quality organic ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, essential oils, beeswax, and locally sourced herbs. Before opening in 2011, she spent much time in trial and error, concocting recipes and learning packaging techniques. Everything is made by hand in small batches, she says, from perfumes to facial oils and even bug spray (hey guys, there’s a special line just for you). You’ll find no preservatives and no synthetic colors or scents in Bodhi Basics. “I wanted everything to be plant-based and directly traceable to something that grows or comes out of the earth in its pure form,” Vorperian says.
lemongrass or geranium rose and lemon. A new line of handrolled natural incense is also selling well. Bodhi Basics are sold at retailers and salons across Tampa Bay (including Locale Market). Look for them at the St Pete Indie Market. Kim has added monthly holistic workshops to her offerings at the shop. It’s the one with the wonderful smell.
240 9th Street North St. Pete • bodhibasics.com
Her number one selling line? Natural deodorants. “They are incredibly popular,” she says. “They are antibacterial and antifungal, one of the few deodorants without chemicals or artificial ingredients that actually works.” Not only will you stay dry, you’ll smell pretty good, too, with fragrances like tea tree and
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SPOTLIGHT
Roma Industries
MADE IN ST PETE
Fine leather and exotic skin accessories are hand-crafted in Pinellas County
BY JOSE MARTINEZ As we celebrate all things local, one of our little-known artisan gems is Roma Industries. With more than 100 employees in a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Largo, Roma Industries is a leader in the design and manufacture of fine leather and exotic skin-based products and accessories (belts, wallets, key chains, cigar cases, covered humidors, cigar stands, etc.) and remains one of the very few companies to produce in the United States. Roma sells these well-crafted gems through high-end stores, independent retail and specialty stores. They travel the world to get the top-quality skins from many tanneries, sourcing and purchasing with rigorous quality checks. They utilize a full skin in its entirety to reduce waste. The process starts by cutting one skin from largest product to smallest - belt, wallet, watchband - and using smaller leftover pieces for inlay
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keyrings or cufflinks. Roma also donates to local charities instead of throwing away or wasting these natural skins whenever they have extra materials. Splicing is done in house and is done mostly by workers who have spent years learning this fine trade/skill. Splicing truly takes a professional eye to get a matched seam that is not noticeable. Painting is a very long process, followed by polishing, buffing, and waxing. Here again, skill, pride and experience are important ingredients as many of these artisans have been doing this for years. Roma Industries’ extensive experience in fine leather and exotic skins (e.g., stingray, alligator, crocodile, lizard, shark and python) has made them a preferred source and partner for designers, wellknown fashion brands and private label collections. Exotic leathers are a great way to communicate style for a man. Belts and
wallets made out of crocodile leather are understated yet visually alluring with patterns that are both fascinating and extraordinary. They are also tremendously durable and will last a long time. With Father’s Day around the corner, an exotic belt, wallet, cigar case, covered humidor, or cigar stand can be a memorable gift. All of these items come in a range of striking and classy colors like blue, red, cordovan, olive, cognac, yellow and navy, to name a few. The next time you see a well-groomed person around town sporting a leather or exotic skin belt, watch band, wallet, or key chain, you might very well be looking at a piece produced by your Pinellas County neighbor, Roma Industries, right here in the United States! Jose Martinez is president of Sartorial, Inc, a menswear boutique in downtown St. Petersburg.
PHOTOS /ROMA INDUSTRIES
Bryant Park Belts New York Leather Exotic
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SPOTLIGHT
MADE IN ST PETE
2001 2nd Ave South • St Pete 727.310.5775 • brickstreetfarms.com
Brick Street Farms isn’t going to solve all of the world’s food/ agriculture problems, but they do have some really cool technology and mighty tasty, fresh healthy greens and herbs hydroponically grown indoors with no pesticides, no water runoff, or growing seasons to worry about. They grow vertically in less than 1/10th the amount of space a traditional farm would require. This delicious, earth-friendly business is the brainchild of Shannon O’Malley. She and her husband, Brad Doyle, run the indoor farm with the help of two employees, interns from the USF St. Pete environmental sciences department, and an app on their phones which controls the temperature, humidity, lights and nutrients. The St. Pete couple cleaned an eyesore property that sat vacant for over 30 years, hauling away 35 dump trucks of industrial trash and waste to create their urban farm. They renovated a small building to serve as as an office and work kitchen and obtained three insulated shipping containers (a fourth was added later) and opened in late 2016. “What we produce hydroponically equates to 9-10 acres of produce,” says O’Malley. “While a traditional farm might get 3-4 harvests each year, we get 11. We use no soil, no bugs, no pesticides, no fertilizers.”
Brick Street Farms in downtown St. Pete grows a wide selection of microgreens, heirloom lettuce, chard and kale, herbs and, a local favorite, wasabi arugula. Owners Shannon O’Malley and Brad Doyle took a vacant junk yard and turned it into an urban farm in late 2016.
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Inside the containers are eightfoot growing towers. All plants start with non-GMO seeds and the adult plants grow for the final 3-5 weeks hydroponically before
they are harvested. Resources are greatly conserved here, too. Brick Street Farms uses 80% less resources than a traditional farm. Most of the water is recycled and the light source is energy-efficient blue and red LED lights; macronutrients and micronutrients are infused into the water since there is no soil for the plants to get them from. Sensors take a reading every minute and adjust Ph when needed. Local chefs and restaurants are eager to take advantage of the fresher-than-fresh produce for increasingly health-conscious customers. Chefs at FarmTable Cucina, BellaBrava and Stillwaters Tavern, the Birchwood, Brick & Mortar, and Paul’s Landing at the Vinoy all use Brick Street Farms produce. Memberships are encouraged (a new monthly membership is now available), but the general public is also invited to drop in at the farm mini-market on Thursdays from 1 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm when they are open for member pickups. “The great thing is we’re open all summer, so when the summer farmers markets close we remain open,” says O’Malley. “We’re not only a farmers market but a market at the farm … you can literally go from farm to table.” Kevin Godbee, StPetersburgFoodies.com, contributed to this article.
FINANCE
Estate Planning Essentials By Spiro Verras of Verras Law
Advertorial
The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” is easy to say but is sometimes challenging to implement. We all know that death is inevitable, that disability is possible, and that we should be prepared with a plan that will protect the people we love and our assets when we pass away or if we become disabled. Nonetheless, many people – even people who are otherwise very responsible – postpone estate planning until it is too late. Although creating that plan seems like a daunting task, an experienced estate planning lawyer can help. I chose this practice area because I enjoy getting to know people, understanding their needs, and carefully crafting solutions that protect my clients and their families. My goal is to customize an estate plan that addresses your unique circumstances and puts your mind at ease. The documents I prepare answer questions that are relevant to you and your future. They address who will inherit your assets, and who will handle your financial affairs or make medical decisions for you if you cannot do so yourself. Together we will create a solution-based plan to address guardianship for your minor children or for yourself if you are incapacitated. For those of you who own or manage a small business or have a professional practice, protecting your business and your assets
will be addressed with a well thought out succession plan. Estate planning is fluid. Your needs change based the phase of life you are in. If you already have an estate plan, check to make sure that circumstances have not changed. The plan you make when your children are in elementary school will likely be different than the plan you formulate when your grandchildren are in elementary school. Marriages, divorces, births, deaths, sales of assets, changes of residence, any of these events means it’s time to review your plan with an attorney. Estate planning is a very personal process and as a result many people understandably attempt to handle it themselves online. However, a comprehensive estate plan requires exploration of various possibilities and a grasp of the legal and tax consequences of your choices. Online programs and websites do not provide the customized care or protection that is necessary to avoid legal problems in the future. Your will or trust and advance directives should be prepared based on your discussions with an attorney who knows the applicable laws. In addition to making sure your estate plan is done right, your wishes will be much more difficult to challenge in court if the attorney who prepared them is available to defend the documents and your intentions.
Verras Law is committed to giving you the time and attention you need to plan your future. Whether you decide to meet with us at our offices in Tampa, Palm Harbor or St. Petersburg or in the privacy of your home, Verras Law offers experienced and knowledgeable guidance in estate planning, probate, trust administration, and elder law. Verras Law combines the legal sophistication of a large law firm with the personal attention and relationship building of a small law practice. We are dedicated to understanding your unique financial and personal situation. Our team is committed to caring for you in the same way that we care for the legal needs of our own families. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation. Verras-Law.com • 727.493.2900 Spiro J. Verras, Esq May/June 2018
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DINING OUT
Callaloo
Southern Fare With Caribbean Flair Debuts at the Historic Manhattan Casino PHOTOS/STPETEFOODIES.COM
Craft cocktails from the Blue Note Lounge
BY LORI BROWN Do you love great Southern comfort food? You’re in luck thanks to Callaloo, the new restaurant located in “The Deuces” area of South St. Petersburg in the historic Manhattan Casino. Callaloo has a warm, swanky vibe. On the night we visited, warm notes from a saxophonist playing in the lounge softly fill the air. It immediately feels as welcoming as home. The bar offers a variety of specialty craft cocktails, as well as beer and wine. An elegant wine wall greets patrons and for those who are on the go, a Pipo’s carry-out counter on the left offers Cuban fare. But what about the food? First the fun fact: the name Callaloo comes from the popular vegetable in the Caribbean that can be cooked like collard greens. “We wanted something that was melodic,” said Mario Farias, one of the managing partners, referring to the restaurant name. “We felt it played an interesting role in connecting the soul food or Southern cooking to the Caribbean cuisine.”
