| Grand Central In January
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WE HAVE MOVED!
The Grand Central District Association's Office has moved next door and upstairs-the new address is 2429 Central Avenue, Ste 210. The phone number remains the same, 727-328-7086.
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Keep a lookout for the NEW Grand Central Trolley Sign:
This picture was taken on the approach from the Pier
Many thanks go out to Councilman Danner, Eric Carlson from the Downtown Partnership and Brian and Dexter at Rearden/Killion Communications for making this happen!
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The Grand Central Trolley Hop
This *event will be occurring every 3rd Friday of the month This event will be occurring every 3rd Friday of the month from 4pm to midnight.
Show your passport to the trolley driver for FREE trolley rides for the evening and enjoy amazing discounts from some of the best local pubs and restaurants in downtown St. Pete and the Grand Central District.
Tickets are only $10 (+ $1.50 paypal fee) and can be purchased at the Craftsman House (2955 Central Ave) Island Seafood Market (2057 Central Ave) and Beak's Old Florida (2451 Central Ave).
Tickets can also be purchased on www.grandcentraldistrict.org
with paypal.
Don't miss out on the very FIRST Grand Central Trolley Hop on Friday, January 15th!
*You have to be 21 or over to participate.
Deals and Discounts
Paddy Burkes- 100 4th Street S
$1 Bud Select, $3 Jaeger, $5 Car Bombs
Island Seafood Market - 2057 Central Ave
2 for 1 Bacardi Smirnoff Malt Beverages
$3 Shock Top Bottled Beers
$5 Peel -N- Eat Shrimp
$5 Crab Cake
$5 Drunken Clams
$5 Large Smoked Fish Spread w/Crackers
10% off all regularly priced menu items
Cigar Loft - 2448 Central Ave
20% off all cigars
Beak's Old Florida - 2451 Central Ave
10% Off Total Ticket
Nitally's Thai-Mex Cuisine - 2462 Central Ave
10% Off Total Ticket
Craftsman House - 2955 Central Ave
Happy Hour Pricing on Wine (30% Off)
Only between 4-6pm
PLEASE NOTE: If you pay with paypal, you HAVE to bring your paypal receipt to one of the following places to pick up your passport (you may do this the night of the event):
Craftsman House (2955 Central Ave)
Island Seafood Market (2057 Central Ave) or
Beak's Old Florida (2451 Central Ave)
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Grand Kitchen & Bath is ready for their Official Grand Re-Opening
with a ribbon cutting by the
Chamber of Commerce on
Wednesday, January 20th - 4:30PM
New and old friends are welcome to enjoy food, wine and drawings.
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A GREAT NEW PARTNERSHIP!
Grand Central District Association and LocalShops1.com are thrilled to announce their new partnership to promote neighborhood businesses.
The partnership includes a new, combined membership that offers businesses double the perks and double the marketing power.
One of the key components is the combo GCDA/LS1 1Card, which offers shoppers discounts at participating Grand Central businesses as well as all the other businesses in the LocalShops1.com network.
Shoppers can pick up their free discount card at one of these participating businesses: Your Neighborhood Realty, Island Seafood Market, Roco Traders, China Finders, Cigar Loft and Two Poodles & a Mutt.
Shoppers can also sign up at LocalShops1.com, and have the 1Card sent to them, for free. There is no charge for postage.
Grand Central stretches from 16th to 34th streets, between First Ave. S. and First Ave. N. in St. Petersburg.
LocalShops1.com, a division of Local Shopper, LLC, launched in August 2008 and is the largest network of local, independent businesses and independent-minded shoppers. The company provides marketing services, social media campaigns and store promotions exclusively for independent businesses.
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LocalShops1 Card meets Grand Central District
With more than 2,500 members, LocalShops1.com is Tampa Bay's largest network of local, independent businesses and independent-minded shoppers. We hope you're one of them!
Businesses: Now when you join LocalShops1.com, we'll pay for your Grand Central membership! We've partnered up to help drive more customers to your business!
Customers: Sign up for the 1Card, for FREE, and start saving at the best local shops in town.
For details, go to LocalShops1.com. You can also call us at 727.637.5586 or e-mail 1Card@localshop1.com |
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$199/year gets you a
GCDA Membership, plus
LocalShops1.com perks!
