Paradise News March 2024 Issue

NEAR THE ICONIC DON CESAR

SEMINOLE POOL HOME

9188 107th Ave. N, Seminole

3BR/2BA home on a large corner lot! Welcoming atmosphere with open vaulted ceilings and elegant tile floors Offered at $455,000

Jane McCroary | 727.348.3888

GULF & INTRACOASTAL VIEWS

9495 Blind Pass Rd. #903, SPB 9th-floor waterfront condo. Gulf and Intracoastal views. Yacht & Tennis Club. Offered at $640,000

Jane McCroary | 727.348.3888

300 Capri Blvd. #10, Treasure Island

3BR/3BA Updated Townhome with Fireplace, 3 outdoor seating areas, and 3 car tandem garage, private elevator. Offered at $975,000.

Jane McCroary | 727.348.3888

DISCOVER COMFORT AND STYLE IN EVERY CORNER

2300 Pass-a-Grille Blvd., St. Pete Beach

Extraordinary custom-built home, crafted in 2000, classic design with modern elegance, in the coveted Pass-a-Grille locale. Offered at $3,200,000 Marion Clark | 727.418.9635

5918 27th Ave. N

Stunning 3BR/2BA renovated pool home is ideally located just 3 miles from Gulf beaches and 10 min. from downtown St. Pete. Offered at $549,700

Tina Herrell | 727.521.6630

20

COVER STORY

20 Bay Palms & Bayview

Plaza Waterfront Resorts

Steve Diossy Inspired

Old Florida Boutique Resorts. These family owned & operated motels come with amenities on the beach and bay.

BY PETER ROOS

FEATURES

13 Boutique Hotels

Smaller Historic Boutique Hotels are an Important Part of the Local Tourism Scene.

BY STEVE TRAIMAN

14 Local Chamber News

Local Chamber of Commerce Get and Give Awards.

BY PETER ROOS

30 Happy Hydration

Drink Plenty of Water With Electrolytes, Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium. Fruit Helps Too!

BY CLAIRE BRINSDEN JORDAN

32 Women’s History

The rich tapestry of historical women in St. Petersburg.

BY PETER ROOS

35 Historical Gems

History of the South Gulf Beaches Part 2: Some Nuggets of local lore starring Silas Dent, George Lizotte, Tony Jannus, & Guy Lombardo.

BY PETER ROOS

38 Recycling

The Right Things

What and why we recycle. What not to throw in!

BY LISA PIAZZA

40 Caregiver Corner

Professional Senior Advisors help seniorsfind a new home or stay in their own.

BY ELIZABETH (ELLI) BALDWIN

42 St. Partick’s Day in Tampa Bay Everyone’s Irish when the Green Beer flows. Where to find that Irish spirit.

BY PARADISE NEWS STAFF

46 Our Children Have Rights.Org Award-Winning Not-For-Profit helps families parent their kids.

BY PETER ROOS

32

PUBLISHERS MESSAGE

Welcome to the March 2024 edition of Paradise News. It is the “height of season” here on the west coast of Florida, in the corner of the world we call Paradise. Seasonal residents are all here this month as well as visitors escaping snow, ice and nor’easters for shorter glimpses of Paradise. March is the hardest month to rent a place to stay here. Some say that Easter is the end of the height of season. Easter Sunday is March 31st this year. As season wanes, the shoulder season and spring break keep things busy until school gets out and families flock to the beaches.

This issue we salute boutique hotels, privately owned and operated, offering a different experience than the large resorts on the beaches. In particular, we salute the Bay Palms and Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resorts that are affiliated with the Plaza Beach Resort, our February 2020 cover story. The past 10 years’ worth of Paradise News issues can be found in their entirety on our website www.paradisenewsfl.com

The past issues button is under the current issue on the drop down. While you are on the website you can also subscribe for FREE to our weekly digital newsletter that publishes each Thursday with the top 5 things to do each weekend, and more. If you do not already get your Paradise News in the mail you can, for less than $2 a copy.

This month we introduce four new writers. With a journalism degree and a specialty in health and wellness, Claire Brinsden Jordan, helped start and coordinates the St. Pete Run Fest. Her features this month are found in our health and wellness section. A Treasure Island attorney specializing in property law, wills, trusts and elder law, Anthony Velardi will replace Danielle Vaughn’s legal advice column. Yet another new advice column is beginning this month as well. Elizabeth (Elli) Baldwin, the founder and president of Sunways Senior Living Concierge, came highly recommended by a good friend as a helper to either stay in your home or to find the right place to go for your or your parent’s golden years. I have been wanting to understand more about “retirement living.” Elli’s senior living advice column debuts this month. Lisa Piazza was introduced on page 36 of our February 2024 30th anniversary edition as a professional assistant with NestWatch Home Assistant. Lisa also loves writing, along with natural wellness and the environment. Her first article will be about successful recycling.

In our January publisher’s message, we tried to inspire some of our readers to experience the “Great American Eclipse” coming up on April 8th. The swath of totality goes from Mexico through San Antonio and Dallas, Texas, northeast through Buffalo, N.Y., Burlington, Vt., and most of Newfoundland. Keep in mind that a clear sky and eclipse glasses are essential to view the disappearance of the sun at midday. The window is closing for you to get there, but if you miss it you have another chance 21 years and 4 months later. On August 12, 2045, the longest lasting eclipse ever, nick-named the “Greatest American Eclipse” will make it dark throughout Tampa Bay for 6 minutes. Thanks for reading Paradise News.

2024

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PUBLISHERS

Peter Roos | Marketing & Sales sales@paradisenewsfl.com

Renee Roos | Creative Director info@paradisenewsfl.com

ART & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Janet Nummi info@janetnummi.com

SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE MANAGER

Kaeley Dawson paradisenewsfl@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Steve Traiman - Features

Caron Schwartz - Art News, Hanging Around Buddy Baker - Arts & Leisure / Events

Dennis Merritt Jones, DDEncouraging Words

Dr. Johnathan Pierce - Pet Health

Kelly Rouse - Dining

Claire Brinsden Jordan - Health & Wellness

Anthony A. Velardi, Esq. - Legal Corner

Elizabeth (Elli) Baldwin - Caregiver Corner

Lisa Piazza - Recycling

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Visit St. Pete Clearwater

Visit Florida • City of St. Pete • Janet Nummi

Public Media Resource Images

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MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATIONS

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An Interview with Michael Moses: Founder of The Centre SPB

Embark on a journey towards holistic well-being with Michael Moses, the visionary founder of The Centre SPB. With a steadfast commitment to natural healing and empowerment, Michael has transformed The Centre into a haven of innovative therapies and personalized care. Discover how The Centre SPB is revolutionizing holistic health, offering a diverse range of services to address physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Q: There seems to be a lot going on at The Centre. Can you tell us about some of the new modalities you offer? Michael Moses (MM): Absolutely! At The Centre, we’ve always been committed to holistic health and natural healing. While we continue to offer medicinal marijuana cards and recommendations, we’ve expanded our services to cater to a wider range of needs.

Our Coffee and Kava Exchange offers a cozy atmosphere where you can enjoy a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, including energizing coffee, calming kava, herbal teas, smoothies, and kombucha. These beverages provide not only physical refreshment but also relief from pain, anxiety, and improved clarity and sleep.

In addition, we provide IV Therapy and NAD+ treatments for rejuvenation and anti-aging support. IV therapy is ideal for recovery, fatigue, or general wellness, while NAD+ therapy optimizes cellular function, enhances energy levels, and promotes longevity.

wellness and performance in men and women, offering a natural solution for improving intimacy and satisfaction.

And finally, our newest service, the Semaglutide medically assisted weight loss program, combines medication with comprehensive support to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals and to make lasting lifestyle changes for improved health and wellbeing.

Q: Why do you offer these particular services?

MM: Our goal at The Centre is to provide accessible, effective solutions for holistic health and wellness while reducing the reliance on Big Pharma. We strive to provide options that promote natural healing and empower individuals to take control of their health.

Q: What’s next for The Centre?

We offer Acoustic Wave Therapy for relief from musculoskeletal pain and cellulite. This non-invasive treatment uses high-frequency sound waves to stimulate healing without downtime or side effects. It is also clinically proven to enhance sexual

MM: Well, we may be facing a relocation in the near future. While we’ve cherished our time at our current location next to Lenny’s Surf Shop, negotiations with our landlord have hit a roadblock. Despite our efforts, we haven’t been granted an acceptable lease renewal. We’ve even expressed interest in purchasing the building, but unfortunately, no resolution has been reached. We’re optimistic about finding a new space that will allow us to continue serving our community, and we’re actively seeking recommendations for potential locations. If anyone has any leads, we encourage them to reach out to us at hello@thecentrespb.com. Our priority remains the same: providing accessible, high-quality holistic health services to those who need them.

By Peter Roos

Meddling: The Women Who

Built St. Pete is on exhibit until year end at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. From the Pinellas Peninsula’s first settlers to the trailblazers of today, women have always had a hand in the development of St. Petersburg. Referred to as “meddling” by historians for stepping out of gender norms and into male-dominated spaces, these women were politicians, civic leaders, educators, real estate developers, business owners and more. Through photographs, info panels, artifacts and video, this exhibit shares the stories of the women who created the Sunshine City. This exhibit was made possible through funding by the Adelphi Trust Company, the first trust company in Florida, founded, owned and led by women. www.spmoh. com/explore-exhibits

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. as we learned from the article on page 21 of

our February issue. The area’s first Pickleball Expo is set for Thursday, April 18, from 3-7pm at the St. Pete Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave., St. Petersburg. They are looking for volunteers, attendees, exhibiters and sponsors. More info online at www.suncoastpb.com

8TH FASTEST GROWING METRO

St. Pete-Tampa-Clearwater metro area was the 8th fastest growing metro in the country over the five-year span ending in 2023 according to a recent study. It was sandwiched between No. 7, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville and No. 9, Tallahassee. Key factors in the study are the local gross domestic product and how it’s trending, unemployment rates, what kinds of jobs are growing, how well the needs of employers are matching with what the labor market has to offer, and the activity in such hot sectors as high-tech manufacturing, R&D and other occupations linked to science, technology, engineering, and math.

St. Pete Beach is getting started raising city owned seawalls in Pass-a-Grille and has accepted two grants toward making part of the Horan Park seawall a “Living Shoreline.”

Eckerd College is a year ahead with 200 feet of seawall south of the Omega residence hall, facing the Skyway Bridge being converted by summer. “On top of fortifying the campus against sea level rise and adverse weather events, the shoreline project will act as a community example and living laboratory. Faculty already have committed to incorporating the construction and study of the impacts of the finished project into their curricula.”

In St. Pete Beach the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Fund paid $113,070 for design of the replacement seawall at Horan Park. The city accepted and voted to match a $750,000 from the Resilient Florida Environmental Protection Program for construction. The plan includes public viewing areas along the park including lights for night viewing.

Construction is estimated at about $1.5 million for the almost 1,000 feet of seawall at the St. Pete Beach Community Center and Horan Park.

Cirque du Soleil’s BAZZAR continues through March 24. Their big top tents can be seen in the parking lot outside Tropicana Field. Tickets for the high-energy show are on sale to the general public now.

BAZZAR, the dazzling new spectacle of acrobatics has been touring the world since being created in 2018, and this will be its first American tour since that inception. The show features an international cast of 35 performers and musicians, including teeterboard, acrobatic bike, contortion, duo roller skate, duo trapeze, aerial rope, hair suspension, fire manipulation, slackline, and more. “Led by their maestro, they band together to invent a whimsical one-of-a-kind universe,” Cirque du Soleil said. “In a place where the colorful group imagines, builds and invents vibrant scenes in an artistic and acrobatic game.” Learn more and get tickets at www.cirquedusoleil.com/bazzar

A new name, for a new century of care. Three years ago, we welcomed Bayfront Health into the Orlando Health family of hospitals. Since that time, we’ve been making steady investments in Bayfront Health and the St. Petersburg community to improve the quality of care and your patient experience, with expanded services and access to more top specialists. And we are proud to add our name.

TIDBITS

In 2023, Keep Pinellas Beautiful removed more than 168,281 pounds of litter, in part through the assistance of over 20,000 volunteers. They also planted more than 3,500 native plants and shrubs. You can help. Join a beach clean-up. www.kpbcares.org/ upcoming-events

Monthly Mirror Lake Cleanup - March 9

Monthly TradeWinds Cleanup @ St. Pete Beach - March 9

Monthly Clearwater Garden Work Day - March 9

Monthly Gandy Beach Cleanup - March 16

Rain Garden Planting @ Boyd Hill Nature PreserveMarch 17

Monthly Crescent Lake Cleanup - March 30

McGough Nature Park Cleanup - March 30

Invasive Plant Removal @ John Chestnut ParkMarch 30

The James Museum Downtown CleanupApril 6

The Cross Bay Ferry launched a weekday “Kids Ride Free” promotion for March & April. Whether looking for a fun spring break excursion or adventure on the water during March and April, families traveling by ferry, excluding dates of Tampa Bay Lightning home games, can save by using the promotional code “KIDSRIDEFREE24” to redeem one (1) free ticket for a child under age 12 with the purchase of an adult ticket for the same sailing. Tickets can be purchased at www.thecrossbayferry.com

All children must have a valid ticket to board the ferry. To spread the spring savings even further this year, Cross Bay Ferry riders can access exclusive deals and savings at some of Tampa Bay’s favorite local attractions. Learn more about available deals at www.thecrossbayferry. com/special-deals-offers/

New Closet Today has opened a closet design showroom at Tyrone Square Mall, located between Dillard’s and JC Penney. You can also visit www.NewClosetToday.com, or call 727-641-6448 to schedule a FREE design consultation today. Grand Opening March 2.

If you love the sound of classical piano, Rebecca Penneys may be your new best friend. The Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival (RPPF) is bringing close to 40 top collegiate concert pianists and 23 internationally renowned faculty from the best music schools to USF’s Barness Hall from June 27-July 17. It is an amazing tuition-free program that allows promising young concert pianists to meet others like themselves and lets them practice on Steinway pianos, many for the first time. The Rebecca Penneys Friends of Piano, Inc., a registered non-profit in the state of Florida, supports this one-of-a-kind undertaking. The majority of funds gifted to the organization

come from private donors, RPPF alumni families, former students of Rebecca Penneys, and corporate partners like Steinway & Sons and Paradise News. Donations are welcome to sustain annual programs, and sponsorships are available at www.rebec capenneyspianofestival.org/ support-contact Learn more about RPPF at www.rebec capenneyspianofestival.org or via their free YouTube Channel For more about Rebecca visit www.rebeccapenneys.com If north Tampa is too far for you to go, check out their “Ambassador Concerts,” often as close as Westminster Shores or Lewis House at Eckerd College.

Greenlane was launched locally in June of 2023 at 4495 W Gandy Blvd. in Tampa with a goal of improving the fast-food and drive-thru industries. Featuring salads, wraps, Kids Bunny Boxes, sweets and snacks, Greenlane believes that better-for-you food should be both accessible and affordable. The brand has also recently launched a partnership with local favorite, Mother Kombucha, to sell a gut-healthy kombucha slushie at Greenlane. Greenlane also now sells bottled Mother Kombucha products in store. They are building more stores on Dale Mabry and at 8001 Fourth St. N.

Short term vacation rentals in some Florida neighborhoods are out of control. Instead of protecting property rights for homeowners, who expect to have neighbors, not partying vacationers next door, the Florida Legislature is considering HB1537 which makes it harder for local leaders to hold short term vacation rentals accountable and keep our neighborhoods and our own guests safe.

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival is back at their Dade City Park location weekends through Easter Sunday, March 31.Take a trip to a village in sixteenth century England.

Thrill to the exploits of Jousting Knights on thundering steeds. Roam the village shoppes for unique crafts as our artisans demonstrate period skills like blacksmithing and woodworking. Delight in comedy, music, magic, and more on our nine stages of non-stop entertainment! March 9-10: Once Upon a Time. Step into a fairy tale

with fairies, princesses, wizards, and other fantastical creatures. March 16-17: Shamrocks & Shenanigans. Celebrate Irish things with jigs, Irish dance competitions, Irish fare, Tug-of-War, and more. March 23-24: Viking Invasion. All barbarians are welcome to join the exhilarating adventures and enter a beard or mustache contest. March 30-31: Easter Enchantment. Egg hunts, bonnet parades & more.

Voters have until 5pm on March 7 to request a ballot be mailed to them. Republicans have a primary, and the ballot has seven Republican candidates listed, although only Nikki Haley and Donald Trump are still in the race. St. Pete Beach Democrats and independents have nothing to vote on. In Gulfport, incumbent April Thanos faces Tom Bixler in a highly contested race for Councilmember from Ward 1. In Treasure Island, Arden Dickey and Richard David Harris face off for the District 4 seat. Voters in Madeira Beach are only being asked to vote on a charter amendment to shorten the candidate qualifying period a week to the end of the first full week of December. In-person early voting is March 9-16. Deadline for submitting mail-in ballots is 7pm on March 19, which is also the close of in-person voting. For more info check with your local supervisor of elections.

A new survey of nearly 800 registered voters in St. Petersburg by the League of Women Voters found overwhelming opposition and skepticism about the Rays-Hines Stadium and Historic Gas Plant redevelopment proposal under consideration by City Council members and Pinellas County Commissioners.

• 69% of respondents strongly agreed and 11% agreed that the city and county should negotiate a better deal.

• 72% are concerned that spending $700 million of property taxes on a stadium would affect the city’s cost to borrow money for an emergency such as a hurricane.

• 78% agreed, 66% “strongly,” that property taxes should be spent on critical needs such as drinking water and wastewater rather than a stadium.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, encourages participation in government, works to increase understanding of public policy issues, and influences policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters relocated their office to new space at the Allendale Equity & Justice Center, 3803 Haines Rd. N, St. Petersburg.

Meanwhile, Will Conroy, founder and president of St. Petersburg based Backstreets Capital, said in an op-ed in the Sunday, Feb. 18, Tampa Bay Times that he felt the Hines-Rays development plan is a good deal for the city, and the best it is likely to get.

“If it doesn’t happen,” Conroy speculates “If a developer as strong as Hines was not able to get approval, no other developer is going to want to undertake such a project. Then, the Rays will be gone, the dome will be empty and acres of parking will go untouched for years.

This visionary Rays-Hines proposal is the best and likely the last chance to keep the Rays and create a vibrant new Gas Plant neighborhood.”

727-464-VOTE (8683). www.votepinellas.gov

BOUTIQUE HOTELS

by Steve Traiman

Smaller Hotels Add Up To Big Business

This month we salute the smaller hospitality venues in South Pinellas that we affectionately label “boutique hotels.”

Boutique hotels are some of the best places to stay when traveling. It’s a perfect compromise when you prefer to have your own space, you don’t like to stay in a dorm, or you don’t have the budget to splurge for 4- or 5-star hotels. Boutique hotels are somewhere in the middle, offering great amenities but with a more reasonable price range. While there are no strict guidelines on what can be considered as a “boutique hotel,” they have distinct characteristics that you could easily spot.

“Small boutique inns and hotels are often historic, family-owned businesses that are a rewarding and economical way to stay in St. Pete/Clearwater,” says Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. “When you stay at a small inn, motel or hotel, you often feel like a beloved visiting family-member of a St. Pete/Clearwater local.” That’s because the setting is comfortable, the services come with a friendly smile and the recommendations are always great.

Looking for a more intimate and quiet stay? Check out a short list of small hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfasts and you’ll find many cozy and charming places to call your home away from home. Note: this isn’t a complete list, explore more of our accommodations in the destination www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/places-to-stay

Some are maintained in their original Old Florida style, but they are slowly yielding to the wrecking ball as property values, taxes and insurance eventually require renovation or replacement to keep positive cash flow. Others have been purpose-built more recently, like St. Pete Beach’s 72-room Zamora or completely renovated like St. Pete Beach Suites and the Sundial conversion into the trendy Saint Resort and 82 Degrees fine dining restaurant and sunset lounge.

