JULY / 2017 ISSUE 45

The Morean Arts Center’s 100th Anniversary he Morean Arts Center, the first arts center south of Atlanta, is turning 100! Drawing inspiration from the past 100 years, the Morean has created and enhanced a variety of offerings to the community in the form of master artist workshops, elevated Tevents, classes in a variety of mediums, hands-on programs and the opening of the new garden space at the Chihuly Collection now located at 720 Central Avenue. The Morean Arts Center’s story started in the early 20th century when a group of local artists in need of a place to work, teach and display their art connected with the Florida Winter Art School. The Art Club of St. Petersburg – the first art gallery south of Atlanta – settled into space provided by the Florida Art School in their building on Beach Drive. As St. Petersburg and surrounding areas grew, so did the Morean Arts Center from its informal beginnings in 1917, to become an integral part of the country’s top arts destinations. After several relocations and name changes, the Morean Arts Center settled at its current location on Central Avenue. Today, the Morean offers programs for all mediums, styles, skill levels and ages housed in four locations in downtown St. Petersburg. The locations include the Morean Arts Center, Chihuly Collection, Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop and Morean Center for Clay. At the end of a century of steady growth, the Morean Arts Center continues to provide a place for the arts in St. Petersburg. Staff, board members, artists, teachers and volunteers have witnessed the Morean Arts Center grow and become an institution where one can explore creativity and push boundaries. Curator of Exhibitions, Amanda Cooper, has seen the Morean grow in her nearly 20 years as a staff member. “Being part of the Morean means approaching art in a way that is challenging and exciting, yet not intimidating,” said Cooper. “If you’re a local artist, we will be your champion. If you want to learn a craft, we will teach you skills in a welcoming atmosphere. If you see something you love in an exhibition, you can buy it and own it forever (or at the very least, touch it without anyone slapping your hand away).” Cooper states, “The Morean has survived and thrived in this community for a century because it is a scrappy, risk-taking organization that adapts quickly to changing culture and the needs of the people we serve, all with a passion for art and a desire to share that passion with others.” So, this scrappy, risk-taking organization thanks you for 100 years of

the arts in St. Petersburg and looks forward to 100 more. Or Current Resident Current Or Page 2 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

