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A MAGAZINE OF THE TAMPA BAY TIMES

MARCH 2021

PICTURE PERFECT

SMITH IS HOME. Your neighborhood experts since 1969.

OVATION - DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG 180 Beach Drive NE #2402 3 Bed | 3/1 Bath | 3,660 SF | $3,999,000 Debbie Momberg & Lee Stratton 727.560.1571

SUNSET PARK 5005 W Leona Street 5 Bed | 5/1 Bath | 5,900 SF | $2,495,000 B-G Holmberg 813.220.0643

DAVIS ISLANDS WATERFRONT 58 Bahama Circle 7 Bed | 8/8 Bath | 21,796 SF | $29,000,000 Stephen Gay Group 813.380.4343

HYDE PARK HOUSE Starting in the $900s | 1,835 - 5,057 SF The Hyde Park House Sales Te am 813.649.3700 HydeParkBayshore.com

SUNSET PARK WATERFRONT 5110 W Longfellow Avenue 6 Bed | 6/1 Bath | 6,334 SF | $5,490,000 Ed Gunning & Mary Pond 813.294.8867

PARKLAND ESTATES 2506 W Parkland Boulevard 5 Bed | 5/1 Bath | 4,748 SF | $2,175,000 B-G Holmberg 813.220.0643

SUNSET PARK 2623 S Parkview Street 5 Bed | 5/1 Bath | 4,923 SF | $2,249,000 B-G Holmberg 813.220.0643

BAYSHORE BEAUTIFUL NEW CONSTRUCTION 2908 W Fair Oaks Avenue 5 Bed | 5/1 Bath | 5,121 SF | $2,498,753 Mary Pond & Ed Gunning 813.690.7902

THE RESIDENCES AT THE TAMPA EDITION - WATER STREET TAMPA Starting at $2.1M | 1,824 SF - 5,063 SF The EDITION Sales Te am 813.492.2922 tampaeditionresidences.com

HYDE PARK SOHO DISTRICT 211 S Albany Avenue Main: 3 Bed/2 Bath/1,295 SF | Guest: 1 Bed/1 Bath/736 SF | $729,000 Traci Burns 813.833.7510

WAVERLY PARK CIRCLE 3129 W Waverly Avenue 5 Bed | 4/1 Bath | 3,352 SF | $1,599,000 Jen Carlstedt 813.368.8644

BAYSHORE BEAUTIFUL NEW CONSTRUCTION 2904 W Fair Oaks Avenue 5 Bed | 5/1 Bath | 4,788 SF | $2,498,525 Ed Gunning & Mary Pond 813.294.8867

SALTAIRE Starting in the $800s | 1,663 - 6,097 SF Saltaire Sales Te am 727.240.3840 saltairestpete.com

THE OAKS ESTATE 12321 Fort King Highway 8 Bed | 12/14 Bath | 36,361 SF | $17,500,000 Dina Sierra Smith, Ed Gunning & Mary Pond 813.294.8867

Our Global Partners

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St. Petersburg ~1131 4th St. N ~ 727.896.0622 | Hyde Park Village 1607 W. Swann Ave. ~ 813.875.3935 | OldNortheastJewelers.com

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SEE YOURSELF HERE

6 0 0 1 ST AVE N # 1 1 0 S T . P E T E R S B U R G , F L 3 3 7 01 CO N TACT

R E / M A X

Kathryn Krayer Zimring 727.430.5010 thezrealtor@ gmail.com

M E T R O

Ned Hands

Sandy Bozeman

Patti Halpin

727.239.5650 ned@handson realtors.com

727.459.4142 sandywbozeman@ gmail.com

727.434.0933 patti@ pattihalpin.com

J. David Vann

Estelia Mesimer

Al Bennati

727.510.0265 vannteam@ gmail.com

727.686.2859 esteliammesimer@ gmail.com

813.309.2400 al@bennatisbest.com

Jane McCroary

Hellen Driggers

Julie Jones

Amanda Bursik

727.348.3888 janegulfbeaches@ gmail.com

727.698.1047 hdriggers@ bayfrontlife.com

727.452.8663 realtorjuliejones@ gmail.com

727.515.3735 amanda@ amandaboursik.com

Joey and Tina Romanik

Bruce Erbeck 727.417.4694 captainbruce2015@ gmail.com

727.639.3888 romanikrealestate@ gmail.com

Michelle Cline 727.424.1108 mc@mcline7.com

Rebecca Stewart 727.365.1007 specialagentrebecca@ gmail.com

Tina Herrell 727.251.6630 tina@ tinamoveshouses.com

150 SECOND AVE. N., STE 100 ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33701

ST. PETERSBURG

TREASURE ISLAND

TIERRA VERDE

727.896.1800

727.397.1800

727.867.3100

Each office is independently owned and operated.

SOLD

SNELL ISLE 3BR | 3.5BA | 3,058 SF | 2CG LAST OFFERED $1,695,000 Custom built luxury home situated on the 12th fairway of the Vinoy Golf Course designed for the modern lifestyle in mind. Main living areas have an open floor plan and a chef’s dream kitchen all overlooking the resort style pool and covered lanai. Master bedroom upstairs has a private balcony with sweeping views of the golf course. Two guest bedrooms are en-suite with modern finishes. Close to downtown and waterfront. The Z Realtor brought this buyer to their dream home.