“As a tourism leader and promoter, I can confirm the importance and significance that small independently-owned lodging has on our local economy. They offer a whole-hearted connection to our community. When we call and ask them for something or stay there and get the personal touch and family-oriented service,” said Robin Miller, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. “These unique properties, exist all along Tampa Bay’s Beaches. As you drive Gulf Boulevard, you can see their character and how they add to the vitality of our communities.”

Indulge your taste buds in one of our three restaurants just steps away from St. Pete Beach!

The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Dinner at the Tradewinds Resort on Feb. 7, serving a delicious surf and turf dinner, hosted a speaker on AI, introduced the new board and recognized the winners in three categories for 2023.

Tevi Lawson, a commercial realtor with Polaris Realty, was named volunteer of the year by President and CEO Robin Miller.

Plumlee Realty, which has run a vacation rental business for over 33 years was named business of the year.

The Tradewinds Resorts were named “Environmental Business of the Year.”

Paradise News, by the way, was named Small Business of the Year in 2008 and Woman-Owned Business of the Year in 2013.

Nigel Duffett, COO of Premier Hotel Corp., was appointed Chairman of the Board, replacing Mathew Dahm of Mastry’s Brewing, who filled in when last year’s chairperson, Kylie Diaz, was hired away from the Clearwater Aquarium by Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.

The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce itself won three major awards including Chamber of the Year and awards for online communications and marketing materials from the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals.

They held 108 networking and educational events and signed up 118 new members during 2023. There is an upcoming mixer at the Dolphin Beach Resort, 4900 Gulf Blvd., on April 9 from 5:30-7pm. For more information, stop by the chamber, 6990 Gulf Blvd., in St. Pete Beach, visit www.TampabayBeaches.com email roxanne@Tampabaybeaches.com or call the chamber at 727-360-6957.

The Gulfport Merchants Chamber is celebrating 40 years of service to the Gulfport Community. As the GMC embarks on this momentous milestone, they are reaching out to the community for support in continuing their mission of excellence.

President Sarah Laracuente expresses, “The Gulfport Merchants Chamber has been a pillar of support for our community for 40 years, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone. However, with the changes in our community and residents’ availability, we need to rally together now more than ever. We are calling on enthusiastic individuals to join us as volunteers and help us continue our legacy of community service.”

Volunteers are needed for the new Welcome Center, 5317 Gulfport Blvd., where they’ll have the opportunity to greet and assist visitors to Gulfport, showcasing the warmth and hospitality the town is known for. Additionally, the chamber is seeking event ambassadors for the beloved Tuesday Market, First Friday Artwalk, Third Saturday IndieFaire, and Pink Flamingo Home Tour.

These events are integral to the fabric of the community, and the GMC is in need of dedicated volunteers to ensure their success. “We’re hoping to develop a foundation of core volunteers to ensure the continued success of our events and initiatives,” says Laracuente. “Your support will make a tangible difference in our community and help us continue to grow and thrive together.”

Help celebrate 40 years of community support by becoming a volunteer with the Gulfport Merchants Chamber today! To sign up or learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit the Chamber signup site or contact volunteer@ visitgulfportflorida.com for more information.

By Peter Roos

The Treasure Island / Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce hosts monthly mixers and relationship building meetings in Madeira Beach. Their annual awards luncheon on March 1 at the Bilmar Resort in Treasure Island was too late for inclusion of the award winners this month. Visit 12601 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, FL 33706. Call 727-360-4121, email Info@TIMB chamber.org or visit www.TIMBchamber.org

Leadership from St. Pete Chamber and St. Pete Economic Development Corporation recently met with Congresswoman Kathy Castor at the Chamber office. Congresswoman Castor was interested to hear about initiatives important to the St. Petersburg business community including regional transportation and the Gas Plant redevelopment.

The St. Pete Chamber is fortunate to have a great working relationship with the Congresswoman’s local team throughout the year in the Tampa Bay area.

Congresswoman Castor was passionate about sharing details regarding the Inflation Reduction Act and opportunities for businesses to unlock solar opportunities, which aligns with the Chamber’s Sustainability and Resiliency Committee goals.

CLEAN EATZ

Looking for healthy, tasty and well-priced dining and to-go options? Clean Eatz is located in Market Place Plaza across from the Tyrone Square Mall. Their café menu features flatbreadz, meltz, saladz, wrapz, sidez, burgerz, bowlz, and smoothiez (noticing “z” trend?) The Hammerhead wrap was a standout, with salmon, spinach, bacon, and the Clean Eatz “Goddess sauce.”

Clean Eatz offers catering for your next corporate event or family reunion, as well as a meal plan service that is extremely affordable for the quality of food. Meal plans start at $6.52/meal up to $8.20/meal,

depending on how many meals you order each week. Simply place your order online between Tuesday-Sunday and then pick up your weekly meals Sunday-Tuesday at your Clean Eatz location. They accept special requests for needs like low carb or extra protein and can even accommodate custom meal plans for other dietary restrictions. They also have a loyalty program for members. Clean Eatz has five locations in Florida, including the St. Pete location and one in nearby Belleair Bluffs. The St. Pete location is open Mon.-Fri. 11am-7pm and Sat.-Sun. 11am-3pm.

Clean Eatz, which launched in 2013 and began franchising in 2015, was co-founded by husband and wife duo Don and Evonne

Varady. Their mission is to change lives through clean, balanced food and educate people about wellness. You can read more about their story at www.cleaneatz.com.

BAYOU MARKET & CAFÉ

Cravin’ Cajun? Look no further than David Bilyeu’s Bayou Market and Café, across from Earth Origins on Central Ave. The business launched in 2009 and quickly found a following. While they specialize in cajun cooking, their food also has a Caribbean and coastal influence.

Their menu changes weekly, but always has delicious staples like Shrimp Etouffee, Bourbon Chicken, Seafood Gumbo and

By Kelly Rouse

Chicken Sausage Jambalaya (as well as yummy sides such as collard greens, mac & cheese, and spinach madeleine). Don’t forget to sample the Bourbon Bread Pudding and beignets are cooked fresh on Saturday mornings – yum! They also feature weekly specials. The menu is reasonably priced and the cuisine is excellent with terrific portions. They no longer offer dine-in, but stop in to grab your food to go. And if you are throwing a Cajun cookout, Bayou Market will take care of you with tons of catering options. Laissez les bon temps rouler! Open Mon.-Fri. 11am-7pm and Sat. 12-4pm. Closed Sundays. www.bayoucatering.com www.bayoumarketandcafe.com

MIO’S GRILL & CAFÉ

Mio’s Grill & Café ranked 12th on Yelp’s prestigious list of the best 100 restaurants across the entire United States and ranked 3rd in Yelp’s Best 50 Restaurants of Tampa Bay!!

A tasty Mediterranean restaurant that has a variety of home made fresh Turkish and Greek foods freshly prepared – both authentic and healthy. The popular falafel wrap is a must try! Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.

25 years ago, Bora, owner/executive chef, had a dream of opening his own small

restaurant to serve delicious Mediterranean dishes to his guests. He traveled to different regions of Turkey, Greece and Italy to experience traditional cuisines and taste all kinds of local spices that are specific to those cultures. During his journey to the Mediterranean, he discovered the food only gets better with a special blend of love, passion and sharing.

Dine outdoors with your pet or inside with friends and family. Reservations are recommended. A pick-up menu is available on their website. Two locations to serve you in Sand Key Clearwater and downtown St. Petersburg. www.miosgrill.com

Daily specials, sensational seafood, sandwiches & more, full bar. Enjoy water view, indoor/outdoor dining and your favorite sports teams on 13 TVs.

HAPPY HOUR Mon.-Fri. 3:30-6pm

MENU

2001 Pass-A-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach

https://bit.ly/thewharfpag

727-367-9469

COOKING CORNER

The traditions of St. Patrick’s Day in America are well known. Wear green, attend parades, and eat Irish stew or corned beef and cabbage. Irish stew is commonly considered the national dish of Ireland. So, what makes Irish Stew Irish? Traditional Irish stew originated in Ireland and was made with lamb (or mutton) and root vegetables. Recipes vary by chef and region, but basic ingredients in an Irish stew include the meat, along with potatoes, onions, and parsley. Some versions also use carrots, turnips, or barley. Get a little Irish in ye on St. Patrick’s Day Sunday, March 17.

IRISH STEW Traditional Ingredients:

Former Royal Chef shares Irish Stew recipe he cooked at Sandringham House https://youtu.be/v9HWZe9cSrM?si= cQWVlv4H3jWbV0qq Sunday

• Butter: to brown the meat.

• Bacon: adds a smoky flavor.

• All-purpose flour: coats the meat, which helps it brown, and thickens the broth.

• Stew meat: mutton or lamb stew meat are most traditional.

• Guinness stout or red wine: use the classic dark Irish beer for extra flavor in the broth, or substitute with a dry red wine such as pinot noir, merlot, shiraz, or cabernet sauvignon.

• Tomato paste: adds flavor and thickens the broth slightly.

• Brown sugar: a hint of sweetness.

• Garlic, thyme, bay leaf, and paprika: adds savory.

• Kosher salt and ground black pepper: enhance the flavors.

• Beef broth: the liquid base that braises the meat.

• Onions, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms: vegetables that add great flavor to the stew and bulk up the meal.

• Fresh parsley: brightens up the rich stew.

This hearty stew can be cooked on the stovetop or in a slow cooker and tailored to suit your dietary needs. You can find lots of recipes online that vary from complex to simple.

Recipe Variations:

• Instead of the Guinness beer, use a dry red wine such as cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, merlot, or pinot noir.

• For an alcohol-free stew, use extra beef broth as a substitute for the Guinness or wine.

• A splash of Worcestershire sauce would be a nice addition to the gravy.

• Herbs to put in Irish stew: sprigs of fresh thyme and parsley, which are classic savory herbs to pair with a rustic beef or lamb dish. If you’d like even more herb flavor in your stew, try adding rosemary.

• Mushrooms are a popular ingredient in this stew; however, if you don’t care for mushrooms, you can substitute with frozen peas or some chopped cabbage.

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Located directly on the best beach in the USA Plaza Beach Resorts is a collection of three award winning resorts; The Plaza Beach Hotel – Beachfront Resort, Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resort, and Bay Palms Waterfront Resort – Hotel and Marina in which you can:

“Stay at One Resort and Play at All Three.” | www.plazabeachresorts.com

Bay Palms & Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resorts

Steve Diossy Inspired Resorts

by Peter Roos

Plaza Beach Hotel Beachfront Resort, 4506 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach, was our cover story in February 2020 after they had finished a retro-remodel complete with an automatic cotton candy machine, a bathroom decorated entirely in pennies and a lobby replete with check-in desks made out of classic Chevrolets.

This issue, our cover story is about two related, boutique waterfront resorts which provide a different kind of barrier island escape than one gets staying on the sandy shore of TripAdvisor’s favorite beach, even though they are literally just across the street. It’s a more peaceful vibe on the still waters on the bay side. It’s a safer spot for visiting manatees and dolphin who feed here regularly and the large fish such as snook, grouper, yellowjack, speckled trout,

flounder, and many more varieties attracted by the deep glow illuminating underwater lights. The resort owners have doubled down on the marine biology theme by branding their boutique Bay Palms Waterfront Resort and Marina & Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resort –“Steve Diossy Inspired Resorts.”

Steve Diossy is a self-taught, Chicago-born marine artist whose art is all about good times, laughs and a laid-back coastal environment. His clever comical depictions of sea creatures are almost everywhere you look at these resorts. From the murals on the front walls facing Gulf Boulevard to just below the roofline, and in all the rooms.

Based in Vero Beach, on Florida’s east coast, Steve’s piece “Raw Bar,” depicting a marlin, a mahi-mahi, a grouper, and a blue crab enjoying drinks on the dock, was a launching pad that led Steve to start his own brand. The inspiration for “Raw Bar” was a weekend with three friends in the Florida Keys which was spent “in the water and at the bar.” Steve built on this, creating more art full of detail, recurring characters, and plenty of humor.

Another fan favorite,“Tito’s Cheers,” was created in collaboration with Tito’s Vodka and features some fun marine characters enjoying vodka-based drinks.  Of his art, Steve says: “It’s always more about us than the fish.

“I feel we are all fish out of water. As anyone who grew up in Florida knows, we all love being in and around the water. That’s definitely where I’m happiest!” Through his artwork, Steve reflects a great love of his community and natural surroundings. By frequently escaping to the beaches, he fuels his inspiration and endless desire to create vividly humorous and color-driven works of art. Steve’s art, as well as apparel and other fun products, can be found at his official gallery in Vero Beach, and other authorized retailers in Florida, as well as at www.SteveDiossy.com All his art pieces, as well as stickers and logoed Tervis cups are available at the lobby of the Plaza Beach Hotel.

Bayview Plaza and Bay Palms Waterfront Resorts

St. Pete Beach is a 6-mile-long island and these waterfront resorts are directly in the center of the island. Everything is within walking distance: grocery and drug store, restaurants, and shopping are just two blocks up the street. Activities such as

deep-sea fishing, parasailing, jet skiing, dolphin cruises, sunset cruises and many different island cruises are available close by.

Public transportation abounds here; you really do not need a car. High speed SunRunner buses with a terminal nearby connect St. Pete Beach to Tropicana Field. The performing arts centers, museums, attractions, restaurants, and shopping in downtown St. Petersburg. A PSTA trolley is available to experience all that the Pinellas beach communities to the north have to offer. St. Pete Beach is served by FreeBee. Get the app and you can summon a free electric ride anywhere in the city. Taxis, Ubers and Free Beach Ride vans are available too.

Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resort is an award-winning boutique resort of only seven suites located on a quiet inlet off Boca Ciega Bay just south and west of Belle Vista. All rooms have been completely renovated this year including all kitchens and bathrooms. Many rooms offer private balconies to take advantage of the fantastic views. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see dolphin, manatees as well as an amazing variety of seabirds and fish. Right next door, and also completely renovated this year, the Bay Palms Waterfront Resort - Hotel and Marina is an authentic Florida boutique

resort. It fronts on busy Gulf Boulevard, but out back it is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac of Boca Ciega Bay. With one of the largest privately owned fishing piers in St. Petersburg at 1,500 square feet, guests enjoy great fishing, watch manatees and dolphins, and dock their boats onsite. With a beautiful pool overlooking the Boca Ciega Bay, Bay Palms Waterfront Resort is a perfect destination for relaxation, and only 200 feet from the sandy beach on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Bay Palms offers some of the largest rooms in town, from spacious studio apartments with kitchenettes to large one-bedroom apartment suites. Enjoy all of the amenities: fitness room, wireless internet, parking, BBQ area, and private fishing pier.

The Czyszczon family purchased their first property, the Plaza Beach Hotel in 1988, then in 2002 purchased the Bayview Plaza Waterfront Resort, and in 2008 purchased the Bay Palms Waterfront Resort and Marina. The family is very active in the day-to-day operations, on property daily, and has a friendly staff ready to assist you with your authentic Florida vacation. Approved by AAA for Quality and Standards, these resorts received the Green Lodging seal from the state of Florida as well as Greenleader’s Gold Award from TripAdvisor for their efforts in conserving

and recycling. Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless internet access.

Complimentary self-parking and EV and Tesla charging are available onsite. As a guest of the Bayview Plaza and Bay Palms Waterfront Resorts, you will have full use of all the amenities at the Plaza Beach Hotel - Beachfront Resort including the private beach, large, heated pool overlooking the beach, beach chairs, beach towels, parking and many more amenities. See for yourself why so many people return to Plaza Beach Resorts year after year.

A true family friendly resort,“it’s our family providing other families a genuine and memorable family vacation, where there is something for everyone amongst our properties,” says proprietor Robert Czyszczon. Feel free to shop on any travel site, but for the guaranteed best rates visit PlazaBeachResorts.com. When you call about a stay at any of the Plaza Beach Resorts, please tell them you read about them in Paradise News. You will really enjoy the variety that comes with their offer, “Stay at One Resort and Play at All Three.”

Visit www.plazabeachresorts.com, email frontoffice@plazabeach.com or call toll-free 1-800-257-8998.

Amenities include:

• Heated Beachside and Bayside Pools

• Sugar White Private Beach filled with colorful Adirondack chairs.

• Free Morning Coffee in the lobby

• Daily Social Hour from 4-5pm with free beer and wine

• Mini-Golf, Ping Pong table

• Pool table, Shuffleboard

• 1950s styled Cornhole boards

• Foosball Table, large size Connect Four

• Human Size Chess / Checkers Field

• Two world-class Beach Volleyball courts

• Chris’s Beach Bar (a local’s beach bar favorite)

• Beachside and Bayside BBQ grills

• Private Fishing Piers

• Fishing Poles available

• Automated Cotton Candy Machine

• Washer and Dryer on site

• Beach Cabanas available

• Parking for each hotel guest with Tesla and EV charging available

• Fitness Room Usage

• Wireless High-Speed Internet Access

• Completely renovated

• Blazing Fast 5ghz Wi-Fi

• Full kitchens

• Nonsmoking rooms

• 42- 65-inch LED Smart TVs

The opportunity to play on the beach and on Boca Ciega Bay is the sauce that make these two old Florida resorts special. The owners have packed lots of fun activities into all three of their resorts, and especially the Plaza Beach Hotel-Beachfront Resort on the sand. That is where you go to check-in for the Bay Palms and Bayview Plaza, so you have an opportunity to get a good look at it. These three smaller hotels have been updated as much as possible without losing the “old Florida feel.”

Here are some 5-star online reviews from guests who loved it.

“Loved this place! Room was clean and had a cooktop stove, sink, full-size refrigerator, kitchen table and 2 chairs. The beds were extremely comfortable, and both had three pillows. Our room was on the bottom floor, and we literally walked right out to the water. Our view was the exact view that is on the website photo. There is a tiki bar on the beach that was so fun, and the bartender was great. Volleyball was being played on the beach daily. Everything on the grounds were clean and well-kept. The bathroom in the actual resort office is something everyone needs to see all the walls the floor and the ceiling are done in pennies and it’s absolutely beautiful the staff were amazing and easy to work with check in and out extremely easy. I will definitely be back to this resort! “

“Hidden Gem!!! Loved my stay at the Bay Palms! The rooms are quaint and pleasantly decorated. If you want a small kitchenette that is available. There is a beautiful deck overlooking a nice marina where you can sit and watch a beautiful sunrise or watch the manatees swimming! Check in was easy and the employees were very informative and helpful! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay!!! This is not a “fancy hotel” I would call this a hidden gem!!!”

7-NIGHT-DEALS-STEALS

The longer you stay, the more you save! See our best offers for your St. Pete Beach vacation.

PETS ARE PART OF THE FAMILY

The Bay Palms Waterfront Resort suites have been completely renovated, we’ll definitely have something for you and your best friend.