Co-owner Vincent Jackson
The name lends towards the fusion Chef Gary Moran is creating with Floribbean cuisine - a taste of the Caribbean islands blended with a Florida comfort food twist. The style has influences from Haiti, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Here’s a taste of the menu: Crab and Callaloo Stew - What is not to love about a stew made with greens, crab, bacon and okra? Fantastic earthy flavors and ripe for adding a touch of hot sauce to make it even better.
House Smoked and Grilled Boneless Pork Chops
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642 22nd Street S. St. Petersburg 727-256-1806 • callaloostpete.com Monday – Thursday: 11am – 9pm Friday – Saturday: 11am – 10pm Lounge open to midnight Sunday Brunch: 11am – 4pm
Shrimp & Grits - We call this the “gourmet” version of shrimp and
grits with smoked tomato, pork bark, white wine, fresh basil and cheese grits bathed in butter sauce. A different experience to be sure. The World’s Best Fried Chicken - It definitely lives up to its name. This fried chicken was very savory and crunchy on the outside which contrasted perfectly with the moist and juicy chicken inside. It’s served with cheese grits and cornbread stuffing waffles and hot maple mustard sauce - the perfect tweak to traditional chicken and waffles. And that sauce is an explosion of sweet, spice and savory flavors that harmonize in perfect combination. Southern Style Meatloaf - I have yet to find a meatloaf in St. Pete that is worth ordering. Well, I found it. And now I am going to have to buy more stretchy pants. Finally a regular, down-home—not smothered in ketchup—savory and juicy meatloaf. It comes with a smoky coffee onion gravy, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans with pork bits. This is a to-die-for Southern meal at its finest. Boneless Pork Chops - One of my favorites with flavors from a slight sweet to smoky to spicy, tender and juicy, served with callaloo greens and sweet potato waffle fries. Thank goodness Callaloo is so close to downtown. Literally less than five minutes drive time or the least expensive Uber fare. With all Callaloo has going, it is sure to be a monumental success filling a gap much needed in St Pete ... true down-home Southern and Caribbean fare. Lori Brown covers the local food scene at stpetersburgfoodies.com
DINING OUT
Historic Manhattan Casino
Built in 1925, the Manhattan Casino is significant for its contribution to entertainment in the African American community in St. Pete for more than 40 years. Some legendary performers played at the Manhattan including James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughn, Fats Domino and the Ink Spots. Originally called the Jordan Dance Hall, it became known as the Manhattan Casino and during segregation the Manhattan was the place for cultural and social entertainment similar to what the Coliseum provided to the white community in St. Petersburg. After the era of the big bands, the Manhattan Casino hosted dances featuring local artists; rock and roll and blues singers popular in the 1960’s also performed at the Casino. Goldie Thompson, local minister and radio personality, booked religious programs at the Casino, as did Father Divine, a spiritualist. The venue closed its doors in 1968. The Historic Manhattan Casino was recently renovated and is operated by the Callaloo Group. The new Callaloo restaurant and lounge, and Pipo’s Café for carry-out, are now situated on the
PHOTOS/BARRY LIVELY
ground floor, and the second floor ballroom is hosting regular dances and is available for events for up to 300. The partners of Callaloo are Ramon Hernandez, owner of Pipo’s Cuban Cafe and Pipo’s To Go; Vincent Jackson, local businessman and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer; Mario Farias of Farias Consulting Group, and Executive Chef , Gary Moran, former owner of Wimauma restaurant in Tampa and prior to that Chef at the famed Tavern on the Green in New York City. The City of St. Petersburg is the property owner. Live Jazz Sunday Brunch – Relax to smooth jazz as you imbibe in a classic brunch of assorted pastries, bagels and muffins, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs with sausage and bacon, potatoes and an omelette station. Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm. Sunday Night Jazz Jams with Jeremy Carter and Friends - You never know who will show up at this casual jam starting at 6 pm. Check the website for Saturday night dances; the Shawn Brown Band is a regular. For more information, go to historicmanhattancasino.com or call 727-420-2819.
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SIPS AND SUDS
Food Bites
Sea Salt Wine Dinner The next Wine Dinner hosted by Sea Salt at Sundial will feature wines by Alexander Valley Vineyards and a seasonal menu prepared by Executive Chef Ken Tufo on Thursday, May 24, at 7 pm. The chef will work his creative magic around a variety of fresh and seasonal seafood dishes while sommelier Jackie Eash selects just the perfect California wines to accompany each course. Price is $99 (plus tax and gratuity). On June 29, Chef Ken presents a cooking class at 11 am to focus on “Simple Summer Dishes”; cost is $35 (plus tax and gratuity). Space is limited; to make reservations for either, call (727) 873-7964.
The popular Ferg’s Sports Bar on Central Avenue near the Trop has added a dog park and even a dog menu. Which begs the question, what about us cat people?
Late Night Eats
Most restaurant kitchens close around 9 or 10 pm. What to do when you’re hungry and need a bite late at night? Try one of these: A 24-hour diner in the heart of downtown, 2nd & Second (its location) offers comfort foods in a no-frills diner setting. Don’t expect gourmet, but do expect a decent menu of tummy-filling grub like egg skillets and omelets, a variety of hash browns and pancakes at 2 am when you really need it. 201 Second Avenue N. Kings Street Food in the Edge District specializes in modern twists on traditional diner fare such as the Mac & Cheezus, a grilled mac and cheese with barbecue pulled pork. The creative milkshakes are to die for. Open until 1 am on weekends. 937 Central Avenue. Serving diners until midnight daily and 1 am on weekends, The Oyster Bar is a more upscale seafood grille with offerings such as Oysters Rockefeller, Tuna Tartare and Shrimp Poboys. Too tired to go out? You can order a home delivery through Bite Squad. Click on Delivery on the website at oysterbarstpete.com and place your order online (credit card only, no cash). 249 Central Ave. Joining the growing craft brewery movement in downtown St. Pete, Overflow Brewing has opened at 770 First Ave. N. The new establishment is co-owned by Troy Bledsoe, former head brewer at Rapp Brewing in Seminole, and his business partner Ryan Sarno. Bottoms up!
Fly Me Away Tucked away from the trendy restaurant frenzy on Beach Drive and Central Avenue, there’s something about The Hangar that makes it a refuge for resident ‘Burgers. Alright, so we’re letting the cat out of the bag. Located on the second floor of the Albert Whitted Airport terminal, The Hangar is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, offering a wide selection of menu items. Known for its burgers and great breakfasts, The Hangar is also a hangout for jazz lovers. Every Monday from 8 to 10 pm, kick back and relax with a jazz jam by the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association. A Networking Extravaganza on third Tuesdays from 4 to 8 pm has been bringing professionals to the sophisticated Flight Lounge for years. thehangarstpete.com
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SIPS AND SUDS
Rosé Wine It’s fine to blush while sipping this joyful fruity varietal
BY EDITH SWIERZBINSKI Fresh, lively and sophisticated. A sunny, beautiful day in a glass. Aromas and flavors of mandarin orange, strawberries, grapefruit, watermelon, apricots, citrus, rose and jasmine flowers. Close your eyes and picture sipping on such deliciousness with the warmth of the sun dancing all around. Ah, rosé, my favorite wine varietal to enjoy in the warmer months. Rosés are exceptionally food-friendly, easy-to-drink, pairing well with a variety of foods from cheeses, fruits, meats, seafood, salads, light pasta/rice dishes to soufflés and burgers especially turkey and dessert. Perfect hot weather drinking with an affordable price tag.
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Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Brut Rosé ($13) from Mendoza, Argentina, is 75 percent Pinot Noir and 25 percent Chardonnay. The vineyard is located in the Andean foothills at 1200 meters above sea level providing exceptional climate and terroir conditions for this bubbly rosé. The temperature amplitude helps to obtain ripened grapes with excellent acidity. The grapes are hand-picked and organically farmed. Delicate bubbles, red fruit aromas with citrus notes. Fresh with medium acidity, elegant and fruity, vibrant finish. Nicodemi Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo Le Murate Rosé 2016 ($16) from Abruzzo, Italy, is 100 percent Montelpuciano grapes. A deep cherry hue sets the scene for floral, with peony, and fruity with strawberry and pomegranate notes. The perfect balance of softness, acidity and minerality weaves a good tangy underpinning. Raspberry is to the fore in the finale.
Coteaux D’Aix en Provence 2017 ($18) is a rosé with 60 percent Grenache, 20 percent Syrah and 20 percent Cinsault. The domain was founded in 1880 as a truffle orchard and was converted into a vineyard in the early 1900s. It is one of the largest domains in the AOP Coteaux d’Pix-en-Provence area, located close to Aix-en-Provence. Aix Rosé is the result of great passion and dedication. An elegant rosé with layers of complexity and a fresh personality. Beautifully balanced with bright fruit flavors, delicate floral notes, and long finish. Whether for a romantic picnic, barbecue with friends or Mother’s Day brunch, rosé wines are the perfect match. Enjoy! Edith Swierzbinski is owner of 4th and Vine, a boutique wine shop in St. Petersburg.
