Bay Magazine August 2023

A MAGAZINE OF THE TAMPA BAY TIMES

AUGUST 2023

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BEACH PARK 5014 W Evelyn Drive 5 Bed | 4/1 Bath | 4,041 SF | $2,395,000 Mary Pond & Ed Gunning 813.294.8867

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AU GUST ISSU E

A TRIP THROUGH TIME FROM BAY EDITOR SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN While browsing through an antiques mall recently, I came across a 1946 issue of Life magazine. It featured a story about people who lived in New York’s legendary Plaza hotel.

Over the years, the story said, about 40 percent of the Plaza’s 1,056 rooms were occupied by permanent or semipermanent residents, many of the prominent people who came from other cities for New York’s social season. The presence of wealthy widows — some sharing quarters with their dogs — gave rise to the expression “39 widows of the Plaza.” At a time when the cheapest room was $6 a night, they spent up to $30,000 a year for a suite or apartment.

Rich people still live at the Plaza and other grand hotels. Not many of us could afford that, but who doesn’t like to stay at a nice hotel every now and then? In this issue we take you to three of Tampa Bay’s newest hotels, where you can enjoy a staycation close to restaurants and other amenities. And we check out the spa, high tea and history tour at St. Petersburg’s newly renovated Vinoy.

If you do get out of town and travel up I-75, consider a stopover in Macon, a charming Georgia city with a rich music history. We visited the Capricorn Museum and the Otis Redding Museum, the latter of which had special meaning for me. While in college in 1967 I worked as a DJ at the campus radio station and was on duty the morning news broke that he had died in a plane crash. I immediately put on his classic “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay,” but until visiting the museum I didn’t realize what a truly great artist — and person — he was. Proceeds from the museum support music education.

ABOVE: Susan Taylor Martin poses in front of a wall of album covers at Macon’s Capricorn Museum. Photo by Jim Martin

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▲ 28 FASHION Embrace midsummer style with a variety of fall-forward looks.

52 COLLECTING Yes, it’s 2023, but a new movie has renewed interest in Barbie, who was introduced in 1959.

44 TRAVEL There is a lot to see and do in Macon, “the heart of Georgia.”

▲ 10 FOOD Enjoy Michelin-starred dining at Rocca, Koya and Lilac in Tampa.

16 FACES Meyer Davis’ Will Meyer reflects on Ritz-Carlton Residences and other jobs.

20 HOSPITALITY The bay area has become a luxury hotel haven. Ready to plan your staycation?

56 SHOPPING Hurricane season is here. Freshen up your preparedness kit with some practical, colorful products.

60 PAMPERING At the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, a renovated spa, high tea and history tour delight.

64 SOCIAL

PRE M I E R

P R O P E RT Y S P E CIALISTS

ISLE OF CAPRI

PRIME TREASURE ISLAND WATERFRONT

OFFERED AT $2,345,000 Capt. Bruce Erbeck | 727.417.4694

OFFERED AT $1,940,000 Tina Herrell | 727.251.6630

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S E C O N D

Capt. Bruce Erbeck 727.417.4694

AV E .

Jane McCroary 727.348.3888

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•

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S T E

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Kathryn Krayer Zimring 727.430.5010

•

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JUNGLE PRADA POOL OASIS — SOLD IN ONE DAY

BAYFRONT TOWER — TOP FLOOR CORNER UNIT

LAST OFFERED AT $699,000 Sandy Bozeman | 727.459.4142

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ST. PETERSBURG 727.896.1800

TREASURE ISLAND 727.397.1800

TIERRA VERDE 727.867.3100

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Tina Herrell 727.251.6630

Michelle Cline 727.424.1108

Carolyn Gomez 727.346.3314

Exciting new works by today’s finest artists! art • glass • jewelry EDITOR Susan Taylor Martin smartin@tampabay.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nikki Life nlife@tampabay.com COPY EDITOR Dawn Cate 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 2023. Vol. 16, No. 5.

Chairman & CEO Conan Gallaty Editor & Vice President Mark Katches Assistant Managing Editor/Features, Visuals & Production Ellen E. Clarke

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FOOD

starry

bites

ampa Bay foodies used to have go far afield to find Michelin-starred dining. No more. For the first time ever, the acclaimed Michelin Guide this year bestowed stars on three restaurants in Tampa: Rocca, Koya and Lilac. Each received one star.

Although the James

Beard Awards are considered by many the Oscars of the culinary world, the Michelin Guide is arguably the best known and most respected restaurant rating system. The most stars a restaurant can get are three, and the process is notoriously selective. Inspectors visit restaurants anonymously and judge them on numerous criteria. This is the second year that restaurants in Miami, Orlando and Tampa were eligible, part of the international guide’s foray into the state. Only four stars were awarded in Florida this year — one went to Tambourine Room in Miami Beach and the others to these three outstanding Tampa restaurants. — Helen Freund and Susan Taylor Martin

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Photos courtesy of Keir Magoulas

koya

A scallop tartare is served at Koya.

In Japanese, omakase means “according to the chef’s choice,” and that’s what diners get in this intimate omakase restaurant that seats only eight patrons a night. Opened in 2020 in Hyde Park

by Adriana and Eric Fralick, the team behind Tampa’s popular Noble Rice, Koya was praised by the Michelin inspectors for its “singular interpretation of Japanese cuisine” and “spectacular seafood” courses. As with Noble Rice, much of the fish comes straight from Japan’s fish markets including tuna, uni (sea urchin) and amango (a saltwater eel). Some evenings might start with a scallop tartare tossed in a white soy and tangerine oil or a salmon tartare made with new Zealand’s Ora King salmon topped with Persian lime zest. 807 W Platt St., Tampa. koyatampa.com.

Koya, an omakase-style restaurant from the owners of Noble Rice, is in Tampa’s Hyde Park.

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There can be some serious sticker shock when dining at Lilac, the $125-per-person fixed-price restaurant AT THE EDITION HOTEL at Water Street’s new Edition hotel. But along the way, you’ll be reminded what you’re paying for: top-notch service and a creative multicourse menu in a stunning plant-surrounded space with sleek, velvety green booths. Lilac impressed the Michelin inspectors with its “Mediterranean influences, Florida-focused ingredients and French techniques.” Meals start with a selection of hors d’oeuvres that include poultry liver mousse. Next, one might move on to juicy shrimp a la plancha or a rosemary-tinged bowl of scallops nestled in a pine nut and preserved lemon risotto. And don’t forget the prime short rib, Ora King salmon and olive oil cake. 500 Channelside Drive, Tampa. lilacrestauranttampa.com.

lilac

Diners at Lilac, which is inside the Tampa Edition hotel, can start with caviar service.

