Bay Magazine March 2024

NORTHEAST

Julie

Michelle

Carolyn

OFFERED

Kayla

F ROM THE EDITOR

KATHY SAUNDERS

SPRING FORWARD

Welcome to the spring training/ spring cleaning issue of Bay. We are excited to feature some of the Tampa Bay Rays players as our fashion models this month as they prepare to launch the team’s 27th season of baseball in St. Petersburg. The home opener is March 28 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

In my own home, I have been busy trying to attack the many belongings we've accumulated over the years. We’re downsizing and decluttering to sell the family home where we’ve lived for more than two decades. Thanks to some great advice from professional organizers, estate sellers and friends who have all gone to bat for us, we have covered all the bases. I’ll share some of the knowledge I have gained along the way and the best tips I have received from those in the know.

After all the packing, moving and storing, we’re looking ahead to traveling in 2024. We are welcoming Cindy Cockburn, a public relations and special events consultant, to Bay. She’ll be sharing her insights and inside tips for luxury travel in Florida and around the world in her new column, Travels with CC.

So, if spring is a season of new beginnings, we are well on our way in Bay.

INSIDE

14 FASHION

Some of the Tampa Bay Rays players slid away from training camp in Port Charlotte to help Bay pitch spring fashions.

38 DOWNSIZING

We share the lessons we learned from Swedish death cleaning and which items Bay experts suggested we save or shed.

44 PROFILE

Organizing specialist Michelle Passoff introduces a new book and podcast.

34

TRAVEL

Cindy Cockburn’s column, Travels with CC, makes its debut in Bay.

48

ARTS

The Radix Collection fashion line features fanciful designs from local artists.

Live the Life you Dream

126 Cordova Blvd. NE • St Petersburg

3 BD • 3.5 BA • 3,123 SQ.FT

Immerse yourself in this one-of-a-kind modern marvel, nestled in the Snell Isle Brightwaters enclave of St. Petersburg. Upon arrival, the cove-lit great room beckons, bordered by expansive disappearing glass doors that connect the interior to an outdoor sanctuary with a pool and patios. At the heart of the home is the chef’s kitchen, boasting a 13-foot island with seating for seven. Step outside to discover multiple water features and an infinity-edge spa, complemented by a covered outdoor kitchen. Offered at $3,400,000.

2300 Pass-a-Grille Way • St. Pete Beach

3 BD • 4 BA • 2,989 SQ.FT.

Enter the enchanting Tarifa Residence, just a short walk away from Pass-a-Grille/ St. Pete Beach. This extraordinary custombuilt home seamlessly fuses classic design with modern elegance. Admire the allure of arched entryways, a grand stairway and the convenience of an elevator. This residence offers not only beach and Intracoastal proximity but also a luxurious pool. Offered at $3,000,000.

mar ionsellstampabay@gmail.com

Vacant Land

Galeon Dr ive • Tier ra Verde

Immerse yourself in the ultimate waterfront living experience with this deepwater lot in Tierra Verde. This rare gem presents an unparalleled opportunity to construct your dream home on a piece of paradise. Boasting 74.8 feet of waterfront on a 66x171 lot, this property is a haven for boat enthusiasts. Nestled on the Grand Canal, the lot provides access to the Gulf of Mexico within five minutes. Offered at $3,500,000.

Celebrating the Human Form

EDITOR

Kathy Saunders

ksaunders@tampabay.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Nikki Life nlife@tampabay.com

COPY EDITOR Erin Feitsma

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER Brian James, brian@brianjamesgallery.com

Bay is published eight times a year by Times Publishing Co. and delivered to Tampa Bay Times subscribers in select neighborhoods in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Copyright 2024. Vol. 17, No. 2

Chairman & CEO Conan Gallaty

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Bruce Faulmann

Marketing Director Kerry O’Reilly

National/Major Senior Advertising Manager Kelly Spamer

Pinellas Advertising Manager Jennifer Bonin

Automotive & Real Estate Advertising Manager Larry West

North Suncoast & Hillsborough Advertising Manager Jessica Petroski

Operations Manager, Prepress & Digital Production Gerald Gifford

Imaging & Production Brian Baracani, Danielle Lazaro, Gary Zolg

Regional Home Delivery Managers Diann Bates, Rob Jennings

Artist’s

Artist’s

Artist’s

Artist’s

FASHION

Spring training included more than just working out for several Tampa Bay Rays teammates, who showed us they could clean up off the field as well as on. Bay traveled to the Charlotte Sports Park for a photo shoot with some of the team’s most stylish players. Our change-up included relaxing outfits suitable for both pre-game comfort and post-game celebrations.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN JAMES • STYLING BY TIM CREAGAN

home runway

21 jonny deluca

O UT FIEL DER

LOVES TO SURF AND

FAVORITE FOOD IS SUSHI.

HIS

THIS PAGE: JEF terry quarter-zip polo, $200. Pellagio Riserva jacket, $495. Hiltl linen pants, $375. Armin Oehler leather sneakers, $395. Sartorial Inc., St. Petersburg. BR 05 Blue Gold automatic watch with rubber strap, $22,600. Old Northeast Jewelers, St. Petersburg.

RIGHT AND PREVIOUS SPREAD: Boss Heston jacket, $1,195. Boss performance stretch shirt, $128. Zena white jeans, $750. TOD’s Pantofola Gomma shoes, $695. Neiman Marcus, Tampa. Breitling 44 mm watch, $11,750. Breitling, Tampa.

56 randy arozarena

LEFT FIELDER

★ IS MENTIONED IN THE BAD BUNNY SONG, "NADIE SABE."

FAR LEFT: Palm Angels track jacket, $790. Palm Angels track pants, $725. Amiri hat, $330. Neiman Marcus, Tampa. Breitling 44 mm watch, $17,950. Breitling, Tampa.

