A special Mark & Carrie day out and we were told of a lot of new ventures happening in St. Pete. To experience the ‘Mystical St. Pete Carpet Ride’ we had to pick up friend & local singing star, Judy B. Goode for comradery. Now open but have changed their names is Triple X Cafe & Bar located on 2924 5th Ave. North. Grand Opening will be in 2 weeks. We met super friendly bartender Jason, with his tattoo muscled arms and told us of the new additions. A newly built stage for bands, karaoke, and performers have dressed up the old Crum Bar. Beer. wine and a very nice bar menu with Thursday dinner specials. This Thursday is homemade Chicken Parmesan.

    Getting ready to open on Central Ave is a newly remodeled building turned club opening in May. We took a sneak peak with the construction workers putting new bar tops on the newly assembled bars with very high open airy ceilings. It looks like a winner! We were told it will be called, “Eddy’s”!  The Queen & I Thai Restaurant was our stop for great Laos style Papaya salad and Vietnamese  Pho Soup! Bryan was there with all his warm charm. The place is really busy. New Thai menu items that were recently added he told us to try. Yumm!!

    Onward to the Broken Tusk on 28th St.and met up with long time friend &  bartender Kevin and bar owner, Levi. The fenced in patio is spectacular and is open weekends. New outdoor patio furniture near the outside bar, weekly karaoke, daily drink specials and a lot of cheerful friends. Levi said new things are going to be happening with a possible new club on St. Pete’s southside near the water. Announcements soon!

     Judy wanted to show us her singing digs at the newly renovated Hollander Hotel at 4th Street North & 4th Ave North. A welcoming step back to 1920’s Florida with a total $2 million dollar remake of the old 100 room Travel Inn Hotel. A wide veranda wrapping the outside and street frontage, huge fans creating a springtime breeze and wicker furniture that you can just snuggle in comfort. The artwork is so eclectic and reminded us of the Monty Python Show. Unique positioning of art and painted picturesque walls scenes throughout the bar and the restaurant. You’ll also have to make it a point to meet the 70 year old moose at the bar named “NAM”.

    We met the owner, Mike and the General Mgr Nick & his partner who run the dog friendly boutique hotel. It is also listed on Travelocity TAG lists for GLBT travelers and tourists. The sampling order of shrimp, hot jalapeno pepper cream cheese dumplings was out of this world tasty and sparked a great conversation with tourists eating around us. Judy showed us where her monthly shows are performed in the middle of the restaurant. She performs the third Saturday of the month with Pianoman Paul Thomas to packed crowds.

    Lucky Star Bar on Central & 28th had our old friend and distinguished local actor, Daniel serving us. He is going to be starring in a new play coming in May at the Studio @620 in downtown St. Pete. The crowd was a roundtable of customers from the old Suncoast Resort. Great seeing old friends again.

    That was our monthly  ‘Mystical St Pete Carpet Ride” news