TIDBITS
By Peter Roos
GULFPORT
City of Gulfport holds a City Wide Yard Sale on Saturday, Jan. 16. Rain date is the 17th. Brochures will be available on Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Library; on the outdoor brochure display at the Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd.; Gulfport Municipal Marina, 4630 29th Ave., or online. Call 893-1118 for more information.
Check out cars from the past during the 49th Street Business Association So Classic Car Show at Trolley Market Square, 9am-3pm Saturday, Feb. 6. FREE admission. Visit www.so49.org/so-classic-car-show for more information.
ST. PETE BEACH
The Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, the largest of its kind on Florida’s West Coast, has recently completed a renovation of all the guestrooms $13 million and invested $2.2 million in the common areas and meeting spaces. Newly renovated guest rooms at both the Island Grand and RumFish Beach Resort properties provide a perfect complement to the meeting space improvements. The room renovation was completed in phases from January 2019 to March 2020 and included all 585 rooms at the Island Grand and 211 rooms at the RumFish Beach Resort.
Coastal Home Advisors real estate brokerage office has opened between Publix and CVS at Dolphin Village Shopping Center. Keith and Tina Slater have done a great job on décor, including the nicest stained concrete floor I have ever seen in the lobby. They have also become a place people can pick up a new copy of Paradise NEWS from a rack outside, while their office is open. At the time of this writing, they already had 17 reviews with a 5-star average and commendations for customer service and professionalism.
Friends of the St. Pete Beach Library advised that the opening of the renovated library in its historic building will be delayed until March 2021 to allow the parking lot to be refinished after the construction crew is done using it as a staging area. Tim Dorsey’s new book Tropic of Stupid is scheduled to be released Jan. 21. Tim will not be touring this year for obvious reasons. Local author Wendy Wax also has a new book coming. The Break-Up Book Club is due out on May 18.
TREASURE ISLAND
Jan. 16-17, 10am-5pm, the 24th Sport Kite Competition and Festival returns to Treasure Island Beach, behind the Thunderbird Beach Resort. Come be amazed by the talented kite flyers performing to music at this two-day event, which includes dual-line and multi-line sport kite flying, Kite Ballet and some Hot Tricks Competitions throughout each day for your entertainment.
Windworks, from John’s Pass in Madeira Beach will be on hand for all your kiting needs including kids’ kites, stunt kites and accessories! Quad line and dual line lessons will be available on the beach allowing anyone a chance to learn how to fly stunt kites for FREE. After the sun goes down there is potential for a night fly in the same fabulous location! Monday is a holiday, so plan on staying an extra day for recreational flying. January weather is usually ideal for kites, with mild temperatures and steady winds. For event information contact Windworks at 727-320-9463.
Have you collected or inherited treasures you do not use, jewelry with little sentimental value, or perhaps watches, artwork or a coin collection? Beverly Diny of Diny Jewelers on Treasure Island has invited National Rarities to hold a buying event Tues.-Thurs., Jan. 26-28. Turn your treasures into cash! They buy gold, platinum, sterling silver, diamonds, jewelry and currency, watches, paintings, autographs, old photos, antique toys, vintage advertising and other collectibles and rarities. GIA certified Graduate Gemologists and team of experts carefully inspect and evaluate your items and contact you with an offer. As trusted estate buyers, National Rarities has an unmatched reputation for honesty and integrity. Contact Beverly Diny for further information at 727-523-3469.
Sunset Realty Group has opened a brokerage office in the newly renovated Chase Bank Building in Treasure Island. The principals have been long-time Treasure Island residents and investors in local real estate. With their own “skin in the game,” the team can help buyers select properties that match their investment strategies as well as advise owners on the best marketing strategy to sell their property, according to a press release. The firm focuses on providing highly personalized service with speed and responsiveness.
Five three-story luxury 3/3 townhomes are under construction at 11793-11801 1st Ave. E in Treasure Island. The Coastal Collection is a partnership between general contractor Qemal Hasanbelli of Build America LLC and Barkett Realty. According to a press release, all units offer a private elevator, a chef’s dream kitchen, soundproof masonry firewalls between units and a 325sf rooftop patio with sunset views, engineered to support a hot tub if desired. Visit their website at www.CoastalCollectionLuxuryHomes.com or find them at CoastalCollectionLiving on Facebook or Instagram.