Cashmere Classic sweater, $348. Theory River jacket, $325. Stone Rose knit shorts, $125. Swims loafers, $180. Jackie Z Style Co., St. Petersburg. BR-X5 automatic watch, $6,900. Old Northeast Jewelers, St. Petersburg.

15 josh lowe RIGHT FIELDER

★ GOT ENGAGED DURING THE OFF SEASON AND GOT A DOG, A SHEEPADOODLE NAMED ROUX.

Mizzen+Main Halyard shirt, $118. Monfrère T-shirt, $88. Theory Neoteric twill shorts, $185. Swims navy sneakers, $185. Jackie Z Style Co., St. Petersburg. NORQAIN Day/ Date automatic watch, $3,790. Old Northeast Jewelers, St. Petersburg.

Kiama shirt, $129. Affilato blazer, $499. hammermade.com.

Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback chronograph watch, $18,500. Old Northeast Jewelers, St. Petersburg.

2 yandy díaz

FIRST BASEMAN

★ HIT A HOME RUN IN THE MLB ALL-STAR GAME IN SEATTLE IN JULY 2023 AND TOOK A REDEYE FLIGHT BACK TO TAMPA THE SAME NIGHT TO BE BY HIS WIFE’S SIDE FOR THE BIRTH OF THEIR SON THE NEXT MORNING.

LEFT: Lorenzoni cotton polo shirt, $320. Lorenzoni merino cardigan, $750. Alberto cotton pants, $295. Sartorial Inc., St. Petersburg. Breitling 44 mm watch, $14,500. Breitling, Tampa.

RIGHT AND BELOW: OAS Cuba Net shirt, $150. Atlas Body + Home, St. Petersburg. Breitling 44 mm watch, $25,500. Breitling, Tampa.

45 taj bradley PITCHER

★ MADE HIS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT IN APRIL 2023 — GETTING HIS FIRST WIN ON HIS MOTHER ANA MOSLEY’S BIRTHDAY.

Sunni Spencer T-shirt, $48. Love Brand & Co. Crazy Coral linen shirt, $220. Love Brand & Co. Randall linen trousers, $270. Sunni Spencer, St. Petersburg. DIOR sandals, $830. Neiman Marcus, Tampa. Breitling Chronomat watch, $4,500. Breitling, Tampa.

Robert Graham Shere Khan shirt, $298. Neiman Marcus, Tampa. Wood sunglasses, $80. Sartorial Inc., St. Petersburg.

FROM THE COVER: Oberon polo, $99. hammermade.com. TravisMathew Tech chino, $150. Nordstrom, Tampa. Comme des Garçons PLAY low-top sneakers, $150. Nordstrom, Tampa. Bell & Ross Yellowbird Chronograph watch, $6,500. Old Northeast Jewelers, St. Petersburg.

CREATIVE TEAM

PHOTOGRAPHY

Brian James

IG: @brianjamesgallery brianjamesgallery.com

Téa Bremner, assistant

IG: @tea.bremner.photography

FASHION STYLING

Tim Creagan

IG: @creagan1

MEN'S GROOMING

Jackie Cupples

IG: @lilsoldierjack

TAMPA BAY’ S #1 SELLING REAL ESTATE AGENT IN 2023

Dania sold more than $155M in Luxury and Waterfront Homes in 2023.

Bayway Isles

– St. Petersburg

Resplendent and majestic, with built-to-last concrete construction, this astonishing 13,632-total-sq.ft., 5-bedroom, 5½-bath luxur y estate delivers sweeping panoramic views of the Intracoastal Waterway Wide 198 ft of sea wall. Beautifully updated, meticulously maintained. Easy Tampa Bay commuting Offered for $6,595,000.

Boca Ciega Isle

– St. Pete Beach

A modern coastal masterpiece located on beautiful open water!

Belle Isle

– Belleair Beach

A stunning coastal modern master work with astounding built-to-last commercial- grade concrete/steel construction designed to withstand 250 mph winds! Mammoth 20-ft.+ high great room with towering floor-to- ceiling windows and superb granite wet bar Three lavish bedroom suites, five luxur y baths, 5,579 sq.ft. of inspiring living area. Offered for $4,795,000.

Precision contours, superbly layered ceilings, inspiring lightwork and rich Brazilian walnut/Shellstone flooring give this home a sophisticated and deeply satisfying appeal It has 5 bedrooms, 5½ baths and 10,183 total sq.ft. Luxuriously finished, exquisite high-end amenities Offered for $5,495,000.

Bayou Grande

– St. Petersburg

Extensively updated and upgraded in the last three years, this remarkable 5-bedroom, 5-bath, 9,970-total-sq.ft. coastal water front estate boasts a brilliant custom floor plan and dazzling contemporar y finishes throughout! Towering ceilings, 1,175-sq.ft covered entertainment deck and sweeping open water views Offered for $4,700,000.

Collany Key – Tierra Verde

Nestled within a private 18-acre gulffront enclave, this dazzling 3-bedroom, 3½-bath upperlevel residence enjoys dazzling panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico Exceptional amenities, an extraordinary natural beach and wonder ful marine life deliver an unforgettable waterfront living experience! Offered for $3,195,000.

Saltaire – Downtown St. Petersburg

Brand new and never occupied, this 3-bedroom, 3-bath, 19th-floor luxur y residence delivers dazzling views of the downtown waterfront. Exquisitely finished throughout, with outstanding world- class amenities! Superb five -star dining and fabulous enter tainment within easy walk ing distance. Offered for $2,195,000.

Dania has sold more than $1.75 Billion in Luxury and Waterfront Homes throughout the Tampa Bay Region.