CITY NUMBERS NORTHEAST LITTLE LEAGUE 526-9602 ROTARY OF ST. PETERSBURG 822-3277 CITY HALL... 893-7171 Paula Adams, Ex Sec. SPRotary.org 175 Fifth Street North ST. PETE COLLEGE ...... 341-4249 www.stpete.org SUNSHINE CENTER...... 821-2323 UNIVERSITY S. FLORIDA . . . . .873-4873 MAYOR OFFICE...... 893-7201 ------PINELLAS COUNTY INFO. . .464-3000 This newsletter is published by Mayor - Rick Kriseman COMMISSION OFFICES . . . .464-3377 GRIFFIN PRODUCTIONS, Inc. CITY COUNCIL - Chair Amy Foster Ken Welch ...... 464-3614 Vice Chair Darden Rice • Steve Kornell and is mailed to many occupied STATE: residences in Downtown St. Karl Nurse • Ed Montanari • Bill Dudley Jim Kennedy • Charlie Gerdes Senator Darryl Rouson . . . . . 727-552-3200 Petersburg’s zip code 33701 and 535 Central Ave #312 St. Petersburg 33704. We are not associated CITY COUNCIL ADMIN. . . . . 893-7117 Cindy Sheppard [email protected] with the City of St. Petersburg. Representative Wengay Newton .727-892-2468 PUBLISHER INFORMATION...... 893-7111 695 Central Avenue #108 St. Petersburg Bob & Becky Griffin BUILDING PERMITS...... 893-7231 [email protected] Representative Ben Diamond . . . 727-552-2747 ART DIRECTION BUSINESS SUPPORT ...... 893-7000 CITY CLERK...... 893-7448 425 22nd Avenue N., St. Petersburg Becky Griffin CODE COMPLIANCE/ASSIST 893-7373 [email protected] Governor Rick Scott SALES LEISURE SERVICES...... 893-7207 727-517-1997 [email protected] MIRROR LAKE LIBRARY. . . . 893-7268 FLORIDA UNITED STATES SENATORS: CONTACT INFO PLANNING & ZONING . . . .893-7471 Marco Rubio ...... 202-224-3041 P.O. Box 1314 SANITATION ...... 893-7334 www.Rubio.Senate.gov Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 UTILITY ACCOUNTS...... 893-7341 Bill Nelson ...... 202-224-5274 www.BillNelson.Senate.gov 517-1997 ~ 517-1998 FAX EMERGENCIES ...... 9-1-1 StPeteDowntownNewsletter.com AREA UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: FIRE DEPARTMENT...... 893-7694 Charlie Crist ...... 727-318-6770 If you are interested in advertising, POLICE NON-EMERGENCY 893-7780 696 1st Ave N., Suite #203, St. Pete we offer resident, multi-city and POLICE TEXT MESSAGE . . . .420-8911 www.Crist.House.gov annual discounts. Ads need to be POLICE TIP VOICE LINE. . . . 892-5000 ------reserved one month in advance. ------LOCAL ATTRACTIONS E-mail:[email protected] BREAKFAST OPTIMISTS . . . 522-6143 AMERICAN STAGE ...... 823-1600 or visit beachnewsletters.com for CHAMBER OF COMMERCE . 821-4069 HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. . . . .820-0100 more information. COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOODS ASSN FLORIDA ORCHESTRA . . . . . 892-3331 Michael Gulley 244-8374 © 2016 Griffin Productions, Inc. GREAT EXPLORATIONS . . . .821-8992 DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSN 743-6262 JANNUS LANDING ...... 896-2276 ST. PETE DNA...... 727-365-6340 MAHAFFEY THEATER...... 892-5798 ST. PETERSBURG Gina Driscoll, President stpetedna.org MUNICIPAL MARINA...... 893-7329 DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS CIVIC ASSN MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. . . .896-2667 Inside, you will find articles and local Marion Lee ...... 894-9491 MUSEUM OF HISTORY . . . . .894-1052 information about the nearby area. DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP 821-5166 PALLADIUM THEATRE ...... 822-3590 We want it to be a Neighborhood 100 Second Ave., Suite 150 SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM . 823-3767 Newsletter primarily about your FRIENDS SUNSHINE CENTER . .821-2323 ST. PETERSBURG OPERA . . . 823-2040 neighborhood - Downtown, Snell Isle FRIENDS MIRROR LAKE LIBRARY STATE THEATRE...... 895-3045 and Old Northeast. That is why when Wayne Finely, President . 813-767-5503 STUDIO @ 620...... 895-6620 you have news or events, contact us. HISTORIC OLD NE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSN SUNKEN GARDENS...... 551-3100 This newsletter is printed every other Peter Motzenbecker President 342-0653 CHIHULY COLLECTION . . . . 822-7872 month and mailed to every occupied GWFC ST. PETE WOMAN’S CLUB 822-4982 THE COLISEUM ...... 892-5202 40 Snell Isle Blvd. N.E. area house, business & PO Box. TROPICANA FIELD ...... 825-3137 NORTHEAST EXCHANGE CLUB 528-3828 We hope you enjoy our newsletters. We want your news and input. Did you like this issue? What SEEKING NEW FURRY FRIENDS suggestions do you have for future Does your pet get enough one-on-one attention while you’re at articles? Call or email us your work? Do you need someone to care for your pets when you travel? comments, or take our survey at Ashley Pearl, owner and operator of Paws & Relax, can help. StPeteDowntownNewsletter.com. After her pets returned home from being boarded stressed, Ashley Do you need another copy? Ask for was inspired to create Paws & Relax, a reliable, safe, friendly, them at the UPS Stores at 2nd St. personalized in-home service that maintains your pets’ routine and and 2nd Ave South or 38th Avenue schedule. Serving St. Pete for five years now, it offers competitive North next to Publix and Savory pricing and customized services for pet owners. She, and her Spice Shop, 400 Beach Drive NE. licensed, bonded & insured team of expert handlers, offer solutions Thank you for reading, for your pets’ stress-free in-home comfort while you are away. Bob & Becky Griffin, 727-517-1997 Paws & Relax is available when you need them, including overnight [email protected] services in your home. While there, they will also water your plants, bring in the mail, feed SEE YOU AGAIN your fish or administered medications. Services are customized to fit your needs. IN SEPTEMBER! Contact Ashley at 239-293-8879 or visit pawsandrelax.pet ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 3 Page 4 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Did You Know NEW CEO This month, John McLain replaced Kathryn Gillette as CEO of Bayfront Health. McLain is a seasoned, well respected hospital administrator who comes to us from Venice Regional Bayfront Health where he has worked since February of 2016. “John has a wide breadth of experience and strength in leadership,” says Michael Brown, Chairman of Bayfront’s local board of directors. He will have his hands full as the state is cutting between $8.5 to $10 million in state funding next year. “Patients are receiving quality care each day from emergency trauma services to elective procedures,” says McLain. “I look forward to supporting and promoting their good work throughout the community.” WORLD CLASS SOFTBALL July 24-30, Clearwater will be host to the 2017 Jr. Women’s World Softball Championship, a fast-pitch softball tournament. There will be 110 teams, with over 2,000 players, their families, and 30 umpires from 23 countries including the U.S., Japan, China, Brazil, Great Britain, Israel, Ireland, and Italy. All the games will be held at the Eddie C. Moore Complex, which has nine softball fields. “The economic impact of this seven day tournament is estimated to be $10-million” says Brian Craig, Clearwater’s Recreation Coordinator. Volunteers are still needed to help. Call the City’s Recreation Department at 562-4803. LOCK ‘EM UP! The Police Department would like to remind you - lock your cars! More than 80 percent of area vehicle burglaries occur in cars that are not properly locked. That makes it easier for criminals to help themselves to your wallet, purse, computer and other valuables. No matter where you are, at home or away, always take the time to lock your car. POSTER RELEASED The 38th Clearwater Jazz Holiday Poster by artist Nate Baranowski has been released. Nate is a street painter, muralist, and fine artist based out of Tampa. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where his passion for street painting began. A versatile artist, he is experienced with a range of mediums. After working for several years in the themed design industry, Nate branched out into full time freelance art at the beginning of 2015. Throughout the year, he performs in street painting festivals across the country. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday will be held October 19-22 in Clearwater’s Coachman Park. Visit ClearwaterJazz.com for the full lineup and to purchase tickets. ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 5 and More... CUPCAKE CONTEST TIME The now annual and very popular Best Cupcake Contest, returns August 19, at the Morean Center For Clay, located at 420 22nd Street S. In keeping with the Morean Art Center’s Centennial Celebration, they plan to have 100 bakers sharing their goodies. Bakers pay $15 each, to participate in the fundraiser, and supply enough cupcakes for one hundred people. The public pays $5 admission and receives five ballots to help pick the People’s Choice Award. Entries are professionally judged on presentation, icing/frosting, texture, and creativity. Winners will receive bragging rights and a special clay trophy from the Morean Center for Clay. If you are a professional or amateur baker, there is still time to enter. Call the Morean at 822-7872 and ask for Promotions. READING WITH THE RAYS Register for the Rays Baseball Foundation summer reading program Reading with the Rays-Read Your Way to the Ballpark. Register with the Indian Rocks Beach Library, who will track your progress and award prizes for reaching certain goals, including free tickets to a Rays game. Reading with the Rays spokesman Evan Longoria will visit local libraries throughout the summer to speak to the kids about the importance of reading. How to Play: Choose your favorite books from the Library, or your favorite section of the Tampa Bay Times, to read over the summer. As you read, track your hours by rounding the bases and collect Rays prizes. When you read enough hours to get on first base, ask your parent to initial your card and bring it to the Library to get a reward. Read a total of 24 hours and receive two tickets to a Rays game! Ends September 29th. ASD WORKSHOP Join a team of ASD experts as they discuss different healthcare options for those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Professionals from multiple disciplines will come together to offer insight and discuss the benefits of various treatment methods. This free workshop, on August 31, from 6-7:30pm at the St. Petersburg Woman’s Club, is open to parents and healthcare professionals. For more information or to register, visit eventbrite.com/e/autism-spectrum- disorders-a-multidisciplinary-invervention-approach- tickets-35648149575. TAX FREE DAYS The state approved August 4-6 as sales tax free days for back to school supplies. The state will offer sales tax-free school related products, including school supplies, clothing, shoes, backpacks and personal computers up to $750. OUR NEXT ISSUE IS IN SEPTEMBER Read this issue, and others, online at StPeteDowntownNewsletter.com. Page 6 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 7 Organizational News... GFWC ST. PETERSBURG WOMAN’S CLUB SUNSHINE CENTER They meet monthly on the second Friday at 1pm. The St. They are seeking donations for their resale shop to benefit its Petersburg Woman’s Club celebrated 100 years of community center’s participants. Items needed are small pots, pans, gently activity in 2013. It is affiliated with the General Federation Of used clean clothing and shoes, costume jewelry and purses. Woman’s Clubs a not-for-profit volunteer organization serving Drop your donations off at 330 5th Avenue N., between 8:30am the community through hands-on projects and fundraising as and 3:30pm. Call Carol Ann Payne at 821-2323. well as leadership development. BREAKFAST OPTIMISTS CLUB In June, they held their annual Tropical Celebration, luncheon They are a proud sponsor of Get Downtown First Friday, their fashion show. The proceeds are designated for the Historical primary fundraiser. The next First Fridays are: August 4 and Building Restoration Fund. September 1. All the income from these events is donated to Monthly Activities include Majhong on Mondays, Bridge, various groups that support children in the community. Bunco and other games on Fridays. For information, e-mail They meet three out of four Thursdays a month at 7:30am at [email protected], call (727) 822-4982 or visit: Kissin Cuzzins, 951 34th Street N. and on the third Thursday at StPetersburgWomansClub.org 6pm at Rib City, located at 1550 66th St. N. Contact President ROTARY CLUB OF ST. PETERSBURG Sue Curcio at [email protected]. The Rotary Club of St Petersburg was founded in 1920. They DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION meet weekly on Fridays at the St Pete Yacht Club at 11 Central Membership is open to all downtown residential community Ave. Lunch starts at 12:15. Call 822-3277or visit SPRotary.org. associations and is expanding. All community associations They elected H. Roy Adams as president, beginning July located in the area to the east of 10th Street and from 14th 1, for the 2017-18 year. He works for Johns Hopkins All Avenue North to 14th Avenue South are eligible to be members Children’s Hospital. Roy joined the club in 2004, and has of DCRA. Current members include: Bayfront Tower, The chaired numerous committees and has been a member of the Cloisters, The Florencia, Harbor Hill, Signature Place, Vinoy club’s board of directors since 2007. He received the club’s Place and McNulty Lofts. Contact Marion Lee, President, at distinguished Rotarian of the Year Award in 2015. 894-9491 or visit StPete-DRCA.org. Adams is the 94th person to serve as president of this club. He TOASTMASTERS joins a group of distinguished community, civic and business Become an experienced hands-on speaker and leader. Two leaders who have led the organization since it was founded in groups are available at different times: 1920, beginning with William Straub City Power Toastmasters meet at St. Petersburg Municipal ST. PETE DNA Services Building, One 4th St. N., room 600, from noon They represent residents downtown from 5th Ave. N to to 1pm Wednesdays. Membership is only a $20 initial fee 5th Ave. S and includes the District. The association and $43 for 6 months. Alexis Shuder 727-893-7918. aims to build a stronger community by bringing neighbors Downtown St. Pete Toastmasters meets Thursday evening together and serving as a collective voice for downtown at 6:15pm at St. Pete College, Room DC 125 at 244 2nd issues. Gina Driscoll is the 2017 president. Contact her at Avenue North. Call Cynthia Jenkins at 742-6840. [email protected]. HISTORIC OLD NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSN. General meetings resume in September. Membership Meetings are quarterly on the third Monday of the month is $15 per year for individuals or $20 per household. (except for holidays) at 7pm, in the Westminster Presbyterian Associate memberships for those who do not reside Church, 126 11th Ave NE. The next one is September 18th. downtown are $20 per year. Visit stpetedna.org. Limited Edition, Red-White-And-Blue Honna flags are available SUNSHINE ROTARY CLUB in the HONNA shop online for $42 each. They meet every Tuesday for breakfast at the St Petersburg Get more information at www.HONNA.org or call Yacht Club. They are proud of its emphasis towards 269-5521, President Peter Motzenbecker, can be reached by the future of our youth and those who have served our email [email protected]. or [email protected] country. They host two Interact Clubs, honor a student of the month from three local high schools and offer student ST. PETERSBURG PRESERVATION SOCIETY scholarships. They also have monthly socials at local Summer evening walking tours continue. Tours are free watering holes. Contact Rebecca Stewart, President at for members and $10 for nonmembers and last about 365-1007 or [email protected]. an hour. Reservations are encouraged but not required at stpetepreservation.org. ST. PETERSBURG SAIL & POWER SQUADRON America’s Boating Course - Expand your boating knowledge Wednesday, July 19, 6:30 pm: Historic Kenwood and skills with this 6-week course beginning Monday, August Neighborhood - Start Cappy’s Pizza, 2900 1st Ave. N., St. 14 from 7-9 pm. This program, available to anyone 12 or Thursday, July 20, at 7 pm: Historic Gulfport – Starts at older, covers Required Safety Equipment, Boat Handling, Gulfport Historical Museum, 5301 28th Ave. S., Gulfport. Rules of the Road, Navigation Aids, Anchoring, Adverse Thursday, August 17, 7 pm: Gulfport Tour with a Literary Twist. Conditions, Communications, Trailering, PWC Operation, Starts at Gulfport’s Historical Museum, 5301 28th Ave. S. Knots and Lines, Introduction to Charts and more. Graduates ALBERT WHITTED AIRPORT PRESERVATION SOCIETY qualify for a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card and Their monthly Pancake Breakfasts at Albert Whitted in the may qualify for insurance discounts. Instruction is Free, Hangar Restaurant, on the first Saturday of the month, Materials are $40 per Family. Courses are limited to the first includes pancakes, eggs, meat, home fries, grits, orange 20 people. Register on-line at www.boating-stpete.org. juice and coffee. People of all ages are invited. It starts at 8am and goes until 11am. Upcoming breakfasts are August 5, September 2 and October 7. Page 8 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS JULY Sex With Strangers Closes American Stage 6 Second Saturday Art Walk 9 Home Show Tropicana Field 14-16 The Isley Brothers Concert Mahaffey 6 Shine Mural Walking Trolley Tour 9 Williams Park Summer Market 15 Public School Open 10 St Pete Festival Spf16 Begins 11 Extreme Mud Wars Spa Beach 15-16 Bucaneer’s First Pre-Season Game 11 Patriot’s Day 11 Cool Art Show Coliseum 15-16 Side Door Jazz Concert Palladium 11 Patriot Day Breakfast Coliseum 11 Classic Hotel California Palladium 16 Craft Beer Experience Mahaffey 11 Bucs First Game 10 City Council Candidates Forum 17 Second Saturday Art Walk 12 Grandparents Day 10 Mayors Candidates Forum 18 Florida Craft Art Wild & Wooly Ends 12 St Pete Art & Fashion Week 12-17 Speakers Who Inspire Mahaffey 19 Williams Park Summer Market 12 Webb City The Musical Palladium 14-17 Food Truck Rally Port Of St Pete 21 Flash Back Folk Rock Palladium 12 Shine Mural Walking Trolley Tour 16 Downtown Side Walk Sunrise Sale 20 Gypsy Star Music Dance Palladium 13 Food Truck Rally Port Of St Pete 15 Rowdies Home Game 22 Property Tax Trim Notices Mailed 14 Coliseum Job Fair 18 Peace Of Woodstock Palladium 22 Mayor’s Lunch Trucks Williams Park 16 Alligators And Oddities SPMOH Closes 18 Williams Park Summer Market 22 Food Truck Rally Port of St Pete 18 American Stage The Royal Opens 20 Pinellas County Grouper Week 23-30 La La Land Concert Mahaffey 18 Rosh Hashanah 20-22 James & James Jazz Palladium 23 Rowdies Home Game Ottawa Fury 19 Fall Begins 22 Parents’ Day 23 Caladiums Seminar Sunken Gardens 19 Shine Mural Walking Trolley Tour 23 Simmer & Sift MFA 26 Great St Pete Cupcake Contest 19 Rowdies Home Game 23 Selwyn Birchwood Blues Palladium 28-29 Williams Park Summer Market 19 Palladium Buffeyfest 23 Williams Park Summer Market 29 Breakfast In America Palladium 20 Coliseum Mad Hatter Tea Party 23 Florida Bees Seminar Sunken Gardens 29 Simmer & Sift MFA 23 Arts Alive Free Museum Day 23 Rowdies Home Game Pittsburgh 29 Williams Park Summer Market Ends 26 Eat Rich-Play Dirty Morean Arts 23 Deadline To Register August Election 31 City Primary Election 29 Dali: Memory, Mind Matter (Ends) 24 Good Burger Awards State Theater 31 Taj Mahal Ker Concert Palladium 26 SEPTEMBER MFA: Simmer & Sift Event 27 AUGUST St Pete Arts Fest All Month Mahaffey Theater John Mulaney 28 Little League Registration Begins First Friday 1 Yom Kippur Begins 29-30 Williams Park Summer Market 5 Gulfport GekoFest 2 National Coffee Day 29 Basa Nova Guitars Jazz Palladium 3 Shine Mural Walking Trolley Tour 2 Rowdies Home Game 30 Tax Free Shopping Days 4-6 Labor Day Public Schools Closed 4 Coliseum Halfway There Fest Beer 30 First Friday 4 MFA’s Dorothy Height’s Hat’s closes 4 St Pete Festival Spf16 Ends 30 Rowdies Home Game Harrisburg 6 Chemical Collection All State Center 9 Clearwater OffShore Power Boat 29-1 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 9