HARRY POTTER? OFFERED $2,500,000 Sometimes you find the perfect home and sometimes the perfect home finds you. It is magical when it happens. Another Amazing St Pete Beach Home sold by Al Bennati.

Kathryn Krayer Zimring | thezrealtor@gmail.com | 727.430.5010

Al Bennati | BennatisBest.com | 813.309-2400 SOLD

BEACH DR • DOWNTOWN ST PETE 3BR | 3.1BA | 3,336 SF | 2 PARKING SPACES OFFERED $2,500,000 Simply stunning! Remodeled down to the studs! Double unit remodel in Bayfront Front Tower. This bright and open + private spaces exudes luxury. High end finishes, sparing no detail. Over 60 ft of direct open water views of sparkling Tampa Bay from floor to ceiling windows throughout living and dining area, kitchen and all 3 bedrooms. 24/7 concierge, valet parking and penthouse level amenities complete the Bayfront Tower package for a discerning buyer. Hellen Driggers | Hdriggers@bayfrontlife.com | 727.698.1047

WATERFRONT • PASS-A-GRILLE 4BR | 4BA | 2,848 SF | 2CG OFFERED $1,349,900 Looking for an excellent investment opportunity or property for a family compound? If so, this Pass-aGrille Historic District 2-unit home is for you! A second floor was added to the original main house, creating two independent units. Separate entrances for each unit; house can easily be converted back to a single-family dwelling.

Estelia Mesimer | esteliammesimer@gmail.com | 727.686.259

FROM CHAOS TO ORDER

GREEK GEOMETRIC ART FROM THE SOL RABIN COLLECTION

THROUGH APRIL 11, 2021

EDITOR Kathy Saunders ksaunders@tampabay.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nikki Life nlife@tampabay.com

COPY EDITOR Dawn Cate

WORKING POINT

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER Brian James, brian@brianjamesgallery.com

THROUGH MAY 23, 2021

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.

CONTEMPORARY GLASS FROM THE MFA COLLECTION

EXPLORE THE VAULTS ABSTRACTION AND THE AMERICAN SCENE

THROUGH JULY 18, 2021

ANTIOCH RECLAIMED

ANCIENT MOSAICS AT THE MFA

OPENING APRIL 10, 2021

FROM MARGINS TO MAINSTAYS

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION

OPENING APRIL 24, 2021

VISIT OUR RENOVATED GALLERIES AND REIMAGINED COLLECTION TODAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, ADVANCE TICKETS AND SAFETY GUIDELINES, VISIT MFASTPETE.ORG.

THE TAMPA BAY TIMES CHAIRMAN AND CEO Paul C. Tash PRESIDENT Conan Gallaty EXECUTIVE EDITOR Mark Katches BAY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Ellen E. Clarke VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING Bruce Faulmann RETAIL SENIOR ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Shurman National/Major Senior Advertising Manager Kelly Spamer Pinellas Advertising Manager Jennifer Bonin Automotive & Real Estate Advertising Manager Larry West North Suncoast Sales Manager Jessica Petroski

FULFILLMENT MANAGER Gerald Gifford IMAGING AND PRODUCTION Brian Baracani, Greg Kennicutt REGIONAL HOME DELIVERY MANAGERS Diann Bates, Rob Jennings

To view the magazine online, visit tampabay.com/bay. To advertise in Bay magazine, call 800-333-7505.

8 / bay

Paradise, Elevated

Make home feel more like a vacation. With expansive terraces, sun-drenched floor plans and upscale appointments throughout, our low-maintenance Mid-rise Homes help you relax while giving you more time to enjoy what you love. Your purchase includes a portion of the initiation fee to the prestigious Belleair Country Club and access to resort-style amenities of the iconic Belleview Inn, both located just steps from your door. And, for added peace of mind, no flood insurance is required as our gated community rests atop a 35-foot bluff. Come tour an exquisite model home at Belleview Place today. 6 Hibiscus Lane

•

Mid-rise and Carriage Homes from the $900s Belleair, FL 33756 • 727.469.7070 • BelleviewPlace.com

There has never been a better time to sell your property PremierSothebysRealty.com

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120 2nd Avenue NE, Suite 102A St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Clearwater, Florida 33756

Visit or call us for a private consultation ListWithUsToday.com | 877.539.9865 PremierSothebysRealty.com

CULBREATH ISLES 4937 Lyford Cay Road $7,400,000 Nick Janovsky 813.391.8291

PALM HARBOR 600 Pennsylvania $2,900,000 Lynn Richey & Taylor Richey 813.244.6533

CLEARWATER BEACH 521 Mandalay Avenue #1402 $3,200,000 Jackie Diaz & Karen Hegemeier 727.424.2317

CLEARWATER 3025 Oakmont Drive $1,950,000 Jackie Diaz & Karen Hegemeier 727.424.2317

SNELL ISLE 1100 Brightwaters Boulevard NE $1,750,000 Brittany Ranew 727.258.1064

SNELL ISLE 935 Eden Isle Drive NE $1,799,000 Judy Holland 727.692.8992

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Property information herein is derived fromvarious sources including, but not limited to, county records and multiple listing services, and may include approximations. All information is deemed accurate.

