duPontREGISTRY Tampa Bay March/April 2021

SPRI NG 2021

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Keeping St. Petersburg

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WINTER 2021

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

The Great Outdoors

14 18 22

26

28

48

Ocala National Forest

4

32

Flying High

Kiteboarding, a decades-old sport, catches new wind.

- by Resie Waechter

Pickleball For All

The sport with the funny name, once a diversion for old folks, has caught fire in recent years.

- by Eric Snider

The Latest Disc

Disc golf has come into its own, not just as an alternative to golf but as a uniquely accessible sport in its own right.

- by Eric Snider

The Bike Boom

The last year has seen a huge spike in bicycling — for exercise, community exploring and just getting outside.

- by Eric Snider

Saddle Up

Guided horseback rides offer a fresh perspective on Florida’s outdoors.

- by Mary Lou Janson

Top Docks

Home is where the yacht is.

- by Howard Walker

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SUN: 11AM - 9PM

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DEPARTMENTS

44

87 In Every Issue: Publishers Letter Page 8 | Editors Letter Page 10 | Back Page 96 6

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Dining: Where to dine OUT

42

Wine: Perfect pairings at Sea Salt

44

Auto: Cool Carts

48

Florida Travel: Secrets of the Ocala National Forest

53

Real Estate: Luxury Living in Tampa Bay and Beyond

78

Style: Dressing Alfresco

80

Beauty: Your Skin in the Great Outdoors

84

Art: Mickett/Stackhouse’s “Expanding Waters”

87

Best Bets: A&E Calendar

93

People Helping People

By David Warner

By Tracey Serebin

By Howard Walker

By Julie Garisto

By Michelle Cappelli Gordon

By Michelle Cappelli Gordon

By Cathy Salustri

By David Warner

Cover Photo: Courtesy of Rob Mason Mediastream Pro

Model Emily Johnson-Weintraub *photos have been enhanced to highlight jewelry 7

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Dear Reader, Welcome to Volume #2 of the New Year/New Look at duPont REGISTRY Tampa Bay. We are continuing our efforts to provide useful and interesting editorial and present it in an attractive and enticing manner. This is more than the usual publishing exercise, because it comes at a time when all of us need a little lift in our lives to combat the daily barrage of problems presented to us digitally, visually, electronically and in print. Tired of having the world’s problems wear you down? Well, here you go: The Great Outdoors — and just in time.

It’s time to take a break and enjoy a different slice of life.

True, you cannot totally ignore your daily responsibilities, but you can venture forth and challenge yourself with new opportunities. It will help you be part of the solution, not just part of the problem.

When faced with adversity, I have often heeded the advice of those three great words “Get To Work.” So challenge yourself to find new ways to engage, expand and impress. We are. And we want you to join us. The revitalized pages of our magazine are just one way to present your business (or your story). There is our web page: dupontregistrytampabay. com. Our weekly e-blast: Wednesday Marketplace. Our regular podcast: Tampa Bay Talks. And more. Every day we imagine new solutions to your problems.

There is no doubt that the process of recovering from the pandemic can be a little bit overwhelming …. even depressing.

So now is the time to open your doors and tell everyone the solutions that you have come up with. No better place to do it than here at duPont REGISTRY Tampa Bay. Make it a great day, Tampa Bay,

Thomas L. duPont Publisher/CEO tdupont@dupontregistry.com

P.S. While you’re at it, reach out to someone — stranger or friend — who could use an extra hand to climb out from under the pandemic cloud. Help them overcome the limits of isolation and fear. Lifting their spirits will lift yours, too.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR “April is the cruelest month,” said T.S. Eliot in his epic poem The Waste Land, which he wrote in the wake of the brutal Spanish Flu pandemic that tore through the world from 1918-20. Cruel, because the blossoming of spring seemed to mock the misery of the era, raising hopes which could only be false.

The writer Michael Austin makes this point in an illuminating essay that he wrote for Medium at the onset of another cruel April —April 1, 2020, when Covid had just begun to upend our lives.

Will April 2021 be different from the Aprils of 1919 and 2020? I hope so. There’s a slowly emerging sense that there’s light at the end of this tunnel, a feeling of release — reflected, I think, in this Great Outdoors issue of dRTB. Eric Snider explores the growing popularity of pickleball and disc golf, while Resie Waechter (with the invaluable help of Pitzer Gills) conveys the exhilaration of kiteboarding. Mary Lou Janson and Howard Walker explore two contrasting means of transport — horses and golf carts (or golf cars if you prefer) — and Howard cruises to the region’s Top Docks (aquatic, not medicinal).

Intrepid explorer Julie Garisto forages for secrets in Ocala National Forest; Cathy Salustri ventures into “Emerging Waters” with artists Carol Mickett and Robert Stackhouse; and I take on the grueling task of exploring one of Tampa Bay’s most important natural resources — outdoor dining! (I know, it’s a dirty job, but someone had to, etc., etc.) By my count, I cover approximately 100 spots — and I bet I could have added 100 more.

The signs of spring are everywhere — the Rays are resuming their regular season, theaters and music venues are gingerly reopening, museums are inviting us in, the beaches are packed.

So let’s keep our burgeoning hopes alive, but keep our masks on. Like some other pandemic-driven innovations — Zoom reunions, drive-by birthdays (thanks, St. Pete Yard Greetings!) — masks may prove to have staying power.

Because springtime in Florida is also pollen season, when a mask can come in handy. ACHOO!

David Warner Editor in Chief dwarner@dupontregistry.com

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PUBLISHER/CEO Thomas L. duPont EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bruce Bicknell OFFICE MANAGER Audrey CampBell DIGITAL MEDIA Eric Kennedy SALES MANAGER/COMMUNITY RELATIONS Molly duPont, Mdupont@dupontregistry.com STYLE & BEAUTY EDITOR Michelle Cappelli Gordon, mcappelli@dupontregistry.com DIRECTOR OF MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS Rosemary Nye, Rnye@dupontregistry.com DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS Tracey Serebin, Tserebin@dupontregistry.com DIRECTOR OF BAY AREA SALES Sharon Castellano, Scastellano@dupontregistry.com ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Ron Barreto, Cindy Carr, John D. Chapman, Jill Massicotte CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS Jean Blom, Julie Garisto, Michelle Cappelli Gordon, Mary Lou Janson, Cathy Salustri, Molly duPont Schaffer, Eric Snider, Daniel Veintimilla, Resie Waechter, Howard Walker PRODUCTION MANAGER Tony Alvis PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Carol Bressler CORPORATE CONTACT 4707 140th Avenue North, Suite 302, Clearwater FL 33762 727-897-8337 | dupontregistrytampabay.com duPont REGISTRY Tampa Bay copyright 2021 by Registry Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction or any use of any part of this publication without written permission is prohibited by law. duPont REGISTRY Tampa Bay, duPont REGISTRY Luxury Living Tampa Bay, dupontRegistrytampabay.com and various titles and headings herein are trademarks owned by or under license to Registry Media, LLC. and may not be used or reproduced without written consent. Printed in the USA. Published six times per year. Single copies available at our publishing office. Canadian GST not included in cover price. The advertisements contained herein are the responsibility of the individual advertiser and duPont REGISTRY Tampa Bay and Registry Media, LLC. make no representation or warranty for accuracy or content.

The advertiser is solely responsible for any warranties or claims contained therein and for compliance with all laws associated therewith. All photos and articles become the property of Registry Media, LLC upon publication unless otherwise agreed to by the publisher.

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13

Flying High A decades-old sport catches new wind.

STORY BY RESIE WAECHTER PHOTOS COURTESY PITZER GILLS

AIR & WATER: Pitzer Gills (jumping) and best friend Reilly Rowan (on the board in the water) kiting off Three Rooker Island just north of Clearwater Beach.

14

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: KITEBOARDING

I

’m an avid runner and triathlete, but I am in awe of kiteboarders. I can barely fly a kite while walking on the beach without stumbling over something, so I’m guessing it must take a lot of guts (not to mention strength and balance) to fly a kite while riding the waves.

At least that’s what I thought until I spoke with Clearwater Beach kiteboarding legend Pitzer Gills.

Pitzer, 20, has been kiteboarding for about five years now. At Calvary Christian High School his main sport was baseball, but during his senior year he and his father — an ultra-marathoner, triathlete and five-time Ironman who taught windsurfing in the 1980s — discovered kiteboarding and fell in love with the sport.

Now the entire family enjoys it, often incorporating it into their travel plans. (And into their social media — Pitzer’s kiteboarding photos and videos have attracted close to 3,000 followers.)

Basically, kiteboarding — or “kiting,” as many call it — is just what it sounds like: flying a kite while riding a board on the water. Your feet are strapped into the board while you use the handles of the kite to steer left or right. Best done on flat waters with decent wind and no waves, kiteboarding is the perfect extreme water sport for Tampa Bay. While it originated in the 1970s, it’s grown increasingly popular over the decades and in recent years has really picked up steam.

When I tell Pitzer how difficult the sport looks, he laughs.

“There is definitely a learning curve,” he says, but “a little goes a long way once you get out on the water.”

“Everyone starts out a beginner,” he assures me. “The rest is aesthetics and speed.”

The biggest challenge is catching the right wind in your canopy and allowing yourself to be pulled up on your board. Once you’ve conquered that hurdle, though, the rest is just fun.

“Kiting is one of the most enjoyable sports in the world. It’s a foundation for travel — I’ve kited in Aruba, Jamaica, Hawaii, and more — and it’s a great way to meet the locals and feel like part of a community.”

I think he must be pulling my leg on the doability of kiteboarding, but Pitzer insists that anyone can do it.

“You can be any age, strength, height or weight — I’ve kited alongside 7-year-olds and 70-year-olds, I swear — everyone thinks it’s impossible but it’s a very doable sport.” Levels of difficulty, he tells me, can be easily modified depending on the kiteboarder’s experience.

15

KITEBOARDING

“I compare it to driving a car. The handle is your steering wheel; you move your hands in the direction you want to go.”

Adjusting your balance of weight helps control speed, and kite size makes a difference as well (smaller kites are easier to control).

Pitzer is no longer a beginner, but he has a tip for newbies looking to get into the sport: Go to Elite Water Sports.

Pitzer can’t recommend the store highly enough.

“It’s one of the best places to learn in the world,” gushes Gills.

The water sports shop by the Sunshine Skyway is open seven days a week and caters to all levels of fitness with great enthusiasm. “Lessons from sunrise to sunset. If it’s blowing, we’re going!” boasts their website.

ENDLESS SUMMER: Pitzer Gills at Three Rooker.

The company shares Pitzer’s enthusiasm about kiting’s accessibility: “You and kiteboarding lessons can be a reality. We get it, you may be nervous about trying a new ‘extreme’ sport. However, with our expertise and professional instruction, you can rest assured that kiteboarding is for YOU!!”

Elite Water Sports offers lessons with certified instructors, kiteboarding gear and apparel, and even does repairs on boards and kites.

You won’t see Pitzer kiting along Clearwater Beach in the near future; at press time, the Wake Forest University sophomore was on a medical mission in Kenya. But we hear Kenya’s Diani Beach is one of the most beautiful in Africa, so chances are he may be soaring over the Indian Ocean before long.

HOLDING ON: Gills ( foreground) and Reilly Rowan catch some sky.

16

FLORIDA TRAVEL

17

ACTION FIGURES: Former ABC Action News/Ch. 28 anchor Brendan McLaughlin (right) with fellow pickleballers Jim Lewis and Florencia Fouch.

18

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: PICKLEBALL

PICKLEBALL FOR ALL

The sport with the funny name, once a diversion for old folks, has caught fire in recent years.

STORY BY ERIC SNIDER

O

n a 75-degree Saturday afternoon in January, all six pickleball courts at Crescent Lake Park in St. Pete are in use. The thwacks of paddles hitting perforated yellow balls emit a pleasing racket.

Players, most of them young or middle age, bark instructions to each other. Bursts of laughter ring out.

The adjacent tennis courts are empty.

