Bay Magazine October 2023

OPULENT ILLUSIONS

TY SPECIALIS TS

BAYFRONT TOWER — TOP FLOOR OFFERED AT $1,790,000 Julie Jones | 727.452.8663

Jane McCroary 727.348.3888

Kayla Biathrow 727.656.8156

Julie Jones 727.452.8663

Sandy Bozeman 727.459.4142

Al Bennati 813.309.2400

Kathryn Krayer Zimring 727.430.5010

Capt. Bruce Erbeck 727.417.4694

J. David Vann 727.510.0265

GULF FRONT — CORNER UNIT OFFERED AT $985,000 Jane McCroary | 727.348.3888

SALTAIRE ST. PETE FIRST CLOSING!

LAST OFFERED AT $1,632.562 J. David Vann | 727.510.0265

HARBOR ISLE — UNDER CONTRACT IN ONE DAY! LAST OFFERED AT $995,000 Kathryn

Zimring | 727.430.5010

Tina Herrell 727.251.6630

Michelle Cline 727.424.1108

Carolyn Gomez 727.346.3314

Krayer

Each office is independently owned and operated.

THE #1 CENTURY 21 AGENT IN THE WORLD FOR THE 9th TIME!

Bayway Isles –

St. Petersburg

Brand new! Brought to life with master ful modern Miami minimalist design elements, this astonishing luxur y estate boasts towering ceilings, lavish materials and precision work manship throughout its 6,800-total-sq.ft. Superb gourmet kitchen, brilliant all- en suite baths, terrific media room, executive office and huge water front balconies Offered for $6,395,000.

Bayou Grande

– St. Petersburg

Extensively updated and upgraded in the last three years, this remarkable 5-bedroom, 5-bath, 9,970-total-sq.ft. coastal water front estate boasts a brilliant custom floor plan and dazzling contemporar y finishes throughout! Towering ceilings, 1,175-sq.ft. covered enter tainment deck and sweeping open water views Offered for $5,750,000.

Brightwaters Blvd. NE

– St. Petersburg

Located on a wide, oversized lot with beautiful open water views of Tampa Bay, this unique 5-bedroom, 4½-bath, 8,031-total-sq.ft. mid- centur y modern estate boasts a majestic 17-ft.-high, 660-sq.ft. water front great room and deep protected water for your 70 ft.+ yacht. Dazzling views, day and night! Offered for $5,500,000.

The Dania Difference

–

Brightwater Beach Estates

– St. Pete Beach

This uncommon 6,877-total-sq ft water front estate represents the best of boating and the beach! Soaring 20-ft.-high, 520-sq.ft. entr y foyer opens to a dynamic 720-sq.ft. U-shaped enter tainment deck overlook ing pool/spa, with stunning panoramic open water views Easy walk to beach, easy boat to Gulf Offered for $4,495,000.

The Professional Difference – The Real Difference in Real Estate

CENTURY 21 JIM WHITE & ASSOCIATES

SOL D BY DA NIA

TAMPA BAY’ S PREMIER LUXURY AND WATERFRONT REALTOR

Dania has sold more than $1.75 Billion in Luxur y and Waterfront Homes throughout the Tampa Bay Region.

Bayou Club (Golf & CC)

– Seminole

Built by nationally awardwinning Windstar Homes for the company’s CEO, this visually stunning 5-bedroom, 5½-bath contemporar y Tuscan villa was created with an astounding level of precision and detail Towering ceilings, spectacular finishes and highly luxurious An architectural mar vel, one of the most uniquely beautiful homes in Florida. Offered for $3,495,000.

Collany Key

–

Tierra Verde

Nestled within a private, 18-acre gulffront enclave, this dazzling 3-bedroom, 3½-bath upperlevel residence enjoys dazzling panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico Exceptional amenities, an ex traordinar y natural beach and wonder ful marine life deliver an unforgettable water front living experience! Offered for $3,195,000.

