F ROM THE EDITOR KATHY SAUNDERS
DINING & DRIVING
Fancy food and fast cars are in focus in this month’s Bay. We enjoyed sampling some superior meats from new specialty markets, where we learned about the origin of the different cuts and how to best prepare quality meats.
Instead of fancy clothes this issue, we photographed fashionable cars. Rebecca Jones, or Supercar Becca as she’s known on social media, has amassed an impressive collection of luxury cars available for rent throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Luxury cars might be the way to arrive at some of the social soirees being planned this fall. If your nonprofit organization wants to reach 40,000 of the area’s most affluent households, it’s not too late be included in Bay’s 2024-2025 charity register. The deadline has been extended to Aug. 21 for the October publication. Go to tampabay.com/charity-register to submit free or paid listings.
▲ 27 HIGH STEAKS
Local chefs and grillmasters want customers to know about the quality of meat they are buying and how to prepare the specialty cuts from local meat markets.
▲ 12 HOT WHEELS
Rebecca Jones turned her love of fast and fancy cars into a business renting out her luxury vehicles for special occasions.
her latest novel, "Lake County."
40
TRAVEL Cindy
Cockburn’s travel column takes readers from Paris to the Caribbean to The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
18 ELECTRIC DREAMS
Members of the Tampa Bay Tesla Club, the secondlargest Tesla club in the country, meet monthly to share their enthusiasm for the electric cars.
22 PREMIUM FUEL
Sarasota’s fine dining scene now includes Le Mans Kitchen, located inside the Ford dealership on busy Washington Boulevard.
▲ 44 EYE OF THE STORM Meteorologist Juli Marquez arrives at Bay News 9 weekdays at 2:30 a.m. to begin preparing the station’s morning forecasts and tropical updates.
48 SOCIAL SCENE
AUGUST 2024
EDITOR
Kathy Saunders ksaunders@tampabay.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Nikki Life nlife@tampabay.com
COPY EDITOR Erin Feitsma
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER Brian James, brian@brianjamesgallery.com
Bay is published eight times a year by Times Publishing Co. and delivered to Tampa Bay Times subscribers in select neighborhoods in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
Copyright 2024. Vol. 17, No. 5
Chairman & CEO Conan Gallaty
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Rebecca Jones, owner of Sharp Exotics Luxury & Exotic Car Rentals, with her red Ferrari 488 Pista.
Photo by Brian James.
WHEELS HOT
BY KATHY SAUNDERS
oseph Donu wanted to surprise his wife, Victoria, with a memorable anniversary weekend this summer. The Spring Hill couple had just welcomed their second child and were celebrating 18 years together. “I wanted my wife to feel extra special,” he said. Donu booked a weekend at the Tampa Edition on Water Street, the city’s first five-star hotel. Then he made a call to Rebecca Jones, owner of Sharp Exotics Luxury & Exotic Car Rentals. He chose a blue Lamborghini Huracán to be his weekend whip.
McLaren 600LT convertible. Photo courtesy of Sharp Exotics Luxury & Exotic Car Rentals.
Jones delivered the car to the Edition in time for Donu to take his wife to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
“When you pull up in a Lamborghini, there is a whole new feeling,” Donu said.
He drove the car for 24 hours. For him, the $1,200 fee was well worth it.
“When I was a child, I always dreamed of having one,” he said. “It was like reliving my dream.”
Jones, known on social media as Supercar Becca, has more than 15 exotic cars and continually adds to her fleet worth over $4 million. She has a few Lamborghinis, three Ferraris, a McLaren 600LT, a Porsche, a couple Corvette C8s, a Formula 4 race car, a few Mercedes models and a Tesla Cybertruck. She’s currently purchasing a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Lamborghini Huracán Spyder. The cars are stored in a few locations around Tampa Bay and are available to rent as far south as Sarasota.
Jones’ clients have included athletes, Middle Eastern royalty, vacationers and people who want a luxury car for
proposals, bachelorette weekends or date nights. She rents out cars for publicity projects, fashion shoots and real estate brochures, and she works with several local hotels that offer the cars to their guests. This summer, she rolled out a VIP membership for repeat customers.
“I actually bought the cars for me,” said Jones. “I grew up in a car family and I always wanted to own a sports car.”
A self-described country girl from a small town in Nebraska, Jones started her own medical staffing company in 2013. She bought her first exotic car, a 2017 Ferrari
488 Spider, in 2020 after moving to St. Petersburg.
Jones fell in love with the area after traveling to Florida for work during the pandemic, when medical staff was in high demand. She moved her staffing business and flipped homes for a couple years before deciding to add exotic car rentals to her resume.
“It’s not an easy business to be in as a female,” she said. “But a lot of people respect me, and I think it’s really great being in a space that no one ever thought was possible.”
Joseph Donu rented a blue Lamborghini Huracán (also shown at left) as a surprise for his wife, Victoria, for their 18th anniversary. Photo courtesy of Joseph Donu.
Photo courtesy of Sharp Exotics Luxury & Exotic Car Rentals.
Jones describes herself as a “boots-onthe-ground” business owner.
“I detail the cars,” she said. “I run my medical company.”
Ally Tufaro of Tampa recently rented the McLaren from Jones as a surprise for her boyfriend’s 27th birthday. But when the windshield wipers seemed to be malfunctioning, Jones also sent a Ferrari.
“The wipers were fixed by the next day, but she delivered these two exotic cars. It was amazing,” said Tufaro. “I had almost a million dollars’ worth of cars in my driveway.”
Tufaro extended her lease for four days and plans to rent from Jones again.
Jones recently formed a nonprofit corporation and offers her cars for auction at local charity events. She has sponsored events for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and St. Petersburg’s Boley Centers and has raised money for Hurricane Ian victims.
“The fun part now is being able to share and give back,” she said.
Eventually, Jones hopes to franchise.
“I want to be the No. 1 elite company in all of Tampa Bay and then branch out to cities that don’t have exotic car rentals,” she said. This summer she launched her second exotic car business in Omaha.
“I have this tagline in my life. It’s ‘Be legendary.’ It doesn’t mean to be famous. It means whenever the day comes that we go out in life, be somebody that people are going to remember.” For
A black Porsche GT3 RS is part of the fleet owned by Rebecca Jones aka Supercar Becca. Photo courtesy of Sharp Exotics Luxury & Exotic Car Rentals.