#1 Team for Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

Tampa Bay Region in 2020 Buy With Us, Sell With Us

NEW LISTING | WIDE OPEN WATERFRONT VIEW 935 Eden Isle Drive NE | Snell Isle $1,799,000

SOLD!* 300 15th Avenue North | Old Northeast Last oﬀered at $1,325,000

SOLD!* 520 25th Avenue North | Crescent Heights Last oﬀered at $799,000

SOLD!* 3100 1st Street North | Old Northeast Last oﬀered at $1,150,000

SOLD!* 111 15th Avenue North | Old Northeast Last oﬀered at $675,000

SOLD | THIRD TRANSACTION WITH SELLERS 201 8th Avenue North | Old Northeast Last oﬀered at $689,000

With this exceptionally strong market, there’s never been a better time to sell your property! Contact us for a private consultation.

Luxury Market Experts Judy Holland CNE, CLHMS, REALTOR® BROKER ASSOCIATE

727.692.8992

HollandAndRightmyer.com

Over $125 MILLION SOLD Top 1% of REALTORS® in Pinellas County

Caryn Rightmyer

Dawn Hulett

CNE, CLHMS, REALTOR®

REALTOR®

727.409.9696 Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each oﬃce is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. *Represented buyer

CONTENTS

34 MASTERPIECE

The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg is the perfect backdrop for fine fashion.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL FROM BAY EDITOR KATHY SAUNDERS Taking time to appreciate beauty was foremost on our minds while planning this issue of Bay. We spent time admiring exhibits at the Museum of Fine Arts on St. Petersburg’s art-centric waterfront. On a day when the museum was closed to the public, we brought our team, led by stylist Tim Creagan, for a fashion shoot worthy of the magnificent backdrop. Creagan came through once again for our Found It feature, digging up treasures for the outdoors. He discovered some delightful objects to embellish our yards, gardens and porches. And, again, we found the perfect setting for photographing the finds: an orchid farm surreptitiously tucked behind a St. Petersburg home.

26 FACES

Jabari Reed-Diop is evolving. Meet the young artist, who goes professionally by iBOMS.

46 PRETTY IN PINK

The 93-year-old Don CeSar Hotel is refreshed after a three-year, multimillion-dollar makeover.

While art was reminding us to find beauty in our surroundings, we also asked a young St. Petersburg artist what inspires his work. Jabari Reed-Diop, known professionally as iBOMS, was open about how his activism and ego are imbedded in his creative designs.

16 FOUND IT

Turn your backyard into a sanctuary with an assortment of fabulous finds.

Former St. Petersburg resident Laura Schulte-Stucki found that her enthusiasm for sleek, custom European sports cars could be exquisitely woven into the luxury shoe line she launched last year. The name of her business, Moses Grace, was discovered while she was appreciating the stately headstones on a walk through a cemetery in Maine. And, how can you think of beauty in the Tampa Bay area without citing our stunning beaches and the sunset views of the Gulf of Mexico? The final phase of renovations at the Don CeSar Hotel was completed recently and we were invited to tour the redecorated rooms and the new twostory beachfront bar with a rooftop viewing deck. All of the renovations at the Pink Palace were designed to pay homage to the hotel’s history as an oasis for wellness and, of course, beauty. 14 / bay

54 PUMPED UP

Add some character to your yard with Imperial Foo Dogs in cast concrete ($50 each at Bayshore Market, 5025 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, 813-831-5759, bayshoremarket.com).

Laura Schulte-Stucki, formerly of St. Petersburg, is passionate about her Moses Grace shoe line.

60 SOCIAL SCENE

Av ai la

bl e

ow !

The Pointe II on Boca Ciega at Marina Bay

Waterfront penthouse condominiums ...with unparalleled features

With only three units per building – each commanding an entire floor – The Pointe Condominiums ensure the ultimate luxury – privacy. The penthouse-style, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom residence offers over 3,800 sq. ft. of living space, and nearly 1,000 sq. ft. of wrap-around terrace overlooking breathtaking panoramic views of Boca Ciega Bay and the Skyway Bridge. Featuring dual master baths, a whole-building gas generator, separate climate control (no shared air), and a private, oversized 2-car garage per unit. Discover Marina Bay in St. Petersburg, a hidden gem tucked away on Boca Ciega Bay, where 60 acres of lush tropical landscaping, lakes with dramatic water features and abundant wildlife blend to form this vibrant community. Just seven minutes to downtown and seven minutes to St. Pete Beach, the new Villas, Estate Homes and Condominiums of Marina Bay redefine luxury and provide resilience by building to Fortified Standards. Visit Marina Bay, next to Eckerd College, to tour our new models.

Mon-Sat: 11 - 4pm • Sunday: Noon - 4pm The first FORTIFIEDTM condominium in Florida

Sales Center • 4 Franklin Court South • St. Petersburg, FL 33711

MarinaBayStPete.com • 727-906-3300

S T. P E T E R S B U R G

FO U ND IT

Mixed media mermaid sculpture by Andreas Goff, $350. Gallery Barbas, 4223 W Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa. 813-435-0406. gallerybarbas.com.