Cordova Blvd. NE

– St. Petersburg

Nestled within a gorgeous Snell Isle community of multimillion dollar estate homes, this elegant 4-bedroom, 4,912-total-sq.ft. residence enjoys gorgeous views of the renowned Vinoy Golf Course Lavish kitchen, lovely and large open spaces, exquisite woodworking and built-in finishes Offered for $2,750,000.

Silver Sands

– St. Pete Beach

Located directly on the pristine sands of St. Pete Beach, this beautifully updated 3-bedroom, 2½-bath corner-unit residence provides a surprisingly large 2,365-sq.ft. of living area! There are 60+ linear feet of protected, covered beachfront balcony, private beach access and superb world- class amenities An exceptional living experience! Offered for $1,995,000.

TREAT THOSE IN NEED

When I was growing up in New York City, trick-or-treating was pretty much confined to our apartment building. And since my friend and I were the only young kids in the building, residents who forgot candy often treated us with nickels, dimes and quarters. We loved getting cash so we’d have some spending money for the store on the corner.

One year as we were looking through our loot, my friend’s mother handed us little orange milk cartonlike boxes with UNICEF on them. She said we could put the change in there because it would go to poor children around the world. Somewhat grudgingly we complied, but it felt good to think we were helping a kid in Africa or India.

Those were the early days of trick-or-treating for UNICEF — then called United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund — and what began as a local fundraiser in Philadelphia has since spread to several countries. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson declared Oct. 31 as “UNICEF Day” in the U.S., and as of last Halloween over $188 million had been raised worldwide to help children in crisis.

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year, what with the costumes, the parties and the spooky yard decorations. Have fun — but consider also helping those who live in truly scary situations by donating to UNICEF at unicefusa.org.

Happy Halloween!

▲ 10 ART

Gather round for “Ghost Stories” at Florida CraftArt in St. Petersburg.

▲ 16 ENTERTAINMENT & 22 FASHION

Chris and Ryan Zubrick have been mesmerizing audiences at their Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Petersburg, a magical setting for this issue’s fashion shoot.

40 SHOPPING

Embrace fall with a variety of home decor accessories.

44 FACES

Meet Avi Brosh, who is bringing a boutique hotel to Tampa’s Hyde Park.

48 FOOD

Maddie Blake of Baked in the Burg in St. Petersburg treasures Grandma’s lessons.

62 TRAVEL

▲ 54 HOMES

How would an interior designer decorate her house? Step inside.

Luggage Service Inc. in Tampa has been making sales and repairs since 1919.

68 SOCIAL SCENE

FROM BAY EDITOR SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN

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. 6.

Chairman & CEO Conan Gallaty

Editor & Vice President Mark Katches

Assistant Managing Editor/Features, Visuals & Production Ellen E. Clarke

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Bruce Faulmann

Marketing Director Kerry O’Reilly

National/Major Senior Advertising Manager Kelly Spamer

Pinellas Advertising Manager Jennifer Bonin

Automotive & Real Estate Advertising Manager Larry West

North Suncoast & Hillsborough Advertising Manager Jessica Petroski

Operations Manager, Prepress & Digital Production Gerald Gifford

Imaging & Production Brian Baracani, Danielle Lazaro, Gary Zolg

Regional Home Delivery Managers Diann Bates, Rob Jennings

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EERIE ON EXHIBIT

What lurks in the creative mind of artists? If it’s the season of Halloween, lots of spooky, creepy, ghoulish images, that’s what. “Ghost Stories,’’ an exhibition at FloridaCraftArt in St. Petersburg, features 38 artists whose creations explore not only their own terrors but also reflect collective anxieties and offer fantastic views into worlds beyond our perception. The works are done in an impressive range of media from metal and wood to stained glass, fiber arts, printmaking and jewelry.

