Seven New Things to To Love in the 727
Photo taken at The Cordova Inn
Doesn’t it feel like there’s always something new popping up in St. Petersburg? The City of St. Petersburg continues to grow and thrive with new inspired locales, businesses, restaurants, boutiques, and art installations, so much so that sometimes it feels hard to keep up!
Immersive experiences and delicious eats are leading the pact these days so it’s no surprise that some of the hottest new tickets in town include a dessert bar and sake-infused listening house, to name a few. I’m excited for a season full of memory making at as many of these as I can explore.
Read on to support local and for my list of top things to do in St. Petersburg, Florida this Fall 2021!
Photo via @gios_typos
Known as Tampa Bay’s “street poet for hire,” Giovanni Cerro (@gios_typos) has taken the linguistic scene by storm. Armed with a vintage typewriter (and typically an awesome tie-dye t-shirt) provide him with any topic and he’ll instantly wax poetic and write you an instant masterpiece, whether in-person outside of local downtown St. Pete staples like Craft Kafe or via his website.
Along with a knack for words, Gio has an eye for those gorgeous vintage vessels which he uses to share his gift of word to the world. Not only can you commission Gio to convey your feelings in word form, you can channel his poetic capabilities with the proper equipment, by renting your very own vintage typewriter for an event or your own personal musings. @typewriterrentals https://www.giostypos.com/hire-me
Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant
With a dad from Spain, I’m always excited to discover a new Spanish spot in Tampa Bay. While Ceviche may not be necessarily new, it’s been completely updated as if the restaurant took a quick siesta and woke up refreshed and on Beach Drive. While I loved the former Central Ave location, Ceviche’s new home is in the heart of the St. Pete scene, offering delicious made-to-order tapas and platillos típicos de España, like jamon Iberico, rabo de toro, queso de cabra, and pulpo a la gallega, to name some. With the authentic array of Spanish-style small dishes, you can order larger entrees like fresh made Paella, the perfect shareable dish, full of yummy seafood, veggies and herbs.
I recently dined there two days in a row, one for a date night where we split several tapas and cocktails. The next day was for group lunch, where we shared one order of pan con tomate, one small dish per couple and split the Mariscos Paella and two pitchers of sangria — boy was that a fun and tasty day! I may’ve been tipsy but that paella was definitely made and had a rich flavor from all of the fresh seafood, sausage, veggies and herbs simmering along with the Spanish rice. Oh and make sure you leave room for the basque cheesecake, made crustless and creamy unlike any cheesecake you’ve ever sliced. Ceviche is definitely a must-add to your St. Petersburg foodies list!
As a lover of all things immersive experiences, Fairgrounds St. Pete offers an artistic immersion unlike any other in Tampa Bay, offering a 15,000 sq ft. artist-made environment in a choose-your-own-adventure experience, with multiple ways for you to become part of the narrative. Fairgrounds St. Pete invites you to escape reality and explore our interactive story-driven installation and engage in a world of art, play and joy! Embracing the tropical whimsicality of St. Pete and both modern and vintage Florida, Fairgrounds St. Pete is the perfect activity for kids, for a rainy day-date and definitely a dream when it comes to scroll-stopping photo opportunities. Purchase tickets at Tickets.Fairgrounds.Art.
Built in 1921, the Cordova Inn offers the unique charm of a historic boutique bed and breakfast, boasting an iconic Neoclassical style building that sits near downtown’s most coveted attractions, including The Dalí. Museum, St. Pete Pier and many other attractions. Tons of exciting developments are on the horizon for The Cordova Inn, from the inaugural seasonal Fall marketplace that recently took place, to the upcoming property expansion helmed by the hotel’s new ownership, New Hotel Collection, this historic hotel is receiving a highly anticipated refresh. The expansion will add 62 rooms, a restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a pool!!! I literally cannot wait for this!!! While these changes will elevate the property, their mission of delivering an intimate boutique experience at an affordable rate will always remain.
For now, locals and travelers alike can visit The Scott, a cafe during the day and a bar during the evenings from Wednesdays-Sunday. The Scott features classic cocktails at night and craft coffee from local roaster Hogg Batch during the day. The Scott is open from 7am to 2pm every day, and from 4-10pm Wednesdays through Sundays.
From cake decorating, chocolate tastings and afternoon high tea, what more could you ask for in the perfect girl’s day? The Cake Drip is an absolute dessert dream, boasting a maximalist pink aesthetic and swoon-worthy cakes and sweet creations. The original Hyde Park Village location is renowned for its insta-worthy installations, offering award-winning, customizable desserts, chocolate bars, teas and more. Enjoy brunch on the patio or reserve an In Studio experience topped off with champagne.
Don’t get it twisted, Cake Drip may sound like a kid’s party dream, but it’s actually an adult affair, with a minimum age of 18+ (unless you’re drinking champagne after 6pm, then it’s 21+). Make your reservation for studio time or afternoon tea at the brand new Edge District location (promise you’ll be obsessed the second you drive by).
This European-style bistro & bar sits tucked away on the corner of Central Ave and Beach Drive next to the historic Ponce de Leon Hotel. While it may appear small, Novu can accommodate about 50 guests in an open al-fresco setting with tons of seating in the coveted locale. The menu offers both food and drink, with a wide array of international pours and plates. We tried the thin crust pizzeta and caprese salad with an aperol spritz and the cucumber jalapeño margarita. As a lover of mezcal, I inquired about the spirit and was introduced to Sotol, via the Sierra Madre Old Fashion and Ay Chihuahua — both were absolutely delicious libations that tickled my love of mezcal. Sotol is a distillate made from a type of shrub, more commonly called desert spoon, that thrives in the Chihuahua region of Mexico. Much like great mezcal, the plants are roasted in an earthen pit and left to ferment naturally in the open air prior to double distillation in small copper pot stills. I thought it was so cool to be able to stumble into this bar and be introduced to an entirely new spirit based on my preference.
For an amazing week day deal, early dining prix-fixe menu, including three courses for $20 per person, Tuesday-Thursday from 4-6pm or check out happy hour Tuesday-Friday from 4-7pm. Any day is a delicious time to visit!
St. Pete is lucky to have snagged Florida’s first ever Tokyo-style listening bar and craft sake house. In Between Days brings Japanese minimalism to the burg from the design to the vintage hi-fi, curated vinyl, and craft sakes. Located in the booming Grand Central District area In Between Days will be the first of its kind in the sunshine state and aims to deliver an experience similar to establishments in Tokyo, London, New York and Los Angeles.
Surprise, throwing in an eighth must-do because there is just too much goodness going on around Tampa Bay right now!!!!!
(unofficial #8) Warhol’s West at The James Museum
If you’ve yet to visit The James Museum, let Warhol’s West be your introduction. On display from October 2, 2021 – January 9, 2022, Warhol’s West reveals a side of Pop artist Andy Warhol unknown to many – an obsession with the American West. The exhibition presents a range of Western images and more, including his last major suite Cowboys and Indians (1986).
Warhol’s work in the Western genre is recognizable, daring, inspirational and sometimes confrontational. This exhibition furthers our understanding of how the American West infiltrates the public’s imagination through contemporary art and popular culture. Purchase tickets here.
Keep up with all my St. Pete and Tampa Bay faves via @thegalalife + @galalife_stpete!