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<p>Living, working and playing in St. Petersburg, FL $8.95 www.StPete.com/BurgLife The Creative Renaissance of the Sunshine City ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WWW.PCED.ORG PCED_Advert_StPeteRelocationGuide2013_FINAL(08-21-2013)Outlines.indd 1 8/21/2013 10:18:48 AM OVATION CLOISTERS PARKSHORE PLAZA TREASURE ISLAND FLORENCIA SIGNATURE PLACE 400 BEACH VINOY PLACE ST. PETE BEACH SNELL ISLE SHORE ACRES VENETIAN ISLES RELOCATION SPECIALIST “SELLING WHAT I LIVE” YOU DESIRE WITH OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITIES AND SANDY BEACHES. COMBINING THE LIFESTYLE Selling? Compare the competion. DAYS 14 TO A SALE A NEW SELLERS BOOK -By Kelly Lee McFrederick JACKRICEINSURANCE.COM BEACHNATIVES@GMAIL.COM (727) 410-3605 “Luxury Real Estate and Staging Group” .COM BEACH NATIVES REAL ESTATE & JACK RICE INSURANCE “WORKING TOGETHER TO ANSWER HOME OWNERS NEEDS” PROVEN REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL CALL NOW (727) 410-3605 I’M KELLY LEE MCFREDERICK... AND I’VE GOT ST. PETE REAL ESTATE COVERED! ANN FARLEY (727) 530-0684 #128 The Creative Renaissance The Sunshine City has recently generated a new type of urban energy that pulses through our neighborhoods and businesses. And when you’re the 4th-largest city — in soon to be the 3rd-largest state — all the resources of big city life are here for you. But it’s the compact scale of this community that makes this new movement work. It offers an express line for success. Our downtown has become Tampa Bay’s premier destination for the arts and sciences. Built over 100 years ago, this place was designed to be the coveted “livable city.” It’s one of our most vibrant neighborhoods – with a range of lifestyles for all those seeking a walk-able, bike-able lovable city life. Surrounding our downtown core are some of the most historic and beautiful neighborhoods you’ll find in Florida. All within easy access of the major employment centers of our city and region. It’s a city designed to connect people together. Empowered to share their talents. Today, you’ll find scientists, engineers, artists, techies, musicians and students all out on the sidewalks and bike paths - the spark of their collaborations drives this new creative renaissance in our city. It’s everywhere we live, work and play. And if you need a place to recharge from all this excitement, you can always go to America’s best beaches. After all, we are The Sunshine City. Chris Steinocher President and CEO Saint Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber President Chris Steinocher, wife Juli and sons Clay and Brody enjoy a St. Pete event tradition – Snowfest in the Sunshine City – where residents play with 65 tons of snow along the waterfront parks on a typical 80-degree day. 2 Quality Care. Conveniently Located. St. Anthony’s Hospital has been providing quality health care for more than 80 years. 1200 Seventh Ave. N., St. Petersburg StAnthonys.com For access to our multispecialty services at Suncoast Medical Clinic: (727) 894-1818 For a referral to St. Anthony’s Primary Care: (727) 535-4362 St. Anthony’s Hospital has created a tradition of compassion in St. Petersburg for almost a century, by providing advanced technology, innovation and expert health care. St. Anthony’s comprehensive care features: ■ Expanded Emergency Center and Patient Care Tower with all private rooms ■ St. Anthony’s Outpatient Center (Carillon) offers physician services, same-day surgery, Wellness Center, outpatient imaging, lab and rehabilitation services ■ Primary care and specialist physician practices located throughout the area in more than a dozen locations ■ BayCare Outpatient Imaging and laboratory services conveniently located on campus BC1302448-0813 2 Creative Director Chris Steinocher President and CEO, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce csteinocher@stpete.com | www.stpete.com | 727.388.0000 Publisher Nancy Howe President and CEO, KnowHowe nancy@knowhowe.biz | www.knowhowe.biz | 727.210.5030 Art Direction Lisa Lippincott Principal, Lippincott Design lisa@lippincottdesign.net | 727.417.6342 Writing Janan Talafer President and CEO, JVT Communications Jvt916@verison.net Photography Alex McKnight Alex McKnight Photography unless otherwise credited, all photography by Alex McKnight alex@amcknight.com | www.amcknight.com | 813.785.3929 Advertising Kathy Carlson Membership & Advertising Sales Manager St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce kcarlson@stpete.com | www.stpete.com | 727.388.2913 On the Cover Sara and Nathan Stonecipher of MISRED Outfitters and Green Bench Brewing, respectively. See "Business in the 'Burg" to learn more. A publication of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce | 2014 6 Welcome! St. Petersburg has it all – come work, live and play in the sunshine 12 Business in the ’Burg An overview of the incredible breadth of successful businesses in the area 22 Bring on the Arts Art, theater, music, dance and more! 32 Living in the Sunshine City A great place to visit and an even better place to live! 44 Gen Next Educating the next generation 52 Active Living Love the active life? We’ve got it! 60 Coming Home St Petersburg’s distinctive & diverse neighborhoods 66 To Your Health St. Petersburg has a wide variety of top-notch medical centers for every age and need 74 Advertiser Index An alphabetized listing of advertisers with web addresses 75 Listings How to find the things you want and need in St. Petersburg contents 5 It’s early evening and the city is alive with people enjoying the new vibe that is transforming the ’Burg into a dynamic, diverse and desirable waterfront community. Joggers and bicyclists fill downtown sidewalks and streets. Residents are walking their dogs. Sidewalk tables at restaurants along Beach Drive buzz with conversation. And Central Avenue music venues, shops and cafes are gearing up for the evening’s crowds. Inviting, Exciting Welcome to the “new” St. Petersburg, a city experiencing an exciting renaissance on Florida’s Suncoast. Blending the historic with the modern and the eclectic with the artsy, St. Petersburg is a vibrant, forward-thinking city with a welcoming, small-town charm and an exciting vision for the future. “It’s all about location, location, location,” says Steve Westphal, who owns four downtown restaurants—Parkshore Grill, 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House, the Hangar at Albert Whitted Airport and Café Gaia at the Dali Museum. I’m totally sold on St. Pete,” says Westphal. “We have a beautiful waterfront with a string of natural parks and a city that does its best to ensure that folks keep coming down- town...” In fact hundreds of events attract visitors and residents alike to the various downtown parks year-round. “...Add in all the new condos being built and the fact that everything is so pedestrian friendly.” What’s not to like? Downtown resident Kelly Lee McFrederick, a broker-associate with Remax Metro and Beach Natives Real Estate Group, agrees. “I have teenagers at home and they love downtown living,” says McFrederick. “It’s really a great place for all ages. I can park the car on the weekends and walk everywhere to theaters, concerts, shopping, art galleries and networking events. There are probably close to 75 restaurants within a short distance of where I live.” I’m totally sold on St. Pete. Previous spread: A breathtaking fireworks display dazzles above St. Petersburg's picturesque downtown waterfront. Above: Fresh produce on sale at the Saturday Morning Market. Opposite: Slow and gentle manatees often graze in the warm waters around St. Petersburg. 