Catherine Bergmann, curatorial director of the Dunedin Fine Art Center, guest-curated the show. “When I received the call from Florida CraftArt, I knew immediately the time was right for Ghost Stories,’’ she said in a news release. Bergmann then posed the question: “Who doesn’t love a ghost, and who better to invite to the seance than a group of artists?”

The exhibit, sponsored by ArtLofts artist Jeannine Hascall, runs through Oct. 21. 501 Central Ave. floridacraftart.org.

Photos courtesy of Florida CraftArt

“Ghost of Abandoned Bride” is a metal sculpture by Mark Georgiades.

“Moth, Man or Myth” is a mixed-media piece by Trent Manning.

“Lunetta” is a ceramic sculpture by Jennifer Rosseter.

“The Fate You Choose” is a ceramic and wood sculpture by Shelly Steck Reale.

“Out of the Wood” is a hand-carved sculpture by Nick Reale.

“Breathe Out” is a fiber wall piece by Wendy Bruce.

Artist’s Rendering of Encore Terrace

ALWAYS the ST

��������

FAMILY ACT

Abracadabra! From left, Chris and Ryan Zubrick and their son Oliver take center stage.

Photo by Brian James

BY SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN

Some years ago, two little boys growing up in different towns in Michigan discovered they had the same mesmerizing talent: making magic. ● For Chris, it started when he was 7 or 8 with a magic trick he found in a cereal box. By 10, he “was in heaven,” getting paid to put on magic shows. After high school, he went to Japan and honed his talent with six shows a day at a theme park. ● Ryan, meanwhile, had received a magic set for his sixth birthday. He became so skilled that at age 11 he won a national contest and a trip to Las Vegas. Though he first studied chemical physics in college, he switched to the theater department, learned set design and lighting and “itched the magic bug.”

By 2001, both were accomplished magicians. But they had never met until they were booked for the same event at Michigan State University. “I’m the magician here, who are you?” Chris asked Ryan. Rather than squabble over who should take the spotlight, they put their shows together and discovered they complemented one another. “The rest is history,” said Chris, who also realized: “This was the person I would marry.”

Now, wed for 10 years, the two magicians have a 6-year-old son and their own venue, the Zubrick Magic Theatreer near downtown St. Petersburg. Since it opened in 2021, it has become one of the city’s most unusual and popular attractions, with performances in the 93-seat theater frequently sold out. It is a 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice destination, ranking among the top 10 percent of listings on the popular travel website.

Chris, a self-described extrovert, does much of the onstage patter and interactions with the audience. Ryan, more reserved, handles the lighting and performs many of the illusions, which include live doves, colored smoke and a scary-looking contraption that can “saw” a female assistant into nine parts.

Although children 4 and over are allowed and often make for the funniest moments, Chris stresses that this is not a kiddie act with top hats and bunny rabbits.

“We are a sophisticated magic show,” he said. “The show is designed to entertain and fool adults yet is family friendly for guests of all ages to enjoy.”

After getting together, the couple spent eight years at a dinner theater in Saipan — Ryan proposed on a beach there — and five years in Guam. They wanted to eventually return to the U.S. mainland, so in 2019, they bought a 34-foot RV and drove to 26 states looking for a place to put down roots. On the way back from Key West, they crossed the Sunshine Skyway into St. Petersburg and found an artsy, tolerant city that fit all four of their criteria: no competition, no Michigan winters, LGBTQ friendly and a strong tourism base.

The nearest magic theater was in Orlando. The local beaches drew plenty of tourists but had limited entertainment options beyond hitting the bars. “After the sun goes down on the beach there’s not much for multigenerational families to do,” Chris said, so they figured a magic show could fill that niche.

They returned to Guam but worried that they would be stuck there when the pandemic hit. They packed all of their equipment into two shipping containers and went to quarantine at a relative’s home in Indiana. Later in 2020, they moved to St. Petersburg and scouted locations for a theater before choosing what had been an AAA call center in the city’s

booming Edge District. “It was a vanilla shell, no walls, a concrete floor,” Chris said. “It took five or six months and most of the work we did ourselves.”