(800) 257-8998

www.plazabeachresorts.com

1ST

2BR/2BA, 1255 sqft condo, gated. Prime location and water views. Near elevator. Amenities include: 3 heated pools, tennis courts, gym, sauna, clubhouse, onsite manager. Judy Bader 727-698-3831, Jacqi Dockery 727-424-3700

219 2ND ST W 3BR/2BA pool home. 2-car garage. Block. Open floor plan. Pool view from French doors. Updated kitchen. Abundant windows. Natural light. Split floor. Master suite with walk-in closet. Screened-in pool. Fenced backyard. Near marina and beaches. Laura Dague, 813-440-9652

727-480-6126

131 YACHT CLUB LN ., TIERRA VERDE Waterfront 3BR/3BA townhouse. Deep water. Deeded boat slip. Jet ski dock. Quick Gulf access. Under building garage. Hardwood floors, dual balconies. Wood burning fireplace. Pets welcome. Pool, clubhouse, tennis courts. Julia Paulsen 727-463-4853

7530 SUNSHINE SKYWAY LN S, #116 1BR/2BA waterfront condo. Water views. Open living space. Natural stone flooring, high-impact sliders. Large balcony. Updated bathroom. Washer/dryer. Pool, tennis & pickleball courts, fishing pier, storage, carport. Blanka Prusova-White 727-480-6126

9510 36TH AVENUE E, PALMETTO 5-acre horse ranch. 4.99 acres. Paved driveway. Pond. 3,946 sq. ft., 2-story, 5BR/3BA/3Car garage. Eat-in kitchen, family room, fireplace. Elevated deck. 1BR/1BA log cabin. 20-stall, full size barn. Fenced training area. Randall Ierna 727-647-0813

3988 BELLE VISTA DRIVE E, ST. PETE BEACH 3BR/2.5BA beach sanctuary. Gourmet kitchen. Open-concept, outdoor water views. High wood-planked ceilings. Heated pool, jacuzzi and waterfall feature. Large updated boat dock. Deep water. 2 garages. Blanka Prusova-White

138

ST. E #106, THE VILLAGE AT TIERRA VERDE

Estate Planning, Elder Law & Real Estate Attorney

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new author of the legal column in Paradise News. I was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, and my family and I are happy to call Treasure Island home. When I’m not busy working, I enjoy spending time with my family and enjoying all of the wonderful outdoor activities our community provides such as swimming, biking, running, golfing, stand-up paddle boarding, and boating.

I am a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent attorney licensed in Florida and Tennessee handling Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Trusts, Guardianships, Trust Administrations, Asset Protection, Business Transactions, and Real Estate. I am also licensed as a Real Estate Broker in Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama, and I teach courses to Realtors on a variety of topics. I have worked on real estate transactions ranging from small vacant land deals to multi-billion-dollar portfolio transactions.

I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., with a Bachelor of Arts in 2006 and Stetson University College of Law right here in Gulfport, with a Juris Doctor in 2009. After practicing law for several years, I decided to go back to school part-time like Rodney Dangerfield, and I am presently enrolled in the Elder Law Masters Program at Stetson and will graduate with my Masters in Elder Law in Spring 2025.

I am a sole practitioner and pride myself on being the direct point of contact for my clients, so you don’t get lost in the bureaucratic shuffle or cut-off when your call is being transferred because I am the one who answers your call every time.

Eddie Rickenbacker, a World War I American fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient, once said, “If you make a commitment to get something done, you need to follow through on that commitment. I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through - then follow through. Do what you say you’re going to do. Follow through means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Thinking things through and then following through has never rung truer than when it comes to estate planning and preparing for your future. According to a recent survey, more than half of adults (55%) ages 26 to 41 say they spend more time planning for vacations than their retirement, and today it is also more common for someone to work well past the normal retirement age of 65 into their 70s and even 80s.

Whether you are in your 20s or 30s and starting a family or retiring from a 40+ year career and an empty-nester, having an estate plan and overall life plan is critical to the well-being and stability of you and your family.

Regardless of circumstances, a person should have a Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, Living Will, Designation of Healthcare Surrogate, and Declaration Naming Preneed Guardian to

By Anthony A. Velardi, Esq.

document your wishes both while you’re living and after you pass away. Furthermore, a Trust may be wise for a variety of reasons such as avoiding probate, holding funds for young beneficiaries, or protecting assets from a beneficiary’s creditors.

If you have a business, you may want to consider setting up an LLC, and if you are fortunate enough to have multiple streams of revenue, you may want to consider multiple LLCs to protect each separate stream of revenue. All of this and more goes into an estate plan and preparing for the future. While life is complicated, estate planning and planning for the future doesn’t have to be. Estate planning can be daunting, but I do my best to make the process seamless and effortless. As Eddie Rickenbacker so poignantly stated, it just takes the commitment to think things through and then follow through. If you take the time to set up a well-thought-out and considerate estate plan and life plan, your family will thank you, and you will sleep soundly at night.

Over the next few months, I plan to write informative legal articles on a variety of topics about estate planning, elder law, and real estate, and I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you out in the community.

Anthony

A. Velardi, Esq.

AV Law PLLC Treasure Island, FL 33706 (727) 641-4110

anthony@avlawpllc.com

PET HEALTH

monoclonal antibody therapy is working for pets

Spring is right around the corner and most of us can’t wait for it to arrive. It has been a long windy and rainy winter for us Floridians. I guess we can’t complain too much compared to our neighbors up north. But the future is bright for all of us including our pets. The reason? Monoclonal antibody therapy.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAs) are produced by a single cell line and are uniform, identical molecules that target specific items in the body. These are, in essence, molecules that tag other molecules or cells that are or should be considered to enhance or enable the body’s immune system to target and destroy that particular molecule. Sounds pretty cool right? Well, the applications of this technology may be virtually limitless.

By now you have likely seen commercials for Humira or Skyrizi? Well, these are two human forms of MA therapy that target specific molecules called interleukins and TNF, which are responsible for many types of inflammation. The same type of technology can be used to help our pets with significant increase in safety compared to our more traditional drugs and with increased efficacy.

Some of these we have been using for years. Do you have an itchy canine fur baby?

We have a MA therapy for that called Cytopoint. This particular MA targets interleukin-31 (IL-31). IL-31 is made by the body to signal the allergic response against outside triggers called allergens. The cytopoint antibody then attaches to IL-31 and prevents it from interacting with other cells therefore interrupting the allergic response. No itchier dog. Unfortunately, we do not have a similar drug for our feline companions just yet.

What we do have for our kitties is a way to give them relief of their osteoarthritis pain, however. Enter Solensia. Where most traditional osteoarthritis drugs must be used with caution in cats due to the potential side effects, Solensia is a very safe and effective means of giving them relief. This MA targets nerve growth factor (NGF) which in adult cats is responsible for the over-sensitization of the nerve endings where osteoarthritis is present. Solensia attaches to the NGF molecule and prevents it from interacting with the nerve endings, which decreases the pain signal.

We have seen cats that have become averse to jumping up and down on their cat trees and are sleeping all day to acting

By Dr. Johnathan Pierce

like they feel years younger within days of receiving the injection. We have also seen similar results with the canine version called Librella.

Ever heard of Canine Parvovirus? Yep, we also now have a game changer monoclonal antibody to aid in the treatment of parvo. One injection can help to reduce the severity and length of the disease, increasing the likelihood of successful treatment. We are only scratching the surface of what monoclonal antibody therapy can do. Speak with your veterinarian for more insight on how these therapies can improve the lives of your pets.

“Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatments. I’m now in remission and blessed to still be here but I was in so much pain. My feet and hands were constantly burning – a tingling sensation, almost like when your leg or arm falls asleep,” shares Beth of St. Pete Beach.

Beth was suffering from Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN). While chemotherapy kills cancer cells it also causes a lot of other damage throughout the body. 30-40% of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy result in peripheral neuropathy.

“Standing all day was not just a challenge, it caused me physical agony. Keeping up with my busy schedule forget about it. I couldn’t even go for walks on the beach.” Beth, like so many others, was prescribed gabapentin to help with the pain and told there was nothing anyone could do – in their words “there is no treatment for neuropathy.”

Then Beth found Dr. Dan Litwin, Dr. Gibbons, and their team at Achieve Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine. By blending the time-tested science of acupuncture with more modern, medical technology, they have designed a real solution for neuropathy.

“Acupuncture is incredible at restoring blood flow and stimulating damaged nerves, preventing them from dying off,” tells Dr. Gibbons.

“We take our treatments a step further by integrating ATP Resonance Bio Therapy, which targets specific nerves in the body using microcurrent. ATP therapy is like watering a plant. This treatment will stimulate the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients to heal and repair.”

After only four weeks of treatment Beth is already starting to feel improvement. “I can’t wait to see how I feel at the end of my program! Il used to think that this pain was just the price I have to pay for still being alive. Dr. Gibbons and her team have really given me hope for a better life!”

The number of treatments needed to allow the nerves to fully recover will vary from person to person and can only be determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation.

Dr. Litwin and Dr. Gibbons specialize in treating chronic pain, neuropathy, digestive and autoimmune disorders.

Call 727-272-3587 to schedule a consultation. To learn more, visit www.ACHIEVEACUIM.com.

The health benefits of combining hot and cold therapies

One of the wellness practices rising in popularity is combining cold therapy (cold plunging) with hot therapy (infrared sauna). But the truth is that people in Nordic countries have used hot/cold therapy for hundreds of years, having realized long ago that combining the two extremes has

synergistic health benefits. First, it must be noted that you should check with a healthcare professional before embarking on any hot/cold therapy adventure, especially if you have cardiovascular issues. One of the primary benefits of hot/cold therapy is that both introduce mild stress to your body, making it stronger and more adaptable – a process called the hormetic effect. However, each therapy offers its own specific health benefits.

Cold therapy, also called cold plunging, involves the use of an ice bath, and is meant to elicit a fight or flight response. Some of

the benefits include reduced inflammation, improved immune function, fat loss, increased energy level, boosted mood, and stress management. The mechanism for these benefits is the constriction of blood vessels and the release of cold shock proteins that occur when you plunge into ice cold water. The blood flows to the vital organs and away from the extremities. This activates your brown adipose tissue, which helps burn fat for energy to try and keep you warm. Once you exit the cold water, blood vessels start dilating to send warm and nutrient-dense blood to the cold extremities, helping to relieve pain and speed recovery. In fact, cold plunging is very effective after a hard workout but should be done in the first half of your day, as it has an energizing effect that is not conducive to sleep.

When it comes to time and temperature, cold plunging is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. You should start at a higher water temperature for a short amount of time and work your way towards the target temperature of 50-59 degrees Fahrenheit for 1-5 minutes. You can ease into cold plunging without stressing your body too much by first taking cold showers for 30-60 seconds to acclimate your body to cold

By Claire Brinsden Jordan

water. The key is to listen to your own body and acclimate slowly.

Hot therapy involves the use of infrared sauna to heat the body, causing a dilation of blood vessels as the body tries to cool itself. This dilation increases blood flow, which initially causes inflammation, but also speeds up the healing process. Some of the benefits of hot therapy include improved immune function, fat loss, relaxation and reduced stress, and improved sleep. Sauna bathing raises your core body temperature, as you would have with a mild fever. This triggers the release of white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils,

and interferons, which are your immune system’s antiviral army. Infrared radiation also increases your heart and metabolic rate, causing you to burn extra calories. As it has a calming effect, hot therapy is best in the latter part of your day, before you are ready to sleep.

There is a synergy that happens when you combine both therapies and practice the “Nordic cycle.” Each provides similar benefits using different mechanisms. Going from one extreme to the other creates the mild stress your body needs to thrive. For this reason, some people do a cold plunge followed by an infrared sauna

session, or vice versa. Here in St. Pete, Iceburg Cold Plunge, located on 19th St. N, and Restore Hyper Wellness on Fourth St. N, offer both therapies. Solace Sauna Studio on Central Avenue offers infrared sauna.

No matter your age or activity level, cold plunging and infrared sauna have health benefits everyone can enjoy. And while you may not feel like baking in a sauna in the heat of the Florida summer or plunging into cold water in the middle of winter, you can choose the therapy that best suits your needs, whatever the season.

FACE INJECTABLES LASER AESTHETIC BODY

Coundouriotis Facial Plastic Surgery & Laser Center is a full service facial plastic and cosmetic surgery practice specializing in the art and science of surgical and non-surgical procedures for the face, eyes, neck, and nose. The new MedSpa excels in aesthetic treatments and services to restore and maintain healthy, beautiful skin.

Dr. Coundouriotis is dual board-certified and fellowship-trained in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and offers the latest and most trusted cosmetic services including laser, injectables, eye rejuvenation, wrinkle treatments, CoolSculpting™, HydraFacials, microneedling with PRP and more.

“...I would recommend Dr. C to everyone I know. Not only is he a professional at what he does, but he goes over and above what’s necessary to see that you leave his office satisfied. He listens to your concerns and recommends the best options for you. He has all the latest equipment and stays up with all the new procedures...”

Andrew Coundouriotis, MD, FACS

HAPPY

Bodies of Water

About 55-60% of the human body is made of water, and it’s the body’s primary building material. On average you lose 2-3 quarts of water a day, which must be replenished by consuming food and drinks.

Water is essential for transporting nutrients, regulating body temperature, cushioning fragile tissues, and flushing waste. While you are out enjoying the many wonderful bodies of water in Tampa Bay, don’t forget about the importance of the water within!

Get Salty

When you hear the word “hydration”, you probably think about drinking water – lots of water. But proper hydration requires both water and the electrolytes sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

If your body lacks water, you become thirsty, but if you’re missing electrolytes, the body reacts in less obvious ways – low energy, headaches, muscle cramps, and insomnia. For true hydration, make sure you “get salty” with electrolytes, especially when exercising or enjoying the outdoors in the heat.

By Claire Brinsden Jordan

Flushing Fruits

Did you know that you get about 20% of the water you need from food? Fruits and vegetables are the best foods for hydration. These five fruits have the highest water content: melons, oranges, peaches, pineapples, and strawberries.

Looking for a tasty and hydrating snack? Why not make fruit kebabs! You can even freeze them for a cool treat in the summer. Fortunately, St. Pete is home to many farm fresh produce markets, so you can hydrate with fruits all year.

HANGING AROUND

By Caron Schwartz

GULFPORT, my hometown, keeping it weird

We just had our ninth annual Fine Arts Festival; seventh annual ReadOUT; Peace, Love and Blueberries Fest; 20th annual Get Rescued; and even the first Valentine Doggy Flash Mob.

Amid all this activity there was a Cash Mob organized by Bob Dauch, the reigning Gecko Queen. In the spirit of keeping Gulfport weird, we elect a Gecko Queen – gender and orientation irrelevant – at our annual end-of-summer bacchanalia, the Gecko Ball. Dauch, known for arranging these fun fundraising events both here and in his former home turf of Cleveland, called on us locals to patronize* the newest Gulfport coffee establishment, the Annex Coffee House on 22nd Avenue S.

What used to be a produce stand, then the short-lived Two Dads take-out joint, is now a tiny roadside cafe. They not only serve all manner of coffee beverages brewed with local roaster Kahwa beans, but you can also get tea, kombucha, a smoothie, or something chewable like a chicken salad croissant, Cuban sandwich, or a cookie. And despite appearances, it’s not just a drive-thru; there’s limited seating inside and out and even a surprisingly spacious (and immaculate) restroom. I enjoyed a cappuccino while schmoozing and basking in the brisk but sunny afternoon.

In March you’ll find me at Tardi Gras; the Peace, Love & Pride Festival; Art in the Yard; the beloved Pink Flamingo Home Tour; and probably a Cash Mob or two.

*This being Gulfport, I’m not sure if the word “patronize” is kosher. Should I use “matronize” or maybe “gaytronize”?

Women’s History Month

I have been in love with a female Leo for over half a century. She is both my motivation and my inspiration, and the source of my belief that behind most men that accomplish things, are amazing women full of encouragement.

Nationally we recognize the women who brought sobriety to the nation, who fought to vote, and those who went to work during the world wars.

At the St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 2nd Ave. NE, the big permanent exhibits are a replica of Benoist Airboat that made the world’s first commercial flight, and an amazing collection of baseballs, as spring training is as much part of St. Petersburg’s history as the Pier on which the museum sits. A special exhibit, however, on display through year-end, celebrates the women in St. Petersburg’s history.

From the Pinellas Peninsula’s first settlers to the trailblazers of today, women have always had a hand in the development of  St. Petersburg. Referred to as “meddling” by historians for stepping out of gender norms and into male-dominated spaces, these women were politicians, civic leaders, educators, real estate developers, business owners and more.

Through photographs, info panels, artifacts and video, this exhibit shares the stories of the women who created the Sunshine City. This exhibit was made possible through funding by the Adelphi Trust Company, the first trust company in Florida founded, owned and led by women.

www.spmoh.com

Creative Clay’s March ArtWalk exhibit, Inspire Inclusion, also Celebrates Women’s History Month. Tour their studios and visit their Creative Thrift store for artists’

By Peter Roos

supplies and treasures! Enjoy portrait drawing by the artists of Creative Clay and live music performance by Deb Ruby. The Inspire Inclusion exhibit runs through the end of April.

Creative Clay’s mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives by providing expressive, educational and vocational experiences in the arts. The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.

The IWD 2024 campaign theme is Inspire Inclusion. When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. This exhibit may be viewed in person at Creative Clay. Its hours are 9am-4pm, Mon.-Fri., and each second Saturday ArtWalk 5-9pm. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram @creativeclaystpete, LinkedIn and Twitter@creativeclay. Creative Clay’s virtual gallery, on its Good Folk Gallery page, includes the artwork of many of Creative Clay’s member artists. The member artists of Creative Clay are empowered to become active, working artists who create, exhibit, and sell their artwork in the Good Folk Gallery and at venues through-

out Tampa Bay. Member Artists’ work is also available for purchase in the virtual gallery on their website. Artists receive 50% commission on all works sold. www.creativeclay.org

There is a Gulf Beaches Historical Museum located in the oldest church on the island, thanks to Joan Haley, a widowed journalist who moved to the beach in 1952 from Washington, D.C. Her passion for historic preservation, love of antiques, and curiosity about the area prompted her to sell her bayfront property in 1959, purchase the old church and make it her very special home. Upon her death in 1989, Mrs. Haley left the church property to Pinellas County to be used as an island museum. The museum has been run by volunteers, mostly women, since it opened in 1993. It is a treasure of all things north of Pass-a-Grille, The Sunshine School, The War Years, and houses a host of video recordings of pioneers talking about growing up in the area. The Museum is open for visitation Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm and Sundays from 1-4pm. 727-552-1610 www.gulfbeachesmuseum.org

The Gulf Beaches Historical Museum’s Island Festival is back on March 23, 11:30am-4pm. Car show on 9th Ave. in Pass-a-Grille. Cabana Dogs will be playing 12-4pm. Hot dogs and hamburgers, beer, wine, and Grillin & Chillin barbecue with sides. 50/50 & silent auction.

Paradise News has shared a number of stories in the past about some of the famous women in the beaches’ past. We published a major story for example, as a memorial for Joan Hurley Young. Best known as the local star of Romper Room in her early years 1965-1980,

June Hurley Young became a journalist, author and preservationist in her own right. She is credited with saving our treasured Don Cesar Resort and a role in rescue of the Vinoy from the wrecking ball.

As St. Petersburg celebrates Women’s History Month, it also reflects on the ongoing journey toward gender equality and inclusivity. While much progress has been made, challenges persist, highlighting the importance of continuing to honor the legacies of past trailblazers and amplifying the voices of women in all spheres of society.

Pioneering Entrepreneurs

Among the notable female figures in St. Petersburg’s history are women who defied societal norms to establish thriving businesses. One such luminary is Caroline H.“Mother”Anthony, who in the late 19th century, opened a boarding house that became a cornerstone of the local hospitality industry. Her entrepreneurial spirit laid the groundwork for future generations of businesswomen in the area.

Civic Leaders and Activists

The archives of St. Petersburg’s history are replete with the stories of women who advocated for social change and spearheaded movements for equality. In the mid-20th century, educator and civil rights activist, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, left an indelible mark on the city through her tireless efforts to advance education and champion civil rights causes. Her legacy continues to inspire activism and progress in St. Petersburg and beyond.

