Vol. 3, Issue March, 2017
Distributed digitally and through direct mail to over 22,000 homes in South Tampa
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From The Publisher Matt Selby
We Want to Publish You! As you know, our publication’s primary focus is to cover all the great things that Tampa Bay has to offer. We especially love to inform our community all about the fantastic local businesses in or around our area and help promote a “Shop Local First” mentality. No matter where I am, I constantly search for locally owned and run restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores. In my experience, the customer service is always of higher quality, the ingredients are fresher and I generally feel better about spending my money in the local economy,
since I am supporting my neighbors and the families I interact with on daily basis. I know I am not the only one who thinks this way. In fact, many people across Tampa are all about the shop local movement. Another large source of content you’ll find inside our magazine’s pages includes local events and charities. This is our home, this is where we grew up, this is where we decided to raise our kids. We know the best way to make an impact in Tampa Bay is to support the local organizations that make a difference every day. That
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is why it is so important to us to show our support for all things local to our beautiful city. With that being said, we would absolutely love to publish articles written by our readers! We live in such a wonderful area, where there are hundreds of things happening every month and we would love to publish everything our community has to offer! So if you want to see your events, family, friends or community organizations in the pages of our South Tampa area edition send over your article with photos if they apply! We will gladly publish
your story with your full name and send you extra copies to show friends and family outside our zones. We also will send you the links to your article on our website so you can share it with everyone on Facebook and by E-mail. We can’t wait to hear from you! Please send in your article to info@nnlflorida.com. Cheers! Matt Selby Publisher
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Community Calendar & News Briefs Bay Area Renaissance Festival Take a time-travel adventure into the 16th century at the annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival! Join our Queen in a jubilee! Journey back in time as more than 100 merchants contribute to the atmosphere of this charming 16th century village. Experience live armored jousting, 12 stages of entertainment, 7 theme weekends, and fun and food for the whole family! The Festival is open from 10 am – 6 pm, Rain or Shine. Parking at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival is always free! Discount tickets are available at participating Walgreens stores and at MOSI. Each weekend is catered towards a specialized theme. Take the time to review which weekend suits your preference. Date(s): February 18, 2017 April 2, 2017 Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: 11315 N. 46th Street Tampa, FL 33617 (813) 983-0111
Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival Savor your way through all-new culinary creations, an expanded beverage lineup and headlining concerts at 7 p.m. during the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. The Festival takes place for an extended nine weekends, starting Saturday, March 4 and runs through Sunday, April 30. The event is included with any Annual Pass, Fun Card or daily admission to the park. Food and beverage is not included with park admission and is available for an extra fee. Date(s): March 4, 2017 - April 30, 2017 Hours: 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: 10165 N McKinley Drive Tampa, FL 33612 www.seaworldparks.com/en/busc hgardens-tampa/food-and-wine
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5th Annual BT5K Breakthrough for Brain Tumors The 5th Annual BT5K Tampa Bay Run & Walk is a fun way to raise awareness & funds to help the American Brain Tumor Association provide resources to those impacted by a brain tumor diagnosis and pursue critical research. Brain tumors are now the #1 cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Many brain tumor fighters of all ages are right here in Tampa Bay and they need your help! The 5K run/walk is open to all levels. Date(s): March 25, 2017 Hours: 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM Location: 4810 N Himes Ave Tampa, FL 33614 www.hope.abta.org/TampaBay2017
Gasparilla International Food Festival Join hundreds of Tampa Bay residents and tourists in the historic Ybor City for the only exploration that
takes their taste buds on a culinary journey to explore spicy, savory, sweet, succulent cuisine brought to the city generations ago! Hosted by some of Tampa's most renowned restaurants and artisan food vendors in global dishes including American, Caribbean, Hispanic, Mediterranean, French Cuisine, Italian, African, and Asian Cuisine, the Gasparilla International Food Festival is a platform for the display of inventive creations around the world! Don't miss out on the event's Taste Competition featuring the Best of All-American, Asian, European, African, Mediterranean, Island Cuisine, Desserts, and Vegan as our local top chefs compete for the Gasparilla International Foodie Award! General Admission: FREE For more info: Visit www.cityfestivals.org Date(s): March 26, 2017 Hours: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: 1800 E 8th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605 www.cityfestivals.org