Bad luck struck a few months before opening. The owner of a storage unit next to theirs broke through the wall and stole all of their lighting and sound equipment. It had to be replaced at substantial cost.

When the show debuted on July 29, 2021, “we didn’t know if anybody would come,” Chris said. “We hoped that people would be hungry for live entertainment but not in a large theater and super-spreader events.”

The Zubricks (they took Chris’ last name when they wed) hold shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday but add extra performances during peak seasons. The routines vary every few months as the couple develop new illusions and refine older ones. “Lots of the illusions have our own twist,” Ryan said. Their son, Oliver, sometimes appears on stage with his own act featuring scarves and stuffed animals. (Ryan’s sister carried Oliver as a surrogate.)

Apart from the regular magic shows, the theater has been rented for a 75th birthday, comedy troupes, dance recitals, motivational speakers and even a hypnotist.

After each performance, the Zubricks greet audience members in the lobby. In the corner is a gold Merlin award for “Best Family Magic Act,” presented by the International Magicians Society. The award puts them in illustrious company — previous Merlin recipients include world-famous magicians David Copperfield and Siegfried & Roy.

On their days off, the Zubricks clean the theater, maintain the equipment and tend to other issues that come with running a successful business. For entertainment, the family often heads to — where else? — Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

Zubrick Magic Theatre is at 1211 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. zubrickmagic.com.

ok No Fu rt he r

ctober is one of the finest months in Florida. Temperatures have cooled, marking a return to fashions that can take us to elegant dinners and nights at the theater. And with Halloween coming, there’s a touch of magic in the air. What better place to photograph our selections for this issue than at Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Petersburg, where Chris and Ryan Zubrick and son Oliver delight audiences with their show.

TRICKS &TREATS

Frank Lyman side-ruched dress, $272. Pippa Pelure, 50 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Antonija Gospic lampwork glass bead necklace, $350. Antonija Gospic lampwork glass bead earrings, $45. Syd Entel Galleries, 247 Main St., Safety Harbor. sydentelgalleries.com.

Zuzana platform booties, $60. DSW, 1500 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. stores.dsw.com.

PHOTOS BY BRIAN JAMES FASHION STYLING BY TIM CREAGAN

Umgee cotton print blouse, $59. KLD knit cardigan, $69. Crown Linen Designs dress, $149. Cotton scarf as belt, $59. Saltwash Boutique, 100 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. saltwashboutique.com. Lakesha Johnson tote bag, $130. Switching Up Styles, 341 WestShore Plaza, Tampa. Aralyna patent platform heels, $35. DSW, 1500 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. stores.dsw.com.

LEFT: Aleta beaded gown, $780. Jessica Simpson candy pink heels, $70. Dillard’s, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. dillards.com. Migonne Gavigan Madeline earrings, $225. Monkee’s of South Tampa, 1728 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. monkeesofsouthtampa.com.

Nicole Miller crepe dress, $395. Smith and Cole Design resin and crystal earrings, $60. Smith and Cole Design resin and crystal bangles, $96 for a set of three. Allison Avery bangles, $102 each. Monkee’s of South Tampa, 1728 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. monkeesofsouthtampa.com. Barbara Cieslicki lucite and crystal necklace, $375. Syd Entel Galleries, 247 Main St., Safety Harbor. sydentelgalleries.com.

Gioffre bronze silk dress, $1,829. Gilda sandals in cognac, $560. Mias earrings, $139. Gioffre Boutique, 8 S Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater.

Alice + Olivia Denny boyfriend blazer, $495. Deanna pants, $395. Jackie Z Style Co., 113 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. jackiezstyle.com. Samya tone crystal necklace and earring set, $40. Silver belt worn as a bandeau, $30. Feather and glitter mask, $37. The Don silver envelope clutch, $50. Switching Up Styles, 341 WestShore Plaza, Tampa. Steve Madden Danni platform pumps, $70. Nordstrom, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. nordstrom.com.