MOREAN ARTS CENTER TODAY In 2010, the Morean Arts Center opened a permanent display of Dale Chihuly’s unique installations in order to provide proceeds to support ongoing educational programming and exhibitions. The Chihuly Collection fired up local interest in glass art, and the Morean opened its own Glass Studio and Hot Shop to provide educational programs and demonstrations. In October 2016, the Chihuly Collection moved to its new location at 720 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701, in an effort to unite three of the four Morean Arts Center locations. Executive Director of the Chihuly Collection Andy Schlauch said, “The new location was re-imagined to allow guests the ability to experience the detail and creativity associated with Dale Chihuly’s work.” The Collection boasts the return of the theater as well as an outdoor garden space. Included in the new space is also a temporary exhibition space to host rotating exhibits perfect for work from glass artists around the country. Admission also includes a demonstration at the Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop directly across the street where visitors can witness a live glass- blowing demonstration conducted by local artists. St. Petersburg is a “hot” commodity for the growing glass culture. The Chihuly Collection was at the forefront of the glass movement in the city and is proud to connect people with not only Dale Chihuly’s glass art, but art from national and local artists whose pieces find temporary homes in the Collection’s rotating exhibits, said Schlauch. To celebrate the artists who created the foundation of the Arts Center, master artist workshops were developed in 2016 and launched in 2017 to welcome back notable artists who made an impact on the Morean and patrons alike. The Morean also offers seven different class session start dates in which teachers return for three to six weeks to teach classes in mediums such as drawing, painting, jewelry, glass, photography and digital, clay, print making, metal sculpture, and fiber arts. Jonathan Harrison, Director of Education, said the education department looks for relevant and intriguing options for classes to attract a range of individuals in the community. “Our teachers are artists themselves, and many have been with us for years,” said Harrison. “The fact that we can invite returning artists back to the Morean and also host our range of classes gives individuals multiple opportunities to find something that fits in their schedules, skill range and interests.” “Be it young or old, I see the difference we make in people’s lives here at the Morean,” explains Jonathan Harrison, Director of Education In addition, the Morean continues to connect with its overall vision of becoming a national model for creative community engagement and economic development by offering free programs to connect individuals with art. These programs include Saturdays and Sundays at the Morean, a free program for families to drop in and create art as a family, as well as programs such as Fall Art Frenzy, a themed, all-day event for families. The heart of the Morean Arts Center is the community and its artists. Offering opportunities for those to connect with art and the benefits of creating art is something the Morean has done for the past 100 years. On behalf of the staff and everyone associated with this organization, here’s to another 100 years and beyond of connecting the community with all things art. “I’ve seen this organization grow and exceed expectations at the turn of each year, and being part of such a monumental accomplishment marking 100 years of the arts in St. Petersburg is an honor. Here’s to 100 more,” says Roger Ross, CEO, CFO. Page 10 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 11

LUKE WILLIAMS: FROM BUSHWHACKER TO BUSINESS OWNER started wrestling at age 15 in his home country of New Zealand. Fifty years later, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Today, he owns a gym on Mandalay Avenue in Clearwater Beach and, at 69, is still out there signing autographs—and still wrestling. “My next door neighbor in New Zealand was a bodybuilder,” remembers Luke. “He invited me to go to the gym with him and, at 15 and barely 160 pounds, I started bulking up. Before I knew it, I was asked to wrestle. They did not have typical sports in our high schools—just rugby and soccer. No wrestling. We had the NZWA (New Zealand Wrestling Association), but I had to teach myself how to wrestle.” One night, at a local event, they were one wrestler short. “The threw me a pair of boots and told me to fill in. That was my start,” said Williams. In the mid-1960s, Luke Williams (aka Brian Wickens) was half of a wrestling team, known initially as The Kiwis. The other half was , a friend with whom Luke developed a long tag-team relationship with and worked with on wrestling circuits in Australia, Singapore and Japan. In 1972, Luke and Butch came to America, then worked all over Canada. It was at Stu Harris’ in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, where, billed as The New Zealand Kiwis, they won their first-ever recorded International Championship. When Butch Miller left the team and returned to New Zealand, Luke came back to the U.S. and formed a new team, The Sheepherders, with Lord Boyd. The duo of Williams and Boyd quickly gained a reputation as one of the most violent, hard-hitting teams in the business. In 1986, after a two-year break, Luke and his old partner, Butch, reunited to pursue new challenges in Florida, like Championship Wrestling from Florida, matches televised on Saturday afternoon. “One day we’d wrestle in Tampa, wake up, get on a plane and go to Jacksonville—or Orlando, or Miami, or Tallahassee. Seven days a week!” recalls Luke. Luke and Butch signed on with the WWF in 1988 in the midst of an aggressive national expansion, giving them national and international exposure. They changed their name to and re-tooled their violent style to more of a comedic approach--an instant hit the fans. They made their debut on January 3, 1989 on WWF Superstars of Wrestling. Then came WrestleMania, a special part of Saturday Night’s Main Event in 1989 and the 1990s, featuring The Bushwhackers doing wacky things like eating sardines. Another re-vamp happened in 1996, when The Bushwhackers portrayed Australian stereotypes (both were from New Zealand!), often accompanied in the ring by a giant kangaroo mascot. In 1999, The Bushwhackers participated in a wrestling nostalgia pay-per-view, . One of their last appearances together was in 2001 as part of WrestleMania X-Seven. By 2007, Luke, called Bushwhacker Luke, again appeared solo on various TV wrestling programs and in interviews with other wrestlers. Through his career, he was won too many titles to mention here. In 2015, Luke, Butch and The Bushwhackers were introduced into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame. Brian Wickens (Luke Williams) has done more than wrestle in the last 50 years. He owned a bar in New Zealand and was a Crabby Bill’s franchise owner in Ft. Myers. He also owned Bushwhackers Steak House on S. Dale Mabry in Tampa. A few years ago, a friend and owner of Pelican Shopping Center in Clearwater Beach, asked Luke if he was interested in taking over the existing gym in their building. He admitted knowing nothing about running a gym but thought—why not! His friend, Clearwater Beach resident, , was one of the first members of his Clearwater Beach Fitness Center at 483 Mandalay Avenue. “I first met Hulk Hogan in 1987 on the wrestling circuit,” adds Luke. “Everyone wanted to be on the card with him because it meant bigger payouts.” Brian is married and lives in Dunedin. He has one daughter and now one grandchild. Believe it or not, he still makes surprise appearances and—yes—still wrestles. For more information on The Bushwhackers and Luke Williams, visit BushwhackerLuke.com. Story by Bob Griffin, Publisher Page 12 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Business Briefs TRY WINE OPENS IN NEW LOCATION The downtown Try Wine Company is reopening on the northwest corner of Central Avenue and 1st Street. “We now have over 3,000 square feet of space,” says owner Oliver Motschmann. “We have significantly elevated and deepened our wine experience.” Visit TryWineCompany.com. ST PETE BAKERY SOLD Chef Michael Ostrander sold his St Pete Bakery. Now called Sweet Magnolia Bakery, the new bakery makes everything from scratch and offers all types of baked goods including pastries, cakes, desserts, lunch, savory items and cinnamon rolls plus many gluten free selections. Their first location is in Westchase on Montague Street. The new store is open Tuesday through Sunday at 1961 4th Street N., next door to Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Visit sweetmagnoliabakery. com for more information. SUNRISE SALE The Downtown Business Association’s annual Sunrise Sale is Thursday, July 20th, beginning at 6:30am. Merchants open early and offer incredible sales and discounts. Participating merchants will have balloons at their front door. Shoppers are invited to get in the early morning mood by wearing their PJ’s and slippers. There are even prizes for the Best pajamas. Plan to shop, have breakfast and enjoy. Get more info and a list of participating stores on www.StPeteDowntown.BIZ. BIG MAN’S MOVING CO. CONTINUES TO GROW Newlyweds, Josh and Brooke Anderson, who applied their marriage gifts towards the purchase of a 26’ moving truck, started Big Man’s Moving Company are continuing to grow and expand. After completing 100 successful moves in their first three months of business, they realized it was time to expand their fleet to two trucks. “We are humbled to receive such amazing community support, and are honored to be entrusted with the treasured belongings of our customers. The biggest obstacle we have encountered is having to turn people away because we are already completely booked. This second truck doubles our capacity, and allows us to serve more residents. I recommend you reserve your move 3-4 weeks in advance, as this is the busy season and companies with good reputations book quickly,” Brooke explains. Big Man’s Moving Company specializes in local and long distance moves. Call 727-772-3458. www.bigmansmoving.com CLARIFICATION The Red Apple Group bought the Florida Arcade, which is the pink building, halfway down the 400 block, not the Snell Arcade for its leasing offices. All the residential and commercial units of the Snell Arcade are individually owned. ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 13 Business Briefs BAYFRONT CEO RETIRES After four years at the top of Bayfront Health, Kathryn Gillette announced she is retiring. Gillette, 62, was named CEO of Bayfront, which includes St Petersburg’s 110-year old hospital, in 2013 when the non-profit hospital was sold to for-profit Health Management Associates (HCA). At that time, Bayfront was having some problems—from money to management an independent, non- profit hospital. Gillette managed the hospital through the transition, and moved up to the CEO position. It was sold again to Tennessee company, Community Health Systems, who joined the regional network of seven nearby hospitals. In Gillette’s last four years, Bayfront has invested more than $81 million in infrastructure, equipment and technology. “This was the job that I wanted to end my career with,” says Gillette. She will leave Bayfront as soon as her successor takes the reigns, expected in August. BAYFRONT TOWER REDO IS DONE Bayfront Tower’s a year long remodel—inside and out—is wrapping up. The $10.5 million upgrade is complete according to Building Manager Bob Penning. “We are basically doing the punch list now,” says Penning. The community has had nothing but praise for what they see. The remodel has helped to sell units, while raising prices in the process. “Bayfront Tower is once again becoming a prime address,” says David Traynor, VP of Smith & Associates. “The remodel definitely generated interest and higher prices for units in the Tower,” he says. ONE STILL ON SCHEDULE With construction now surpassing the 28th of 41 floors, ONE St. Petersburg, soon to be the tallest building in St. Petersburg, recently announced they are over 80% sold. The project, which features 253 luxury residences, a 175-Guest Room Hyatt Place Hotel and retail space is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2018. “ONE has attracted buyers from as far across the globe as Australia to as close as around the block,” says Brian Van Slyke, Project Executive for Kolter Urban. With a 40,000 square foot elevated amenity level that offers a stand-alone fitness center, resort-style pools, plus several informal and formal club rooms, there’s something for everyone. Offering a variety of floor plans, including the 2 bedrooms 2 ½ bath Sunset Residence starting in the low $700s with premium finishes, as well as luxurious Penthouse residences from $3.25 million, it’s no wonder, ONE St. Petersburg is the number one selling condominium in Tampa Bay. Visit TheONEStPetersburg.com or to consider buying a condo, call Smith & Associates at 1-855-580-3758. Page 14 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