Cultural Influencers

Women have long been at the forefront of St. Petersburg’s vibrant cultural scene, shaping its artistic landscape and enriching its cultural heritage. Poet and author, Helen Pruitt Wallace, captured the essence of the city through her evocative verses, while artist Martha Bennett King showcased the beauty of St. Petersburg’s landscapes through her captivating paintings. Their artistic contributions endure as testaments to the city’s creative spirit.

Educators and Mentors

Throughout St. Petersburg’s history, women have served as pillars of education, nurturing young minds and fostering intellectual growth. Dr. Daphne M. Johnston, a distinguished educator and advocate for educational equity, dedicated her career to empowering students and promoting inclusive learning environments. Her impact on the educational landscape of St. Petersburg continues to resonate, shaping the aspirations of future generations.

Trailblazing in Civic Leadership

In the realm of civic leadership, Mary Grizzle stands out as a trailblazer whose impact reverberated far beyond St. Petersburg. Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1963, she became the first woman to chair a standing committee in the state’s legislature. Throughout her tenure, Grizzle championed legislation focused on education, conservation, and social welfare, leaving an indelible mark on Florida’s political landscape.

The rich tapestry of St. Petersburg’s history is woven with the threads of women’s courage, resilience, and ingenuity. From the boardroom to the classroom, from the streets to the galleries, their contributions have left an indelible imprint on the city’s collective identity. As the community commemorates Women’s History Month, it pays tribute to these unsung heroines and reaffirms its commitment to building a future where every woman’s story is celebrated and honored.

By Peter Roos

Historical Gems from Pinellas County’s South Gulf Beach Communities

It all began in … Pass-a-Grille

Pass-a-Grille’s resort debut occurred during the last year of the third and final Seminole War (1856-57). “Old settler John A. Bethell conceded in 1914 that Pass-a-Grille was making good at last.” Excursion boats (from Disston City, now Gulfport to P-a-G), usually running Wednesdays and Sundays from 7am to 10pm, were bringing thousands of visitors to Pass-a-Grille in the era of the 50-cent shore dinner.

The day after Tony Jannus flew the world’s first commercial flight on Jan. 1, 1914, from St. Petersburg to Tampa, Pass-a-Grille host George Lizotte and a friend, Richard Gaylord, hired Jannus to fly passengers from Pass-a-Grille. It is believed to be the first time an airplane had been chartered for commercial purposes in the United States. For three days the amphibian plane took passengers on 25-minute flights over the Gulf as far as Egmont Key, returning to Pass-a-Grille. (Surf, Sand & Postcard Sunsets by Frank T. Hurley Jr.)

The first bridge to Long Key, now known as St. Pete Beach, was the McAdoo bridge, which opened for business on Feb. 4, 1919. It was a wooden toll bridge that extended from Villa Grande Ave. in St. Petersburg to 87th Ave. in St. Petersburg Beach and cost 25¢ to cross to the beach. William D. McAdoo, a Greensboro, N.C., hotel owner, had steered his yacht to Pass-a-Grille in 1916. He sought “an opportunity to make a big noise,” said George Lizotte,

then Pass-a-Grille’s mayor. McAdoo built the First Gulf Beach bank building (most recently the Bank of America) and 500 acres in north Long Key once owned by C. Perry Snell, H. Walter Fuller and Roy Hanna. St. Petersburg Beach’s first mayor was Bill Upham, whose family donated Upham Beach, the Chamber of Commerce building and the block that the Gulf Beaches Elementary School, now a math and science magnet school, sits on, among other gifts to the city and county.

The second bridge to St Petersburg Beach was built to end on Corey Avenue, which is now the city’s downtown shopping district. The first bridge constructed in the 1930s was a low-level two-lane drawbridge. The southbound span consisting of a high-level drawbridge was constructed in 1966 one block north of the 1930s span. A northbound span paralleling 1966 southbound span replaced the 1930s bridge in 1975.

St. Pete Beach City Hall and the largest full-service U.S. Post Office on the south barrier islands are near Corey’s east end. At Corey’s west end there’s a beautiful view of sunset from two city parks. One park, aptly named “Sunset Park,” offers views through “Blind Pass” to the Gulf of Mexico. That view can also be seen from the bar at “82 Degrees,” one of St. Pete Beach’s top new restaurants. St. Pete Beach is “Sunset Capital of Florida” thanks to an idea from Renee Roos. Google the story “St. Pete Beach set to shine as the Sunset Capital of Florida!”

HISTORY

Tierra Verde

Other than folks connected with Fort Desoto, which was built in 1898 and turned into a park in 1963, the first memorable resident of the area was the colorful Silas Dent, “the Happy Hermit of Cabbage Key,” who lived there from 1912 to 1952. Silas kept a few head of cattle and would row fresh milk to Pass-a-Grille each day for the hospitality industry.

Later, as developers Louis and Fred Berlanti reshaped 15 islands into a park-like setting on six isands, Tierra Verde became the home of Guy Lombardo’s “Port-O-Call Resort” where Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Liberace, Mel Tormé, and many other musical and theatrical stars performed.

A mural from the lobby of the Port-O-Call Resort depicting the history of Tierra Verde Island, is on display in the lobby of Steve Westphal’s Island Grill and Raw Bar, which sits where the resort once sat. Pinellas County’s largest park with the biggest boat launch facility and the only public campground is also home to a world-famous beach and a fort that has become a tourist attraction in its own right.

Fort Desoto Beach awards:

“Best Family Beach” – USA TODAY (2013)

“No. 4 - America’s Top 25 Beaches - 2013” – TripAdvisor

“No. 20 - World’s Top 25 Beaches - 2013” – TripAdvisor

“Best Family Beach” – Parents magazine (2011)

“No. 1 Beach in America” – Dr. Beach (2005)

John’s Pass – Madeira Beach

On September 27, 1848, a hurricane passed through the area now known as Madeira Beach and destroyed much of the shoreline. John LeVeque was sailing his ship homeward and looking for a way to pass through back to safe harbors. Theorists agree that he might have been looking for Blind Pass, or even Pass-a-Grille, but instead he found a more northerly opening never seen before. It was from this time that the new opening was to be called John’s Pass in honor of John LeVeque’s first passage.

Today John’s Pass Village has become one of the top tourist destinations on Florida’s West Coast. It is home to waterfront shops, dining, marinas, charter fishing, sunset cruises, watercraft rentals and entertainment of all types. There is always something to do at

John’s Pass and each year thousands of visitors, seasonal residents, and locals all converge here to spend their days enjoying the scenery and atmosphere.

Treasure Island

“Sand Sculpture Capital of Florida”

Treasure Island was originally settled in small communities by the Tocobaga natives around 300 CE. The Timucua traded with other native tribes in the area until 1528. The arrival of Pánfilo de Narváez decimated the natives before the Spaniards left the area in search of gold. The 1848 hurricane that formed John’s Pass also split off two smaller islands (now the Isle of Palms and Isle of Capri).

So, you ask, how did Treasure Island get its name? After William D. McAdoo bought 500 acres in north Long Key, to boost sales of the properties being developed on the island, he and his handyman secretly buried two wooden chests on Coney Island Beach. Swearing them to silence, he brought two strangers to the spot to discover the treasure chests on the beach. The news of the discoveries spread quickly. People began to call the island …Treasure Island!

McAdoo sold his holdings for $1.8 million in 1920 and his bridge was demolished in 1928. Treasure Island had a surge in growth with the residential home and hotel development following World War II through the 1950s.

By Peter Roos

These ventures were usually built on fill from dredged material. Treasure Island got its claim to fame as the home to the champion sand sculpting team of Dan and Meredith Doubleday, who with the city of Treasure Island host Sanding Ovations, a worldwide sand sculpting competition here each year. This year’s main event will be November, 21-24.

RECYCLING CORRECTLY IS CRITICAL

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Waste Management Hierarchy recommends managing waste in this order

1. reduction; 2 reuse; 3. recycling; 4. creating electricity via waste-to-energy; 5. landfilling as a last resort.

Pinellas County Solid Waste follows the EPA’s hierarchy; it operates an integrated solid waste management system with programs for waste reduction, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and disposal. While the county’s waste-to-energy process provides a beneficial use for garbage by reducing its volume and creating electricity, it is considered “energy recovery,” not “recycling.” Recycling is preferred over energy recovery because it saves natural resources by avoiding the depletion of virgin materials.

The greatest environmental benefit of recycling is conservation of natural resources, such as energy. Recycling also prevents pollution that is generated when a raw material is used to make a new product. For example:

• Recycling glass takes 30% less energy than producing glass from raw materials. Glass is used to make fiberglass and glass containers. Glass never wears out and can be recycled infinitely

• Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy that is needed to make aluminum from its virgin source. Aluminum cans are 100% recyclable and there is no limit to how many times they can be recycled. Around 75% of the aluminum ever made is still in circulation.

• The U.S. recycling rate for mixed paper has met or exceeded 63% since 2009. Recycled mixed paper can be recycled 5-7 times to make new paper products.

• The U.S. recycling rate for cardboard has exceeded 82% since 2009. In 2021, the recycling rate for cardboard was 91.4%.

• Recycling high-density polyethylene or HDPE bottles and jugs (plastic milk, water, and laundry detergent bottles & jugs) reduces total energy consumption by 88% compared to making the items out of virgin materials.

• Recycling polyethylene terephthalate or PET plastic bottles (examples of this plastic are soft drink bottles, water bottles, and peanut butter jars) reduces total energy consumption by 79% compared to making this plastic out of virgin materials.

Based on the county’s projected population growth and increased waste generation:

• The county’s WTE Facility will reach operating capacity in 2026, which means that more garbage will need to be landfilled without the added benefit of the WTE’s volume reduction.

• The county’s landfill has just 80 years of remaining life if recycling continues at today’s rates.

• If residents were to stop recycling today, the landfill would be full and out of service within 60 years.

As Florida’s most densely populated county, Pinellas County lacks the space to build another landfill. Once the landfill is out of service, the county will need to ship waste out of county, which will be expensive due to disposal fees and loading and transportation costs.

What Can and Cannot Be Recycled?

Recycle Guide www.pinellas.gov/recycle-guide-pdf

By Lisa Piazza

While recycling collection is managed independently by municipalities and private haulers, it all goes to the county. The Recycle Guide is designed to provide universal recycling guidelines to all Pinellas County residents. No matter where you recycle in Pinellas County, if you follow this guide – you’ll be recycling the correct items. If you have questions, visit www.pinellas.gov/topic/garbage-and-recycling-for-homes

Information, insight, and support when caring for an aging loved one.

Elli Baldwin, CDP, Co-founder and President of Sunways Senior Living Concierge

I am so excited for us to be part of the Paradise News team, and to be able to share information, insight, and lessons learned while navigating the maze that is senior healthcare. I will start by sharing a bit of my background and what led me into the senior healthcare industry. Then, I will share insight into what to expect in my column in the coming months.

I don’t come from the healthcare space. My husband, Mark, and I were technology recruiters for over 15 years, helping many companies across the country hire and retain top talent. When Mark’s vibrant grandmother suddenly had a stroke, our family was thrown, like so many others, into crisis management. We found ourselves navigating senior care options and choices that we were not prepared for nor educated to make.

We were overwhelmed and in over our heads. Maybe you can relate if you have gone through a similar experience. Not only did we have to make decisions about placement into long-term care, but also needed to tackle topics that involved eldercare lawyers, downsizing, arranging an estate sale, hiring a real estate agent to sell her home, etc. We made many mistakes along the way, but also learned so much that usually only experience can teach us.

At that time, Mark and I realized that we were not the only family that was facing these types of decisions. Seniors and their family caregivers needed more support and education to make the best decisions possible to avoid the missteps that we had made. We wanted to help families, and that became our mission for Sunways Senior Living Concierge. We created the service that we wished we had found when we needed it.

Sunways is a free referral and placement service that helps families understand what their options are during the aging process.

We connect them with care and resource options to remain in their home as long as possible, if that is desirable and sustainable.

We also handhold them through the process of knowing what their options are for senior living communities, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Long-Term Care facilities.

Since starting in 2018, we have helped thousands of families and grown our team of local Senior Living Concierges along the Suncoast including right here in Pinellas County. Because we live and work locally in your “bubble,” we know what all of the local senior healthcare resources are, as well as senior living communities, so that we can best serve our clients. Our goal is to empower the families we work with to feel educated to make their own decisions that they feel good about.

In months to come we will be sharing some of our biggest lessons, tips, and insights. The “what I wish I would have known” list, so to speak. Articles that cover what care services Medicare will cover, what respite options are available for caregivers to help avoid burnout, questions to ask when touring a senior living community, understanding the different levels of care and licensing at senior living communities to avoid having multiple moves, benefits that can help pay for care like Veteran benefits and Medicaid...and so much more.

By Elli Baldwin, CDP

If you have any specific topics or questions you would love for me to cover, please reach out to me directly via email or phone below. Also, our Sunways website has a Caregiver blog and many free downloads and resources, so be sure to check it out! www.sunways seniorliving.com/blog

Always remember, you don’t have to walk this journey alone. Our services are free to our clients, please reach out to me at any time to discuss your unique situation to see how we can support you. See you next month!

Sunways Senior Living Concierge www.sunwaysseniorliving.com info@sunwaysseniorliving.com 727-314-6415

5969 Cattleridge Blvd., Ste. 101, Sarasota, FL 34232

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN TAMPA BAY

ST. PADDY FEST ST. PETE March 16 – March 17

10am-10pm, Williams Park, downtown St. Pete. A fun-filled 2-day festival celebrating all things Irish with tons of food and live music, featuring Irish step dancers, the Dunedin Pipe Band, and a Highland Games exhibition. Presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey and the City of St. Pete.

SATURDAY 3/16

Mainstage Williams Park

12-2:30pm Sean Walsh

2:30-3pm Stepdancers TBD

3-5:30pm Chad McDonald

5:30-6pm Dunedin Pipe Band

6-9pm Drunken Shrubbery

Mary Margaret’s Inside Stage

1-4pm Cage

5-8pm Sean Walsh

9pm-1am Chad McDonald

SUNDAY 3/17 The Holy Day

Mainstage Williams Park

12-2:30pm Sean Walsh

2:30-3pm Dunedin Pipe Band

3-5:30pm Chad McDonald

5:30-6pm Step dancers

6-9pm Drunken Shrubbery

Mary Margaret’s Inside Stage

11:30am-2pm Chad McDonald

3-6:30pm Sean Walsh

7-11pm Cage

www.paddyfeststpete.com

The event will once again partner with acclaimed local waterway habit restoration charity Ocean Aid 360 to help fund their important work leading and protecting Tampa Bay and inlet waters. Visit www.oceanaid360.org to learn more about their work.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY BASH

March 15 – March 17

Cricketers British Pub & Restaurant in Dunedin is once again hosting their annual St. Patrick’s Day Parking Lot Party!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend with live music, delicious food, and a 50/50 raffle featuring all proceeds to benefit the Suncoast Animal League. Entry and parking are both free.

2634 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin • www.cricketerspub.com

Friday, March 15: 8pm Hurricane Shane Band

Saturday, March 16: 12pm Suncoast Animal League Adoption, 4pm Doyle’s Revenge, 8pm Jeriko Turnpike

Sunday, March 17: 12pm Lucid Druid, 4pm Voo Doods, 8pm Smooth D & The Boys

ST. PATRICK’S DAY BAR CRAWL IN ST. PETE

March 17 • 242 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg

www.eventbrite.com/e/st-petersburg-official-st-patricks-day-bar-crawltickets-650533562397

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the greenest style this March 17 at an exciting event that will take you on an Official St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl adventure like no other. Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of the Irish as you crawl the city, exploring some of the best establishments and indulging in the festivities that await you at each stop. This St. Patrick’s Day, join fellow crawlers for an unforgettable Official St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl experience that will make you feel lucky to be part of the celebration. Tickets https://bit.ly/st-pete-stpaddys-crawl

ST. PATRICK’S DAY ON COREY AVE. March 16 • Corey Ave. The Swigwam Beach Bar will once again celebrate their anniversary with Chill, Twisted Tiki and Grapes Wine Bar, while everyone celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on Corey Ave. 3/16 this year (so as to not interfere with the Corey Sunday Market.) The 300 block will close from Blind Pass to the funeral home driveway from 8am till midnight with a street party from 10am-11pm. 3 bands will entertain with a DJ between sets (Sandy Bottom Boys, Beach Ratz, Full Throttle).

ST. PATRICK’S EVENTS

It’s that time of year again for the wearin’ o’ the green and probably, the spendin’ o’ the green. Here’s a few events that could leave you feeling the luck of the Irish.

3/10 – St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

5-8pm, O’Keefe’s Tavern, 1219 S Ft. Harrison, Clearwater. Feast on traditional cabbage, coffee, bread, potatoes, and Shepherd’s pie. www.okeefestavern.com

3/14 – St. Patty’s Party (glass painting)

6-9pm, Mastry’s Brewing Co., 7701 Blind Pass Road, St. Pete Beach. Create your own designer party glassware for the St. Patty’s holiday. www.mastrysbrewingco.com

3/16 – Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K/10K/1 Mile Run

HOB Brewing Company, 431 Huntley Ave., Dunedin Wear your best green outfit to add to the cheer of this amazing full day of celebration in Dunedin’s Green Street party. Check in is race day only at the HOB Brewing Company pavilion at 7:45am and the 5K/10K begin at 8:30am. www.727canrace.com/calendar

3/16 – Adam-Bomb St. Patrick’s Day Trivia

7:30-10pm, Grindhaus Brew Lab, 1650 N Hercules Ave., Unit 1, Clearwater. Play in teams of up to six, or on your own. Hosted by podcaster/YouTuber Adam Corcovilos. www.grindhausbrewlab.com

3/16 – Indian Shores St. Patrick’s Day Festival

11am-4pm, Municipal Center, 19305 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores. This popular festival features live entertainment, music, arts and crafts vendors, food, beer, wine, and much much more. https://bit.ly/indian-shores-stpaddys

3/16 – Shamrock ‘N Run St. Paddy’s Day Race 6pm, Ulmer Park, 301 W. Bay Drive, Largo. Enjoy picturesque Ulmer Park in downtown Largo as you stretch your legs in the 5K, 1.5-mile walk, or Kids Fun Run. Race and Walk begin at 6pm, Fun Run 7:15pm. For details and registration, visit http://tinyurl.com/bdzexrjw

3/17 – St. Patrick’s Day in the Courtyard

5pm-until, The Village Courtyard, 2902-2914 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport. The North End Taphouse & Kitchen will offer traditional Irish cuisine options along with an Irish Song Open Mic Night hosted by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leify Green. Bring an instrument and join in the jam! www.facebook.com/villagecourtyard

3/17 – St. Patrick’s Day Lunch Cruise

Yacht StarShip Dining Cruises, 603 Channelside Dr., Tampa www.yachtstarship.com/event/tampa-st-patricks-day-lunch-cruise Board Yacht StarShip in your best green attire to celebrate the luck of the Irish on the water! Enjoy a festive lunch buffet with Irish fixings and DJ entertainment that is sure to keep you moving. Yacht StarShip’s St. Patrick’s Day lunch is always a festive good time! Ticket Includes: 2-hour cruise, lunch buffet with Irish inspired dishes, complimentary coffee & iced tea, bar drinks available for purchase, DJ entertainment & dancing.

The St. Petersburg Jazz Festival is supported by:

EMIT • Florida Arts & Culture

City of St. Petersburg

WUSF • WADA

Husonics • Arts Axis

National Endowmwnt for the Arts

CETL & St. Petersburg College

Radio St. Pete

Tampa Bay Newspapers

ART NEWS

March is Youth Art Month!

