KATIE KENNEDY - Page 85 of 250 -

My Favorite St. Pete Happy Hours

May 7, 2021

My Favorite St. Pete Happy Hours
📍 Downtown St. Pete, Florida

Happy Hour, drinks, St. Pete, wine, Friday, cocktail

Dress (also) || Flats ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Clutch

Friday, is that you? No matter the day of the week, I always appreciate a good happy hour. Honestly, who doesn’t? It’s a great way to catch up with old friends, start a date night, or unwind after a particularly stressful work week. The Sunshine City of St. Pete is no stranger to Happy Hour, and in fact, we may have perfected it. Whether you’re new to the area or one of the many visitors to the Conde Nast Traveler picks, here is a quick list of my all-time favorite local Happy Hours.

Intermezzo

At any point of the day, there’s a very good chance that you’ll find me at this Central Avenue cafe. In the morning hours and beyond, Intermezzo serves excellent cups of coffees, cappuccinos, and lattes. Once Happy Hour hits at 5 pm, the atmosphere shifts to focus on incredible cocktails for $7 each. For the genuine Katie experience, I recommend ordering the Rum Punch No. 1. It’s one of my favorite drinks in town, and I could sip on it all evening. An Intermezzo staple is their Branca Brew, an energizing combination of Bourbon, Fernet Menta, and Cold Brew. Their cocktail menu extends far beyond the Happy Hour, so I encourage you to sample the entire menu.

Cassis

Cassis has become a recent regular spot for us, especially on Tuesday when Happy Hour lasts all night. You can expect great drinks and even better snacks from their Small Bites menu at this French-inspired cafe. During Happy Hours (from 4 to 7 pm), select glasses of wine are only $2.50, and martinis are $4.50. I had post-work drinks here very recently and floored when my check was only $10. Trust me, there’s a reason it’s regularly voted the best Happy Hour in Tampa Bay.

Annata and Alto Mare

I list these two different establishments together because they are owned by the same group and are right next store to each other. While Alto Mare and Annata offer different cuisines are fares, they are both sure to make their way to your favorites. Whenever I want to dine some fantastically fresh seafood, I head to Alto Mare. If I’m in the mood for charcuterie boards, I go to Annata instead. Both offer $5 glasses of wine during Happy Hour from 4 to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Because of their location on Beach Drive, both make a great starting point for a night out.

The Local Breweries

St. Pete is a brewery kind of town. I can think of nearly a dozen local craft breweries around the city off the top of my head. Each has its own personality and spin on Happy Hour. If you live nearby or have an entire weekend to dedicate to it, I highly recommend visiting as many as you can. Many offer a different spin on Happy Hour throughout the week to help you relax with great brews and good conversation. While there’s something to love about each, the breweries I tend to visit most often are St. Pete Brewing, Cage Brewing, and Grand Central Brewhouse.

This list is just a tiny sampling of what St. Pete has to offer. Everyone has their personal favorites, but I love to share my haunts. I rotate through each of these spots regularly, so the chances of seeing me at one of them are pretty good. Cheers to the weekend, and I hope you enjoy your well-deserved Friday Happy Hour, no matter where it is!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May 3, 2021

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May, Cabana Life, Skin Cancer, Awareness, Health

Dress (Long-Sleeve Version) || Sandals ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Clutch

Let’s rewind the clock a few years. I was a collegiate swimmer at Florida State University. Growing up as a swimmer in the Sunshine State, I had nearly ten years of two practices per day in the sun. I didn’t know it at the time, but my skin was screaming for help. My skin tan extremely easily, so much so that I’m often confused for being Italian or Greek. Since I never burned, I thought that meant I was in the clear. Why would I worry about sunscreen? The answer came to me as I was looking through old pictures. The sun damage on my skin was absolutely horrifying. More important than the fact that it looked awful is that I was putting myself at risk for skin cancer. Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I’m very proud to partner with Cabana Life to share a quick reminder to make skin health a top priority. Here are four easy tips to add to your daily routine.

Load Up on Daily SPF

Don’t just save the bottle of sunscreen for the beach or the pool. Each time you go outside, your body is hit with a wave of UV rays. Over the course of your lifetime, that can add up. Since 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer before age 70, it’s best to be proactive. Part of my daily routine is putting on a light layer of SPF 40 sunscreen to keep my skin safe. You find the brand that’s right for me, but my favorites are the Unseen Sunscreen from Supergoop because of its clean chemical formula and Coola Organic Sunscreen to keep your whole body safe. Don’t forget some SPF for your lips!

Protect Your Beautiful Face

The skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your body. It’s also the most noticeable part of you. Because of that, you want to take a few extras steps to cover and protect your skin. On my daily walks through the neighborhood, I always grab a wide-brimmed hat to keep my face in the shade. I know it makes a huge difference to keep me cool and out of the intense Florida sun. Obviously, it’s essential to wear sunglasses to protect your vision, but they also help protect you from skin cancer as well. I recently learned that melanomas could also form on your eyes, just like any other part of your skin. Look for lenses that have 100% UVA/UVB protection. Krewe is one of my favorite brands and checks all of the boxes to keep my eyes healthy.