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Ceramic fountain, $399. Driftwood, sea glass and stone sculpture, $190. Outdoor Accents of Florida, 3633 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa. 813-605-0543. outdooraccentsofflorida.com.

gartening PH OTOS BY B R IAN JA M E S

noun | the act of cultivating or tending a garden. the work or art of a gardener. Natural beauty inspires us, soothes us and reminds us why we live in Florida. Spending time enjoying the tropical gardens of our own backyards is atop our list of ways to find some calm in the chaos that is life right now. This month we found a bounty of garden treasures to help us sow our own serenity.

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CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: 1970s vintage plastic chair, $198. Summer House Marketplace, 3620 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa. 813-8314740. IG: @summerhousemarketplace7. Lady bust planter, $25. Bayshore Market, 5025 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa. 813-831-5759. bayshoremarket.com. Power stone, $25 and up. Zebra calcite, $75. Healing bundles by Jamie Edwards, $30 and up. Beach House 5317, 5317 Gulfport Blvd. S, Gulfport. 727-303-0354. IG: @beachhouse5317. Ceramic mushrooms by JJ Potts, $8 and up. Bloom Garden Shop, 3005 S MacDill Ave., Tampa. 813-8052151. bloomtampa.com. Midcentury hand-painted garden stool, $395. Chez Orleans, 4237 Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa. 813-805-7323. chezorleans.com. bay / 19

ABOVE: Custom mini garden, $50 and up. Thai Orchids & Leis, 5313 Gulfport Blvd. S, Gulfport. 727-321-2732. Ceramic “hand” bowl, $48. Anthropologie, 705 S Dakota Ave., Tampa. 813-250-3600. anthropologie.com. RIGHT: Hand-painted stone mandalas by Home Grown & Rock Solid, $25 and up. Custom colors and sizes available. Beach House 5317, 5317 Gulfport Blvd. S, Gulfport. 727-303-0354. IG: @beachhouse5317.

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| Brian James

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| Brian James

Michael Brinkmann, left, and Doug Chenneville operate St. Pete Orchid Farm. Photos by Brian James

A GROWING PASSION FOR ORCHIDS

oug Chenneville always loved flowers, but a trip to Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota in the early 1990s is where his lifelong obsession with orchids was rooted.

“When I went to Selby Gardens I was in awe,” said the 52-year-old St. Petersburg native, who immediately found a job working for the late Bud Spence at Florida Native Orchids.

“There are more species of orchids than any other plant,” added Brinkmann. His favorites are brassavola orchids “because they are great growers in this area and they grow fast and bloom and are fragrant.”

That’s where he met Michael Brinkmann, 54. The two now grow hundreds of orchids at their home in St. Petersburg’s Euclid/St. Paul neighborhood. Their backyard is a combination of open-air shade houses, Florida palms and a jungle of tropical vines that create a canopy of shade and perfect light and temperature for orchids to thrive.

Most orchids bloom only once a year, so the plants take patience. As far as care, both growers advise clients to pretty much leave their orchids alone. The biggest threat to orchids is too much water. As long as they have the correct light, they will thrive, Brinkmann said.

“It’s as close to perfect a place to grow them because the only real foe you have here is a hard freeze,” Chenneville said. Their orchid oasis was the ideal backdrop to showcase some of the outdoor decor featured in this month’s Found It. Chenneville and Brinkmann specialize in orchids that grow best in the hot, humid Florida climate.

22 / bay

“We scrape the internet and have connections around the world” for hybrid opportunities, Chenneville said, admitting “We’ve killed a bunch in the process.”

The orchids in their backyard are available for friends, neighbors and visitors to purchase. Once a month, they have an open house sale. Most sell from $15 to $35. For information about the orchids and opportunities to visit the farm to shop, go to stpeteorchidfarm.com. — Kathy Saunders

Tickets on Sale Now

TAMPA BAY TIMES MASTERWORKS

Serenity

After living in a pandemic for a year, you deserve these precious moments of beauty and peace, with Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Alabaca’s Across the Calm Waters of Heaven, and more. Michael Francis conducts. Sun, Mar 14, 2 pm TAMPA BAY TIMES MASTERWORKS

Beethoven & Haydn

Featuring Robert Smith on Trumpet TFO’s Robert Smith reveals the pure beauty of the trumpet in Haydn’s great Trumpet Concerto, and we glimpse the origin story of Beethoven in his Symphony No. 1. Also: Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s Overture and more. Daniel Black conducts. Sat, Mar 20, 2 pm Sat, Mar 20, 8 pm Sun, Mar 21, 2 pm

MASTERWORKS: SOUNDWAVES

TFO Percussion

TFO percussionists present music from contemporary American composers in a kaleidoscope of sounds at this special concert. Sat, Mar 20, 5 pm Sun, Mar 21, 5 pm COFFEE CONCERT

French Connection A fantastique concert with Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, Debussy’s Petite Suite, Offenbach’s Can-Can from Orpheus in the Underworld and more. Stuart Malina conducts. Thu, Mar 25, 11 am

Coming Soon: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto Apr 10 & 11 Mozart & Beethoven Apr 14 & 15 Fly Me to the Moon Apr 17 & 18 Dvorak’s New World Symphony May 1 Rhapsody in Blue May 22 & 23 Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto May 29 & 30

All concerts at the Mahaffey Theater, featuring new safety measures. All concerts about 1 hour, no intermission. Tickets start at $23, all fees included.