DINING OUT
Maple Street Biscuit Company
662 Central Ave. St. Petersburg maplestreetbiscuits.com Monday – Thursday 7 am -2 pm Friday – Saturday 7 am - 3 pm Closed Sundays
Feast your eyes and dig in to these hearty down-home plates of mmm-goodness PHOTO/ KEVIN GODBEE
BY KEVIN GODBEE When Maple Street Biscuit Company opened in early April on the 600 block of Central Avenue, some people showed up as early as 10 pm the night before and slept by the door waiting for the 7 am opening. This is the celebrity rock star of fried chicken and biscuits, plus other hugyour-belly-and-kiss-it comfort food. The hormone-free chicken comes in fresh every day. Each piece is inspected, hand cut, and individually hand-breaded. They use a “young bird” for extreme tenderness. All of the staff is extremely friendly and courteous, and the place does actually feel like a local mom and pop shop. Maple Street serves high quality, elevated comfort food, with fresh ingredients. Fried chicken biscuits make up half of the menu so they are really the main focus. Take fresh fried chicken with homemade breading, and large, hearty biscuits, also fresh made in-house with lots of butter,
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and add different combinations of other ingredients and give them clever names. That’s a fun and delectable formula. These sandwiches are so huge that you will need to eat them with a fork and knife. The Squawking Goat is a flaky biscuit, all natural fried chicken breast, with fried goat cheese and house-made pepper jelly. This amazing creation was featured on The Food Network’s “Guilty Pleasures,” and The Travel Channel’s “Food Paradise.” The Reinhold layers a flaky biscuit and all natural fried chicken breast with crunchy dill pickles and house made honey mustard. The Five and Dime pairs chicken with pecan wood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese topped with sausage gravy and a fried egg. This one should cover breakfast and lunch for most people! The sausage gravy is delicious, and has a hint of spice from a little bit of cayenne.
Now, Maple Street answers the question, “How can you make a BLT better?” Answer: Put it in a biscuit. Whoever invented this BLT should be given a medal. Sides include Bluegrass grits cut with cream cheese and butter, topped with pecanwood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, chives, a sunny side up egg, and a splash of hot sauce. It’s a great combination–mixing up egg yolk with grits, melted cheese, hot sauce and smoked bacon. The Hashups are home fries with chopped smoked ham, red and green peppers, grilled onions, and melted cheese. They are delectable! The Fried Green Tomatoes are cut thicker and have a more substantial breading—made fresh in house—than the typical version of this Southern dish. If you think that’s not right, just wait until you try them. Kevin Godbee covers the local food scene at stpetersburgfoodies.com
DINING OUT
Flute & Dram
Living la vida loca on Beach Drive just got better with a new champagne and caviar bar
234 Beach Drive NE St. Petersburg flutendram.com Sunday 11am - midnight Monday - Wednesday 3pm - midnight Thursday & Friday 3pm - 2am Saturday 11am - 2am PHOTO/ KEVIN GODBEE
BY KEVIN GODBEE There’s no other place in St. Pete that has a selection of caviar and high-end Champagne by the glass like Flûte & Dram. The much anticipated Flûte & Dram offers over 20 types of caviar, 60 different types of bubbly and almost 150 whiskeys, bourbons and scotches! If you’re curious about caviar, but concerned about your budget, start with the domestic caviar. The less pricey domestic “caviar” is actually different types of fish eggs, like salmon roe, for example. The imports, which are all actual caviar from sturgeon from the Caspian and Black Seas, are much different in price. Caviars are graded with zeros, and the entire imported selection at Flûte & Dram is triple zero (000), which is the highest grade. We started with a Champagne and Caviar Flight - three flutes of different bubbly with domestic caviar/ roe accompaniments cleverly placed on top of the glasses on a small blini with the traditional
accompaniments of crème fraîche, onions, and eggs. These are fun and tasty, mild and flavorful, and approachable for anyone. Next, we kicked it up to a sexy import of Sasanian Siberian Baerii. Medium dark pearls that are creamy in texture with a crisp, nutty taste, this has a beautiful classic presentation in a crystal bowl nested inside a larger crystal bowl filled with ice. It is served with traditional accompaniments of crème fraîche, chopped red onion, chopped egg whites, and chopped egg yolks, and the customary blinis and plain water crackers. This Siberian caviar has a great complexity and depth. Mother-of-pearl spoons are provided to keep the taste of the caviar pure. Never use a metal spoon. Flûte & Dram plans to hold a Champagne School and a Caviar School so you can learn more things like this.
We ended our visit with 1 ounce pours of Lagavulin Scotch and Glenfiddich 14. Scotch aficionados know that adding a drop or two of water helps to open up the flavors and release the aromas for a more fulfilling experience. Flûte & Dram has elegant glass and copper water dropper sets all along the bar. For table service there is a wooden tray whisky server with two Glencairn Whisky Glasses and water dropper. The glasses are also referred to as Dram glasses. There are a few starters on the menu outside of fish eggs including Chilled Gulf Shrimp Cocktail, Norwegian Smoked Salmon, and Duck Foie Gras Pâté. No need to worry about a dress code, people come in shorts, sandals, sun dresses, and jeans—all dining on caviar and imbibing in Champagne! Kevin Godbee covers the local food scene at stpetersburgfoodies.com
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FASHION
OPTIK! European Eyewear Our mission is to help you see and be seen
300 Beach Drive NE, Suite 115 On 3rd ave N- Attached to the Parkshore Plaza Condominiums Phone: 727-800-5535 optikstpete.com Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Advertorial
Optik! owners Anja and Edin Jakupovic OPTIK! was established by an Optician, Anja Jakupovic, who wanted to change the way people think and feel about every day eyewear. Located in the heart of St. Petersburg’s Beach Drive, this small boutique offers independent eyewear from Europe. At OPTIK! you can break free from the ordinary eyewear that is available everywhere and anywhere. Why St. Pete? What do you love about doing business here? We knew we wanted to live and work in St. Pete for years even before we actually made that dream happen. Choosing St. Pete was easy because it is full of culture, art and fashion, and has a touch of European flavor- all the things we love. St.Pete reminds us very much of Europe, especially when we walk down Beach Drive and see the restaurants packed with people sitting outside drinking and eating. We love to spend a lot of time outdoors and that’s what makes this city so great. There are so many things to do on foot and being right by the water we have the most beautiful views. The community is very supportive and that is very important to have as a small business owner.
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Most importantly we love the fact that whenever we make a recommendation for local shopping or dining to our clients, it is always to another small business! What do your clients love about Optik? At OPTIK! you can break from the mundane, every day “cookie-cutter” eyewear. Our clients love our personalized consultations and our way of transforming their look into something new and refreshing. We say: “ At OPTIK! you can express your individuality” and that is truly our goal! Among our exclusive eyewear collections, we offer one very special line, “the OPTIK! brand”. This collection is made up of all single piece items that we have hand-made in Germany, and our clients go crazy over these wild frames! Most importantly they love that no one else will have the same pair of glasses. What are some of the latest/hottest trends in eyewear? Eyewear trends change from season to season just like anything else in fashion. Glasses have become a bigger fashion accessory than ever before. With all the new possible choices it is easier than
ever to customize your glasses to truly reflect your personality. When it comes to shapes: round frames are extremely popular right now for both men and ladies, but other shapes such as extreme cat eye and square aviator are making a comeback. Latest trends in materials are frames with combinations of high quality metals and plastics. Vibrant colors are always an excellent choice and red tones are especially fashionable for this spring/ summer ‘18 season. When it comes to sunglasses, a lot can be done to enhance the look of a pair of shades. You will see most sunglasses with mirrored lenses in all colors. One of our favorite things to do is customizing cool prescription sunglasses with interesting lens color combinations. What is your favorite thing to do in St.Pete? We are big soccer fans and love going to the Tampa Bay Rowdies games and all their events throughout the season. After work we enjoy a walk through the city and trying out the hottest new restaurants in downtown. On Sundays we explore the local museums and have brunch somewhere outdoors.
Give Your Child The Gift of Language Language. Culture. Diversity. Discovery.
Your destination boutique for exclusive, independent European Eyewear.
Express your individuality.
m contemporary d e r n Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5
A child is best equipped to learn and become fluent in a second language between the ages of 3 & 8, in an immersion setting. We offer authentic, full-time French Immersion for preschool and elementary grades. No prior French language education required. Contact us today to explore for your child an education immersed in language, culture & ideas.
2100 62nd Ave N. St. Pete • fastb.org • 727.800.2159
Great Wine at Great Prices
Natural and Organic Wines Vegan Wines, No Sulfites Added Exceptional Selection of Premium & Every Day Wines Boutique Environment Wine Tastings Every Thursday Night Mention this ad and receive 10% off your next purchase.
7211 S Tamiami Trail Sarasota 941-923-2569 copenhagen-imports.com
FURNITURE+LIGHTING+ACCENTS
327 11th Ave. N. Suite 102 • St. Petersburg
727.400.3975 4thandvinestpete.com May/June 2018
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FASHION
Art & Fashion
Beauty Happens When Fashion Is Inspired By Art
Dress by Dolcezza; “Animals” by Colombia born artist Wilmar Pabon. Dress available at Pippa Pelure Fashion Boutique. BY NATALIE VELEZ There is a connection between art and fashion. Art always pushes fashion to be less serious, more provocative and innovative. It’s stretching the borders and conception of beautiful. What first comes to mind was the creative collaboration between Salvador Dali and Elsa Schiaparelli. Last year, the Dali Museum hosted a special exhibition showing the first-ever retrospective of the artist and fashion designer. The famous Lobster Dress was a design collaboration
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inspired by the lobsters that started appearing in Dali’s work in 1934, including New York Dream-Man Finds Lobster in Place of Phone, which appeared in the magazine American Weekly in 1935, and the mixed-media Lobster Telephone created by Dali in 1936.
the wife of poet Paul Eluard, Nusch, during the summer of 1937, she wore Schiaparelli. The hat and jewelry were from the Winter 1937-38 Haute Couture collection. The lapel pins in the form of gilded metal cherubs were designed by Jean Schlumberger for Schiaparelli.