Wear An Extra Dose SPF

Cabana Life is a woman-owned company and founded by a skin cancer survivor. While a simple t-shirt typically offers only an equivalent of SPF 5 coverage, their clothing includes SPF 50+. That means it helps block 98% of UVA and UVB rays. While skin safety is their number one goal, they don’t want you to skip on style. Their dresses and tops are perfect for both lounging in the sun and a night on the town. My favorite style is hands down, the Sleeveless Terry Tunic. Available in a wide range of colors, wearing it makes me feel like I’m in a Slim Aarons photo from 1960’s Palm Beach. This style is a classic, but their whole collection is current and fun. For even more protection, you’ll love the Long-Sleeve Terry Tunic.

Schedule A Yearly Check-Up

It’s so easy to let annual checkups with your primary care doctor pass by, but there’s one that I never miss out on! I’ve been visiting my local dermatologist annually since I was in middle school. He checks my skin for new spots or ones that may have rapidly grown since my last appointment. While your dermatologist knows what to look for, I recommend making a note of anything new that pops up beforehand. You know your skin best, and new moles or spots may be even more obvious to you. Having an annual dermatologist appointment is also the perfect opportunity to discuss sunscreen recommendations that best match your skin type. If you haven’t seen your dermatologist in a while, book your appointment today!

Having the darkest tan possible was the number one priority when I was younger. My goodness, how things have changed! While I can’t undo the years of damage I’ve done to my skin, skin health is a top priority from here on out. Be kind to your skin, and it will help keep you healthy and beautiful for years to come!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Tropical Floral Prints

April 30, 2021

Tropical Floral Prints
📍 Downtown St. Pete, Florida

Tropical, Floral Prints, Summer, Banjanan, block print

A little backstory on this photo location: We are still in the midst of putting our home back together post-flood. Our weekends have included lots of work in the yard and building furniture. Because Saturday and Sunday seem jammed pack, we have to find our fun during the workweek. Our date night typically falls somewhere between Tuesday and Thursday. In all honesty, it depends on how antsy I feel from sitting inside all day. This week the bougainvilleas in downtown St. Pete looked absolutely incredible. Typically, this corner of North Straub Park is full of kids skateboarding, young couples taking engagement photos, or a rouge tai chi class. I was so happy to finally have the space to myself and take some quick pictures next to the iconic Vinoy Hotel.

Summer Style

Summer is just around the corner. Although I’ve been relishing in this perfect Florida weather, I can feel the humidity and heat truly begin to sneak in. Luckily for me, I’m a born and raised Floridian and no stranger to how brutal the summer can be here. The hot days can feel a little bit cooler if you dress smart for the weather ahead. Think light, billowing fabrics, lots of dresses, and sun hats. More and more, block print florals have been thrown into the mix. I simply love the brand, Banjanan, because it checks all of the boxes. Gorgeous prints in light and airy fabrics. They pair perfectly with white jeans against a St. Pete background.

Block Prints

Tropical floral prints just seem to hit a little different than your standard, for me at least. Similar to a toile, this print tells a story. A jungle of flowers and animals makes the entire scene come alive. Each piece feels like a work of art, a one-of-a-kind item that you’ll never find again. The process for making block print designs is an art form and something I would love to learn more about. While many of these brands have origins in Jaipur, India (a place high on my travel bucket list), I was also happy to find a local shop while in The Bahamas. Bahama Hand Prints have a stunning collection of pieces with full inspiration coming from the islands. I brought home a tea towel, but I wouldn’t mind adding some pillows and blankets to my collection.

Raffia Sandals

When wearing such bright tropical prints, I like to pair pieces that will add to it, not distract. With dresses, it’s easy. Just throw one on, and you instantly have a chic resort look. For blouses, I vote to wear a crisp pair of white jeans for an effortless look that works from day to night. As far as accessories, can you go wrong with raffia or rattan? No way! That’s especially true in the summertime. My raffia sandals from Carrie Forbes have been one of the best investment pieces of 2021. I wear them with everything! Even when we were in Harbour Island, they were my go-to pair for walks through town and fancier dinner affairs.

Straw Bags

Don’t skip on the raffia bags either. Mine is a custom creation from the incredible ladies at A and A Hidden Treasures. If you plan on taking a trip to Harbour Island, this should be your number one source for souvenirs. You can preorder your designs like I did to have a truly special piece. The Orange to Apple blog logo has never looked better. I can’t wait to use this bag again and again over the summer. Since they don’t ship yet (but I hope they will soon), you can find some similar great options from Tuckernuck and Hat Attack. If you’re looking for more of a clutch, then I’m sure you’ve seen me use this number from J. Crew time and time again. It’s another summer favorite!

No matter where you live, the sweet smell of summer is just around the corner. Embrace the sunnier days and warmer weather by finding tropical print pieces to wear the day away. After all, it aligns with one of my favorite style tips. Dress for the vacation you wish you were on!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.