HunterBell sequin tee, $585. FarmRio pants, $200. Lizzie Fortunato earrings, $275. Alice Mae heels, $220. Penelope T, 3310 W Bay-to-Bay Blvd., Tampa, penelopetboutique.com.

RIGHT: Yin and Yang

Tropical Rose midi dress. $221. ZK Original. zkoriginal. com. Jenny Bird ear climbers, $138. Vanessa Baroni gold-tone necklace, $254. Penelope T, Tampa. Kulika gold boots, $70. Nordstrom Rack, 1702 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. nordstromrack.com.

LEFT: Portia & Scarlett minidress, $680. Esmeralda’s Boutique, 1546 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. esmeraldasboutiques.com. Kurt Geiger platform heels, $175. Dillard’s, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. dillards.com.

Gioffre silk blouse, $590. Vegan leather wrap vest, $590. Pleated silk skirt, $580. Alexander McQueen skull wrap bracelets, $270 and up. Wallet on chain, $850. Gioffre Boutique, 8 S Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater.

CREATIVE TEAM

PHOTOGRAPHY

Brian James

IG: @brianjamesgallery brianjamesgallery.com

Téa Bremner, assistant IG: @tea.bremner.photography

HAIR & MAKEUP

Monique McLaughlin

IG: @moemakeup moemakeup.com

FASHION STYLING

Tim Creagan

IG: @creagan1

MODEL

Mariah Rivera

IG: @mariah.rivera_ Select Model Management

FROM THE COVER: Custom gown, $3,500 and up. Zhanna Kens Custom Dresses and Dancewear, Indian Rocks Beach. zhannakens.com. Jessica Simpson Wicasa booties, $70. Dillard’s, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. dillards.com.

Italian by Birth...

Delicious by Design.

From fresh-roasted coffee to delicious deli selections, from gourmet imports and baked goods to handmade pastas and specialty cheeses, Mazzaro’s Italian Market has become a local treasure over the past 30 years. Located in the heart of St. Petersburg, Mazzaro’s blends an old fashioned butcher shop with a local seafood market to bring you the freshest meats every day. With one of the largest wine cellars in Pinellas County, Mazzaro’s also has a wonderful selection of imported and craft beers. Visit the coffee bar or have a sandwich on the patio. Mazzaro’s is more than a one-of-a-kind Italian gourmet market it’s one of Tampa Bay’s favorite culinary destinations!

Fr f sh sted offe delicio lectio fr g et i ts nd g ds t

Only5left!

Waterfront pent house condom in iums ...with unparall el ed 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, and a private, oversized 2-car garage for each 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 six minutes to downtown St Petersburg and St Pete Beach, the new Villas, Estate Homes and Pointe Condominiums on Boca Ciega redefine both luxury and resilience by building to FORTIFIEDTM - Gold standards. Visit Marina Bay, next to Eckerd College, to tour our new models.

Ta ke me home for 3, 6, or 12 months. Love me forever.

Become a puppy raiser with Southeastern Guide Dogs and open a world of magic to those wi th vision loss, ve te ra ns wi th disa bili ties, and children who ne ed a best frie nd.

Did you know? Ever y guid e do g st ar ts as a pu ppy, and ever y pu ppy need s someone like you.

Your mission as a puppy ra iser is si mp le. Ta ke home a cu dd ly bu nd le of jo y and br in g ba ck a ha pp y, so ci al iz ed , well-mannered dog. That’s the magic of making a difference.

Choose your own adventure: The joys of puppy raisin are endles s, but the time commitment doesn’t have to be Raise a pu ppy on your ow n or choose your drea team. You can share the journey with family, friend s, colleagues, and more.

