“I don’t really feel comfortable singling stuff out for recommendations,” says Olga Bof with an endearing bit of nervous laughter. After all, as founder and president of nonprofit Keep Saint Petersburg Local, it’s her job to recommend everything, to everybody, all the time. “All the members are like my children, and you’re asking me to pick my favorites.” When she’s not working her full-time job at social-services organization Suncoast Center or spending time with her 6-year-old “little man” Matteo, Olga and her team of volunteers are tirelessly promoting local businesses, as well as the ’Burg’s annual Localtopia fest. So who better to hit up for information on what’s happening in the Pinellas County city that’s emerging as a national cultural and arts destination, not to mention one of the new wave of craft beer meccas? Bof, 47, was a traveler from the get-go — “I was made in Cuba, and born in Miami,” she says. She also spent time in London and visited South America before settling in St. Pete to be close to family once again. In addition to her work with Suncoast and KSPL, she’s looking at opening her own store selling children’s books and environmentally friendly toys in 2015.
Favorite home away from home: THE QUEENS HEAD RESTAURANT. “There are a lot of reasons. There’s the English connection — a quarter of my life was spent there. Our family comes here and hangs out on the outdoor beds, Matteo’s art is on the wall. It’s become our Cheers.”
Favorite place to accessorize: THE 600 BLOCK of Central Avenue. “It’s my go-to place, there’s such a variety of choice there. You’ve got things like Strands of Sunshine, that shop rocks, and Trunk Stylists, Misred, Florida CraftArt and more. I don’t tend to buy a lot of clothes these days, but when I’ve gotta dress up, I go to the 600 Block and find some truly amazing stuff.”
Favorite night on the town: ST. PETE SECOND SATURDAY ART WALK. “It’s grown to 40-something venues. [KSPL] got involved in December of last year and we’re really pushing it. But I try to be out and about all the time, not just Art Walk nights, and support as much as I can.”
Favorite event-driven cultural organization: KEEP ST. PETE LIT. “They’re trying to keep [writing] relevant. They’re pushing for the literary arts to be on the same stage as everything else.”
Favorite reason to go to Tampa: THE RIVERWALK. “I went to Ulele for my birthday, and my friends were like, ‘She’s asking us to go to Tampa?!’ That whole area, with the park and everything, I love it, and I love what’s going to happen there. You can really see the renaissance that’s coming.”
Favorite retail expression of community: SATURDAY MORNING MARKET in St. Petersburg. “Besides Localtopia? I think it and the St. Pete Indie Market, they’re both great examples of community-building and what’s going on around here.”
Favorite place to see unique productions: FREEFALL THEATRE. “I think that they definitely are a little more out-there in terms of what they offer. I also love the space, the way they craft the productions around the space, and vice versa.”
Favorite worst-kept downtown secret: HIDEAWAY CAFE & RECORDING STUDIO. “It’s just one of those secret St. Pete places. It’s a beautiful place, and it’s all about the music. They shush you [laughs]. A beautiful, intimate space that by the way has some of the best pizza in town — when I need a fix, I have the Jackson at the Hideaway.”
Favorite nearby place to get out of town: INDIAN SHORES. “It feels like a real escape. It’s got Indian Shores Coffee Company, I love that place. I really felt like St. Pete might be a couple of hours away.”
Favorite hidden gem: MFA CAFE at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts. “The food is super yummy. It’s this really tranquil setting, you’re looking out at the water. And you’re on Beach Drive, which can get pretty crazy. They’ve got awesome soups and sandwiches.”
Favorite hometown team: THE TAMPA BAY ROWDIES. “I’m beyond ecstatic that we have a hometown football [soccer] team to support, and not many stadiums in the world have such a beautiful view.”
Favorite family place with grown-up drinks: GREEN BENCH BREWING. “Matteo loves it. It’s been really great for families. You can enjoy a craft brewery, at the same time there are events going on, and they have this great garden space where your children can play with other kids from the community, it just feels really great there.”
Favorite touch of class: NOVA 535. “In my opinion, it’s St. Pete’s most gorgeous venue, on a par with London, Paris, New York or Miami.”
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2015.