Photo courtesy of Jordan Wise

The fixed-price restaurant wows with its plant-surrounded space and sleek, velvety green booths. Photo courtesy of Nikolas Koenig

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Duck au poivre is among the entrees available at Lilac. Photo courtesy of Jordan Wise

Tampa Italian restaurant Rocca, pictured in 2019, has a warm, airy atmosphere. Times photos

This modern Italian eatery was praised by the Michelin guide for its originality and pastas, all “skillfully” made in-house and “showcasing classic flavors and scrupulous technique.” Opened in 2019 by chef and owner Bryce Bonsack, a Tampa native who trained while living in Italy’s Piedmont region, Rocca drew Tampa Bay Times food critic Helen Freund’s first ever perfect 10 rating. She was “blown away” by an appetizer with eggplant, red peppers and hazelnuts, Ligurian-style focaccia and raviolini del plin, tiny pasta pouches containing a spicy Calabrese salami and stracchino filling.

Rocca is a handsome restaurant, outfitted with blond wood and deep cobalt blue accents, hanging potted plants and a warm and airy atmosphere.

Service, Freund said, is polished and attentive without ever feeling intrusive. 823 W Palm Ave., Tampa. roccatampa.com.

rocca

The menu at Rocca includes raviolini del plin, gnocchi and more. The restaurant also has a mozzarella cart.

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CONTEMPORARY LUXURY ARRIVES IN TAMPA BAY Pendry Residences Tampa unveils an unprecedented expression of modern living in Tampa Bay. These fully-serviced waterfront Residences are enhanced with the polished comforts and exclusive amenities of a Pendry hotel.

Construction Underway | Waterfront Residences from the $1 Millions Schedule a Private Appointment | 100 S. Ashley Drive, Suite 100 | Tampa, FL 33602 813-590-5738 | PendryResidencesTampa.com

SAN DIEGO | BALTIMORE | WEST HOLLYWOOD | CHICAGO MANHATTAN WEST | PARK CITY | WASHINGTON, D.C. | NATIRAR (Opening 2024) NEWPORT BEACH (Opening 2023) | TAMPA (Under Development)

Broker Participation is welcomed and encouraged. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. This project has been filed in the state of Florida and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices, availability, artist’s renderings, dimensions, specifications, and features are subject to change at any time without notice.

The project described herein (the “Project”) and the residential units located within the Project (the “Residential Units”) are not owned, developed, or sold by Pendry Intellectual Property Holding Company, LLC or any of its respective affiliates (collectively, “Pendry”), and Pendry does not make any representations, warranties or guaranties whatsoever with respect to the Residential Units, the Project or any part thereof.

TRD Riverwalk Developer LLC uses the PENDRY brand name and certain other Pendry trademarks (collectively, the “Trademarks”) in connection with the sales and marketing of the Residential Units in the Project under a limited, non-exclusive and non-sublicensable license from Pendry. The foregoing license may be terminated or may expire without renewal, in which case neither the Residential Units nor any part of the Project will be identified as a PENDRY-branded project or have any rights to use the Trademarks. Artist’s Conceptual Renderings. Subject to Change.

FACE S: WILL ME YER

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ The New York-based firm Meyer Davis has designed some of the world’s most spectacular hotels, restaurants, stores and private homes. Recent projects include the Ritz-Carlton Residences being developed by Miami’s Related Group on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa. All 102 units of the first tower, due to be finished next year, have been sold. The second tower, with 100 residences starting at $1.7 million, is in presales. Will Meyer, a native Tennessean who founded the design firm with Gray Davis in 1999, spoke about the Ritz project and others.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

— Susan Taylor Martin Your firm has done a lot of projects on Florida’s east coast but this is the first on the west coast. How do the two areas compare? The east coast has matured a lot over the last several years. What we find here on the west coast and Tampa in particular is that there’s a sense of the South, and being from Nashville I understand there’s an ease here, a serenity. At the beginning we started to think about the culture of the area, the vibe of the area. There’s a certain kind of relaxed way about the west coast of Florida but there’s also all the development and new energy in Tampa. It’s sort of rooted in the past, which provides the backbone, but it’s also future forward. I think those two things come together in a very interesting way and that’s how we tried to design this building.

In what way do they come together? You’ll see there’s kind of a celebration of things that relate to the past. You’ll see paneled walls with beautiful patterns on them but then that will be contrasted against a slab stone contrasted against beautiful plaster work. In tower one, when you walk in, you have this beautiful, gracious reception area. You have your big iconic views and then the central fireplace piece that kind of dials it down.

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The Meyer Davis firm designed the lobby of Tampa’s new Ritz-Carlton Residences, shown in this rendering. Photos courtesy of 3DQ/Meyer Davis

Any unusual features of the Ritz residences? For this particular project, which I think is very innovative, the Ritz-Carlton provides the hotel suites within the tower. When you have visitors it’s such a luxury to have that. You want to have your guests on hand but sometimes they don’t want to be in your house.

On projects like this do you work more with the architect or with the developer? It is really collaborative. We have a very close relationship with Arquitectonica (the architect), that is involved in this building, and Related, and we sit down together and we design those spaces together.

It’s a very fluid process. It’s a lot of fun. The first rule is, there is no bad idea. Sometimes the best idea can come from an intern, or occasionally I even have a good idea.

Your firm has worked with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and top hotel companies. How do they compare with Ritz? They all have different nuances but we get along well. We love working with Marriott Ritz, Marriott has 30 brands now and they’re sharpening their brands.

Ritz is about service and the expectation of polished luxury. That’s something that Ritz has always stood for.

I bet you get to stay in some nice hotel rooms. In Barcelona, at the Hotel Arts, they gave me the arts suite, which is the whole floor. I was really happy. They said, “We want you to think about the way we should design it.”

Do you have a favorite project? Our most favorite project is our most recent. We just finished an amazing building in Sydney, Australia, the Crown Tower, that’s the tallest building in Sydney. It’s a super luxury project with gaming, luxury retail, food and beverage and then

apartments above that. We’ve just finished a really amazing tiny hotel in San Miguel, Mexico, that’s super luxurious.

What has been the most challenging project? Some of the residentials.

We do one or two a year and I wouldn’t say they’re challenging but it’s just that you are venturing into private homes. But we started out as architects designing houses for people on a smaller scale and I think our knowledge of how people live in their houses shows how they like to live in larger-scale buildings.

Do you prefer retail and restaurant projects? Oscar de la Renta was our first really great commercial client. We’ve designed 16 stores for him. Looking back now we probably designed over 100 restaurants, and the restaurant sort of becomes a heart of the property for hotels or even some of the residential buildings we work on. We’ve designed restaurants for the top chefs in the world. It’s fun working with these crazy guys, surely crazier than we are.