Snell Isle – St. Petersburg

Nestled within a gorgeous community of multimilliondollar estate homes, this elegant 4-bedroom, 4,912-total-sq.ft. residence enjoys gorgeous views of the renowned Vinoy Golf Course Lavish kitchen, dedicated wine room, lovely open spaces, superior woodworking and finishes. Wonderful pool and spa. Offered for $2,495,000.

Brightwater Beach Estates – St. Pete Beach

An exceptional 4-bedroom, 3 ½-bath waterfront home with 2,882 sq.ft. of living area Located on deep, beautiful, wide water in St. Pete Beach’s premier waterfront community. Recently updated Large living spaces, fabulous kitchen, lovely baths, 265-sq.ft. covered waterfront deck . Walk to the beach or take a 10-min. boat ride to the Gulf Offered for $2,150,000.

TRAVELS WITH CC CINDY COCKBURN

All Around the World

The travel buzz for 2024 has been all about Paris for the July 26-Aug. 11 Summer Olympics. Before or after watching thousands of athletes compete in 32 sports, why not explore the French countryside? I recommend nourishing your soul and indulging at the new five-star Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. The region’s first luxury wellness destination has a new 16,000-square-foot spa that incorporates treatments from Clarins, an iconic French beauty brand.

MONACO GRAND PRIX

Race car lovers: Did you get your fix during the Firestone Grand Prix in St. Pete this month? If not, follow your passion and head to Monaco May 24-26 for the Monaco Grand Prix. The glamourous Formula One motor racing event has been held annually since 1929. Stay in the newly renovated and iconic Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, which dates back to 1864. This slice of Riviera opulence was the setting for two James Bond movies. Stroll a few steps to the Casino de Monte-Carlo, where I learned to play baccarat (and looked for George Clooney).

BY LAND OR BY SEA

Skip the traffic and arrive at Monaco’s yacht-filled harbor by boat. I loved the SeaDream Yacht Club, with a maxi-

mum of 112 guests, 95 crew members and five-star service.

Cruising is so popular that The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection announced that their ship, Evrima, is offering 21 new voyages in the Mediterranean from April to November. This is the first time a hotel company has expanded into the luxury cruising category. Watch for the debut of the company’s new yacht, Ilma, slated to embark from Monte Carlo on Sept. 2.

SAFARI ADVENTURES

For bucket list safari adventures, I turned to a local expert. John Harvey started Opulent Africa, a high-end luxury safari company, in 2008. He has been offering African adventures from his St. Pete office since 2020. “We advise our clients to take the direct 16-hour flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg,” Harvey said. His guests then fly into the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve and choose a first-class lodge (options include the Ulusaba Rock Lodge, Singita Boulders Lodge and the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge). Here, guests can see the “Big Five” animals (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffaloes) daily.

St. Pete resident Susan Robertson visited Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2022. “We stayed in Ulusaba, the private game reserve owned by Sir Richard Branson. Animals roamed freely and meandered alongside our private Jeep. (Branson) was there greeting guests!”

Phil Yost, a St. Pete-based business owner, visited Africa for the first time in August 2023. “Opulent Africa handled the details, so the magic unfolded with very little effort or stress. Feeding giraffes at the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi was surreal.”

AIRPORT NEWS

Tampa International Airport was named the second-best large airport in the country in USA Today’s 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The airport also added two new airlines for 2023. Porter Airlines began daily nonstop service to Toronto and Lynx Air started service to both Toronto and Montreal. On April 10, Frontier will resume flights from Tampa to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. On May 16, Frontier will bring back its route between Tampa and the Dominican resort area of Punta Cana, plus nonstop service to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The Casino de Monte-Carlo gambling and entertainment center in the heart of Monaco. Photo by Rod Millington.

Nestled within this private gated community, AQUA presents elegant new tower residences, sophisticated amenities, and panoramic views. The members-only pleasures of The Bay Club, with its serviced marina, two restaurants, spa and pools, create Tampa Bay’s most enviable new waterfront address.

1600

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1600

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2908

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PETE RSBU

Gulf Boulevard #1105 $1,100,000 Rich Ripp etoe 727.902.14 37

CL EA RWAT ER

South MacDill Avenue $1,100,000 Maria Azuaje 317. 37 1.0935 TA MPA 10 62 8 Pontofino Circle $2,149,0 00 Julie Wright 81 3. 84 6. 3207 TR IN IT Y 301 1st Street South #3 501 $10,000,0 00 Robyn Gunn 727.421.7234

By shedding an accumulated excess of material possessions, I illuminated the objects that feed my soul.

By

discerning what I can’t let go of, I’ve refined my collections. I’m able to fully savor (the) things that speak to me. My life is up to date (and I have a) greater lightness of being.

— ALEXANDRA STODDARD

downsizing the diaries

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

aving watched many of my friends sift through the estates of their late parents, I have fully embraced the lessons from Margareta Magnusson’s book, “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter.”

For the past several years, I have been slowly eliminating things I haven’t used in a while, including clothing, small appliances and even a couple of wedding gifts from 1991.

Shutterstock/ Times illustration

My friend Alexandra Stoddard, an author and lifestyle expert, wrote in her monthly newsletter recently how the book had impacted her life. “I woke up,” she said. “By shedding an accumulated excess of material possessions, I illuminated the objects that feed my soul. By discerning what I can’t let go of, I’ve refined my collections. I’m able to fully savor (the) things that speak to me. My life is up to date (and I have a) greater lightness of being.”

I want that.

Recently, when my husband and I decided to sell our home, which has over 4,800 square feet, I started the downsizing process. I re-read Magnusson’s book and watched all eight episodes of “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” on Peacock. The series, which was inspired by the book, is narrated by actress Amy Poehler. In each episode, three experts from Sweden – an organizer, a therapist and a decorator – help homeowners rid their lives of physical and mental clutter.