8 Discover Carlton Arms Central Florida’s Favorite Apartment Communities Ten reasons to choose one of our affordable Carlton Arms communities as your next home: • FREE Basic Cable TV • Scenic Lake, River, Bayfront Views • Spacious & Functional Floorplans • Large Private Garden Patios • Well-Manicured Lush Landscaping • Rapid Response Maintenance • FREE Valet Trash Removal • Heated Pools with FREE WIFI • Fitness & Private Party Facilities • Pet Friendly BRADENTON Carlton Arms of Bradenton 1-941-745-2525 LAKELAND Carlton Arms of Lakeland 1-866-382-8619 Carlton Arms of North Lakeland 1-866-382-8618 NEW PORT RICHEY Carlton Arms of Magnolia Valley 1-866-382-8620 OCALA Carlton Arms of Ocala 1-888-488-1504 ST. PETERSBURG Carlton Arms of St. Petersburg 1-866-382-8624 TAMPA Carlton Arms North 1-866-382-8617 Lake Carlton Arms 1-866-412-8647 WINTER HAVEN Carlton Arms of Winter Haven 1-866-367-1278 CarltonArms.NET Markets & More Festivals are a city specialty and take place nearly every weekend year-round. One of the most popular events is the Saturday Morning Market, the largest one-day-a-week market in the Southeast. The market draws thousands of customers downtown to shop for a multicultural selection of food, plants and locally-made crafts. It’s a place to be seen, meet friends and discover new treasures. The ’Burg’s year-round sunshine lends itself to outdoor recreation and the opportuni- ties are unlimited: sailing, swimming, biking, golfing, tennis, paddleboarding, soccer, jogging—take your pick. Weedon Island, a 3,700-acre preserve and Native American historical site, is the perfect place to spend the day in a kayak winding your way through the mangroves and sea grass flats while watching for manatees, dolphins and osprey. If you just like taking a stroll, seven miles of pristine waterfront parks offer a great view, but there are also an additional 136 parks spread out throughout the city, from the 245- acre Boyd Hill Nature Park to historic Sunken Gardens. That doesn’t include the nine designated dog parks. St. Pete’s dog-friendly attitude also extends to local restaurants, pubs and hotels, where you might find a separate menu for pets, like the one at Cassis, a French-style brasserie on Beach Drive downtown. For those who like a different kind of playground, the soft white sandy beaches and tropi- cal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are just a few minutes away by car. Fort De Soto Park continually wins accolades as one of the top-rated beaches in the nation. You’ll also find picnic shelters, paved trails, a historic fort and even a designated dog beach. Sports fans have plenty to cheer about, too, with home teams like the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team and the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. Just a short drive across the Bay you can catch Buccaneers football and Tampa Bay Lightning hockey games. photo: city of st petersburg 8 City Culture With seven museums, two professional theater companies, an orchestra, a performing arts center, designated arts districts and numerous edgy murals, the ’Burg offers some- thing for everyone. It’s no surprise the community is one of the top 25 arts destinations in the country for mid-sized cities. On any given weekend, you’ll find a dozen or more plays, concerts, art show openings, and art-related family activities to choose from. During the popular Second Saturday Art Walk, dozens of arts venues open to the public for free. “St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of the region,” says Bill Edwards, CEO of the Edwards Group, which manages the Mahaffey Theater performing arts center for the city and is redeveloping the former BayWalk into the upscale Shops of St. Pete center downtown. “This is a city with 361 days of sunshine, average 73-degree temperatures, internationally-recognized museums and special events,” says Edwards. “We have a family-friendly tropical paradise that attracts 10-million visitors annually.” Open for Business Thanks to a business-friendly climate, St. Petersburg is gaining a reputation as a fertile environment for savvy young entrepreneurs, as well as an established home to power brokers such as Jabil Circuit, Valpak, General Dynamics, L3 Communications, Home Shopping Network, and Raymond James. In addition, the Ocean Research & Technology Complex, located at Bayboro Harbor in downtown St. Petersburg, is the largest marine-science research and development clus- ter in the Southeast. It’s a scientific and economic powerhouse with partners like the St. Petersburg-based University of South Florida College of Marine Sciences, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and Silicon Valley-based SRI, which selected the city as its headquarters for pioneering marine technology. “We’ve become a magnet for the marine sciences,” says Peter Betzer, president and CEO of St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and former head of the USF College of Marine Sciences. “Many of the foremost scientific experts in the world are here. This is where new ideas are born—many of which are being translated into business ventures.” ’Burg stats & rankings: The Florida Orchestra pleases crowds with both classical and pops offerings. There's big fun in store for Rover at any of the city's numerous dog parks. photo: city of st petersburg10 11 Source: City of St. Petersburg Forgive us for tooting our own horn, but really, we think you’d brag too. 10 11 Business in The ’Burg Entrepreneurs, scientists, small business owners, defense industry contractors, corporate CEOs and techies... it’s all here. 83rd Ave N 275 92 686 688 686 92 93 19 687 600 92 600 16th St N28th St N118th Ave N 49th St N34th St NDr. Martin Luther King Jr. St N1st St NE62nd Ave N Baypoint Commerce Center Ga nd y B lvd N Saint Petersburg- Clearwater International Airport A Division of The Feil Organization OWNER MANAGEMENT LEASING Multi-Million Dollar Renovation Just Completed Easy Access to all Major Roads, Bridges & Public Transportation Close to Restaurants & Shopping Destinations Gandy Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33702 WWW.BAYPOINTCOMMERCE.COM 15 Buildings In A Beautiful 76-Acre Park Environment SUITES AVAILABLE FROM 200 TO 37,500 SF Model Offices Available Immediately Design Your Own Turnkey Suite For leasing information, please contact: Barry Hanerfeld | Barry.Hanerfeld@cassidyturley.com 727-576-1400 HELPING BUSINESSES GROW SINCE 1971 FO570 St Petersburg Chamber 2014 Guide.indd 1 8/14/13 12:38 PM 15 Previous spread: Local business owners Sara and Nathan Stonecipher relax on the 600 block of Central Avenue. Above: Tangible Labs' 3D printer in action. His wife, Sara, 30, is a talented clothing designer, whose boutique, MISRED, was one of the first retail ventures in the 600 block of Central Avenue, now an eclectic, flourishing district of artists and entrepreneurs. The two talented young professionals represent the growing number of creative millenni- als who aren’t leaving the area after college, but choosing to stay, lured by the city’s great quality of life and the opportunity to make a difference locally. It’s a story right out of the pages of Economist Richard Florida’s book, “The Rise of the Creative Class.” “It’s an amazing time to live in St. Pete, to have my own business and to be part of the community,” says Sara, who besides her retail shop, has a small manufacturing facility for her two clothing lines in the city’s warehouse arts district. Eventually, she hopes to create a gallery space there to showcase local clothing and jewelry designers, similar to the opportunity art galleries offer to local painters, photographers and sculptors. “We believe in creating opportunity and keeping it local,” says Nathan, who is also a vice president at Capital Directed Resources, a private equity firm. “We’ve given some thought to the future of St. Petersburg and what we can do to contribute to and shape it.” He and his business partner Steven Duffy are converting a historic 100-year-old brick building into the Green Bench Brewery, a venue that features an outdoor beer garden with a stage and oversized fire pit, along with a large inside tasting room and a 5,000-square- foot