Grand Central District Association and Local Shops1.com present the needed one/two punch for
your marketing dollars.
Here are just a few of the "PERKS":
~Advertise your business/shop on the
Grand Central District Website
~FREE advertising in the Monthly E-Newsletter
~FREE Business Workshops and Training
~FREE Web presence on GCDA website
~Grand Central Press-$35.00 and up
~Creative Loafing-$47.00 for 3" x 3.5"
~Listing on LocalShops1.com
~Participate in the 1Card promotion
~Free to list in sales forum
~Welcome to LocalShops1 link to your listing in our e-newsletter, on Facebook and on Twitter
~25% off ads on the quarterly LS1 magazine
~Business name listed in every e-newsletter and in every issue of LS1 magazine
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Part III: Capturing Customers "The Critical 7 Seconds"
Final Session of the Series and New Host Venue Location
As a business owner within the City of St. Petersburg, we have a
destination business expert to share with you.
It's free and just in time for New Year planning!
DESTINATION Retail is a co-sponsored, free, live, web-based program.
The final installment of the three-part series entitled: Capturing Customers
"The Critical 7 Seconds" will air live at its new venue location, The Palladium
Theater, on Wednesday, January 20, 2010.  Hosted live by senior retail industry consultant and destination business expert, Jon Schallert, the DESTINATION Retail program
is designed to share with independent business owners acclaimed
business improvement methods, customer lead generation sources,
and insights on not only how to survive, but more importantly how to
become a destination business and thrive in the current economy and beyond.
Attending businesses have the opportunity to participate in a complimentary
networking breakfast social from 7:30am - 8:15am, followed by the live
presentation and question and answer session from 8:30am - 10:00am with
host Jon Schallert, hosted at The Palladium Theater located at the corner of
3rd Street and 5th Avenue North in downtown St. Petersburg.
Since the DESTINATION Retail series began in November 2009, approximately
120 business owners have participated in the free small business support program. Start the New Year off right, attend this final installment and gain access to the series' parts I and II live recordings available online until February 20, 2010.
To register for this FREE event call 727-893-7784. For more information or
questions about the DESTINATIONRetail series, please contact Kimberly Bailey at 727-893-7784 ____________________________________________________________________ |
Best New Gallery in the U.S.
Please take a minute to click on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=J0p47ozKgdVg4bUd0q8Yig_3d_3d & vote for St. Petersburg as a Top 25 Art Destination (mid-sized cities). St. Petersburg is fortunate to have our Downtown Arts Association, which is comprised of a number of top galleries. The Salvador Dali Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Mainsail Arts Festival, American Stage Theater, Mahaffey Theater, The Palladium, ... Ranking on this list creates interest in our city & helps bring cultural tourism dollars to our entire community.
A unique characteristic that defines St. Petersburg is our downtown waterfront parks. Our city's early leaders envisioned a lush downtown waterfront parkland system devoid of industrial enterprise. The park system runs from North Shore to Albert Whitted. In 2010 our city will have a year-long Centennial celebration, honoring 100 years of Waterfront Parks. Go to www.stpeteparks100.org to check out the list of events.
Craftsman House has the official commemorative Centennial posters & note cards for sale. Original artwork by Carrie Jadus.
Craftsman House continues to bring in new artwork as they move into the new year. Some of the new work includes:
New jewelry from Anna Balkan
Fluorite & semi-precious gem stones with sterling silver. Each of her designs are one of a kind.
Vintage style handbags
Larisa Flint Snydal creates lush textile handbags, clutches & totes. They are both gorgeous and fun.
Kennebunk Throws
These soft, handmade throws come in a variety of colors & designs.
Handmade silk scarves
Giselle says that she wants each of her scarves to have a spontaneous & fresh look. The flower embellishments and details make each scarf a stand alone accessory.
Mamaw Gladys has crocheted some love into her new batch of scarves. Stephanie's grandma has sent us a variety of colors.
The tour will begin at 10am in front of the Historic Detroit Hotel. Get a brief history about St. Petersburg as you travel through the country's largest public waterfront park system. See and learn about the Pier, the Vinoy Park Hotel, baseball in St Petersburg, and the Flori de Leon Apartments where Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig lived during spring training.