Ferrari SF90. Photo courtesy of Sharp Exotics Luxury & Exotic Car Rentals.
TAMPA BAY’ S #1 SELLING REAL ESTATE AGENT
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ELECTRIC
BY KATHY SAUNDERS
A recent meeting of the Tampa Bay Tesla Club.
Photo courtesy of Jason Blount.
ason Blount has always owned unique cars. He was that first guy you knew who bought a Hummer after Arnold Schwarzenegger made them famous, then got his hands on the wheels of tiny, snazzy Mini Coopers. That same quest for individuality led him to order a $49,000 Cybertruck from Tesla in 2019, the year Elon Musk’s company introduced the futuristic, fully electric vehicles that look straight out of science fiction. “It’s fully electric. I like all the weird things about it,” he said. “It’s also bulletproof, which is funny and strange.”
Blount, a 42-year-old digital marketing strategist who lives in downtown St. Petersburg, bought a Tesla Model 3 in 2020 to tide him over until the special Foundation Series Cybertruck was available this summer. Once he picked up his first Tesla, he was hooked.
“It just makes sense how it drives,” he said. “You don’t use two pedals. You only use your gas. If you are using your brake, you are driving too fast. I have 130,000 miles on my Tesla, and I’m still on my same brakes because you don’t use them.”
Blount, who covered his Tesla Model 3 in a custom wrap that changes colors in the sun, helped launch the Tampa Bay Tesla Club. With more than 8,000 members, it has become the second-largest Tesla club in the country behind the Tesla club in Los Angeles.
“A lot of clubs are online, but when I got
my Tesla, I started organizing monthly meetups and I have not missed a month yet,” said Blount.
The club draws hundreds of members to its monthly meetings, most of which take place around Tampa Bay in the evenings. Membership can be obtained primarily through the group’s Facebook page, Tampa Bay Tesla Club. All meetings are open to the public.
“I try to change what we do each month and find cool venues,” he said. The three local Tesla dealers in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota offer the club space for meetings. Club members also host parades over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and Blount has rented out local rooftop parking lots for club light shows in which drivers all flash their lights at the same time.
The club recently attempted a worldrecord Tesla light show on the roof of the Westshore Grand hotel, but not all of the registered drivers showed up. The current world record was clinched in Korea earlier
this year with more than 1,000 cars simultaneously flashing lights.
Blount is planning a celebration of the club’s fourth anniversary Nov. 16. While he said details are still being finalized, the gathering will be “over the top” with a VIP red-carpet party.
Blount’s Cybertruck, the car that brings to mind the retrofitted, time-travel DeLorean from the “Back to the Future” movies, can cost upwards of $80,000 today.
His collector’s edition model has a full self-driving feature.
“It will do everything,” he said. “It can stop at a stop sign; wait to turn. It can do all the driving, almost all the time.”
Blount plans to bring the car to club meetings as a showpiece. And it will likely be his ride to a club rally in Texas, which is still in the planning stages. The hope is to meet up with members of the Los Angeles Tesla club at the halfway spot in Austin. That’s Tesla’s corporate home base.
Tampa Bay Tesla Club founder Jason Blount with his 2020 Tesla Model 3 custom wrapped to change colors in the sun. Photo courtesy of Jason Blount.
Le Mans Kitchen boasts a chic interior that looks nothing like a car dealership.
Photo courtesy of Le Mans Kitchen.
PREMIUM FUEL
BY MICHELLE STARK
Le Mans Kitchen, which opened just east of downtown Sarasota in December 2023, is bringing elevated fare to the city’s robust dining scene. But if you were to drive by the spot along busy Washington Boulevard, you’d have no idea it was there. That’s intentional.
Le Mans Kitchen isn’t like any restaurant you’ve been to before: Located inside the bustling Sarasota Ford dealership, the exterior in every way resembles a place you’d go to buy a new Mustang or get your car’s tires replaced.
The first-of-its-kind dining spot was developed and is operated by Sarasota Ford and is not technically open to the public. It serves Sarasota Ford employees and customers only, though any service appointment will get you in the door. Need an oil change on your non-Ford vehicle? Bring it here and enjoy a decadent lunch while you wait.
The 3,367-square-foot space has just a couple dozen seats, located steps from the sales room floor and body shop. The restaurant replaces the dealership’s former cafe, which underwent renovations that started in May 2023 to become the chic space it is now. The theme is inspired by Ford’s history of racing at Le Mans in France and, yes, the 2019 movie “Ford v Ferrari” that detailed the company’s history of racing.
A cappuccino with the Le Mans Kitchen logo.
A petite 4-ounce filet mignon is served with potato pavé at Le Mans Kitchen.
Photos by Michelle Stark.
Le Mans Kitchen may serve as a model for other dealerships around the country, but for now, it has a unique footprint. It’s a real restaurant, but it also serves another purpose: customer retention. It’s all part of a specific high-end experience Sarasota Ford has set out to curate, where loyalty is the ultimate goal. There’s also an 11-seat movie theater and a relaxation room with massage chairs available to customers.
A coffee counter greets guests as they enter Le Mans, the bright, airy dining room resembling something out of a French bistro rather than a car dealership. Employees make cappuccinos and
smoothies at the counter, and scoop several flavors of gelato, too. But there’s no quick service offered: It’s all table service at Le Mans, where customers are encouraged to grab a seat and relax while they wait.
But that doesn’t mean they'll be waiting long.
“We’ll be at your table in 15 minutes,” said restaurant manager Blake Campbell. “That’s all part of it, to be fast for people who are just getting their air topped off.”
You can also get your food to go or come back another day to eat. Everyone who has a service appointment at or buys a car from Sarasota Ford receives a voucher for Le Mans that can be used right then or at a later date. The best part? That voucher gets you one entree and one beverage, free of charge.
Campbell, who previously worked at Sarasota’s Selva Grill and The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, collaborated with Michelin star-anointed chef Jose Martinez and local chef Joel Casillas to develop the look and feel of the restaurant and its menu. Campbell and Casillas, who previously worked together at a different restaurant, say they even chose the style of napkins.
The full electric kitchen is small but mighty: Just four employees, including Casillas, dish up the day’s fare, most of which is ordered by the dealership’s 200-plus employees, who can text in their orders. The kitchen doesn’t have a freezer, so freshness is a necessary priority.