production facility for their 15-barrel brewhouse system. They expect to distribute “made-in-St. Petersburg” craft beer locally at first and then to a larger audience as the business grows. On the second floor of a former McCory’s Department Store, another young entrepreneur- ial couple, Mo and Lance Eppley, are running a successful agency called MityMo Design. Earlier this year, they made a leap of faith and invested in 3D printing. “The timing was right,” says Mo. Their new printing business, Tangible Labs, offers 3D customized print- ing to small business owners, inventors and artists. Their coolest job so far? A rapid prototype to support a local entrepreneur’s patent application. “We generated an actual Nathan Stonecipher, 31, has a passion for craft beer, a commitment to opening the first microbrewery in St. Petersburg and a background in finance. photo: tangible labs15 physical piece from a sketch he made,” says Mo. “Lots of companies are machining; we are the creative types. Our goal is to help people make their dreams a reality.” This entrepreneurial couple also operates Nerdtag.me, an offshoot of Tangible Labs that prints 3D plastic tags for suitcases, backpacks, key chains and necklaces with designs based on comic books, video games or TV shows. “It started by accident,” says Mo. “We were testing the setting on the printer and my husband wore some of the little tags we made to a local bar. Everyone kept saying how cool they were so we figured why not make some to sell?” The Big Dogs You’ll find high-profile, nationally-recognized corporations in St. Petersburg, too, like media giant Home Shopping Network, a leading interactive retailer known for its person- alities and industry experts. Fortune 500-listed Jabil Circuit is an international electronic-manufacturing service for markets ranging from defense and aerospace to telecommunication, healthcare and materials technology. Diversified financial services company Raymond James Financial is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and has offices in the U.S., Canada and overseas. There are dozens of others with a large local presence, including Cox Target Media and Valpak; Catalina Marketing; Bright House Networks; Ceridian Benefits; Allstate Insurance, Templeton Funds and PSCU Financial Services. For a full listing of St. Petersburg and Pinellas county’s largest employers, go to www.pced.org. A Changing Paradigm “St. Petersburg is very different from when I was growing up here,” says David Punzak, managing partner of Carlton Fields’ St. Petersburg office. “There’s an energy and enthu- siasm now, along with a very active arts community. That atmosphere brings people to the area who are drawn to the lifestyle and amenities, including no state income tax.” There’s a pro-business infrastructure here that allows entrepreneurial-minded investors to grow and prosper. photo: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburg16 17 Bill Edwards, CEO of the Edwards Group, grew up in Massachusetts and “discovered” St. Petersburg after a business trip brought him to the area. “That was a few decades ago—I never left,” he says. “This is where my businesses are based and my family is being raised. There’s a pro-business infrastructure here that allows entrepreneurial- minded investors to grow and prosper.” Over the past 16 years, John Auer, CEO of American Strategic Insurance has taken his company from what was a small residential and commercial insurer with a handful of employees to the 20th-largest homeowner insurer in the country and a 350-plus work- force, plus a subsidiary processing company with an additional 70 employees. “I’ve lived all over the country and I love St. Pete,” says Auer. “The waterfront is amazing and downtown has so much going on. I live close enough to enjoy all of it. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” In 2013, Auer cut the ribbon on American Strategic Insurance Company’s new headquar- ters, a 13-acre campus in the city’s Gateway area that has been designed to include two three-story buildings, along with an onsite fitness center, shower facilities, a day care, outdoor courtyard, boardwalk and amphitheater. Above: A wall of taps stand at the ready at Cycle Brewing. Facing Page: The Tampa Bay Times headquarters at night, a USF marine scientist at work, and an SRI research technician operates scanning equipment. 16 17 General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems developed The Flyer Advanced Light Strike Vehicle to be lightweight, mobile, air transportable, and rapidly-reconfigurable. Michael Vivio came to St. Petersburg from Austin, Texas, in 2010 to become president of Cox Target Media and Valpak. Since then he’s been busy helping trans- form Valpak, long known as the king of printed coupons, into a leader in direct digital marketing. “We’re taking advantage of the explosion in mobile devices to offer online coupons and smartphone apps,” says Vivio. “We’re very focused on building a name for our- selves in the digital world just as we have been in the print world.” When he first came to St. Petersburg, Vivio says he had a hard time finding the kind of community his family loved about Austin. “But then we discovered down- town and the historic Old Northeast sec- tion of the city,” he says. “It’s the nucleus of a thriving urban neighborhood with so much going on. There’s great energy and you’ll always find people walking, riding their bikes and just out enjoying their city. That’s the kind of lifestyle that today’s young people are seeking. We need to do everything we can to support it.” We Made That Greater St. Petersburg—as part of Pinellas County—can lay claim to the second-larg- est manufacturing base in Florida, says Pinellas County Economic Development Director Mike Meidel. Industry clus- photo courtesy of general dynamics tactical ordnance systems19 ters in Pinellas include defense, medical manufacturing, aerospace, information technol- ogy and international trade. Prime defense-related contractors like L-3 Communications, Honeywell, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems have a base here. There are also dozens of smaller defense contractors, as well as startup companies being nurtured in the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, a unique business incubator and accelerator located at Young-Rainey STAR Center, a former U.S. Department of Energy defense manufacturing facility. Greater St. Petersburg—as part of Pinellas County—can lay claim to the second- largest manufacturing base in Florida. 19 21 Field Forensics’ explosive detection kit is small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, yet capable of detecting more than 40 different explosive compounds. For the Department of Energy, SRI and partners studied methane hydrate deposits in the Gulf of Mexico using membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) integrated with a deep water filtration system. In 2012, Field Forensics “graduated” from the incubator and relocated near the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. The company’s explosives detection kit is currently in use by law enforcement around the world, including the U.S. military and most NATO forces. Medical device manufacturing is another important employer in the city and county. St. Petersburg’s NDH Medical provides custom contract medical device manufacturing, while IRX Therapeutics, a startup cancer-research firm that had its start at the University of South Florida Tampa and the Tampa Bay Research Institute is a not-for-profit biomedical research organization that combines Western and Eastern modalities to tackle cancer and infectious diseases. Other medical manufacturers in the county include Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Baxter Healthcare, West Pharmaceuticals, Bovie Medical Corporation and ConMed Linvatec, which in addition to its manufacturing plant opened a 16,000-square- foot surgeon