You use a lot of wood and other organic material in your projects, right? People say, “Your architecture is very clean and very edited.” There is a warmth and tactile quality to it. We use lighting to create that warmth but also a lot of texture. If you look at our work over the last 25 years, I think there’s a timelessness to it. At least to me it doesn’t seem dated.

Are there any design trends you’re especially excited about? I’m in the middle of it so it’s hard to step back and see it. I will say this: The level of expectation in design in general over the past several years has risen just exponentially. It’s challenging to stay on the forefront of that, so we have a team of amazing creatives in our office and we’re just always trying to push it in a tasteful way.

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O LD N O RTHEAST JEWELER S

S P O N SO R E D CO N T E N T

MEET TAMPA BAY’S INVETERATE TREASURE HUNTERS

O

ne of the shared traits that first drew Jeffrey and Katrina Hess together was a mutual love of research. They loved to hold a vintage piece of art or jewelry, or an engraved pocket watch in their hands, and dig into its provenance. The less initially known about it, the better. When was it made? Who created it? Who owned it? What or who does the engraving refer to? Finding the answers to such questions was half the fun for them, and that sense of discovery still drives them. They love what they do and learn something new every day, because it’s always fascinating.

Old Northeast Jewelers and its sister company Hess Fine Art are family-owned businesses, very involved in the community. They have invested 40 years in the Tampa Bay community through Jeffrey and Katrina Hess, who are heavily involved in area charities. They support local law enforcement and military venues, were adjunct professors at St. Petersburg College and are active in Rotary — hosting over a dozen exchange students from around the world in the past 20 years.

Hess Fine Auctions internationally buys and sells prestigious watch collections and expensive pocket watches, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, and more. Katrina Hess is Chief of Operations for Hess Fine Auctions and one of three GIA Graduate Gemologists on staff. She brings to the company many years of expertise in gemstones and other jewels. Jeff and Katrina have lectured at the American Society of Appraisers and the International Society of Appraisers,

Jeffrey and Katrina Hess

museums and societies across the country, JCK at the request of eBay, the Florida Auctioneers Association, and the National Auctioneers Association.

Even though their mom-and-pop store has grown and is now internationally known, they still consider themselves a neighborhood store. Whether it’s Old Northeast Jewelers in St. Petersburg and Tampa, Hess Fine Art in St. Petersburg or their DuberTime luxury watch distribution business, the Hesses’ surprisingly downto-earth business practices belie their half a billion in online sales.

noted author; and Mrs. Hess is a Graduate Gemologist who founded the Tampa Bay GIA Alumni Association and is a licensed auctioneer. They truly understand this business — not just as a business, but as an exercise in history. And because of the knowledge they’ve gleaned over many years of research, you can be sure you will get the proper information on your valuable jewelry and antiques.

You’ll find Old Northeast Jewelers and Hess Fine Art at 1131 4th St. N in St. Petersburg, as well as their shop in Hyde Park. Call them at (727) 896-0622 or (813) 875-3935.

Old Northeast Jewelers prides itself on being long on knowledge, since Mr. Hess is a

bay | 19

HOSPITALIT Y

HOTELS

BY SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN

T

he Tampa Bay area is enjoying a hotel boom. In the last few years, several upper-end hotels have opened, adding almost 5,000 rooms to one of the

country’s most popular destinations.

The bay area’s hotel market “is performing significantly better than virtually any other in America right now,” said Lou Plasencia, CEO of the Tampa hotel brokerage and consulting firm The Plasencia Group.

“This area has improved in almost every sector — corporate travel, business travel, leisure travel. We really are the envy of virtually every market in the nation.”

Arts Club in the Tampa Edition hotel has tableside cocktail service, light bites and entertainment.

Photos courtesy of Nikolas Koenig

Galaxy, a 92-room boutique hotel, is due to open soon in downtown St. Petersburg, and the luxury Pendry hotel and residences is under construction on the river in downtown Tampa. Two St. Petersburg Beach hotels — the Sirata and the TradeWinds — have major expansion plans. And two of the most venerable hotels — the Don CeSar on the beach and the Vinoy in St. Petersburg — have recently undergone substantial renovations.

Despite concerns about the economy, Plasencia predicts that investors will continue to put Tampa Bay “at the top of their target list” for more new hotels, likely in Ybor City, Water Street and near Tampa’s Armature Works. And he thinks it’s inevitable that within the next five years one or two luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton will enter the market.

In the meantime, here are three new hotels where visiting friends or family can stay in style. Or why not try a staycation at one of them yourself.

20 | bay

The Tampa Edition hotel has a striking spiral staircase.

The lobby of the Tampa Edition hotel has been praised for its lush tropical foliage.

THE TAMPA EDITION TAMPA Travel + Leisure magazine recently named Edition as one of the world’s top 100 new hotels. “You’ll know you’re in Florida the minute you step into the lobby’s verdant forest of palm trees,” the magazine raved. “And you’ll know you’re at the white-hot Tampa Edition because, as a guest, you just breezed past a line of locals hoping to get in at one of the hotel’s seven dining spots, now among the city’s most coveted bookings.” One of those spots is Lilac, which recently became one of just three Tampa Bay restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star. Edition, in the heart of Tampa’s new Water Street area, has a pool with cabanas, a gym and spa, spacious rooms “smartly designed for luggage storage,” the magazine said, and is across the street from two other acclaimed restaurants: The Pearl and Boulon Brasserie and Bakery. It is close to Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Sparkman Wharf, a waterfront venue with shops and restaurants.

WHERE: 500 Channelside Drive, Tampa. editionhotels.com.

ROOMS: 172, including 30 suites and a penthouse.

The rooftop pool at the Tampa Edition hotel, which opened in fall 2022, offers city views.

RATES: Starting at around $500.

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Cane & Barrel, the rooftop restaurant/bar at AC Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg, has a modern fire pit. Photos courtesy of Dragonfly Image Partners

AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT ST. PETERSBURG This Marriott hotel, on the lower eight floors of the 36-story Ascent apartment tower, is in an ideal location for checking out downtown St. Petersburg’s many attractions. Within a five-minute walk are the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Beach Drive restaurants and shops, waterfront parks and the Sundial complex with boutiques, restaurants and an AMC movie theater. The AC has a pool, a fitness center, a lobby lounge with small plates and handcrafted cocktails and a rooftop restaurant/bar called Cane & Barrel that “captures the colorful energy of Havana nights, with an emphasis on all things rum.” It also has a fine view of city lights.

WHERE: 110 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. marriott.com. ROOMS: 172, including 12 suites. RATES: Starting at around $225.

The rooftop pool at AC Hotel is the perfect place to cool off and relax.

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Latin-inspired fare at AC Hotel’s Cane & Barrel includes picadillo.