There are two menus, a breakfast menu and a midday menu, and a fun selection of smoothies offered on both. The petite 4-ounce filet mignon is a nice lunch option, the smaller filet feeling indulgent but not too indulgent for a midday meal. It’s served with a potato pavé that takes hours to make and contains a dozen thinly sliced layers of potato compressed to form one fancy accompaniment. The spring pea shrimp risotto is a nice light option, as is the pan-seared salmon with a yummy chive and corn beurre blanc.
Breakfast options include a rolled French omelet and hazelnut French toast.
“We want to make you feel like you’re not (at) a dealership when you’re here,” Campbell said. “It’s an experience.”
For more information, including menus and hours, visit lemanskitchen.com.
The team at Le Mans Kitchen. Photos courtesy of Le Mans Kitchen.
Avocado toast topped with a poached egg is available for lunch.
High steaks
Several meat markets in the Tampa Bay area not only sell top-quality meats but work to educate customers about the origin of the different cuts, the variety of flavors and how to prepare the sometimes pricy steaks and chops available to home cooks and grillmasters. Hungry yet? Read on for profiles of some of Tampa Bay's prime meat boutiques.
Photo courtesy of Meat N' Bone.
Meat N’ Bone
BY KATHY SAUNDERS
Helping home cooks select and prepare the same high-quality meats served by Michelin-starred chefs is the idea behind Meat N’ Bone, a new boutique in Tampa.
The meat counter was founded in South Florida in 2017, and its 4042 W. Kennedy Blvd. location marks the company’s sixth boutique.
Meat N’ Bone is primarily an online butcher shop where customers can order from more than 300 products for local delivery, national shipping or pickup at the Tampa shop.
The concept of Meat N’ Bone is about “providing meat lovers with access to the best cuts of meat available,” said Luis Mata, the company’s founder and CEO. He wants to bring back the concept of the local butcher shop but with a modern twist.
In the Tampa boutique, manager Miguel Manzanero helps customers order from the store monitors. He has a wide range of products on hand, including USDA prime and choice beef, American and Japanese wagyu, Iberico pork, humanely raised poultry, seafood and game.
Shoppers can find grilling supplies including premium charcoal, high-end cookware, utensils, spices and salts curated by the Meat N’ Bone chefs.
Ready-made sauces, including curry, wasabi, pesto, Peruvian huancaína and others, are for sale from a refrigerated section. Some of the company’s seafood is also available at the boutique, along with a few dessert options, including Aubi & Ramsa alcohol-infused ice creams.
“Once I ate prime (and) choice meat, my life changed,” said Manzanero. “And when you are eating Japanese wagyu meat, it melts in your mouth like butter.”
The company also operates two steakhouses, The Wagyu Bar in Miami and The Wagyu House in Hallandale Beach, as well as the Miami-based catering company Get the Cook.
Meat N’ Bone is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit meatnbone.com or call 813-285-7759.
Founders Gabriel Llaurado and Luis Mata.
One of the featured steaks available for purchase at the Tampa location. Photos courtesy of Meat N’ Bone.
One of the original Meat N’ Bone boutiques, similar to the one now open in Tampa.
St. Pete Meat & Provisions
BY KATHY SAUNDERS
Planning to grill out for Labor Day? How about trying some camel burgers? Maybe some handmade sausages? Or how about some Korean barbecue-style short ribs prepared by one of St. Petersburg’s most recognized chefs?
At St. Pete Meat & Provisions, chef David Benstock of Il Ritorno offers his best meats and products. His butcher shop and boutique at 449 Central Ave. are just a couple doors down from his modern Italian restaurant. “We’re presenting a new approach to buying restaurant-quality meats and cooking products,” said Benstock, who operates the butcher shop with his wife, Erica, and entrepreneurs Brooke Boyd, owner of Hype Group, and Peter Boyd, owner of Reno Boyd Building Co.
All of Benstock’s meats are hand-cut and responsibly sourced. “We use as much as we can from each animal,” he said, pointing to the huge jar of homemade American wagyu beef jerky on the counter.
Head butcher and store manager Joey Bruno knows many of the regular customers and their preferences. He will prepare special cuts like beef tenderloins ahead of time for customers to pick up.
On a recent afternoon, he was cutting a rib-eye steak for customer Kevin O’Dowd to prepare in his cast-iron skillet that night for dinner. He also welcomed O’Dowd’s French bulldog, Herschel, and wrapped a few rib-eye scraps for the canine customer. O’Dowd, a downtown
resident, said Herschel heads straight to the shop on every walk.
Benstock sells all the traditional cuts of dry-aged prime beef as well as Japanese, American and Australian wagyu beef. Benstock is especially proud of his relationship with Olivor Heritage Farms in Dover, where he buys all his chicken. “It’s 100% grass-fed and -finished,” he said. “It’s the best chicken you can sell. We know who is raising it, and we’ve seen how they operate. It has a very clean flavor.”
Benstock offers game meats, marinated meats, lamb, veal and a selection of frozen seafood. He employs cheesemonger Matt Bonano, former owner of Brooklyn South, to find unique cheeses and charcuterie. His restaurant marinades, fresh pasta, sauces, dressings, seasonings, spices, fresh eggs and grilled vegetables are also for sale. The meats are free of stabilizers or preservatives and can be frozen for future meals.
If he’s shopping for a weeknight dinner for his wife and four children, Benstock usually grabs a filet, a couple New York strip steaks, some oven-ready vegetables and fresh pasta with his packaged Pomodoro sauce. But his family will happily eat camel burgers as well. “We have a lot of fun with the game meats,” he said.
This year, Benstock began a Meat Club for customers to create monthly ($179) or semimonthly ($345) meat boxes for pickup or delivery. The butcher shop is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Local delivery is free for orders over $100.
Visit stpetemeat.com or call 727-350-4721.
Chef David Benstock of Il Ritorno and owner of St. Pete Meat & Provisions with his store manager, Joey Bruno.
Photo by Brian James.
Danny Hernandez explains how to prepare and serve his barbecue at The Brisket Shoppe and Grill & Provisions in Tampa.
Photo by Brian James.
The Brisket Shoppe
BY CINDY COCKBURN
Longtime Tampa resident and pitmaster
Danny Hernandez is so excited about the world of barbecue that he has created an entire destination saluting his passion. He owns and operates The Brisket Shoppe and Grill & Provisions, two West Tampa destinations housed under one roof at 3501 N. Armenia Ave. He proudly offers an eclectic menu featuring Texas-inspired barbecue with Tampeño influence.