FloridaOrchestra.org | 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286

CENTURY 21 – The #1 InternationalBrandinRealEstate Willadel – Belleair, FL

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

Luxury & Waterfront Specialist

727-215-2045

dania.perry@gmail.com www.DaniaPerry.com

Dania Sold $150M+ in Luxury and Waterfront Real Estate in 2020 and More Than $1 Billion Throughout Tampa Bay!

Bacopa Bay – St. Petersburg, FL

Catalina Grand – Treasure Island, FL

Located across from the beach, this exceptional 3,495 sqft, 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath luxury condominium offers gorgeous water views, beautiful finishes, a private 10-person hot tub, deep 2-car garage and deeded boat slip/lift with rapid access to the Gulf! Short walk to dining, shopping and entertainment. Offered for $1,280,000.

Magnificent sweeping panoramic water views! Brilliantly updated 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 3,028 sqft top-floor residence boasts a sophisticated cosmopolitan appeal. Lavish gourmet kitchen, posh executive office. Exceptional world-class amenities, easy access to beaches and airport. Offered for $1,225,000.

Bayfront Tower – St. Petersburg, FL

Soaring high above the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, this exceptional corner double-unit, 2-bedroom condominium provides stunning panoramic views of downtown and a spacious 2,893 sqft of living area. Extraordinary top-floor clubhouse, rooftop pool and wonderful amenities. Offered for $899,000.

The Dania Difference - The Professional Difference - The Real Difference in Real Estate CENTURY21 JIM WHITE & ASSOCIATES

World

Dania Perry – Delivering the Best

Luxury Home Sales Results in Tampa Bay!

for the 8th Time! Dania Sold $150M+ in Luxury and Waterfront Real Estate in 2020 and More Than $1 Billion Throughout Tampa Bay!

Beachfront – Redington Beach, FL

Extraordinary and luxurious beachfront living in the finest Gulf-front estate available in Tampa Bay!

Offered for $6,749,000.

A masterful and expansive private, resort-style ocean-front estate on a remarkable 80 feet of pristine natural white-sand beach, affords endless and unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. Uncompromising in its architectural details and craftsmanship, this brilliant Tuscan coastal design is situated in a secluded and quiet residential area. Your majestic 11,622 total sqft of space takes advantage of natural light and endless waterviews. Enjoy 4 lavish bedroom suites, a detached private guest home, and 6,200 sq ft of living area with an additional 3,000 sq ft of recently remodeled entertainment space. Sumptuous gourmet kitchen boasts custom designer cabinetry, hidden pantry, granite counters and natural gas cooking. Relax in the great room with soaring 21’ ceilings, floorto-ceiling window views. Luxe master suite with private balcony, entertainment center, sitting area, fireplace and elegant oversized closet, delivers commanding panoramic views of the Gulf. Master bath is a pampered retreat made complete with luxury appointments, jetted spa tub, dazzling shower and dedicated cosmetics area. Private 1,000 sq ft beach patio is only steps away from powder white sand. You’ll love the 1,400 sqft of balconies, spacious gas-heated salt-water swimming pool with LED light show and two gas fire pits. Grand driveway and attached garage provide parking for up to ten vehicles. Relish romantic beach walks, fishing, paddleboarding, windsurfing and more.

Independently Ranked one of Florida’s 10 Best Real Estate Agents

FACE S: JABARI REED - DIOP, AK A “iBOMS”

Artist Jabari Reed-Diop, known professionally as iBOMS, poses in front of his mural, Harmful Algae Bloom, at Grand Central Brewhouse in St. Petersburg during the 2020 Shine Mural Festival. Photo by Scott Keeler

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Jabari Reed-Diop’s Be Kind to Yourself, below left, and Star Gazing, below right, were among the works he exhibited in “Ego Death” at Mize Gallery in St. Petersburg.

“Star Gazing” by Jabari Reed-Diop, a.k.a. iBOMS, was part of his sold out exhibition, “Ego Death” at Mize Gallery in St. Petersburg.

A WORK IN PROGRESS BY MAGGIE DUFFY

t. Petersburg native Jabari Reed-Diop, known professionally as iBOMS, is a rising star in Tampa Bay. Since coming on the art scene in 2018, he’s gained more than 7,000 followers on social media, designed a print for the Tampa Bay Rays Artist Print series in 2019, sold many artworks in gallery shows and online and painted a mural as part of the Shine Mural Festival in 2020.

His journey of self-discovery led him to focus on an emotional awareness that he gained by checking his ego. He created two characters with mushrooms for heads that represent duality. “Ego” represents his exterior, while “Ego Death” represents a more spiritual, enlightened, emotionally connected side. The candycolored paintings depict transcendence and lots of flowers, both painted and in collage. The show sold out, a first for Reed-Diop and for the gallery.

His bold, cartoon-style characters reflect his own experiences as a young African American male. Early on, he used them to address topics like racism, consumption of violence and materialism.

Bay magazine caught up with iBOMS to talk about this recent transition, how it feels to sell out a show and what’s next.

But recently, Reed-Diop, 21, went through a coming-of-age transition and embarked on a completely new body of work that he exhibited in his solo exhibition at Mize Gallery, “Ego Death.”

