Listening Room St.petersburg Fl

Okay so last year at the singers song writers festival in Key West, FL My teacher friends and I fell in love with this group Sundy Best check them out thier great Chris can really sing and that Nick really has a talent for the way he can beat that box (the percussion instrument heads out of gutter). Anyway my friends and I have since been stalking them on social media waiting for our chance to see them again and that chance came by way of visiting the Hideaway and honest to goodness listening room in St.petersburg, Fl.  Now I have never been and I have to admit after reading the reviews on yelp I was nervous they all talked about it being quiet a d the bartenders would even listen and no talking, WTF it's a concert in a bar and since you all don't know me my friends were mighty concerned that I would get everyone kicked out, as God has gifted me with a voice that will command a room of over 30 kindergartens. Back to the point of this post the Hideaway. This place is so cool immediately upon entering you see this is a very chill environment with mix match furniture, couches you can curl up in and a small stage that leaves the performers so close you can reach out and touch somebody.  Again I was a bit nervous about this new listening room experience especially as I sit I see a sign about being quiet, it's going to be a long night, but that was not the case at all. I got to talk to the owner and in voicing my concerns he assured me it was not like that at all and it wasn't.  You could sing along and even talk to the artists it was great what they do not encourage is holding sidebar conversation while the artist are performing, which Noone did because Sundy Best are great and they command you attention when they perform. So to some it up if you really love to listen to live music and get annoyed at the drunk frat boys hitting on girls while a good music is playing a listening room is for you because everyone is there for the music.  While you wait for the performances to start order anything off their menu that has the word Gibson in it and Thier offering of beer is pretty decent too, no Green Bench but what can you do.

Green Bench Brewery

This weekend  while in St . Petersburg, Fl
My teacher friends and I headed to the Green Bench Brewery.  The Green Bench is named as a historical reference to the green benches that were found on the streets of St.Pete once apon a time.  Not only did this brewery have outstanding brews on tap to taste but they also have a great sense of pride and community making this a new favorite brewery of mine.  Like many breweries they give their bye product to local farms a win win for everyone  (who doesn't love to help out with the production of bacon) but they also work with a local bakery on making pretzels and another uses their beer in a spicy mustard.  This is not the only way that they are community oriented the building which houses their brewery is an old car parts shop they they restored this place is green in more than one way that is for sure. Now to what you have all been waiting patiently for, information on the brew, the day that I was there they had 14 beers on tap 2 of which were of the sour variety very interesting an oak aged which are my favorite and finally my favorite beer that passed my lips that day was a blend.  They had a coffee brew and a milk stout as I requested both of those in my flight the bar tender suggested that I mix the 2 together. Being the good listener that I am I drank both halfway which were fantastic on thier own mind you but mixed together amazing.  So if you like to try different craft beers and you are ever in the St . Petersburg are really this is a must, at least stop by for the free tour. One last snippet of advice, if the food truck is not there run across the street to the Bodega for a cuban sandwich it's a treat.

Pepe's

If you like a fun atmosphere first thing in the morning this is the place very Key West, as it should be. Pepe's has been open since 1909 and is one of the oldest restaurants in Key West.  Be ready for a 15 to 30 minute wait this place is pretty popular but while you wait you can walk across the street to the cuban coffee queen just a suggestion. If coffee isnt going to help with what ails you they have a great spicy bloody mary which they make the mix for, they don't mess around with that store bought Zing Zang. We got the chef special omelet with an artichoke hollandaise sauce which I highly  recommend getting ordering a potatoes patty with, it came with a homemade piece of coconut bread toasted so good it could have been a dessert. It reminded me more of a pound cake, fantastic. I also have to mention the staff they were great our hostess was joking around with the people waiting as well as helping out at the tables, our waitress was cheerful, and helped us out with some special menu request.

Donuts

I don't normally eat donuts being from the Midwest I'm a cheese danish bearclaw kinda girl but I always make an exception when it comes to Glazed
They have a unique selection of donuts available for whatever you are craving first thing in the morning.  I have to tell you my FAVORITE is maple bourbon glazed donut with BACON.

Cuban Coffee Queen

Got to feed my fix for caffeine this morning at the cuban coffee queen shop today thier coffee was amazing I shared a coolada with friends then went back for an iced coffee that never got watered down as they make their ice from the coffee
A must after a late night on Duval

Coffee

If u want the best iced coffee on the island head to Sipping they cold brew Thier coffee (it takes 12 hours). No bitter taste at all so good.

Kermit

This is a great little gem we came here to unwind before starting  our day on Duval had cuban sandwiches, turkey salad and a breakfast burrito Thier food is amazing and the atmosphere is relaxing.

Nana's Breakfast

Having a skillet homefries, egg,3 meat so tasty and it came with a jr. French Toast that's not so jr. Unless you consider 4 pieces jr.

Bice Ristorante

Thinly sliced wild salmon scaloppini
With black truffle and white wine sauce on lemon rosemary  risotto, that's  what I had for dinner tonight hanging out on 5th Ave Naples, Fl.  Thier happy hour specials are great half off  drinks allowing me to pair a different wine with each course.  I had a fantastic  chianti with my Ceasar salad, a recommended white with my salmon, and wonderful red with my dessert.  The early bird special provides you with a salad or app of your choice a main entrée, and dessert.