Call it pickleball mania. The sport, made up on the spot in 1965 by two friends on Bainbridge Island near Seattle (and named after one of their dogs), is among the fastest-growing in America.

A cross between tennis and ping-pong, the sport is among the fastest-growing in America.

Commonly described as a cross between tennis and ping-pong, pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. Doubles matches are the norm, the rules are simple, and one of the sport’s biggest attractions is that you can actually

COURTS ARE IN SESSION: Players on one of the six courts in St. Pete’s Crescent Lake Park. Photo by Eric Snider 19

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: PICKLEBALL

play the first time you pick up a racket, whether you’re 8 or 80.

And while pickleball was long regarded as a cute little game for the geriatric set, that stigma has been obliterated in recent years.

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, only 20 percent of participants are 65 or older.

Pickleball doesn’t require much of a start-up investment. A set of two entry-level paddles and some balls costs 30 to 70 bucks. Advanced players can spend up to $200 for a single paddle with a custom grip.

Brendan McLaughlin, a former anchor for ABC Action News/Ch. 28, has witnessed pickleball’s growth over the last four years. He started playing to add some fun, camaraderie and competition to his life during retirement.

KIDS’ STUFF: Only 20 percent of pickleballers are 65 or older.

Photo by Eric Snider.

“The name always struck me as the kind of game you play in the parking lot of a cheap motel,” he says. “I’d heard that it was a sport for old people, and their parents.”

It’s a cliché, but pickleball takes me back to my youth.”

McLaughlin, 62, was quickly disabused of those biases and became hooked. He plays regularly at Cuscaden Park in Ybor City with a like-minded group of enthusiasts.

Pickleballers, he says, “naturally gravitate to their tribe,” players with similar skill and intensity levels. However, “unlike tennis or golf,” he adds, “it’s perfectly acceptable to simply show up at the courts and work yourself into a rotation.”

Pickleball facilities are cropping up all over.

Most community centers have installed them.

They’re becoming de rigueur amenities at hotels and resorts, according to Travel Weekly.

Hillsborough County Community College has eight new lighted courts on its Dale Mabry campus — which McLaughlin says is Tampa’s new pickleball hot spot.

Not surprisingly, people are installing pickleball courts in their backyards. At 60×30 feet (the playing dimensions are 20×44 feet), they’re about half the size of a tennis court.

20

Adam Jennes, a court consultant for Sport Surfaces, says the Florida company’s pickleball projects far outpace other types.

“In the last two to three years the demand has really spiked,” he says. Sport Surfaces’ prices range from $18,000 for a basic court to around $55,000 for a deluxe model with an extra-padded surface, lighting and fencing.

Regardless of where the court is, pickleball has struck a chord with a wide range of people, whose ranks are growing all the time.

“It’s the only sport that I’ve played as an adult that takes me back to that joyful, giddy excitement of pure play,” McLaughlin says. “It’s a cliché, but pickleball takes me back to my youth.”

COLORFUL FUN. TAMPA BAY STYLE!

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The LATEST DISC Disc golf has come into its own, not just as an alternative to golf but as a uniquely accessible sport in its own right.

STORY BY ERIC SNIDER

A

PRO CIRCUIT: Safety Harbor’s Calvin Heimburg at the 2020 US Disc Golf Championships in SC. Photos (above and right) courtesy Innova Disc Golf.

bout five days a week, software engineer Brian Scott leaves his Seminole home midday, zips down to Azalea Park in northwest St. Pete and plays a round of disc golf. He usually goes it alone, moving from hole to hole quickly to add in some cardio. Eighteen holes take a half-hour to 45 minutes.

For Scott, 42, disc golf, which he took up last May, has become a lifeline.

“I was bored, looking for a way to get outside that involved being around other people — but not too closely,” he says. “I didn’t even know if I’d like it. But I spent 20 or 30 bucks on a starter disc set, so I thought, ‘I gotta use them now.””

His earlylorem attempts great, ” he says. “But it was fun and I was hooked immediately.”

Image Captions: ipsum “weren’t dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent tristique lectus vel magna Disc golf, like conventional golf, is played on an 18- or 9-hole course, with each hole being completed after hendrerit, sit amet iaculis ipsum vestibulum a player tosses a disc into a raised metal basket. (All holes are par 3.) The sport was originally played with a

Photo Credit: Stephanie Longname 22

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: DISC GOLF

Frisbee, which hit the market in 1957. Today’s discs, which date back to the early ’80s, are smaller, denser and fly longer with more precision. There are hundreds of types to choose from — rated for speed, flight distance, curve and myriad other factors. A beginner can get by with three: a driver, a mid-range and a putter. Advanced players sometimes wheel carts stuffed with 60 or more discs.

Already a rapidly growing sport, disc golf has lured a slew of new players over the last year — from seniors to grade-school kids, says Trevor Toenjes, who owns Local Route Disc Golf Pro Shop in Clearwater. Its 4,000 square feet are stocked with more than

20,000 discs and a wide array of bags, apparel and accessories.

“People wanted to do anything outdoors and keep social distancing, and discovered disc golf as one of the options,” Toenjes explains, referring to the early phase of the Covid shutdown.

“Public parks were open, for the most part. We started having a lot of team-sports people going, ‘I need to do something where I can keep score. I’m going nuts.’”

Because Local Route was not set up for internet commerce, its business suffered when stores were forced to temporarily close last year. It has rebounded since.

The shop offers a five-disc starter

set for $40 — custom “fitted” for body size, age, strength and general physical capabilities. “You have a lot of people buying generic starter discs online, and they don’t fly right,” Toenjes explains.

“Some people get frustrated and even quit. We work face to face with the customers to get them outfitted with the right discs so they can get off to a good start.”

Disc golf is a classic come-onecome-all sport. Equipment is cheap, especially in the early stages. Fellow disc-golfers tend to be friendly and helpful. You can start playing right away, then choose whether to play just for fun or get serious by taking lessons (Local Route offers

FAMILY FUN: A young player after a successful putt in a South Carolina park.

23

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: DISC GOLF

HOOKED: Disc golf enthusiast Brian Scott at St. Pete’s Azalea Park. Photo by Eric Snider.

them), developing an arsenal of shots and techniques, and entering tournaments. Heck, there’s even a robust pro circuit.

A competitive 18-hole match takes about 90 minutes. (Compare that to ball golf.)

There are no cart fees because players walk the course. The greater Tampa Bay area has 23 courses, according to DG Course Review, and most of them are free to use.

When I met Brian Scott at the Azalea course on an idyllic Saturday afternoon in late January, he was working on his game by himself. He’s able to track his scores and shots by using the app UDisc. (His longest toss to that point was 323 feet.) He plays with his wife, Jessie, a couple of days a week, and his snowbird in-laws have taken up the sport and regularly join them.

Scott is excited about taking his game to the next level. He entered his first tournament, Flying on the Fairways 3, at Pinecrest Golf Club in Largo, in February. Slotted in a recreational category, he expected to be testing himself against players with a similar skill level.

“I’m looking forward to the competition,” he enthused. “It pushes you in different ways, to focus more and see just how good you are.”

Spoken like a guy who’s decided to take his new sport seriously.

24

NINE HOLES: A map of the Azalea course. Photo by David Warner.

GOOD. CLEAN. FUN. WASH THIS FULL PAGE ADWAY (BLEED) You focus on fun, while we handle making sure everything is Safe + Sound.

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25

The Bike Boom: IT’S STILL ON The last year has seen a huge spike in bicycling — for exercise, community exploring and just getting outside.

STORY AND PHOTO BY ERIC SNIDER 26

THE RIGHT PATH: Earl “Buck” Lynge takes a break by St. Pete’s Vinoy Park Beach.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: BICYCLING

F

or nearly two decades, Earl “Buck” Lynge had the same exercise routine: Go directly from work to the St. Pete YMCA, play a little halfcourt basketball, hit the weight room for some light lifting, maybe swim a few laps in the pool, spend a half-hour in the sauna, shower and go. It all took about two hours.

Last spring, Buck, like so many of us, saw his workout regimen completely upended in a matter of days. The Y was off limits, and even though the facility reopened several months ago, Buck, 67, has not felt comfortable returning. Last year, he also transitioned to working from his home in northwest St. Pete.

“I’m a single person and even though I’m kind of a homebody, I’m not going to hang around the house all day,” he says. “From an exercise standpoint, substituting for the Y was simple: Get on the bike and go.”

Buck says he cycles around 12 to 14 miles every day, riding at a brisk clip and mixing in sprints. He stops when something catches his interest, whether it’s to peruse a shop downtown or relax on the pier in Gulfport. He’s usually out about three hours.

Buck is part of a movement that has been rightfully coined a bicycle boom. It’s been primarily driven by the pandemic. In April 2020, sales of traditional bikes, parts, helmets and other accessories surged 75 percent from the previous year, according to the NPD Group, which tracks consumer trends.

The bicycle boom quickly led to a bicycle shortage.

The pandemic not only sharply increased demand but slowed the supply chain and production of parts. Mark Yeager, owner of St. Pete Bicycle and Fitness, has maintained stock throughout because, he says, his buyer aggressively sources bikes from as many distributors as possible. The shortage has eased somewhat in ’21, and Yeager expects the market to return to normal in the summer. For the time being, though, he advises, “If you see a bike and you like it, buy it.”

While many reborn cyclists have simply put in more time, effort and miles on their existing bikes, some

From an exercise standpoint, substituting for the Y was simple: ‘Get on the bike and go.’” have gone all in with expensive performance models and embraced advanced tech to measure distance, performance, heart rate and myriad other data.

Strava has become the premier cycling app during the boom. It works with mobile devices to track and analyze a plethora of cycling performance metrics.

Strava is also a social network for riders, allowing groups to compete virtually with each other by racing the same route and having times tracked and posted on the app.

Of course, cycling apparel is hot, too. A must-have for riders of high-performance road bikes are bib shorts, clingy one-pieces that go over the shoulders (reminiscent of high school wrestling trunks), with ass padding so riders can tolerate those thin, hard seats. From there, they can layer all manner of brightly colored shirts, jerseys, vests and jackets.

It goes on and on: $300 helmets to better protect your noggin; $265 sunglasses; polar-insulated water bottles, and a whole lot more. And let’s not forget shoes. Cyclists can easily spend more than $300 for a pair. Entry-level models go for about $100, and some are styled like sneakers.

Of course, cycling can be dirt cheap, too. Which brings us back to Buck Lynge, a ponytailed Deadhead and self-professed hippie. He bikes in the same stuff he once wore at the Y and sheepishly admits that he doesn’t own a helmet.

When asked how important his daily rides are to him, he pauses and says, “A 10 out of 10. I’m not out there trying to kill myself. I’m oxygenating the blood, getting my body moving, looking around, noticing, ‘Hey, that guy should trim his oak tree.’

There’s no better way to explore a city than on a bike. For me, cycling is a win, win, win.”

27

Saddle Up Guided horseback rides offer a fresh perspective on Florida’s outdoors.

STORY BY MARY LOU JANSON

RIDE THE HIGH C’S: Enjoying a dip with the horses of C Ponies in Palma Sola Bay. 28

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: HORSEBACK RIDING

W

hen it comes to horsing around outdoors, there are plenty of ways to explore Florida’s waterways, state parks and even inner city pathways while sitting atop a saddle. Whether booking a romantic sunset ride or a group excursion, guided rides offer access to areas available exclusively to equestrians, trails through wilderness preserves and exceptional experiences that can only be enjoyed in tandem with a horse.

WELCOME TO THE NEIGH-BORHOOD: A Cypress Breeze Farm guided ride in Pinellas Park.

C Ponies

Bradenton, cponies.com Visitors to Palma Sola Bay near Anna Maria Island discover a natural habitat that is home to all sorts of aquatic life. What they may not anticipate encountering are horses high-stepping along the waterfront.

Carmen Herrmann Hanson’s C Ponies provides a rare opportunity for riders and horses to tread a few feet deep into the water. The sedate pace keeps riders fairly dry, at least from the waist up, while providing them with bird’s-eye views of fish swimming beneath the surface. Most of Hanson’s horses are rescues and represent Drum or Gypsy Vanner breeds that feature telltale feather-like hairs above their hooves as well as flowing manes and tails. Hanson is a fourth-generation horse breeder; her family helped introduce Lipizzan stallions to North America.