FINDING HAPPINESS IN SPITE OF CANCER By Joe Harless Adalyn “Addy” Wallace was three years old when her family found her tumor. It was October 2015, and her parents Jared and Melissa had taken Addy to a Sarasota hospital after finding blood in her stool. Doctors felt a mass in Addy’s stomach and ordered a CT scan, which revealed that the family must make an immediate trip to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, where Addy was admitted with a diagnosis of a Stage 3 Wilms’ Tumor on her right kidney. The diagnosis was especially jarring for Melissa, a professional nurse. “Hearing the medical terminology being used to describe my daughter’s health was harrowing.” A rare form of kidney cancer that primarily affects children, Wilms’ Tumor tends to be diagnosed in children under 5. To save Addy, her entire left kidney had to be removed and a three-phase treatment process including chemotherapy began. “Addy kept smiling through it all and cheering up all those around her,” Melissa said. The treatment efforts bring new challenges for the family. At the first sign of a fever, Jared and Melissa have to pack up Addy in the car and make the two-hour drive from their Ft. Myers home to the Tampa Bay area. At the halfway point, they stop to check her temperature. If it’s going down, they head back home. If not, they continue to Johns Hopkins where their team of doctors and nurses will be waiting to help Addy. This will be an ongoing challenge, as Addy’s treatment will continue for the next year. Sometimes, Jared said, it seems like all the family does is drive back and forth to St. Petersburg. “Once we see the roof of Tropicana Field, a weight falls off our shoulders. We are so thankful to be in the hands of such capable people who take care of our little girl.” In addition to the removal of her kidney, Addy also had surgery on her lung to remove a lesion, and the family is concerned about the disease’s spread. Jared, a fifth-grade science teacher, has used up his leave time, and Melissa has faced the same struggles with her job, but together the couple has endured and strengthened their relationship. Fundraisers held in Florida and their home state of Michigan by friends and family help with the mounting bills and whenever they are in the Tampa Bay area for Addy’s treatments, they come to the Ronald McDonald House. “When we’re at home, we are worried about not being close to the hospital. We feel safest when Addy is in the care of her specialists” Jared comments. “RMH feels like our home now, and has made us realize that everyone is going through something.” Like any child, Addy hates all the poking and prodding that comes with her treatment, but she remains a happy and active child who looks forward to playing with other kids at RMH. Tough, goofy, and optimistic, she shrugged off her hair loss due to chemotherapy and retains a natural ability to make friends with others at RMH, which helps her through treatments stronger than most adults endure. Through it all, the family has become closer to each other and closer to God. They welcomed a new daughter, Lily, in April 2017. They celebrate the victories and hold tight when things do not go as expected, which has made Jared reflective and thankful for how far Addy has come and for what the future may bring for them. “In challenging times, I urge you to choose happiness. It’s easier said than done, but I think you will find that it makes the whole process easier. Find the littlest things to celebrate and do just that.” ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 15

NEW RESIDENTS FLOCK TO DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG As the downtown St. Petersburg housing Currently, living in Pittsburgh, PA, he looked luxury and design to maximize the capacity market continues to explode, two at places all over the country and chose St. of smaller urban lots. Bliss rests on a piece recently completed luxury condominium Petersburg because of the pulse of activity of land that is only 100 feet x 60 feet.” communities provide a window into what in the city. “I like sitting in a street cafe, “The timing of towers was perfect because the area’s future holds. St. Petersburg is a and watching the hip urban youths’ walk there was no other new construction of perfect reflection of how baby boomers are by with their tattoos and stylish clothes, or condominiums in downtown St Petersburg. changing the face of retirement. Today’s strolling to the Saturday morning farmer’s This limited opportunity coupled with retirees prefer to think of retirement as market. We want to spend our days not only extremely low inventory in the condo a reallocation of their time to more fun enjoying the sunshine, but also basking resale market enabled both communities endeavors. They are bypassing golf in the variety of activities so abundant in to be a huge success,” said Dave Traynor, communities for an urban lifestyle. this diverse city not just sitting in the desert Vice President Real Estate and Developer Bliss and The Salvador, two boutique somewhere or looking out over a golf Services, Smith & Associates Real Estate. residential towers, are bursting onto the course watching ‘other’ retirees, like so many of my contemporaries.” Traynor added that these two new desirable downtown St. Petersburg scene. communities only begin to satisfy the While residents of the new condos come Only three of the 74 homes remain for demand for residential properties in the from all over the country and the world, sale at The Salvador, and residents are area. More is sure to be expected as St. their attraction to downtown St. Petersburg’s already moving in. At the sold-out Bliss, Petersburg provides the ideal footprint walkability, artsy culture, emerging food the penthouse was the last condo sold for downtown living with its waterfront scene and the other convenience the city nearly eight months ago for $2,915,000. parks, growing art scene, diverse culinary offers is the common thread. Smith & Associates Real Estate is the listing offerings, and sunny weather. USA Today Most of the residents of The Salvador are broker for both communities. recently rated the city as one of “America’s empty-nesters. “The buyer demographic President and CEO of Smith and Most Underrated Food Scenes,” and that we are seeing emerge of homeowners Associates Real Estate, Bob Glaser, moved Southern Living said St. Petersburg was being compelled to purchase a new into Bliss earlier this month and is loving one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. condo downtown as their primary place the intimacy of a condo tower that only As downtown St. Petersburg continues of residence brings soul to the building has two units per floor giving a sense of to receive national and international and reconfirms our belief that people are privacy. “I have been living in downtown St. attention, the residential luxury home buying the St. Petersburg lifestyle,” says Petersburg since 2007 and love the beauty market is expected to be robust in the David Moyer, Director of Sales at Smith & and convenience of the lifestyle here. I was coming year, although at this point Associates Real Estate. attracted to Bliss because it is the first of its inventory options are still limited. kind in Tampa Bay. New York City, set the Dana DiVecchio purchased a condo at The For information on these two towers, visit Salvador as a second home and plans to trend with ‘pencil thin’ buildings and Bliss BlissOverBeachDrive.com or TheSalvador.com move there when he and his wife retire. was built with the same concept, blending Page 16 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 17 Page 18 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