The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa has three restaurants with menu items reflecting Peruvian, Japanese and Mediterranean influences.

Photos courtesy of JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

Enjoy lovely views from the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa at the southern end of Clearwater Beach.

JW MARRIOTT CLEARWATER BEACH Soak up the sun and the vibes at the hotel’s secluded beach.

Situated at the southern end of Clearwater Beach, where it curls a bit to the east, the JW Marriott has the best of both worlds — sunrise and sunset views. The hotel is far enough away from the most crowded areas that you can enjoy the secluded beach without the din of crowds and traffic. Amenities include a pool, spa with retail boutique, a JW Kids Club with activities for children and three restaurants: Latitude 26, with indoor and outdoor seating and a Mediterranean-inspired menu; The Deep End, a rooftop eatery featuring cuisine with “the flavors of Peruvian ingredients shaped by traditional Japanese techniques”; and the Escape Beach Bar & Grille.

There’s also a lobby bar, a market with takeaway items and Savor By JW for in-room dining. Several shops and restaurants are nearby, and bike rentals are available.

WHERE: 691 S Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach. marriott.com.

ROOMS: 198, including 36 privately owned suites that have one to three bedrooms and can be booked by guests.

The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa has privately owned suites with one, two and three bedrooms that can be rented by hotel guests.

RATES: Starting at around $430 a night.

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Tailored jacket, $2,790. Skirt, $1,250. Pumps, $790. Bag, $1,750. Burberry, International Plaza, Tampa. burberry.com.

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ABOVE: Alice + Olivia vegan leather shirt, $330. Neiman Marcus, International Plaza, Tampa. neimanmarcus.com. ZKoriginal cat face sun/surf top, $178. ZKoriginal.com. Vegan leather pants, $148. Johnny Was, International Plaza, Tampa. johnnywas.com. Gianni Bini Marlee heels, $98.

Le Specs sunglasses, $89. Dillard’s, International Plaza, Tampa. dillards.com. Mary Frances Cattitude crossbody handbag, $245. Pippa Pelure, 50 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg.

RIGHT: Joseph Ribkoff motorcycle jacket, $249. Joseph Ribkoff geo pant, $162. French Kande necklace, $341. Pippa Pelure, 50 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Naturalizer Berlin pumps, $99. Peltz Shoes, 7121 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. peltzshoes.com.

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Do+Be romper, $52. Rebel leather cuff, $118. McKenna necklace, $34. The Shop vegan leather handbag, $58. The Shop by Sara, 3440 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. theshopbysara.com. Gianni Bini Barrine boots, $198. Dillard’s, Tyrone Square, St. Petersburg. dillards.com.

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ABOVE: Rachel May tennis skirt, $165. Rachel May zip-front vest, $365. Kindness hoop earrings, $128. Sutton sunglasses, $145. Johnny Was, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. johnnywas.com.

LEFT: Sanders dress, $228. Cece sweater, $198. Dixie belt, $98. Eugenie handbag, $198. Bartlett reader glasses, $88. J. McLaughlin, 1619 W Snow Ave., Tampa. jmclaughlin.com.

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ABOVE: Givenchy Giv Cut sunglasses, $600. Dillard’s, International Plaza, Tampa. dillards.com. Sugarlips halter jumpsuit, $82. B27 beaded cuffs, $134 each. Sheila Fajl earrings, $84. The Shop chain belts (worn as necklaces), $16 each. The Shop by Sara, 3440 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. theshopbysara.com.

RIGHT: Stella Pardo bandeau top, $95. Sita Murt knit cardigan, $248. Stella Pardo trousers, $365. Motherof-pearl cuff, $65. Bakelite cuff, $45. Vintage wood bangle, $25. Onyx and Wolf leather earrings, $38. Mary Maloof mixed-material necklace, $225. South African brass choker, $95. Cozette’s Boutique, 645 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. cozettesboutique.com. Chanel 22 Mini, $5,000. Neiman Marcus, International Plaza, Tampa. Sutton sunglasses, $145. Johnny Was, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. johnnywas.com. FitFlop slide sandals, $95. Peltz Shoes, 7121 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. peltzshoes.com.

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ABOVE: Lottie Holiday Lover crop top, $160. Lottie Holiday Treasures Galore necklace, $310. Lottie Holiday Legend handbag, $495. The Canary, 655 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. BDG Urban Outfitters Y2K cargo pant, $79. Dillard’s, International Plaza, Tampa. dillards.com. Blowfish Leith boots, $79.

Peltz Shoes, 7121 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. peltzshoes.com.

LEFT: Joseph Ribkoff hot pink coat, $272. Pipa lace cami, $38. EXE platform heels, $119. Mitchie’s fox fur bag, $298. Pippa Pelure, 50 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Lottie Holiday Treasures Galore earrings, $175. The Canary, 655 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

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CREATIVE TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY Brian James IG: @brianjamesgallery brianjamesgallery.com Tea Bremner, assistant IG: @tea.bremner.photography

HAIR & MAKEUP Monique McLaughlin IG: @moemakeup moemakeup.com

FASHION STYLING Tim Creagan IG: @creagan1

MODEL Olivia Rees IG: @oliviamartinrees Modern Muse

Cartier gold and diamond ear clips, $2,000. Cartier gold and diamond mid-century leaf bracelet, $25,000. David Webb gold bead and diamond necklace, $9,000. Curt Wayne gold and diamond ring, $5,000. Old Northeast Jewelers, 1131 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. oldnortheastjewelers. com. Primavera Couture cocktail dress, $465. Esmerelda’s Boutique, 1546 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. esmereldaboutiques.com.

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the marvels of

MACON ABOVE: Charles Davis pays homage to the many musicians who have ties to Macon, Georgia, at Grant’s Lounge.

Photo courtesy of Amy Hutsell LEFT: The building that houses Hotel Forty Five in Macon was originally an insurance company’s headquarters.

Photo courtesy of Larry Najera

Once a center of the cotton trade, Macon today is better known for its rebounding downtown, its rich African American heritage and a music scene that nurtured legends of rock and soul — the Allman Brothers Band, Little Richard, Otis Redding and many others. The city, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, was one of just 12 U.S. destinations to win a spot on the New York Times’ list of “52 places to go in 2023.”

BY SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN riving from the Tampa Bay area to the North Carolina mountains can be a long slog, even when traffic is moving well on I-75. But my husband and I have found an ideal halfway point — Macon, “the heart of Georgia.”

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On our first trip to Macon, we stayed at the 1842 Inn, a small, antiquesfilled hotel in one of the city’s beautifully restored Victorian houses.

On our most recent visit, we checked into Hotel Forty Five on Cotton Street in the center of downtown. Originally the headquarters of an insurance company, the 11-story building — among Macon’s tallest — has been repurposed into a sleek boutique hotel with 94 rooms, a restaurant and a coffee shop.