The Clearwater Arts Alliance and Creative Pinellas present K-8th grade works of art from Pinellas County Schools with the theme Visual Movement: How can one convey motion or action through art? The exhibit runs from 3/2-31 at the Creative Pinellas Gallery in Largo, with an opening reception 3/3 from 1:30-3pm. https://bit.ly/ pinellas-creative-youth

Shout OUT Gulfport’s LGBTQ Resource Center has a new name: OUT Arts & Culture. The new name, which was revealed at the organization’s annual meeting, more closely reflects the organization’s mission and goals.

Selfie pandemic Art insurer Hiscox warns against “a pandemic of selfies” harming artworks in museums around the world. Visitors snapping self-portraits are backing into art, or tripping and falling on artworks, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage. Keep that selfie stick at home!

Arts & economics Learn how vital the arts are to our civic lives, tourism, and the economy at Creative Pinellas’s Arts & Economic Prosperity Forum 3/21, from 9am-12pm at the EpiCenter at St. Petersburg College. https://bit.ly/ arts-prosperityforum

Creative Pinellas presents Strength of Character, an exhibition featuring large-scale paintings by Edgar Sanchez Cumbas, sculptural wood pieces

by Kathleen & David Bly (Jib Projects), and assembled objects by Kendra Frorup. Opening reception 3/14, 6-8pm. On view through 4/28. https://bit.ly/creative-strength

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts and several Pinellas County nonprofits. Creative Pinellas awarded Beyond Placemaking Artist Grants to 10 Pinellas County Artists. $10,000 grant winners are AGalban, Sheila Cowley, Tiffany Elliott, Laurie Elmer, Debbie Garrett, Dr. Dallas Jackson, Tamia Iman Kennedy, and Dakota Parkinson. $15,000 winners are Polita Glynn and Jema. https://bit.ly/ beyond-placemaking

There’s a new center for art, music, and ukulele at Creative Learning House. Classes and workshops include Music Makers for young children, ukulele for all ages, and art programs for all. www.creative learninghouse.com

Hold onto your wallet Join us for the Gulf Coast Artists’ Alliance Annual Artsy Rummage Sale, featuring gently used arts and crafts supplies, artwork, prints, books, frames, mats, fabric, jewelry, displays, equipment, and more! 3/23, 10am-3pm.

https://bit.ly/gcaafl-classes

Four decades Since 1984 the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School has served as a magnet program for artistically talented students. The Morean is hosting the Four Decades: PCCA Faculty + Alumni Exhibition through 3/28. More exhibitions featuring alumni, faculty, and students will continue throughout the year.

https://bit.ly/morean-4-decades

Kristen Shepherd, former executive director and CEO of the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts, has launched a consulting company. Shepherd Lane + Associates provides consulting, project management facilitation and training, media and public speaking training, and interim leadership services for museums and art institutions.

www.shepherdlane.com

Yo mama The Museum of Motherhood holds its annual International MoM Conference: Threads of Connection: Sorry/ Not Sorry. Accessible on Zoom and onsite at The Factory in St. Pete 3/22-24.

https://bit.ly/momm-exhibits

“EARTH without ART is EH”

The grand opening of Raven Skyriver and Kelly O’Dell’s dual exhibit will be held 3/9-10 at the Duncan McClellan Gallery. The two glass artists, who focus on sea animals, will have a lecture and demonstration 3/10 from 12-4pm.

www.dmglass.com

By Caron Schwartz

Get fired up at a Gott Glass glassblowing class. Learn something new or hone your skills with one-on-one guidance from professional glassblower Susan Gott. Classes run through March and April. www.gottglass.com.

Spittin’ distance Spitfire Comedy House is offering a weekend of workshops with guest improv masters Aden and Eric Nepom 3/9-10. https://bit.ly/spitfire-nepom

Or get your schtick together at a Spitfire Sunday Drop-In from 2-4pm. This 18+-only improv class is open to all levels, focusing on new techniques, practices, and frameworks to make you a better improviser on and offstage.

https://bit.ly/spitfire-classes

Candlelight Orchestra presents From Bach To The Beatles, a live, multi-sensory musical experience at Coastal Creative under the gentle glow of candlelight. 3/14, shows at 6:30 and 9pm. https://bit.ly/ coastal-orchestra

Get back to the garden

Check out Tampa Bay Watch’s inaugural Botanical Bash 3/10 from 1-4pm. This unique event immerses you in the beauty and versatility of native gardens with engaging and educational activities. https://bit.ly/ tbw-botanical-bash

Gulfport’s Brenda McMahon Gallery is celebrating the works of Creative Pinellas Emerging Artist Grant winner Agueda Zabisky in March. Meet the artist 3/16 from 6-8pm at the gallery. www.brendamcmahon gallery.com

Another Gulfport gallery, DRV Gallery, presents an exhibition of owner Deserie Valloreo’s work in April. The Human Condition opens 4/5 with an opening reception from 6-8pm and will be on display through 4/20. https://bit.ly/ drv-human-condition

Artsy-craftsy gala The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement hosts its Annual Gala benefiting MAACM’s education program. Wear cocktail or semi-formal attire to delight in dinner, craft cocktails, exciting live auction, and more. 3/23 at 7pm.

Spring has sprung

Take in local artists’ pieces of artwork during the city of South Pasadena Annual Artspring Exhibition 3/22-23, 10am-3pm. The gallery is located on the first floor of City Hall. Artists welcome to apply! 727-347-4171 or email cityhall@mysouth pasadena.com

Dress like an Egyptian

The Museum of Fine Arts presents Egyptomania: Fashion’s Conflicted Obsession with Darnell-Jamal Lisby, assistant fashion curator at the Cleveland Museum. 3/14, 6-7pm. https://bit.ly/ mfa-egyptomania

Main squeeze The Morean’s eighth annual celebration of emerging Florida artists, Fresh Squeezed, runs 4/13-6/27 at the Morean Arts Center.

https://bit.ly/morean-fresh

The Florida Holocaust Museum has become the permanent home of writer and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel’s entire archive, including a re-creation of his office. Most documents will be housed in the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library at USF St. Pete and will anchor USF’s new Elie Wiesel Center for Humanitarian Ethics.

https://bit.ly/fhm-march

But does she take email?

If you’ve ever stood in wonder before da Vinci’s Mona Lisa at the Louvre, you may have noticed a little mailbox nearby. No, it’s not a suggestion box, it’s for fan mail. If you can’t get to Paris you can always post a letter to Musée du Louvre, Service des publics, A l’attention de Mona Lisa, 75058 Paris Cedex 01, France.

TASTEful Join The Straz Center for their annual eat-and-drink extravaganza! TASTE at The Straz puts you on Tampa’s beautiful Riverwalk with access to the Bay area’s best food, craft brews, cocktails, live music, and more. 4/27, 7pm.

https://bit.ly/2024-straz-taste

OurChildrenHaveRights.org

By Peter Roos

Most of the advertisers in Paradise News over the years have fit into a few general categories, like real estate, medical, home improvement or entertainment. One of our favorite new advertisers in 2023, OurChildrenHave Rights.org, fits in none of those categories. Co-founders Jake Hornstein and Greg Hill started their not-for-profit organization to help children be properly parented by providing education, resources, and support services for successful co-parenting strategies. They work full time at other careers, and take no compensation from their non-profit, yet spend their free time giving 950 one-on-one consultations via Zoom, FaceTime, phone, email, or text, and 300 document reviews, all at no cost, saving each client hundreds, totaling over $300,000 in savings for 2023. They also make themselves available for workshops and speaking engagements.

Children who grow up without access to both responsible and accountable parents are:

• 4 times more likely to live in poverty

• 9 times more likely to drop out of school

• 10 times more likely to abuse drugs

• 11 times more likely to have violent behavior

• 20 times more likely to land in jail

The goal of OurChildrenHaveRights.org is to make the often difficult challenge of establishing custody of a child, a seamless process for parents. Their efforts were recognized by Amplify Clearwater with 2023 “Launch” and “Community Spirit” awards.

They got a small grant from Florida Kidcare and recognition from the Florida Coalition for Children, the Florida Juvenile Justice Association, and Tampa Bay Thrives. They aid the State of Florida by:

• Strengthening families to keep them off welfare

• Increasing public safety

• Lowering the burden on publicly funded programs. When child support is paid regularly, children’s custodial parents are less likely to rely on welfare, food assistance and Medicaid. Fathers who pay child support are more likely to be involved in their children’s lives.

Co-founder and COO Jake Hornstein says the organization’s success stories in Paradise News in 2023 helped them connect with new clients, including grandparents calling about a child’s kids as well as with donors helping them pay for their outreach. Contact Jake at JakeHornstein@OurChildrenHaveRights.com or visit www.OCHR.org for information or to make a donation.

Paradise News truly appreciates our partnerships with not-for-profit organizations like OurChildrenHaveRights.org, the five Chambers of Commerce to which we belong and local churches like the Island Church in Tierra Verde and Pass-a-Grille Community Church.

IN THIS ISSUE:

ART CENTERS/CLASSES

ART – GALLERIES

ARTS – PERFORMING

MUSEUMS

MUSIC

OPERA

FILM

ECO GARDENS

FERRIES

LIBRARIES

MARKETS

SPIRITUAL

ZOOS/AQUARIUMS

CLUBS – SERVICE/SOCIAL

CLUBS – ATHLETIC

HEALTH

THRIFT SHOPS

VOLUNTEERING

YOGA

(Events are subject to change. Please visit website or call to confirm.)

ART CENTERS/CLASSES

Beach Art Center

1515 Bay Palm Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach 727-596-4331 beachartcenter.org

3/2 – Annual Fundraising Gala

Heart of Pinellas

Decorative Artists

Pinellas Park Art Center, Roe’s Deli, 5851 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park.

Local chapter of National Society of Decorative Painters 727-244-4321 hpdafl.com

Morean Arts Center

719 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-822-7872

moreanartscenter.org

Contemporary art gallery.

Art classes year-round.

Through 3/28 –

PCCA Alumni Exhibition

Arts & Leisure

Morean Center for Clay

420 22nd St. S, St. Pete 727-821-7162 ext 2311

moreanartscenter.org

Largest pottery in the Southeast

Morean Glass Studio

714 First Ave. N, St. Pete 727-822-7872

moreanartscenter.org

Daily demonstrations every hour noon to 4pm. Classes available.

Pinellas Arts Village

5663 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park Studios @ 5663

Fourth Saturday block party and indoor market. facebook.com/Pav727/

Pinellas Park Art Society

Park Station Building

5851 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park

Members’ work shown at Pinellas

Park Library and Pinellas Park City Hall 727-360-4406

pinellasparkartsociety.org

Suntan Art Center at Don Vista Arts Center

3300 Gulf Blvd., suntanart.org

Classes, Art Mart every weekend 3/3-31 – March Members Show

3/23 – Let’s Twist Again Fundraiser

The Hive

559 49th St. S, St Pete 727-290-6515

thehivestpete.com

Classes, open studio, pottery, jewelry sales

Treasure Island Art Guild

treasureislandartguild.org

Painting workshops weekly

Veterans Art Center

6798 Crosswinds Dr. N, St. Pete 813-504-3092 vactb.org

Opportunities for military and veterans to develop and showcase arts.

Zen Glass Studio & Gallery

600 27th St. S, St. Pete 727-323-3141 zenglass.com

Classes and workshops.

ART GALLERIES

Art at 400 Studios

400 23rd St. S, St. Pete art-at-400.com

By appointment, Art Walk

Art Fusion Galleries

106 Central Ave., St. Pete artfusiongalleries.com

ARTicles/Leslie Curran Gallery

1234 Dr. MLK Jr St. N, St. Pete 727-898-6061

articlesstpete.com

Through 3/1 – ‘Taproot’ exhibition by Babette Herschberger

Artists of Elements

4746 22nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg 727-420-7438 artistsofelements.com

ArtLofts

(second floor)

Florida CraftArt Gallery

10 Fifth St. N, St. Pete 727-504-8788

theartlofts.com

Open ArtWalk or by appointment

ARTpool Gallery

2030 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-324-3878

artpoolrules.com

Open Wed.-Sun., noon-5pm

ArtsXchange

515 22nd St. S, St. Pete

Open Fri.-Sat., 11am-5pm warehouseartsdistrict.org

Atelier de SoSi 2380 Sixth Ave. S, St. Pete 727-370-4192 atelierdesosi.com

Brenda McMahon Gallery 2901 Beach Blvd. S #104 Gulfport 518-692-7742 brendamcmahongallery.com

Bula Barua

2534 Terminal Drive S, St. Pete 727-900-1063

bulagallery.com

Blown glass on canvas

Chasen Galleries

1830 S Osprey Ave., Sarasota 941-260-5787

chasengalleries.com/sarasota

Chihuly Collection

720 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-822-7872 ext 5102 moreanartscenter.org

Through 3/17 – cappy thompson: heaven + earth

Clyde Butcher Galleries clydebutcher.com/galleries

Venice Gallery & Studio 237 Warfield Ave. S, Venice

3/23 – Meet Clyde & Niki Butcher Big Cypress Gallery 52388 Tamiami Trail, Ochopee

3/23 – Master Naturalist Tours

Cobb Gallery

Eckerd College, Library Circle, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Pete eckerd.edu/visualarts/program

Collectors Exchange Gallery

1234 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Pete articlestpete.com

Open Sat. 11am-5pm

Craftsman House

2955 Central Ave., St. Pete craftsmanhousegallery.com

Gallery-Café-Pottery Studio

Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center

1846 First Ave. S, St. Pete 727-825-0515

creativeclay.org

3/9 – Artwalk: Inspire Inclusion Celebrating Women’s History Month

4/5 – First Friday Art Market

4/13 – April Artwalk: Inspire Inclusion

Creative Pinellas

12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo 727-460-5477

Gallery noon-5pm Wed.-Sun. creativepinellas.org

3/5 – Fresh Ink

3/16 – Third Saturdays at Pinewood

Buddy Baker | Events, Arts & Leisure Coordinator

ARTS & LEISURE EVENTS

Scan QR code for event listings online to go with you or online at www.paradisenewsfl.com/march-2024

Sign up to receive upcoming event e-news online at www.ParadiseNewsFL.com Like us on facebook.com/ParadiseNews

RECURRING EVENTS

First Fridays • 10am-2pm, Creative Clay Outdoor Art Market, 1846 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg • 5-9pm, First Friday Art Walk, Downtown Gulfport • 6-9pm, Concert in front of Studio Movie Grill, Seminole City Center, 11201 Park Blvd. N, Seminole

Last Friday • 6-9pm, live music at the John’s Pass Bell Tower, John’s Pass Boardwalk and Shopping Village, 12902 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach

1st Saturday • 8am Beach Cleanup, Archibald Park, 15100 Gulf Blvd., Madiera Beach

2nd Saturday • 8:30am, Beach Cleanup. Municipal Pavilion, 11260 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, 11185 Gulf Blvd. • The Market Marie,10am-3pm, Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater • 5-9pm, St. Pete Artwalk. Artists and gallery owners from 40 studios and galleries in five arts districts show off their latest works. Take the trolley, drive or park and walk. stpeteartsalliance.org/artwalk

3rd Saturday • 10am-2pm, Crossroads Market, Crossroads

Christian Church, 1645 Seminole Blvd., Largo • 10am-5pm, Creative Pinellas at Pinewood, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo • 5-9pm, Indie Faire, Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Outdoor, socially distanced event in Gulfport features local art, handmade crafts, jewelry, and pottery to locally sourced botanicals.

4th Saturday • Pinellas Arts Walk 4-8pm, Pinellas Arts Village Walk, 5600-5800 Park Blvd. (north side), Pinellas Park. Pinellas Park Art Society, Donnelly COVE, Complete Sweet Shoppe, Pompei Factory, Studios @5663, Painting with a Twist, Bottles Pub, and Swartz Gallery.

Crossroads Gallery

St. Petersburg College, 2464 Drew St., Clearwater spcollege.edu/friends-partners/ community-resources

Custom House Décor 2901 Beach Blvd., Gulfport 727-317-5936 customhousedecor.com

D Gallerie

1234 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, Unit C, St. Pete d-gallerie.com

DRV Fine Art Studios & Gallery 5401 Gulfport Blvd. S, Gulfport drvgallery.com

3/1-23 – Vintage Motorcycles: featuring the work of Kitty Zehnder

Duncan McClellan Gallery 2342 Emerson Ave. S, St. Pete 813-760-6600 dmglass.com

Through 4/30 – Sharon Meyer: Of Land and Sea Through 6/24 – Ross Richmond

Dunedin Fine Art Center

1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin 727-298-3322 dfac.org 3/15-16 – Trashy Treasures art garage sale

Ekeko Gallery

290 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr St. N, St. Pete 727-685-5577 facebook.com/Ekeko-Gallery

Factory St. Pete 2622 Fairfield Ave. S, St. Pete thefactorystpete.com

Fairgrounds St. Pete

800 28th St. S, St. Pete Works by more than 60 local and international artists fairgrounds.art

Five Deuces Gallerie 2101 Third Ave. S, St. Pete

Open by appointment & Art Walk Facebook.com/five22222

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”

– Oscar Wilde

Florida CraftArt Gallery

501 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-821-7391

floridacraftart.org

Sat. Mural Walk

Through 3/17 – Resilient: Jewelry That Empowers 3/15-4/27 – Animal Attraction

Gulf Coast Artists Alliance St. Pete ArtWorks, 2604 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-738-8010 gcaa-fl.org

3/23 – Artsy Rummage Sale

Heiress

2622 Fairfield Ave S, Bldg. 7, Studio A, St. Pete

heiressgallery.com

Luis Sottil Studios

400 Beach Drive NE, Suite 150, St. Pete 727-220-1567

facebook.com/luissottilstpete

Mirella Cimato Art Gallery

2145 First Ave. S, St. Pete (inside St. Petersburg Opera) 727-543-9190

facebook.com/MirellaCimatoGallery

Nielsen Center for Visual Arts

Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Pete 800-454-9009

eckerd.edu/visualarts/program

Red Cloud Indian Arts

214 Beach Dr. NE, St. Pete 727-821-5824

redcloudindianarts.com

Representing authentic Native American arts

Soft Water Gallery

515 22nd St. S, St. Pete 727-327-3473

softwatergallery.com

Through 3/2 – Constructing Utopia: Selected Works by Marianne Chapel

Through 4/6 – Exterior, Interior

SPACE

855 28th St. S, St. Pete Warehouse Arts District

facebook.com/spacestpete

Stirling Art Studios & Gallery

730 Broadway (second floor) Studio 12, Dunedin 800-325-2050

facebook.com/StirlingArtDunedin

Syd Entel Galleries

247 Main St., Safety Harbor 727-725-1808

sydentelgalleries.com

Through 3/16 – Hessam Abrishami

3/2-3 – Alex Sepkus Jewelry Trunk Show

3/23-4/30 – Celebrating the Human Form: Estella Fransbergen

The Domingo Studio

2620 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport 727-821-2315

facebook.com/The-Domingo-Studio

The Werk

2210 First Ave. S., St. Pete 727-289-8685

thewerk.gallery

Uniquely Original Art Studio

915 24th St. S, St. Pete 727-239-3696

https://tinyurl.com/mrx4c253

Original Afrocentric art, open by appointment and during Art Walk

Vince Anthony Fine Art Gallery

10611 Bay Pines Blvd. #5, St. Pete 727-401-2886

fineartamerica.com/art/ vince+anthony

Wild Space Gallery

The Factory St. Pete, Bldg. 8

2606 Fairfield Ave. S, St. Pete

Through 3/29 – Archbold

Biological Station: Art, Science and Nature floridawildlifecorridor.org/wildspace-gallery/

Woodfield Fine Art Gallery

2323 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-254-6981

woodfieldfineart.com

Through 3/2 – The Poetry of Paint: The Art of D. Yael Kelley & Robert Jeffrey

ARTS PERFORMING

Amalie Arena

401 Channelside Drive, Tampa 813-301-2500 amaliearena.com

3/1 – Lauren Daigle

3/10 – Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Pitbull

3/11 – Burna Boy

3/15 – Tim McGraw

3/16 – Tom Segura

3/21-24 – Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto

4/4 – Madonna

American Stage

Raymond James Theatre

163 Third St. N, St. Pete 727-823-7529 americanstage.org

4/3-5/5 – Disney’s Beauty & The Beast In the Park

Asolo Repertory Theatre

5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 800-361-8388 asolorep.org

Through 3/10 – Miss Julie

Through 3/9 – Clyde’s

Through 3/29 – Born with Teeth

Through 4/18 – Intimate Apparel

3/20-4-25 – Dial M for Murder

4/2-24 – Romeo and Juliet

Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

405 Cleveland St., Clearwater 727-791-7400 rutheckerdhall.com

3/7 – Gino Vannelli

3/9 – Lords of 52nd Street:

Billy Joel Legends

3/14 – Pink Floyd: The Wall

3/15 – Colin Hay

3/20 – Crash Test Dummies

3/21 – Pat Matheny

3/22 – Electric Light

Orchestra Experience

3/23 – Taylor Dayne & Tiffany

3/24/-25 – Dave Mason’s

Traffic Jam

3/29 – Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets

4/4 & 25 – Mac McAnally

4/5 – The Classic Rock Show

4/6 – Gregorian

4/7 – The Who: Who’s Next

4/10 – Butcher Brown & Son Little

4/12 – The Zombies

4/13 – Los Lonely Boys

4/14 – Leonid & Friends

4/15 – Justin Hayward

Bininger Theater

for Performing Arts

Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Pete 727-867-1166

eckerd.edu/theatre

4/11-14 – Fun Home

Catherine Hickman Theater

5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport 727-893-1070 mygulfport.us

3/3 – Senior Center Foundation

Nan Colton Show

3/21-31 – The Viewing Room

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

ARTS & LEISURE EVENTS

ONGOING

Through 3/29 – Born with Teeth

$29-$95, times vary by date, Asolo Rep, Sarasota. Get an inside peek at the tumultuous relationship of two of history’s greatest playwrights, William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, each harboring momentous secrets. Be among the first in the nation to watch this award- winning new play that offers an alternate perspective on the history we think we know. An Alley Theatre World Premiere production. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/mux6c7ft

UPCOMING

3/2-3 – Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

Free, Sat. 9-6, Sun 10-5, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa. One of the top outdoor, juried fine arts shows in the U.S. The festival showcases artists and their work to include ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood, as well as the works of local young artists. Artists vie for nearly $100,000 in prize money and scholarships.