Ta ke a pa ws: Ha ve a ge ta wa y p la nn ed ? Ta ke th e vacation or well -d eser ved break. Our pu ppy sitter s ju mp in and ta ke th e leas h.

am ,

Jus t add love (+ food and wa ter): We’ll take ca re of the rest. Puppy raiser s receive a kit stoc ked with all the necessities to raise a happy, healthy pup. Plus, we cover all veterinary care and medical ex pense s.

Un leash the fu n! We’ll su pp or t yo ur pu ppy- ra is ing ad ve nt ure ���� ���� � �� ������ �� ������ ����� ��� ���� �� ��� ������ �������

Ask abou t pu ppy raiser clubs in your area for optional outing s to connect, laug h, share tips, and swap storie s with fellow raisers.

Be a pa rt of the ma gic . Ra is e a puppy.

sing

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

COZY UP

STYLING BY TIM CREAGAN

It’s not quite time to break out the sweaters and coats, but you can still get that cozy fall feeling with warmer colors. Here are some decor accessories to help make the transition from summer. — Photos by Brian James

Antique Belgian bread boards, from $250 each. Vintage Kantha quilt, $330. Embroidered cocktail napkins, $11 each. Vintage iron frog, $190. Mexican glass and iron decanter, $275. Mexican glass and iron cocktail glasses, $100 each. Magnolia Inspiring Interiors, 303 S Magnolia Ave., Tampa. magnoliainspiringinteriors.com.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

Gray dotted-edge bowl, $25. Stoneware Brie baker with spoon, $52. Acorn, $29. Round stoneware flower bowl, $12. Scalloped mango wood plate, $26. Cream lumbar fringe tassel pillow, $67. Aerie Lane Home, 319 Main St., Safety Harbor. aerielanehome.com.

Marble artifact candlesticks, $350 each. Magnolia Inspiring Interiors, 303 S Magnolia Ave., Tampa. magnoliainspiringinteriors.com.

Glow-in-the-dark extendable marshmallow skewers, $15 for a set of two. Black wood cheese board, $70. Cabbage bowl, $30. Williams-Sonoma, 2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. williams-sonoma.com.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

Acacia wood charger, $30. Wilder bowl with handle, $20. Wilder salad plate, $13. Tondo ebonized napkin ring, $5. Orgcot fringe napkin, $10. Jace spoon from five-piece place setting, $60. Crate & Barrel, 2201 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. cratebandbarrel.com.

Poppy Southern Pecan Pie Popcorn, $14. Nest Pumpkin Chai Candle, $82. The Write Stuff, 3225 S MacDill Ave., Tampa.

Hester and Cook paper place mats, $30 per set. Caspari paper napkins, $8. Swell guest towel tray, $48. The Write Stuff, Tampa.

Yardbird 55,000-BTU fire table, $1,500. Yardbird, 111 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. yardbird.com.

FACES:

Avi Brosh is founder of the Palisociety hotel chain.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Pettican

Tampa’s upscale Hyde Park Village has shops, restaurants and a cinema. Soon, it will get its first hotel. Palihouse Hyde Park Village, a 36-room boutique hotel with a lobby lounge and cocktail bar, is due to open in November in the same building as the popular On Swann restaurant. The new hotel is the first Florida property developed by Palisociety, a Californiabased chain of 19 small hotels in cities that include San Francisco; San Diego; New Orleans; Austin, Texas; and Wilmington, North Carolina. Bay magazine recently spoke with Palisociety founder Avi Brosh. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. — Susan Taylor Martin

How did you learn about Hyde Park? I was invited to come visit by WS, the owners of Hyde Park Village, who said we’ve got this little spot in Tampa, would you come check it out? I was really struck how they did such a good job of getting the most out of that little spot. They were very disciplined in terms of tenancy, quality of work and the integrity they brought to it. One of our brands would fit in beautifully here and that was the genesis of the idea.

What attracted you to Tampa in general? Roughly half of our portfolio is on the West Coast. The other is spread around the country, so we’re quite used to having properties spread out. Tampa has a great (airport) and it’s totally within our skill set to go someplace beyond the West Coast to be highly successful opening and operating a hotel.