Allman Brothers Band members lived in this Macon mansion in the 1970s. It is now a museum called the Big House with guitars and other band memorabilia.

Photo courtesy of Matt Odom Photography

The Tubman African American Museum in Macon is named after abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Photo by Susan Taylor Martin

After unpacking we headed to Hightales, the hotel’s rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating and walls adorned with music memorabilia.

I had a fruity cocktail called Laid Back, after Gregg Allman’s debut solo album. This is a good place to consider the following: Gregg and brother Duane were born in Nashville and started their band in Jacksonville, but it is Macon, where they moved in 1969, that is determined to preserve their legacy. Part of a main street is named Duane Allman Memorial Boulevard, and one of Macon’s most popular attractions is the Big House, a Tudor mansion turned museum where band members lived in the 1970s.

From the hotel we set out on foot

to dinner. Macon has a shady, walkable downtown with old lowrise buildings, many with decorative cornices, that reminded us of New York’s Greenwich Village. New businesses and indications of ones about to open reminded us too of St. Petersburg 10 years ago — on the cusp of oh-so-trendy before 30- and 40-story towers began springing up. At Kinjo’s Kitchen + Cocktails, an Asian fusion restaurant that opened during the pandemic, our server told us that he grew up an hour away in Dublin, Georgia. “We never used to come to Macon,” he said, although the city now draws many young people like him.

The next morning we drove a few blocks to the Tubman African

The Allman Brothers Band’s instruments are on view at the Big House. Photo courtesy of Visit Macon

American Museum. Known as “The Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who led dozens of others to freedom before the end of the Civil War. She also served as Union nurse, scout and spy, and in later life was active in the women’s suffragist movement.

The museum with its stunning rotunda pays tribute to Tubman and other distinguished AfricanAmericans, including an inventor who helped develop the electric light bulb and some who were the first to desegregate major organizations.

There are artifacts of the Jim Crow era, like a whites-only drinking faucet and the door from a doctor’s office marked “colored waiting room.” This

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The Minks rock out at Grant’s Lounge in downtown Macon. Photos courtesy of Visit Macon

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H&H Soul Food is a Macon institution.

Kinjo’s Kitchen + Cocktails is one of numerous dining options.

year, the museum is hosting a special exhibit on Tyler Perry, the filmmaker, playwright and actor who created and played the movie role of Mabel “Madea” Simmons. As the exhibit notes, much of Perry’s work reflects his Christian faith and Black church culture.

Lunch was downtown at Ocmulgee Brewpub, recently rated Macon’s No. 1 restaurant by Tripadvisor.

Customers order at the counter — we had a smash burger and a salad with candied pecans, dried cranberries and crumbled blue cheese — and sit on picnic tables.

Next stop was the home of Capricorn Records, founded in 1969 and often credited as the birthplace of Southern rock. The Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wet Willie and others recorded some of their biggest hits in the Capricorn studio, which produced 26 gold

or platinum albums and five gold singles in its decade-long history.

With support from Macon’s Mercer University, the Capricorn name was revived in 2019 with the opening of recording studios and rehearsal rooms to foster the development of new talent.

Downtown Macon has a wide range of shops, restaurants and attractions. Macon is considered “the heart of Georgia.” Photos courtesy of Visit Macon

The adjacent Capricorn Museum has a made-for-selfies wall of album covers as well as several exhibits: One shows how Capricorn artists helped boost Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign by playing at rallies and benefit concerts. (Carter, a big music fan, picked “The South’s Gonna Do It” by the Charlie Daniels Band as his campaign song.) The museum’s virtual record bins let you digitally thumb through albums, pick a cut and play it. (I listened to a personal favorite, the Allman Brothers’ “Jessica.”)

Another oft-visited if somewhat eerie attraction is the Rose Hill Cemetery, burial spot of Duane, Gregg and two other members of the Allman Brothers Band. Opened in 1840 as a cemetery and public park, Rose Hill has simple slabs mixed among ornate Civil War and Victorian headstones. So many fans look for band members’ graves that directions are posted on a door at the cemetery entrance.

Among Macon’s many beautiful old homes is the 18,000-square-foot Hay House, now a popular museum.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Otis Redding Museum. A Georgia native called the “King of Soul,” Redding was at the peak of his career when he died in a 1967 plane crash. His “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” became the first posthumous No. 1 record on the Billboard Hot 100. Another song he

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An SR-71 Blackbird, a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, is among the military aircraft, missiles and open cockpits on display at the Museum of Aviation near Robins Air Force Base 20 miles south of Macon. Photo courtesy of the Museum of Aviation

wrote, “Respect,” was a huge hit for Aretha Franklin.

That night we dined at Dovetail, an acclaimed downtown restaurant specializing in farm-to-table Southern cuisine, and concluded the day with $5 drinks and live music at Grant’s Lounge. This no-frills lounge

opened in 1971 and, as its “wall of fame” photos show, hosted Tom Petty, Charlie Daniels, Elvin Bishop, the Allman Brothers and many others during Capricorn Records’ heyday.

H&H Soul Food is a Macon institution, so that’s where we breakfasted on our last day in Macon.

It’s the kind of place where men in bib overalls sit next to bankers in suits at tables with blue-and-white checked plastic cloths. The restaurant’s co-founder, “Mama” Louise Hudson, was such good friends with the Allman Brothers that she once traveled on their tour bus.

The final stop on our visit: Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park on the city’s edge. The big earthen mounds, built by the Muscogee people centuries ago, are the most striking feature of a park with 8 miles of walking trails through open fields, wooded hills and swampy lowlands.

Here, the only musical sounds are those of the birds.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon has earthen mounds built by the Muscogee people centuries ago. Photo by Susan Taylor Martin

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For more information about Macon, visit maconga.org.

MUSEUM OF AVIATION Are you a fan of the “Top Gun” movies? If so, here’s a must-see: the Museum of Aviation.

Adjacent to Robins Air Force Base 20 miles south of Macon, this Department of Defense museum has five hangars filled with military aircraft, missiles and open cockpits.

On display are a stealth bomber, a Thunderbirds F-16, the SR-71 that set the World Absolute Speed Record of 2,193 mph and a C-54 used in the Berlin Airlift. There’s the small Air Force jet that President Lyndon Johnson took to his Texas ranch, and the helicopter that ferried Attorney General Robert Kennedy to meet the body of slain President John F. Kennedy. The museum, one of the DOD’s most visited, also has exhibits on World War II and the Korean War. Admission is free, but for $10 you can take a virtual trip on a simulator.

Riding Apollo 11 to the moon is especially thrilling!