CLEARWATER JAZZ HOLIDAY OUTREACH CONTINUES TO INSPIRE The lineup is out! The Bay Area signature Young Lions Jazz Master Sessions: a special performance by professional tradition turns 38 this year and plans Launched in December, this one-of-a- musicians designed to tell the story of jazz to welcome over 30,000 festival goers kind instructional experience is for Bay with student participation. again to the waterfront in Coachman Area jazz students with master class “Our pilot effort targeted 3rd-5th graders Park, October 19-22. group and individual instrument sessions. at the Clearwater Neighborhood Family As always, the bill has broad appeal. Held in Ruth Eckerd Hall’s state-of-the- Center. It was a learning experience for all Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, The art Murray Theatre, Steve describes the and I think will pave the way to grow the Avett Brothers, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern program as “exciting and inspiring.” project and engage young people,” offers Jukebox, The Temptations, and the Four “We have developed a really unique learning Jeni Mitchell, Program Chair, and long-time Tops are among the headliners and fans environment – less about competition and Foundation Board of Directors member. will also be treated to a wonderful blend more about peer-to-peer performance Participants included: Bay Area jazz of jazz, fusion, funk, rock and soul. and collaboration. It is thrilling to connect educator Frank Williams, trumpeter and Part of Clearwater Jazz Holiday’s participating, world-class university jazz educator Dwayne White, local bass legend special appeal, is its focus on education, educators and local professionals with and former member of the Duke Ellington outreach, and community. Its growth has these talented jazz students.” Orchestra John Lamb, jazz musician, enabled its organizer, the Clearwater Local professionals and jazz educators educator and mentor Butch Thomas, and Jazz Holiday Foundation, a 501(c)(3) from USF, UCF, St. Petersburg College, and Sam Hayward, a longtime, local musician nonprofit, to create a year-round impact Southeastern University were among the and educator and familiar to the community. with innovative programs, special funding, participants. The Foundation surprised each “We are so motivated with the growth and creative learning experiences, exciting school with a $600 gift to their program. wonderful reception of these programs. performances, and a dynamic and My Journey with Jazz: New, this music Our History of Jazz Education Outreach spirited social community. We caught up mentoring project complements Program is another great example. It is only with Foundation CEO, Steve Weinberger, after-school and summer programs in six years old and already impacts thousands to learn about a few new programs. under-served communities. It consists of of area students, building a next generation “Education and outreach are four sessions with an educator and special appreciation of the art form,” Steve says. fundamental to the mission, and the guest musicians who deliver an overview “When you visit the festival this year, know you theme is now an integral part of our of jazz history, while describing how jazz are part of something bigger. Your support identity,” Steve explains. “Our board music has influenced their lives. not only helps to sustain the festival but also works hard with staff to seek out new Students learn about music from various grows a year-round community impact.” and creative ways to make a difference eras, locations, social issues, jazz music’s To learn about Clearwater Jazz Holiday and provide meaningful experiences at contribution, and are inspired to play an and the Foundation or to buy tickets visit the festival and throughout the year.” instrument. The program culminates with clearwaterjazz.com. ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 19

NATIVE BUZZ By Lara Milligan, Natural Resources Agent UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County Have you ever wondered if we have native bees in Florida? We do, and a lot of them! We actually have hundreds of native bee species buzzing around and they are quite different from the non-native European honey bees we hear so much about. Nation-wide there are over 4,000 species of native bees, and here in Florida there are over 300! Bees can be divided into two categories, honey bees and native bees. Honey bees were brought to the Americas by European settlers and thus are considered to be non-native species. These bees are eusocial meaning they work and live together for survival in a colony of thousands. Honey bees are very protective of their colony and will risk their lives to defend it, using their stingers to discourage intruders. Their colonies are built out of wax honeycomb, which the bees construct and this is where our honey comes from. Honey bees are generalists, so they can feed on the nectar of a variety of flowering plants, which is why you can find a lot of different types of honey in the market: orange blossom honey, wildflower honey, tupelo honey, saw palmetto honey, gallberry honey, and the list goes on. To produce honey from European honey bees, hobbyist and/or commercial producers need unique equipment, supplies, and gear to be successful. Native bees on the other hand are quite different. Native bees are mostly solitary, living in a narrow nest either below ground or in wood cavities near the ground, and most of them don’t make any honey. They also differ from the honey bees in that native bees are often specific pollinators, attracted to particular plants, which the bee needs for food and the plant needs for pollination. Although people are often fearful of the of bees, many of the native bees are often stingless or will only sting if annoyed or feel their lives are threatened. It is easy to create habitat to attract native bees and it requires little to no management once established if you wish to attract these native pollinators to your yard. Some common native bees you might see in your yard include: Bumble bees (Bombus spp.), Carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.), Metallic Sweat Bees (Halictidaespp.), Leafcutter Bees (Megachile spp.), Digger Bees (Andrena spp.), and many more. You can encourage native bees to your yard by: l Stopping use of insecticides l Leaving bare soil in undisturbed areas so bees can dig their nests and tunnels l Leaving some stumps and logs so the wood borers have a place to nest l Planting native plants and nectar plants that bees love such as: saw palmetto, seagrape, wild coffee, goldenrod, Walter’s Vibernum , Pennyroyal, Blazing Star, Powderpuff, Carolina wild petunia , tick-seed, and blanket flower. l Building a bee house visit: http://bit.ly/BuildABeeHouse Bees provide great benefits to us. Eighty percent of flowering plants around the world are pollinated by native bees, and one out of every four bites of food people take wouldn’t be possible without the help of bee pollination. So let’s do our part to help keep these very important pollinators around for generations to come! You can reach Laura at [email protected] or 727-453-6905 Page 20 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Bar & Restaurant News TASTE OF THE ISLANDS For over twenty years, St Petersburg’s The Taste of Islands restaurant has been serving delectable Jamaican cuisine. Being the brainchild of Yvonne Thompson and Zack Arscott, the original idea spurred from an intense desire to share their Jamaican culinary delight with a variety of ethnic groups in the area. At the core of its offerings, are their dominant signature dishes so familiar with the Jamaican culture, including braised oxtails, curried shrimp and goat, and the perennial Jerk chicken. Their wide array of gastronomical delights tickles the taste buds of those who seek island fare, simmered in a uniquely Jamaican blend of herbs and spices. Leo Anderson a 3rd generation nephew has taken the business to the next phase by expanding with a second location in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. Visit them at 364 1st Avenue North, across from Williams Park, or you can call them at 350-3258. THE MILL OPENS IN BRANDON The Mill, one of downtown’s signature restaurants, has expanded to a new location. Owners Ted Dorsey and Jason Griffin opened The Mill in 2015, featuring seasonal dishes with locally supplied meats and vegetables—and creative cocktails. It has been so popular, they are trying the concept at second location in Brandon. If it is successful, they have plans to open others in Jacksonville, Ft Lauderdale and Boca Raton. RUBY’S ELIXER WAS NOT SOLD The last newsletter mentioned that Josh Cameron, owner of The Oyster Bar, had bought the Lucky Dill and Ruby Elixir. That is only partially true. Josh did by Lucky Dill but did not buy Ruby Elixir. He and Ruby’s owner Greg Haddad, look forward to working side-by-side, as Josh plans to open a craft beer production facility in that area. COPPER SHAKER This new 1st Avenue North restaurant and bar has been opened by Jeremy Wallace and Jeff Catherell, owners of the Cask & Ale. It offers handmade innovative cocktails made with barrel aged spirits, craft beer, and a menu featuring small sharing plates. The duo also own The Estate, a stylish nightclub, next door. It will also be available for private events and concerts. ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 21 Bar & Restaurant News NEW OUTSIDE BAR Jannus Landing added a new outside rooftop bar on their northeast corner. The 20-feet high bar, located outside the gates of Jannus Live, is open to the public. It is a separate business from the Jannus Live Concert venue and offers a limited food menu and appetizers. It is opens at 4pm, Wednesday through Sundays. MAPLE STREET ON CENTRAL A new restaurant coming to 662 Central Avenue will features comfort food. Currently, a bar called Local 662 is in that location, but Maple Street Biscuit Company will start construction soon. SECOND AND SECOND This 24-hour diner on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street North is still under construction, just west of Sundial Shopping Center. “It will be a typical 24-hour diner, with full liquor,” says Reno, who also owns Tryst on Beach Drive. Reno hopes to open late next month. NATIONAL JAMES BEARD BLENDED BURGER PROJECT™ The Cider Press Cafe’s vegan Beyond Burger is one of 400 burgers nationwide competing for the best “blended burgers” using mushrooms with meat. Cider Press’s burger, right now in the top 10, has no meat. It is portobello mushroom, and a garlic blend, topped with vegan bacon, tomato jam, wild arugula, crispy onion and vegan smoked Gouda on a Kaiser bun. The top 5 burgers, based on popular votes, earns their Chefs a trip to New York City to show off the burger at James Beard House. Voting continues through the end of July at jamesbeard.org/blendedburgerproject/vote. The Cafe is so popular, this fall the kitchen will undergo an upgrade to include new ovens, fryers, stoves, and equipment. They hope to be able to serve orders quicker. Currently they are cooking on portable grills. FLUTE & DRAM This champagne bar will offer a little something different for the 200 block of Beach Drive. Located in the former Eagle Ice Cream Shop, just south of Tryst, it is still under construction, but will be open soon. NUMEX CHILE This chile centric restaurant opened this month in the west Grand Central area at 2710 Central Avenue. Their menu is a twist on traditional New Mexican cuisine that retains the authentic flavors of the Hatch chile peppers, while adding a unique combination of flavors to each dish. Its aim is to capture New Mexico’s rich culinary culture and vibrant street food scene in a warm atmosphere. Page 22 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON By Pinellas County Commission Charlie Justice With the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season underway, it’s important for all of us who call the coast of Florida our home to make sure we are prepared. From June 1 to Nov. 30, we have to be ready in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane to either secure our home or evacuate with only a few days’ notice. The Tampa Bay area has been fortunate to avoid a direct hit from a major hurricane for many decades, but it only takes one storm to change that trend. The good news is that our community has ample resources to help you and your loved ones make a plan to stay safe should we face a weather emergency this year. The first step you can take is to know your evacuation zone, so you can determine whether you will need to seek a local shelter or leave the area during a major storm. On our low-lying peninsula, many homes could be threatened by storm surge, a powerful wall of water pushed ashore by hurricanes. Newly-released storm surge data produced by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) has resulted in changes to the assigned evacuation zones for more than 85,000 properties in Pinellas County. About 20,000 of these properties are now in an evacuation zone for the first time. There are plenty of ways to find your evacuation zone. You can enter your address at our website, www.pinellascounty. org/emergency/knowyourzone.htm, or download our Doing Things Mobile App for your smartphone. If you are a Pinellas County Utilities customer, you can also find your zone on your bill issued after June 1. The county has also notified residents of these changes by phone, text and email through our Alert Pinellas notification service. You can sign up for free at www.pinellascounty.org/ alertpinellas to get critical notifications during emergencies year-round. Another valuable preparedness tool launched this year is our Ready Pinellas mobile app, which provides an outline of steps and recommendations to prepare as tropical storms or hurricanes approach our area. Download the app for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play by searching “Ready Pinellas.” The most critical thing you can do to get prepared is simply to get started. Our Emergency Management officials recommend three basic steps: 1. Connect to alerts and information. 2. Assess your risks - check your evacuation level and consider the people and pets in your family. 3. Make a plan for what you will need and where you will go if a hurricane threatens the area. Our annual All-Hazard Preparedness Guide can walk you through each of these steps. You can find it at many local government offices around the county, libraries and other public facilities, or review it online at www.pinellascounty. org/emergency/PDF/All_Hazard_Guide.pdf. Take some time now to make sure you and your family are prepared this summer. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any concerns or issues you may have at (727) 464-3363 or [email protected]. ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 23

