Live In St. Pete

OmeletCafeAlma

This morning marked the debut of weekday breakfast hours at Cafe Alma in downtown St. Petersburg! I’ve long been a fan of their Saturday & Sunday brunch menu, but I’m thrilled to have another choice (and a more upscale one) for regular breakfasts on other days.
Tuesday mornings are when my Mom and I take time away from the office to have breakfast (we’re determined to try all the places that offer breakfast in the ‘Burg). So, we were delighted that Alma’s debut was on a Tuesday!
The menu includes some of the favorites from the weekend, but some more basic breakfast fare as well. I get stuck in a rut with the chorizo & cheese omelet most times, but the “ham & cheese omelet” caught my eye this morning – not your ordinary ham & cheese, it’s made with Canadian bacon and white cheddar (one of my favorites). It was cooked perfectly and so delicious! Mom had the traditional eggs benedict, which she gave high marks to – the hollandaise sauce was right on, the eggs were cooked perfectly, and they even found an English muffin to exchange for the Southern biscuit (she’s a Yankee, after all!).
It was a dreary, rainy day outside, but the atmosphere inside was warm and welcoming, as usual. Give them a try for breakfast, or anytime!

SatMornMarket

Among my favorite things to do is visit the Saturday Morning Market in downtown St. Petersburg. What started out small on a single block of Central Avenue has grown into a huge market, now taking up the entire parking lot of Progress Energy Park (Al Lang Stadium, for those of us who have lived here more than a few years).
It’s wonderful to see all the interesting wares, fresh produce, live music and delicious foods that the market has to offer. (I even did some of my Christmas shopping at the market this year.) Even better is to see lots of folks walking around downtown. After the market, many people meander along Beach Drive or towards Central to brunch or lunch at their favorite spots.
In the summer, the Market takes shelter in the parking lot of the Mahaffey Theater. It was remarkably cool and shady when I went last before the market returned to its primary location. I’ll look forward to that spot for a change of scenery when the weather changes.

FtDesotoBeach

We’re fortunate to have award-winning beaches here in Pinellas County. Among them is Fort DeSoto, a national park with miles of sandy white beaches, biking trails, campsites, and much more, not to mention the actual fort.
My brother and sister-in-law used to camp there every Thanksgiving weekend. I know many people who go there to fish on the pier, to ride bikes along the trails, or to have special picnics in the covered shelters.
Yesterday I attended a beach wedding there. It was nippy and windy, but still gorgeous, with blue skies and bright sunshine. Along the way to the pavilions, I saw folks in bathing suits along the way, soaking in the rays. Cold is relative, I guess!
Some folks like the crashing waves of the Atlantic coast, but I like the calm waters of our Gulf of Mexico. It’s just like the rest of our area, a little laid back and comfortable.

HolidayLights-crop

It’s wonderful to live in a city with waterfront parks and warm weather! This Friday we kick off the holiday season (although the street decorations are already up!) with the annual lighting of the tree in Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg. The park transforms into a glittering wonderland that’s just something to see. Plan an evening downtown at one of our great restaurants along Beach Drive or Central Avenue, or wherever you like.

From the City of St. Petersburg’s web site, www.stpete.org, here are the details: Nov. 27 – Holiday Tree Lighting and Park Activities.
N. Straub Park, Beach Dr. and 5th Ave. N.E. 5 to 7 p.m. Come out to celebrate the holiday tradition of the Mayor flipping the switch and lighting the holiday tree with Holiday lights across the waterfront. Activities begin at 5 p.m. with holiday entertainment featuring The St. Petersburg Community Band, Gulf to Bay Chapter, Inc. Sweet Adelines and Radio Disney. Blanket Seating and concessions available.
5 p.m. Mayor Baker’s daughter – Julann Baker performs; 5:15 p.m. – Gulf to Bay Chorus – Sweet Adelines International perform; 6:15 p.m. – St. Petersburg Community Band plays; 7 p.m. – Mayor Baker switches the LIGHTS ON!! and the Community Band plays during the closing ceremony. Festivities continue with the Holiday Movie in the Park. 727-893-7441.

ElectricMarina

On the approach to the Pier in downtown St. Petersburg you’ll find The Electric Marina Boat Rentals. Of course they’ve got kayaks and water bikes to play around in Vinoy Basin, but I was surprised to learn about their sailboats and electric boats. Every Saturday and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. they offer free 10 minute rides so you can try it out.
In addition to the recreational rentals, talk to Nancy Frainetti about purchasing an electric hybrid yacht. Find out more about the marina at www.electricmarina.com, or about the yacht sales at www.EndeavourGreen.com.