3/2-3 – Pinellas Botanicals and Brunchfest

Free, 9am-4pm, 5010 81st Ave. N, Pinellas Park. Get your bloom on at this weekend bursting with a vibrant fusion of blooming beauty and mouthwatering brunch delights. Festivities will include live music, a best brunch competition, a selection of unique plants, garden accessories, talented local artisans, craftsmen, and kids’ activities.

3/8-10 – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

$25-$165, times vary by event and date. A weekend of racing, running and rock n’ roll marks the 20th year of the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary circuit on downtown waterfront streets. Runners and walkers will open the course 3/7 with a 5K run on the route. Multi-platinum rocker Bret Michaels will perform in a free concert 3/10. For the full schedule, visit https://www.gpstpete.com/festival/schedule. Race tickets: http://tinyurl.com/23cyhkwv; 5K registration: gpstpete5k.com

Central Park Performing Arts Center

105 Central Park Dr., Largo 727-587-6793 largoarts.com

3/1 – Escape to Margaritaville

3/12 – The Jake & Elwood Blues Revue

3/13 – The Edwards Twins

3/15 – Wishbone Ash

3/21 – Funny Women of a Certain Age

3/22 – Who Are These Podcasts?: Live Taping

3/23 – Matt Schofield

3/27 – The New York

Rockabilly Rockets

3/28 – Solitary Man: A Tribute to Neil Diamond

3/29 – The Artimus Pyle Band

4/4 – The Rat Pack Together Again

4/11 – Homegrown Concert

4/13 – Save the Rainforest: Salvar La Selva Tropical Puppet Show

Early Bird Dinner Theater

13355 49th St. N, Clearwater 727-446-5898

earlybirddinnertheater.com/site

3/2-4/21– The Underpants by Carl Sternheim, adapted by Steve Martin

Eckerd College International Film Series

Free, 7pm, Miller Auditorium, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Pete 727-867-1166

eckerd.edu/international-cinema/

3/1 – King Coal (US)

3/8 – Anatomy of a Fall (France)

3/29 – The Teachers’ Lounge (Germany)

4/5 – Totem (Mexico, Denmark & France)

4/12 – Four Daughters (France, Germany, Tunisia & Saudi Arabia)

Eight O’Clock Theatre

105 Central Park Dr., Largo 727-587-6793

eightoclocktheatre.com

3/1-10 – Escape to Margaritaville

Floridian Social

687 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-322-4600

thefloridiansocial.com

3/1 – Derrick Carter

3/2 – 1990s Night: Nirvana v. Linkin Park Tributes

3/3 – LocalShops1

PopUp Sunday Market

3/25 – Motown Monday

Francis Wilson Playhouse

302 Seminole St., Clearwater 727-446-1360

franciswilsonplayhouse.org

Through 3/3 – Something Rotten

3/9 – Broadway by The Year: Celebrating 1975

4/4-14 – The Play That Goes Wrong

freeFall Theatre Company

6099 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-498-5205 freefalltheatre.com

Through 3/10 – Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

3/1 – Kissy Simmons

3/15 – Varla Jean Merman 4/12-5/12 – Nollywood Dreams

Gulfport Casino

5500 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport 813-840-3715

mygulfport.us/recreation/casino

Weekly dancing/instruction

Gulfport Community Players Back Door Theater

1619 49th St. S, Gulfport gulfportcommunityplayers.org

3/21-31 – The Viewing Room

Jannus Live

200 First Ave. N, St. Pete 727-565-0550 jannuslive.com

3/1 – Road to Hope Benefit Concert

3/2 – Sammy Rae & The Friends

3/3 – Grateful Dub

3/9 – Extreme w/ Living Colour

3/14 – Larry Fleet w/ Dalton Dover

3/15 – Less Than Jake

3/16 – Bryce Vine w/ Hoodie Allen & Yoshi T

3/17 – Get the Led Out

3/23 – The Motet w/ Lespecial

3/24 – Ministry w/ Gary Numan

3/26 – Faye Webster

4/3 – Sematary Presents: Haunted Mound Angels Tour

4/5 – Live Dead & Brothers

4/6 – Inzo w/ Tape B

4/7 – Flatland Cavalry

4/12 – Peekaboo w/ Lyny

4/13 – Ian Munsick w/ Meghan Patrick

4/15 – Hot Mulligan w/ Free Throw, Just Friends & Charmer

LAB Theater Project

812 E. Henderson Ave., Tampa 813-586-4272

labtheaterproject.com

Produces only works from emerging playwrights. Through 3/10 – Syd, written by Craig Houk

M.A.D. Theatre of Tampa

(Music Acting Dance Theatre of Tampa) @ The Straz Center, 1010 N W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa 813-229-7827 madtheatre.com

Manatee Performing Arts Center

502 Third Ave. W, Bradenton 941-748-5875

manateeperformingartscenter.com

Through 3/10 –The Glass Menagerie

3/7-17 – Parade

3/12 – Those Were the Days: The Spirit and Folk Songs of the 60s

3/23 – Start Spreading the News w/ Liza and Frank

3/24 – Atlantic City Boys

3/30 – The Goldtones

4/3-7 – My Son the Waiter, a Jewish Tragedy

4/13 – Majesty of Rock

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union

Amphitheatre

Florida State Fairgrounds

4802 US Hwy. 301 N, Tampa 813-740-2446

midflorida.com/amphitheatre

National Theatre Live

Eckerd College, Miller Auditorium

4200 54th Ave. S, St. Pete Performances in HD http://tinyurl.com/y5fxrtc3

New Tampa Performing Arts Center

8550 Hunters Village Road, Tampa 813-829-2760

newtampaartscenter.org

3/2 – Master Chorale of Tampa Bay: Annelies

3/3 – A Mardi Gras Extravaganza w/ Cypress Creek Jazz Band

3/5 – Ballet Magnificat presents The Scarlet Cord

3/9 – 2024 OCB Captain’s Cup

3/10 – SAGES Theater Presents: Phoney Baloney

3/12 – Broadway Film Series: In The Heights

3/22 – Opera Tampa in Concert

3/23 – Rory Lawrence presents: Fighting God

3/24 – TIMINI: A West African Cinderella Tale

3/28 – Creative Arts Theatre

Presents: The Magic Fish

4/4 – Jack Wilkins

CD Release Concert

Patel Conservatory

1010 N W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, Dance / Theater / Music / Adult Classes 813-222-1002 patelconservatory.org

3/30 – On The Edge

Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center

4951 78th Ave. N, Pinellas Park 727-369-5746

pinellas-park.com/161/ Performing-Arts-Center.com

3/9 – The Olivia Show

3/23 – A Tribute to Rod Stewart 4/13 – Celebrating Celine

Raymond James Stadium

4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa 813-350-6500 raymondjamesstadium.com

Riverwalk Tampa thetampariverwalk.com

Second Sundays – 11am-3pm: Market + Art Walk, Armature Works

Ruth Eckerd Hall

1111 N McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater 727-791-7400 rutheckerdhall.com

3/2 – Steve Hackett

3/3 – Come From Away

3/5-6 – Bob Dylan

3/8 – Paul Anka

3/9 – Little Women

3/10 – Doo Wop Reunion XXII

3/11 – The Temptations & The Four Tops

3/17 – Neil Berg’s 115 Years of Broadway

3/24 – Bronx Wanderers

3/24 – Bill Maher

3/25 – Joe Satriani & Steve Vai

4/3 – Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

4/6 – Disney Princess: The Concert

4/7 – Doo Wop Project

4/7 – TFO: Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony

“Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.”

– Marcus Tullius Cicero

Central

2 bedroom,

Winter

Pass-a-Grille area.

Annual Rentals available, 2 bedrooms, 1 or 2 bath, from $2000-$3100 a month. Pass-a-Grille area.

ARTS & LEISURE EVENTS

3/9 – Gulfport Tardi Gras

$20 donation, 7-9:30pm,Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S.

Get out your Mardi Gras finery and your dancing shoes! We may be late but worth the wait. The evening features music by Gulfport Swamp Opera, a costume strut and contest with prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and more. No tickets required. Cash or check only.

3/9 – Reception for ‘Botanical Bouquet’ illustrations by June Bunch

5-9pm, Pinellas Ale Works, 1962 First Ave. S, St. Pete. Bunch’s drawings showcase botany with ballet, a hybrid of human nature and Mother Nature She will be releasing her new series of birth month flowers just for the event. Prints will be available for purchase at the entrance and special promos the opening night. Meet the artist, sip a brew and tune into the live music in the Biergarten. Exhibition runs through 4/5.

3/9-10 – 49th Tarpon Springs Fine Art Festival

Free admission, 9am-5pm Sat./10am-5pm Sun., 100 Library Lane, Craig Park. The festival offers more than 150 exhibiting artists, selected by a jury of discriminating art professionals. Visitors can enjoy a full schedule of music, sample craft beers, and taste a variety of international foods. Only ADA compliant service animals allowed. No coolers.

3/14-17 – Spring Break Waterfront Festival and Battle of the Bands

Free (pay to park), 3-9pm (3/14), ROC Park, 200 Rex Place, Madeira Beach. The biggest community event of the year, BOTB kicks off the festival 3/14 and provides a platform for local artists and rock bands to showcase their talent. Bands will compete in elementary, middle school, high school, and young adult categories. A variety of food trucks and beverage vendors, along with favorite rides and games, will be on hand.

3/16 – Spring Market in the Bluffs

Free, 9am-2pm, 2747 Sunset Blvd., Belleair Bluffs. A nice variety of unique vendors of handmade items such as clothing, home goods, snacks, wood crafts, wreaths, jewelry and more!

3/16-17 St. Paddy’s Day Events (see page 42)

Safety Harbor

Art & Music Center

706 Second St. N, Safety Harbor 727-725-4018

safetyharborart

andmusiccenter.com

3/3 – Vanessa Collier

3/8-9 – Will Evans

3/10 – Abe Partridge

3/15 – Anthony Geraci

3/24 – Seth Walker

3/29 – Indigenous

4/6 – Nick Moss Band

4/13 – Low Down Brass Band

4/14 – Teddy Thompson

Seminole Hard Rock

Hotel and Casino

5223 Orient Rd., Tampa 813-627-6649

seminolehardrocktampa.com

3/3 – Deadmaus5

3/7 – The Jacksons

3/10 – Brantley Gilbert

3/17 – 50 Cent

3/20 – Cultura Profetica

3/24 – Impractical Jokers

3/26-27 – Juanes

4/3 – Teddy Swims

4/7 – Kevin James

4/11 – Melissa Etheridge

Skipper’s Smokehouse

910 Skipper Rd., Tampa 813-971-0668

skipperssmokehouse.com

3/2 – Crossfire Creek Band

3/22 – The Red Elvises

3/23 – Chris Duarte

3/30 – Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) + Tony Logue & The 184

4/5 – Grateful Dead Nite w/ Uncle John’s Band

4/13 – Colt Classics Presents Josh Meloy

Sparkman Wharf

615 Channelside Drive, Tampa

• Burger Fi

• Jotoro

• LightHaus

• Noblerice

• Splitsville

• Shortwave Coffee

* Whatever Pops sparkmanwharf.com

St. Petersburg City Theatre 4025 31st St. S, 727-866-1973 spcitytheatre.org

3/15-24 – Don’t Dress for Dinner

Stageworks Theater

1120 E Kennedy Blvd., West Bldg., #151, Tampa 813-374-2416

stageworkstheatre.org

3/15-31 – The Immigrant

Straz Center for the Performing Arts

1010 N W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa 813-229-7827

strazcenter.org

3/1 – The Definitive Tribute to CSNY featuring Southern Cross

3/1 – Twist & Shout: The Music of the Beatles

3/2 – Carneyville

3/2 – Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay Cabaret

3/3 – Spring Music Brunch

3/3 – Blippi

3/5-10 – Jesus Christ Superstar

3/8 & 10 – Hansel and Gretel

3/10 – BIPOC Play Reading Series

3/13-4/7 – The Beauty Queen of Leenane

3/17 – Momix: Alice

3/17 – Jimbo’s Drag Circus World Tour

3/22 – The Okee Dokee Brothers

3/22 – Opera Tampa in Concert

3/22-23 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert

3/22-25 – Golden Girls

3/26-4/21 – Stranger Sings!

3/27-31 – Girl From the North Country

3/27 – Bee Gees Now

3/28 – Voices of the Community Town Hall

4/2-7 – Mrs. Doubtfire

4/5 – Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony

4/10 – Open Rehearsal: La Traviata

4/12 – Dvorak’s New World Symphony

4/13 – Eddie B

4/14 – A BIPOC

Play-Reading Series

Riverwalk Stage (6-9pm, free)

3/8 – Arts Legacy Remix

4/12 – Arts Legacy Remix: Celebrate MENA

Studio Grand Central

2260 First Ave. S, St. Pete 727-202-7019

theoffcentral.com

Through 3/10 – Fully Committed 4/4-14 – Lone Star and Laundry and Bourbon

Sunshine City Comedy Club

5501 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach 727-435-0327

sunshinecitycomedyclub.com

Tampa Theatre

711 N Franklin St. Tampa tampatheatre.org

813-274-8286

One of America’s most elaborate movie palaces

3/9 – TFO: Copland’s Appalachian Spring

3/22 – Anthony Rodia

3/23 – Taylor Tomlinson

4/13-14 – Leanne Morgan

Tarpon Springs Cultural Center

101 S Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs 727-942-5605 tarponarts.org

3/8-10, 15-17 –Art by Yasmina Reza

3/19 – The History of the Arts in Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center

324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs 727-942-5605 tarponarts.org

3/9 – The Taburitzans

4/8 – One Night in Memphis: Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley Tribute

4/13-14 – The Brothers Doobie

The Mahaffey Theater

400 First St. S, St. Pete 727-300-2000 themahaffey.com

3/1 – Stars of the Sixties

3/2 – Celtic Woman

3/14 – Andrew Schulz

3/15 – Godsmack

3/16 – TFO: Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey

3/18 – Stolen Moments

3/18 – Get Hip!

3/19 – Bam: Dance – On Your Feet

3/20 – Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!

3/22 – Taylor Tomlinson

4/4 – Inside Beethoven’s Eroica

4/5 – The Guess Who

4/6 – Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony

4/8 – Bam: Music & Mayhem on The Plaza

4/8 – The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight

4/13-14 – Dvorak’s New World Symphony

The Palladium

253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Pete 727-822-3590 mypalladium.org

3/1 – Listening Room Festival

3/2 – John Heffron w/ Maryellen Hooper

3/3 – One City Chorus

3/15-19 – St. Pete Opera: Puccini’s Turandot

3/21 – A CEO Conversation

3/22 – Absolute Queen

3/23 – Women of Jazz XVIII

3/24 – Chris Macdonald’s Memories of Elvis in Concert

3/27 – Mozart & Dvorak

Viola Quintets

4/2 – St. Petersburg Jazz Festival: Alexis Cole & Helios Jazz Orchestra

4/3 – St. Petersburg Jazz Festival: MJR Latin Project

4/5 – Beacon24

4/6 – Steeln’ Peaches: An Allman Brothers Revue

4/11 – Tampa Bay Blues Fest Kickoff Party

4/12-13 – A Night of Classic Burlesque

The Sound Coachman Park

301 Drew St., Clearwater 727-791-7400 rutheckerdhall.com

3/16 – Joe Bonamassa

3/23 – Air Supply & Little River Band

4/5 – Alabama w/Diamond Rio

The Studio@620

620 First Ave. S, St. Pete 727-895-6620 thestudioat620.org

3/11 – Yoga Flow

3/16 – Shopizaar

USF Yuengling Center

12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa 813-974-3111

yuenglingcenter.com

3/16 – One Hallelujah Tour

4/6-7 – All Star Challenge: Return to Atlantis

4/12-13 – Billy Strings

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

777 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 941-953-3368 vanwezel.org

3/1 – Sarasota Orchestra presents Singers and Songwriters

3/3 – Rotterdam

Philharmonic Orchestra

3/4 – Stayin’ Alive

3/5 – The Righteous Brothers

3/6 – The Midtown Men

3/7-8 – Little Women

3/9 – Terry Fator

3/10 – Paul Anka

3/11 – RCLA present Nir Eyal

3/12 – Champions of Magic

3/13 – Rick Springfield

March 24, 4pm Memories of ELVIS

Elvis Presley Tribute

Chris MacDonald is the only tribute artist to be hired by Elvis Presley Enterprises to perform at Graceland’s Heartbreak Hotel. The show is backed by a full production band showcasing Elvis’s songs, costumes, movie clips, and memories. Perfect for new and forever Elvis fans!!

ARTS & LEISURE EVENTS

EASTER EVENTS

3/23 — Easter Eggstravaganza: 11am-1pm, Crossroads Community Church, 4401 58th St. N., St. Pete. A free community event for families with kids in preschool through fifth grade.