Downsizing sounded easy enough, but emotional connections to things can run deep. For example, even though I’d never taken some lovely vases out of their boxes, I held onto them because they were wedding gifts. I also wanted to pass along my china to my daughter and future daughter-in-law, but as anyone who has adult children these days knows, they don’t want your china.

A rule about Swedish death cleaning:

Forget the guilt. Appreciate that you have enjoyed something and let it go to someone else who can appreciate it.

So, the holiday china went to a niece and the items I didn’t use went to a local charity. After 20-plus years of entertaining in my home, I had accumulated hundreds of clear glass

dining and dessert plates. I called a friend who still hosts plenty of parties and she was happy to take them off my hands.

My friend Jan Fazio shared with me recently that she sold some of her family heirlooms when she moved from a 3,300-square-foot home in Michigan to a 1,500-square-foot condominium in downtown St. Petersburg.

“We sold my mother’s silver because my children (didn't) want it and I don’t entertain like that anymore. We have no regrets,” Fazio said. “It’s so life-changing to get rid of your stuff.”

The Swedes, in their decluttering advice, also suggest we find ways to cherish memories without holding on to stuff.

With the help of a very crafty friend, I recently took special pieces of my costume jewelry, along with some items from my mother and my late mother-in-law, and made a collage of sorts for my daughter that I had framed. She won’t wear the jewelry, but she can still enjoy our old treasures and cherish their sentimental value.

Sarah Suits, who moved from a large home in the Crescent Heights neighborhood of St. Petersburg to a smaller one in the same area, had a hard time figuring out what to bring to the new house. She came up with two creative solutions. First, the family bought a recreational camper.

“The exercise of camping gives you a perspective (on) what you need and what you can live without,” she said. It made it easier to pare down.

She also had to convince her husband to part with a toy collection he had kept from his childhood.

“We had tons of ‘Star Wars’ characters

from 1976 and other toys,” she said. She hired a professional photographer to make high-quality prints of the toys. She framed them and hung them in prominent locations in their new home so that her husband could always enjoy the childhood memories.

“(It) was enough for him to see them every day,” she said. “Now, if we store things, it’s only because we use them.”

In an online YouTube interview with her daughter, Swedish film director Jane Magnusson, Margareta Magnusson showed viewers her storage room. It was empty except for her bicycle.

“One day when you are not around anymore, your family will have to take care of all that stuff and I don’t think that’s fair, really,” she told her daughter. “Generally, people have too many things in their homes. I think it’s a good thing to get rid of things you don’t need.”

Sometimes, though, holding on might be OK, too.

After purging a truckload of clothing, knickknacks, pots and pans, baking dishes and books – 17 boxes of books – I came across the very first book I ever bought for myself, a hard copy of “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. I used my allowance to pay for the book in 1971 and have read it numerous times. I also found the four-leaf clovers I pressed in the book after I found them in a field near our home that same year. I am keeping it. Maybe I’ll have a grandchild one day who might enjoy it. Or maybe my daughter will.

THE FINE LINE BETWEEN...

PRICELESS &WORTHLESS

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

Jeffrey Hess may have written the book on Rolex watches, those stately timepieces beloved by collectors, but he’s also an expert on downsizing. “I’ve been fortunate enough, and I say that with great reverence, to help thousands of people settle estates,” said Hess, the owner of Hess Fine Art, Hess Fine Auctions and Old Northeast Jewelers in St. Petersburg and Tampa. Hess has sold antiques and appraised household goods for two decades and is the author of the book, “The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History.” He authors the weekly "What's It Worth?" column in the Tampa Bay Times. He also helps customers navigate the challenge of decluttering their homes and moving into smaller spaces.

We asked Hess for advice on how to decide which items to toss and which to keep. “I have one major rule,” he said. “If it’s going to leave a hole in your psyche, if it’s going to leave a hole in your heart, don’t sell it.”

A few obvious non-starters are dishes, books and furniture. Of the estimated 10,000 china sets brought to his stores over the years, Hess has bought fewer than 100 complete sets. Most are made by Herend, a Hungarian company that produces luxury, hand-painted and gilded porcelain china worth about $15,000 a set.

Books, unless they were published before the 1860s, have little value. “Obviously, first editions are great, but what you are really looking for is historical books,” said Hess. “Colonial books from the 1760s to about 1810, if they were printed in America, typically have some value. Medicinal books prior to 1860 are collectible, especially (books about using) plants as medicine.”

Furniture “is a problem,” Hess allowed. "What's really popular right now is mid-century modern,” he said. “That’s the stuff our parents threw away in the 1950s and 1960s.”

Hess recommends that his customers sell furniture on Facebook if they don’t want to donate the pieces. Some furniture consignment shops, such as Déjà Vu in

St. Petersburg, offer to sell gently used furniture from smoke-free environments and split the proceeds.

Pianos also fall into the worthless category, said Hess. The internet is full of videos featuring people smashing pianos and stories about piano factories destroying merchandise they can’t sell. An exception would be Steinway pianos that have a history of being played by a famous pianist or on a prominent stage.

On the flip side, people have a tendency to throw out things that have surprising value. Specifically, paper and military items. “Antique diaries, war photos and signed documents are valuable,” Hess said. “Ribbons and medals, especially from World War II and the (American) Indian Wars, are highly, highly collectible.” Confederate

Jeffrey Hess. Photo by Scott Keeler.

Herend Queen Victoria Pink Dinnerware

WHERE TO DONATE

CASA’s thrift store accepts furniture, clothing, appliances, shoes, jewelry and household items. casapinellas.org.