1942 Heritage Blvd., Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Learn more about the museum at museumofaviation.org.

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WHAT A DOLL!

BY SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN

T

he new Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie has sparked fresh interest in all things Barbie,

including collectibles. Mattel, Barbie’s maker, estimates there are more than 100,000 active collectors, many of whom attend the annual Barbie convention (held in July this year in Orlando).

When Barbie was introduced in 1959, I was 10 — too old, I thought, to play with dolls. Then, in 1995, I saw photos of a No. 1 Barbie and a trunkful of clothes found in an abandoned storage locker. I was hooked.

1966: American Girl Barbie wearing Saturday Matinee.

As I began collecting vintage dolls, it was interesting to see how Barbie’s hairstyles evolved in her early years — from a ponytail and curly bangs in the Elvis era, to a bouffant “bubblecut” when Jackie Kennedy was first lady to a sleek pageboy in the mid-’60s and then to the long straight hair of the hippie and Mod generation.

It was the clothes, though, that were truly captivating, hand-sewn couture fashions made of exquisite fabrics with metal snaps and zippers. At her peak of elegance in 1965, Barbie wore satin evening gowns, gold lame sheaths and tweed suits trimmed with real fur. Outfits had names like Shimmering Magic and Debutante Ball. And oh, the accessories — tiny compacts, pearl necklaces, even a portfolio with fashion sketches.

The oldest and generally most sought-after dolls were

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1960-1964: A ponytail Barbie modeling Roman Holiday.

1961: Bubblecut Barbie in Black Magic.

1964-1966: Swirl ponytail Barbie wearing Dinner at Eight.

1960-1964: Ponytail Barbie in Senior Prom.

made in Japan. As that country became wealthier and labor costs rose, Barbie’s story tracked that of the world’s emerging markets — production moved to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

With Barbie aging (albeit beautifully), prices for some of the earliest dolls have soared. At Marl and B, a Bradenton shop specializing in vintage Barbies, a No. 1 doll was recently listed at $15,000 and some bubblecuts as much as $1,500. (Prices on eBay tend to be less.)

Condition is key. Bad hair, missing fingers and toes and the dreaded green ear — caused by metal earring posts interacting with the plastic in the doll’s head — dramatically affect value. As for the clothes, one way to spot the earliest ones is by their black-and-white embroidered tags. Accessories — often lost or sucked up in vacuum cleaners — can be scarcer and more valuable than the clothes.

In anticipation of the Barbie movie, a friend and I got out our vintage dolls. Maybe I was too old for Barbie at 10, but not anymore.

Dolls and fashions courtesy of Kim Keegan and Susan Taylor Martin

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Custom Candle Artworks paraffin candles, $40 each.

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prep kit. Some of them are also colorful and practical enough for year-round use.

Photos by Martha Asencio-Rhine

Sawyer Products water tap filter, $40.

Treva battery or electric fan, $35.

Super Siege lantern, $140. Bill Jackson’s, Pinellas Park.

Thermacell no-spray mosquito repellent, $25. Bill Jackson’s, 9501 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park. billjacksons.com. Murphy’s Naturals mosquito repellent candle, $12. Beat It all-natural bug spray, $15. Sans Market Zero Waste Store, 1037 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @sans.market.

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ERadio crank-to-power flashlight-radio, $30. Batteries Plus, 138 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. batteriesplus.com.

Reliance 7-gallon water jug, $20. REI Co-Op, 1152 Assembly Drive, Tampa. rei.com. Dan Alexander glass tumblers, $45 each. Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. floridacraftart.org.

5-gallon solar shower, $30.

Goal Zero solar battery pack charger, $100.

Bill Jackson’s, Pinellas Park.

Eureka! SPRK Camp Stove, $48. Johnson Worldwide butane canister, $3.50.

GSI Sports 12-cup coffee percolator, $48. Bill Jackson’s, Pinellas Park.

Babette ceramic cups, $40 to $50. ARTicles Art Gallery, 1234 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. articlesstpete.com.

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Each week, a large floral arrangement is featured prominently in the lobby at the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg.

OASIS

OF LUXURY STORY BY ELLEN E. CLARKE PHOTOS BY MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE

What do you get when you mix the historic St. Petersburg setting of the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection, with a renovated spa that specializes in holistic treatments?

A day of luxury. • The Vinoy Spa, which reopened in April after being closed for a year to be revamped, has a bit of everything. There are specialty massages ranging from 50 to 80 minutes, body treatments, facials and nail services. A hair salon in the spa offers a full range of services as well as a new option for in-room styling for brides.

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Vintage matchbooks and other hotel artifacts line a wall at the hotel.

The renovated spa beckons. Photo courtesy of the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club

Offered two services in the new space, I chose the 80-minute Bellabaci cupping experience ($265) and the Honey & Lemon pedicure ($105) for my morning of indulgence.

Everyone warned me that I’d be covered in bruises from a cupping massage, but the Bellabaci employs silicone cups rather than the traditional glass. My expert massage therapist asked me to select a scent for the experience — I went with a bright citrus option — and began with a traditional massage that focused on my areas of discomfort.

Afternoon tea includes scones and sandwiches from lobby cafe Lottie.

of my life. I finished the treatment deeply relaxed and glowing.

The pedicure, featuring quick-drying Dazzle Dry polish, was also lovely. The nail salon has chairs that swivel, removing the awkwardness of trying to settle into a pedicure seat. The 75-minute treatment left my feet silky smooth and my toes looking cute.

Following the spa treatments, I poured myself back to the gorgeously renovated Vinoy lobby to meet docent Trena for the hotel’s history tour and tea. Tampa Bay Times photographer Martha Asencio-Rhine and I learned about the nearly 100-year-old building.

The cups glide over your skin softly, deeply massaging and breaking up the myofascial layer without discomfort. It’s one of the only treatments that can be run directly over your spine, which felt divine.

The Vinoy’s history goes back to the purchase of the land after a golf challenge in 1923 to opening the grand building after a 10-month construction in 1925.

No stranger to self-care rituals, I can say with confidence that this was the best massage

Now owned and lovingly restored by the Glazer family since 2018, we learned that

the original 14 acres were purchased for $170,000. The Glazers bought it for $188.5 million and have been working on renovations ever since. After years of visiting the Vinoy for events, this was the best I’d ever seen it look.

After the tour, we were treated to afternoon tea featuring delightful sandwiches, scones and desserts from Lottie, the new lobby cafe.

The tea service is served with historic silver found hidden away during a renovation.

From the treatments to our tour and tea, it was an elegant and indulgent vacation day in my own city.

VINOY HISTORY TOUR AND TEA: The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is at 501 Fifth Ave. NE in St. Petersburg. Tours are offered at 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday by reservation ($109 per person for at least two people), followed by high tea at 3. Book with the concierge at 727-404-5251. The experience is open to the public and to resort guests.