training center in 2012. Blinding Us With Science St. Petersburg is fortunate to have two top-tier scientific organizations with locally-based operations—SRI St. Petersburg and Draper Labs, both pioneers in high-tech research and development discoveries. At the city’s port, high-resolution 3D underwater sonar mapping, marine sensors and autonomous underwater vehicles are a few of the innovative projects underway at SRI St. Petersburg, part of the internationally renowned SRI International, a Stanford University R&D spinoff. In 2007, SRI International selected St. Petersburg as the headquarters for marine sci- ence and technology, maritime and port security and homeland security marine-related research and development projects. The program is affiliated with the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science and its Center for Ocean Technology, as well as numerous other St. Petersburg-based state and federal marine-related organizations. Draper Labs, a spinoff of Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a microelectrome- chanical systems (MEMS) facility in St. Petersburg, where it manufactures extremely small multichip electronic components and biomedical microelectromechanical systems. In addition, Draper has a bioengineering research center for advanced medical technol- ogy at the University of South Florida Tampa. photo: field forensicsphoto: sri st petersburg21 It’s no surprise that St. Petersburg was named #1 of American Style magazine's Top 25 Arts Destinations in the U.S. for Mid-Size Cities three years in a row. An amazing evolution in art, theater, music and dance is underway. Duncan McClellan is a nationally-acclaimed glass artist, an active voice for the arts in St. Petersburg and a passionate gardener. He’s also one of the biggest champions for the city’s emerging Warehouse Arts District—an edgy, urban part of town that is welcoming sculptors, potters, painters and glass artists who are setting up studios and homes in between industrial warehouses and auto body shops. In 2010 McClellan got city support to turn a run-down former tomato packing plant into a unique live-work-play space. Inside, he’s created a beautiful gallery, where he show- cases his own work and the work of other artists in a variety of mediums. There’s a pair of kitchens and plenty of open space for the frequent fundraisers he hosts for local chari- ties—events that are often filled to capacity. There’s even an apartment-sized living space he’s carved out for himself and his wife Irene. Rolling up the big industrial warehouse doors reveals wraparound decks that overlook a half-acre of exotic fruit trees, as well as a hot glass studio where glass artists can rent space or attend classes. His newest venture, the DMG Mobile Glass Lab, offers school children the chance to learn about glass blowing and enjoy a hands-on experience. “St. Petersburg is a beautiful city and there’s a thriving arts scene,” says McClellan, about why he decided to move here from Tampa a few years back. “What else do I like about the city? It has a small town atmosphere. I can go to a restau- rant at night and see a half-dozen people I know. That’s a really nice feeling. We have many international artists who could be anywhere but choose to live here.” ’Burg Artrepreneurs Scott Fisher grew up in Greenwich, Conn., and graduated from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. Derek Grasso grew up in St. Pete, and has a background in sales, marketing and management. Both are 36, artistic, risk-takers and entrepreneurs. They’re also partners in a unique business with a decidedly artistic focus—T2theS, a young design-build firm that is gaining quite a reputation for its quality work and photo: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburg24 25 Opening spread: Glass artist Duncan McClellan at home in his live/work warehouse studio & gallery. Facing page: Dale Chihuly's Crystal Rose Tower and the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel; the Dali Museum's unique helical staircase; and a colorful fish sculpture on display at the Mainsail Arts Festival. This page: A painting by local artist Ales "Bask" Hostomsky for the set of the Ironman III film, and a detail of "Mammoth Eye Candy," a collaborative mural by Pale Horse, Tes One, and the Vitale Brothers. craftsmanship. Their distinctive line of hand-crafted furniture, called LAMP, is designed to embrace “laid-back luxury.” While the two have completed a number of commercial and residential projects in town, right now their skillset is in demand on Florida’s other coast, from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami, where they’re working on projects for developers of high-end multi-family com- plexes, as well as luxury homes. “We have a great team of talented people,” says Fisher. “Whatever crazy idea I can conceptualize, the team will get together and figure it out. We can work in wood, metal, resin, concrete—throw anything at us and we can do it.” Their work might take them any number of places, but the two say that St. Pete is where their heart is. “What’s going here in the city with all the arts is amazing,” says Fisher. “We can’t imagine being anywhere else.” photo courtesy of ales "bask" hostomsky 24 25 Above: Boyz II Men appear in concert at the Mahaffey Theater. Below: Tanesha Gary and ranney in American Stage's 2013 production of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson." Chris Parks of Pale Horse Design grew up in Venice, Florida, creating art for album covers and T-shirts. He graduated from the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, moved to St. Petersburg and launched a business in digital illustration. That was seven years ago. Now 35, Parks has developed an international reputation for his surrealistic and some- times otherworldly graphic illustrations filled with symbols from mythology, ancient cul- tures, dream states, mystical creatures, professional wrestling and the world’s religions. Park’s unique style is in demand from such diverse clients as Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, World Wrestling Entertainment, Arnette Sunglasses, Hasbro, DC Comics and a half-dozen magazines around the world. His illustration of Mexico’s famed masked professional wrestlers, the Luche Libre, have appeared in a number of places, including on vinyl- wrapped cars for a Mini Cooper promotion. Ales Bask Hostomsky, better known as Bask, is yet another emerging young St. Petersburg artist who is on the fast track to success. More than a dozen of Bask’s paint- ings were commissioned for the new hit movie Iron Man 3. His original artwork was used in the set design of supervillain Mandarin’s lair. Actor Robert Downey Jr., liked Bask’s style so much he purchased additional artwork for his own personal collection. St Petersburg has become the arts destination that we all dreamt could be possible. photo by roman blackphoto courtesy of the mahaffey theater26 26 BirchwoodMuseums & More “St. Petersburg has become the arts destination that we all dreamt could be possible,” says Wayne Atherholt, CEO of St. Petersburg’s Morean Arts Center. From its artist entre- preneurs to world-class museums, galleries, performing arts centers and theater, the city offers an amazing diversity of talent and culture. One of the city’s most distinctive arts venues is the Dali Museum, home to the largest col- lection of the artist’s work outside of Spain. But it’s not just the artwork that is impressive. The architectural design of the building is equally stunning, incorporating a free-form geo- desic glass “enigma” that billows forth from an otherwise clean, minimalist structure. It’s an homage to Dali’s obsession with both the linear and the fantastical. In the museum’s lobby, a free-standing staircase designed to resemble a strand of DNA sets the stage for unique events���like performances by St. Petersburg College Vocal Institute students who have been known