Goodwill has numerous donation centers throughout Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. goodwill.org.

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving will pick up truckloads of items for donation or dumping. They partner with a number of agencies, including Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity ReStores. collegehunkshaulingjunk.com.

Empath Suncoast Hospice

swords are always worth a few hundred dollars but could be worth thousands if they were carried by officers.

The sports memorabilia market has taken a dive in recent years because of fake merchandise or fabricated authenticity certificates. But, if it’s pre-1960s memorabilia that can be authenticated, Hess said, it’s still valuable.

Hess has a few rules for selling quality items. First, high-end antiques and fine art should likely go to public auction in New York City. “The transparency of an auction is really good because you can see it and you know the auctioneer is making the small percentage they agreed to make,” he said.

Second, some homeowners may benefit from whole-house sales. That’s when a representative comes in,

identifies the expensive stuff and sells it along with the homeowner’s other items. “What you have to avoid is hiring a salesperson who is going to sell your expensive Monet for $1,000 because they can’t identify (it properly),” said Hess. Also, be aware, hiring an expert can be more costly because of the labor-intensive process.

“The next level is what we call the garage sale people,” said Hess. These are independent companies that do everything, including hauling out trash, donating items to charity, selling furniture and cleaning the homeowner’s property. “They come in and just buy everything for one check, or else they don’t charge you and they keep all the junk. That’s really, really helpful,” he said, especially if time is a factor.

When Hess’s experts buy everything in a house, they will discard junk and

Resale Shops accept donations of clothing, furniture, home goods, collectibles, small appliances and more at its three locations. ifyouthrift.org.

Salvation Army thrift stores are located throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. They accept clothing, furniture, household items, appliances and cars. satruck.org.

Detox Designer Resale Boutique buys like-new clothing, including luxury purses, from customers by appointment. detoxstpete.com.

donate items that can be used but aren’t necessarily valuable. His preferred charity is CASA, a domestic violence support organization in Pinellas County that operates a thrift store near downtown St. Petersburg.

Steinway pianos — like this one owned by Kathy and Joe Saunders — continue to have value. As the stage piano at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City for 10 years before touring with classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz, the piano has provenance. Without a significant history, pianos are almost worthless. Photo by Kathy Saunders.

PROFILE: MICHELLE PASSOFF

MAKE ROOM

FO R WHAT MATTERS

Michelle Passoff spent much of her career in New York City urging consumers to buy products. Now, she helps clients get rid of their stuff. Author of the 1998 book, “Lighten Up!: Free Yourself from Clutter,” Passoff has shed her estate sales business and is writing a new book and launching a podcast, both titled “Decluttering 55+.” She also will begin moderating community sessions on how to downsize everything from your mind to your computer. Here, Passoff shares a preview of some of her forthcoming projects. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

— By Kathy Saunders

Photo by Mike Ramos/ Ramos Photography

What is your new book about? “I always worked for large consumer product companies telling people what to buy and after doing 15 years of work on personal growth, I came to the conclusion that if you want to be transformed in your life, you have to get rid of all (the) stuff.”

“Decluttering 55+” will include a small, spiral-bound companion book that can easily sit like a tent on your desktop. “You can flip the pages, and each page has an inspiration or motivation,” said Passoff. She expects to finish writing by the end of the year.

Why is downsizing important? “Decluttering is really a navigational tool like a GPS for knowing who you are and where you are going without obstructions in the way.”

At 70, Passoff said she is especially interested in working with retirees or those considering major life changes. “(My new projects are) for the 55-plus crowd. I mostly address the areas of life (that people don’t want to confront). It’s very easy as you approach retirement to sweep those issues under the table, out of your mind or away forever.”

She will encourage clients and workshop attendees to tackle the hard stuff first: the physical and mental obstacles. “If you want less stress in your life, clean your clutter. And if you want more vitality, take a deep dive into the areas that you don’t want to confront.”

Passoff used to tell clients to start with the easy stuff, cleaning out a drawer or a box. But, she said, that sometimes makes it too easy to avoid the big things.

Today, she says, “Go there first. That garage that is gnarled with tools, equipment and camping stuff that you haven’t used in 40 years? Start there. Go for the jugular first.”

What is the podcast about? “We are inviting all kinds of interesting guests to discuss a wide range of topics, particularly those impacting (people) age 55 and older.”

The podcast is expected to debut in May, and, so far, guests in prerecorded sessions have included an executive director of a co-housing development, a 36-year-old woman who works as a funeral director and as a professor of mortuary science, and the head of a foundation who hosts continuing education programs for adults across the country.

“What you have in retirement are earners, or individuals who are still working; learners, those who want to try new

things; volunteers, who want to give back; and explorers, those who want to travel and check things off their bucket lists."

Which one of those are you? Passoff said she and her husband, Andre Kupfermunz, 80, are earners, learners and explorers, for the most part. After closing their business in 2022, they traveled to Nice, France, for a month, where she studied French at Alliance Française. As soon as they returned to Florida, she began writing her second book and scheduling podcast interviews.

“Andre is working on his memoir. He has five grandchildren and a personal story that is significant on a historical, worldwide basis. And we both have ideas in mind of (places) we’d like to visit that we haven’t.”

You said you also help clients get rid of digital clutter. How would you describe that? “Digital decluttering will be a chapter in my book and it’s about your digital legacy. When you die, what do you want to happen with your online bank accounts, your investments, your subscriptions?” It’s important to leave passwords so your children or estate handlers can access your accounts, Passoff said. “Otherwise, it’s a big headache.” The same goes for photos and videos. “You want to harness all those photos and make sense of them so you can pass those on.”