As fashion gets inspiration from art, art is inspired by fashion. It’s like a neverending cycle.
We can’t talk about Art and Fashion without mentioning the famous Mondrian Collection. It was designed by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in 1965. This collection paid homage to the
When Picasso painted the portrait of
FASHION work of several modernistic artists. Part of this collection was six cocktail dresses that were inspired by the paintings of Piet Mondrian. Because these six dresses played a major role in this collection, the collection is called the Mondrian Collection. Art looks beautiful and organic on fashion. The way Stella McCartney used one of Liverpool artist George Stubbs’ masterpieces is unique and very creative. Her Fall 2017 Collection was inspired by British heritage, capturing the strength and beauty of Stubbs’ 18th century painting Horse Frightened by a Lion. Canadian designer Joseph Ribkoff gets his inspirations from nature. He creates his fashion by mixing different colors, shapes, and textures. His creations look like beautiful mixedmedia collages. No wonder his line was chosen by Megan Simons, the owner of downtown St. Petersburg fashion boutique Pippa Pelure, for our Art, Fashion and Spirits Show in late March. While choosing artwork for this show, our team picked abstract colorful collages and mixed-media pieces by modern artist Helmut Preiss, contemporary Tampa Baybased artists Wilmar Pabon, Dee Perconti and Karen Porter. Fashion and Art are the best beauty components. Natalie Velez is owner of Bella Unica Art Gallery and Events in St. Petersburg. Find her at bellaunica.com
Stella McCartney Fall 2017 and Horse Frightened by a Lion (1770)
Women’s Dinner Dress (1937) and Salvador Dali’s Lobster Telephone (1936)
EXPERIENCE THE VIP DIFFERENCE
St. Pete’s First & Only Optical Boutique Dr. Mona Henri • Dr. Kaitlyn C. Rothberg
JMC Center 2201 4th Street North, Suite A St Petersburg
727.894.0500 www.VIP4MyEyes.com
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ARTS & CULTURE
Keeping up with St. Petersburg Arts, Theater Events, Performances and Personalities BY CINDY STOVALL It really is a joy and a privilege to bring you news from the ‘Burg’s ever-expanding arts scene, just as I have for the past 4 years on my podcast (www.heliumradio.com). If you’d like to submit an event, gallery reception, stage show or other arts happening for consideration, please email me at cstovall5@gmail.com. Here’s a sampling of upcoming arts events in St. Petersburg. ON STAGE For those of us with a taste for classical music, St. Pete Opera Company has two wonderful productions in June and July. Verdi’s “La Traviata” is performed at the Palladium June 1-5. Dying from tuberculosis, the courtesan Violetta Valery grasps at one last chance for love when she meets the country boy Alfredo. Verdi pulled out all the dramatic stops for her and for Alfredo. It’s one of the 10 most popular operas of all time for very good reasons. Next up, and more musical than opera, “The Music Man,” runs June 29-July 8. The lovable con-man Harold Hill plans to sell band instruments in a small town and skip town before the promised music lessons can take place. Performed with the original full-size Broadway orchestra, this musical favorite promises fun for the entire family. Find more information at stpeteopera.org freeFall Theatre Company continues the 2017-18 season with “The Machine Stops,” written by Artistic Director Eric Davis, based on the story by E.M. Forster. Written in 1909, this story depicts a dystopian future where all communication is channeled through the omnipresent “Machine.” It’s a chilling foretelling of a world dominated by the internet, social media, and technology. Playing now through May 27. Next on the schedule is “The Musical of Musicals” The Musical. I think it’s a musical. Opening June 27, the theme of “how do I pay the rent?” is answered by adapting the music of five different
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reflects their mutual passion for the landscapes and people of the West with the city that means so much to them. Enjoy the permanent collection now but look for the 58th Annual Exhibition of the Society of Animal Artists opening on July 28. thejamesmuseum.org legendary composers/composing teams. Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jerry Herman, Andrew Lloyd Webber (with a little help from Puccini), and Kander & Ebb lend classics to the telling of a story we can all relate to. Runs through July 15. freefalltheatre.com Correction: In the last issue, I reported that “The Radio Theatre Project” was performed on the 3rd Monday each month. That is true only for the coming May performance (season finale), which will take place on Monday, May 21. Otherwise, unless otherwise announced, RTP takes place on the 4th Monday each month during the Fall-Spring seasons at the Studio @620. thestudioat620.org MUSEUMS & GALLERIES The long anticipated opening of the James Museum happened in April to great reviews and accolades. The building, designed by architect Yann Weymouth of Louvre pyramid and Dali Museum fame, is a work of art in and of itself, welcoming visitors to view a vast collection of Western and Native American themed artwork by legends as well as emerging artists. Founders and St. Pete residents Tom and Mary James are lovingly sharing the collection that
When you visit the Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum, you are welcomed into the world of the African American experience here in St. Pete and how it has impacted local and world culture. Located on “The Deuces” in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District, the open gallery space, library, and beautiful gardens are meticulously
ARTS & CULTURE overseen by Executive Director (and tireless community advocate) Terri Lipsey Scott. Scott and a devoted team of volunteers work diligently to organize and host special events, space rental, and new exhibits. Frequent collaboration with other organizations is a hallmark of the Woodson’s mission. The current exhibit features a series of works by artist Sean Young. “In the Crates” depicts contemporary images of African American music legends from Louie Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to Questlove. This exhibit will be up until June 14. woodsonmuseum. org
Two new exhibitions recently opened at the Museum of Fine Arts: the first American exhibition dedicated solely to African American women artists working in abstract art, and a wide ranging exhibition of work by world renowned photographer and St. Pete resident Herb Snitzer. Magnetic Fields: Expanding American Abstraction, 1960s to Today brings together 45 paintings and other works by 21 accomplished artists who have traditionally been overlooked by the mainstream. The exhibition includes a number of works on view for the first time and takes its name from a piece by artist Mildred Thompson, who served as the City of Tampa’s artist in residence in 1974. Can I Get a Witness: Photographs by Herb Snitzer reflect Snitzer’s 60-year career spent capturing images of people from all walks of life, from urban street scenes in 1950s New York City to the 2017 Women’s March. Snitzer is known for his images of jazz greats like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Nina Simone, who he traveled with extensively. His work has been featured in Life, Look, and many other national publications. mfastpete.org You can find my interview with Snitzer in the Beauty & The ‘Burg podcast archive at lirpodcasts.com
The return of artist Chad Mize with the opening of his new gallery, MIZE has been eagerly anticipated since “Blue Lucy” closed some four years ago. Now on the 600 block of MLK instead of Central, the new gallery is chock full of Mize’s signature pop art style, original World Tour and other signature tees and merchandise. MIZE will host many wonderful upcoming shows happening soon! Look for him on an upcoming episode of the Beauty & The ‘Burg podcast and check for specific events and dates on chadmize.com ALTERNATIVE Anyone who knows the St. Pete arts scene is familiar with ARTpool Gallery, currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. Marina, Evan, and fab matriarch Becky Williams are famous for elevating vintage to an artform. With their wildly popular monthly art parties and weekend craft markets, ARTpool collaborates with and supports many local artists. This month, you can enjoy Crafty Fest on June 2-3. Looking ahead: The always amazing “Trashion
Fashion” runway show and arts party will happen on July 21, so mark your calendars! artpoolrules.com Body painting has become a thing! It’s a true artform that is showcased in events across the nation and on reality TV (“Skin Wars” on Netflix). Did you know that one of Season 1 “Skin Wars” final contestants lives right here in the ‘Burg? Nicole Hays, a multi-talented body painter, performance artist, and owner of The Curiositorium, presents St. Pete’s “Art of Body Experience” body painting on June 9 at Bar@548, 6 pm. Nicole will be creating a St. Pete inspired work of art on human canvas. As someone who’s been following this artform, I can promise that you’ll be fascinated and amazed. nicolehays.com ‘Til next time…. Cindy Stovall’s Beauty & the ‘Burg podcast covering the arts in St. Petersburg airs on Wednesdays at 6 pm at heliumradio.com. Archives of previous shows are available.
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Class Acts A Mahaffey Theater education program has introduced children to live theater for 25 years In the spirit of showcasing arts education in our community, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts- Mahaffey Theater celebrated the close of their 25th anniversary season honoring the arts education program called Class Acts. On a sunny April morning, guests gathered outside the theater as a new state-of-the-art marquee was unveiled by St. Pete businessman Bill Edwards. The theater staff was excited to announce the new 2018-19 schedule for Class Acts to the media and community leaders. At the same time, over 1300 schoolchildren in grades kindergarten to eighth grade from 23 schools arrived, many to experience their first theatrical productions.
Doktor Kaboom shows children the fundamentals of electrical energy during his Class Acts performance.
Arriving by bus, they enjoyed views of the Bay and said “WOW” looking towards the Dali Museum. Most were so excited they practically skipped into the theater and settled in to enjoy a performance by Doktor Kaboom.