to surprise museum-goers from the top of the stairs with beautiful impromptu arias. Next to the Dali is the city’s Mahaffey Theater at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts. The 2,000-seat concert hall is St. Pete’s home to Tampa Bay’s Florida Orchestra, as well as high-end entertainment including the likes of Diana Ross, Jerry Seinfeld, Marc Anthony, Don Henley, The Moscow Ballet, Ice Cube, John Legend, Broadway productions, and more. Both venues are located on the downtown waterfront across from the Bayboro Harbor marina and Albert Whitted Park. Also on the waterfront, but closer to the city’s Beach Drive restaurant district is the Museum of Fine Arts, a neoclassi- cal and modern structure with a two-story glass atrium overlooking a yacht basin. The museum, which celebrates its 50th anniver- sary in 2015, doubled its gallery space a few years ago with the addition of the Hazel Hough Wing, and the original galleries have also under- gone recent renovations. Across the street from the Museum of Fine Arts is the Chihuly Collection, a spectacular gallery built to phot o cou rtes y of t 2thes 28 The hand-crafted Floridian credenza by T2theS is shown finished in Hand-polished white lacquer, oil-rubbed cypress & waxed patinated steel. We can assist you with buying and selling. We also offer many annual and vacation rentals. We Have it ALL! On Isla Del Sol 5901 Sun Blvd. #105 St. Petersburg, FL 33715 727.867.0161 Specializing in Island Living & The Beaches Contact the Island expert for professional service. www.stpeteforsale.com phot o cou rtes y of t 2thes house the first permanent collection of Dale Chihuly art glass outside of his Seattle headquarters. The Chihuly Collection is owned and operated by the Morean Arts Center, an arts-educa- tion organization that has been in existence in one form or another since 1917. Located in the Central Arts District, the Morean has onsite classroom space, galleries for rotating art exhibits and a hot-glass shop that hosts glass-blowing demonstrations. The Morean’s presence also extends to city’s Warehouse Arts District, where it operates one of St. Pete’s best kept secrets: the Morean Center for Clay at the Historic Seaboard Train Station. It’s not only the largest working pottery center in the Southeast, but home to an Anagama pottery kiln, a legendary, ancient type of Japanese kiln fueled by firewood and noted for its superb glazing process. Eclectricity The Morean Arts Center anchors one end of the city’s Central Arts District. The Florida Craftsmen Gallery, a showcase for fine crafts, is at the other end. In between is an eclectic, somewhat bohemian mix of vintage clothing stores, record shops, boutiques, art galleries and studios. T2theS’s retail showroom is there and so is Pale Horse. You’ll also find the Crislip Arcade, a refurbished 1920s-era historic shopping arcade with a half-dozen little indie art shops inside. Beautiful, vintage wrought-iron gates mark the entryway to the arcade. A monthly showcase of local artists, designers, crafters and gardeners—the St. Pete Indie Market—is held here the first Saturday of every month. The city’s growing number of colorful murals can also be found in the Central Arts District, where they’re sprouting up on the sides and backs of buildings. Plans are underway to develop a unique “walking tour” focused on street art. Look for murals such as Jennifer Kosharek’s “Frieda Kahlo” in the paved alley behind Central Avenue; “Mammoth Eye Candy” on the State Theater by a collaboration of artists including the Vitale 28 Our Top-Ranked Hotel Offers Exceptional Value: • Complimentary Full Hot Breakfast • 42” Flat Screen TVs & HBO • Free WiFi & Business Center • Pool & Fitness Center • Fridge & Microwave in All Rooms StPeteComfortInn.com 727-563-9100 30 minutes or less to where you want to be!* 875 94th Ave. N. St. Petersburg Only 10 minutes tO dOwntOwn st Pete! * mere minutes from Downtown St. Pete, major airports, Mac Dill Airforce Base, Tampa, beaches, golf, and much more! Brothers, Leon Tes-One Bedore and Pale Horse; and Sebastian Coolidge’s mural on the Freshly Squeezed street-wear shop. Performance Every great city needs a professional theater company, but the ’Burg has many, including American Stage Theatre Company, one of the top-ranked theaters in the area, and the freeFall Theatre, which has just emerged on the scene in the last few years to offer a twist on the classics, as well as bold, diverse new plays. Studio@620 is another unique ’Burg venue. Now in its 10th year, the Studio con- tinues to push boundaries, thanks to artistic director Bob Devin Jones. Here you might enjoy the music and energy of the Harlem Renaissance, plays written and produced by local playwrights or by students from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at St. Petersburg’s Gibbs High School, exhibitions by emerging visual artists, live radio the- ater, or poetry readings, as a partial sam- pling. The Studio’s inclusive motto, “The answer is always yes,” really says it all. “Studio@620 reminds me of a mini-ver- sion of the 92nd Street Y, the well-known cultural arts venue in New York City,” says former Studio@620 board chair Alizza Punzalan-Randle. “We’ve had everyone from Nobel laureates to emerging artists come through our doors. Studio@620 is a great community asset; a place that is both intimate and high-quality.” 31 The Side Door Cabaret at the Palladium offers music lovers an intimate listening experience Jannus Landing, a popular courtyard con- cert venue, and the edgy State Theater are well known for their eclectic line-up of music concerts that appeal to young adults. Live music is also on offer at a variety of local clubs and restaurants, including the Plaza Courtyard, where The Ale & The Witch sponsor daily jazz, blues, rock and folk concerts that are free and open the public. For classical tastes, the Florida Orchestra performs regularly at the Mahaffey Theater, and the St. Petersburg Opera Company stages traditional operas paired with innovative sets and costumes. Art in the ’Burg fuels an annual economic impact in excess of Image courtesy of the Palladium 31 So, what is it like to live in St. Petersburg? With average annual temperatures of 73.7 degrees and nearly 365 days of sunshine, the quality of life here is unsurpassed. Whatever your lifestyle or interests, you're sure to find something to love in this unique and diverse city on Florida's Suncoast. The fourth-largest city in Florida, St Petersburg is located within Pinellas County and is part of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, which includes sister cities Clearwater to the north, Tampa to the east and Bradenton and Sarasota to the south. Lush subtropical landscaping, 150 parks and a vast waterfront that has been preserved for public use make it a truly beautiful place. More than 240 miles of shoreline surround the St. Petersburg area, ensuring that you’re never far from the sparkling water and white sandy beaches along Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, three of the top 20 beaches in the U.S. are right here in Pinellas County, including Pass-a-Grille Beach and Fort De Soto Park. photo: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburg Opening spread: Beach Drive is a favorite downtown destination for dining and shopping. This page: St. Petersburg's beautiful downtown waterfront; and a parade marches through the downtown streets. Opposite: Outdoor activities are a pleasure in St. Petersburg's beautiful environs. 