How is decluttering healthy? “‘Decluttering 55+’ addresses health and fitness. It’s like a relationship reset, getting your financial house and legal papers in order and planning your funeral so that you have vitality and create a legacy, not a mess. (People of) this generation are pioneers in aging and retirement because we are living longer. Anything getting in the way of the healthiest, most expressive and happiest time in your life is clutter.”

Passoff is leading the following programs this spring. For more information, visit her website at decluttering55plus.com.

March 21: Decluttering 55+: Get Your Financial House in Order. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Eckerd College.

March 27: Decluttering 55+ Roundtable Discussion and Coaching Session. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Sarasota Art Museum.

April 13: Decluttering 55+ Roundtable Discussion and Coaching Session. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Safety Harbor Art and Music Center.

The Jame s Museum

Wilhelm Kuhnert (Germany 1865 – 1926), Giraffes in Blooming Field–detail Ulanga, Tanzania, n.d. Oil on canvas 30 × 47 inches Collection of the Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Enschede, Netherlands. Photograph by Rik Klein Gotink

Survival of the Fittest: Envisioning Wildlife and Wilderness with the Big Four, Master works from the Rijksmuseum Twenthe and the National Museum of Wildlife Art is curated by Adam Duncan Harris, Grainger/Kerr Director of the Carl Rungius Catalogue Raisonné and organized by the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

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BY MAGGIE DUFFY

Artists, gallerists and other glitterati gathered at the St. Petersburg venue NOVA 535 on Jan. 21 for the Radix Collection Fashion and Art Show. Attendees viewed the latest designs from Radix Collection, a fashion line featuring the designs of local artists. Before the show started, the emcee shouted the brand’s tagline: “Love art? Wear it!”

Saumitra Chandratreya design

Models sashayed down the runway wearing robes, dresses, matching sets, raincoats and bucket hats bearing the designs of artists Saumitra Chandratreya, Kris Meenan and Derek Donnelly. The show was by no means conventional; models did headstands, spritzed perfume and shot fake $100 bills from a money gun on the runway.

The lively and fun show went exactly as the line’s creator, Jane Radix, hoped. Radix, who works in pharmaceutical advertising, is also an avid collector of artwork by St. Petersburg artists. Enjoying the thrill she got from getting to know them, Radix conceived another way to help support them.

“I was trying to think of something that would bring the art that I was collecting out to a wider group of people,” she said.

Her first idea was to put artists’ designs on mugs and tote bags, but those didn’t feel special enough. The idea to create clothing

From left, Derek Donnelly, Kris Meenan, Jane Radix and Saumitra Chandratreya. Mike Ossola Photography courtesy of Radix Collection.

Kris Meenan design

was soon born and she was introduced to the concept of on-demand printing by an artist who designed pieces for the brand’s launch last year.

“Print on demand in general is a nice way to prevent waste because you're just printing one item,” Radix said. “That in and of itself is more costly, but it's very environmentally friendly because there's not all this stock. Also, it's about not (using) factories in countries where labor is abused.”

Radix found the United Kingdom-based company Contrado, which appealed to her because of its sustainable single factory designed to minimize waste and pollution. She works with local artists to conceive the patterns that will be printed on the clothing Contrado produces. Last year's launch included designs by Chad Mize, Mark Williams and Wasil. Artists receive 50% of the proceeds.

Saumitra Chandratreya design

Saumitra Chandratreya design

While some of the artists’ designs are printed on the same items, they couldn’t be more different. In the spring 2024 line, Chandratreya’s patterns, taken from photos from Indian spice markets, adorn silky robes, kimonos and a chic ensemble of a top, pants and long gloves.

Meenan’s retro-inspired designs put groovy motifs on raincoats, skirts and bucket hats, while Donnelly’s iconic scale patterns give edge to swimsuits and slip dresses.

Most items range from $60-$158. They’re meant to be keepsake pieces.

Radix plans to keep the collection going. “I'm hoping to have a real following in the Tampa Bay area,” she said. “And then if it grows outside of that, that's great. I do see this as a local initiative where everybody can show support for the artists and enjoy (their) work in a different way.”

Derek Donnelly design

Kris Meenan design

Kris Meenan design

Kris Meenan design

SOCIAL Ye Captain’s Ball

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla

Hundreds of Capt. Morgan doppelgängers drank and danced (espresso martinis were all the rage) at Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla’s Ye Captain’s Ball Jan. 25, where the dress code for swashbucklers called for fancy skull and crossbones attire and was often accessorized with scraggly beards grown just for invasion season. Krewe Capt. Truett Gardner and 900-plus partiers celebrated in high anticipation of Tampa’s legendary annual spectacle, the 106th Gasparilla invasion. Bustling bartenders poured upwards of 5,000 drinks at six bars, ensuring no pirate went thirsty. San Diego-based band Liquid Blue rocked the big tent while Ward Cook’s band, a local favorite, set a mellow mood in the Tampa Yacht & Country Club ballroom. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

From left, Bill, Stacy and Katie Curtis and Don Barlow.

Pirates and friends surround Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Capt. Truett Gardner.

Mike and Kate Piazza.

Ann and James “Bubba” Turner.

From left, Tom and Bet Snyder and Doug and Sandra Tuttle.

From left, Misty Winter, Doug Damron and Lee Winter.

