Coming soon
La Setima Club Folks associated with Jug & Bottle are opening La Setima Club natural wine bar in historic Ybor City on the corner of Nebraska and 7th Avenues. (La Setima means “The Seventh” keeping the Cigar City love flowing.) Though the opening date is unclear, the Instagram account shows Jug & Bottle General Manager Ryan Fouche sitting in an empty shell with monthly updates in the “Sneak Peek” stories. Public records show an application in for Alcohol Beverage Sales (beer and wine only) for the site with a 47-person occupancy load. 1724 N Nebraska Ave., Ybor City. lasetimaclub.com
Te Invito If you’ve been listening to CL readers and contributors, then you know that Jesus Bravo’s quesabirria tacos are the best part about Mondays. For a while, the tacos—along with the vanilla and chocolate conchas from chef Korie LoVecchio—have only been available to order for delivery, pickup or in Bravo’s underground dining room. But now the public at large can have easy access to Bravo and LoVecchio’s wares (Korie also makes the horchata and jamaica) when the Te Invito food truck soft opens in St. Petersburg next Monday, Oct. 18 outside Lingr restaurant where Bravo is the sous chef (hours for the pop-up are forthcoming). 400 6th St. S, St. Petersburg. @te_invito_tampa on Instagram
The Wet Spot Downtown St. Petersburg Grand Central District is about to get more wet. David Fischer’s new, Best of the Bay-winning Cocktail gay bar (stylized “COCKtail”) is getting a sister concept called The Wet Spot, and it’s looking like it’ll be a nice relief from all the stiff drinks Cocktail has been dishing out since May. Wet Spot features a swimming pool, three-sided bar, live music cabana and men’s and women’s restrooms, according to I Love the Burg. It’s also going to serve up lunch, dinner and light bites. Specifics are still TBA, but the menu will “probably” feature American cuisine, Fischer told CL. Happy Hour specials are also in the works, but details are TBA. The mantra for The Wet Spot is “soaked speedos, tanned torsos and beach ballin’ good times,” and you can expect to see poolside drag queens, gogo boys, tea dances, DJs and other music acts upon opening. 2355 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @thewetspotstpete on Instagram
Open
The Half Baked Potato It looks like there’s a new spud on the block, and its offerings are sure to please any palate (as long as that palate likes potatoes). The concept offers four types of potatoes: sweet, baked, mashed and smashed (smashed is a baked potato, skin included, all smashed down). You can choose to top your selection yourself, or you can choose from the premade options Half Baked has. 1626 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @thehalfbaked_stpete on Instagram
Moving
Gulf Coast Sourdough Tampa’s Gulf Coast Sourdough Sandwich Shop announced that it is moving 1.5 miles northwest to 6703 N Florida Ave. At its new home, the Best of the Bay-winning Seminole Heights bakery and sandwich shop will share a plaza with Revolution Ice Cream and Mekenita Cantina. The Seminole Heights bakery is open at its current location, 5214 N Nebraska Ave., until Saturday, Oct. 16 before moving to the new space. The opening date at the new spot is Oct. 19. gulfcoastsourdough.com
ICYMI
Make-A-Wish brings annual ‘Dishes and Wishes’ Tampa fundraiser back for in-person fun The goal for this year’s event is to raise $300,000 to grant 30 wishes. Right now, the priority is to grant wishes to the children who want to travel; currently, there are 96 kids waiting for their wish to be granted. Friday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. $150 & up. Tampa Armature Works. 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa. wish.org/sfla—Alexandria Jones
Willa’s Pig Jig recovery brunch Tampa’s Pig Jig tailgate, BBQ competition and music festival is sold-out, but you don’t have to be holding tickets to the party to get in on this Sunday morning recovery brunch in NoHo. Parties of two, four or six can get in on a four-course prix-fixe menu (pork belly & chilli cheese grits, anyone?) and nap peacefully afterwards knowing that a portion of the tab goes to benefit NephCure Kidney International, the only nonprofit organization committed to supporting research, improving treatment and finding a cure for the debilitating kidney disease, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome. Sunday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. $50/person. Willa’s. 1700 W Fig. St., Tampa. willastampa.com
This article appears in Oct 14-21, 2021.