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USF Genshaft Honors College Grand Opening Celebration The University of South Florida threw open the doors to the Judy Genshaft Honors College welcoming VIP guests to explore the five-story building named for the USF president emerita (2000-2019). Genshaft and husband Steven Greenbaum and current USF president Rhea Law ceremoniously cut a gold and green ribbon May 12. Hundreds of gold and white balloons cascaded from the soaring atrium ceiling as the crowd gazed up in amazement at 39 “learning lofts” that appear to be suspended in mid-air. Several of the 2,500 honor students gave tours of classrooms, conference rooms, faculty offices, student lounges, a cafe and a computer lab, as well as studio spaces dedicated to art, music, technology, multimedia creation and food and culture throughout the impressive 85,000-square-foot building. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of the University of South Florida

Guests are showered with balloons at the Judy Genshaft Honors College opening celebration.

From left, Will Weatherford, Charles Adams, Rhea Law, Judy Genshaft, Steven Greenbaum and Jordan Zimmerman.

From left, Ralph Wilcox, Scott Fink, Jordan Zimmerman, Charles Adams and Fell Stubbs.

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Joel Momberg, left, and Paul Sanberg.

From left, Steven Greenbaum, Will Weatherford and Les Muma.

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From left, Andrea Daymond, Angelique Lennox, Ayana Lucas, Adrienne Wilson, Antonia Barber, Autrie Howard-Morgan and Kenneshia Martin.

National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Tampa chapter An Evening of Elegance, Gourmet Gents Gala For 30 years, the Gourmet Gents cooked up an annual fundraiser for the Tampa chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Year after year, right after church, supporters of the professional women’s advocacy group headed to Higgins Hall to sample the men’s specialties. This year instead, to mark three decades, the members celebrated with a black-tie gala to honor the original volunteer chefs as well as six corporate, community and faith-based partners. Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and 100 Black Men Inc. received the Organizational Support Award at the June 24 event.

The elegant crowd enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, fancy cupcakes, a silent auction and dancing to the Beat Down Band. Founded in 1988, the local chapter sponsors leadership development programs for Black women and girls to address health, education and economic issues that impact the Black community.

— Text and photos by Amy Scherzer

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From left, Gwen Myers, Demetria Bell, Arthenia Joyner and Belinthia Berry.

From left, Ross Anderson, Anthony Collins, Ed Narain and Mark Nash.

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From left, Lee Moffitt and Lorraine and Bob Dutkowsky.

Gladys Knight entertains guests.

Moffitt Cancer Center Magnolia Ball

Clockwise from left, Tia and Vic Young visit with Frank and Carol Morsani.

From left, Rose and Paul Reilly and Kathy and Tom Shannon.

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“Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight showed Magnolia Ball guests how she won seven Grammy Awards as the black-tie crowd sang along to hits “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “That’s What Friends Are For” and many more at the annual Moffitt Cancer Center benefit. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer wasn’t the only one rocking the $1,500-ticket gala at the JW Marriott Water Street on May 6.

Keyboardist and CEO Dr. Patrick Hwu opened cocktail hour jamming with the ReMissions, the Moffitt faculty band named for the hope and prayer of every cancer patient. “Feel the spirit of Moffitt,” board chairperson Rose Baker Reilly said, joining event chairpersons Lorraine and Bob Dutkowsy in urging donors to match an anonymous $500,000 challenge gift. Mission accomplished in mere minutes. Next, auctioneer Tom Riles began to pitch five exclusive travel packages, including Super Bowl LVIII in February (sold for $25,000) and a NASCAR experience ($15,000). A bidding battle ensued for a week at Tom and Lauren Pepin’s mountain home near Asheville, including private plane transportation. Dual offers from the Wanek and Sembler families reached $95,000, so the Pepins doubled down and now both families will visit the North Carolina retreat. Such generosity netted more than $3 million for cancer research and treatment. — Text and photos by Amy Scherzer

Ron and Joyce Wanek.

Paul Anthony and Sunnie Neal.

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SOCIAL

Ronald McDonald House Charities Encanto, Storybook Ball

Actors portray “Encanto” characters Mirabel and Isabel.

Lisa Suprenand, left, and Bailey Nicholas.

Isabel and Mirabel, stars of the animated Walt Disney movie “Encanto,” cavorted through the lush rainforest decor of the Storybook Ball, joining giant flower and butterfly stilt-walkers welcoming 400 guests to Ronald McDonald House Charities’ annual children’s book-themed benefit. Event chairpersons Ed Ameen, Ronald McDonald House Charities’ chairman emeritus, Sheila Vukner, Don Germaise and Ruth Lynch planned a huge silent auction, Agape Diamond jewelry pull and crafty art projects for the crowd enjoying the charcuterie and cocktail hour May 20 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. During dinner, CEO Lisa Suprenand was thrilled to present the 2023 Award of Excellence to representatives of all four Tampa Bay sports franchises: the Rays, Rowdies, Bucs and Lightning. High Risk Hope executive director Bailey Nicholas accepted the Award of Hope. Two live auction items got lots of attention: a Champa Bay sports package featuring tickets and perks to Bucs, Rays and Lightning games and two Tom Brady-autographed Bucs jerseys. Those bids and others for a cuddly cockapoo, a fine wine collection and a trip to Hawaii or Ireland raised more than $560,000 for the four local Ronald McDonald Houses. Yard games (cornhole, anyone?) and mini Cuban sandwiches in the foyer, plus dancing to the From Me to You band, wrapped up the gala evening. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of Rob Moorman Photography

From left, Warren Hypes, Elizabeth Frazier, Travis Pelleymounter and Brian Ford.

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From left, Ruth Lynch, Ed Ameen, Don Germaise and Sheila Vukner.

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A member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, Tom Jones’s photographs explore issues of identity and geographic place within Native American communities.

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Tom Jones: Here We Stand is organized by the Museum of Wisconsin Art Tom Jones, Peyton Grace Rapp, from Strong Unrelenting Spirits series, 2018, Inkjet print and beadwork, Collection of Ken Karol and Greg French Image credit: Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend, Wisconsin

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SOCIAL

From left, Colleen Egan, Sister Dolores O’Brien, Sister Mary McNally and Dr. Thomas Egan.

St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation Sunset on the Serengeti Gala Dennis “Zebra” Mancusi, left, and Tim “Giraffe” McMahon.

Rachael Russell DeVicente and Lucas DeVicente.