SOCIAL

Seventh Annual Tampa Bay Food Fight  Metropolitan Ministries

A happily hungry crowd egged on nearly 40 restaurants competing for bragging rights at the seventh annual Tampa Bay Food Fight Jan. 30, feeding more than $300,000 into Metropolitan Ministries’ job training programs for people at risk of becoming homeless. A panel of professional cooks judged flavor, skill and presentation while 800 guests, including 85 volunteers, sipped craft cocktails and sampled house specialties in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Event Center. Team Tampa, led by Tablas chef Taro Larrea, clinched the foodie showdown, besting their formidable rivals on Team St. Pete, led by chef Kevin Riley of Levy Restaurants, the Tampa Bay Rays’ hospitality partner. Levy Restaurants, along with Ybor City’s 7th + Grove, earned the most votes to win the People’s Choice Awards. Metropolitan Ministries chef Cliff Barsi fed an auction frenzy, stoking seven bidders to $5,000 each for private gourmet dinners prepared by his culinary students. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

Tampa Bay Food Fight 2024 winners from Team Tampa surround WWE superstar Titus O’Neil.

From left, Joi Watson, Khalilah McDuffie and Jeff Philbin.

From left, Keri Eisenbeis, Stephanie Conners, Molly James and Shelley Sharp.

Jeff Gigante and Joseph Guggino.

Tim Marks and Tony Marsh.

To Life: From Generation to Generation

The Florida Holocaust Museum

Drumroll, please: The Florida Holocaust Museum has been selected to be the permanent home of author/survivor/Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel’s entire archive of letters, recordings and manuscripts, including his unpublished works and Nobel Peace Prize. Board chairman Mike Igel, along with Elisha Wiesel, speaking via video of his late father’s fondness for St. Petersburg, shared the international news with 600 guests at the annual To Life benefit Feb. 3 at The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club. The event also celebrated two others committed to combating intolerance and injustice: St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway was honored with the Loebenberg Humanitarian Award and author/curator Rachael Cerrotti won the organization’s 2024 Legacy Award for her memoir and exhibit titled “We Share the Same Sky.” Event sponsorships and donor contributions topped $1 million to support the museum’s mission and the enduring legacy of Elie Wiesel. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by Tacy Briggs-Troncoso.

Michael and Margot Benstock.

From left, Kathryn Minette, Stan Biderman, Matt and Andrea Silverman and Michael and Lauren Mincberg.

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway and Sandy Loebenberg-Mermelstein.

Rachael Cerrotti and Erin Blankenship.

Philanthropic Women of St. Joseph’s Speaker’s Luncheon

St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation

After learning to ice skate at age 3, turning pro as a teen “was a dream come true,” Tara Lipinski told the Philanthropic Women of St. Joseph’s at the organization’s annual Speaker’s Luncheon. Lipinski, one of the youngest individual gold medalists in the history of the Winter Olympics, joined moderator Gayle Sierens on stage, chatting about being “a bit of a perfectionist,” infertility treatments, her precious baby daughter, Georgie, surrogacy and the joy of joining her BFF, former figure skater Johnny Weir, in the broadcast booth at major sports events. Annual membership in the women’s charitable group starts at $1,000 and co-founder Donna Jordan was thrilled to welcome five new members at the $5,000 donor level during the Feb. 8 luncheon at the Tampa Yacht & Country Club. “We vote, we decide,” said Jordan, explaining that the women choose where to allocate their combined contributions, which total $2.9 million since 2009, to support patients and physicians at St. Joseph’s hospitals. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

From left, Brenda Sproat, Tara Lipinski and Donna Jordan.

Cheryl Adams and Traci Burns.

From left, Celina Weathersby, Micha Seal and Kymberly Jones.

From left, Jan Cornelius, Nancy Khan, Nilda Plasencia and Yasmeen Khan.

From left, Kate Sawa, Michelle Shimberg and Elizabeth Shimberg.

Go Red for Women Luncheon

American Heart Association Tampa Bay

The Go Red for Women initiative cornered the market on pretty red dresses at the annual American Heart Association Tampa Bay benefit Feb. 9 at Armature Works. Executive director Qiana Cressman and event chairwoman Shantha Diaz led the organization’s 100th birthday celebration, greeting guests at a Red Hot reception featuring Champagne, caricatures and a lively playlist of songs with 100 beats per minute.  During the family-style luncheon, guests cheered for eight heart disease survivors and two advocates who walked the runway modeling fashions from Dillard’s International Plaza — all red, of course — with each ensemble chosen to represent a decade of progress during a century of heart disease and stroke prevention education. Shiny red pompoms soon filled the air, held high by donors pledging heartfelt  support for women’s cardiovascular health awareness.

Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

Neen James and Shantha Diaz.

From left, Susan Hopkins, Dr. Lauren Evanovich, Dr. Shani Davis and Ashley Nessler Webb.

SOCIAL Karamu ZooTampa at Lowry Park

An African crested porcupine named Pierce scooted through the cocktail crowd at Karamu, his dark fur and white quills as elegant as a tuxedo. The 36th annual gala at ZooTampa at Lowry Park offered attendees an unbeatable setting for inspiring wildlife conservation and educating 1.2 million visitors a year. Fun animal facts flashed across huge screens as emcee Gayle Guyardo from WFLA-Ch. 8 welcomed 250 guests to the Savanna Oasis lodge, where a wild auction included the opportunity to name a newborn rhino, pygmy hippo or African penguin. Restaurateur Michael Stewart’s wine-pairing dinner, hosted by former Tampa Bay Rays coach Joe Maddon and prepared by “Hell’s Kitchen” personality chef Robert Hesse, brought a tasty $7,500 bid. In all, the Feb. 10 fête (karamu means “party” in Swahili) raised more than $400,000 for rescue and rehab programs provided through the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center.

Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

From left, Nate and Kasey Siegel and Graham and Elizabeth Clark.

From left, Nelson and Celeste Castellano and Marlene and Bob Rasmussen.

From left, Townsend and Jenna Tarapani and Cynthia Copp. Nicholas and Ashley Barnett. Bob and Ashley Thomas.

From left, Chase, Sam, Elizabeth and Troy Fowler. Photo by Mike Carlson.