3/29 — Easter at The Farm: 10am-4pm., DK Farms & Gardens, 1750 Lake Ave. SE, Largo. Small intimate hunts that are age appropriate. No candy; we give goodie bags and offer special prizes at the end. Purchase of a pre-sale ticket for a specific group and time required in advance. http://tinyurl.com/yc5bs587

3/29 — Underwater Easter Egg Hunt: Noon-3pm, Southwest Pool, 13602 Vonn Road, Largo. $6 participants, $4 spectator. Ages 3 and up. Egg hunts will be set up by age group, with each group getting one hunt. Limited spots; register at any Largo recreation facility or call 727-518-3126.

3/30 — Spring Festival & Easter Egg Hunt: 10:30am, City on a Hill Church, 4265 13th Ave. N, St. Pete. A free family friendly event with 15,000 eggs features a photo op with the Easter Bunny! Three age-appropriate Easter egg hunts for toddlers to sixth grade.

3/30 — Saturday Night Dinner and Easter Parade Dance: 6-11pm, German American Society, 6625 80th Ave. N, Pinellas Park. Admission $7 members; $10 non-members. Dinner with schnitzel or bratwurst; sides include red cabbage, sauerkraut, or German potato salad. Music by Eva Adams.

3/31 — Easter Brunch at King Charles Ballroom: 10:30am, The Don Cesar, 3400 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach. An exquisite buffet filled with brunch classics, skillfully carved roasts, holiday favorites, and decadent desserts. reservations@doncesar.com

3/31 — Easter For Tampa Bay: Raymond James Stadium, Tailgate: 7:30am; 9:30am doors open; 10:30am service starts. hosted by Grace Family Church. Free parking. gfcflorida.com/easter

3/31 — Madeira Beach Easter Egg Helicopter Drop: 11am, egg drop at noon, ROC Park, 200 Rex Place, Madeira Beach. Hosted by Madeira Beach Youth Baseball and Softball. A family picnic in the park. Eggs will be filled with candy, stickers and there may even be a few golden egg surprises.

Van Wezel continued

3/14 – Neil Berg’s 114 Years of Broadway

3/15 – Sarasota Orchestra present Rhapsody in Blue @100

3/18 – Paul Taylor Dance Company

3/20 – The Doo Wop Project

3/22 – Kristin Chenoweth

3/23 – The Academy of St. Martin in The Fields w/ Joshua Bell

3/26-4/7 – Hamilton

4/11 – Theresa Caputo

4/12-14 – Sarasota Orchestra presents Yang Plays Mozart

4/15 – RCLA presents Misty Copeland

West Coast Players

21905 US 19 N, Clearwater 727-437-2363 wcplayers.com

3/8-24 – The Dining Room

Zubrick Magic Theatre

1211 First Ave N, Suite 101, St. Pete Thur.-Sat. 7pm; Sun. 2pm 866-ZUBRICK (866-982-7425)

zubrickmagic.com

MUSEUMS

Florida Holocaust Museum

55 Fifth St. S, St. Pete 727-820-0100

flholocaustmuseum.org

3/14 – Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out of the Shadow of the Holocaust

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

1630 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, Tampa 813-221-2222 fmopa.org

Through 3/17 – Carlton Ward Jr.: Path of the Panther

3/7 – Carlton Ward Jr. Artist Talk

3/24-7/7 – Joel Meyerowitz: Confluence, 1964-1984 On View

Glazer Children’s Museum

110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa 813-443-3851 glazermuseum.org

Created specifically for children 10 and under.

Great Explorations

Children’s Museum

1925 Fourth St. N, St. Pete 727-821-8992 greatex.org

First Sun. of month open special hours for special needs families. Families with a SNAP, EBT, or WIC card get in free every Tues. Limited hours.

Gulf Beaches Historical Museum

115 10th Ave., St. Pete Beach 727-552-1610

gulfbeachesmuseum.com

Gulfport History Museum

5301 28th Ave. S, Gulfport 727-201-8687

gulfporthistoricalsociety.org

Henry Plant Museum

401 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa 813-254-1891 plantmuseum.com

Live classical music performances every third Thur.

Most Sundays – Upstairs/ Downstairs at the Tampa Bay Hotel 3/24-12/23 – Imperfect Harmony: Man, Machine, and Music at the Tampa Bay Hotel

Heritage Museum

100 Beekman Lane, Tarpon Springs 727-942-5605 tarponarts.org

History and culture of the Greek community

Imagine Museum

1901 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-300-1700

imaginemuseum.com

Contemporary American Studio Glass Thur. $5 after 5pm

John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art

5401 Bay Shore Road., Sarasota 941-359-5700 ringling.org

Mon. – Free admission all day

Thurs. – Art After 5

“We secure our friends not by accepting favours but by doing them.”

- Thucydides

Through 3/3 – Working Conditions Through 4/1 – Community Gallery Through 6/2 – Michele Oka Doner: The True Story of Eve Through 6/23 – Mountains of the Mind: Scholar’s Rocks from China & Beyond Through 1/5/25 –Shinique Smith: Parade

3/9-9/21 – Highlights from The Ringling’s Collection

4/6-8/25 – Photographs of the Traveling Circus & Carnival

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

600 E Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs 727-712-5762

leeparattner.org

Through 4/28 –

Beauty in Excess: The Pattern and Decoration Movement

Through 4/28 – Kim Kirchman: An Allegory of Spring

Through 4/28 –

Benny Andrews: Everything That Rises Must Converge

4/2-5/5 – Pinellas County Schools Student Show

Museum of the American Arts And Crafts Movement

355 Fourth St. N, St. Pete 727-440-4859 museumaacm.org

Sun. Film Series – 12:30/2pm

Daily Arts and Crafts-inspired films

Through 6/2 – Masterpieces: Extraordinary Works from the Two Roses Foundation

Museum of Fine Arts

255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Pete 727-894-4368 mfastpete.org

Thur. $10 after 5pm

Through 3/17 –

Time Flies, Hours Flee

Through 4/14 –

The Nature of Art

3/14 – Egyptomania– Fashion’s Conflicted Obsession: presentation by Darnell–Jamal Lisby

3/21 – Making the Middle Republic: Dan-el Padilla Peralta

3/28 – Artist Talk: Ursula Hudson

4/3 – Make Yourself

Uncomfortable: Daniel Barber

4/4-7 – Art in Bloom

Palm Harbor Museum

2043 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor 727-724-3054

palmharbormuseum.com

Thur.-Sat. 10am-2pm

Safford House Museum

23 Parkin Court, Tarpon Springs 727-942-5805 tarponarts.org

Restored 1883 Victorian home

St. Petersburg Museum of History

335 Second Ave. NE

727-894-1052 spmoh.com

Happy Hour with the Historian

3/14 – Tiffany Faykus: Sarah Williams Armistead: A One Woman Performance

4/11 – Dr. Lu Vickers: Cypress Gardens, America’s Tropical Wonderland

Sarasota Art Museum

1001 S Tamiami Trail, 941-309-4300

sarasotaartmuseum.org

Through 3/24 – Judy Pfaff

3/10-7/7 – Contemporary Artists of the Hermitage Artist Retreat

Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

3301 Gateway Centre, Pinellas Park. 727-579-8226 tbauto.org

Tampa Bay History Center

801 Old Water St., Tampa 813-226-0097

tampabayhistorycenter.org

Walking tours of Tampa neighborhoods

Through 7/14 –

Decade of Change: Florida

Through 7/14 – Sharps & Marks in Paradise: Selling Florida in the 1920s

Tampa Museum of Art

120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa 813-259-1720 tampamuseum.org

Thur. 4-8pm

pay-as-you-will admission

Through 3/17 –

A Passion for Haitian Art: The Albrecht and Heller Collection

Through 3/17 – Young at Art K-8 Student Exhibition

Through 4/14 – 14th Congressional & Next Generation High School Art Competition

Through 4/21– Garry Winograd: Women are Beautiful

Through 5/19 – Pepe Mar: Myth and Magic

Through 6/23 –

Reframing Haitian Art

Through 9/1 – The Last Picture Show: Paintings by Rod Penner

Tarpon Springs Railroad Depot Historical Museum

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

– Nelson Mandela

Free. 160 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs 727-943-4624 tarponspringsarea historicalsociety.org

ARTS & LEISURE

The Dalí Museum

One Dali Blvd., St. Pete 727-823-3767

thedali.org

Thur. and Fri. reduced admission after 5pm

Advanced-purchase timed tickets recommended

Through 4/28 – Dali & the Impressionists: Monet, Degas, Renoir & More

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

150 Central Ave., St. Pete 727-892-4200

thejamesmuseum.org

Tues. $10 all day

Through 5/26 – Masterworks from the Rijksmuseum Twenthe & the National Museum of Wildlife Art

USF Contemporary Art Museum Institute for Research in Art

3821 USF Holly Drive, Tampa 813-974-3503 ira.usf.edu

3/29 – MFA Graduation Exhibition Opening Reception

USF Graphicstudio

3702 Spectrum Blvd., Ste 100, Tampa 813-974-3503, free admission graphicstudio.usf.edu/GS/ gs_about.html

Woodson African American Museum of Florida

2240 Ninth Ave. S, St. Pete 727-323-1104

woodsonmuseum.org

One City Chorus – Mon. 7pm

MUSIC

Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association

Jazz Jam, Mon., 7-9pm, Hangar Restaurant, 540 First St. SE, St. Pete, aldowningjazz.com

3/23 – Women of Jazz XVIII (Palladium)

New Horizons Band of Gulfport Gulfport Senior Center

5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport 727-345-0285

newhorizonsbandgulfport.org Novice, intermediate musicians

School of Rock St. Petersburg 2401 Central Ave., 727-871-7625 schoolofrock.com

Guitar, drum, singing, keyboard/ piano lessons

3/24 – School of Rock St. Pete Mid-Season Show

South Pasadena Community Band 727-515-5407

southpasadenaband.com

All-volunteer band

3/21 – Free Concert: South Pasadena City Hall, 7046 Sunset Drive S

St. Petersburg College

Gibbs Campus Music Center 6605 Fifth Ave. N, 727-341-4360 spcollege.edu/events

3/6 – SPC Jazz Band (SPC Gibbs Campus)

Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Society

Cove Cay Golf Club

2612 Cove Cay Drive, Clearwater sdjs2022.org

3/10 – Terry Meyers & The Dixie Lizards

Tampa Bay Symphony

Performances in various locations 727-827-8087

tampabaysymphony.org

4/7 – 7th Annual International Composition Competition Finals (Palladium)

TomKats Jazz Orchestra

The Blue Parrot Mon. 7-9:30pm

85 Corey Circle, St. Pete Beach tomkatsjazzorchestra.com

OPERA

Metropolitan Opera: HD Live Miller Auditorium, Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S, St. Pete Live high-definition broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera 727-864-7600

Opera Tampa at Straz Center, 1010 N W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa 813-229-7827 strazcenter.org

3/2 – Carnevale (grand gala)

3/8 & 10 – Hansel and Gretel

3/22 – Opera Tampa in Concert (New Tampa Performing Arts Center)

Sarasota Opera House

61 N Pineapple Ave., 941-328-1300 sarasotaopera.org

Through 3/22 – Carmen

Through 3/23 –

Lucia Di Lammermoor

3/8-11 – Ballet Hispanico

3/9-24 – Luisa Miller

3/15-23 – Deceit Outwitted (L’Infedelta Delusa)

4/5-6 – Portraits of Expression

St. Pete Opera

2145 First Ave. S, 727-823-2040 stpeteopera.org

Various performance locations

3/1 – Mornings w/the Maestro

3/2 – Broadway Cabaret

3/15-19 – Turandot (Palladium)

St. Petersburg Opera Guild stpeteoperaguild.org

The Pinellas Opera League

Thur.: Opera at the Dali pinellasoperaleague.com

ECO

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

1101 Country Club Way S, St. Pete 727-893-7326 stpeteparksrec.org/ boydhillpreserve

Closed Mon.

Environmental education center, Terry Tomalin Campground, Pinellas Pioneer Settlement

Brooker Creek Preserve

3940 Keystone Rd., Tarpon Springs 727-453-6800 brookercreekpreserve.org Tram Tours Sat.

Fort De Soto Park

3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde 727-552-1862 pinellascounty.org/park Campgrounds, ferry services to Egmont and Shell Keys.

Tampa Bay Watch

Discovery Center

700 Second Ave. NE, at The St. Pete Pier 727-291-4103 tbwdiscoverycenter.org

Daily boat tours of Tampa Bay ecosystem

Weedon Island Preserve

1800 Weedon Dr. NE, St. Pete 727-453-6500

weedonislandpreserve.org

Guided hikes, birding, and photography tours. Archaeology lectures, classes and webinars.

GARDENS

Florida West Coast Orchid Society

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 10891 102nd Ave. N, Seminole 727-420-7230 fwcos.org

3/9 – Orchid Repotting Clinic (Lighthouse Bldg. at Florida Botanical Gardens

Garden Club of St. Petersburg 500 Sunset Dr. S, 727-381-8920 gardenclubstpetersburg.org

Ikebana International

500 Sunset Drive, St. Pete (Garden Club building) ikebanastpetersburg.com

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

1534 Mound St., Sarasota 941-366-5731 selby.org

Through 6/30 – Yayoi Kusuma: A Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe

Through 8/31 – Clyde Butcher: Nature Through The Lens

Pinewood Cultural Park

12520 Ulmerton Road, and 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo Heritage Village –pinellas.gov/parks/heritage-village Creative Pinellas –creativepinellas.org

Florida Botanical Gardens – Free 100-acre park flbg.org

Third Saturday – Gardens open 7am-5pm; Creative Pinellas open noon-5pm; Heritage Village open 10am-4pm

Sunken Gardens

1825 Fourth St. N, St. Pete Adult and child classes sunkengardens.org

3/2 – Ikebana Demonstration

3/24 – Spring Plant Sale

4/7 – Orchid Festival

4/13 – Pesticide-Free Gardening

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton

By Peter Roos

You’ve likely seen or heard groups of brightly colored parrots, screeching as they fly past. The groups are called flocks for other types of birds. For parrots, the correct term is pandemonium. Often called Quaker parrots, they are more formally known as Monk parakeets. We use the terms interchangeably.

Monk parakeets are medium-sized birds, about 11-13 inches long from head to the tip of the long, tapered tail. Typically, green and gray, adults tend to have a blue-gray forehead. The lores, cheeks, and throat are a pale gray and the feathers on the throat and abdomen are edged in a lighter gray, giving them a scalloped look. The feathers below the abdomen are olive green, becoming yellowish green on the lower abdomen, legs and under the tail. The beak is a light pinkish-brown color, the legs are gray, and the eyes are brown. The Quaker parrot is highly intelligent and can be trained to talk. As non-native Class III wildlife, a permit is required to own them for exhibition or sale, but not to possess them as personal pets.

Native to lowland areas of Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil, they are typically found near large water sources. In South America, Quaker parrots were reported to destroy as much as 40 percent of fruit orchards, making them quite the pest. But in Florida, they have mainly stayed in urban rather than rural areas. The Quaker parrots also create massive nests, often in power stations and on utility poles. Their intricate honeycomb nests make an ideal place to stay warm, lay eggs, and prevent pesky snakes from coming around.

Unlike many other cavity-nesting parrot species, monk parakeets build nests from sticks and twigs. Groups of wild Monk parakeets live together, each pair with its own residence with two or more chambers. As the flock grows, each pair builds its apartment onto the main nest. They do not shy away from humans and can be found in and near both small and large towns, as well as farms and orchards.

Monk parakeets eat a variety of seeds, fruits, blossoms, insects, leaf buds, thistles, grasses, and parts of trees. Near populated areas, the birds have also been known to eat sweet potatoes, legumes, drying meat, cereal crops, such as maize and sorghum, as well as citrus crops.

Rick Steves narrates his travels live onstage. Michael Francis conducts. Mar 16, 2 pm & 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater - Matinee!

Michael

ARTS & LEISURE

FERRIES

Crossbay Ferry

Connecting Downtown Tampa to Downtown St. Pete

Wed.-Sun. through May 727-273-5932

thecrossbayferry.com

Egmont Key Ferry

Fort De Soto Boat Ramp 727-398-6577

hubbardsmarina.com

Shell Key Ferry

Fort De Soto Boat Ramp 727-398-6577

hubbardsmarina.com

See website for overnight camping

LIBRARIES

Gulf Beaches Public Library

200 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach 727-391-2828

gulfbeacheslibrary.org

Gulfport Public Library

5501 28th Ave. S, Gulfport 727-893-1074

mygulfport.us/gpl

St. Pete Beach Public Library

365 73rd Ave., St. Pete Beach 727-363-9238

Mon/Wed 10-8

Tues/Thurs/Fri 10-6

Sat 10-2; Sun closed

See spblibrary.com for daily events

President Barack Obama

Main Library

3745 Ninth Ave. N, St. Pete 727-893-7724

splibraries.org

Closed for renovation

SPIRITUAL

Sacred Lands

1700 Park St. N, St. Pete 727-347-0354

sacredlandspreservation.org

Drum circle first Fri.; Sun. tours, meditations, special events

Soothe Our Souls (S.O.S.)

4737 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach 727-360-7411

sootheoursouls.org

Provides complimentary sailing for seriously health-challenged people and their support groups

Spiritual Conditioning Program

153 107th Ave., Treasure Island

Pat Jano at 727-324-9222

Small group Bible study

ZOOS/AQUARIUMS

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

249 Windward Passage, Clearwater 727-441-1790

cmaquarium.org

Rescue, rehab and release

Home of Winter and Hope, stars of Dolphin Tale I & II 3/9 – AquaGala

Florida Aquarium

701 Channelside Drive, Tampa 813-273-4000

flaquarium.org

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota 941-388-4441 mote.org

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary

18328 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores 727-391-6211

seasideseabirdsanctuary.org

Free. Donations accepted. Tours.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa 813-935-8552

zootampa.org

Through 4/14 –

Prehistoric Predators

CLUBS-SERVICE/SOCIAL

Gulfport Lions Club

Second and fourth Tues. 6:30pm

Gulfport Lions Clubhouse

4630 Tifton Dr. S, Gulfport 727-709-6694

facebook.com/Gulfport-Lions-Club

Pass-A-Grille Shuffleboard

January through March

Tues./Thurs./Sat., 10am–noon

Pass-A-Grille Park, Ninth & 10th Ave.

Member $20/yr., open to public.

Preserve The ‘Burg 727-824-7802 preservetheburg.org

Rotary Club of Gulf Beaches

Tues., Noon. VFW, 12901 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach facebook.com/RotaryGulfBeaches

Second Saturday Singers

Second Sat. 9am–noon, Oct-April Pasadena Community Church, 227 70th St. S, St. Pete bobd@pccumc.org

St. Petersburg Audubon Society 727-753-9731 stpeteaudubon.org

St. Petersburg Chess Club

540 Fourth Ave. N, St. Pete Open every Fri. for members 6-11pm; Sun. 2-4pm group lessons and friendly games. chessclubjoy.webs.com

St. Petersburg

Shuffleboard Club

559 Mirror Lake Drive N, St. Pete Fri., 7-10pm, Free. stpeteshuffle.com

3/2 – Mirror Lake Championship tournament

Suncoast Bonsai Society

Seminole Recreation Center 9100 113th St. Third Sat. 10am suncoastbonsaisociety.org

Suncoast Quilting Circle

Works to preserve and promote the art of quilt making. suncoastquiltingcircle.org

Swiss Club St. Petersburg Welcomes new members. Inquire via website: SwissClubStPetersburg.com

Tampa Bay Surface Guild

Good Samaritan Church

6085 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. Second Mon., 6:30-8:30pm Coloring, patterning, structuring and transformation of fabric, fiber, and other materials surfacedesignguild.com

The Contemporaries

Support group of Members of Museum of Fine Arts. Monthly lectures, gatherings and field trips supporting contemporary artists of Tampa Bay. mfastpete.org

Treasure Island Historical Society

Treasure Island Community Center Garden Room, 154 106th Ave. Sept.-April, Second Mon., 5pm facebook.com/ treasureislandFLhistoricalsociety

Treasure Islettes

Treasure Island Community Center, 154 106th Ave. Bingo Thursdays 6:30pm treasureislettes.weebly.com

Supports charity and college scholarships.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 1500 Pass-A-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach

Safe Boating Program, Tues. 7pm Warren Webster Building, wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=070-07-08

Tampa Bay Women In Tourism Third Fri. various venues. tampabaywomenintourism.com

CLUBS – ATHLETIC

Clearwater/St. Petersburg Ski Club

Mike’s Pizza & Deli Station, 13560 49th St., Clearwater. Second Tues. 6:30pm, Sept.-May. 727-743-3108 snowshark.org

Pinellas County’s only ski club.