ST PETERSBURG
Dr. James Leiber D.O., founder of Regenexx Tampa Bay, said the group recently added a local office to its Sarasota, New Tampa and Miami locations for its stem cell procedures. The location is at 100 2nd Ave. S. St 904-S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, in the Innovation district. Some may recall Renee Roos had her own stem cells harvested by Regenexx Tampa Bay in Sarasota three years ago and had an arthritic hip treated. We chose Regenexx due to their skills, equipment, honesty and depth of experience with the procedures and openness about sharing results online.
A huge sculpture by Mark Aeling has just been installed on the St. Petersburg Pier–and it’s a life-sized Benoist Airboat. This sculpture commemorates the world’s first-ever commercial flight, which traversed Tampa Bay as the first flight of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line. Piloted by Tony Jannus, the Benoist Airboat took St. Petersburg mayor Pheil to Tampa for $200, a huge sum at the time. The cross-bay service continued for several months. A reenactment was attempted on the 100th anniversary.
The city of St. Petersburg has announced the virtual State of the Economy presentation on Jan. 27 at 11am. This year’s focus will be on a resilient economy and topics will include a snapshot of key economic trends, small business, equity and workforce development and building on the city’s assets.
Big Storm Brewing Co.’s Maple Rum Huracan Imperial Stout was awarded the gold medal in the Rum Barrel-Aged Beer category at the 2020 U.S. Beer Open Championship, an event founded in 2009 that drew more than 6,000 entries across 140 categories this year. Big Storm’s sister brewery, Punta Gorda-based Fat Point, was also victorious: Its Big Boca Ale won a silver medal in the English Summer Ale category. Big Storm was founded in 2012 and has locations in Clearwater, Odessa and Cape Coral, Fat Point Head Brewer Jessy Abbate states in the release. “We focus on creating a meaningful experience, with excellence and attention to detail. Winning a national honor again is an added bonus.”
MetArena, the rebranded St. Petersburg-based e-sports startup is together with Johnson C. Smith University, bringing the first ever e-sports conference, with both a focus on competition and offering career opportunities for would-be gamers. It will have a specific focus on historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. The 2021 ASCEND HBCU Esports Conference and Expo will be held the weekend of Super Bowl on Feb. 5. Attendance is free, and while there is an emphasis on HBCU students, anyone is allowed to attend. The event will kick off with a Madden game tournament, followed by a virtual career expo where both mock and real interviews will be conducted for e-sports opportunities and full-time jobs. Chad Mairn, who oversees the innovation lab at St. Petersburg College, said in a statement, “Attendees will learn about the growing list of available jobs, how block chain technologies are used, and discover strategies to help open doors into these exciting industries.”
PINELLAS COUNTY
Pinellas County provides assistance information for those negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit www.covid19.pinellascounty.org/where-to-get-help/ for food pantry distribution sites, financial assistance, eviction/foreclosure assistance information, pet care assistance and more. Text your zip code to 211 Tampa Bay Cares at 898211 or dial 211 24 hours a day.
The Florida Orchestra announced that Susana Weymouth will join TFO as its new chief development officer in January 2021. Weymouth leaves her role as the highly successful executive director of Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA), which she joined in 2015. “We are thrilled to welcome Susana Weymouth to the TFO family. With her extensive experience building support for the arts in Tampa Bay, she is a natural fit for The Florida Orchestra now and as we shape our future,” said TFO President & CEO Mark Cantrell.
The Florida Lodging Association released a list of 150 Florida restaurants that have received their top sanitation and safety award, the Seal of Commitment. To date, the only south Pinellas location to make the grade is the Don Cesar Resort. There are a number of Clearwater and Clearwater Beach locations and one in Dunedin on the west Florida List.