You recently shifted your style. Talk about your previous style. It was character based. I had an entourage of characters that I would exchange out to talk about different topics. Recently, all those

bay / 27

characters vanished from my personality. It’s so weird. It’s sad sometimes, ’cause I liked the way they looked. That was the transitional period you went through that was reflected in “Ego Death”? Yeah and I’m not even sure I’d use the mushroom characters again. I feel like they served their purpose in the right way. Sometimes you have to let things go. I read a quote that “Ego Death” was your transition from an activist to a philosopher. When you’re an activist, a lot of the time there are things that people are telling you that you should be standing up for. You’ll find that you don’t coincide with a lot of people’s beliefs and that’s okay, that’s what makes you you. That was me coming to terms with that being okay is what brought me into that more philosophical understanding to differences. “Ego Death” sold out. How did that feel? It was not as joyous as I thought it would feel. But I am still grateful for it, because that’s what my goal was. But once I got to my goal, I’m like, wow, I need to have different goals, whatever that may be. This is still going to push me, but I need goals that are going to fulfill me inside. That’s creating the work and being around friends and having conversations.

Jabari Reed-Diop’s “Ego Death” exhibition at Mize Gallery in St. Petersburg, which included Starburst Journey, left, and Cautionary Blooms, below, sold out.

You moved into your first studio at the ArtsXChange last year. How did your process change when you moved into your own studio? It stagnated. For four months, hardly any work came out. It was such a transition because normally I was at home, creating either in a tiny space in the living room or outside. Having my own space, it took a minute for me to figure out what I needed to do. I switched it around and now it’s kind of like a living room in one section and a work studio in the other section. So when I need that nostalgia moment I’ll go back into the living room and watch TV and paint like that. What do you take inspiration from? More recently it’s been freedom of thought, like not getting inspiration from looking on my phone. That’s where I used to get it from, looking at pictures. I still do it sometimes. But for the most part it’s taking walks talking to myself, seeing what I already know and talking about that. I write ideas down. It comes and goes and possesses me when it wants to. It seems like you’ve also been inspired by nature, with all the flowers in your paintings. Yeah. It caught me. It was a transforming moment when I went to Washington for the first time. I was feeling a consciousness that came from being in the mountains. Being around something that big is insane.

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What is your next body of work? It’s going to be based around those flowers I started doing. The dynamics are going to be two different sides of reality. There’s going to be a red side, like an old, grungy Coca-Cola sign, and the flip side is going to be a vanilla mint, cream color. So it’s going to be an ascension feeling on one side and a little rough on the other side. But speaking from it on opposite sides. The red side, visually, you’d think that would be the bad side, but it’s the most constructive side. The blissful side is the insane stuff that took me off that path.

of nature, like when people come into my art shows, I want them to feel like they’re walking next to a mountain. I want to do an animation course.

Where do you see yourself in the future as an artist? I want to be imaginative, but still just a little bit ego-driven. I can’t get rid of it because if I do, I can’t create because then I have nothing to step on. But I want it to feel like a force

It would be a dope thing to get a few artists together and go take an animation class and we’d have a whole new medium that we can bring to St. Pete. Billboards would be insane with iBOMS art on them.

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FA SHION

Ganni pink polka-dot dress, $245. Nordstrom. nordstrom.com. Betsey Johnson gold-tone heart charm, $29. Steve Madden ombre pink booties, $110. Dillard’s. dillards.com. Chanel 19 flap bag in magenta, $5,000. Neiman Marcus. neimanmarcus. com. (Photo taken in front of Leo Berkowitz’s “Big Blue,” c. 1970, in the Post-War Gallery.) 34 / bay

PH OTOS BY B R IAN JA M E S

REFRAMED Combining the beauty of curated art with clothes of the same theme was the goal of our fashion shoot this month. Set among the fine art galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg and in its luscious outdoor gardens, we selected outfits to complement the colors and character of the exhibits. The museum recently completed a privately funded renovation of the 18 galleries in the original building, which houses the permanent collection. The complete overhaul of the 12,000-square-foot space and a new way of installing the artwork make it feel like a new museum.

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ABOVE: Pierre-Louis Mascia silk and knit print tee, $162. Circolo 1901 pink velour jacket and wide-leg pant, $498 and $298. Eye Bobs pink reading glasses, $89. Deborah Kent’s, 2120 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. deborahkents.com. Gucci classic monogram satchel, $1,200. Eye Candy Heart Earrings, $10. Label Swap, 3143 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. labelswap.com. (Photo taken in the Baroque Gallery.) LEFT: For Humanity Paris sweatshirt and sweatpants, $110 and $168. Gold-tone cuff with shark tooth, $315. Two-tone coin ring, $172. Deborah Kent’s, 2120 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. deborahkents.com. Chanel classic single flap bag, $5,000. alexisconsigns.com. Ted Baker rose gold metallic heel, $55. Label Swap, 3143 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. labelswap.com. (Photo taken in the Rococo Gallery, featuring Elisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun’s “Julie LeBrun as Flora,” 1799, and Jean-Baptiste Boulard’s “Pair of Armchairs,” c. 1775.) bay / 37

ABOVE: Cloth & Stone tie front linen shirt, $30. T.J. Maxx. tjmaxx.com. Custo Barcelona long cardigan, $20. Label Swap, 3143 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. labelswap.com. 7 for All Mankind high-waist ankle skinny denim, $198. Neiman Marcus. neimanmarcus. com. Marian Paquette velvet clutch, $460. Gold-tone double chain necklaces, $338. Deborah Kent’s, 2120 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. deborahkents.com. Betsey Johnson Heart & Evil Eye cuff, $47. Dillard’s. dillards.com. (Photo taken in the African Gallery.)