Mad Dogs Triathlon Club

Wed. night swims through summer, 6pm, Hurley Park Shelter, Pass-A-Grille Beach. stpetemaddogs.org

Tampa Bay Beach Bums

Gulfport 727-437-2867

https://tinyurl.com/5n8s8f2k

St. Pete Road Runners

Walkers, joggers, non-competitive & competitive runners. facebook.com/StPeteRoadRunners

ARTS & LEISURE

HEALTH

Jazzercise Exercise Classes

Treasure Island City Hall, Mon. & Wed. 5:30pm 727-687-6695

https://tinyurl.com/43caxjwr

Wednesday Walkers

Second and fourth Wed. 9am, varying locations. 727-893-1244 Sponsored by Gulfport Senior Center, 5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport

THRIFT SHOPS

Anona Thrift Shoppe

12025 Indian Rocks Road, Largo Mon., Wed.-Sat. 10am-3pm handsofhealinginc.org/thrift-shoppe

Attic Shoppe

316 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach facebook.com/albansministry

CASA Thrift Shop

1011 First Ave. N, St. Pete casa-stpete.org

Creative Thrift Art Store (at Creative Clay)

1846 First Ave. S, St. Pete creativeclay.org/creative-thrift

HEP Thrift Store

1212 N Betty Lane, Clearwater Facebook.com/hepthriftstore

Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church Thrift Shop

107 16th Ave. & Pass-A-Grille Way, Tues., Thurs., Sat. 9am-noon pagchurch.org

St. Vincent’s Thrift Store 180 34th St. N, St. Pete https://tinyurl.com/yc4kjb2u

Church by the Sea Thrift Store 495 137th Ave. Circle, Madeira Beach

Tues., Thurs., Sat. 10am-2pm churchbythesea.com/thrift-store

VOLUNTEERING

AARP

Various volunteer opportunities aarp.org/giving-back

Daystar Life Center

1055 28th St. S., St. Pete Needs volunteers 727-825-0442 facebook.com/DaystarLifeCenter

Empath Health

Suncoast Hospice Training provided empathhealth.org

Friends of Strays

2911 47th Ave. N, St. Pete 727-522-6566

Nonprofit, no-kill shelter friendsofstrays.com/home

Hope Villages of America, Inc. 727-587-7747 rcspinellas.org/Volunteer/

Marine Exploration Center

Needs volunteers 727-209-7115 mecstpete.org

Meals on Wheels

13945 Evergreen Ave., Clearwater Needs volunteer drivers. 727-573-9444 neighborly.org

State of Florida Guardian ad

Litem Program

Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of FL, 14250 49th St. N, Suite 4000, Clearwater guardianadlitem.org

St. Petersburg Arts Alliance 100 Second Ave. N, Suite 150 727-754-6404 stpeteartsalliance.org

St. Petersburg Free Clinic 863 Third Ave. N stpetersburgfreeclinic.org

Tampa Bay Watch

3000 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde tampabaywatch.org

YOGA

Beach Yoga Pinellas Beachyogapinellas.com

Salty Souls Yoga saltysoulsyoga.com

Silver Sneakers Yoga

Community Center, St. Pete Beach Fri. 11:15am spbrec.com

South Pasadena Yoga

• Gentle Yoga: Thursdays, 9:30-10:30am

• Yoga Flow: Thursdays, 10:40-11:40am

South Pasadena City Hall 7047 Sunset Drive S barbmoeller1@gmail.com

Sunken Gardens

1825 Fourth St. N, St. Pete 727-560-7317

Mon. & Wed. 10:30am

Sunset Yoga at The St. Pete Pier First Wed. 7-8pm. Free https://tinyurl.com/3m2wbmc6

The Centre of St. Pete Beach 7525 Blind Pass Road, 727-258-2001 thecentreSPB.com/calendar1

Yoga at The Dali Dali Museum, third Sun., 9-10am https://tinyurl.com/bd6e88mz

MARKETS

Art Mart at Pass-a-Grille Sat. & Sun., 9am-2pm (+ Fridays through April)

900 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach

TUESDAYS

Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market 9am-3pm, Oct. through April 9am-2pm, May through Sept. Beach Blvd. below 28th Ave. S, Second Tues. Clothing Swap: Russian Club, 2920 Beach Blvd. S visitgulfportflorida.com

WEDNESDAYS

Madeira Beach Market Nov.-May 10am-3pm 15000 Madeira Way

FRIDAYS

Sunset Market

First and third Fri. nights, 5-10pm, parking lot of Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave., St. Pete.

Creative Clay

Outdoor Art Market

First Fridays, 10am-2pm 1846 First Ave. S, St. Pete

Treasure Island Friday Market

Dec.-April, 9am-2pm

Community Center Park islandneighborschamber.org

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Dunedin Downtown Market

9am-1pm, Pioneer Park, 420 Main St., Fri. market Nov.-May until 2pm; Sat. market year-round.

SATURDAYS

Crossroads Market

Third Saturdays, 10am-2pm, Crossroads Christian Church 1645 Seminole Blvd., Largo

St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market

Oct.-May, 9am-2pm

Al Lang Stadium parking lot, 230 First St. SE

June-Sept. 9am-1pm, Williams Park, 350 Second Ave. N saturdaymorningmarket.com

The Market Marie

Second Saturdays, 10am-3pm Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater

Mezzo Market

One Saturday a month Oct.-May, Baum Avenue between Intermezzo Coffee & Green Bench Brewing, St. Pete intermezzo.co/mezzo-market

SUNDAYS

Corey Avenue Sunday Market 10am-2pm/June-Oct. 9am-1pm Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach coreyave.com

Indian Shores Sunday Market

Nov.-April, 9am-1pm

Indian Shores Town Hall, 19305 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores facebook.com/

IndianShoresSundayMarket/

St. Pete Sunday Market

Third Sun. of the month, Noon-6pm

Arts Xchange

515 22nd St. S, St. Pete

Sunday Market St. Pete Weekly, 10am-5pm, St. Petersburg High School, 2501 Fifth Ave. N

DOG WALKING • PET SITTING

We… Feed, Love, Care for Your Pets!

Serving: Beaches, Seminole & W. St. Pete BONDED & INSURED

Pete@PetesPerfectPetCare.com

CALL… 7 2 7 . 7 4 2 . 2 5 9 9

ACCOUNTING / BOOKKEEPING & TAX SERVICES

David J. Strickler, CPA, PA, djscpa1@aol.com 727.906.9600

ACUPUNCTURE

Ancient Healing Acupuncture & Herbs Authentic oriental healing arts are still the foremost healing methods in China. 6600 31st. Terrace N., St. Pete. 727.384.4826

Achieve Acupunture & Integrative Medicine, Treatments specializing in chronic conditions, including Peripheral Neuropathy.

ACHIEVEACUIM.com 727.272.3587

ANNUAL HOME RENTAL

Keyrenter property management takes the worry out of being a land lord. KeyrenterStPete.com or call Sam 727-202.2700

BOAT CLUB

Limited Membership Boat Club with Premium Boats. All day usage for a fraction of the cost of ownership. SovereignBoatClub.com

Tierra Verde – 727.200.3474

BLINDS & SHUTTERS

Do Your Shutters need some TLC?

Hurricane Shutters Sold, Installed, Cleaned, Maintained & Repaired. The Shutterman 727.810.4606

Shopping for Window Treatment?

Call for a free in-home consult. See ad for 30% off next purchase. Call Budget Blinds 727.821.0976 and/or Service First Installers

CAREGIVER/COMPANION

In-home aid, dementia/companion care, meals, laundry, groceries, pets, appointments. St. Petersburg / S. Pinellas. References available. Maritza Palmucci 813.230.9392 Companionship, errands, transportation to appointments, light cooking, cleaning, and laundry, medication reminders. Call Gail 260.242.0246, email gail@compassionatecompanioncare forseniors.com, compassionate companioncareforseniors.com

CARPETS & RUGS

Professional Rug Cleaning & Invisible Repairs – Free pick-up and delivery. Also, the largest selection of imported Handmade works of art you can walk on. Oriental Rug Bazaar 727.726.8787

CLOSET DESIGN & INSTALLATION

Get organized. Maximize the space you have in closets, pantries, laundry rooms & more. newclosettoday.com Call for a free consult 727.641.6448

DENTAL SERVICES

Advanced Dental Technology, Implants, Reconstructive, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry, 617 75th Ave., St. Pete Beach 40 Years Experience – Free 2nd opinions CenturyDental.org 727.367.3313

Pier Dental, 8351 Blind Pass Rd., SPB Family-owned General and Cosmetic Dentistry with Personalized Care. Florida native Dr. Brittany Pierpont. Pierdental.net 727.363.6169

DRY CLEANERS & LAUNDRY

Home Pick-up & Delivery-Dry Clean, Wash-Dry-Fold, Alterations, Patio

Cushion Cleaning, Shoe & Handbag

Repair, Pick-up 2x weekly

Sacino’s Cleaners

sacinoscleaners.com 727.471.0573

Laundry Wash - Dry - Fold Service

Laundromat 7815 Blind Pass Rd., SPB, call Laura 727.458.1412

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Your contact for all things electrical. Solar hookup, generators, wiring and rewiring homes and businesses. Red Royal Electric 727-228-1065

HEALTH & FITNESS

Ancient Healing Acupuncture & Herbs

Seasonal Allergies, Hip & Back Pain April Wang 727.384.4826

Certified Chinese MD, (Tyrone Area) 6600 31st Terrace, St. Pete

Worried About Your Memory?

Alzheimer’s Association –Offers FREE & Confidential Memory Screenings, CALL to schedule 727.893.5657

HAULING - DELIVERY

HB Hauling Demo, junk removal, dump trailer rental & more. 727.793.5816

Hot Momma’s Hauling does pick-ups and delivery, including shell, sand, and pavers. Trailer rentals, junk removed, clean outs. Call Ashlie 727.678.3156

LetMommahelpyou.com

HEALTH & NUTRITION

Gulfport Nutrition - 5012 Gulfport Blvd. S., Cardio Drumming Classes. Call Marlene for Info 305.619.9734

HEARING CARE

Pasadena Hearing Care

Anne S. Carter, Ph.D. 727.329.8852

Don’t let Hearing Loss impact your life.

HOME ASSISTANT

Home Care and Maintenance

Personal & Virtual Assistance

Arriving / Departing Services

Home Decor, Declutter, Design, & Organization. Lisa loves

Projects. Call 502.419.1498

NestWatchHome.com

HOUSEKEEPING & CLEANING

Dependable European Lady15+yrs exp., High Quality, Reasonable Rates, References. 727.564.1473

Reasonable cleaning. Homes, windows, offices. Experienced and insured. Pinellas county. 727.259.3558

Laddy’s Cleaning Service - on the beaches over a decade 727.430.8826

Laundry Wash Dry Fold Service

Laundromat - 7815 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. Some pickup/delivery available. Call Laura 727.458.1412

Cleaning Is Our Passion - Maids, Maintenance & More. Steadfast, Reliable, Best of Beaches service for 25+ years. L/B/I 727.363.1074

Home & Office CleaningExperienced,Efficient

European Cleaning LadyFree Estimates, Great local references 10+ years Irina 727.481.1364

INSURANCE

Bentley DeNight Insurance Services can save $$$ on Flood Insurance and can quote Homeowners, Auto & Business Insurances 727.344.4500

IV THERAPY

IV Lounge@ The Centre SPB

See AD Page 7. Ask about getting your infusion where you are, or at 7525 Blind Pass Rd., 727.258.2001 thecenterspb.com

LOCKSMITH SERVICES

COVID SAFE Lock Repair Service during daytime hours, weekdays. Vet owned. Tommy Locksmith 727.755.3975

LUMBER

Need wood to match your old house?

If it isn’t in stock, ask if we can make it for you. Anderson Lumber 666 49th St. S 727.321.3111

MARINE CONSTRUCTION

Island Marine Construction

Docks, Boat Lifts, Service, since 1997. Licensed Marine Contractor, C-8463 727.363.7282

MARKETING SERVICES

Janet Nummi, Graphic Design info@janetnummi.com

Buddy Baker, Copyediting melvin.baker@gmail.com

MASSAGE SERVICES

Helios Health – Zoe (MA31664) offers massage and Infrared sauna therapy on West Central Ave. at 57th St., St. Petersburg 727.322.8883

PAINTING SERVICES

Residential or Commercial Painting Flo-Pro Painting 727.337.6888

PET SITTING & WALKING

Pete’s Perfect Pet Care is a true professional. Get happy text messages from your best friend daily while you are apart. Bonded and Insured. 727.742.2599

Pete@PetesPerfectPetCare.com

PICKLEBALL/TENNIS LESSONS

Private/group lessons for all ages/skill levels. 727.481.6375 brian@sunshinecitytennis.com

PICKLEBALL EXPO

Thurs. April 18th, 3-7pm

At St. Pete Coliseum needs

• Volunteers • Attendees

• Exhibitors • Sponsors suncoastPB.com suncoastPB@gmail.com

727.900.9704

PLASTIC SURGERY

Coundouriotis Facial Plastic Surgery and Laser Center 727.525.9900

“Reverse the Signs Of Aging Anywhere on your body, Rebuild collagen & reduce wrinkles.”

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Marina Bay – New Construction

Near Eckerd. More than beautiful. Resilient, Private, Peaceful, Protected FORTIFIED 727.906.3300

MarinaBaystPete.com

ISLA Condo, 1 Bd 1 1/2 Ba, Top Floor, Water & Golf Views, furnished $399K, 6279 Sun Blvd. #603, St. Pete, 33715

See photos on Zillow. Please text (no realtors) 727.639.8316

RESIDENTIAL PROTECTION

Insurance Companies are now rejecting claims if no one has been there in 14 days.

Property Watch Ninja’s are your boots on the ground When you’re not around. PropertyWatchNinja’s.com or Call 727.620.2620

RUGS – See Carpets

SCREEN REPAIR

Screen Repair for Pool Cages, Patios and Lanais, call or text for a FREE Estimate.

Rescreen Rescue 727.348.4307

SEO & WEBSITES

Advanced Digital Media Services develops websites with SEO built-in to get your company to the top on Google. Text or call 727.509.6930

Create and Improve Your Online Presence, customerloyaltyagency.com

Call Dean at 941.323.1402

SLIDING DOOR REPAIR

Stop struggling with old sliding doors. We fix it to open for a fraction of the cost of a new door. We replace windows too. Lic. C1050, YouTube.com/user/SliderRepairs

Slider Repairs 727.493.2644

TERMITES

Cameron Termite & Pest Control Inspections, Treatments and Tenting Camerontermite.com 727.577.0789

TOURS & TRANSPORTATION

Paradise Tours & Transportation Call us 1st for your transportation needs. We will take you where you want to go! Sightseeing tours and transportation around Tampa Bay. 727.417.8036

BATS - Bay Area Taxi Service BatsTaxi.com 727.367.3702

Free Beach Rides 727.776.7553

TUTORING

Portuguese & French Tutoring Conversational-Grammar-Literature parigitropicale@gmail.com 727.301.5917

Piano lessons your home or my studio. All ages & styles, affordable, 25 years of experience. 727.688.2782

French lessons by French nativeAll levels. Text or call 571.435.5606

Reading tutor. Certified. Grades 2-8. 1:1 Zoom or in-person. 941.962.5782 actuallylearnit.com

WINDOW CLEANING

See Life More Clearly, 30 yrs. exp., Residential, Commercial. Estimates are free. Call Tim 727.488.8516.

CLASSIFIED ADS

10 Words 10 issues $100

20 Words 10 Issues $200

Single issue or less than 10 $2.50/word. Email: sales@paradisenewsfl.com Or call 727-363-6888.

ENCOURAGING WORDS

By Dennis Merritt Jones, DD

Making Peace With Uncertainty

We were born to be free, to expand our horizons by going where we have never gone before. There is a place within us that is courageous beyond our human understanding; it yearns to explore beyond the boundaries of our uncertainties.

The Art of Uncertainty – How To Live In the Mystery of Life and Love It

When dining at a restaurant recently, I saw a 3’x3’ poster on the wall depicting a very tempting giant Fudge Brownie with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with hot fudge syrup. Under the brownie was the caption, “Life is uncertain – eat dessert first.” I thought that was an interesting narrative on the topic of uncertainty – especially in a world where indulging in instant gratification is a national pastime. How do you handle uncertainty when it pops up in your daily life? Many of us turn to any form of denial we can; anything to avoid the unpleasant feeling of not knowing, of not being in control of what the future may hold, be it five minutes or five years. To avoid the unpleasantries of our uncertainties, we run to the medicine or liquor cabinet, the refrigerator, the shopping mall, etc. The only problem is when we return from our trip down “the river of denial” the same uncertainty we had before we departed is waiting for us; the only difference is each time we attempt to avoid uncertainty, it seems to become even more ensconced in our mind and heart. It’s when we become bogged down in our uncertainties that we catch a dose of “stuck-in-the-rutitis” which is a soul smothering dis-ease. Then we hunker down, keeping our heads below the line of fire where it looks like a safe zone. Just the opposite is true; it’s a dead zone.

The Infinite Intelligence within us knows when we are not living up to our full potential – which is when a little bit of our soul metaphorically withers and withdraws from life. That’s when we become numb and oblivious to the possibilities that lie just beyond the rut. The “Zone of the Known” is a dead zone. Nothing new can be experienced from within the field of what we already know.

There is much comfort to be found in the confines of a box when we know where the edges are. But there is no growth, no evolution, and no deepening of our spiritual nature within that box. If we want to create a larger life, we must expand the size of the box – that is, come to the edge and lean over.

In my book, The Art of Uncertainty – How to Live In The Mystery of Life and Love It, each of the chapters reveal different areas of our lives where the side-effects of living with stuck-in-the-rut-itis too long can be detrimental to our longevity and well-being. A few examples are:

The Impact of Habits: We frequently remain trapped in a rut because sticking with our habits is far easier than changing course. Yet, when bad habits remain unchecked, they turn into addictions. With mindfulness, we can utilize the power of habits positively and create routines that lead us towards success.

The Anatomy of Fear: When we are afraid, we ignore the stimulus rather than addressing it. To thrive in the face of uncertainty, we must observe our fears and transcend them.

The Wisdom of Knowing What and When to Let Go: When dealing with difficulty, many of us retell our story over and over, letting it define us. To move forward into the mystery of the unknown, we must release resentment and other soul suffocating attachments and open ourselves to the beginning of a new story.

Abundance is the Gift Already Given: How big is your bucket (which is a metaphor for your consciousness or belief system)? We live in an abundant Universe but cannot receive anything we are unprepared to accept. To accept anything new, we must release that to which we cling and faithfully free-fall into the arms of an abundant Universe. With The Art of Uncertainty as a companion, you will learn to view life’s transitions as places from which to grow, rather than causes for anxiety.

Note: Many of my articles which you read in Paradise News contain quotes and excerpts from my recent books. These articles are available on the Paradise News website at www.paradisenewsfl.com under the advice tab.

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