A ROYAL RENOVATION Community Collaboration Benefits Midtown’s Boys and Girls Club Royal Theater Leadership St. Pete® (LSP) graduated its 48th class in June and over the summer will complete finishing touches on the renovation of the Royal Theater Boys and Girls Club (BGC), this year’s LSP Class Project recipient. In January, LSP set out to accomplish as much as they could in 5 months time, and thanks to many individuals and organizations who collaborated together, new interior and exterior paint, major electrical renovations, restored marquee signage, brand new furniture, storage solutions and more were implemented. Final work, including a new fence made possible by a lead gift from the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, will help BGC expand its afterschool program offerings and create a safer environment for the children. In 1976, the historic theater was donated to the BGC who has been serving the neighborhood since by providing successful afterschool programming with an emphasis on character development, healthy living, and academic enrichment. The LSP Class and the BGC will be hosting a celebration event in early August to thank donors for contributing to the renovation. To learn more or for a list of donors, please visit stpete.com/royal. Photo Credit: Green Bench Monthly AUGUST CITY ELECTION St. Petersburg will have an election August 29th. It may determine the city’s next mayor and City Council Members. THE MAYOR’S RACE: You may not realize it, but this is not a two-man race, there are seven (7) people running: Incumbent Rick Kriseman, former Mayor Rick Baker, Ernisa Barnwell, Anthony Cates, Paul Congemi, Theresa Sowell Lassiter and Jesse Nevel. As outlined in the City’s Charter, the Mayoral position is an at-large office. All St. Petersburg registered voters may vote in the Mayor’s race. In this primary, a candidate must receive a majority (50%+1) to win. If no candidate receives a majority, the names of the two candidates receiving the most votes, will be on the November 7 ballot for a run off. DISTRICT 6: This voter district runs north and south of downtown, including most of the readership of this newsletter (Downtown and Old Northeast). There are 8 people running for the seat: Justin Bean, Robert Blackmon, Eritha Cainion, Gina Driscoll, Corey Givens Jr., Jim Jackson, James Scott, and Maria Scruggs. You must live in District 6 to vote for one of these candidates in August. The names of the two candidates receiving the most votes, will be on the November 7th ballot and voted on by all St. Petersburg’s registered voters. For more information on this election, and registering to vote, please go to www.VotePinellas.com. Page 24 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

ST. PETERSBURG’S ONE STOP SHOP FOR SPECIALTY EYE CARE THE EYE INSTITUTE OF WEST FLORIDA The Eye Institute of West Florida has glasses [or been guided by one vision in its 40- contacts], we year history: to provide expert eye can do that. care for any eye disease with the But if there focus always being on the patient. As is a disease one of Tampa Bay’s first ophthalmic process, surgeons, Stephen M. Weinstock, we have a M.D., FACS founded The Eye Institute specialist of West Florida with this vision in who can mind. What began as a practice with address and one cataract surgeon has expanded appropriately to a subspecialty ophthalmic practice manage with nine fellowship trained specialty or treat the ophthalmologists, three general problem,” ophthalmologists, ten optometrists Dr. Weinstock and a cataract and two refractive continues. cataract surgery fellows. The practice We rely on our eyesight for so many has four locations across the Tampa aspects of life, and eye diseases the only center with two more lasers, Bay area in Largo, St. Petersburg, threatening that dependency can be allowing the surgeon to customize Clearwater and South Tampa. frightening. It is essential to ensure each patient’s procedure to their Each time a physician or employee that your eye care needs are in the specific needs and goals. joins The Eye Institute, they are first hands of an expert because caught The experience and technology made aware of the vision that began early enough, many conditions are offered at The Eye Institute of West in 1974 and holds true today. But treatable. Florida is proof that the vision of how does that vision set The Eye In our ever-evolving technological “providing expert eye care for any Institute of West Florida apart from world, you must also consider how eye disease with the focus always any other eye doctor? advanced the practice you’re visiting being on the patient” is still the “Our physicians are accomplished is. Is the technology current enough driving force. ophthalmologists with subspecialty to detect and properly treat each You will find all the this expertise in training in all major areas of specific disease? To determine this, specialty eye care at the St. Petersburg ophthalmology,” Dr. Weinstock says. it is best to research where you are office conveniently located at 6133 The Eye Institute has a specialist for going and ask questions at your visit. Central Avenue. all the different ocular conditions, The Eye Institute of West Florida was The Eye Institute of West Florida is a including cataracts; refractive one of the first facilities in the world multi-specialty ophthalmic practice treatments, such as LASIK or a to offer their patients a femtosecond proudly providing surgical and non- Clear Lens Exchange; glaucoma; laser procedure to perform cataract surgical vision care in the Tampa Bay retinal diseases, including macular surgery, a at its time. “We area since 1974. We have fellowship- degeneration and diabetic have really led the way in technology, trained specialists for every eye retinopathy; and oculoplastic between LASIK for refractive disease including cataracts; LASIK; procedures, such as blepharoplasty correction and retinal procedures for refractive procedures; glaucoma; or eyelid surgery. Each specialist is an macular degeneration, and now with oculoplastics, such as eyelid lifts; ophthalmologist (medical eye doctor) advanced cataract surgery,” Robert J. retina diseases, such as macular who has completed additional Weinstock, M.D., son of Dr. Stephen degeneration or retinal detachments; fellowship training for surgery Weinstock and a board-certified, diseases of the cornea and dry eye. related to a specific ocular disease fellowship-trained cataract, refractive The Eye Institute of West Florida or condition, making him or her an and LASIK surgeon explains. Dr. is home to the Largo Ambulatory expert in that area of ophthalmology. Robert Weinstock is the Director of Surgery Center, a surgery center “This is different from the general Cataract and Refractive Surgery customized to the specific needs of ophthalmologist, who has to try to at The Eye Institute of West Florida eye surgeons. In association with The diagnose and treat every eye disease and a world renowned surgeon, Eye Institute of West Florida is the until it gets to where he or she has to recognized as the pioneer of micro- Weinstock Laser Eye Center for LASIK refer patients to a practice like ours,” incisional cataract surgery. surgery, the Aesthetic Institute of West Dr. Weinstock explains. Rather than “We are one of the few practices in the Florida, offering cosmetic surgical seeing a general ophthalmologist country that has all the state-of-the- and non-surgical procedures and and being referred to a specialist at art equipment for cataract surgery,” Weight Wise Rx, their medical weight a different practice, The Eye Institute Dr. Robert continues, including the loss clinic. of West Florida offers all services “femtosecond laser, which enables Call them at (727) 493-4696 or in one place. “When a new patient patients to eliminate glasses for most visit us online at www.eyespecialist. comes in, the examining physician situations after cataract procedures.” com for more information about will quickly determine why it is he or In addition to the femtosecond laser, our services or to schedule an she can’t see the way they like. If it’s The Eye Institute of West Florida is appointment today! just a simple matter of prescribing paid advertisement ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 25

THE CITY’S HURRICANE PLAN By Dean A. Adamides, Division Chief, Fire Rescue Office of Emergency Management and Amber Boulding MPH, FPEM Emergency Management Specialist What would the City of St. Petersburg do if a hurricane was approaching Pinellas County? The City’s Office of Emergency Management always has eyes to the sky. We stay updated on the tropical weather through our friends at the National Weather Service and our partners at Pinellas County Emergency Management. When a storm poses a potential threat to our City, we follow our City’s Disaster Operations Plan (DOP) which outlines all of our preparedness, response, and recovery activities for all hazards. The DOP works in coordination with the Pinellas County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). In the case of a hurricane the City will work with the County and other partners (such as neighboring cities, the school board, the National Weather Service, etc) to review the most updated information and make decisions including government office and public school closings, evacuation orders, and shelters opening. The City will support any evacuation decision made by the County and will aid residents to safely evacuate. This includes our Special Needs residents who may require transportation assistance getting to a Special Needs Shelter. What would they do to protect the city’s investments in roads, buildings, and equipment? Our City’s major departments all have a Department Disaster Operations Plan (DDOP) that works in coordination with our City’s master plan (the DOP). To ensure our plans are viable, departments train and exercise those plans. Also included in the DDOP are protective measures that we need to implement to protect our critical roads, facilities and equipment. Safety is always the top priority in any response, so we ensure our emergency critical City workers have a safe place to ride out the storm. Some workers might be in a shelter while others might be working in the City’s Emergency Operations Center or a Sub-Center. These facilities are the hurricane management “headquarters.” Staff are there 24/7 to monitor the situation, problem solve, and make decisions to ensure the health and safety of our City. What would they do to help you? Again, safety is a top priority and that includes ensuring our residents are prepared before a storm. We are always educating the community to have a disaster plan for their family, and pets. You should know about the dangers of hurricanes and what specific risks you have. Ask yourself: Am I in an evacuation zone? If so, what is it? Will I stay or will I go? Where will I go – to a shelter, a friend’s house, a hotel? What about my pet? What do I need to pack? How do I prepare my house? We want our citizens to know the answers to BEFORE the storm comes. Communication is key! We want to make sure our citizens stay informed. The City uses social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor to share information. We also have AlertStPete, a FREE service for residents that allows the City to communicate directly during emergency situations. Register your contact information with Alert St. Pete (http://www.stpete. org/alertstpete) and an automated message will be sent to alert you to local emergencies. After a disaster occurs, such as a hurricane, City staff are pre-positioned around St. Petersburg to ensure a swift response. From road and debris clearing, to search and rescue and law enforcement, we want to ensure we secure the safety of our residents and city as quickly as possible. And to help recover after a hurricane, the City will help facilitate public and individual assistance programs through FEMA. These programs will help both the City and its residents get back on their feet following a disaster. Page 26 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