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ARTS & CULTURE Over the past five years, the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts has provided the opportunity for thousands of local schoolchildren to visit the Duke Energy Center for the Arts- Mahaffey Theater and experience live performances that combine music, dance and fun with specific curriculum topics. The foundation is committed to supporting and presenting all genres of the performing arts at the Mahaffey Theater and Al Lang Stadium. The series provides quality performing arts programs that enhance the learning experience for students and teachers. The performances correlate with Florida’s curriculum initiatives
providing an effective tool for teaching students language arts, history, world culture, science and math, in addition to values of character, critical thinking, creativity, respect and discipline. More than a half million students from across Tampa Bay have been enriched by these theater experiences over the past 25 years. Through the continued support of sponsors, teachers are provided the opportunity to apply for classroom admission and transportation scholarships to a performance of their choice. Class Acts provides all educators with detailed study guides, prepared specifically for each performance.
PHOTOS/ALEX HORDEN
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PHOTO/MARCIA BIGGS
The highly anticipated James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art opened April 7 in downtown St. Petersburg featuring 30,000 square feet of gallery space and works by over 200 artists. The collection comprises 400 paintings, sculptures, and jewelry from the private collection of Tom James, Chairman Emeritus of Raymond James Financial, and his wife Mary. The artworks showcase the American West from a historical and modern perspective. In addition to the eight galleries, the museum includes a theatre, shop, cafe catered by Datz, and special events space for up to 750 people. For an in-depth look at the museum, check out the July/August issue of St. Pete Life.
The James Museum is offering a full itinerary of programming for children and adults. Here’s a look at this summer’s activities: Public Tours Walk with a docent on a highlights tour of the museum. Tours are Saturdays at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. and provide a 45-minute overview of the galleries with a focus on key works of art. Free with admission; reservations not required. (Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a private tour and discounted admission rate if scheduled in advance.) James After 5 Round up your friends for some Tuesday night fun at The James. The museum is open from 5-8 p.m. every Tuesday featuring $5 admission. Look for a Western flick, live music, a two-step lesson, or gallery talk. Family Days Bring the kids every second Saturday for fun with a Western and wildlife twist. Enjoy different themed activities each month, including story time in the galleries, a kid-friendly guided tour, a make & take art project, and a chance to explore the museum with a family activity guide. Summer Camps Ignite your child’s inner artist with fun, hands-on summer camps. Children ages 6-11 will explore the galleries through games and activities, and create their own masterpieces under the guidance of a teaching artist. Wild for Wildlife June 25 –June 29 • Ages 6-8 Native American Art & Craft July 9 –July 13 • Ages 9-11
James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art 150 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg 727-892-4200 • thejamesmuseum.org Hours are daily from 10 am to 5 pm; Admission is $20 Adults, $15 Seniors (65 and over), $10 Youth (7 to 18) Tickets Available Online.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Dali Museum Clyde Butcher: Visions of Dali’s Spain
Plaja S’Arenella with Boat, ©Clyde Butcher/Window of the Eye Inc./Courtesy of Salvador Dalí Museum ©2018 The Mediterranean homeland of surrealist artist Salvador Dali is captured in dramatic photographic images in a new exhibit opening June 16 by Clyde Butcher, the renowned “Ansel Adams of Florida landscape photography.” Clyde Butcher: Visions of Dali’s Spain will provide a view of Dali’s surroundings as seen by Florida’s greatest nature photographer. Butcher’s photographs are technically brilliant, their large format creating an experience of immersion. His works have become an influential part of Florida’s cultural landscape, showcasing the true beauty of Floridian swamp and marsh environments. For Salvador Dalí, the landscape of his homeland was always an essential feature of his work and outlook on life. The Dalí Museum commissioned Butcher to capture the spirit of Dali’s Mediterranean home, located in one of the world’s most dramatic landscapes. With a discerning and selective eye, Butcher
traveled to the village of Cadaques, where Dalí spent summers while growing up, Dali’s house in Port Lligat and the rugged region of Cap de Creus – all areas that are prominently featured in Dali’s works – delivering a peek into his psyche. The thoughtfully curated collection will feature 41 photos that take viewers on a
journey through the Catalonian region, with eloquent photographs ranging from small to a panoramic 8 feet in width. The exhibit is Butcher’s first photographic exhibition of Spain, as well as the first time he has been commissioned to photograph an area that influenced another artist. “We’re dedicated to sharing the art, life and world of Dali with our community,“ said Peter Tush, Dali Museum Curator of Education. “This show allows us to do just that in an immersive, yet intimate way. Butcher captured the sublime beauty of Dali’s Mediterranean world in exquisite detail, providing a portal between their two worlds for our guests to explore.” Clyde Butcher: Visions of Dali’s Spain will be on exhibit through November 25, 2018. For more information, go to thedali.org
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EVENTS
Get Rowdy
Get out and enjoy an evening under the stars at the open-air Al Lang Stadium in the heart of downtown St. Pete and support the team this summer! This year marks the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ second season as a member of the United Soccer League, which is fully sanctioned as a Division II professional league in the United States and Canada. The 2018 regular season has been expanded to 34 matches, with Tampa Bay set to play each of its 15 Eastern Conference rivals once at home. To find a schedule and more information, go to rowdiessoccer.com
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EVENTS
The Boys of Summer
The Tampa Bay Rays are celebrating their 20th anniversary! Hard to believe it’s been two decades since the then Devil Rays came to the Burg. Look for 20th anniversary promotional giveaways at local games. A few special games: Throwback Night, June 9, June 23 and Sept. 28
Wear your old Devil Rays gear and party like it’s 1998. Pre-game ceremonies will take a trip down memory lane with some special guests. Giveaways will be a Fred McGriff/Tino Martinez bobblehead (June 9), Rays & Devil Rays reversible jersey (June 23) and a photo viewer (Sept. 28). PHOTOS/ KEVIN SABITUS TAMPA BAY RAYS
Season Specials Salute to Service Mondays - Military, teachers and first responders receive two complimentary tickets to select Monday games. Go to raysbaseball. com/specials
What’s to Eat? Local restaurants have moved into the Trop, giving baseball fans a taste of hometown favorites. They include: • Go To Steve’s Restaurants will be the presenting partner of the “Beach Drive” stand in the Third Base Food Hall, featuring items from Parkshore Grill, 400 Beach, The Annex and The Hangar. The menu includes Grouper Wraps, Blue Cheese Meatballs, BBQ Chicken & Bacon Quesadillas and the Annex Cuban Sandwich. • Hunger + Thirst is featured prominently on the Budweiser Porch in center field with portable carts for both The Avenue and King’s Street Food Counter. Fans can enjoy King’s Grilled Cheese, Cuban Nachos, Blueberry Bacon Sliders and Corn Dog Nuggets.
• Moon Under Water, an authentic British Colonial pub on Beach Drive, can be found at Center Field Street. Fans can enjoy British pub favorites, including Fish & Chips, Meat Pie and The Moon’s Curry with Fries. • TradeWinds Island Resorts will bring several food items from their flagship beach restaurant RumFish Grill to a portable cart featured on the Budweiser Porch. The menu includes Firecracker Shrimp, Mahi Tacos and Tuna Poke. • URBAN Restaurants Group returns to Tropicana Field with menu options from two of their Central Avenue shops: URBAN Brew and BBQ and URBAN Comfort. With a large stand in the First Base Food Hall, look for URBAN’s Fried Chicken Biscuit, Pulled Pork Platter and Mac & Cheese.
$2 Kids Tuesday - Tickets for kids 14 and under are $2 with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket. $2 hotdogs for everyone! Senior Special Wednesdays - Press Level tickets for fans 60 and older are only $15. $19.98 Ticket Combo Thursdays - Purchase of Press Level tickets include chips and a 20-oz. Coca-Cola beverage for $19.98 $7.11 Ticket Fridays - Purchase Upper Level tickets for only $7.11 (Must visit a participating 7-Eleven store to pick up discount coupon redeemable online or at the box office; good for up to 4 tickets.)
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SPL NEWS
Exploratory Labs Boot Camp (ExLabs) is a collaborative effort between USFSP, Tech Data and Gehant and Associates. It provides students from all majors the opportunity to participate in a highly competitive program that exposes them to the latest trends and strategies used in the technology industry. During the six-week training, skills taught include business acumen, communication, design thinking and collaboration . The 70-hour program of 28 sessions is based on a curriculum developed by St. Pete-based Tech Data, one of the world’s largest technology distributors . Sessions are delivered by professionals from Tech Data and area companies, who also share personal career and pathway stories. Teams create a new product, craft a multi-faceted business plan and develop strategy to take the product to market. Presentations are pitched to industry leaders, and one team will win a specialized training package by Cisco worth $2,300. Pat Gehant, Managing Partner of Gehant and Associates, and Angie McCourt, Vice President of Cisco Solutions at Tech Data, are cofounders of the Ex Lab Boot Camp multidisciplinary model.
Pinellas County non-profit cultural arts businesses looking for office space are invited to check out the new Arts Business Incubator located on the grounds of the former Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo. It features private offices and coworking spaces at reasonable rents and is organized similarly to popular hi-tech incubators. “We believe it will fulfill an important need in our community,” says Barbara St. Clair, Executive Director of Creative Pinellas, which is spearheading the program. The Incubator has seven private offices available on a monthly basis, as well as co-working space for organizations that don’t need full-time office space. Incubator participants will have access to Wi-Fi, a large conference room, a classroom, mailing address and resource center, as well as basic administrative support. You may qualify if you’re a 501(c)(3) or plan to become one, serve Pinellas County and are an arts and culture organization. Participants also commit to volunteer on a regular basis, collaborate with one another, and participate in workshops and Incubator events. For more information, call (727) 582-3600 or go to creativepinellas.org/incubator
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SPL NEWS
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Got an idea for a new business? Or perhaps you are already off the ground and need some feedback. Each week, the 1 Million Cups (1MC) program at the Greenhouse in downtown St. Pete offers two local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors, and entrepreneurs. Presenters prepare a 6 minute educational presentation and engage in 20 minutes of feedback and questioning after they present. The sessions are usually packed, with start-ups of all kinds getting a bit of buzz (with help from free Kahwa coffee). Programs start at 9 am every Wednesday; the Greenhouse is located at 440 2nd Avenue N. Go to 1millioncups.com/StPete for more information.
