After five years in business, downtown St. Petersburg's Green Light Cinema is adding an event space, lounge and restaurant. Cinema owners Mike and Sue Hazlett have leased the business next door, at 225 2nd Avenue North, and will expand Green Light with "an elevated bar menu with an Argentinean flair (and) an extensive beer and wine list," according to a news release. The Hazletts also "plan on doing live events: comedy, improv and music, and will be available for private rentals."
The Nov. 22 Capitol Theatre appearance by Jerry Harrison, founding member of Talking Heads, has been postponed. Harrison, who played keyboard and guitar in the band, will now screen the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense, speak and answer audience questions Jan. 21. All previously purchased tickets will be honored on the new date.
Super Memory, an intimate fragrance boutique, will open Nov. 22 at 600 1st Ave. N. in downtown St. Petersburg. The space was once part of the Reflection condo tower's sales center. Super Memory will feature a fragrance bar and over 60 varieties of niche products.
Beef O'Brady's has submitted plans to take over the former Applebee's building at 2901 66th St. N. The latter fast-casual chain abruptly closed in May. Beef O'Brady's has not announced an opening date for its family-centric restaurant and sports bar that will seat 182 patrons indoors and 49 outdoors.
The College Football Playoff committee ranked the University of South Florida No. 24 in its latest poll Tuesday night, which makes the Bulls the 12th and final seed in the second projected bracket. If the playoffs were to begin today rather than Dec. 19, USF would face the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens in the opening round. The winner of that game would move on to face Alabama.
After sustaining over $2.5 million in damages from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Manatee Rehabilitation Center has officially reopened. Three juvenile manatees named Sabal, Orchid and Vora have arrived from rehab centers in Ohio. All were rescued in Florida waters, and will be released there when their rehabilitation is complete. The state-of-the-art facility is be renamed for Dr. James "Buddy" Powell, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium's Chief Zoological Officer (and an internationally-recognized manatee expert), who died in July.
A 20-story tower in downtown St. Petersburg is moving forward after first receiving city approval in October 2022. The Southwest Florida Management District approved a permit Nov. 7 for DevMar Development's 246-unit Sky St. Pete project. The firm acquired four parcels along Burlington Avenue North for $4.5 million in 2023 to facilitate the redevelopment.
The City of St. Petersburg, in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, has launched the MLK Communities in Action Mini-Grant Program. The initiative provides up to $1,500 for 20 local small businesses, nonprofit organizations and civic groups to host healing and wellness-focused events that honor King's legacy of service and resilience. Applications opened Monday and will close Nov. 21. For more information, visit the website here.
The City of St. Petersburg is inviting the community to celebrate the expansion of Harbordale Park at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at 10 a.m. at 6th Street and East Harbor Drive South. Officials purchased an adjacent property, demolished a dilapidated building, removed invasive trees, planted native vegetation, enhanced fencing and installed new benches and a drinking fountain. The project added approximately 5,000 square feet of parkland for the Harbordale neighborhood.
Hip hop artist Rodarius Green, known as Rod Wave, was arrested Friday in Atlanta on several felony counts, including possession of a firearm during a crime. He also faces multiple charges related to possessing drugs. Green, a 26-year-old St. Petersburg native, has 11 platinum singles and several previous arrests.
The 12th annual Run For All Children, a chip-timed 5K, one-mile and kids' dash race along St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront, drew 1,800 runners and walkers Saturday. Proceeds benefit the areas of greatest need at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Brian Powers founded the race in 2014 to make a difference in the lives of children and their families after experiencing the positive impact provided by staff and volunteers in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
The Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas will activate Cold Night Shelters throughout the county Monday, despite the program typically running from Nov. 15 through March 15. The shelters open when the National Weather Service forecasts "feels like" temperatures will reach 40 degrees or colder between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will provide free bus rides to five area shelters, including two in St. Petersburg, starting at 5 p.m. Monday. For a list of shelters, visit the website here.