34 35 photo: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburgphoto: pinellas county economic developmentAdd in excellent schools and colleges, a culture that embraces the arts, friendly neigh- borhoods with affordable housing, great restaurants, outstanding sports and recreational options, a pedestrian-friendly downtown and good employment opportunities… St. Petersburg has it all. Boredom Proof With more than 1,000 events each year, if you can't find something to do in St. Petersburg you aren't trying at all. Numerous festivals occur in the downtown waterfront parks or along city streets. Popular events include the Saturday Morning Market, one of the larg- est food and craft markets in the Southeast; the Firestone Grand Prix race car weekend and the Festival of States Parade, which has been taking place since 1932. First Night, a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration with fireworks, music, light shows, dance, storytelling, drama and entertainment, is now in its 19th successful year. But even the dogs have special events here. In 2013, St. Petersburg hosted the Purina Pro-Plan Incredible Dog Challenge that brought top athletic dogs from around the country together for a competition that included hurdle racing, a dog diving challenge and free- style disc catching. There’s also the Green Thumb Plant Festival and events like Movies the Park, where the public is invited to bring a chair and a picnic or buy food from vendors and enjoy free classic movies in downtown’s North Straub Park. The first Friday of each month, head downtown for a giant block party on Central Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets North. The city closes the street for live bands, street dancing and beverage vendors. Join the crowd for an evening of fun sponsored by the local Optimist Club. Tourist for a Day Whether you’re a long-time resident or a visitor, a tour of the downtown area can be quite entertaining via some interesting and often quirky transportation. Families will enjoy hopping on a Segway, a popular two-wheeled motorized personal vehicle that is built for safety so it’s easy to use. Several companies offer Segway tours of the waterfront and historical city sites. Or, if you prefer, take the St. Petersburg Trolley, or rent bicycles, kayaks, paddle boards or sailboats. You can even take a scenic dolphin cruise along the shoreline of Tampa Bay. 34 35 For a special occasion, a horse-drawn carriage ride is perfect for a romantic night under the tropical skies. But the ultimate party bus has to be the PedalPub, a pedal-pow- ered combination bicycle and vehicle for three to sixteen people that can be rented for parades, tailgating, pub crawls or just a trip around town. History & Preservation St. Petersburg’s rich early history is filled with tales of railroads, Russian aristocrats, bath- ing beauties and baseball. The first settlers were Native American Indians, whose earliest habitation dates back to 1,000 A.D. Tocabaga Indian shell mounds can still be found in parts of St. Petersburg. Sacred Lands, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to preserving one such site and offers frequent events that pay homage to those early inhabitants. In the late 1800s, pioneers began to arrive in the area. Legend has it that General John Williams, from Detroit, and Russian aristocrat Peter Demens flipped a coin to see who would name the new town. Demens won and named the new city after his hometown in St. Petersburg, Russia, so Williams named St. Petersburg's first hotel The Detroit. image courtesy of the palladiumphoto: city of st petersburgThis page: A busy downtown Friday evening, the historic Renaissance Vinoy Resort at night, and the Palladium theater exhibits banners of coming attractions Opposite: A historic photo of bathing beauties relaxing on Spa Beach 36 Liberte Mobile Home Park Lamplight Village Homes For Lease 8624 4th Street N, St. Petersburg 727-576-2237 Come discover a welcoming community for residents aged 55 and over. By the early 1900s, civic leaders began promoting St. Petersburg as a sunny winter tourist destination for frostbound northerners. In 1914, local businessman Al Lang, who later served as mayor, con- vinced the St. Louis Browns baseball team to move its spring training practices to the “Sunshine City,” launching the area’s love affair with baseball and further fueling the city’s growth. St. Petersburg finds itself again in a period of tremendous growth and vitality, this time fueled by creativity and innovation in all sectors. It's a love affair of sorts, with the city's residents energetically embracing both the city's history and its future with equal vigor. Taking great strides to retain photo: city of st petersburg36 its historical architecture, St. Petersburg's distinctive Mediterranean revival style from the 1920s can be found in more than two dozen beautifully-restored historical landmarks, such as the Snell Arcade, the Open Air Post Office, the St. Petersburg Woman’s Club, Mirror Lake Library, the Coliseum dance hall, St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club and Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort. Guided walking tours are held on Saturdays from October to May. Built in 1924, the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club is the largest shuffle- board facility in the world, once with nearly 5,000 members. Recently there’s been a great resurgence of interest from young people who have re-energized the club by involving local bands and artists at night- time shuffleboard events. The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort on the downtown waterfront is a historic gem dating to 1925. In the ’20s the rich and famous flocked to this elegant beacon to bask in the sun and escape winter's chill. A $93-million restoration and expansion in the ’90s transformed the hotel, which offers a private marina, a golf course, restaurants and a tennis complex. It was named Marriott’s Renaissance Hotel of the Year in 2013. Established in 1903 by George Turner, Sunken Gardens was once an old-Florida style amusement park with a four-acre botanical garden, exotic wildlife and Active Senior Living Community In the Heart of Downtown St. Petersburg All-Inclusive...Three Chef Prepared Meals Daily • Housekeeping Services Engaging Activities • Pet Friendly • Wellness Center On-Site Non-Evacuation Community • Heated Pool and Sun Deck • On-Site Art Studio Fitness Center • Utilities Included • Emergency Call Buttons Theater Room • Billiards Table • Scheduled Transportation 411 First Ave. N • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-894-6788 • www.theprincessmartha.com Chamber Ad Above: Jennifer Kosharek’s mural of Frieda Kahlo brightens an alley. Opposite: A collaborative mural by Kosharek and Christian Thomas. Following spread: An assortment of 'Burg street art by Akut, Bask, Sebastian Coolidge, Dolla, Derek Donnelly, Rebekah Eugenia Lazzaridis, Tes One, Thirst and others. oversized gift shop. To save the beloved historic property and its beautiful garden oasis from an uncertain fate, it was purchased by the city in 1999 and is open to the public for educational programs, tours, and events. Local & Sustainable Community gardening has caught on in a big way around the country and St. Petersburg is no exception. From small home gardens to gardens at elementary schools, colleges, churches and recovery centers, the city has embraced the new healthy-living, eat-fresh philosophy. Many neighborhoods sponsor their own community gardens, and entrepre- neurial co-ops have sprung up to help spread the bounty. “Community gardening offers so many benefits and it has a great impact on quality of life for St. Petersburg,” says Emmanuel Roux, who is on the board of directors for Sustainable Urban Agriculture Coalition, a volunteer group committed to providing education, training and greater access to locally grown food for Tampa Bay residents. Shop Hoppin' Shopping is a favorite American pastime and St. Petersburg has a range of great opportu- nities. Small quirky Central Avenue boutiques and vintage stores like MISRED, Cozette’s, All Sewn Up and Art Pool Gallery offer unique and often locally-made clothing and jewelry. Beach Drive on the waterfront has a number of upscale boutiques and Bill Edwards, of the Edwards Group, is developing the new Shops at St. Pete as a “downtown destination center for luxury shopping, al fresco dining, community celebrations and special events. We envision the new venue serving as the lynchpin for a thriving, prosperous downtown community,” says Edwards. The project is expected to reach completion in 2014. For serious shoppers, several shopping malls are available throughout the region, includ- ing Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg; Countryside Mall in Clearwater; and WestShore Mall, International Plaza and Citrus Park Town Center in Tampa. For something completely different, visit John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, located in nearby Madeira Beach. A restored, turn-of-the-century fishing village, John's Pass is now a fun collection of stores and eateries, many with a relaxed, beachy theme. 