PINELLAS COUNTY JOINS RECYCLING EFFORT TO “TRASH THE BAG” Maintaining its commitment be reused for other purposes around the house, recycled at to practicing superior participating retailers, or disposed of in garbage carts. environmental stewardship, All four jurisdictions participating in the regional recycling Pinellas County has joined effort use Waste-to-Energy facilities for trash disposal, a regional effort to promote turning garbage into renewable electricity. recycling of plastic and encourage residents to “trash Curbside and residential recycling systems are only the bag.” designed to process certain items, including: The multimedia public • Clean and empty plastic bottles and containers education campaign features • Clean and empty aluminum cans a new bay-spanning video • Clean and empty glass bottles and jars and co-branded webpage, • Dry paper, newspaper, and junk mail TampaBayRecycles.org, which will provide recycling • Clean and empty metal containers information and encourage • Clean and empty milk and juice cartons residents to keep recycling • Dry paperboard boxes (such as cereal boxes) bag-free, no matter where they are in the Tampa Bay area. Partners in this • Dry flattened cardboard effort include City of St. Petersburg, City of Tampa and This partnership marks the Hillsborough County. first time Pinellas County, Plastic bags and bagged recyclables are NOT recycled Hillsborough County, the City because they can’t be efficiently sorted by recycling of Tampa, and the City of St. equipment. Plastic bags also get tangled in the sorting Petersburg have worked together equipment, which causes equipment damage, creates on a single regional recycling health and safety hazards for workers, reduces the amount campaign. For additional of recyclables that can be recovered, and increases the cost information on recycling in of the recycling process. All recyclables should be placed in Pinellas County, visit www. recycling carts and municipal drop-off containers loosely, pinellascounty.org/recycle. not bagged. This initiative is a key component Using reusable bags is more eco-friendly than using of Pinellas County’s Strategic disposable plastic bags when shopping. Plastic bags can Plan: reducing, reusing and recycling resources including energy, water and solid waste. ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 27

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM CHANGES by Congressman Charlie Crist Floods can happen anywhere and at any time. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has provided peace of mind and economic security to millions of families and property-owners for nearly five decades. For many, NFIP is the only choice they have for protection against floods. Here in Florida, we are ground zero for rising sea levels, hurricanes, and other severe weather events. Our housing market, and thus our economy, would collapse without NFIP. With authorization of the program expiring on September 30th, Congress must not only pass a reauthorization bill on time, but must do so in a way that strengthens this vital program so it works better for our home and business owners and provides affordable, dependable coverage across the country. The biggest question facing NFIP is how to balance the solvency of the program with the rising costs of premiums. One of NFIP’s structural challenges is that it is deeply in debt – to the tune of $25 billion. While NFIP worked well for decades, rising sea levels and larger, more powerful storms are occurring at higher frequencies. The catastrophic damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, along with several other severe weather and inland flooding events, have plunged the program into debt. Unfortunately, some in Congress want to hold NFIP policyholders entirely accountable for our changing climate and weather patterns by placing the financial burden of NFIP’s debt squarely on their shoulders. And ultimately, some homeowners are considering dropping flood insurance altogether because it’s too expensive. That’s very risky – for homeowners and federal, state and local governments. NFIP must be reauthorized on time. But the program’s solvency should not be balanced on the backs of hard-working, middle class families who have done the right thing. While the House is considering a bill that I cannot support because it would increase rates and lacks a number of other pro-consumer provisions, the Senate, led by Senators Nelson and Rubio, is considering a more balanced approach. I am advocating that we ultimately bring that bill to the floor before the September 30th deadline. As geographer F. White once said: “Floods are acts of God, but flood losses are largely acts of man.” Congress has the power and responsibility to limit families’ losses by reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program in a way that keeps flood insurance accessible and affordable for decades to come. “CUTEST LITTLE ST. PETE STORE” Every day at The St. Pete Store & Visitors Center, someone walks in and says, “This is the cutest little store.” It’s a hidden gem, in downtown St. Petersburg across from the Sundial at 100 Second Avenue North. Brimming with local art and staffed by passionate volunteers, The St. Pete Store & Visitors Center curates a showcase of over 50 local artisans. All products are imagined, designed and created in St. Petersburg. In the space, you will find St. Pete centric items such as colorful tanks, t-shirts, vintage art and magnets. Historical books can be found nestled among hand blown and fused glass pieces. One of the most popular items, burlap totes created from local recycled coffee purveyors, feature a variety of graphics. In partnership with the City of St. Petersburg, the St. Pete Chamber’s Visitors Center was completely renovated in 2016 and a new space for local artists to sell their wares launched. Earlier this year, the space received another update, a vibrant mural created by local muralist Derek Donnelly. The mural reads “Welcome to St. Pete, The Sunshine City” and serves as a warm welcome for all who enter The St. Pete Store & Visitors Center. The mission of The St. Pete Store & Visitors Center is to help visitors and residents discover what this unique community offers and highlight Chamber members, local hospitality partners, artists, makers and shops. Please stop in for information on local events or to support local artists. Learn more at thestpetestore.com. Follow the space on social media to see the products and gifts that are available: @thestpetestore. Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Thursdays - Fridays 10am - 6pm. Page 28 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER

WHERE WILL YOU BE DURING GROUPER WEEK? JULY 22-30 Not as scary as shark 400 SEAFOOD TAP HOUSE week, but much more Florida Grouper Oscar $29; Fresh Catch market priced $28- popular in our area, is 30, when available. Grouper Week, which happens again July BIRCH & VINE at the Birchwood Hotel 22-30. This is not a Lunch Grouper Sandwich $16; Grouper is served as a national thing—just a little dinner entrée, $32 when available. something Visit St Pete/ Clearwater launched to BONEFISH GRILL promote grouper fishing Fresh Catch $23.70; Grouper Oscar $25.70 when available. and eating. Pinellas County is one of the BRICK & MORTAR largest suppliers of the Grouper served in a Bouillabaisse entrée soup when country’s grouper. You available. can find it in most of our seafood restaurants and FERG’S SPORTS BAR many will have grouper Grouper Fingers (appetizer) $9; Grouper Sandwich Friday specials that week. Special $12. Grouper is caught all over FISH TALES the world, but waters off Sandwiches $15 ($10 Thursday’s Special); Grouper Fish Pinellas County are one Tacos $16; Add Grouper to any entrée for $5. of the best areas to catch it. Madeira Beach’s John’s FOURTH STREET SHRIMP STORE Pass is billed as “The Grouper Sandwich $14; Grouper Entrée $16. Grouper Capital of the World.” Some believe grouper got its name from the Portuguese word garoupa. Others believe FRESCO’S WATERFRONT BISTRO it came from an indigenous South American language. Grouper Nuggets $12; Grouper Sandwich $15; Entrée Black In Australia, it is called it “groper”. In the Middle East it is Grouper $30. “hammour”. No matter what you call it, it is a tasty mild fish. Parkshore Grill Grouper has many types: Gag, Black, Red, Scamp, Yellowfin, THE OYSTER BAR Yellowmouth, Rock Hind and more. Most restaurants sell Red Sandwiches & or Gag, however, finer restaurants sell Black Grouper, when Tacos $12; Gulf they can get it. Coast Grouper The fish have a stout body with a large mouth and can Dinner $23. easily grow to be over 100 lbs. Record-setting groupers have exceed 200 lbs. They suck their food into their mouth and THE MILL body using water pressure from their large mouth and gills. Seasonal entrées They habitually eat other fish (even grouper), octopi and when available. various crustaceans. Their diet makes them quite tasty for us. PARKSHORE Grouper is caught and sold quickly; many are sold live. Most GRILL local restaurants want it fresh, never frozen. It may be kept Pan Fried Grouper on ice in the fishing boat for a few days. A few restaurants Cake $23; Fresh have their own boats that supply only their restaurants, such Catch market as Salt Rock Grill and Frenchy’s. Grouper imported from price $28-30 Mexico has been frozen. when available. “We own and manage dozens of the primary fishing boats that bring grouper to our Pinellas community,” says MARCHAND’S & ALFRESCO’S AT RENAISSANCE VINOY Frank Chivas, owner of Baystar Restaurants Group in Grouper Nuggets $14; Grouper Rilletes $14; Black Grouper Indian Shores. “We are happy to supply, not only our own Sandwich $18. restaurants, but many of the other restaurants, fish markets and suppliers with fresh caught grouper.” RUTH CHRIS STEAK HOUSE “Grouper is getting a lot harder to get,” says Scott Bebell, Seasonal Entrées when available. Indian Rocks Beach’s Guppy’s Head Chef. “We only serve Black Grouper, which we feel is the best. If it is not fresh, I do SEA SALT RESTAURANT not accept it. The price varies. When we say ‘market price’ it Seasonal specials, normally $36, when available. means between $23-$26—and is based on what we pay.” GROUPER SEAFOOD TRUCK FEST “Grouper is one of the main things we sell at Crabby Bill’s,” Plan to attend the Food Truck Rally at the Port of St Pete, 250 says owner Matt Loder. “Quality matters to us so much that 8th Avenue SE July 28 from 6pm to 10pm. It will feature we actually DNA test our grouper to ensure we only serve grouper with music, and food vendors. They promise lots pure grouper.” of grouper in all forms including sandwiches, fingers, and You do not have to go to the beach to enjoy grouper. Many nachos. It is co-sponsored by the Bay Food Truck Association fine restaurants have grouper appetizers, sandwiches or and Visit St Pete / Clearwater. entrées. Here are some of the downtown St. Petersburg restaurants that have grouper on their menu ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 29