- Bascom’s Steakhouse, Clearwater
- Clear Sky on Cleveland, Clearwater
- Columbia Restaurant Sand Key, Clearwater
- Island Way Grill, Clearwater
- Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber, Clearwater
- Bobby’s Bistro and Wine Bar, Clearwater
- Clear Sky Café, Clearwater Beach
- Sand Pearl Resort, Clearwater Beach
- Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Beach
- Clear Sky Draught Haus, Dunedin
TAMPA BAY
BayCare Rolls Out Healthcare On Wheels
BayCare Employer Solutions and Medical Group rolled out a state-of-the-art bus with the full capabilities of a doctor’s office to bring wellness visits to jobsites. Catching and treating chronic conditions early can save money before a patient requires hospitalization. “People get busy at work. They don’t want to take time out of their day to get in their car and drive to the doctor’s office. We’re bringing the doctor’s office right to their doorstep, so there’s no excuse,” Donna St. Louis, vice president for business development at BayCare, said. St. Petersburg College was one of the first employers to receive the service. Wellness visits are fully covered by insurance at no cost to the patients. The bus allows BayCare to provide access to underserved populations in the four counties in which it has a presence-Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk-including outlying areas where it might be difficult to find a primary care physician. BayCare has one bus now, but St. Louis hopes to add more next year. “If we can show the value I don’t think we’ll have any trouble getting another bus,” she said.
Tampa Bay Water will distribute $58,900 in grant and sponsorship funds to help Tampa Bay area nonprofits and schools protect the region’s sources of drinking water. The utility is partnering with the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation, Glazer Children’s Museum, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Pasco County Schools and Pinellas County Schools on projects that educate families and students through exhibits, lesson plans and environmental education programs.
“We’re partnering with organizations that share our commitment to protect and conserve our water resources,” said Michelle Stom, chief communications officer for Tampa Bay Water. “These programs not only help protect our drinking water and environment; they are also a great public service to families throughout Tampa Bay.”
MORE ST. PETE BEACH
New Owners at Beach Bods Gym Paul and Crystal Garfield, long time members of the gym, have recently purchased the business from former owner George Corcoran. On Gulf Blvd. near Blind Pass Road on St. Pete Beach, Beach Bods offers day and weekly passes as well as 24/7 access to its members. For more information, you can contact Beach Bods Gym at 727-360-3900, or email them at www.beachbodsfitness@gmail.com.
FREE “Music in the Afternoon”“
Live music with a view” The popular “Music in the Afternoon” series is back in Horan Park beginning Sunday, Jan. 31 from 2-4pm. Lew Barrows & the Rhythm Kings will be performing live music while guests either stand or bring their chairs to enjoy the FREE concert and the beautiful scenery at Horan Park, 7701 Boca Ciega Dr., St. Pete Beach FL 33706. Mark your calendar for Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28. Seating is not provided. For more, call 727-363-9245 or visit www.spbrec.com.
New Playground Opens at McKinney Park
Jennifer McMahon, SPB city parks director spoke at the COVID-friendly, VIP, ribbon cutting to officially open the first new playground in St. Pete Beach in 20 years. Located at McKinney Park, the playground is fenced, shaded and offers a great view of Blind Pass and the nearby bridge to Treasure Island. Masked Mayor Al Johnson and Commissioner Ward Friszolowski held the ribbon, while Commissioner Chris Graus cut the ribbon.
The equipment is mostly a heavy-duty plastic that should hold up well in the salt air. The park also offers a small but popular dog park, a picnic area with shelters and a fishing platform. Across Blind Pass Road is Eagan Park, with ball fields and a boat ramp.
SOUTH PASADENA
The Marquise Café, near Lou’s Florist on the Corey Causeway, has survived their first year in business in spite of COVID-19. They serve three meals daily (except Monday) with everything made fresh from scratch. You can get an American or a French breakfast lunch or dinner, eating in, taking out or delivery. The Marquise herself taught French cooking for many years in French Guiana. Her husband says his best talent is eating, but he actually makes a pretty good waiter. On a recent lunch hour visit Renee had a Croque Monsieur, beautifully served as requested on an American croissant, which came with a side salad. I opted for an eggs and cheese dish, made with fresh cream, which was a little like soft scrambled eggs, served with a lovely French baguette. Surprisingly delicious.