29

HORSEBACK RIDING

Cypress Breeze Farm Horseback Riding Pinellas Park, cypressbreezefarm.com

According to a 2018 video produced by the City of Pinellas Park, the community is home to an estimated 700-plus horses. Cypress Breeze Park is part of this “neigh-borhood” scene, an ideally located stable that offers guided hourlong rides along a dirt-packed equestrian trail bordered by shade trees and residential properties. The path proceeds across a wooden bridge and extends to Helen Howarth Park, a 60-acre complex encompassing a well-maintained wooded path and an arena. Cypress Breeze owners Monika Bruehsel and Donald Hudgins organize outings for groups of up to six people and riders ages 6 and older. They work with horses that have been rescued from at-risk situations or previously were used for farm labor. “We focus on safety first, so this is a great experience for beginners to more advanced riders,” says Bruehsel.

THE RIGHT HORSE: Choose from several breeds at Wolfe’s Born to Ride in Bradenton.

In the Breeze Ranch

Wolfe’s Born to Ride

This 300-acre ranch located just five miles north of Tampa International Airport specializes in horseback rides, but also hosts activities like hayrides and horsemanship camp. The horses were born and raised on the ranch, so they’re enough at home to take riders across a spring-fed creek and deep into the on-site, beach-type swimming hole. Only one group of riders at a time has access to the water and, because this is private property, jet skis won’t disrupt the day. “There are no other activities that can be a distraction to the animals,” says range manager Samantha Slack. Riders can opt to remain in shallow waters, but they may also venture to sections deep enough to enable the horse to swim. A guide is assigned to every two riders, and those ages 9 to 18 must wear the life jackets and helmets provided (both are optional for adults).

Trail rides with Wolfe’s Born to Ride include moderate to more lengthy rides and paces that can range from a stroll or canter to a gallop. The owners, married couple Kathy and Robert Wolfe, shared a mutual love of riding that eventually led to love for each other and the business they run today. Kathy prefers to contact guests directly to ascertain which of their 11 horses will be the right ride for each participant. The selection includes breeds ranging from mustangs to Florida Cracker horses. (There’s even a 2,000-pound Percheron.) Based on rider experience, including how long folks want to be in the saddle, and terrain preferences, two- to four-hour excursions are offered at Little Manatee State Park, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, Alafia State Park, Ocala and Inverness.

Tampa, inthebreezeranch.com

Bradenton, wolfesborntoride.com

Resources for Riders • Oak Hollow Saddlery & Gifts. Cathy Croce and Nancy Hunt, self-proclaimed “horse-crazy ladies,” stock everything in their Pinellas Park store from saddle pads to shampoos, from liniment to leather cleaner. oakhollowsaddlery.com.

• JC Saddlery. Jeanine Caruso’s Odessa shop focuses on English tack and rider apparel. The shop offers in-house embroidery and engraving that adds the name of the horse, its barn or owner to saddle blankets and plates. jcsaddlery.com.

• Cheval Saddlery & Boutique. This mobile boutique offers “glam on the go” by setting up shop at equestrian events. Take the guesswork out of gearing up by checking out the online wishlist created as a guide for riders, horses and even the barn. chevalstyles.com.

• Local shops specializing in Western tack include Spencer’s Western World in Pinellas Park and Russell’s Western Wear in locations throughout the region including Tampa, Bradenton and Wesley Chapel.

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FLORIDA TRAVEL

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TOP DOCKS Home is where the yacht is.

STORY BY HOWARD WALKER

T

ampa Bay is a boater’s paradise. But if you own a boat, you’ll want a great place to dock it. These spectacular homes have docks that’ll really float your boat. But if you’re interested in purchasing one of them, better act quick: The home in Largo was still for sale when I turned this story into my editor, and it was sold right before we made it to publication.

Belleair Beach, $3.195 million Sonny Crockett, welcome to your new home. There’s even an oversized dock out back perfect for your thundering Cigarette boat. From its electric-blue barrel-tiled roof, to its semi-circular tower of blue glass, to its wild neon lighting inside, this eclectic, polarizing 5,500-square-foot waterfront mansion will have you humming the Miami Vice theme tune. Built in 1986, the property sits at the end of Belle Isle Avenue on Howard Point and boasts panoramic vistas, north across the Intracoastal to Belleair Bluffs. Out back there’s an extensive dock with a tiki bar deck, a trio of jet ski lifts and a heavy-duty lift for a 35-footer.

The rear of the home is dedicated to enjoying the water views; a towering, spiral staircase leads up to a humongous rooftop deck, while a sitting area features stunning floor-to-ceiling curved-glass windows offering to-die-for water views. Rafal Wazio at Coldwell Banker Residential holds the listing.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: PRIVATE DOCKS & MARINAS

Lake Thonotosassa, $2 million Now that Lazydays RV “king” Don Wallace has finally found a buyer for his 36-acre French-style mega-estate on the banks of Lake Thonotosassa, 30 minutes east of Tampa — last asking price $17.5 million — boaters should maybe turn their attention to this 5,800-square-foot spread on the lake’s southern tip, which can be yours for a nice round $2 million.

Boating on the 839-acre freshwater lake isn’t quite the same as on Tampa Bay, but it’s perfect for pontoon and fishing boats, jet skis and paddle boards. And the Mediterranean-style home comes with a large dock ripe for a boat lift or two. The dock itself sits at the end of a gorgeous pier with a walkway through eerie Spanish moss-covered trees. We love the home’s vast indoor/outdoor entertaining area with its fire pit, and the huge caged saltwater pool. Boating was never more peaceful. Keller Williams in Tampa holds the listing.

Tierra Verde, $11.9 million They’re not exaggerating when they call this a “yacht owner’s dream.” More like a superyacht owner’s dream. With a massive 680 feet of prime waterfront on Tierra Verde’s Grand Canal with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, this sprawling, two-acre spread on Barcelona Drive features a total of four docks, five boat slips, two lifts, a new seawall, plus parking for a couple of 100-footplus whoppers. Right now it’s the biggest piece of waterfront property in Tampa Bay. It was formerly owned by Stuart Arnold, who made a fortune from his Auto Trader magazine group. Before his death in 2017, Arnold used to moor his 103-foot motor yacht “Ivory Lady” at one of the docks. Right now there’s a 3,000-square-foot home on the land that Arnold used as a weekend retreat. Arnold’s granddaughter, Fallon Arnold of Coldwell Banker, has the listing.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: PRIVATE DOCKS & MARINAS

Snell Isle, $9.03 million For peace-of-mind boat ownership in Tampa Bay, you need protection from those nasty storms (we don’t mention the word “hurricane”). The upscale St. Petersburg enclave of Snell Isle has a lagoon-like hidey-hole — called Snell Island Harbor — that offers just that. With a narrowish entrance and protection from Tampa Bay’s often nasty wave action, it’s a true safe haven. Tucked away on the northern side of the lagoon, on gracious Brightwaters Boulevard NE, this 9,722-square-foot Mediterranean-style home has a deepwater dock with space for a 60-footer and mini-lift for small fishing boat or jet ski. From its stunning entryway with a gracious spiraling staircase to its grand ballroom and banquet-sized dining room, the home oozes classical style. Chuck Anderson at Keller Williams Gulf Beaches has the listing.

Largo, $11.9 million (SOLD!) Perched on a wide section of the Intracoastal Waterway in Largo overlooking Indian Rocks Beach, this towering Tuscan-style palazzo on 4.5 acres is grand in every sense. Set on three levels, it offers 17,599 square feet of luxury living space, with four huge bedrooms — the master is 30 feet by 18 — and a two-story formal dining room big enough to seat 20. Outside there are marble-tiled terraces, a superb outdoor kitchen alongside an infinity-edged swimming pool, and a spectacular fountained pond. For boat lovers, there’s 247 feet of waterfront, an expansive dock with its own ornate boathouse with a rooftop deck, two lifts for center consoles and an in-water dock for a 45-footer-plus. Martha Thorn of The Thorn Collection/Coldwell Banker sold the home in March.

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Sal Y Mar at Aloft/Element.

The Ultimate OUTDOOR DINING GUIDE Where to dine out, outside.

O

STORY BY DAVID WARNER

ne of the joys of living where we do is the fact that alfresco eating is pretty much a year-round thing — which, during the pandemic, has been a true boon. But there are so many outdoor dining options to choose from — more of them than ever, given that some places have had to move outside in order to stay open.

So here’s some help choosing your next destination — all places where either view, comfort, location, fun, good food or some combo of the above is exceptional.

Top Rooftops The rooftop bar and restaurant scene has shifted into high gear with the opening of Sal Y Mar atop the new Aloft/ Element hotels in Midtown Tampa, serving an eclectic international menu and wide-angle views of Midtown and beyond. Other recent hotel-rooftop openings include the elegant Vantage at the Karol Hotel in Feather Sound; the convivial Hi-Fi at The Fenway in Dunedin, and the airy Rooftop at the Berkeley Beach Club in Pass-a-Grille, with the quality eats you’d expect from owner Maryann Ferenc of Mise en Place. Other high points: The Epicurean’s Edge Rooftop Cocktail Bar; the Hotel Zamora’s 360º Rooftop Lounge; the Armature Works’ M. Bar; the spacious rooftop of Marina Cantina that overlooks all of Clearwater Beach; and The Canopy, the crowning glory of Beach Drive’s Birchwood Inn. 36

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: DINING

Hidden Gems We love places that are tucked away out of view, but still out of doors. The leafy, almost-secret garden at the wonderful Franco-Vietnamese Alésia may be the most romantic of them all. Other cozy enclaves include Sweet Sage Café in N. Redington Beach, where your pup gets to choose from his own menu; Trophy Fish, a friendly oasis in Grand Central; the gated garden at Chief ’s Creole Cafe in South St. Pete; and Belleair Cafe in Belleair Bluffs, which can legitimately call itself a “hidden jewel” — it’s ensconced behind the Belleair Market on Jewel Road.

Alésia. Photos this page by David Warner.

Right On The Water It’s one thing to have a waterfront view, but there’s something about that feeling of dining not just by but almost in the water. For that vibe, there’s nothing quite like Sandbar at Opal Sands, where the surf crashes onto the seawall just below your table. And there’s no view of the Intercoastal better than what you get on the deck of Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores. Other waterside wonders: Ophelia’s by the Bay in Sarasota, Olde Bay Cafe in Dunedin; and the happy vibe of Woody’s on the Waterfront in St. Pete Beach.

Woody’s on the Waterfront.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: DINING

Tops On the Pier So many outdoor options to choose from on the St. Pete Pier: the laid-back deck and sand-underfoot seating at Doc Ford’s; the marina-fronting Fresco’s; the casual Spa Beach Bistro; the patio outside the Driftwood Cafe.

But to get the full impact, head to Pier Teaki for the best views and the updated tiki bar. And while the upscale but reasonably priced Teak is not outside (it’s one floor below Pier Teaki), the view may make you feel like it is.

Open Air

Cocktails at Teak. Photos this page by David Warner.

The Tampa Riverwalk still feels like a pinch-me moment — so many people, so much space, such invigorating views of the sparkling Hillsborough. From the gourmet takeaways of Sparkman Wharf to the Rivergate Tower’s pocket-sized Remedy to the inviting plazas outside Ulele and the Armature Works, this is definitely not your grandma’s Tampa. To feel both inside and out at once, grab a table near a window or on the patio at Oak & Ola.

Right On The Beach It’s the ultimate Florida nirvana: dining in style with sand between your toes. That’s the lasting appeal of Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill in Clearwater Beach, Sloppy Joe’s and Caddy’s On The Beach in Treasure Island. And at Sandbar Bill’s in St. Pete Beach’s Bon-Aire Resort, you’ll feel like you’ve snuck into a private beachside cookout. Also, check out one of TI’s sleekest new beachside (and poolside) attractions: BRGR Kitchen + Bar at the Treasure Island Beach Resort.

