While riding my bike downtown St. Pete, I discovered Paris London Tokyo..
I spend a lot of time pedaling my 7-speed “Townie” around downtown St. Pete. A major part part of the charm and excitement of it, aside from the obvious time away from being in front of this computer screen, is the certainty that I’ll always discover something new.
Well a recent and gorgeous April afternoon, was no disappointment. The weather here in April is perfect and so I hear my bike calling to me quite often, “Ride me…RIDE ME!!”
So as I pedal towards downtown, only about 5 minutes off to the southeast, I start to unwind from some of the stresses of running my small business. A business that always makes me chuckle, me a 46 year old bachelor that founded and runs St. Pete’s best reviewed wedding venue, NOVA 535. Me a regular guy who never dreamed as a child that I’d be handling ladies (potentially) 2nd biggest day of her life. Yea, no challenges there! ;-D
We’ll just as I cross over 4th street , I pass the famous RENO BEACH SURF SHOP, owned by the (unofficial) mayor of St. Pete, my good pal, Jon Labudde.
I make my way east through the beautiful, unique and highly sought after Historic Old Northeast neighborhood, and my cares as a venue owner continue to dissolve among the tree lined streets and diverse architectural home styles. Soon enough I’m right along the waterfront, a delightful reminder as to why St. Pete, Florida continues to become one of America’s favorite cities.
By now I’m smiling and pedaling and quickly approaching where my professional responsibilities are taking a back seat to my being in the moment – that elusive quieting of the “Monkey Mind, as Di and Katelyn, my Yogis like to say. So I head south, towards the core of downtown, right past someone else’s wedding. I laugh at myself as I slow to take photos and the monkey immediately rattles it’s cage, as it suggests ideas and thoughts and improvements that I can make…. 
I continue pedaling towards the “600 Block” the unofficial arts core of downtown St. Pete is. This is where shops like Blue Lucy, the creator of the shirt I’m wearing resides (note do NOT buy a cheap knock-off, get the original one and support Chad Mize, of Blue Lucy). Also the infamous BASK has just completed another sick mural, for all those who can see to enjoy. BASK!!
And right nearby is my super duper photographer, Sheri Kendrick, Enchanted Forest Photography, who specializes in children – she’s AMAZING!
Check out some of the cool art work (below) from a recent show here at Blue Lucy..
And the beautiful iron work at the 600 Block, properly known as the Crislip Arcade, one of the oldest in Florida.
Making my way back up Central Avenue, I’m jonesing for something cool, delicious and NOT full of preservatives and chemicals. And something with coffee, yet cool would be perfect. Luckily, Mickey’s Cafe & Organics has just reopened a bit west from his original shop, and I’m in luck! Mmmm!!
My final leg (ha!) home brings me back around Baywalk, now under final reconstruction and being rebranded as The Sundial Shops at St. Pete. Big Spender Bill Edwards, of Bill Edwards Presents, has done an incredible job renovating and breathing life into a once vibrant, then dead ,now being resurrected important center chunk of our downtown. Thanks Bill! The Sundial will boast the largest Sundial, in Florida, hmm, ever? I’m unsure but wow it’s big and beautiful and speaking for most all Burgers, we are READY for Sundial to open for business!!
So I hope you enjoyed my story, of another fabulous day here in St. Petersburg, aka St. Pete, also known as “The Burg”, where the weather is delightful most every day of the year and there is so much to do, see, eat, enjoy and ride about in wonder. If you’re not ready for this ride to end, come join me and other positive, productive people as we connect for laughs, drinks and to help each other and our businesses at the weekly Entrepreneur Social Club, Thursday nights at NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, right here in downtown St. Pete. It’s the regions favorite social club for Entrepreneurs, swing by and find out the many reasons why!