THE JAMES MUSEUM CELEBRATES CEREMONIAL “TOPPING OUT” At the end of July, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and James Museum co-founder and Chairman Tom James marked the milestone occasion of the “Topping Out” of the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art when the final steel beam was raised, completing the 219 ft. tall steel frame, which will anchor the 105 ton stone mesa that will frame the building’s entrance along the 100 block of Central Avenue. Mayor Rick Kriseman stated, “The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art will be a remarkable addition to the culture of the Sunshine City and is sure to become a new hub of activity and learning in our already bustling downtown.” St. Petersburg has been James home virtually all his life and when he and wife Mary decided to build a museum to house the best of their art collection, they wanted it in the heart of the city they call home. “The Downtown Partnership is glad to see these new jobs coming downtown, but also the space for community gatherings that we need for the entire city,” says Joni James, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. The James Museum will be the new, permanent home of 400- 500 premier works of art selected from the more than 3,000 pieces acquired by Tom and Mary James over their 50 years of collecting. The 84,000 square foot museum will be bigger than the Dalí and include over 30,000 square feet of gallery space; a double height lobby with water feature; a Native American Jewelry collection, 6,000 square feet of rental event space, supporting both large events and break-out sessions; a commercial catering kitchen; a museum store and café; as well as all the spaces required to support and operate a 21st Century museum of this scale. Project design director, Yann Weymouth, said, “The unique, never-before-seen design of the Museum has been directly inspired by Tom and Mary’s extraordinary collection and vision. The architecture and the art both gloriously tell the story of the American West.” The James Museum’s roots are from Tom and Mary James’ undivided love both for culture and the city of St. Petersburg that has been their home. Tom began collecting while a student and when their travels took them west, they were captivated by the art, landscape, and wildlife of the West. They began to collect what moved them — art of action and attention to place made by contemporary artists. They collected for their pleasure, though with an aim to help living artists live by their art alone. Many of the artists became personal friends. Their collection is further enlivened with many works by local artists and their intended programming includes regional artist spotlights and guest lectures from renowned western and wildlife artists including members of the Cowboy Artists of America™. In addition, The James Museum intends a strong educational element in both adult docent education and youth education in the history of the American West and in wildlife. The building also includes almost 35,000 square feet of leasable space, situated on the east and west sides of the project, which will activate both of those corners along Central Avenue. Page 30 ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Art & Museum News SECOND SATURDAY ARTWALK StPeteArtsAlliance.org STUDIO@620 727-895-6620 April 8 and May 13 from 5 to 9pm. 620 First Avenue South www.thestudioat620.org Be the first to see new affordable works of art. You can Being a member of The Studio@620 is a little like being see art all month long, however ArtWalk is opening night part of a family – they support each other. They hope to where some 40 galleries and studios premiere new works, entertain you, move you, feed you, challenge you, help you with artists and demos on-site. Meet the artists and gallery make new friends and keep the old ones, introduce you to owners during this casual, festive evening as over 40 new art and ideas, and give you a tax deduction. In turn, studios and galleries in the Central Arts District, Waterfront you visit, bring friends, and help pay some of the bills. Arts District, EDGE District, Grand Central District and the FLORIDA CRAFTART 727-821-7391 Warehouse Arts District come together as one destination 501 Central Ave. FloridaCraftArt.org on the second Saturday of the month from 5-9 pm. Creatures: Wild and Wooly curated by Liz Rodgers, Free ArtWalk trolleys encompass the arts districts. Free runs through August 12. This national juried exhibition parking can be found on 1st Ave N and 1st Ave S from showcasing original art based on creatures—wild, exotic, 15th St. to 30th St., The Clay Center of St. Petersburg, MGA domestic, imaginary and mythical. More than 35 artists Studios and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American from Florida, California and Chicago created pieces from Museum. Download the map and list of participants to ferocious dragon heads to wistful, wide-eyed ceramic plan your festive art evening at www.stpeteartsalliance.org. rabbits and intricately beaded statement necklaces. REGIONAL SUMMITT ON JULY 21 The national juried exhibition showcases 74 works of After a year-long county-wide arts and culture economic original art based on creatures—wild, exotic, domestic, impact study, the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance and Creative imaginary and mythical. Best of show was given to Diane Pinellas will announce the outcomes at the Regional Arts Lublinski of Pembroke Pines for “Remember Your Path,” Summit - Maximizing the Arts Economic Impact for Pinellas an intense, dramatic ceramic sculpture measuring nearly County. They will be joined by the Clearwater Arts Alliance, four-feet high. North Pinellas Cultural Alliance, Tampa Bay Businesses for The exhibit will run through August 12 with a closing Culture and the Arts. It is the first countywide collaboration reception, People’s Choice Awards and special among the five arts agencies serving the creative community appearances by Southeastern Guide Dogs. Other events with information, resources and ideas. during the exhibition are rock-painting workshops and a The summit will feature Keynote Speaker, Randy Cohen, VP writing class and dramatic readings with Keep St. Pete Lit. of Research and Policy at Americans for the Arts. Featured MOREAN ARTS CENTER 727-822-7872 Luncheon Guest Speakers are Sandy Saughnessy, Dir. of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and Lauren Davenport, 719 Central Avenue. MoreanArtsCenter.org Founder and CEO at The Symphony Agency. This community arts organization, celebrating 100 years of connecting pehallenge America at the National Space is limited. Cost is $25.00, which includes lunch. Visit Endowment for the Arts. creative-pinellas-workshop.ticketleap.com for tickets. MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS 727-896-2667 THE DALI MUSEUM 727-823.3767 255 Beach Dr NE mfastpete.org One Dali Blvd thedali.org Music in the Marly at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Cult Classics: “Edward Scissorhands” Thursday, Aug. Petersburg, Brings Classical Sounds for the Summer 03, 7–11pm. The Dali’s can’t-miss summer celebration Marly Music Society members pay only $15 per concert is back and better than ever. Grab your lawn chair, don and are invited to attend a members-only reception some movie-inspired duds and enjoy free flicks, local following Stephen Prutsman’s August 20 performance. To food truck fare, and cold craft brews. The fun goes down join the group, you must be a Museum member. MFA and the first Thursday of the month all summer long. Marly Music Society members also enjoy free Museum Come early to enjoy The Dali’s extended hours on admission. For more information, contact membership@ Thursday nights at reduced $10 admission, then stay for mfastpete.org or visit mfastpete.org/join/membership. the film and festivities. Concerts are at 2pm. Scheduled dates include: The “Memory, Mind, Matter: The Sculpture of Eduardo Sunday, June 18: Richard Dowling, piano Chillida” exhibit is on display at The Dalí Museum now Sunday, July 16: Scott Kluksdahl, cello and Noreen through September 24, 2017. The show features the Cassidy-Polera, piano creations of world-renowned Spanish sculptor Eduardo Saturday, July 22: The Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival Chillida, and boasts more than 60 of his works including Ambassador Pianists sculptures, a large-scare wall mural, numerous drawings Sunday, July 30: The Gene Knific Trio with special guest and ‘gravitations,’ the artist’s unique approach to paper Renata Knific collage. A complimentary audio guide accompanies the Sunday, August 20: Stephen Prutsman, piano exhibit; and a catalog of the exhibit is available in The Sunday, August 27: University of Tampa Faculty Ensemble Dalí Museum Store along with other Chillida-inspired including Barbara Prescott, flute/ Meg Cassell, items. This is The Dalí’s first show dedicated to sculpture oboe/ Theodore DeCorso, clarinet/ Grigorios since the 2011 opening of the Museum’s current space. Zamparas, piano During Arts Alive, The Dali will offer FREE Admission for Museum hours are 10 am - 5 pm Monday-Wednesday, all Pinellas County residents on Saturday, September Friday, and Saturday, until 8 p.m. on Thursday, and 23, from 10am-5:30pm. Non-Pinellas residents who noon-5 pm Sunday. Admission is only $5 after 5 pm on purchase regular-price admission will receive a voucher Thursday. for a FREE return visit. ST. PETERSBURG DOWNTOWN NEWSLETTER Page 31

THE LOOPER TROLLY 2.0 Tired of searching for a parking place downtown? Starting in October 2018, you may find hopping on the Looper Trolley to be far more convenient. Twenty-two years after the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership worked with the City of St. Petersburg to establish the trolley service to boost downtown tourism, the Looper is getting an overhaul aimed at better serving tourists as well as downtown employees and residents. Led by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, planners have been working with the City and the Downtown Partnership for nearly a year to update the Looper’s route to attract more riders and better integrate the service into the PSTA network. Under the plan, rides would be free and hours of service would double with better early morning, later evening and night service – making it possible to take the Looper to a show at the Mahaffey Theater or a Rowdies game. Riders would have better connections to other routes such as the popular Central Avenue Trolley and the future Bus Rapid Transit to St. Pete Beach. Soon the Looper would also be integrated into the PSTA smartphone technology that allows riders to track when a bus is arriving. “We’re calling it Looper 2.0,” said Eric Carlson of the Downtown Partnership who serves as Transportation Manager for the Looper Group. “Considering how much downtown has changed in the last quarter century, it only makes sense that its transportation services should, too.” The goal is to streamline the Looper’s route to make it easier to move north and south in downtown – from the Renaissance Vinoy and new downtown residences to the St. Pete Innovation District, home to The Dali Museum, two hospitals and the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. The new Looper would also serve the new St. Pete Pier to the east and as far west as Fifth Street and the Florida Holocaust Museum. Some downtown residents believe it could be a game-changer. “This may shame me into not taking my car to work,” Dr. Jonathan Ellen, President and Vice Dean of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and a downtown resident, commented in June after seeing the plan. The route would also serve as a demonstration for electric bus technology in Pinellas County. Along with two traditional trolley buses, PSTA would launch its new electric bus on the route to test operational efficiency and capability of an all-electric fleet in Florida’s heat and humidity. But one thing won’t change. The Looper would continue its legendary service of friendly drivers who are ambassadors for St. Pete’s tourism assets. Z GRILLE CLOSES Named for owner Zack Gross, Z Grille, the popular award winning restaurant on the northwest corner of the Signature Condominium, closed July 2nd. Gross decided it was time to call it quits. In 2005, Gross opened his first restaurant, a smaller café on Central Avenue. He moved to Signature Place in 2008 and opened as the more sophisticated Z Grille. In 2015 he changed his menu to a healthier cuisine. Last year the menu was again changed to offer more affordable options. Gross’s reasons for leaving are mixed. Part of it is the nearby competition and his current location not being on Beach Drive. But Gross also adds, “I am just burned out. My relationships with family are more important than this place.” Gross and partner-wife Jennifer, have put their St Pete home on the market and plan to move to California, near Los Angeles. There is a sign on the door that reads “On Vacation.”