LEFT: Loyd/Ford sequin “sweatshirt,” $498. Johnny Was Dragon Cozy Blanket, $225. Deborah Kent’s, 2120 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. deborahkents.com. Veronica Beard high-waisted, wide-leg denim, $378. Nordstrom. nordstrom.com. Betsey Johnson jeweled hot pink sandal, $48. Kurt Geiger metallic leather bag, $165. Dillard’s. dillards.com. Betsey Johnson puff heart necklace, $17. T.J. Maxx. tjmaxx.com. (Photo taken on the museum lawn.)

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RIGHT: BCBG Max Azria, tie dyeinspired dress, $19. Escada snake embossed leather blazer, $150. Mix Number 6 lucite heel, $20. Label Swap, 3143 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. labelswap.com. Gold-tone double chain necklaces, $338. Deborah Kent’s, 2120 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. deborahkents.com. (Photo taken on the veranda.)

FAR RIGHT: Forever Unique London hot pink cape/jacket, $90. Chelsea 28 white pant, $26. Label Swap, 3143 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. labelswap.com. Christian Siriano floral cascade, $30. T.J. Maxx. tjmaxx.com. (Photo taken in the Cannova/Post-War Gallery.)

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Michael Stars red swing tee, $78. Johnny Was Camden kimono, $698. Avenue Montaigne stretch slim pant, $242. Buddha and dragon necklace, $295. Smoke clamper cuff, $120. Volta Atelier Soho Bag in teal, $120. Deborah Kent’s, 2120 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. deborahkents.com. 1950s snake wrap, $50. pattismithwest.etsy.com. Green stone ring, $5. Label Swap, 3143 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. labelswap.com. (Photo taken on the veranda.)

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FROM THE COVER: Zang Toi bicolor handkerchief ball gown and red face mask with ruby crown, $13,000 and $1,300. zangtoi.com. (Photo taken in front of the Pier Glass Mirror from the 18th century in the Great Hall.)

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1920s MEETS 2020s 46 / bay

The historic Don CeSar Hotel in St. Pete Beach emerges from a years-long renovation with a new pool bar and rooftop lookout, makeovers to lobbies, lounges, guest rooms and restaurants and other improvements to the Pink Palace.

BY KATHY SAUNDERS St. Pete Beach’s landmark Don CeSar Hotel has added a twostory pool bar and rooftop lookout to its sprawling beachfront property, completing a three-year renovation project aimed at connecting the Roaring ’20s to the 2020s. At the Beacon Pool Bar and Lookout, visitors can sample a menu of bites and beach-inspired cocktails while enjoying the expansive and unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. The view “is what draws everybody here,” said Todd Gehrke, director of sales and marketing for the hotel. He said the renovations were designed to pay homage to the hotel’s commitment to health and wellness — from the tranquility of the sun, sand and surf to the history of the hotel as a one-time military hospital and WWII convalescent center. “It has kind of come full circle,” Gehrke said. The multimillion-dollar renovations at the 93-year-old hotel include a complete makeover of lobbies, lounges, rooms and restaurants, designed to draw visitors back to the 1920s vibe that inspired the original hotel. The lobby bar was moved to the center of the hotel and seating went from eight bar stools to 30. The old giant banana leaves and green and pink decor have been muted to softer tones of taupe and brass. Gehrke said the decor is a nod to Havana Nights or the Great Gatsby era of 1928. Along with the scenic pool bar, the final phase of the makeover included refreshing the hotel’s 277 rooms, including 36 luxury suites. Designers added wicker furnishings, white-washed headboards and drapery and wallpaper with flamingo prints in gray and blush tones. “We wanted to create a whimsical beach theme,” said Kayla Gordon, associate director of marketing. The size and configuration of most of the hotel rooms was required to remain the same since the hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. But several of the rooms connect to enlarge the bedroom space for families. “To me, this just feels really comfortable and I love the beach theme and the Old Florida classic feel,” Gordon said.

The Lobby Bar, top, has been enlarged to add seating and also has a new color scheme. The hotel’s signature fine-dining restaurant Maritana, above, also got a complete remodel as part of the renovation. Photos courtesy of the Don CeSar

The hotel, managed by Davison Hotels of Atlanta, also renovated its retail area, moving the 1950s-themed ice cream shop from Gulf Boulevard to the first-floor beachfront wing. The ice cream counters are now inside Uncle Andy’s Market, a full-service sundries shop that is new to the hotel. The boutiques still include clothing and swimwear shops. On the same level are the remodeled Society Table restaurant, formerly the Sea Porch, open for all-day “Florida Gulf” fare, and the outdoor Rowe Bar, a nod to the hotel’s original developer, Thomas Rowe. Maritana, the hotel’s signature fine-dining restaurant, was remodeled to reflect a more “classic and modern” motif, Gehrke said. Some of the booths

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Clockwise from top: Hotel rooms have been freshened up to reflect the views; the Lobby Bar now has 30 bar stools; and the ice cream parlor has been moved to the new Uncle Andy’s Market. Photos courtesy of the Don CeSar

were removed to enlarge the dining room, and a private room was added for small gatherings. CeSar, the famous moray eel that used to live in a large fish tank along the Maritana’s lobby wall, was relocated to an aquarium in Kentucky. Emily Ferrari remains as executive chef at the Maritana, providing a fluctuating menu that includes everything from fresh, local fish to steaks and Mediterranean fare. “We call it coastal cuisine,” Gehrke said. The majestic Pink Palace has welcomed presidents, including Bill Clinton, George Bush, Jimmy Carter and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Movie stars Robert DeNiro, Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson have stayed there. So have Cher, Coretta Scott King, Elton John, Billy Joel, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Britney Spears and Babe Ruth. It has served as the backdrop for numerous films and productions.