Sparkman Wharf.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: DINING

Perfect Porches While away the day on the capacious veranda of The Vinoy Renaissance Resort. Indulge in Soul Food Sunday on the deck of Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe in Seminole Heights. Nestle into a table at the back of Left Bank Bistro’s pretty wraparound porch on MLK Blvd. At St. Pete’s Sundial complex, look down upon the world from the second-floor balcony of Sea Salt, beloved for its refined seafood and stellar wine list. And in Gulfport, two popular porches embody the town’s multifaceted charms: the old Southern elegance of Isabelle’s at the Historic Peninsula Inn and the camaraderie of O’Maddy’s by the pier.

On Swann.

Open Windows Chris Ponte’s On Swann is already wide and welcoming, but when it’s open to the outside air it’s sublime (especially if you can snag a table at the surprisingly cozy side patio on Oregon). Step up to Sophia’s, too: the sophisticated Italian spot has a huge open window onto Central Avenue, where you can sip an expertly prepared Old Fashioned and catch glimpses of axes being thrown through the air across the street in Hatchet Hangout.

Perfect Patios In the early-pandemic days when the only option for dining out was dining outdoors, we kept going back to Baba on Central. And we’re still going back — for the silkiest hummus outside of Greece, for the grilled half chicken with lemon, for the hospitality of Debbie and George Sayegh (of Bodega fame) and the charming Allison Harris, and for the patio — expansive yet intimate, open but protected. It’s the best. But you could also make a case for the patios at Pia’s in Gulfport; St. Pete’s Red Mesa Cantina; the lively Mad Dogs and Englishmen in South Tampa; Guppy’s in Indian Rocks Beach; Parts of Paris in Safety Harbor; and Stella’s, the psychic center of Gulfport. And in Ybor City, the Tampa Bay Brewing Company’s indoor/outdoor bar and patio is the spot for chowing down, quaffing beer and watching the world go by.

Left Bank Bistro.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: DINING

Sidewalk Scenes

Donovan’s Meatery.

Worth The Trip donovan’s Meatery, the new concept in Riverview from the Datz/Dough team, has a sweet outdoor area — ideal for chillier weather because it’s got a fireplace and a firepit — but I’m also jonesing to try their edible candle, among other inventive dishes.

Another out-of-the-way find: Mystic Fish in Palm Harbor. It’s been a local favorite for decades, and no wonder: The food is delicious and the warmth of both the outdoor space and our friendly server made for a very pleasant experience.

Views from the Terrace Grab a table and and catch a vista: Vinoy Marina and the St. Pete skyline from the terrace at Paul’s Landing; the twinkling lights of Straub Park from a hightop outside 400 Beach; Bayshore Boulevard and Hillsborough Bay from Jeannie Pierola’s delightful Counter Culture; and, of course, the views of flora, fauna and Old Tampa Bay from Oystercatchers at the Grand Hyatt, where you’re perched amidst a nature preserve.

Find links and other info at dupontregistrytampabaycom.

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These days it seems you can’t walk anywhere in St. Petersburg without stumbling into an outdoor dining situation. On bustling Beach Drive, our favorite escapes are Cassis, Birch & Vine, Stillwaters Tavern, Parkshore Grill, Bella Brava and 400 Beach. Outdoor tables abound all the way up Central, with spots off the main drag like the new Social Roost on 1st Ave. S. (best chicken pot pie I’ve ever had). On Central, line up for gluten-free goodies at Craft Kafe; sample fresh mollusks from the Oyster Bar; and try to score one of the few tables on the sidewalk outside Brick & Mortar for their braised short rib with house “fat” noodles. In the EDGE District, it’s worth the wait for a table at Bodega (home of Tampa Bay’s best Cuban) or Bavaro’s (home of impeccable Neapolitan pizza). In Grand Central, try the inspired vegan fare at Lucy’s and Valhalla Bakery, the prize-winning tacos at Casita Taqueria and the eclectic menu at newish Wild Child. And we can’t leave the subject of St. Pete sidewalks without a stop at Uptown Eats on MLK in the Historic Uptown district on one of the coolest blocks in town. In Pass-A-Grille, the elegant food and drink at Grace is safely separated from passersby on 8th Avenue thanks to the clever spacecraft of owners Marlin Kaplan and Lisa Masterson. In Dunedin, the alfresco dining scene includes Cafe Alfresco (natch), whose porch is located directly on the Pinellas Trail, and such mainstays of streetside cuisine as The Living Room on Main, Casa Tina, Bon Appetit, Pisces Global and Hog Island Fish Camp, all serving up dishes as fresh as the Gulf breeze.

Paul’s Landing.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: DINING

Shop & Stop

Chef Michael Buttacavoli in Cena’s new courtyard.

If you ever get exhausted from schlumping around your purchases at the mall, International Plaza has you covered with Bay Street, a promenade devoted to eating and drinking, much of it outdoors: the mega-popular Cheesecake Factory; the upscale steakhouse Capital Grille; the high-spirited Whiskey Cake, and more. Or head over to the Plaza’s West Shore entrance and the patio at Ocean Prime, or cruise Boy Scout Boulevard for an outdoor table at DelFrisco’s, Fleming’s, Cooper’s Hawk or Kona Grill. And in Wesley Chapel, The Shops at Wiregrass feel like a self-contained small town, with sidewalks and parks and lots of restaurants and gourmet shops to choose from, including Vom Fass, an amazing amalgam of olive oils and wines, and an outpost of one of my St. Pete favorites, Noble Crust (with those wideopen windows I like).

Block Parties So you’ve got a pandemic on your hands and people can’t eat indoors? Just move your tables into the street! In Hyde Park Village, Forbici and Meat Market joined forces to set up tented dining areas on Snow Avenue. And Clearwater’s “The District” (read more about it on p. 82) is a revelation: the 400 and 500 blocks of Cleveland have become a whole new space. And speaking of new spaces, the shared courtyard outside Cena in Tampa’s Channel District has been completely transformed, with a new outdoor kitchen and bar for Chef Michael Buttacavoli (aka The Man Who Beat Bobby Flay) and new bars and seating areas for adjoining restaurants.

Fun & Games

The Shops at Wiregrass. Photos this page by David Warner.

If you’d like to take the whole fam-damily to a place where they can nosh on yummy burgers and local beer, watch bigscreen TVs, play a game of Jenga or lounge on the lawn, you can do it all at Florida Avenue Brewing Co. in Wesley Chapel. Another playful destination: Nebraska Mini-Mart, the brainchild of the brilliant folks behind Rooster & the Till. Named for the drive-thru market that used to occupy its acre-and-a-half property, the Seminole Heights hot spot serves burgers, fries, milkshakes and chicken sandwiches among regulation-sized bocce and shuffleboard courts and a custom ping-pong table. In St. Pete, you can join the rollicking downtown scene at Parks & Rec (cornhole, anyone?); enjoy some lip-smackin’ barbecue between rounds of shuffleboard at Urban Brew and BBQ in the Grand Central district; or enjoy the indoor/outdoor sports-bar vibe at Ferg’s and the casual allure of Green Bench Brewing Company, with its family-friendly lawn and Webb’s City Cellar tasting room.

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Perfect Match

It’s a great time of year to visit Sea Salt and sample wine-and-food pairings.

STORY BY TRACEY SEREBIN

SEAWORTHY: A pairing of Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs Brut 2017 with a raw tuna crudo and an East Coast oyster. Photo by Tracey Serebin.

K

nowing that The Great Outdoors was our theme this issue, I wanted to interview a sommelier at a restaurant with amazing wine but also a comfortable outdoor seating area to take advantage of our gorgeous spring weather.

Sea Salt Restaurant in St. Petersburg was just the place. Located in the heart of downtown, it has a large patio that wraps around its second-floor location in the Sundial shopping complex, perfect for people-watching.

As you enter the restaurant you can’t miss the spectacular 22-foot wine tower, completely enclosed in glass, that can house 4,000 bottles of wine. According to Sommelier & Beverage Director Jackie Eash, Sea Salt has the largest wine list of any restaurant in downtown St. Pete, with approximately 800 bottles in their Big Red Book.

I met Jackie one afternoon to discuss how the restaurant has pivoted in the wake of Covid. She explained that in April they kept hearing how people were ready to get out, so they decided to partner with American Freedom Distillery and Urban 42

Stillhouse to arrange a small, socially distanced Spirits Dinner in May. Right away they were booked.

Finding that people felt safer at food and wine pairing events if guest numbers were limited, she started putting smaller events together to build the program.

One such event is “Pair Like a Pro,” held on a Saturday at 11 a.m. once a month, in which attendees are served five great wines paired with four small bites and education about the wine. If a guest stays for lunch, they get 20% off a regular-priced entree.

Another popular monthly event is “Brunch at Noon.” In February the theme was “Bubbles and Brunch,” pairing three brunch courses with Italian bubbles.

Jackie tries to have four to five events each month in which she chooses the wines and Sea Salt’s chef chooses the dishes.

Invitations go out to loyal customers via email and Instagram, and spots fill up right away.

Jackie worked with Chef Farizio Aielli to showcase a few pairings for me.

The first paired a Schramsberg Blanc de

Blancs Brut 2017 from Calistoga, CA with a raw tuna crudo and an East Coast oyster. The blanc de blanc was a bubbly chardonnay that tasted clean and fresh with the seafood.

Next, Jackie poured me a Lange Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon with red cherry and cranberry flavors and light tannins. The chef created a surf and turf dish of braised short rib with caramelized red onions, topped with an onion ring and root mash underneath, served alongside a perfectly seared scallop. The short rib glaze had me reaching for the Pinot, and the root mash was a good match for the heavy meat.

Finally, I was delighted to try a luscious Miles 10-year-old Malmsey Madeira with notes of nuts and caramel, paired with a house-made chocolate dome. Caramel sauce poured over the dome made the chocolate so soft that I could run my fork through it like butter.

Jackie explained that as sommelier she encourages guests to ask her guidance on wines they might enjoy with their food.

From my experience, I can say she knows how to make the perfect match.

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FLORIDA ON WHEELS: Caruso in her distinctive six-seater. Photo by Howard Walker.

COOL CARTS

Golf carts are no longer just for the greens. These custom electric runabouts will have you looking good in the neighborhood.

STORY BY HOWARD WALKER

F

lorida and golf carts. They go together just like Mickey and Minnie — green-and-cream E-Z-GO electric runabouts zipping pink-trousered Arnold Palmer wannabes from green to green.

But these days, you’re just as likely to see a cart heading to the beach with a noodle-toting family

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aboard, or parked outside a local cafe. Residents of gated enclaves, retirement communities and cartfriendly neighborhoods are loving them as daily drivers.

And these days, Floridian golf cartlovers are adding their personalities to their rides. They’re spending big bucks on customized color schemes,

even tricked-up carts with big wheels, jacked-up suspension and fancy upholstery.

Take Maggie Caruso. Maggie owns and manages the much-loved Coconut Inn in the heart of Pass-aGrille, that funky community at the southern tip of St. Pete Beach. She bought her electric-powered, zero-

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: AUTO

emission six-seater primarily to ferry her guests around the laid-back beach town.

“I just love to drive it so much it’s become my everyday driver. Right now I’m looking to bolt a surfboard on the top. That should look pretty cool.”

Her new ride, built by Clearwater’s Discovery Golf Cars, is like 1950s Florida on wheels. Coral and peppermint paint, diamond-quilted turquoise-andwhite vinyl seats, and racy chrome wheels with cool, wide whitewall tires.

“You have to stand out if you’re going to cruise around Pass-a-Grille these days. So many locals here have a customized golf cart,” explains the native New Yorker.

A basic, no-frills electric cart — maybe an E-Z-GO, Yamaha, or Club Car — generally stickers from around $7,000. A fully-customized ride, loaded with accessories, can go for over $20,000.

The hot new ride on Tampa’s golf-cart-friendly Davis Islands these days is a street-legal ICON cart in retina-searing turquoise, or classy metallic red with matching striped upholstery.