His business is a one-stop shop, offering everything from a whole hog pork sandwich at The Brisket Shoppe to all the equipment needed to create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams at Grill & Provisions.
At Hernandez’s sprawling barbecue mecca, meats include hand-selected HeartBrand Akaushi wagyu briskets, with no antibiotics or added hormones, that are smoked over oak wood daily. On that same butcher block are turkey breasts, meaty pork ribs, hand-crafted sausages and a variety of sides and sweets. Every item is prepared fresh each day.
The ribs, half-pound wagyu cheeseburgers and sides, like brisket and
beans, citrus coleslaw, tallow fries and creamy mac and cheese, are big sellers. For dessert, the store offers banana pudding, warm bread pudding with bourbon crème and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
The Brisket Shoppe is open Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grill & Provisions is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can enjoy inside and outside dining.
Along with the provisions, Hernandez and his sales team offer barbecue equipment brands including Primo Ceramic Grills, Napoleon, Alfresco, Fire Magic, Broilmaster and other industry-leading grills.
“We will set you up for success from the design of your perfect outdoor kitchen (to) a wide selection of grills, smokers and pizza ovens, installed in American-made cabinets (with) the highest commitment to customer service,” Hernandez said.
Clients can add weatherproof appliances and choose the shape, size and style of their outdoor kitchens.
In keeping with the theme of a full-service barbecue shop, Hernandez recently added more than 200 wine selections to his business.
“It’s the last piece of our ever-evolving vision to offer an unrivaled experience for barbecue,” he said.
“The wine offerings have been carefully curated to make your pairings flavorful and fun, starting with light sparkling wines and moving into the blends of syrah and merlots to an extensive section of cabernets and old-world offerings,” he said. Most of the wines are priced under $50 a bottle.
Hernandez said that he wants to give back to the community that has welcomed his business. He’s also a festival promoter who raises money for local charities. He has invited America’s top barbecue pitmasters to gather in Tampa for the second annual BBQ Love Fest on Nov. 16.
At 11 a.m. that Saturday, the public is invited to celebrate the love of barbecue, enjoy food samples, listen to live music and vote for their favorite local team, all cooking for a cause in Perry Harvey Sr. Park. Top pitmasters from around the country and backyard barbecue teams will compete for grand prizes and bragging rights.
Tickets for the event are available at bbqlovefest.com. Contact info@ bbqlovefest.com or 813-879-4647 for more information.
Grill & Provisions
BY CINDY COCKBURN
t. Petersburg resident Anthony Fernandez likes to grill out three or four times a week. When he wanted to design an outdoor kitchen at his Snell Isle home, he turned to Danny Hernandez, owner of The Brisket Shoppe and Grill & Provisions in Tampa.
S“Danny made my barbecue fantasy come true,” he said.
Fernandez was one of the establishment's first customers when the meat shop opened in 2019. “It’s such an evolving destination and barbecue mecca,” said Fernandez. “It’s my go-to
spot for rubs, sauces and cuts of meat.”
When he renovated his home in 2021, Fernandez turned to the sales team at Grill & Provisions for his poolside improvements as well. “The outdoor kitchen has a Big Green Egg alongside a Twin Eagles high-end outdoor pellet grill and an Alfa pizza oven,” he said.
The Grill & Provisions team also added two refrigerators, an ice maker, a warming drawer, a breakfast skillet and a griddle. Fernandez has two stovetops as well. “We are party central,” he said. “My family loves it.” Fernandez spent $70,000 for the kitchen equipment, which also included granite counter-
tops, plumbing, cabinetry, appliances and a roof.
Shop owner Hernandez is excited about the quality brands his business offers local customers. “We have (products from) 10 of the top national brands, (including) gas grills, outdoor pizza ovens, outdoor fireplaces and indoor electric fireplaces,” he said.
“We can create a 100% custom design of your backyard from a pencil drawing to the last date of installation. You can come in for (a) one-on-one design consultation (and) find competitive pricing on all the outdoor accessories, appliances, cabinetry and countertops.”
St. Petersburg resident Anthony Fernandez cooks outside three or four times a week and dreamed of an outdoor kitchen for his new Snell Isle home. He said Danny Hernandez made his "barbecue fantasy come true" and was happy to make the $70,000 investment with the Grill & Provisions store. Photo by Michael Dupre.
TAMPA BAY TIMES & TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
Lo ok No Fu rt he r
DOLPHI
SOUTHERN GOTHIC
BY KATHY SAUNDERS
Author Lori Roy in her former home in Tierra Verde. Photo by Martha Asencio-Rhine.
Even while writing and promoting five books, award-winning author Lori Roy was taking day trips around Florida. She didn’t know exactly what she was looking for, but she knew old
Florida was something she wanted to write about. ■ Florida has that effect on writers.
One of her previous books, “The Disappearing,” was set in North Florida. And before the pandemic, the St. Petersburg resident spent a lot of time reading books by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King that recounted infamous Florida crimes.
“I read several things by him, especially ‘Devil in the Grove’ and ‘Beneath (a) Ruthless Sun,’” she said. Both books are about Lake County Sheriff Willis V. McCall and the abuses of power under his reign. “Gilbert King makes me want to be a better writer.”
While her Southern Gothic books are fictional, Roy likes to draw parallels with reality, especially Florida truths.
“I got really interested in the history and the (dynamics) in this one county smack dab in the middle of Florida, and I just held onto that for a long time,” she said about “Lake County,” her newest novel, which was released June 1 by Thomas & Mercer.
Roy visited Clermont, Tavares and Mount Dora several times to get a sense of what the county offered.
Hockta, the fictional town she created for “Lake County,” is a “culmination of all those little towns,” she said. “I like all the stuff that hasn’t changed in small towns, like the original architecture and the curbs that are really, really tall.”
The small-town backdrop helped shape
her “Lake County” characters.
“Life is a little more contained in a small community, so if you are trapped, you are really trapped,” Roy said. “In a little town, you either fit in or you are out.”
Architecture and history closer to her home in Pinellas County also inspired elements of “Lake County.” In the book, she weaves together true and fictional stories of organized crime in Ybor City.