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MUSE Awards St. Petersburg Arts Alliance

The local arts community gathered at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg on Jan. 26 for the 10th annual MUSE Awards. The event, presented by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, honored individuals who are making an impact in the arts. The dynamic actor and entertainer Colleen Cherry emceed the fundraiser. Musical guests James Suggs, Mark Moultrup, Jean Bolduc, Steve Boisen and Ona Kirei set the tone for a lively evening, capped by a performance by the Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church Choir. The event included art installations by Essi Rhodes and Saumitra Chandratreya for Radix Collection. Jenipher Chandley, a live-event painter, also created art during the event. A plane owned by Liam Hawkins and painted by Matt Kress was the perfect prop for many photo-ops. Text by Maggie Duffy. Photos by Xina Scuderi, courtesy of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.

The honorees included:

MUSE Patron of the Arts Award: Beth Morean, who supports multiple arts organizations and recently opened the Morean Workshop Space.

MUSE Art & Technology Award: The Dalí Museum, recognized for its “Dalí Alive 360°” exhibit in The Dalí Dome.

MUSE Literary Arts Award: Tombolo Books, owned by Alsace Walentine and her wife, Candice Anderson.

MUSE Performance Arts Award: Musical trio La Lucha (Alejandro Arenas, John O’Leary and Mark Feinman).

MUSE Arts Ambassador Award: Stacia Schrader, vice chair of the city of St. Petersburg’s Public Arts Commission.

MUSE Visual Arts Award: The Vitale Bros., St. Petersburg-based muralists.

From left, John O’Leary, Alejandro Arenas and Mark Feinman.

Dr. Hank Hine.

Charlie Parker and Beth Morean.

Hal Freedman and Jenipher Chandley.

Candice Anderson and Alsace Walentine.

The Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church Choir.

Colleen Cherry.

Johnny Vitale and Jack Gerow-Vitale.

Women’s Leadership Luncheon

The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women

Smart, honest and candid: Sheila Johnson, the co-founder of BET, the first cable TV network for Black audiences, and the first Black woman to have ownership or partnership in three professional sports franchises, shared her heart with 300 guests at the annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon benefiting the Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women. The Jan. 11 event took place at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC. During the Q&A session led by Java Ingram of WTSP-Ch. 10, Johnson, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and musician, shared her vulnerabilities as a wife and mother as well as her successes as the founder of the Salamander Collection, the Middleburg Film Festival and other impactful projects. Advancing a shared mission with the Centre, Johnson shared her memoir, “Walk Through Fire,” with attendees to help them succeed professionally and personally through perseverance, counseling and leadership development.

Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

From left, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Sheila Johnson, Ann Madsen and Nikki Inda.

From left, Betty Castor, Pam Iorio, Belinda Wilson and Kevin Calhoun.

March 22: Tampa Bay Chamber's 18th annual Women of Influence Luncheon. Featured speaker is documentary filmmaker Sarah Moshman.  $125. 11 a.m.  JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. tampabaychamber.com.

March 23: MAACM’s Annual Gala, which benefits the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. $125 MAACM members, $150 non-members. 7 p.m. Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. 727-440-4859 or museumaacm.org.

April 4: Longest Table, which benefits WUSF Public Media. $210 and up. 5:30 p.m. Downtown St. Petersburg on Bayshore Drive Northeast from the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg to The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club. Rain date is April 5. wusflongesttable.org.

April 4-7: Art in Bloom, presented by The Stuart Society. This event benefits the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. stuartsociety.org.

April 5: LAMPLighters Fund Hope: Denim & Diamonds, which benefits Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House. $150. 7 p.m. Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC. lamplighterstampa.org.

April 6: Huddle Up!, which benefits Friends of the Children Tampa Bay. Keynote speaker is Anthony “Booger” McFarland. $375 VIP tickets, 5:30 p.m. $125 general admission, 6 p.m. House of Athlete. friendstampabay.org.

April 13: Heroes Ball, which benefits St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. The event honors community heroes Sidd and Ami Pagidipati. $500 and up. 6 p.m. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. 813-872-0979 or sjhfoundation.org.

April 20: CITY: Fashion + Art + Culture, presented by the Tampa Museum of Art and Saks Fifth Avenue. The event will feature designs by Carolina Herrera. $500. 7:30 p.m. Tampa Museum of Art. tampamuseum.org/city.

April 20: The Junior League of Tampa Gala. $250. 6 p.m. Hotel Haya. jltampa.org.

April 20: Tampa Bay Heart Ball, which benefits the American Heart Association Tampa Bay. $1,200. 6 p.m. Tampa Marriott Water Street. 727-563-8000.

April 25: 7th annual Handbags & Happy Hour, which benefits The Spring of Tampa Bay. 6 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &

Casino Tampa. thespring.org.

April 27: A Night for All Children, which benefits the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation. $300. 6 p.m. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club. 727-767-4199 or hopkinsallchildrens.org/ giving/events/a-night-for-all-children.

May 9: Fabulous Females Luncheon, which benefits the Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg.  $150. 11:30 a.m. Island Grand, a TradeWinds Beach Resort. 727-322-0800 or stpete. academyprep.org.

May 18:  Storybook Ball: “Luca,” which benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities. $150 and up. 6 p.m. Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel. 813-258-6430 ext. 57 or rmhctampabay.org/storybook.

May 24: Tropical Nights, which benefits Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. $150 or two for $250. 7-10 p.m. Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel.

May 25: Pride & Passion: “Wonderland,” which benefits the Tampa Museum of Art. Must be 21 or older to attend. $115 members, $125 general admission, $150 the night of the event. 8 p.m. Tampa Museum of Art. tampamuseum.org/pride.

Contact Amy Scherzer at amyscherzersdiary@gmail.com to have your event listed on the calendar.

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