Such is the demand to scoot around the island in zero-emission style that a new ICON dealer — D.I. Electric Vehicles — is setting up shop in the old ’50s gas station at 340 East Davis Blvd.

STREET LEGAL: A two-seat ICON i20 will cost about $7,500, while a six-seater i60 L can run close to $11,000. Photo courtesy ICON Industries.

You have to stand out if you’re going to cruise around Pass-a-Grille these days,” says Coconut Inn owner Maggie Caruso.

“As a resident of Davis Islands, all I see are golf carts,” says D.I. Electric owner Chas Bruck. “Whether it’s cruising down to the local coffee shop, or to the park with family, these vehicles are a great means of transportation and outdoor adventure.”

A “starter” two-seat ICON i20 will set you back around $7,500, while a stretched, six-seater i60 L will run you close to $11,000. Big wheels, raised-up suspension, stereos, light bars — you name it, Chas will help.

Want to really hit a golf cart hole-in-one? Then look no further than the Danish-made, street-legal Garia SuperSport, the fancy Mercedes SL two-seater of golf cars.

GREAT DANE: The Danish-made, street-legal Garia SuperSport, the fancy Mercedes SL two-seater of golf cars. Photo courtesy Garia Golf Car.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: AUTO

IT’S ICONIC: The demand for LSVs like this one is so great on Davis Islands that a new Icon dealer has set up shop in a former gas station. Photo courtesy ICON Industries.

Priced from an Amex-card-melting $73,000, it was designed with the help of Mercedes-Benz Style and comes with such cool features as carbon fiber body panels, lithium-ion battery power, and a 10inch outdoor touchscreen with wi-fi connectivity.

As a resident of Davis Islands, all I see are golf carts,” says D.I. Electric owner Chas Bruck.

Add to these the Garia’s huge, curvy heated windshield, that golf ball “dimple” grille, and the waterproof leather seat. There’s even a builtin fridge to keep your beach beverages chilled.

And with its 8kW motor and the biggest battery pack offered on a golf car, it has neck-snapping acceleration and a 50-mile range.

As for arguably the coolest beach cruiser out there, the four-seat, super-cute eMoke from Sarasotabased Moke America is hard to resist. Inspired by the swinging ’60s Mini Moke, this all-electric runabout is classed as a Low-Speed Vehicle, so tops out at 25mph. With its 10 batteries fully charged, it can run for 40 miles.

With a range of wild colors, from sunshine yellow to Barbie pink to too-cute baby-blue, this superstylish, zero emission runabout stickers from around $20,000.

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MOKE’S NO JOKE: Arguably the coolest beach cruiser out there.

Photo courtesy Moke America.

FLORIDA TRAVEL

Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo

Overlooking a private beach in southern Key Largo, this 200-room Curio Collection resort puts pets, not on a pedestal, but into their own private cabanas. The shady shelters are just part of a pet perks program supervised by Maya, the Cay-9 Director of Pet Relations. The hotel’s high-ranking Huskie bunks off-site with the resort’s activities director and wife, Scott and Allie Brown, but patrols the property and greets guests on an almost daily basis. A doggy bio, head shots, love of tummy rubs and “fluffy good looks’’ helped her nail the interview and land the job. Special magnets affixed to guest room doors alert housekeeping there are pets on the premises, while customized collar charms and special snacks are dispensed freely to dogs overnighting at this 15-acre getaway.

A $75 per night non-refundable fee is added for one or two pets overnighting for up to a seven-night stay, and a 100-pound weight limit is enforced. hilton.com.

The Ben Hotel

West Palm Beach A prolific local author, animal lover and conservationist helped give this hotel not only its identity but its claim to fame as a dog-friendly retreat. Byrd “Birdie” Spilman

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Secrets of the Ocala National Forest

Within its borders is a trove of natural and human history, from ghost towns to cool springs to... monkeys.

BY JULIE GARISTO

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ast December, mid-pandemic and emerging from a decade of family loss, my partner Daniel and I moved to Silver Springs. We found a remodeled 1965 block home on a .6-acre oak-shaded lot in the Forest Corners area, about halfway between Juniper and Silver Springs on the western edge of Big Scrub, aka the Ocala National Forest — at 673 square miles the world’s largest sand pine scrub forest.

At our new home, towering oaks gussied up in moss boas greet us from our bedroom window. Terry Gease, our neighbor, points out bent portions of our chainlink fence, souvenirs of visiting black bears. Nearby, ghost towns and nearly hidden cemeteries line trails deep into the forest. A few hundred feet from Silver Glen, the Yearling Trail takes hikers past the home, tombstones and other landmarks of the real-life Long family, who inspired Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s novel.

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Juniper Springs, above, features vestiges of a pioneer settlement; the iconic Ocala National Forest signs (right) are posted throughout Big Scrub. Photos by Daniel Veintimilla.

History can be found all around us: Timucuan relics, wartime remnants, pioneer settlements, a replica of a prehistoric beast.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: WILD FLORIDA

We learned that if you don’t go for primitive camping, free along the trails, there are inexpensive cabins and fish camps dotting lakes and countrysides.

A few hundred feet from Silver Springs State Park, you’ll find Sun Plaza Motel — a family-friendly, midcentury classic. Down-home mom-and-pop eateries keep it real. Kern’s Family Kitchen, on State Road 40, offers a small outdoor deck on a peaceful lake that’s home to shorebirds and bald eagles.

Very Beary Cabin owner John Gossman says that conventional lodging is sparse in the forest; his popular AirBnB has a four-month waiting list. An ecofarm and retreat down the road from us, Ocalafornia, beckons with its blend of California lifestyle and Florida nature. Other locals sell pickled veggies, fresh eggs and other goods with painted signs in their front yards.

Rhesus macaques can be seen along the Silver River.

Photo by Jean Blom.

There’s no shortage of wild animals. Deer line the highways at sunset. Wild turkeys and monkeys loiter in the parks. Three-hundred rhesus macaques — the legacy of a 1930s tour-boat operator — call Silver Springs home. As with bears, you should never feed them. They can be aggressive and sometimes spread hepatitis B. Meanwhile, the black bears in the Ocala National Forest are mostly harmless, but they’ll let you know when they don’t want to be bothered with what’s called a “bluff charge.”

In short, it’s best to stick with the cool springs and other water recreation in the summer; hike the trails late October to mid-April.

Forest recreation abounds. You can linger by a forest lake, fish, lounge, take a light hike, bird-watch, visit pioneer art exhibits and museums, go horseback riding, biking, rent a canoe, ride a tour boat on the St. Johns, kayak, paddleboard, drive an all-terrain vehicle and even a dirtbike — there are designated spots for all of the above.

Salt Springs, so named because of its slightly higher-than-average sodium content, has the largest campground in the Ocala National Forest and the only one with full hookups for RVs. A stroll along a stream by the campground mesmerized us with its

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: WILD FLORIDA

Alexander Springs offers a beach-like shore and some of the most photogenic views in the Ocala National Forest. Photo by Julie Garisto.

Shangri-La-like backdrop. Nearby Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area is even more lush and scenic.

Alexander Beach entices with a beach-like shore, making it easy to inch into the water gradually, and Juniper Springs has remnants of an old pioneer village.

If you’re hungry en route to the Salt Springs Recreation area, stop into the Foster family’s outdoor cafe, Odd Todd’s. Originally from Montana, Todd Foster shared that his grandmother is a full-blooded Cherokee. Odd-ly enough, Todd cooks food from farther southwest, and it’s remarkably good — ultra-fresh and flavorful tacos, burritos and quesadillas with homemade tortillas. Wife Stephanie and son Braden help run the efficient and friendly spot.

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Around 600 lakes and 50 natural springs interrupt palmettos and rows of sand pines. The most popular springs are Juniper, Alexander, Silver Glen and Salt Springs, as well as the old Florida favorite closest to us, Silver Springs, famous for its glassbottom boats. It was Florida’s first major tourist attraction.

Our most exciting discovery has been, bar none, the Ocklawaha River — its name a bastardization of ak-lowahe, Creek for “muddy.”

When commuting via State Road 40, we’ve relished the bridge spanning the forest river populated by rows of bald cypresses, gum and bursts of red maple, an arboreal accent that’s delightfully common in the forest.

The misty Ocklawaha floodplains

impart a lost-in-time, deep-in-the Amazon feeling. Once a popular artery for loggers, growers and tourists, the river nearly dried up when the federal government cut off its connection to the Silver and St. Johns rivers. The dam, part of the misguided and incomplete Cross-Florida Barge Canal, was touted to bring more industry to the state.

President Johnson set off the first blast of deforestation, and the resulting river stagnation gave way to invasive plant species and diminished wildlife. But thanks to the efforts of activist Marjorie Carr and a partisan reversal by President Nixon, the canal project discontinued and the reservoir is now drawn every three years to replenish its resources.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: WILD FLORIDA

When the Ocklawaha flows north to the Silver and St. Johns rivers, springs return to their crystal-clear splendor, manatees flourish alongside other fish and other wildlife. If reconnected, boaters could travel from the forest to the Atlantic Ocean, and a healthier waterway would also result in increased tourism revenue and employment in Marion and Putnam counties, say stacks of reports by scientists and economists.

One can only hope that the forest’s springs and rivers will receive the preservation they deserve. Commuting across SR 40 in Silver Springs, I see neglect, litter and unmet potential, not to diminish the efforts of a handful of intrepid entrepreneurs selling whoopie pies and providing unique and valuable goods and services.

The Ocala National Forest is an unpolished emerald socked away in a drawer. It’s time to shine her up and restore her to her original glory to be enjoyed by naturelovers of all ages and backgrounds.

A gator basks in Salt Springs. Photo by Jean Blom.

For links, contact info and other Ocala National Forest info, look for this story at dupontregistrytampabay.com.

A winding path leads to a fishing pier near Rodman Dam. Photo by Daniel Veintimilla.

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REAL ESTATE

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REAL ESTATE

See Ad on Pg. 70

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REAL ESTATE

Meticulous Odessa Masterpiece 19303 Shortleaf Pine Lane Odessa • $1,499,990

Luxurious 5 BR/4.5 BA/3 Car Garage Executive Home with no expense spared! Make this your dream home. This meticulously maintained masterpiece is the perfect home for the luxury buyer. Located in a gated community of 11 homes with remarkably comfortable surroundings. The home features executive-level enhancements throughout, with a jaw-dropping abundance of prime features inside and outside. Equally ideal for everyday living and awesome options for entertaining. Striking layout provides an impressive open concept for living space. Tall ceilings throughout as well as 16 ft cathedral ceilings with exposed beams and dazzling chandeliers. The kitchen is a chef ’s dream with 42” solid wood cabinets, high end appliances, huge island, and beautiful new granite countertops. The kitchen also has a large breakfast nook. Three fireplaces in various areas create ambience delight. The pool is a beautifully panoramic caged salt water oasis with heated spa controlled via a fully automated Aqualink system and brand new pool heater. The entertaining areas are wired for surround sound to watch your favorite movies or listen to entertaining music. The home has a new generator capable of powering the entire residence operating from a separate dedicated 500 gallon propane tank. Hurricane impact windows and power shutters on lanai will protect in the heaviest of storms. This is truly a gem that you do not want to miss!

John “JT” Tomljanovic, REALTOR | Stephen Gay Group 813-892-0718 | 813-839-3800 Smith & Associates Real Estate

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REAL ESTATE

Magnificent Belleair Estate 435 Bayview Dr, Belleair • $3,479,500

Magnificent Belleair estate of classical architectural distinction graces the bluff overlooking Hallett Park and the sparking waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. The property is beautifully landscaped with charming gardens, brick paths, and studded with stately oaks trees extending from beautiful Bayview Drive to Palmetto Road. Superbly designed by one the area’s leading architects and constructed to the very highest standard of quality, the home is tastefully decorated and elegantly appointed.