“I love the history of Ybor City,” Roy said. “Writing about the Mafia wasn’t exactly in my strike zone, but I found it very comfortable,” she said.
Included in the novel are stories of the notorious mobster Charlie Wall. He was a rival crime boss in the Florida Mafia who was brutally murdered in his home in 1955. His killer was never found.
“Organized crime bosses seem to be pretty analytic,” she said. “And I used to be a tax accountant.”
While writing the novel, she knew she wanted the main character, Addie, to have a famous aunt. Originally, she was thinking of using one of the B-movie
actresses who’d visited Florida to film movies like 1954’s “Creature from the Black Lagoon” near Silver Springs.
But on a walk along St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue, she saw the mural of Marilyn Monroe by the Vitale Bros. and knew she had found her famous character.
“In college, I went through this whole Rat Pack stage where I read about Marilyn and Dean (Martin) and the gangsters,” she said. “I didn’t want Marilyn to be a gimmick, but I knew I wanted to try writing for her and then see if she had something to say.
“She came (to life) on the page, and the best way I can say it is, she’s happy to be there. She was very easy to write, and she said, ‘Hell yes, I’ve got something to say.’ It had to be something I felt only she could do,” said Roy.
Lately, Roy has been visiting some of Florida’s swamplands, researching her next book. “I recently went trekking through the Big Cypress swamps and had some scary moments with alligators,” she said. “The next book is (set) in the present day, so it’s a little different vibe although (it still has that) small-townish grit.”
TRAVELS WITH CC CINDY COCKBURN
PARADISE FOUND
SeaDream Yacht Club – Caviar, Champagne and barbecue
All SeaDream Yacht Club voyages in the Caribbean include a signature Champagne & Caviar Splash beach party. Executive chef Elton Tabaj and his galley team transport the five-star kitchen from the yacht to the beach. Passengers are served a lavish beach barbecue, cooked to perfection. All guests don bathing suits and the captain joins in for an informal day playing Robinson Crusoe. In fact, be prepared to get soaking wet. You will arrive on the island via a Zodiac boat that shuttles passengers from the yacht directly to the white, sandy beach. I attended the beach party in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands during a recent cruise. What a great way to spend a winter afternoon! And the best part? Skip the high resort rates and book the intimate cruise with only 150 passengers.
Paris is always a good idea
The Olympics may be over, but we still can’t get enough of the French. A recent report from GlobalData announced that France is on track to become the most visited country by 2025, when 93.7 million international travelers are expected to visit there.
Delta Air Lines offers several options while traveling from Tampa to Paris. I usually stop in Atlanta to connect with Air France for a seamless experience. I recently discovered a “secret” and luxurious way to get to Europe. Friends rave about the 10-year-old French boutique airline called La Compagnie. The flights only depart from Newark
All SeaDream Yacht Club voyages in the Caribbean include a signature Champagne & Caviar Splash beach party. Photo courtesy of SeaDream Yacht Club.
The Vinoy Resort’s new French pastry chef Armand Berger greets guests during a special 3-5 p.m. Champagne tasting and pastry demonstration at Lottie, the resort's new patisserie. Photo courtesy of Cindy Cockburn.
Liberty International Airport, but it’s totally worth the trip to New Jersey. Once on board, the plane offers 76 seats that all turn into flatbeds. It’s a business-class airline experience to Paris, Milan or Nice. And the food is marvelous.
For the ultimate Parisian culinary experience, secure a table at Le Jules Verne. Located at the top of the Eiffel Tower, the views are spectacular from this world-famous restaurant. Watch the calendar and make sure to book 90 days in advance and be prepared to pay ahead as well (a $500 deposit is the norm for a table for two). When you factor in the advantage of skipping the long entry line and the overall once-ina-lifetime opportunity of dining in the Eiffel Tower, the experience is well worth the cost. Perched at a height of 410 feet, you will even have your own private elevator to the restaurant. The dress code, an elegant outfit and no shorts or sportswear, is strictly enforced. Suit jackets are mandatory for men.
Closer to home, Travel + Leisure magazine recently named St. Petersburg the Best Food City in the
U.S. We found a tiny slice of Paris in St. Petersburg. When you check in to the newly renovated Vinoy Resort, you’ll be invited on Friday and Saturday from 3-5 p.m. to meet the new executive pastry chef Armand Berger and sample complimentary Champagne and nibbles from Lottie, the new patisserie located in the hotel’s lobby.
Tropic Ocean Airways salutes Jimmy Buffett Day
Tropic Ocean Airways is the largest commercial amphibious airline and is ready to entertain all Parrotheads. To celebrate Jimmy Buffett Day on Aug. 30, they are launching an epic package with Baker’s Cay Resort, a nature-inspired luxury resort on the Overseas Highway in Key Largo. Inspired by the legendary singer-songwriter, this unique trip offers a fun-filled adventure over Labor Day weekend and includes a one-way Tropic Ocean Airways seaplane adventure for two departing from Sheltair Terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and landing at Baker’s Cay Resort. The three-night waterfront king guest room package is valid only from Aug. 30 through Sept. 2. It includes compli-
mentary return shuttle service to Miami International Airport or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Having more space is a priority for families. Nearly three in five guests say being able to fit all their family members in one place is a major deciding factor when booking a vacation. Some of the top trending destinations near the water for families this summer are Melbourne, Australia and Nassau, Bahamas.
We already live in paradise with a variety of resort options just a short drive away, no passport required. We talked to Diane Lopez, the director of resort operations at The Resort at Longboat Key Club near Sarasota, where the Gulf waters are beautiful, the beach cabanas are huge and the suites are grand. The two-bedroom suites overlook the pool and the Gulf of Mexico with a living room that includes a queen-sized sleeper sofa, a full kitchen, a washer and dryer and a private balcony. Don’t miss Latitudes restaurant for delicious menu options in the resort, offering both “land” (a 16-ounce rib-eye steak) and “sea” (spiny lobster curry) options with Ed Geyfman as executive chef. Great to find out a kids dinner menu is available. Grown-ups will love checking out the resort’s Tavern & Whiskey Bar with over 100 different types of whiskey.
Sports are key here on the Key. Briana François is the director of racquet sports, tennis and pickleball and reports that there are eight new pickleball courts at the resort. They have lessons almost daily. The resort store supports local women-owned vendors. Peaceful tip: Check out the many treatment rooms and new sound therapy beds in the spa. Naps encouraged!