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That two-legged zebra and giraffe frolicking at Sunset on the Serengeti? Why, they were just two St. Anthony’s Hospital team members welcoming guests to the Africa-inspired gala benefit for the downtown St. Petersburg hospital’s nonprofit foundation on April 22 at the Coliseum. Emcee Veronica Cintro introduced hospital president Scott Smith, foundation executive director Kathy Parker and board chairman Travis Brown during the Moroccan barbecue dinner, and the Kuumba Dancers & Drummers added a colorful history lesson. Philanthropist Nancy Westphal spoke about having laparoscopic colon cancer surgery, expressing gratitude for the medical staff and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany’s loving care. “Mission Moments” highlighting the hospital’s critical services helped the gala net nearly $260,000 for advanced surgical technology. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of the St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation

David and Linda Punzak.

Beth and Travis Brown.

Fine craft exhibit showcases the best of handcrafted work through August 26

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Fine Craft Nonprofit Gallery in Downtown 501 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg (727) 821-7391 FloridaCraftArt.org The exhibition and free programming are made possible with support from:

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LAMPLighters “Light Up the Night” LAMPLighters captured the spirit of New York’s Studio 54 at “Light Up the Night,” creating their own version of the legendary nightclub at a Studio 36 disco party to celebrate the charity’s 36 years of providing necessities — everything from hugs to homework help — to homeless and foster children sheltered at Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House. Guest speaker Kéto Nord Hodges, once a Metropolitan Ministries client and now an active board member, vouched for the dedicated volunteers who “illuminate the path for displaced families” as he shared his success story with the 275 guests during the buffet dinner at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer Family JCC in Tampa on April 22. His message and the #NoFilter band pumped the dancing crowd to raise nearly $100,000 for the annual LAMPlighters Fund Hope appeal. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of Joe Photo Tampa

Hunt and Molly James.

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Back row, from left: Stephanie McKeon, Nathalie Dani and Dawn Hock. Front row, from left: Christie Nation, Patti Corcoran, Silvia Wehling and Cielo Aracena.

Christine Long, left, and Elena Marrero.

Kurt and Amy Hull.

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SOCIAL

Guests pose for a photo at the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation’s annual Heroes Ball.

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation Heroes Ball

From left, Keri Eisenbeis, Yvonne Fry and Stephanie Conners.

Mike Evans, left, and Bennett Barrow.

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An artful array of diversions awaited guests arriving at the Heroes Ball, an annual black-tie benefit for the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, this year raising $1.1 million to fund five professional positions in the hospital’s integrated mental health program, a priority of event chairpersons Heather and Bennett Barrow. The nearly 600 supporters could pick up cocktails through a colorful xylophone wall, pose for kaleidoscope photos, play pinball and paint a giant gala logo now displayed in the hospital, a symbol of their collective impact.

The highlight of the playful party: honoring 2023 Community Hero Mike Evans, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver known, along with his wife Ashli, for mentoring and uplifting kids and families going through difficult times by providing food, books, scholarships and other support. The Haute Chile band kept the dance floor rocking April 22 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of Joe Photo Tampa and Xpress URSelf Media

Matt and Susie Bray.

From left, Claire, Bennett and Heather Barrow.

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Plus! Be included in the 12-month calendar of Tampa Bay’s top fundraising events from November 2023 through October 2024.

Place your announcement by September 13 at tampabay.com/charity-register

Social calendar Sept. 9: Eye Ball 2023 Celebrating 50 Years, which benefits the Lions World Vision Institute. Darcie Glazer Kassewitz is the Person of Vision honoree. $250 and up. 6 p.m. Armature Works, 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa. eyeball23.org.

tuxestailstampa.com.

Oct. 21: Broadway Ball, Moulin Rouge, which benefits the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. $750. 6 p.m. Morsani Hall at the Straz Center, Tampa. strazcenter.org.

Sept. 13: Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award dinner and auction, which benefits the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council and honors the Tampa Bay Rays. $600. 5:30 p.m. Pepin’s Hospitality Centre, Tampa. tampabayscouting.org/dca2023.

Oct. 21: Tampa General Hospital Foundation Gala, “Elevating Excellence.” $1,000 and up. 6 p.m. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. tgh.org/gala or 813-844-7572.

Sept. 21: Blues, BBQ, & Elvis: Gourmet Feastival, which benefits the Centre for Women. $50 and up. VIP at 5 p.m., general at 6. Higgins Hall, 5225 N Himes Ave., Tampa. thecentre.org.

Oct. 27: LAMPLighters Fall into Fashion luncheon, featuring looks from Dillard’s. $125. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Shanna and Bryan Glazer Family JCC. lamplighterstampa.org.

Sept. 23: Cattle Baron’s Ball, which benefits the American Cancer Society. $1,000 and up. 6 p.m. Shanna and Bryan Glazer Family JCC, Tampa. cbb2023.com.

Oct. 27: Hispanic Woman and Man of the Year. 6:30 p.m. Armature Works. tampahispanic.org.

Oct. 1: Starlight Gala, which benefits AdventHealth and features The Commodores. $500 and up. 4:30 p.m. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. tinyurl.com/4n9fznmm.

Nov. 15: Farm to Table(aux), which benefits the MacDonald Training Center. VIP $250, general $150. 6-10 p.m. Morsani Hall at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. tinyurl.com/3r5vdjvy.

Contact Amy Scherzer at amyscherzersdiary@gmail.com.

Oct. 4: USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy symposium and luncheon, with guest speaker Kendra Scott. $200. 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Tampa Marriott Water Street. wlp@usf.edu or 813-974-9894.

Oct. 4: Dress for Success Tampa Bay 25th Anniversary Gala. $100 and up. 5-9 p.m. Hilton Tampa Downtown. dressforsuccess.org.

Oct. 5: Wine, Women and Shoes, which benefits the Children’s Cancer Center. $200. 6 -10 p.m. Armature Works. tinyurl.com/ yc2jtxjb.

Oct. 7: Gigi’s Blue and Gold Gala, which benefits Gigi’s Playhouse. $225 and up. 5 p.m. Hilton Tampa Downtown. tinyurl.com/3fesh48u.

Oct. 7: Casino Night and Cocktails, which benefits Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital’s Department of Patient and Family Centered Care. $100. 7 p.m. University of South Florida St. Petersburg Student Center. tinyurl.com/39ynjtd3 or 727-871-1352.

Oct. 13: Dishes & Wishes Tampa, which benefits MakeA-Wish Southern Florida. $150. 7-11 p.m. Armature Works. dishesandwishestampa.com or 813-288-2600.

Oct. 14: FARA Energy Ball, which benefits Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance and the USF Ataxia Research Center. $500 and up. 6 p.m. Tampa Marriott Water Street. curefa.org/energyball or 813-600-8179.

Oct. 14: Tuxes and Tails Bavarian Nacht, which benefits the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. $295. 5:30 p.m. Tampa Convention Center.

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