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.

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Sometimes we forget what we have already. Last night was one of those reminders. The Bay Area Concierge Association was hosted by Jo Jo’s in Citta, a mainstay for comfortable Southern Italian food since 1991 in downtown St. Petersburg. As we are inundated with exciting new restaurants that grab all the attention, we need to remember those great places that have been around.
Jo Jo’s sits at the base of Bank of America Tower, with its main entrance on Central Avenue. It’s a warm, casual environment with an excellent menu.
Last night, we were treated to meatballs & sausages, a Penne alla Vodka that was to die for, a beautiful salad that looked like it should have been a postcard, bruschetta and sinful garlic knots. (Take a look at the pictures if you like.)
The best part, though, was when the owner & chef (Jo Jo’s nephew) sat down and joined us – he’s Italian, after all. I have fond memories of Jo Jo from when I was in college. He cooked a meal at his home for my roommate and I – more food than you could imagine, and all of it amazing.
So, as we celebrate all of the wonderful new cuisine options we have, don’t forget about old favorites that you can always count on. Check out Jo Jo’s menu and see if there isn’t something you’ve been meaning to enjoy.

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.

Parkshore3rdAnnv

It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years since Steve Westphal and Chef Tyson Grant opened the Parkshore Grill at 300 Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg. I had the pleasure of joining the anniversary festivities last evening, including complimentary wine and hors d’ouevres. Ironically, I was with the same friend who I shared the grand opening event with! There were plenty of folks enjoying the balmy evening, strolling between Parkshore and its sister restaurant, 400 Beach Drive Seafood & Tap House, which was also sharing in the celebration.
We stayed for dinner at Parkshore, where the bar and dining room were packed and lively. I decided on the Beef Wellington, which is truly authentic and rich, in my humble opinion. I wasn’t disappointed! I love having such a great restaurant just a half block away from my office. I’ve always felt that their menu offers a great deal of variety, in a great variety of price ranges, too.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Steve’s next venture comes together, The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge at Albert Whitted Municipal Airport. If you haven’t dined at either Parkshore or 400 Beach, I encourage you to do so, especially on a day when you can sit outside and enjoy our beautiful downtown waterfront parks.

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.

MountedPolice

Imagine my surprise to look out my office window and see police on horseback sauntering down Beach Drive! It turns out that today was the official unveiling of our newest law enforcement team – two mounted units, on horses named Brooklyn and Jacob who came to us after the Boston, MA, police department disbanded their 12 horse mounted division.
Check out the story that the St. Petersburg Times posted just after noon, apparently just before we saw the horses.
It’ll be interesting to what impact this new twist on police presence will have in the ‘Burg!

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I’ve been getting Jon Labudde’s Weekly ‘Burg Blast for a while now, and I love it! It’s a fantastic highlight of what’s going on in downtown St. Petersburg and beyond – where to go for great restaurant specials, which movie’s playing next on the rooftop of PUSH, what festivals are going on in the week ahead, who’s on stage at the Palladium, what bands are playing at Jannus or the Rare Olive, when’s the next Little Black Dress party at Table, what crazy thing is going on next at NOVA, and much, much more. I pass it along by email to anyone who’s not getting it.
Today I got an email that there’s a web site, www.weeklyburg.com, under construction where you can go if you misplace your weekly email, or if you want to check something out anytime. They’ll have sections for Calendar items, Restaurants and Businesses. Bookmark it today, and make sure you sign up for the ‘Burg Blast if you’re not getting it: e-mail mailto:weeklyburgblast@aol.com if you’re not already a subscriber.

Z Grille

Joined a friend for lunch today at Z Grille, a hip, urban restaurant that calls the new Signature Place building home. Chef Zack and Jennifer Gross took their Central Avenue success to the next level with this awesome restaurant that offers a unique, fresh menu in a very cool environment.
It was a light crowd for lunch, meaning that it wasn’t noisy, but a sure sign that we need the word of mouth to travel a little south of Central at lunchtime. The ambience is unique, too, with cool shiny surfaces, even a bamboo halfpipe overhead and artwork from a well-known local tattoo artist (on the walls and on Zack, Jenny & some of the staff for good measure). Read more about the restaurant and see their menus at http://www.zgrille.net.
Lunch was great, starting with the special wild mushroom soup (it seems like a popular soup theme around town, and I have yet to meet one I didn’t like). I had the turkey, brie & bacon sandwich, which was delicious. My friend from the eastern shore decided to try their spin on crab cakes, with a tortilla crusting and a totally different taste sensation than you’ll find in Maryland – but it was a hit nonetheless. The wait staff was attentive and pleasant, and we had a very nice, enjoyable lunch. See more pictures on Flickr.
There are a lot of things on the menu I like – deviled eggs, for example. Why wait until somebody hosts a house party to have them? The B.L.A.S.T. appetizer with its sea scallop anchor is out of this world. And I can’t wait to try the legendary fried Dr. Pepper ribs. Guess I’ll just have to make a point to go back, and often!