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Synergy HomeCare - Peace of Mind for Your Family
Mark Curtiss, Matthew Kolinski, Laura Mazur and Charles Curtiss
By Michelle Naktin With age comes the gain of wisdom and experience and although what they say is true, following close behind is the decrease of mobility, energy, and independence as we reach upwards in age. This can be a burden on family, friends, and everyday life. Things that were once very simple will become more and more physically straining and dangerous every day. With SYNERGY HomeCare, they help provide those in need with the independence and respect they deserve throughout these strenuous years. Physician Matthew Kolinski who specializes in Internal Medicine was finding it harder and harder to send his patients home after a hospital stay. Many were struggling with their day to day activities while others were
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falling and injuring themselves delaying their recovery. Something had to be done. With the help of Matthew’s wife, Registered Nurse Laura Kolinski and business partner Mark Curtiss, in November of 2015 SYNERGY HomeCare was born. When a person becomes unable to perform simple daily tasks, even temporarily, family members and nonmedical caregivers can step in to help. Synergy HomeCare includes a broad range of support services for those who are recovering from a hospital stay, who are disabled, chronically- or terminally-ill, or just need assistance with the essential activities of every day. Home care can be a great prescription for people recovering from an illness. It allows them to concentrate on regaining their health while a
caregiver provides support around the house keeping things running efficiently. A caregiver can also help in the recovery process by creating healthy meals, timely medication reminders and setting up follow up medical appointments. There are many important factors to consider while choosing the best agency to meet your needs. First and most important is to assess what types of services you or your loved one will require. Caregiving is not easy for anyone. If you don’t live nearby, you may wonder if what you’re doing is enough to oversee your loved one’s care. Even if you do, you may discover the problems you or your loved one is facing are becoming larger and more complex than you can comfortably manage. Maybe your life’s other
responsibilities have grown to the point you are unable to provide the level of attention to your loved one’s care that you wish. Coping with a disability is hard enough and that’s why SYNERGY HomeCare is proud to offer compassionate in-home care for the physically or cognitively disabled – adults and children alike. While SYNERGY doesn’t provide medical care, they can oversee your loved one’s well being through their care management services. They will keep you and your family members informed and confident that your loved one is enjoying a healthy, safe and independent lifestyle. They will assist in transportation, personal hygiene, running errands and so much more. Throughout life we find our nutritional requirements change and can sometimes be difficult to adjust
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and meet dietary necessities. SYNERGY HomeCare provides a meal service targeted to meet the specific needs of your loved one. Caregivers will help plan a balanced grocery list and prepare meals. It is their goal to ensure your family member maintains a healthy diet while meeting all nutritional needs. In the U.S. today, the leading cause of adult disability is stroke. Dealing with the physical, emotional and behavioral changes after someone you love has survived a stroke can be difficult for each of you. It’s hard to say how long the effects will last, or
whether their abilities will improve with time. This uncertainty can leave everyone in the family feeling helpless and confused, wondering how to cope with the immediate challenges of everyday life. You can find yourself struggling with long-term decisions about whether your loved one can remain at home. Rather than moving a survivor to some new environment, SYNERGY provides experienced caregivers who offer personalized care for your situation. There’s no single formula which is right for each survivor so SYNERGY care plans are customized to address a wide variety of
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services, ranging from hourly assistance to around-the-clock care, all by professionals who work with you to create a system that will best suit your needs. SYNERGYS HomeCare team has had the privilege of bonding with cancer patients and their families as they undergo chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. If this is a prospect you’re facing, they are ready and willing to provide you with the moral support, encouragement and physical caregiving you’ll need while conquering this disease.There are many ways to ease the daily struggles associated with can-
cer. SYNERGY’S goal is to give the least stressful and most comfortable experience, given the circumstances. Synergy HomeCare services are available 365 days a year for round-the-clock care. They offer a unique C.A.R.E. approach (Coordinated and Responsive Engagement) to give your loved ones the best care available. Home is where you want to be. It’s where you feel cared-for and comfortable. After an illness, injury, or the onset of a condition, be cared for at home with Synergy home services.