The tour group will hop aboard the new Central Avenue Shuttle, and ride to the Craftsman House Gallery -our wonderfully restored original model home for the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood. Tour continues into Historic Kenwood, one of the country's premiere bungalow neighborhoods. Typically one of the bungalows is open to view. The tour will return to the Craftsman House, where you can eat lunch or board the shuttle to return downtown.
Thanks to everyone who came out to see Tracy Grammer. Plenty of surprises that night. Lara Cerri came out of the audience to sing harmony with her.
Upcoming Concerts:
Unadvertised concert
This show will only be advertised to you, our newsletter readers. No radio, no print ads.
John Gorka
in a Special Valentine's Concert
Sunday, February 14th at 5:00pm
"The preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement" -- Rolling Stone
"Listening to John Gorka sing, one can get goose bumps all over." -- NY Times
Edie Carey in Concert
Friday, February 19th at 7:30pm
$15 in advance/$20 week prior
www.ediecarey.com
Boston's Edie Carey combines a graceful, soaring voice with powerful songwriting. This show will be her warm up for an appearance with Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt and Steve Earle on the Cayamo Cruise. The press has called her "the Shawn Colvin of her generation."
Unadvertised Concert
This show will only be advertised to you, our newsletter readers. No radio, no print ads.
Cheryl Wheeler in Concert
Sunday, March 14th at 5:00pm
$30 in advance/$35 week prior
www.cherylwheeler.com
Nothing can prepare you for a Cheryl Wheeler concert. She will tell a story that has you rolling in the aisles, and then sing a song that leaves you wiping tears from your eyes.
New announcements:
Chuck Brodsky in Concert
Friday, March 26th at 7:00pm
$18 in advance/$23 week prior
Chuck's annual spring training tour is always a treat.
"One of the finest singer-songwriters in America. There are a lot of good ones, but when it comes down to the really great ones it boils down to a select few - he's one of them" -- Larry Groce, NPR's Mountain Stage
Chuck's show has sold out each of the past four years.
Janis Ian in Concert
Thursday, April 29th at 7:00pm
$32 in advance
www.janisian.com
One of the legendary singer-songwriters of our time. Janis wrote her first song at 12, and her first hit record (Society's Child) at 13. She has been nominated for Grammys in the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s. Her 1975 smash hit "At Seventeen" was nominated for a record 5 Grammys - she won 2, including best female pop vocalist. She was the first performer to sing on Saturday Night Live (their very first show). Janis was a pioneer in headlining the first AIDS benefit in NY & in Nashville & the first pediatric AIDS benefit nationwide. An artist who has stayed true to her art.
Tickets are available immediately to anyone purchasing tickets to the February 19th Edie Carey show. Tickets will go on sale to the general public (if available) in February.
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Annual Wine Tasting Event Pours into The Hospice of The Florida Suncoast
It's a yearly celebration of fine food and wine: A Wine and Artist's Dinner Friday, Feb. 5; and Food and Wine Tasting, Art Exhibit and Sale, Saturday, Feb.6. Both events are open to the public and will be held in the Gathering Room in of The Hospice of The Florida Suncoast, 3050 First Ave South, St. Petersburg. Tickets may be reserved in advanced through the website www.wineartandheart.org.
Guests at the Wine and Artist's Dinner will enjoy specially selected wines paired with a catered 5-course meal and engaging conversation with local artists. Individual tickets for the Wine and Artist's Dinner may be purchased for $120.
At Wine Art and Heart's Food and Wine Tasting, you'll enjoy the best of small vineyard wines from around the world, delicious foods and desserts and silent auction. Participating restaurants include Beaks, Queens Head, Parkshore Grill, 401 Beach Drive and Orange Blossom Catering. Individual tickets for the Fine Food and Wine Tasting may be purchased for $35.
A group of church members and community friends host this yearly event in support of The Hospice. Proceeds benefit The Hospice and King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church, so it can continue its work in support of community organizations.