Why did you choose this particular location? A lot of new hotels are

a reimagining of existing buildings — apartment buildings or existing hotels or other structures. This was formerly office space that we are converting to a hotel. It’s not something we specifically seek out but that’s where the opportunities are.

What do you see as the target market for Palihouse Hyde Park Village? It’s going to be primarily leisure travelers but we’ll get some business (travelers) too. But the reality is that Hyde Park doesn’t really need lodging for business, it’s looking for a design-forward, residentialstyle hotel in arguably one of the better locations in Tampa. Since it’s a smaller property I think we’re going to see a lot of demand. Anybody that would come to Tampa or Hyde Park in particular this would be their first choice in the local area. My experience is that when we open a hotel in a neighborhood like Hyde Park most of the locals champion a hotel like this and refer people who are coming to town to stay there. If we do a great job I think we’ll be getting a lot of word of mouth and referrals.

What will the hotel look like inside? It’s essentially a style that kind of feels like your friend’s gorgeous guest house or guest room. It does have a pied-a-terre feel about it. All of the furniture is custom made. It’s warmed, it’s layered, there’s nothing formulaic about it.

Have you always been in the hotel business? I started in the development business in home building and then did more urbanstyle development. Right before the global financial crisis in 2008, I opened my first hotel (in West Hollywood) and used that as sort of a springboard. That property did very well despite my lack of timing, and our business made the pivot from urban residential to neighborhoodstyle hotels. It’s a great niche because most (hotel companies) shy away from smaller properties. It’s something we’ve become expert at. We’re one of the preeminent high-design, small-key neighborhood hotel owners and operators in the country and we’re going to stay in that lane.

The style of the 36-room Palihouse Hyde Park Village in Tampa “feels like your friend’s gorgeous guest house or guest room.” Photos courtesy of Palisociety

BAKING GRANDMA PROUD

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

Being close to her grandmother gave Maddie Blake a good foundation for adulthood. That loving relationship also became the recipe for her future career. • The patience and trial-and-error techniques learned from grandma Betty Blake helped the 25-year-old Belleair resident advance as a program control analyst for the Department of Defense at Honeywell. The same ingredients nurtured in her grandmother’s Kentucky kitchen instilled the confidence to give up the security of a corporate job and follow her passion to bake cakes.

Maddie Blake of Belleair, co-owner of Baked in the Burg in St. Petersburg, learned patience and more from Grandma.

Photo by Douglas R. Clifford

Today, Maddie is sharing her grandmother’s lessons through her business, Baked in the Burg, where she sells wholesale cakes and cookies and offers after-hours classes in cake and cupcake decorating for others who share the same desire — to hone skills like patience, creativity, turning mistakes into wins and sharing time with friends and family.

“When I was little, I would sit at the counter in her kitchen and watch her make all the different sweets she baked like coffee cake, chocolate sheet cake, her mother’s strawberry cake or even divinity candy — which I haven’t even attempted without her helping me — and I would ask a lot of questions, as kids do,” Maddie said. “She was always so patient with me and would answer every question and eventually tell me to come around the counter to help her so I could really learn something.”

Maddie remembers how much she loved the coffee cake that always awaited her family when they visited Grandma. But it was the joy she saw in other guests who also appreciated the love that went into baking that left the biggest impression.

“Seeing how much other people loved her cakes and how much relaxation she experienced while baking is what made me take it up as a hobby,” Maddie said. “There’s also something really satisfying seeing something come together like a cake when you bake and decorate it. If you frost a cake when it’s hot, you end up with a mess, or if you don’t chill your cookie dough, it spreads in the oven.”

Patience, one of the virtues required most in baking, didn’t come easy for Maddie.