Tropic Ocean Airways, the largest commercial amphibious airline, is collaborating with Baker’s Cay Resort on the Overseas Highway in Key Largo to offer an exclusive Jimmy Buffett package this Labor Day weekend. Photo courtesy of Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton.
eye of the storm
BY KATHY SAUNDERS
hile many of us are still restocking our hurricane supply boxes as the height of storm season approaches, meteorologist Juli Marquez has extra time on her hands. She started refilling milk jugs and individual plastic bottles with water and stacking them in her freezer right after New Year’s. She also added things like batteries and peanut butter to her grocery lists months ago. “I just buy a little bit each week,” said the Bay News 9 morning meteorologist. “When the season starts, I don’t have as much stress.”
Marquez, 50, a native of Chicago, moved to Tampa in 2002 after working at TV station KMTV-TV in Omaha, Nebraska. Living in Tornado Alley, she became a formidable force in preparing viewers for deadly impacts and helping them stay safe during storms. She has been nominated twice for Emmy Awards for her coverage of tornadoes in the Tampa Bay area. She uses those same skills to guide viewers through hurricane season, which
began June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
With her own family living in an evacuation zone in Hillsborough County, Marquez doesn’t take any chances. This year, researchers from Colorado State University have predicted an above-average season of 23 named storms with 11 that have potential to become hurricanes, five of which could reach major strength.
“That doesn’t mean something is going to happen,” Marquez allowed. “But you don’t have to have a direct hit from a hurricane to be impacted.”
A graduate of Loyola University Chicago with a degree in communications, Marquez earned her meteorology certification from Mississippi State University and was one of the first women to earn the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal, an important distinction between weathercasters and those who are knowledgeable about meteorology.
Marquez was always interested in the weather, inspired by the first woman she ever saw forecasting on television, Roberta Gonzales on WMAQ-TV in Chicago. She recalled being impressed with her knowledge of weather and how she stood out among her male colleagues as a professional. Channeling her memories of Gonzales, Marquez has been advising viewers to get their hurricane preparations underway for months. She urges homeowners to review their insurance policies to know exactly what is covered and to invest in portable chargers.
Marquez can’t say if storms are becoming more frequent or more severe because the technology available these days is much more advanced than it used to be. The weather studio in Bay News 9’s Carillon headquarters was completely revamped and updated with new storm forecasting tools last fall in preparation for the 2024 hurricane season.
“It’s not one thing you have to look at, it’s the whole picture,” she said. “I think we just know a lot more than we did. We’re able to see more and we’re better at detecting what’s happening, although the intensity of the storms is still hard to predict.”
Marquez is among a team of meteorologists who have been together for many hurricane seasons. She’s currently on the air weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m., arriving at the weather center at 2:30 a.m. each morning. In addition to airing weather updates
“It’s not one thing you have to look at, it’s the whole picture. ... We’re able to see more and we’re better at detecting what’s happening, although the intensity of the storms is still hard to predict.”
every 10 minutes, once the tropics begin to heat up, Bay News 9 airs live storm updates with its Klystron 9 Interactive Radar system.
Marquez can’t forget 2004, when four named hurricanes hit the Tampa Bay area in six weeks, all causing major damage. She remembers the ominous ride to work before Hurricane Charley ripped through the Tampa Bay area with maximum winds of 150 miles per hour.
“It was dark, and it was a ghost town. I remember looking around and thinking, ‘I don’t know how this is all going to look when it’s over,’” she said. “That’s what I think every year.”
And that’s the message she gives to residents who are new to the area or those who may be hesitant to evacuate.
“Because I live here, I understand exactly what they are going through,” she said. “So does everyone on our team.”
Bay News 9 morning meteorologist Juli Marquez has been forecasting the weather in the Tampa Bay area since 2002. Photo courtesy of Bay News 9.
SOCIAL
St. Petersburg Debutantes
2024 Class
Nearly nine decades of tradition will continue this winter when another group of young women is presented at the annual St. Petersburg Debutante Ball on Dec. 28 at the Coliseum. The 2024 class includes rising sophomores and juniors who are studying at institutions across the country. The focus of this year’s debutante season will be on social connections and community service. In alphabetical order, the debutantes are:
Elizabeth Leigh Camp, daughter of James and Molly Camp; University of Richmond, Leadership & Political Science.
Catherine Angela Carmen Curtis, daughter of Michael and Lauren Curtis; Florida State University.
Emmy Annette Fleming, daughter of Frederick and Gigi Fleming; Florida Atlantic University, Communications.
Gabriella Nicole Hahn, daughter of Dr. Gregory and Nuria Hahn; University of Vermont.
Callan Patricia Hearn, daughter of Preston Hearn and Rebecca Nannen; Florida State University, Exercise Physiology.
Maryn Elise Hockensmith, daughter of Thomas and Terri Hockensmith; Tallahassee Community College.
Mason Isabel Lang, daughter of Robert and Randy Lang; University of Central Florida, Hospitality and Medicine.
Avery Paige Lazzara, daughter of Philip and Belinda Lazzara; University of Florida, Finance.
Stella Sofia Monforte, daughter of Dr. Hector and Jill Monforte; University of Florida.
Katherine Anne Musselman, daughter of Robert and Julie Musselman; Norland College, Early Childhood Education.
Savannah Louise Nelson, daughter of Laurie Lowe Nelson; Southern Methodist University, Engineering – Computer Science.
Grace Catherine Salter, daughter of Brad and Devin Salter; Florida State University.
Grace Alyssa Stapleton, daughter of Drs. Gary and Stacie Stapleton; University of Colorado Boulder, Neuroscience.
Baylie Barcus Stover, daughter of William and Corrie Stover; High Point University, Studio Art.
Nia Yvonne Tomalin, daughter of the late Terrence Tomalin and Dr. Kanika Tomalin; Barnard College, Columbia University, History.
Mallory Elise Ulrich, daughter of Robert and Lora Ulrich; Florida State University, Marketing.
Mary Lewis Williams, daughter of Kenneth and Rachel Williams; University of Central Florida, Nursing.