40 41 Ins and Outs With major highways like Interstate 275 and U.S. 19, several airports and two ports, transportation to and from St. Petersburg is a breeze. Albert Whitted Airport on the down- town waterfront is a city-owned airport catering to small private planes, corpo- rate jets and helicopters, including the Bayflite medical air transport helicopter. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in unincorporated Pinellas County and Tampa International Airport in Tampa are larger and offer domestic and inter- national flights. The Port of St. Petersburg and the larger Port of Tampa serve both cruise ships and commercial vessels, with Tampa serving as a major trade gateway to Central and South America. Numerous area marinas offer day, overnight and long-term accom- modations for boaters. Banksy Who? Though some follow the larger-than-life street artist's every move, The 'Burg has its own sizeable crop of talented mural art- ists who are gradually making the city's commercial districts into an edgy, never- ending art show much like the celebrated Wynwood district in Miami. The kaleido- scopic riot of color splashed from wall to wall leaves no doubt that this is a city with a strong creative pulse. "Just drive," she said. average drive times to popular destinations 40 41 42 43 42 43 GenNext Educating the Next Generation Opening spread: A class in Lakewood High School's CAT program shows off student projects in the robotics lab. This page: St. Petersburg student ambassadors visit Takamatsu, Japan; Perkins Elementary students share a cultural exchange with Japanese schoolchildren via video conferencing. While the country’s top educators are debating whether U.S. schools should focus more on STEM subjects—science, technol- ogy, engineering and math, the 150 students in Lakewood High's Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) program are already pursuing these topics, often through hands-on activities such as programming and building robotics. Students tackle innovative projects that test their problem-solving skills and even learn how to thwart hackers in a cyber- security class. In 2011, Newsweek magazine ranked the CAT program 16th in the nation. Plenty of Choices Lakewood's CAT program is just one of many options that students have available to them at St. Petersburg area schools. “choice” is the key word. Students can attend tradi- tional neighborhood schools, career academies, fundamental schools or magnet schools. The Perkins Elementary Center for the Arts and International Studies is a magnet school that blends academics and the arts. Foreign language instruction begins in kindergarten, and in addition to learning core academics, students can also learn to play the violin, guitar, keyboard or drums, or line up at the barre for ballet or jazz class in the dance studio. There's a school theater, ceramics and visual art studios, and a fully-equipped TV studio to learn video production and produce the school's morning news segments. Rigorous academic performance, critical thinking and independent study are the focus of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at St. Petersburg High School, the oldest of its kind in the state. Pinellas County's has several IB magnet programs, and all require a history of strong academic achievement. St. Petersburg Collegiate High School is a public charter school that allows students to concurrently earn their high school diploma and an AA degree from St. Petersburg College, giving them a leg up on completing their undergraduate baccalaureate degree. The arts are showcased at yet another magnet program – the Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) at Gibbs High School. Students perfect their artistic talent while Students can attend traditional neighborhood schools, career academies, fundamental schools or magnet schools. photo: city of st petersburgphoto: city of st petersburg46 …THAT A GREAT TEACHER can change the life of a child …THAT ALL STUDENTS should be accepted and respected for who they are …THAT OUR COMMUNITY is strong when all members pursue honor and excellence …THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP with parents and guardians is vital, because no one cares more about our students than they do SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY WE BELIEVE PRE-K (AGE 3) THROUGH GRADE 12 Shorecrest PREPARATORY SCHOOL Expect the Best…From the Beginning 5101 1st St. NE., St. Petersburg, FL 33703 • 727-456-7511 • www.shorecrest.org earning a traditional high school diploma, and “major” in dance, instrumental or vocal music; performance, musical or technical theatre; or the visual arts. Some kids do best in the structure of a back-to-basics program. St. Petersburg has a number of elementary, middle and high school fundamental schools that adhere to higher standards in conduct, dress code, homework and attendance, as well as mandatory parent-teacher confer- ences and monthly school meetings. Students who might not be on a college career path can shine at Career Academies like the Academy of Information Technology at Northeast High School that gives stu- dents a solid foundation in computer tech- nical support, networking, programming, web design and similar courses, along with paid internships with local companies. Northeast High also offers an Automotive Academy to prepare students for careers as auto technicians, auto body specialists, insurance adjusters and similar jobs. Bright Futures Florida’s graduating seniors are eligible for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which is funded through the Florida State Lottery. Students can receive one of three award levels based on their final grade point average, college entrance exam test scores and other requirements, such as community service. The scholarship can 46 Tribune PreK-12 | Private College Prep School | 35-Acre Campus in St. Pete Cultivating Leaders Through Innovative Programs We Admit Students & Offer Tours Throughout the Year! www.farragut.org Marine Science Sailing & Scuba Established in 1933 Aviation Engineering Day & Boarding To subscribe, go to www.subscribetampatrib.com or call 727-for-Tribune Your Community. Our Commitment. Every town deserves its own newspaper. One that tells your stories, covers your events, and supports your community. We are renewing that commitment — expanding, investing and engaging in our local communities more than ever before. As we look toward the future, look to us to provide relevant news, insightful information and clear commentary on the issues that matter most. PR63503be used to help pay for any accredited public or private college in the state. College Town Once a small branch of the University of South Florida Tampa that primarily served commuters and graduate students, USF St. Petersburg has evolved into a fully- accredited residential university with an enrollment of more than 6,600 undergrad- uate and graduate students. The school’s slogan, “Jewel by the Sea,” is a fitting description of this unique university that has all the advantages of a large public uni- versity, but in a small school setting. Located on 