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Put on Your Walking Shoes: Hiking Spree 2017 By Marcy Sanford This past November Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation kicked off Hiking Spree 2017, a new program to encourage residents to get out and take a hike in one of the beautiful parks we are blessed with in the area. “The program has been a huge success,” said Parks and Recreation Senior Event Coordinator Dana McDonald. “This is the first time we’ve done something like this in Hillsborough County and we’ve had a lot of great response from the community. Hiking Spree was suggested to us by an employee who used to live in Ohio where they had a similar program. We are really excited about the program as a way to get people outside exploring.” Hillsborough County has more than 100 recreational parks and hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Hiking Spree 2017 celebrates those trails. Through March 31, people who reg-
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ister with the program and hike any 8 of 19 designated trails will receive a medallion to put on their hiking stick or an Access Hiker patch. New Tampa resident Claire Brantley earned her medallion in December and gained a new found love for hiking. “In July I had some bad health test results and I needed to lose weight. I had been successful with the Weight Watchers program in the past but have never combined exercise with the program because
I’ve never enjoyed exercise. I am klutzy, have never found sport I enjoyed playing, and would rather be reading than working out.” Claire lost 30 pounds but knew that without exercise, the pounds would come back. Fortunately a friend took her on a hike and she enjoyed it. “I had fun and when I got home I googled hiking in Hillsborough and found the information about Hiking Spree.” The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve Claire
and two of her friends did at least one, sometimes two, hikes from the Hiking Spree list and earned their medallions. You can find a list of all the hikes and information to help you find the right trail for your skill level on the Hiking Spree website. They are rated for difficulty from all-purpose to primitive and easy to strenuous. “The hikes on our list are just a sample of the trails we have in Hillsborough County,” said Dana. “We tried
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to pick ones from different sides of the County and these were specifically chosen because they are great hiking trails.” Some of the trails close to Lutz, Odessa, and Land ‘O Lakes include Lutz Lake Fern Trailhead, Lake Rogers, Violet Cury, and Cypress Creek. Claire highly recommends Violet Cury, “it is really lovely and beautiful,” as well as Lake Rogers, which she says, is, “very unspoiled.” However her favorite has been Morris Bridge, “the Bald Cypress Trail is on the other side of Morris Bridge Road. The hike is beautiful, exquisite. You hike a mile into the woods and come to a gazebo overlooking the Hillsborough River. I have lived here for 18 years and never knew it existed and now it is my favorite place to go hike.” There are plenty of hiking selections throughout Hillsborough County and those looking for a day adventure may want to explore other areas of the County like the Golden Aster Scrub Preserve in Gibsonton which is home to endangered plants
and birds like the Florida golden aster and the Florida scrub jay. Dana says that more than 800 people have signed up with the program since it started and that the County will definitely do it again. “We’ve had about 250 people join us for guided hikes. In February we did a moonlight hike at Blackwater Creek. Lots of people did not realize these parks were there in their backyards. Next time we will highlight different parks and trails.” Many County parks, like Lettuce Lake Park, hold program every weekend throughout the year with experts who can tell participants about the animals or plants they’ll encounter in the park or along the trails. It’s not too late to earn your Hiking Spree medallion. For more information about Hiking Spree and to register, visit Hillsborough County’s website at www.hillsboroughcounty.org. Maybe, like Claire – “It’s the first exercise in my life that I’ve really enjoyed.” – you’ll find a new hobby you love.
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Gengiz Khan Grill New Location, Same Great Taste, even better Atmosphere!