SOCIAL Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House LAMPLighters Fund Hope:
Denim and Diamonds
Yeehaw! LAMPLighters Fund Hope’s rootin’-tootin’ revelry roped in over $133,000 for homeless families and foster children with dinner and dancing at a Denim and Diamonds hoedown April 5 at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC. The boot-scootin’ bonanza wasn’t the LAMPLighters’ first rodeo. Since 1986, these gals have wrangled millions to provide health and education opportunities, from swimming lessons to LAMPLighters Learning Labs, for at-risk children served by Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by Joe Photo Tampa.
From left, Robert and Nicole Uithoven and Jordan and Aaron Thomas.
From left, Frank and Erin DeGeorge and Valerie and Jeff Anderson.
Line dancing was a hit with Denim and Diamonds guests at the LAMPLighters benefit for Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House.
SOCIAL Make-A-Wish
Southern Florida
Wishmaker’s Ball
Raising $1 million at the Wishmaker’s Ball fulfilled Make-AWish Southern Florida’s very own wish to keep creating amazing experiences for bay area children battling critical illnesses. Guests at the May 11 gala congratulated Tyler Kingsbury, 21, on completing his wish to write and publish his memoir, “Tenacity,” about triumphing over cancer twice. Supporters also met Kennedy Cunningham, 7, who loved |her wish baking cookies with TV personality Joanna Gaines last summer. There was much to celebrate between dinner and rocking out to the Goo Goo Dolls in the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street ballroom, especially when event co-chairs Dr. Angela and Chris LaFace announced a $400,000 gift that will make 50 wishes possible. The after-party crowd buzzed up to the rooftop Beacon bar to toast their most successful fundraiser. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by Elizabeth Baxter Photography.
The Goo Goo Dolls rocked the Wishmaker’s Ball on May 11 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. Photo by Liv Mayrom.
From left, Marcus and Lauren Fernandez and Nichole and Jim Vogt.
From left, Andy and Amber Cunningham with their children, Make-A-Wish kid Kennedy and her brother, Landon.
Dr. Angela and Chris LaFace.
SOCIAL
Voices of Hope for Aphasia Word Play
What has eight letters and spells fun and games? Word Play, the annual Voices of Hope for Aphasia benefit dinner where guests show off their puzzle-solving prowess to win prizes and bragging rights. The June 6 gala’s highest honor, the Merl Reagle Words for Good Award, named for the late crossword puzzle superstar, went to the Committee to Advocate for Persons with Impairments (CAPI) for guiding efforts to improve the lives of people struggling with aphasia after a stroke or brain injury. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks and former Rays pitcher Jason Adam joined over 240 supporters at Banquet Masters in Clearwater, helping raise more than $135,000. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by Stage Photography of Tampa.
Former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jason Adam and Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks.
From left, Patrick Arthur Jackson, Debbie Yones and Erica Sutherlin.
Darrell and Tracey Pion.
From left, Vicki Walton, Tara Mattiacci and Kilee Cannarelli.
SOCIAL
The Florida Aquarium World Ocean Day Soirée
Blue Lagoon cocktails and a sea of hors d’oeuvres awaited the Florida Aquarium supporters at the World Ocean Day Soirée on June 8, where lobster rolls, spicy scallop ceviche, a tropical fruit bar and much more surrounded a silent auction on the rooftop terrace. A sloth named Apaporis joined the party, followed by Nuru, a South African penguin wearing his natural “tuxedo.”
As for most of the 100-plus guests on that blazing hot evening, cocktail attire meant breezy dresses, polo shirts and shorts. Everyone boarded the Bay Spirit II for the second half of the event, an hour-long dessert cruise and sunset salute along the Hillsborough River, accompanied by a steel drum musician’s lively island beats. The event raised more than $85,000 for marine wildlife programs. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.
From left, Chris Glaser, Lisa Yob, Lori Heathershaw and Mark Engeberg.
From left, Ed Buckley, Alex Sink, Marlee Strawn and Al Johnson.
From left, Doug and Judy Montgomery, Doreen Caudell and Dale Hoffman.
A steel drummer entertains guests aboard the Bay Spirit II at the World Ocean Day Soirée on June 8. The event raised more than $85,000 for marine wildlife programs at the Florida Aquarium.
For over 26 years, Dr Zimmer has provided unparalleled care in internal medicine to thousands of patients. The Zimmer Concierge Medical Membership takes the patient experience to the next level, infusing the highest-quality care with first-rate amenities to make your visits comfortable, convenient, and hassle-free.
We’re bringing back the idea of the family doctor, and creating physician-patient relationships that are authentic and personal. As a member, you’ll benefit from our premium services while receiving care uniquely tailored to your medical needs.
Michael A. Zimmer MD, MACP
SOCIAL
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay Storybook Ball: “Luca”
Guests appeared in more “coastal pastel” outfits than black-tie attire at the Storybook Ball hosted by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. This year’s ball was inspired by “Luca,” the Disney/Pixar movie set on the picturesque Amalfi Coast. Dinner and decor were delightfully Italian at the May 18 gala at the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, where the #NoFilter Band took a break just long enough for CEO Lisa Suprenand to share exciting news: A fifth Ronald McDonald House will be built next to the NICU at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa by year’s end. Auction bids, including $19,000 for a Tampa Bay sports package with tickets and perks across all local franchises, helped raise more than $485,000 for the four existing residences that provide a home away from home for families with children being treated at local hospitals.
Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.
From left, Ed Ameen, Kim Terrell and Trish and Chris Frost.
From left, Steve and Kim Rehman and Matt DeSoto.
From left, Joyce and Jim Giarrusso and Vinny and Jill Cacciatore.
From left, Theresa Troiani, Yashira Anderson, Adrienne Pagan and Michelle Urena.
Presented by
La st ch an ce to or de r!
Do n’ t mi ss yo ur bi gg es t fun dr ais in g op po rt uni ty of th e ye ar
2024 — 2025
Cha rity Re gi st er Tampa Bay
Reach 40,000 of the bay area’s most affluent households with an announcement in Bay magazine’s exclusive 2024/2025 Charity Register.
This special adver tising section will run in the October edition of Bay magazine and will incorporate free and paid listings featuring nonprofit organizations.