The outstanding features include handsome moldings, hand painted woodwork, stenciled hardwood floors, intricate ironwork, coral stone trims, French doors with brass fittings, designer fixtures, crafted fireplaces, a deluxe custom cab elevator, fully equipped guest apartment and a unique rooftop terrace. The expansive windows flood the home with cheerful, natural light and offer attractive views of the waterway, park and gardens. The glamorous heated pool and spa are surrounded by a Mary Ann McArthur | 727-460-5906 | MaryAnnMcArthur.com 55

REAL ESTATE

Waterfront Elegance

6240 Kipps Colony Court S 101 Gulfport • $975,000

Elegance, Sophistication, and Tranquility all wrapped into one gorgeous, newly remodeled waterfront townhouse in Kipps Colony. Centrally located in the heart of St. Petersburg is the only gated, golf course and waterfront community of Pasadena Yacht and Country Club (PYCC). This 3 bedrooms/3-bathroom spectacular corner unit is completely remodeled in today’s popular “coastal modern” design. Ideal for entertaining, the gourmet kitchen is the centerpiece to this fabulous open concept layout. The floor to ceiling sliding doors seamlessly transitions you to the outdoor living space including numerous decks and terraces and increases the already spacious floor plan. The kitchen has all the requirements for the chef in the family including a waterfall edge quartz countertop, custom white shaker cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and dual temperature wine cooler.

The top floor master suite features high vaulted ceilings, its own private deck and an elegant en-suite master bathroom. This unit features an attached 1 1/2 car garage as well as an additional parking spot.

Tammy Campbell McNelis | 727-455-2351 | TheCPMTTeam.com with ReMax Metro

Striking Pelican Golf Club Home 18 Hibiscus Rd, Belleair • Pending Sale

This distinctive home bordering the Pelican Golf Club was placed under contract in just 4 days for a commanding price.

Designed for comfortable living, family gatherings and entertaining on the best private golf course in Pinellas County. The great room setting creates a large central gathering point for the home, has beautiful hickory flooring and 14 foot high coffered ceilings. The great room flawlessly transitions to the chef ’s kitchen. With distinctive custom cabinetry and rich quartzite counters, the center island kitchen was designed to both entertain and create. The master bedroom suite features his and her walk-in closets, a spa inspired bathroom with a large soaking tub, an oversized shower and dual vanities with a cosmetics station. Step through hurricane impact doors to the backyard and enjoy your private saltwater pool with calming views of the Pelican’s 4th and 8th fairways. The outdoor patio also features a gas burning fireplace and motorized retractable screens.

Kerryn Ellson | 727-408-4888 | gulfviewliving.com 56

REAL ESTATE

Belleair Bluffs Gem

120 Harbor View Ln, Belleair Bluffs • $2,599,000

This residence is situated high on a bluff overlooking extensive lawns and tropical vegetation that extend to its waterfront coastline of just under one acre. The desirable, hard to find high elevation on its natural bluff affords the homeowner magnificent views over the large pool area to the Intracoastal waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico capturing colorful daily sunsets. The lot extends 320 foot in depth with 100 foot of water frontage with outdoor environs that provide abundant space for entertaining all year. Outdoor dining on the terraced patio with an extensive cook out area creates the perfect setting for dining and relaxing. Board your vessel moored at your private dock and cruise the beautiful harbor with quick access to the Gulf of Mexico. A spacious and versatile floor plan provides ample room for extended family AND guests. Spread out; work from home offices, enjoy hobbies, or retreat and relax. The lovely and inviting double door entry flows into an open foyer with sweeping staircase leading to a private master suite with terrace and two additional bedrooms. A charming guest bedroom with ensuite bathroom, located on the main level, is perfect for extended family or guests to enjoy. Additional two bedrooms and very private office with built-ins and incredible water views are also located on this main level. Kitchen features include custom cabinetry, beautiful granite, gorgeous wood floors, large walk in pantry, and an adjoining breakfast nook. An inviting formal dining room mirrors fine dining experiences and affords full views of the beautiful yard and waterfront; this area is captivating. Soft breezes, dramatic sunsets, privacy and waterfront living, this property presents a signature lifestyle in the very desirable Bluffs area of the Belleair communities.

Julie Folden 727-460-7462 | Coastal Properties julie@juliefolden.com | juliefolden.com 57

REAL ESTATE

The Heart of Historic Harbor Oaks 309 Jasmine Way, Clearwater • $1,250,000

Striking contemporary Mediterranean home located in the heart of historic Harbor Oaks! Minutes from Clearwater Beach, the Belleair Country Club, downtown Clearwater, and Morton Plant Mease Hospital. Built in 2008 and recently renovated, this home offers 2-Story concrete block construction with cathedral ceilings and beautiful chandeliers plus luxurious swimming pool. The living room features a fireplace, crown molding, millwork and abundant windows that bask the home in sunlight. The completely renovated kitchen has professional grade appliances, granite countertops, and a walk in pantry.

French doors open to the paver deck perfect for entertaining poolside. The beautifully appointed first floor owner’s retreat provides the perfect sanctuary for privacy and includes a spa like master bathroom. All bedrooms have wood floors, crown molding & provide plenty of living space. Every aspect of this masterpiece home has been thoughtfully curated to provide the ultimate Florida lifestyle!

The Martha Thorn Collection | 727-432-9019 Coldwell Banker Realty | www.309Jasmine.com

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REAL ESTATE

Belleair Beach Beauty

125 15th St. Belleair Beach • $3,300,000

Situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this sprawling home captures the beauty of Florida living. From the moment you enter this 4/3.5 Belleair Beach pool home you can’t help but be awestruck by the captivating views of Clearwater Harbor and the Belleair Causeway. The split floor plan features a huge master bedroom and a double entry en-suite bathroom with his and her sinks, a jetted tub and gorgeous tile. The bright kitchen has a large L-shaped breakfast bar with stainless appliances and vent hood and is open to the den, which also has a wine bar and cozy fireplace. The walls of windows and sliders provide a calming view of the pool and harbor. Your guests won’t want to leave the privacy of their luxury suite with mesmerizing views and an en-suite with gorgeous tile and quartz counters. The guest bedrooms share a large bathroom and are spacious with plentiful closet space. Additional features include a dock with boat lift, a large laundry room with garage access and much more.

The Martha Thorn Collection | 727-432-9019 Coldwell Banker Realty | www.BelleairBeachBeauty.com

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REAL ESTATE

Breathtaking Belleair Estate 140 Willadel Drive, Belleair • $6,995,000

Resting high above the intracoastal waterway in a pre-eminent Belleair community, this breathtaking 15,000+ total sqft palatial estate enjoys sensational open water views of Sand Key, Clearwater Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico! Take in the sweeping panoramic vistas of a remarkable residence that boasts 1.82 acres of brilliantly layered and manicured landscape. A massive circular drive with two gated points of entry welcomes you to a prodigious home with towering 21ft-high ceilings, vast open spaces and magnificent and complex detailed woodworking. Upper and lower level master suites are immense in size - offering generous sitting areas with fine morning bars, gas fireplaces, huge waterfront decks/balconies and sumptuous luxurious baths adorned in marble, granite and exquisite fixtures. You’ll love the lavish executive office with fireplace and private bath. Posh kitchen with butler’s pantry opens to an impressive great room with elegant entertainment center and grand views of your waterfront grounds. Large casual dining area is complemented by a superb formal dining room. Discover the enormous entertainment room with its spectacular wood lacquered wetbar, a fitness room, steam shower and separate sauna. Upper level offers a gorgeous, connected wrap-around balcony overlooking your astonishing grounds. Cast stone handrails and balusters, suspended staircases, grand multi-tier paver decks and elaborate center fountain deliver a picturesque “Great Gatsby” ambiance. Stroll across a transcendently beautiful pool/spa deck area that lowers to a fully lighted tennis court level, sprawling grassy areas and stunning waterfront. Posh gazebo/cabana contains a large wetbar, cooking center and air-conditioned bath. Separate full-service guest house is perfect for overnight stays. Deeded boat slip and dock enable your rapid access to the Gulf. A rare, one-of-a-kind luxury living experience.

Dania Perry, Luxury and Waterfront Specialist 727-215-2045 | Dania Perry Real Estate 60

REAL ESTATE

Tierra Verde Treasure

Greenland Preserve Lot 2, Tierra Verde • $2,500,000

Tucked away, in the private, gated enclave of Greenland Preserve, lies a treasure. An available waterfront lot just over an acre & nestled among native trees. Listing agent, Janelle Chmura at Smith & Associates explains, “This location is for those who need privacy & the desire to enjoy the great outdoors. Only 1/3 of each lot may be developed to protect the integrity of this location. Owners here place a priority on building in balance with the environment.” She continues, “Lot ownership includes shared elements such as 2K feet of private boardwalks, seaside gazebo, & one slip in the deep-water dock.” This premiere location affords unmatched fishing, kayaking & open boating waters.

Greenland Preserve is in Tierra Verde, FL which neighbors Fort De Soto Park. Recognized for its beaches & animal habitats.

Janelle notes, “This location is also 15 minutes to downtown St. Petersburg. In addition, private aviation is accessible via the Albert Whitted Airport.”

Janelle Chmura | 813-380-5465 | jchmura@smithandassociates.com

Experience Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida An ideal place to relocate or to have a getaway, St. Petersburg is an award-winning city that’s big enough to satsify all of your needs and just small enough to feel like a town.

THE

SIMMS TEAM

Our family team is ready to help you find a new home or a home-away-from-home.

727-898-2582 | info@simmsteam.com

The SIMMS Team | Coastal Properties Group | Christie’s International Real Estate 238 Beach Drive NE | St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | www.SimmsTeam.com 61

JULIE FOLDEN 727.460.7462

120 HARBOR VIEW LANE BELLEAIR BLUFFS Located in a premier area of coastal Tampa Bay, this outstanding property is situated high on a bluff overlooking the Intracoastal waterway to the beaches-FABULOUS views! Encompassing 3/4 acres of landscaped lawns and tropical foliage, the spacious floor plan has 5 bedrooms with 2 offices, inviting formal dining and great rooms. Outdoor gracious terraces overlooking a remarkable pool and spa to private dock reconfirm that this estate and location are incomparable to other waterfront properties. $2,599,000

1518 GULF BLVD INDIAN ROCKS BEACH Beach front estate! Perfectly positioned at the end of a private brick street, this beachfront residence exudes quality and understated elegance. With panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico, the home boasts five bedrooms, five and a half baths, fully equipped summer kitchen, and two laundry rooms. Appreciate the pinnacle of outdoor living in your private heated pool with miles of soft sandy beaches, and exquisite mesmerizing sunsets. Very few homes on the Gulf compare to this coastal residence so rich in detail yet so comfortable for living life very happily by the sea. $4,999,000

Julie’s Recent Notable Sales SELLING THE BEACHES TO THE BLUFFS TO THE BELLEAIRS AND BEYOND!

727.460.7462 Julie@JulieFolden.com JulieFolden.com

HARBOR DRIVE AREA, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH

THURSTON GROVES, SEMINOLE

18TH AVENUE, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH

TIDES BEACH CLUB, NORTH REDINGTON BEACH

Private setting, 100 foot of intracoastal frontage with AMAZING open views.

Traditional, well maintained four bedroom, four bath, 2900 square foot home. Outstanding pool and side yard areas.

Listed for $1,579,000 Sold for $1,400,000

Gracious residence with SUPERB upgrades. Four bedroom, three and a half bath, three car garage, 3500 square foot. Heated pool and spa. Dream kitchen with all of the bells and whistles.

Immediate occupancy.

Listed for $965,000 Sold for $963,000 Bring the boats and ALL the family! Spacious coastal property with plenty of deep water dockage for multiple vessels. Four bedroom plus office, three and a half bath, 3400 square foot. Pool, terraces, deck areas to enjoy the 124 ft of Intracoastal.

Listed for $1,925,000 Sold for $1,750,000 A RARE opportunity! Three bedroom furnished Penthouse with miles of beaches and pristine Gulf waters to enjoy.

Resort style living affords a lifestyle for permanent or vacation home that is a rare find.