By Matt Selby
Gengiz Khan Grill has been serving up some of the best Mediterranean cuisine in South Tampa since 2005 and is proud to announce their new location, 3114 Bay to Bay Blvd, Tampa 33629. Ergin Tek, Owner and Master Chef is very excited about the move and wanted to take a second to thank all of you for your continued support over the years. “Thank you so much for your support! It’s because of all of you we are able to grow into a
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bigger and better location to serve you! We will offer everything we always have and more at this location!” I recently had the pleasure of meeting Ergin and talking with him about the future, the past and what makes Gengiz Khan Grill so special. His passion for Turkish cuisine shines through with every item on the menu. Ergin is more involved in every aspect of his business than any other restaurant owner I’ve ever met. He’s in the kitchen, he’s greeting guests, he's helping his
staff clean, he runs food, the guy does it all! He lives and breathes this business and that’s precisely why Gengiz Khan Grill has been so successful for so long. I started my experience with an assortment of their finest spreads. The smoked eggplant spread known as “Babaganush” was a new taste for me and was absolutely delicious! The next spread was called “Haydari” which is a yogurt, dill, mint, garlic and olive oil based dip and wow! It was also a new taste experience for me and I loved it!
Next was their “Hummus” which I have had before but never as fresh and as good as this! I finished everything up with their “Ezme” which is like a salsa as fresh as any I’ve ever tried and perfect for cleansing the palate for the next course. I then moved onto yet another first for me and that was the “Zucchini Pancake.” I honestly had no idea what I was eating when Ergin brought it out to me but I didn’t even bother to ask after my first bite. It was so good, I didn’t care what it was called.
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About 20 seconds later, I had already eaten 3 and at that point Ergin told me it was a Zucchini Pancake topped with parsley, onion and yogurt. Ergin brought me and my photographer Mike an organic “watercress” salad. Fresh greens, lemon juice and olives top of the explosion of tang and spice with a hint of sweetness on the finish. This nutrient rich meal had my body feeling optimized and invig-
orated. I honestly felt like I could feel a difference in my body after eating this healthy treat! Last but not least, I ended my dining experience with a healthy portion of protein. I started with the “Chicken Adana” which is chopped chicken on a stick flavored with rich, red bell peppers, and slightly seasoned with paprika. Mike and I really enjoyed this dish and the rice it was placed on was incredibly fla-
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vorful as well! We then moved onto our last tasting of the evening before my “food coma” set in. The “Lamb Kofte" finished up our experience and also did not disappoint! I highly recommend it on your next visit! I could spend 2 pages of space talking about how great Gengiz Khan is but I’d rather the pictures do the talking. Make sure you visit Ergin and
the rest of the team at Gengiz Khan Grill soon! You won’t be disappointed! Tell them Matt from Tampa Bay News sent you! Gengiz Kahn Grill 3114 Bay to Bay Blvd Tampa Fl 33629 813-805-6400 GengizKhan.com
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South Tampa’s Dining “Selfies” Contest At Tampa Bay News & Lifestyles, we strive to keep our communities shopping local, allowing more of our dollars to stimulate the local economy. In an effort to promote the amazing restaurants in South Tampa, we have created a fun contest where the community can play and win! How To Play: Take a “Selfie” at your favorite local restaurants and/or a picture of your Food or Drinks the next time you are there. “Selfies” are not restricted to just one person and can include group photos. We encourage that you capture the restaurants’ logo somewhere in
the picture if possible, however, this is not a requirement. Then send your pictures to jared@nnlflorida.com along with the following Contest contact info: Your Name: First and Last: Name of others in photo: (first names are fine) Category: (Type of Restaurant) Businesses Name: (where photo was taken) Caption for Photo: (Optional)
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Dining Categories: Asian Restaurant BBQ Restaurant Breakfast/Brunch Restaurant Burger Joint Family Friendly Restaurant Greek Restaurant Happy Hour Ice Cream/Desert Happy Hour Italian Restaurant Indian Lunch Mexican Restaurant Pizza Joint Sandwhich/Sub Shop Seafood Restaurant Sports Bar Steakhouse Sushi Restaurant
Rules: -Each picture sent counts as 1 entry. -Enter as many times as you want! -Winners will be chosen randomly out of a hat, so the more times you enter the more chances you have to win.
Winnings: Grand Prize Winners: Get a $100 Visa Gift Card. Alternate Winners: Alternate winning entries chosen get their Selfies featured on the next issues’ contest page. Last month’s winner was Cheryl Lackey. Congrats!
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