Wine, Art and Heart is much more than fine food, wine and art. Since it was started in 2006, Wine, Art and Heart has raised over $189,000; all through the generosity of volunteers, restaurants, wineries, and corporate and individual sponsors and donors. "Wine, Art and Heart is about raising money to make life better for everyone," says Fred Burns, team chair. "It's about showing heart. Helping to fund ASAP, AIDS care and pain management, bereavement counseling, Hospice Houses and so much more."
The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast is a not-for-profit agency committed to serving individuals and families as they face chronic illnesses, near the end of life, deal with end-of-life issues or are in grief. Through its family of programs and services, The Hospice touches more than 200,000 lives each year and funds millions of dollars in uncompensated care. To learn more about The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, call (727) 586-4432 or logon to www.thehospice.org.
For more information about Wine, Art and Heart, visit www.wineartandheart.org. or phone Steve Stearns at (727) 560-3863
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BAC News
Any questions, please contact:
Tracey L. Smith
Economic Development Coordinator
St. Petersburg, FL 33731-2842
(727) 893-7095 (Voice)
(727) 551-3360 (Fax)
St. Petersburg Business Assistance Center's Business Training Schedule
St. Petersburg, FL - The St. Petersburg Business Assistance Center (BAC) offers free business training and counseling sessions to assist emerging and existing small businesses with business development. We are located at 440 2nd Avenue North. For further information, call (727) 893-7146 or visit our website at http://www.stpete.org/bac.
Our Business Resource Center, located within the Business Assistance Center, has computers equipped with business software and Internet access, interactive videos, and an extensive business reference library for business research and planning. Business Plan Pro Software is available at the Business Assistance Center! Have you been putting off the writing of your Business Plan because the task just seems too complicated? Bring your flash drive to the BAC, and start your plan today! We are here to assist. Visit the BAC's Business Resource Center and develop your business plan on software that offers:
- Over 500 business plan templates, with a model to suit your needs. Topics include, but are certainly not limited to, retail and online businesses, non-profits, restaurants, day cares, personal services and much, much more!!!
- An easy step-by-step process*
- Built-in market research
BAC Training Schedule - 2
- Powerful forecasting tools*
- SBA-approved document format*
Also....receive a Business Plan Review by business counselors at the BAC! Visit the Business Assistance Center today or call for an appointment with a counselor, 727-893-7146.
The schedule for the month of January 2010 is as follows:
We are open Monday through Friday, January 4 - January 30, 2010, 8 am-5 pm
We will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2010, for the Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration.
Business Counseling sessions by:
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business"- Tuesdays, January 19, and 26; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and, Thursday, January 28; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Florida Small Business Development Center at USF - Wednesdays, January 20, and 27; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
Business Workshops:
Financing Your Business Lunch & Learn session provided by the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment, Corp. and the Small Business Administration (SBA); Tuesday, January 19, 2010; 1 to 2 p.m. To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
BAC Training Schedule - 3
SBA Programs and Services/Recovery Act Stimulus - Access to Capital workshop by the Small Business Administration (SBA); Thursday, January 14, 6 to 8 p.m. To register, or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
City of St. Petersburg Business Incentives workshop by the City of St. Petersburg's Economic
Development Department; Wednesday, January 20, 2 to 3p.m. To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
How to do Business with Pinellas County workshop by Pinellas County Purchasing Department; Thursday, January 21, 2 to 4 p.m. To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
10 Steps to Start a Successful Small Business workshop by SCORE; Thursday, January 21, 6 to 8 p.m. To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
Effective Use of Computers in Small Businessworkshop sponsored by SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business"; Monday, January 25, 6 to 8 p.m.To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
Basics of Bonding-Part 1 workshop presented by a bonding professional; Tuesday, January 26, 6 to 8 p.m. To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
QuickBooks Basics - Part 2 workshop by SCORE; Thursday, January 28, 6 to 8 p.m. To register or for further information, call (727) 893-7146.
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Save the Date!
GCDA MEET & GREET
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:
Gruskin & LaBerge is located in an award winning Bungalow home transformed into their professional office.
Starting at 5pm mingle with other business owners and local residents in an old fashion meet and greet.
At 6pm we will be spreading the news of events and activities of Grand Central. Check out this wonderfully refurbished 1920's bungalow home converted into a working office.
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