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In 1942, the hotel was purchased by the U.S. Army as a military hospital for veterans returning from the war and later became a Veterans Administration headquarters. It was about to be razed in 1971 when a group of preservationists lobbied for its rebirth. Hotel developer William Bowman Jr. bought the dilapidated property for $460,000 and spent $3.5 million to refurbish the hotel. It reopened in 1973. The hotel was a founding member of Historic Hotels of America in 1989 and later opened 30,000 square feet of event space and, in 2008, Spa Oceania. Gehrke said the spa likely will get some additional refurbishing in the next year. The final restoration phase also included repainting and replanting along the palm tree-lined front drive to the hotel entrance. The hotel is offering discounted guest packages to celebrate the completion of the renovations. For information, call 844-338-1501 or visit doncesar.com.

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march 13 - may 23 2021

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

150 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 727.892.4200

thejamesmuseum.org Carrie Cook, Jam, 2020

Organized by Artists for Conservation Michelle McCune, Shake, 2020, oil on linen Jacquie Vaux, Eyes of a Persian Leopard, 2020, watercolor

Former St. Petersburg resident Laura Schulte-Stucki founded her own shoe line: Moses Grace. Photo by David Genik Photography

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A PERFECT FIT BY KATHY SAUNDERS ith their sleek designs and high-quality components, luxury cars always reminded Laura Schulte-Stucki of shoes. Like a great pair of Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos, she always admired the precision style of European cars such as Ferrari and Lamborghini. Ultimately, her appreciation of the curves and emblems of those fast cars inspired the former St. Petersburg resident to design her own shoes in their likeness. After graduating from St. Petersburg High School and the University of Florida, Schulte-Stucki married and moved to Switzerland with her Zurich-born husband. She raised two children while living there and later in France and West Africa. “I was introduced to high-end cars and race cars through family in Europe and I find the motor of the engine of the car as beautiful as the outside curves,” she said. “I particularly like the superb performance engineering, as well as how all the components work together to give the car strength, agility, speed and beauty.” Shoes, she decided, should have the same construction. Schulte-Stucki, 57, returned to the United States and lived in St. Louis and Austin, Texas. After a divorce, she decided to pursue her idea of creating fancy shoes from the template of luxury cars.

In Texas, naturally, she started with boot making, spending time with handmade boot crafters and learning to make her own. “I began to study just what it took to make a shoe, taking apart all kind of footwear, which led me to conclude that most luxury shoes were not really luxury at all,” she said. “I believed there was a market for discriminating women who would recognize the virtues of shoes precisely crafted for style and performance with a superior leather not found in today’s iconic brands.” Her passion took her to New York City, where she hired shoe repairers to manufacture some of her early designs. Her company is now based in Connecticut, where she has lived for the past 10 years. She eventually began posting photos of her shoes online. That’s how the owner of an Italian, family-owned factory found her, reaching out with an offer to make the shoes. “The assembly lines are full of people, not machines. Each shoe is handled by a person,” she said. The name of her company, Moses Grace, came to Schulte-Stucki when she was visiting Maine and toured a cemetery with an intriguing headstone for a man by that name. She was impressed that he had lived there nearly 200 years ago and reached the age of 82, outliving all of his family members. “I imagined the challenges to survive for so long were great and required strength and ingenuity. There was a staying power in the name of Moses Grace that captivated me.”

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She debuted her shoe line at the start of 2020 with four styles of pumps. “The four shoes are embedded between the linings and the outer leathers with a custom-shaped, high-tech mold that will forever keep its form,” she said. “The colors, cream, blue, gray and black, have been chosen because of their luxury automobile counterparts.” All of the shoes have 2-inch heels. The styles have Italian names. Vigore describes the force of European race cars. Storia represents the history of Italian workmanship. Preci, or prayer, is an homage to the spirit of the Italian factory workers. And Lusso is Italian for luxury. Schulte-Stucki said the shoemakers use traditional Italian sewing methods to provide a more comfortable sole for wearers as well as high-quality leather. That’s one reason for the cost. The shoes range in price from $1,200 to $1,700. Her upcoming lines will include some lower-priced sling-back shoes and a men’s loafer. Special orders are an option, although they can take several weeks to arrive. Currently, the shoes are available at mosesgrace.com and not in stores. Moses Grace shoes, which are available online, are inspired by luxury cars and race cars. Photo by Adrian Alvarado of NobleHouse Media

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“Our distinction is not a loud logo, nor a color, or flash,” said SchulteStucki. “To use an auto analogy, our distinction is under the hood.”

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