Listed for $915,000 Sold for $915,000

LUXURY LEADERS IN TAMPA BAY

180 BEACH DR NE #2001 | ST. PETERSBURG | $3,695,000 LIZ HEINKEL | 727-239-5623

2409 SUNSET WAY | ST. PETE BEACH | $2,950,000 LAUTER, SEEKS & PELLEGRINO | 727-692-6122

1590 GULF BLVD #703 | CLEARWATER | $1,495,000 CHERI BOUDREAU | 727-560-3157

15 AVALON ST #603 | CLEARWATER BEACH | $1,281,420 NEW CONSTRUCTION CONDOS | 727-755-0144

OVER $5 BILLION

IN

&11,000

HOMES SOLD

TAMPA BAY SINCE 2012

W W W.COASTALPGI .COM B E L L E A I R | C L E A R W AT E R | C L E A R W AT E R B E A C H | D U N E D I N | E A S T L A K E / P A L M H A R B O R | I N D I A N R O C K S B E A C H | I S L A N D E S TAT E S N O R T H R E D I N G T O N B E A C H | O Z O N A | S T. P E T E B E A C H | S T. P E T E R S B U R G | TA M P A | T I E R R A V E R D E | T R E A S U R E I S L A N D

Mary Ann McArthur Presents...

435 BAYVIEW DRIVE, BELLEAIR

$3,479,500 Mary Ann McArthur | 727-460-5906 | www.MaryAnnMcArthur.com

Beyond gaining a competitive advantage in our local market with Coastal Properties Group, Christie’s International Real Estate affords you the opportunity of engaging a worldwide audience of high-net-worth homebuyers outside your local sphere.

BACOPA BAY – ST. PETERSBURG

Magnificent sweeping panoramic waterviews! Brilliantly updated 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 3028 sqft top floor residence boasts a sophisticated cosmopolitan appeal. Sumptuous gourmet kitchen, posh executive office. Exceptional world class amenities, easy access to beaches and airport.

Offered for $1,225,000.

BAYFRONT TOWER – ST. PETERSBURG

Soaring high above the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, this exceptional corner double-unit, 2-bedroom condominium provides stunning panoramic views of downtown and a spacious 2893 sqft of living area. Extraordinary top floor clubhouse, rooftop pool and wonderful amenities.

Offered for $899,000.

FULL PAGE AD (NO BLEED) 7.5 X 9.9264 PE

BOCA CIEGA BAY – ST. PETERSBURG

Luxurious finishes and remarkable attention to detail are the hallmarks of this superb 4408 sqft 4 bedroom, 3 ½ bath Coastal Mediterranean waterfront estate residence. Grand open waterviews, wonderful Pebbletec pool/spa. Boat dock with lift offer rapid access to the Gulf. Offered for $1,799,000.

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www.duPontREGISTRYtampabay.com

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BROADWATER – ST. PETERSBURG

Exquisitely appointed inside and out with towering window views of the waterfront, this 4160 sqft, 4 bedroom, 4 bath waterfront home enjoys gorgeous finishes throughout. Lush landscaping, terrific dock set-up with dual boat lifts, brilliant Pebbletec pool/spa. Offered for $1,595,000.

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BELLEAIR BEACH

Enjoy sweeping intracoastal views from this spectacular double lot with an amazing 256 feet of seawall! Located in one of Tampa Bay’s premier communities, this 3245sqft home features a sumptuous kitchen and exquisite living spaces. Updated seawall, composite dock, 35K lift and dual jetski lift. Offered for $2,990,000.

COFFEE POT - ST. PETERSBURG

Rare Tudor Brilliance on the Waterfront! 8868 sqft, 7 bedroom, 8 ½ bath estate with optional carriage house – providing maximum flexibility. Stunning enclosed gated grounds, magical “Great Hall,” dual master suites, dual kitchens, theater room, swimming pool, 2 boat slips and boat lift. Walking distance to downtown. Offered for $3,695,000.

FULL PAGE AD (BLEED) 8.5 X 11.0625

BEACHFRONT - REDINGTON BEACH

Located on a deep, wide private beachfront lot in one of Tampa Bay’s finest beach communities, this astonishing 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath, 11,622 total sqft coastal Tuscan estate with separate guest house boasts extraordinary design, craftsmanship and luxury. Magnificent features and finishes throughout. Offered for $6,745,000.

WILLADEL – BELLEAIR

Resting high above the intracoastal waterway on an impressive 1.82 acres, this palatial 15,000+ total sqft estate delivers sensational water views! Towering ceilings, grand living spaces, steam room, sauna, spectacular pool/cabana, guest house, tennis court, deeded boat slip/dock. Offered for $6,995,000.

www.duPontREGISTRYtampabay.com

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THANK YOU TO OUR CLIENTS FOR MAKING US THE #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

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14275 Siesta Road, Largo Offered for $11,900,000.

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508 Bluff View Drive, Belleair Bluffs Offered for $7,999,900.

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196 Bluff View Drive, Belleair Bluffs Offered for $3,750,000.

The Thorn Collection | 727.432.9019 | www.TheThornCollection.com Proud Supporters of:

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THANK YOU TO OUR CLIENTS FOR MAKING US THE TOP 10 REAL ESTATE TEAM NATIONWIDE.

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110 Harbor View Lane, Belleair Bluffs Offered for $4,590,000.

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118 Harbor View Lane, Belleair Bluffs Offered for $3,500,000.

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108 Harbor View Lane, Belleair Bluffs Offered for $2,845,000.

The Thorn Collection | 727.432.9019 | www.TheThornCollection.com RANKED TOP 10 COLDWELL BANKER TEAM IN THE NATION! ©2018 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Previews logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The property information.

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85 Belleview #705, Belleair Offered at $1,975,000.

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117 16th Street, Belleair Beach Offered at $1,595,000.

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8 Winston Drive, Belleair Offered at $1,990,000.

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145 Belleview Blvd #404, Belleair Offered at $1,150,000.

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1031 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Offered at $1,647,000.

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604 Balibay Road, Apollo Beach Offered at $1,575,000.

The Thorn Collection | 727.432.9019 | www.TheThornCollection.com Proud Supporters of:

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657 Scotland Street, Dunedin Offered at $2,375,000.

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909 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach • Offered at $1,750,000.

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213 Harrison Avenue, Belleair Beach • Offered at $1,549,000.

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1 Seaside Lane #802, Belleair Offered at $1,797,000.

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205 Bayview Drive, Belleair Offered at $1,695,000.

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22 South Pine Circle, Belleair Offered at $1,549,000.

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1509 Bayshore Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach • Offered at $1,990,000.

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1348 Playmoor Drive, Highlands of Innisbrook • Offered at $1,299,000.

The Thorn Collection | 727.432.9019 | www.TheThornCollection.com RANKED TOP 10 COLDWELL BANKER TEAM IN THE NATION! ©2018 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Previews logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The property information.

St. Petersburg Tampa Sarasota

You deserve the best!

Carole Merritt

Christopher Plummer

Michael McNelis

Tammy Campbell McNelis (formerly Plummer)

the leaders in luxury real estate representing the finest homes in tampa bay.

A small team with big numbers...The CPM Team continually ranks as the #1 Team at Re/Max Metro. We are a boutique team specializing in concierge real estate, customizing the experience to meet each clients' needs. Our dedication to world-class service is evident from the listing presentation to closing. Every client, home, and sale is an opportunity to showcase our skills.

As a top 1% team nationwide and with over 75 years of combined experience, you can trust the CPM Team with all of your real estate needs.

Luxury is simply a phone call away Contact Tammy for a confidential market analysis Tammy Campbell McNelis

727.455.2351

tammy@thecpmteam.com

www.thecpmteam.com

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150 2nd Ave N. Suite 100 St. Petersburg, Fl 33701

Tucked away, in the private, gated enclave of Greenland Preserve, lies a treasure.

Privately owned for 26 years.

Slightly over an acre of untouched Florida splendor.

Available now to build your own residential oasis.

Build in harmony with the flora and fauna of this precious land.

Greenland Preserve Lot 2 I Tierra Verde, FL I Offered at $2,500,000

Janelle Chmura, REALTOR® 813.380.5465 jchmura@smithandassociates.com | JanelleChmura.com 75

SOLD

727-408-4888 • Gu l fVi ewL i v i ng.com 603 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair

Dressing

STYLE

BY MICHELLE CAPPELLI GORDON

Outdoor dining is one of the best things about living in the beautiful Tampa Bay area. Spring 2021 trends are stylishly comfortable. For women: elevated leggings, sheer pieces, head scarves (think 1950s-’60s), chic flats, yellow handbags and pairing yellow with camel colors. For men: luxe sweatpants, essential sneakers, bomber jackets, fashionable aviators and limited-edition watches. Lighter-toned khaki is popular for everyone. To shop these products and for more of my style picks, visit www.LoveMichelleStyle.com and follow me on Instagram: @michellecappelligordon.

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Loro Piana-Traveller Windmate Bomber Jacket in Sand Shell, $2,795 (Saks) GUCCI-65mm Oversize Aviator Sunglasses, $465 (Nordstrom) Hugo-Doak212 Drawstring Logo Track Pants in Dark Blue, $118 (Saks) Bremont-Project Possible Limited Edition Automatic GMT 43mm Titanium, Bronze and Leather Watch, $6,295 (Mr.Porter) Maison Margiela-Replica Leather and Suede Sneakers, $470 (Mr.Porter) Burberry-Icon Stripe & Logo Square Silk Scarf $170, (Bloomingdales) Acler-Swansea Puff-Sleeve Polka-Dot Georgette Tie-Neck Top, $330 (Modaoperandi) Bottega Veneta-Shoulder Bag in Buttercup, $4,500 (Bottega Veneta) Theory-Eco Slit Leggings in Camel, $275 (Saks) Nous-Alba Shearling-LIned Leather Mules in Almond, $615 (Saks)

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BEAUTY

Pro tecting your skin in the great outdoors

Here in the Sunshine State, it is particularly important to use sunscreen because beautiful weather and surroundings call for great outdoor activities. Whether you want to protect your scalp, set your makeup with a mist, mattify with mineral powder, dial it up with a stick or care for sensitive skin, we’ve got you covered.

Featured here are top-rated sunscreen options for any need you have.

BY MICHELLE CAPPELLI GORDON

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Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF50, $69 (Dermstore) Lune+Aster CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF50/PA+++, $52 (Bluemercury) Soleil Toujours Organic Set + Protect Micro Mist SPF30, $36 (Dermstore) Supergoop! Zincscreen 100% Mineral Lotion SPF40 $42, (Bluemercury) Soleil Toujours Organic Extreme Face + Scalp Sunscreen Mist SPF50 Sport, $36 (Dermstore) Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive SPF30+, $10 (Amazon) Shiseido Clear Stick UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF50+ WetForce, $28 (Saks) EltaMD UV Aero Broad-Spectrum SPF45 Spray, $33 (Dermstore)

For more inspiration or advice from our Beauty Editor visit www.LoveMichelleStyle.com and follow her on Instagram: @michellecappelligordon.

Beauty Editor Michelle Cappelli Gordon

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: ART

Fire & Ice Photos by Carol Mickett / Robert Stackhouse

The artistic team of Mickett and Stackhouse address climate change in Expanding Waters, a major new exhibition at Creative Pinellas.

INTERVIEW BY CATHY SALUSTRI

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hen I visit the Tarpon Springs studio Carol Mickett shares with her husband and creative co-conspirator, Robert Stackhouse, ice cube trays are everywhere — the old-school metal kind, with levers to pop out the cubes. They’re on a table, in sketches, in a painting hanging on the wall, and they figure prominently in the creative duo’s latest installation, Expanding Waters, which will consume the Creative Pinellas galleries in Largo beginning Mar. 17.

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The trays, Mickett tells me, serve “as a symbol of mitigation,” and as we walk through the studio together we talk about the themes underlying every artistic scrap we see: water and climate change.

The paintings lining the walls and a massive walk-through aluminumand-paper sculpture called “Breath of Influence” will address global concerns about warming seas. In the gallery, the installation will merge environmental themes with the performing, literary and visual arts.