Johns Hopkins Expansion
Johns Hopkins All Children’s plans to open a new state-of-theart academic teaching center later this year. The $85 million, seven-story research and education facility will feature a new pediatric simulation lab. The medical center currently operates a simulation lab which allows healthcare professionals to practice high-risk scenarios, surgical techniques and emergency situations using infant and pediatric mannequin “simulators” that are programmed to breathe, have a pulse, heartbeat and more. Simulation procedures also help prepare medical professionals to communicate well and work together as a team.
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TRAVEL
Grape Expectations The Surry County Wine Trail is just the ticket for discovering the pleasures of a North Carolina getaway
BY MARCIA BIGGS
BY MARCIA BIGGS MOUNT AIRY, NC -- The lush vineyards and rolling green hills are giving me a sense of déjà vu. Memories of winetasting in Napa Valley. People laughing, chatting, sipping on an outdoor patio. Brilliant bluebird sky. Could this really be North Carolina? You better believe it. Surprise, surprise, surprise. It’s Saturday afternoon on an unseasonably warm yet beautiful fall afternoon at Round Peak Vineyards in the Yadkin Valley of central North Carolina. Round Peak, along with nearly 40 other valley vineyards, is watching the weather forecast anxiously waiting for a dip in temperatures to signal it’s time to harvest.
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In the meantime, the crushpad (where the grapes are crushed) has been converted into an outdoor patio with picturesque vistas right out of a travel brochure. I settle in at the bar and begin sampling along with a mix of friendly locals and tourists who have found their way to this idyllic spot in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our bartender, who happens to be Round Peak owner Ken Gulaian, is happy to chat us up. “We have 13 acres of vineyards and produce 10 French and Italian varietals under the Round Peak label,” says Gulaian, who with wife Kari, moved back to the region in 2008 from the San Francisco
area. “We also produce a variety of semisweet and semi-dry blends under the Skull Camp label -- and we opened a craft brewery last year. I guess you could say we’re busy.” I am pleasantly surprised with every wine Gulaian pours. A semi-dry red blend of cherry, blackberry and raspberry has just the right fruitiness for my palate. A perfectly chilled ros’e is dry, crisp and perfect for a hot afternoon. I even like the tasty beer samplings. As much as I would like to while away the day in reverie at Round Peak, it’s time to move on. I am on a “winetinerary” along the Surry County Wine Trail and the next stop is waiting just up the road.
TRAVEL Viticultural Landscape In recent years, something’s been brewing in them thar hills and it’s not moonshine. Across North Carolina, wineries have been increasing steadily in five viticultural areas which provide ideal climate, elevation and soil for growing grapes. Savvy entrepreneurs are taking a leap of faith by turning farmland and former tobacco fields into vineyards. Today, more than 400 vineyards and 185 wineries dot the state. The Yadkin Valley became North Carolina’s first federally-approved American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2003. The result has been the emergence of an agricultural industry which is bringing increasing numbers jobs and “wine vacationers” to this region throughout the year. Count JW and Kristen Ray among the new wave. After purchasing 80 acres of wooded property in the shadow of Pilot Mountain, the couple and their two children moved from the Fort Lauderdale area six years ago. JW spent several years studying wine-making, then designing and building and planting. Today, he owns JOLO Winery & Vineyards, a high-end boutique winery with five acres of grapes that has already won numerous awards in regional wine competitions. In addition to tastings in the rustic elegance
of the lodge, JOLO offers visitors a tapasstyle mid-day dining experience at its End Posts restaurant, an outdoor garden patio with relaxing views, and even a cozy cabin perfect for a romantic weekend. He holds special wine dinners and tasting events which are almost always sold out. Like most vineyards in the region, Ray is planting grapes that grow well in Burgundy, France, where the climate and elevation are nearly identical, he says. Typical grapes grown in the region include merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, chardonnay, Riesling, viognier, sauvignon blanc and petit verdo. Ray has even chosen to age his wines in French oak barrels. There are 15 wineries and vineyards in the Surry County Wine Trail and most are within an hour’s drive. Some wineries are just minutes apart. For this trip, I made home base in the town of Dobson, which is not only centrally located, but also the home of the venerable Shelton Vineyards. The highly-respected Shelton brothers, Charlie and Ed, opened the valley’s flagship winery in 1999 and paved the road for viticultural designations across the state. Shelton Vineyards is now the largest family-owned estate winery in North Carolina with 130 acres of grapes. A tour
and tasting departs every half-hour and includes a visit to the 33,000-square-foot winery. Visitors can meander along walking trails, set for a spell on the benches and swings on the lake, or dine at the highlyrated Harvest Grill. Not far from Dobson is the historic town of Elkin which is ideal for an afternoon of browsing antique shops and a stop at shops and a stop at Adagio Vineyards. Owners Tim and Jan Wahl named the winery after a musical term that means to perform slowly with passion. Jan is a classically trained violinist who also makes violins. Together they make sweet music with dry and semi-sweet wines from such classic vinifera grapes as merlot, cabernet franc, petite Verdot and chardonnay. Continuing our wine trail adventure at nearby Elkin Creek Vineyard we found ourselves back in the woods at a quaint farmhouse tavern. On the grounds are an historic mill, walking trails, cabins and a meandering creek. Brick oven pizzas are served on weekends from an authentic wood-fired oven. With so many wineries on the Surry County Wine Trail, choosing which to visit during one weekend can be a real challenge. The final solution, though, seems to be easy. Y’all come back now, y’ hear?
If You Go
Surry County is an hour and a half drive north of Charlotte, NC in the Yadkin Valley. I highly recommend the modern Hampton Inn & Suites in Dobson 336-353-9400. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast, free bike rentals and shuttles to Shelton Vineyards. If you plan to visit wineries, other convenient towns for lodging include Elkin and Mount Airy. You can find a map and brochure with a map of the Surry County Wine Trail including wineries, lodging, dining and nearby attractions at yadkinvalleync.com or by contacting the Mount Airy Visitors Center at (800) 948-0949.
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Merlot to Mayberry The Spirit of Andy Griffith lives on in quaint Mount Airy
BY MARCIA BIGGS In the heart of wine country in North Carolina’s Surry County, a little piece of Mayberry lives on. The fictitious town of Mayberry in the popular 1960s television series “The Andy Griffith Show” was modeled after Mount Airy, the hometown of actor Andy Griffith. Annual events like Mayberry Days each September, classic car shows and gift shops packed with Mayberry memorabilia make this town a magnet for nostalgic baby boomers and families looking for a wholesome familyfriendly vacation destination. I enjoyed exploring Mount Airy for its oldfashioned charm and Southern hospitality. I can claim without a doubt that the planet’s best hand-made pumpkin ice cream and sonker (a traditional North Carolina fruit cobbler) can be found at Miss Angel’s Heavenly Pies on Main Street.
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The Andy Griffith Museum is also a must for a trip down memory lane. The modern museum houses the world’s largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia. Most of the items were collected by the late Emmett Forrest, who was a life-long friend of Griffith. The museum has props from the TV show, items from Griffith’s long career in music, TV and film, and personal items donated by actors on the show, including Griffith. A great way to see the town and learn all about its history is a squad car tour. Mayberry Squad Car Tours include many of the key places in the life of Andy Griffith, including his old homeplace and the church where he first learned to play music. It’s a hoot to sit in the back of a replica Mayberry squad car – a 1963 Ford Galaxie—driven by knowledgeable and friendly guides. Tours start at Wally’s
Service Station. From here, you’ll cruise down Main Street, past Floyd’s Barber Shop and Snappy Lunch. You’ll see Andy’s boyhood home and his former elementary school, now the Andy Griffith Playhouse and the Andy Griffith Museum. The Blue Ridge Mountains are famous for their bluegrass musical heritage and Mount Airy’s rich music tradition lives on today with live performances at the Historic Earle Theatre. Each Saturday morning, WPAQ (740 AM) broadcasts its live radio show from the Earle Theatre stage. It is the second-longest-running live radio show in the nation, trailing only the Grand Ole Opry. For more information on Mount Airy, go to yadkinvalleync.com/mount-airy
EVENTS
Summer Concerts at Al Lang Stadium Announced Al Lang Stadium in the heart of downtown will be filled with more than just soccer fans this summer. A newly announced schedule of live concerts has been announced by the Edwards Group, adding an exciting component to summer entertainment in St. Petersburg. The Al Lang Live series will offer up acts including hair band icons Poison, 3 Doors Down, Collective Soul, Soul Asylum, Lauryn Hill and Counting Crows. Shows are scheduled for traditionally slower dates in order to maximize the economic impact for the city and surrounding businesses, said Bill Edwards at a press conference. The outdoor concerts will also begin earlier (except the kick-off concert) to “make it a win-win for the city, the business community and fans of great live music and entertainment,” said Edwards. Big 3 Entertainment, his entertainment and venue management company, along with the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, are bringing the live music series to both Al Lang and the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater.