Bloody Mary Bar

I’ve been really enjoying more options for Sunday brunch in downtown St. Pete, especially at Cafe Alma, where they have a build-your-own bloody mary bar. Fond memories of lazy Sundays in New Orleans come to mind with the selection of garnishes, especially the pickled okra and green beans. There’s every flavor of hot sauce imaginable so you can heat up your mary to your liking.
The brunch specials are always appealing, with unique omelets, benedicts and pancakes each Sunday. Somehow I tend to always get the chorizo & cheese omelet despite how creative the specials sound. I enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the service is always great.
It’s best to go with friends, of course, but I’ve also found it a comfortable spot to sit at the bar if I’m by myself. Next time you’re looking for a brunch spot, try Cafe Alma.

Cantina Fireworks

Met with friends last night for happy hour drinks & nibbles at the Red Mesa Cantina downtown. Much of the decor remains from the space’s previous incarnation as DeSanto, which I’m glad for because my friend Frank Fraze was the architect and did a great job on the design! The building, part of the old McNulty Station, has great character with lots of brick, and the indoor space flows out into the lush courtyard. Last night, as it was Thursday, there was great Latin music outside, and the place was really filling up for dinner.
I’ll definitely be back to try more of the food offerings, as everything looked quite appealing. I’ve heard great reviews about the food – except from folks who are expecting it to be an exact copy of the menu from the original Red Mesa up on 4th Street.
As we see media reports of restaurants in trouble in this economy, I always appreciate how vibrant our foodie scene is in downtown St. Pete. If you haven’t tried the Cantina yet, make a point to do it soon. Ole!

Oceana-Dessert02

The Bay Area Concierge Association (BACA) meeting was hosted by the Don Cesar Beach Resort, a Loews Hotel, on Monday, July 13. We were treated to a fantastic wine and heavy hors d’oeuvre reception in the elegant Maritana Grill. Of course they have a lovely private dining room, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Chef’s Table, a private dining area that’s actually IN the kitchen. How cool is that?!
Our tour of the property included the newly renovated ballroom, and a stop on the staircase for a group photo where so many brides & grooms pose for their wedding portraits. Then we were off to the Sea Porch, where the food & libations continued. Stations of pub fare were throughout, and we were treated to mini Pink Lady cocktails. Adjacent to the restaurant is a great sports-bar type area with pool tables and a super view of the beach and Gulf of Mexico.
Finally, we went rooftop over the Spa Oceana for a sunset dessert buffet. What lovely presentations and yummy offerings. At sunset, we witnessed the official gong to mark the end of the day. Everything was just wonderful, as you’d expect at the Don. Every member of the staff made us feel so welcome, and every detail was attended to. If you haven’t been to the Don lately, go see what you’re missing!
See all of the evening’s photos (including the food, of course) on my Flickr page.

Photo_06.jpg

This is one of the street scene murals I discovered during a recent tour of the PARC campus, where our friend Flora McCabe is the Art Director. She oversees programs where all ages of PARC consumers exercise their creativity in all sorts of media. They also sell their artwork, from sculpture to jewelry, at their Tyrone area headquarters as well as at the Arts Center, the Holocaust Museum, and even in our office on Beach Drive!

They’re having a special event, “Art in the PARC,” on Friday, July 24, 2009 from 5:00 – 7:30 pm at the USF St. Petersburg College of Business, 263 13th Avenue S, Third Floor. Admission is free, but bring your wallets, because you’ll be captivated by the artwork!

I’m particularly excited about the venue – the College of Business is housed in the brick building along the waterfront south of downtown that used to be headquarters for Florida Power. When I was in college studying art, I used the building as a subject for a black & white photography shoot. With its broken windows and abandoned look (in the late ’80’s), it made for a spectacular photo study.

For more information about the show, call PARC at 727-410-6302 or go online to www.parc-fl.org. And if you haven’t seen for yourself the amazing things that PARC is doing for developmentally challenged children and adults in St. Petersburg, you should schedule a tour for yourself!

Last night I enjoyed the opening of a new exhibit at the Florida International Museum, which is now part of St. Petersburg College’s downtown arts collaboration. “In a New Light” features selections from the recently closed Gulf Coast Museum of Art Collection. There was a nice reception in the brand new lobby of the building that will also house American Stage. I enjoyed the exhibit’s range of media, including a breathtaking photograph by Clyde Butcher, one of my favorites. Check it out sometime over the next few months. The exhibit runs through October 4, 2009. Find out more at www.spcollege.edu/FIMuseum.