Plus! Be included in the 12-month calendar of Tampa Bay’s top fundraising events from October 2024 through September 2025
Deadline to place your announcement extended to August 19 at tampabay.com/charity-register
SOCIAL
St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation
Under the Sea Gala
An ocean of fun and fundraising made waves at St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation’s Under the Sea Gala April 20 as Enchanted Circus Room aerialists swirled from the Coliseum ceiling and stingrays rippled through Tampa Bay Watch’s touch tank. The 250 guests, including some dressed as lively lobsters, mermaids and deep-sea divers, came to hear patients and family members speak of nearly miraculous cardiac experiences, thanking their dedicated paramedics, nurses and physicians. Their testimonials inspired donors and sponsors to raise $265,000 for medical equipment, educational scholarships and patient care programs. Supporters of the gala had a whale of a good time when the Ocean Road Band splashed onto the stage. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by Radiu Allen, RA Technologies.
From left, Nancy Baird, Connie Koons and Bibi Allard.
From left, Mike and Elaine Mikurak and Jeanna and Shawn Damkoehler.
From left, Dr. Claudia Cunha Nunes, Dr. Ala and Athar Ahmad and Dr. Miguel Giannoni Delgado.
From left, Adam and Makayla Johnson and Julie and Steve Weintraub.
Thanks
Ar twork by Erin Griffin
Walt Blenner
Detail by Barbara Grazul Hubbard
Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council
Latinos Unidos Luncheon
Flags of many Latin American countries brightened the podium at the 25th annual Latinos Unidos Luncheon on May 8, hosted by the city of Tampa’s Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council. The council has funded more than $1 million in scholarships to Hillsborough Community College, the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida. Celebrating the legacy of making dreams come true, 400 guests enjoyed a traditional Cuban meal at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, complete with cookies from Alessi Bakery, one of the oldest bakeries in Florida. Bob Martinez, Florida’s first and only Hispanic elected governor, honored Tampa icon Dick Greco, the four-time mayor who approved the creation of the annual luncheon, and former UT president Ron Vaughn.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Ernesto Ruas received the Matilda Martinez Garcia Leadership Award for decades of volunteering his medical expertise.
Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.
From left, Donna Parrino, Brian Serrano and Maruchi Azorin-Blanco.
Ron Vaughn and Dick Greco.
From left, Milagro Hernandez, Jessica Aviles Iredale and Liana Fox.
In 2021 Rachel Castor resisted doing her clinical rotation in Houston, Texas, hoping she could find an internship closer to home in Lakeland or near the University of Florida where she was finishing her doctorate in physical therapy Choices for hands-on experience during the pandemic lockdown were limited, so she relented, packed her car, and drove to Houston. On the weekend she arrived, a friend from back home said she knew a former classmate from the University of Central Florida who was living in Houston. It was the connection of a lifetime. Joe Saunders was doing some remote baseball scouting in Houston while the spor t was shut down. He invited Rachel to a local brewery and that began a journey that led them to the altar in May
In the two years since they met, Joe has been working in the Midwest as an MLB scout and Rachel as a physical therapist in Jacksonville. Joe proposed to her on Easter weekend 2023 at the St. Petersburg Pier and they joined their families and close friends for an engagement par ty that evening at The Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach. The wedding was held at the Adams Estate in Lake Alfred. After a honeymoon in the Caribbean, the couple will settle in Jacksonville.
SOCIAL
Tampa Museum of Art Pride & Passion: Wonderland
Out of the pages of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” they popped: Mad Hatters, Cheshire Cats, White Rabbits and Red Queens, ready to party at the 18th annual Pride & Passion event on May 25. The Tampa Museum of Art’s delightfully creative celebration of LGBTQ+ culture took inspiration from the timeless tale to promote diversity and inclusion, amusing more than 400 art lovers with clever props, dazzling drag stars, craft cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a towering Alice on stilts leading the way to DJ Fresh’s dance floor. The fundraiser supports museum exhibitions and community initiatives such as Connections, a free art and mental health program offering a safe space for self-expression. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.
Lainey Walsh and Lisa Robbins.
From left, Rodney Garris, Dr. Ken Pages, Brett Diebold and Dr. Jen Ebuen.
From left, Branko van Oppen, Michael Bennett, Bridget Bryson and Bill Zewadski.
Amy Speth and Todd Walker.
Esme Russell and Veronica Foxx.
SOCIAL CALENDAR
Sept. 4: Boy Scouts of America Greater Tampa Bay Area Council's Distinguished Citizen Dinner, honoring the Glazer Family. $1,500 for two guests. 5:30 p.m. T. Pepin’s Hospitality Centre. tampabayscouting.org/ dca24.
Sept. 14: Eye Ball, which benefits Lions World Vision Institute Foundation. $250. 6 p.m. Armature Works. eyeball24.org.
Sept. 14: Fashions with Flair, sponsored by Clearwater Community Volunteers. $50. 12-3 p.m. Historic Fort Harrison Crystal Ballroom. clearwatercommunityvolunteers.org.
Sept. 21: Tuxes and Tails: Hello Tokyo, which benefits the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. $295. 5:30 p.m. Tampa Convention Center. tuxestailstampa. com.
Sept. 21: Casino Night & Cocktails, which benefits Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. $100. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Gulfport Casino Ballroom. 727-871-1352.
Sept. 21: 58th Ybor Chamber Gala. Honorees are Lynn Kroesen, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. and David Alvarez. Black-tie attire. $120. 6 p.m. The Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City. 813-248-3712 or ybor.org.
Sept. 27: RISE Annual Gala, which benefits Phoenix House Florida. $250.
6 p.m. The Westshore Grand. phoenixfl.org/rise-with-phoenix.
Sept. 28: Sneakers and Sparkles, which benefits the Lawrence A. Martucci Benefit Foundation. $125. 6:30 p.m. Academy of the Holy Names. lawrenceamartucci.com.
Oct. 5: Cattle Baron's Ball, which benefits the American Cancer Society. $750 and up. 5-11 p.m. Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC. tampa.acscbb.org.
Oct. 11: Dishes & Wishes, which benefits Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. $150. 7-11 p.m. Armature Works. 813-288-2600 or dishesandwishestampa.com.
Oct. 19: FARA Energy Ball, which benefits Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance and the USF Health Ataxia Research Center. $500 and up. 6 p.m. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. 484-879-6160 or curefa.org/energyball.
Oct. 23: LAMPLighters Fall into Fashion luncheon, which benefits Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House. Featuring Dillard's International Plaza. $150. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC. lamplighterstampa.org.
Contact Amy Scherzer at amyscherzersdiary@gmail.com to have your event listed on the calendar.