Counting Crows performJuly 31 AL LANG LIVE June 29 8 pm Poison with special guest Pop Evil July 11 6:30 pm Rock & Roll Express Tour with 3 Doors Down, Collective Soul and Soul Asylum July 29 6 pm The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour July 31 6:30 Counting Crows with Special Guest Live
MAHAFFEY THEATER June 4 7:30 pm Vice President Joe Biden’s American Promise Tour June 6 8 pm David Blaine June 29 8 pm Donny and Marie July 7 8 pm Erasure July 14 8 pm The Greatest Love of All – The Whitney Houston Show
Tickets for the Al Lang Live shows can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. For tickets to Mahaffey Theater events, visit themahaffey.com or call (727) 892-5767
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HOME DESIGN
A Place To Call Home Office Converting spare bedrooms into functional living space is gaining popularity
PHOTOS/CLOSET FACTORY
A home office becomes a guest room thanks to a Murphy bed that folds down from the wall unit. BY MARCIA BIGGS Jessica Bentley, senior design consultant for Closet Factory, has seen a big upswing in demand for converting bedrooms into office space. Many of these home offices will include a wall bed that tucks up into a cabinet built along a wall. Regardless of the size of the home, it seems everyone needs more organized storage and functionality. “Ninety percent of my clients are people who are downsizing and need help creating functional space for storage, an office, a guest room,” says Bentley. Wall beds – also known as Murphy beds - are often the perfect fit for a multifunctional room. “I have a call every week for a wall
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bed system,” says Bentley. “No one is interested in staring at a bed that only gets used a few times a year. The wall beds are very attractive focus points. So many customers are incorporating them into their plans for a home office/ guest room conversion.” Wall beds only take up 16 inches of depth, so can often fit in living rooms, bedrooms, and Florida rooms. Bentley says a lot of her clients work from home, but the majority are baby boomers who are downsizing or empty nesters. “Retirees and seniors are preparing spaces for grandchildren and making better use of empty bedrooms,” she says. “It seems as though updating
the look is also high on their list.” After decades of hosting visiting family members in their 4,000-sqaure-foot 1920s home, Carlos and Anne Lemos took the leap and downsized to a 1,000-squarefoot two-bedroom ranch home in Jungle Prada. Carlos, who is semi-retired, needed a room to call his own. “We needed a room that would be multifunctional, an office and a guest room,” says Carlos. He needed a space to work on his laptop and to file paperwork, so Bentley went to work on the second bedroom, designing a corner desk that extends along two walls, with ample pullout drawers below and cabinets above. The desk faces two large windows
HOME DESIGN
“Ninety percent of my clients are people who are downsizing and need help creating functional space for storage, an office, a guest room...” allowing pleasant views and ample natural light. The desk is anchored by a tall storage cabinet on one end and a full-size Murphy bed at the other end which folds up into a matching cabinet. Lemos is more than pleased with the results wherein a modest 10-x-12 foot bedroom has been converted into highly usable space without feeling small or cramped. Do-it-yourselfers might find the conversion process confusing and difficult, which is why using a firm that designs and installs (Closet Factory uses their own installers, no outside contractors) is the way to go, says Bentley.
The process includes determining the design of the office based upon the homeowner’s inventory and individual needs. “It’s important to know if they are paperless or need file space, how many people will be working in this area, what equipment will be in the space. Making office ‘stuff ’ disappear is my specialty. I like to create a work area that could be seen in a model home – no exposed cords, neat and organized is my main focus.” Jessica Bentley can be reached at Jessica.bentley@closetfactory.com
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SPL NEWS
Up on the Roof Tiny Campus Guests Inspire Conservation Effort
PHOTOS/FWC The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library needed a new roof last year. When the construction team discovered guests on the rooftop, however, the project came to a screeching halt. The tiny guests were a colony of around 65 beach nesting birds, called Least Terns. Working with the St. Petersburg Audubon Society, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) and architects and consultants, USF St. Petersburg has installed a new roof that incorporates an artificial habitat for the colony of nesting Least Terns, a threatened Florida species. The goal of the artificial habitat is to ensure when the birds return to Florida
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each spring to breed, they will continue to nest on the Poynter Library rooftop. “When I first learned about the terns, I thought why can’t we leave them in peace? We have taken away their accommodation (the beach) and we should give something back to accommodate them,” said Ed Lewis, Construction Project Manager at USF St. Petersburg. The installation of the new library roof was suspended for eight months to ensure the terns were not interrupted during the 2017 breeding season. When construction finally began last fall, plans were in place
to create an artificial nesting habitat that is similar to the tar and gravel texture the terns are attracted to on rooftops. The space is over 1,000 square feet, the minimum size recommended by FWC and Audubon Florida, and is situated in the southwest corner of the roof. “This is the first instance of a building owner choosing to create a habitat for the terns that I am aware of in the Tampa Bay area,” said Jeff Liechty, Rooftop Nesting Coordinator with Audubon Florida. “What USF St. Petersburg is doing is unique and forward thinking.”
SPL NEWS These migratory seabirds are a threatened species because of the loss of suitable breeding habitat. “In Florida, humans are encroaching on their breeding habitat and when the birds do nest on beaches they are often unsuccessful because of disturbance from humans or animals,” Liechty said. “Florida rooftops have become surrogate habitats for them. The gravel is sort of like sand, it’s nice and open, they can see predators coming from far away and it’s just quieter than the beaches.” The terns tend to choose rooftops close to water for access to fishing and cooling themselves. The adult birds scratch out a small groove in the gravel and lay their eggs. When the heat of the roof becomes too much, the adults dive into nearby water to wet their feathers and return to their nests to cool the eggs or small chicks. Liechty and a team of volunteers monitor over 100 rooftops in the Tampa Bay area that have become nesting sites – with Pinellas County being the most densely populated in the state. Records show
that Least Terns have chosen USF St Petersburg’s Poynter Library rooftop as their alternative nesting habitat since 1998. For nearly 20 years, if not longer, these tiny birds have come back to campus, most every spring, to nest and raise their fledglings.
The terns arrive back in Florida from their wintering grounds in the Caribbean, Mexico and South America by the middle of March and typically start breeding by middle of April. Breeding can last into September, and by November they migrate south again for the winter months.
“This species has already been pushed off its natural breeding habitat and this phase-out of tar and gravel rooftops is an additional threat to their artificial breeding habitat,” said Liechty, who was contacted to provide monitoring of the roofing project during the terns breeding season last year and, along with volunteer Stephanie Cain with Blue Turtle Green Bird Society, will continue to monitor the terns activity.
“This project represents both an effective conservation effort, as well as an opportunity to incorporate these imperiled species into future academic studies and student research projects,” Brendan O’ Connor said, Southwest Regional Volunteer Coordinator with FWC.
“USFSP decided to be wonderful environmental stewards,” Liechty added. “This is an institution saying, ‘this is something that we care about, it is important and we are going to go out of our way to continue to provide a habitat for these terns.’”
USF St. Petersburg and partners will know if the new roof with the artificial habitat is successful when they see returning adult terns circling around the library roof, and diving into Bayboro Harbor collecting fish in their beaks to feed their fledglings. - By Karlana June, USFSP Content Specialist This article appeared in the February 2018 issue of Harbor Notes, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg newsletter.
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KINDNESS
Junior League - Edible Peace Patch It takes a village of volunteers to create an education garden at North Shore Elementary “North Shore had the desire to have a garden, but no funding,” she said. “They have a strong PTA and supportive parents. The Junior League was looking for a volunteer project that needed funding. Everything just came together.” Other educational gardens are in place at Campbell Park Elementary, Fairmount Park Elementary, Lakewood Elementary, Maximo Elementary, Lealman Avenue Elementary, Gulfport Elementary, Sanderlin IB World School, and maintenance of the John Hopkins Middle School garden. Gardens aim to be organic and designed using an above ground garden box method. The schools are responsible for maintaining the gardens, adds Calvin, although EPP will enlist community volunteers to help. The Junior League of St. Petersburg has been helping the community since 1931; many of their volunteer hours are aimed at helping children via literacy and nutrition programs and raising money for causes, says spokesperson Katie Ragsdale. Nearly 200 women make up its ranks. ST. PETERSBURG - When an organized group of determined women sets a goal, an amazing garden can grow. In February, an inspired group of young women from the Junior League of St. Petersburg donned work gloves and took to digging in the yard of North Shore Elementary. With important planning and planting assistance from Edible Peace Patch and coordination with school administration, the new vegetable beds will be ready to harvest next fall just in time for nutritious school lunches. The “education garden” is one of seven installed at schools across south Pinellas County. It’s what Edible Peace Patch is all about – teaching school kids how to grow their own healthy food and engaging local volunteers. The nonprofit St. Petersburg-based organization
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works in partnership with Pinellas County Schools, the Pinellas County Health Department, the Florida Department of Agriculture, USF St. Petersburg, the City of St. Petersburg, as well as public and private institutions around the Tampa Bay area, to provide education, training, and opportunity in the sustainable local food economy. Loretta Calvin, interim executive director of Edible Peace Patch, says the North Shore project is a model of the kind of project collaboration needed for successful school gardens. While EPP can provide guidance for building and planting, there needs to be a funding source and a firm commitment to managing the garden after planting, she explains.