48 acres along the city’s down- town waterfront, USF St. Pete has been on a trajectory of growth. New regional chan- cellor Sophia Wisniewska has involved both academic and community leaders in devel- oping a five-year strategic plan to position the university for the future. In 2013, U.S. News and World Report named the school one of the Best Regional Public Universities in the South. Growing Entrepreneurs USF St. Petersburg’s graduate-level College of Marine Science has long been on the national radar for the quality of its program. Now the school’s College of Business Entrepreneurship Program is quickly gain- ing national attention, too. 49 A University of South Florida marine biologist works on data-collection equipment. The Entrepreneurship Program began accepting students in 2011 and is already earning accolades, from "Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Program in the United States" awarded by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, to winning the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization's "Startup Simulation Challenge" two years in a row. Daniel James Scott, associate director of the program says, “data indi- cates that this is where the job growth is expected to come from over the next 50 years.” Scott, who was named 2013 Small Business Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration South Florida District, says entrepreneurship offers a different take on the American dream. “It used to be that if you went to school and did everything right, you could expect to have a secure corporate career for the rest of your life. That doesn’t In 2013, U.S. News and World Report named USF St. Petersburg one of the Best Regional Public Universities in the South. photo: city of st petersburg49 Above: A Gibbs High School student majoring in dance in the PCCA magnet arts program. Opposite: A young man employed at the Saturday Morning Market has his eye on a college degree. happen any more. Students today have a growing sense that they need to take personal responsibility for where their career is headed. And we’re making sure they have the skillsets to succeed.” Learning With A Cause Students at St. Petersburg College’s orthotics and prosthetics program are working with wounded combat veterans to help them regain their mobility and independence. SPC’s J. E. Hanger College of Orthotics and Prosthetics is a leader in this rapidly growing high-tech medical field that trains students to measure, evaluate, design, fabricate and custom fit artificial limbs and orthopedic braces. Students are currently working with The Department of Veterans Affairs and Florida State University to develop adjustable sockets that offer a better fit for people with residual limbs after amputation. The program is one of only eight in the country and the only one in Florida. Private Education At the Canterbury School of Florida, students are immersed in marine science stud- ies thanks to the school being named the Cousteau Divers’ first partner school in the world. Founded by Pierre-Yves Cousteau, son of the late ocean explorer Jacques photo: city of st petersburg50 51 Cousteau, Cousteau Divers is a not-for-profit organization focused on marine science and conserving marine biodiversity worldwide. The Canterbury School is just one of many excellent private schools in St. Petersburg that cater to students in pre-kindergarten through high school. Shorecrest Preparatory School, founded in 1923, is the oldest preparatory day school in Florida. Admiral Farragut, established in 1945, is a military-style co-ed college preparatory school named after Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, the first U.S. Naval officer to rise to that rank. St. Petersburg can also lay claim to Florida’s first law school, Stetson University College of Law. Stetson was ranked number one in the state in 2013 for the number of students passing the Florida bar. This private university is located in the nearby city of Gulfport in a restored historic 1920s resort hotel. Eckerd College, a private liberal arts college located on the Gulf of Mexico in south St. Petersburg, shows up on many top lists, including Princeton Review's "Guide to Green Colleges." Eckerd offers outstanding marine science, biology and environmental stud- ies programs, a brand-new $25-million, 55,000-square-foot James Center for Molecular and Life Sciences, impressive recreational water activities for students, and a philosophy that encourages students to “think critically about the world and their place in it.” 50 51 Opening spread: AVP professional volleball player Raquel Ferria, accomplished junior triathelete Summer Kanstoroom and multiple-gold-medalist bicycle sprinter Earl Henry all call St. Petersburg home. These pages: Outdoor sports play a large part of life in St. Petersburg. With more than 3,000 members, the St. Pete Mad Dogs is one of the largest triathlon clubs in the country and possibly one of the most unique. Their slogan, “fun-loving triath- letes who train, race and howl together,” says it all. The club's swim-run-socials attract up to several-hundred athletes gathering on Pass-a- Grille Beach for a beach run and swim in the Gulf of Mexico, followed by socializing and dinner. In the fall and winter, members enjoy group runs along the 'Burg's downtown waterfront parks. “The area and weather are great for events like this,” says Tim Hutson, president of the Mad Dogs and CFO at CoreRX, a Clearwater pharmaceutical company. Hutson moved here from Atlanta and has been a member of the Mad Dogs for about 15 years. "I was a runner and an athlete in high school and college, but had never tried a Triathlon before. Now I’ve been president of the group for the last six or seven years." St. Anthony's & Ironman St. Petersburg’s location and climate also make it the ideal setting for two highly visible national events – the St. Anthony’s Triathlon and Ironman. “The Mad Dogs are big supporters of St. Anthony’s Triathlon, with many of our mem- bers opening up their homes and providing a place to stay for some of the professional athletes who come in for the event,” says Hutson. “Over the years, we’ve made some good friends.” Now in its 31st year, St. Anthony’s Triathlon draws thousands of professional and amateur athletes from around the world for a weekend of athletic competition and parties. The competition has been named one of the top 10 Triathlon Regional Championships events and has served as a qualifier for the Ironman World Championships. Ironman’s many events around the globe have their start here. The World Triathlon Corporation, which owns the Ironman brand, has its world headquarters in the Rocky Point area of Tampa just north of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg’s Summer Kanstoroom, a 15-year-old student at Northeast High School, has won the IronKids Florida championship If you like to lead an active life, you'll love the 'Burg's propensity for sports and outdoor recreation of nearly every sort. photo: pinellas county economic developmentphoto: pinellas county economic development54 55 multiple times and finished in the top three at the IronKids National Championships every time she has competed. She is also a two-time USA Triathlon All-American. “Summer loves to compete and has excelled in everything she does,” says her father David Kanstoroom. “She trains about 20 hours a week in addition to being a full-time high school honors student. She has had to give up a lot of her social life but it is a choice she is willing to make. We’re very proud of her.” While Summer’s long-term dream is to compete in the Olympics, a more short-term goal is to secure a full college scholarship now that the NCAA has moved forward to approve women’s triathlon as an emerging sport. In November 2013 she was one of just a few Running, swimming and cycling are definitely part of the area's culture. above photos courtesy of the city of st peters</p>