Paintings of gnarled live oaks and red mangroves with tangled roots will exist side by side with those metal ice cube trays. As carbon dioxide warms our oceans and bays, those knurled branches and tangled pneumatophores work, hidden in plain sight, to cool our waters.

“One of the things art can do is it can make the invisible visible,” Mickett says. Expanding Waters hopes to illuminate not only the problems of climate change but a path toward healing.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: ART

OUT OF BALANCE: The “Imbalance” triptych: “Consequence,” “An Imbalance of Fire” and “Mitigation.”

The following is excerpted from my conversation with the two artists.

What people will see first when they move through the gallery is the painting “First Moon” and the installation “Breath of Influence.” Its title is similar to that of other installations you’ve created, like “Breath of Cypress Moon.” Why did you choose “Influence” for this work?

CM: For one, the moon is an influencer. It influences the tide…

RS: …it influences our language.

CM: The moon, in this installation, is looking out over everything. It’s casting light, and in that way it influences. Also, the paper in the installation moves, like the breath, and that’s an influencer. It influences the environment; perhaps subtly, but it’s there.

Talk about the Shakespeare component being provided by Tarpon director Dee O’Brien and her actors.

RS: Having Shakespeare spoken to the sculpture itself, as if it’s a player [is important] – it’s not a proscenium and it’s not a stage. We designed it to be a purposeful, freestanding piece of art.

CREATIVE DUO: Partners in art and life Carol Mickett and Robert Stackhouse.

How will the dancers – including Helen Hansen French and choreographer Paula Kramer – interact with “Breath of Influence”?

CM: We’re just providing them with a place and a context.

RS: We said to [Paula], “This is not a static stage.” I know that they’re going to deal with how to make the sculpture dance with them. They’re not going to dance around it; they’re going to dance with it.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: ART

HONOR THE TREES: “The Live Oak,” painted in shimmering gold in a field of green.

Red mangroves and live oaks both figure prominently in Expanding Waters, although they both serve different functions in their respective ecosystems. What’s the thread that connects the two trees?

CM: Basically, they help to reduce the warming of the planet. They’re here; they’re ubiquitous. It’s like your mom or your husband. Things that are familiar, you often forget how important they are.

They contribute, both of them, to the betterment of our climate. They’re grand absorbers of CO2; a mangrove forest will absorb more CO2 than the rainforest. They’re to be honored. They’re mitigators for our climate change.

The triptych “Imbalance” presents ideas of consequence and mitigation. How do the two feed each other?

CM: It’s like when you see evidence of abuse, you want to do something to correct it. In the triptych, the sperm whale is being abused by the warming of the water and the imbalance of fire tells you that.

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RS: The water is on fire; how is that? It’s really not on fire; it’s a metaphor.

CM: And the whale, which is a strange entity in the Gulf of Mexico. The ice cube tray is a boat..

RS: ...maybe a lifeboat.

What do you hope the exhibit moves people to do?

CS: One, I hope they appreciate it as art and enjoy it. [But also] I hope that this provides an avenue for people to think about this, to think about what they can do, like plant a tree, or drive an electric car, or not run their air conditioning too much, and not to waste water and not to cut down their mangroves.

RS: We’ll have a big sheet of paper where people can write or draw what they think about this.

Expanding Waters: Mar. 17-June 13, The Gallery at Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo, creativepinellas.org.

dRTB BEST BETS

WHAT TO SEE IN A&E

BY DAVID WARNER

freeFall Theatre celebrates Bernstein in New York April 2-May 9. (Photo: Leonard Bernstein conducting in 1987, Bart Molendijk / Anefo)

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dRTB BEST BETS

dRTB BEST BETS

SERVICE WITH A SMILE It’s been a rough year for restaurateurs, chefs and others in the culinary community. So it’s an opportune moment for Chef ’s Special at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts: an exhibition of portraits by local photographers of the chefs, owners and food gurus of Tampa Bay. A tribute to the resilience of the restaurant community, which has faced so many hardships during the pandemic, it’s also a chance to say “Hello, again!” to the faces behind your favorite dishes and libations. Through April 11 in the Community Gallery at FMoPA, 400 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, fmopa.org. Pictured: Veronica Danko, owner of The Independent Bar & Cafe in Tampa and St. Pete. Photo by Mark Wemple.

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dRTB BEST BETS

YANKEE INGENUITY

Latin Grammy-nominated jazz musician and World Series legend — this is not a combination you run into every day. But that’s the remarkable resume of Bernie Williams, who played center field from 19912006 for the NY Yankees, helping them win four World Championships in the process, and went on to become a renowned guitarist and composer. He’s on the bill at the Cap on April 3 with headliner Mindi Abair, the jazz saxophonist with a slew of #1 hits who’s been seen on American Idol and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon — and she’s from St. Pete! Sat., Apr. 3, 8 p.m., Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, rutheckerdhall.com.

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dRTB BEST BETS

BEACON’S BACK! Our lives were a little dimmer last year without the glow of BEACON — the annual showcase of top contemporary dance and multidisciplinary collaborations at The Palladium, co-founded five years ago by dancer/ choreographers Helen Hansen French and Lauren Slone. The pandemic cast a shadow over the prospect of a live return, but there’s light ahead via the invaluable livestream series Palladium Live! On April 16, tune into a performance by such incandescent artists as Charlotte Johnson, Erin Cardinal and Brian Fidalgo II, Dwayne Schuenemen, Alex Jones’s projectAlchemy and French herself. And if you miss the livestream at 8 p.m., your unique streaming link will still be active for 48 hours following the show. Fri., Apr. 16, 8 p.m. For information on streaming the show, go to mypalladium.org. Photo by Tom Kramer of Helen Hansen French in “Immure.”

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dRTB BEST BETS

WORDS OF LOVE

“A labyrinth of emotions depicted on hanging fabric panels” is how the artist Saumitra Chandratreya and the poet Kevin Mooney describe their collaborative installation Secret Language of Intimacy, now on view at The Studio@620. I saw an earlier iteration of this show at the Creative Pinellas galleries; while their description is, of course, accurate, it doesn’t fully convey the transfixing effect of Chandratreya’s ethereal chiffons married with the disarming insights of Mooney, enveloping the viewer in a meditation on love and language. Go get lost in it. On display through April 17, The Studio@620, 620 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-895-6620, thestudioat620.org.

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PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE

The slow rollout of vaccines for COVID-19 presented challenges for hospice workers with Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care in Pinellas. Even though they care for sick and vulnerable patients, it was difficult for workers to secure doses for themselves. Enter Heron House Assisted Living in Largo. They stepped up to vaccinate many of the hospice teams in late January, and to thank them, Seasons staff volunteered at the assisted living facility’s vaccination clinic.

Pictured: Tim Simpson, RN, former executive director of Seasons Hospice and a longtime employee, proudly declares his status in a picture frame created by Seasons and Heron House staffers in celebration of the successful partnership.

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PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE

The Off The Field Players’ Wives Association / Feeding Tampa Bay The Off The Field Players’ Wives Association, comprised of wives and significant others of active and retired NFL players, is dedicated to philanthropic initiatives that enhance the quality of life for families in their communities. Locally, the association has focused recent efforts on Feeding Tampa Bay, with members volunteering for food drives and raising funds through an auction and a fashion show. Typically held during Super Bowl week, the fashion show switched to a virtual format this year, which marks the event’s 20th anniversary. A video shoot featuring players’ wives in the latest looks from Neiman Marcus took place on Feb. 14 and was set to be aired on March 20. The models (some of whom are featured below) included Tenesha Anthony, DeeAnn Becht, Robbie Edwards, Emilia Ivy, Kati Jones, Heidi Kiffin, Brittany Martin-Conley, Aubrey Murphy, Sarina Murphy, Kristin Pressley, Damaris Quarles, Toneka Royal, Theresa Russell, Laura Rutledge, Angela Smith, Tambrika Stovall, Mitzi Testaverde and Brandi Winans, with creative direction by Kandace Campbell, styling by Laura Hunt and photography

by SuperNola Studios. To learn more, visit offthefieldpwa.org.

Aubrey Murphy in a Paige Margherita floral surplice bouse and cinq a sept Tous Les Jours Giles satin jogger pants Angela Smith in a Libertine Shattered Plate and Platter blazer and pants and cinq a sept Justine solid puff-sleeve silk blouse.

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Brittany Martin-Conley in a Trina Turk Theodora printed silk caftan dress.

Auction items to benefit Feeding Tampa Bay (like this jersey from youknow-who) were displayed at Neiman Marcus in International Plaza.

Toneka Royal in a Herve Leger draped fringe body-con mini dress, with a Gorski double face cashmere leopard-print stole w. fox fur trim and a Valentino Garavani Spike.It Micro Rockstud Glitter shoulder bag.

PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE

The Go Red for Women “Lunch-In” The American Heart Association’s 2021 Go Red for Women Digital “Lunch-In” was held on Friday, February 26, rounding out American Heart Month. Over 300 people attended the digital event emceed by 10 Tampa Bay’s Allison Kropff. Special guest speakers included campaign chair Rita Lowman, AHA Executive VP of Marketing & Communications Katrina McGhee, and Kathryn Childers, who told thrilling tales of her experience as one of the nation’s first female Secret Service agents. Guests were also able to hear the inspiring story of featured survivor Danny Persaud and his family and participated in the first-ever Go Red silent auction. Thanks to the leadership of Lowman and the 2021 Executive Leadership Cabinet, the Go Red for Women Campaign is inching closer to its $800,000 goal.

The digitally connected guests at the Go Red for Women “Lunch-In” included: 1 - Debbie Lundberg, Chair, Circle of Red. 2 - Campaign Chair and Pilot Bank President Rita Lowman (center) with members of her team at a Pilot Bank watch party.

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3 - Brenda Junco.

4 - Holly Vega.

5 - Ed Buckley.

6 - Sandy Shtab.

7 - Keynote speaker Kathryn Childers.

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Special Abilities…

Win Big! Exceptional Abilities students at a Palm Harbor elementary school broke fundraising records with their Big Game Bracelets.

By Molly duPont with Barry Banther

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ampa’s Super Bowl produced more than a champion on the field. It also inspired a group of students at Cypress Woods Elementary to up their game.

Each year the Exceptional Abilities (ESE) students at Cypress Woods make team-themed bracelets to sell in advance of the Big Game. Numerous supplies and educational tools are needed for their classroom, and this is their one time each year to raise the money.

During the busy weeks leading up to the game, these amazing kids focus all of their efforts on an economics-rich learning segment. Making the bracelets allows their teachers, Tina Koufogazos and Tammy Scala, to demonstrate the rudiments of economics with planning, buying supplies, production, and, of course, selling.

“I am so proud of my students!” says Koufogazos. “They never say no, and approach all learning with enthusiasm, curiosity and an ‘all in attitude.’”

This year, with our own Tampa Bucs in the hunt for the championship, the students took that can-do attitude to a new level. They also got a boost

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SOLD! Big Game Bracelet customers included officers in the Belleair Police Department and nurses at Advent Health North Pinellas.

from local media, which caught the attention of the Derrick Brooks Foundation and other Tampa Bay area businesses and individuals who placed hundreds of orders.

I am so proud of my students!” says teacher Tina Koufogazos.

“They never say no, and approach all learning with enthusiasm and curiosity.”

In fact, there were so many requests that parents and other classes volunteered to help — even Cypress Woods Elementary Principal Kim Hill and Assistant Principal Scott Stevens got in on the bracelet-making action.

didn’t stop her from telling everyone she knew about “Big Game Bracelets,” and she even organized a braceletmaking party at her home.

All of us at duPont REGISTRY Tampa Bay were thrilled to see how the hard work of these special students and the dedication of their teachers produced such a big win!

And just like the Bucs, the students won big. The total raised was $3,252 — breaking their previous fundraising record by thousands of dollars. This money will help purchase the supplies and extra learning tools that these exceptional students need.

One of those students, Olivia Banther, and her family are friends of mine. Olivia’s enthusiasm for this project was contagious. Disabilities

ARTISAN: A bracelet-maker at work.

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