Each year, the “provisional” class of new recruits selects a cause as their annual project. The 2017-2018 class project was building a school garden, said Aria Garling, project coordinator for the Junior League. They turned to Edible Peace Patch to match them up with a school. To raise much needed funds for the North Shore garden, the Junior League held a fundraising event, the Veggie Shuffle family shuffleboard competition on January 7 at the St. Pete Shuffleboard Courts. “We had to raise money for all the garden supplies, close to $3,000,” said Garling. “The event was a huge success.” The North Shore garden has a drip irrigation system, a valuable water-saving resource that helps the school save money, she added. And building the garden was no cake walk.
KINDNESS “We had to dig the beds from a grass plot, actually had to cut the lumbar to fit around each garden, place lining in each one, add soil and compost and plant the seeds.” If all goes well, the harvest will provide lettuce, kale, collards, tomatoes, green beans, yellow squash, and zucchini that will be used in the school cafeteria to provide healthy ingredients for school lunches, says Garling. Over the summer, they will add sweet potatoes, which require no maintenance, she adds. “It’s really wonderful what a group of women can do when we put our minds to it,” she said proudly. “Anything is possible.” Volunteers for Junior League & Edible Peace Patch work at North Shore Elementary. CAN YOU DIG IT? Volunteers are needed year-round to help Edible Peace Patch build and maintain school gardens. You don’t need a green thumb to lend a helping hand building, planting, weeding or harvesting. For more information, go to ediblepeacepatch.org or call 727-320-6822. To learn more about the Junior League of St. Pete, go to jlstpete.org or find them on Facebook.
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SPL NEWS
Before You Say I Do A Guide to Wedding Rehearsal Dinners Why do we have rehearsal dinners? With all of the planning involved in a wedding, a rehearsal dinner may seem like an extra task. The rehearsal will provide you with a seamless wedding day, and the rehearsal dinner will provide you with an opportunity to connect to your wedding party in a more intimate environment. This is a great opportunity to thank those involved in making your day special, which is why attendant gifts are typically handed out at the dinner. What happens at the rehearsal? The rehearsal allows your wedding party to know what is expected of them and what to expect. You don’t want to skip the rehearsal if you have a wedding party to avoid any rushing and confusion. Your party will see where they stand, who they walk with, know the day-of schedule for hair, makeup, photographs, transportations, etc. Plan for the rehearsal to last 30 – 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the service.
Optik! owners Anja and Edin Jakupovic.
When and where do I host the dinner? Once you determine where the ceremony will be held, start looking at venues close to the site. You and your wedding party have a full day ahead of them, so make the rehearsal dinner easy on you and them. While you may not have access to the ceremony site the night before, you may not want to book the rehearsal more than two nights before the wedding – people will forget what to do!
Advertorial
Start planning your wedding rehearsal dinner today. Contact Audrey Grounds, Private Events Director at Rococo Steak. 727.501.6602 • info@rococosteak.com www.RococoSteak.com
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Who attends the rehearsal dinner? Everyone in your wedding party and their significant other should be included in the rehearsal dinner. The wedding officiant is often invited to the dinner as well as the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer. It’s always nice to invite your out of town guests, but if you want to keep the dinner intimate – then consider hosting a cocktail or dessert reception.
May/June 2018
Any advice for me? While most brides do not want the rehearsal dinner to overshadow the wedding, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a beautiful evening. Try choosing a venue that doesn’t require a lot of work for you. Rococo Steak has a beautiful wine room that provides a private and elegant atmosphere. Have fun with your dinner - ask the Chef to customize a menu tailored to your needs. Chefs love to utilize their creativity. Most importantly, enjoy the moment!
SPL SCENE Art Fashion & Spirits
A runway show presented by Pippa Pelure Fashion Boutique, art by local artists, vodka sampling and distillery tours were all part of the fun at the Bella Unica Art Fashion & Spirits event on March 24 at Kozuba and Sons Distillery. Models from the local community strutted on stage; artists included Dee Perconti, shown here with her art.
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SPL SCENE Callaloo Ribbon Cutting
Mayor Rick Kriseman and Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin were joined by a large group of city oďŹƒcials and dignitaries, and the owners of The Callaloo Group on April 6 for the grand opening ribbon cutting of Callaloo restaurant. The Callaloo Group is comprised of partners Mario Farias, Ramon Hernandez, Vincent Jackson and Chef Gary Moran. Photos Barry Lively
Sip & Shop for CASA
A fun shopping evening to raise funds for CASA’s Heels to Heal campaign was held May 3 at Pippa Pelure Fashion Boutique. Photos Barry Lively
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SPL SCENE Mermosa Launches With Bubbly
A soft launch party for the new Mermosa Boutique and Winery was held recently to show off the new branding and updated digs for the former Cerulean Blu swimwear boutique on Beach Drive. Owner Desiree Noisette served guests her newly created wine, a sparkling Mermosa, and divulged future plans for her own line of refreshing hot weather wine which will be available to shoppers. Read more in the next issue of SPL.
Easter Bonnet Drive The children in the pediatric ward of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital received a special Easter present when some 135 hats were delivered on March 6 by members of Gigi’s Cheapeau Club. The group of local hat-loving ladies is spearheaded by Sylvia Stanley and Linda Rodriguez (seen here). This was the fourth year they delivered the hats which were made or donated by area residents and organizations, and ranged from handmade knit caps to baseball hats and fedoras. The hats provide comfort to children who have lost hair due to cancer treatment. Photo by Taylor Traviesa
People of Distinction Awards
2018 People of Distinction Humanitarian Awards were presented to four Tampa Bay residents on April 13 at a gala event hosted by First Unity. Each year, broadcaster Al Cole selects individuals from those he has featured on his syndicated talk-show, People of Distinction, and recognizes them for humanitarian efforts. This is the first time Al Cole’s annual awards have been held outside New York or Washington, D.C. Local awardees included: Frank Wells is founder of Venture House, a nonprofit whose mission is renovating vacant properties into affordable housing for artists and entrepreneurs. Gina Wilkins is founder of The Kind Mouse, a nonprofit whose mission is feeding chronically hungry children of families in transition, while developing the next generation of volunteers. Rob Rowen is founder of Global Action Coalition, a nonprofit whose mission is working in developing countries assisting with education, housing and health needs. Lt. Col. Carol Barkalow (ret.) is founder of Heaven on Earth for Veterans, a nonprofit whose mission is providing quality living spaces for veterans in need.
Frank Wells accepting his award.
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SPL SCENE Los Vinos de Dali
The Dali Museum’s 7th annual signature wine and food tasting, Los Vinos de Dalí, was held April 8 featuring wines and local craft beer, gourmet tapas tastings from the area’s top restaurants, a live auction and live music. Photos from Dali Museum
Blueprint Gala
Pinellas Habitat for Humanity raised over $340,000 – enough to build seven new homes – at the BLUEPRINT Gala, their 5th annual signature fundraising dinner party held April 14 at the Vinoy Renaissance. More than 400 attended the swinging affair, that included dinner, live music, dancing and an auction. Co-hosts were local favorites Cyndi Edwards and Jerry Penacoli. Twelve VIP Dining Rooms, each providing a unique dining experience for event sponsors and their guests, were created by leading and emerging designers. Spaces by designers from Extravaganza Productions, Gabro Events, and Conceptbait (pictured right) were winners of Best Designer Rooms voted on by Gala attendees. Photos Barry Lively
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SPL SCENE Gala Under the Stars
A sell-out crowd enjoyed an evening filled with laughter on April 20 at Gala Under the Stars, the annual fundraiser by American Stage at Demens Landing. The raucous musical comedy “The Producers” by Mel Brooks was this year’s smash hit. The Broadway-theme evening started with a seated dinner and a live auction (including a vase by local artist Duncan McClellan). Photos by Beth Reynolds
Sunscreen Film Festival
A cast of hundreds of film industry actors, directors, producers and film crew, budding newbies, film students and fans converged in downtown St. Pete April 25-29 for the 13th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival. The red carpet opening at AMC Sundial was followed by a weekend of screenings featuring over 130 films and shorts, parties, workshops and lunches where serious discussion, networking and socializing ensued. The event was organized by the St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission. Photos Barry Lively
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SPL SCENE James Museum Opening Gala
Farm To Table (AUX) Gala CASA’s Farm to Table(aux) 2018 Gala on April 28 at the Vinoy Renaissance was an evening full of culinary indulgences, inspired performances, an exciting auction, and cheer. But why did all 400 guests rise from their seats in unison? They were standing up to silence. The fundraiser was an outpouring of support for domestic violence survivors in Tampa Bay. Photo Brandi Image Photography.
Tom and Mary James, founders of the new James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, celebrated the opening on April 28 at a gala at the museum. The theme was formal with a Western flair, allowing some imagination in attire for invited guests. Photo Coral Belle Studios
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SPL SCENE PHOTOS/WUSF PUBLIC MEDIA
The Longest Table
The 5th Annual Longest Table, set up along Bayshore Boulevard on downtown St. Pete’s beautiful waterfront, was held April 12. The fundraiser dinner for WUSF Public Media showcased menus paired with wine and craft cocktails from the area’s top restaurants including 400 Beach and Parkshore Grill, FarmTable Cucina, Rococo, Stillwaters Tavern, Urban Comfort, and The Mill, with an afterparty at the Museum of Fine Arts.
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SPL SCENE
St. Petersburg Firestone Grand Prix PHOTO/KYLE FLEMING
Festivals of Speed at Vinoy Park
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