“My grandmother taught me to take a rest when something was in the oven and to enjoy my few minutes of quiet,” she said. “Needless to say, things aren’t very quiet when I’m baking in the shop now but it still does remind me of her when I get something in the oven and shut the door and take a breath.”

She also learned persistence from her grandmother. At the age of 9, she wanted to decorate a Barbie dream castle cake. Her grandmother gave her the instructions and she stayed up all night designing 300 pink flowers with center dots in each one.

Maddie took those memories with her the day she had lunch with her friend, cookie baker Ashlea O’Connor, at the start of the 2020 pandemic. Almost instantly, they knew that merging their baking talents would be a sweet deal. Within months, they opened

Baked in the Burg in a shipping container. Today, the shop is located in a storefront on Central Avenue that is open monthly for pop-up sales to the public. Special orders and catering are available on the business website, bakedintheburg.com, and their products are shipped nationwide through services like goldbelly.com.

O’Connor, 42, specializes in deep-dish cookies loaded with chocolate chips, sprinkles and filled with everything from Oreo cookies to cream.

Ashlea O’Connor, left, and Blake lead a cake-decorating class at Hostess in St. Petersburg. They opened Baked in the Burg in 2020, several months into the pandemic. Photo by Chloe Trofatter

Both bakers help with the cake-decorating classes. A recent class held at the nearby Hostess, a gift boutique, wine bar and gathering space, brought together nine women including a physical therapist, a mother-and-daughter duo, a college professor and a group of girlfriends on a night out.

Suzanne Kent attended with friends and was interested in learning how to keep her layer cakes level with the right amount of filling. Maddie taught participants to build a rim inside the bottom layer to hold the filling and secure the top layer.

“It just so happened to be my friend’s birthday so I added a candle and voila! A birthday cake,” Kent said. “I received so many compliments on the cake for how pretty it was as well as how delicious it was. We had so much fun, our group already signed up for the next class.”

Maddie allows that paying it forward was what her grandmother would have loved most. Although she lost her battle with cystic fibrosis last November, her influence remains.

“When she passed,” Maddie said, “everyone

GRANDMA BETTY BLAKE’S COFFEE CAKE

1 Butter Golden cake mix (2 tablespoons reserved)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans

4 large eggs

1 cup sour cream cup vegetable oil

¼ cup water

¼ cup sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

• Combine 2 tablespoons reserved cake mix, brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Set aside.

• Combine eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, water, sugar and remaining cake mix.

used the word ‘sweet’ to describe her. ‘She was such a sweet lady,’ ‘She had such a sweet soul,’ and that’s exactly how she was and how I, and many others, remember her to be.”

Besides her coffee cake, Grandma’s favorite recipes were strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting and a family beloved Italian cream cake. All of those are offered at Baked in the Burg.

Said Maddie: “Ashlea and I have a pink binder at the shop that has all her recipes in her handwriting that we use every day.”

• Pour half batter into a greased Bundt pan. Pour in pecan mixture and top with remaining cake batter.

• Bake for 25 to 35 minutes. Cool completely.

• Invert cake onto a cake plate or pedestal.

• Combine powdered sugar and whole milk.

• Drizzle

Sloan Haefelee, 15, works on her creation at Baked in the Burg’s cake-decorating class at Hostess, a gift boutique, wine bar and gathering space in St. Petersburg. Photos by Chloe Trofatter

glaze over cooled cake.

Lauren Nickerson adds finishing touches — sugar pearls — to her cake during the Baked in the Burg class.

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BY SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN

Interior designer Leah Chorniak’s clients have included many members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She currently is working on the oceanfront home of a Tampa Bay Lightning player. One question almost every client asks is: How did Chorniak decorate her house?

“I tell them that I pick what is timeless for me because trends come and go and at the end of the day you need to come home to something that feels comfortable to you,” Chorniak said. In 2018, she bought a 3,600-square-foot, fivebedroom, three-bath Tampa Palms house because she “really loved the bones,” then completely remodeled it to suit her own tastes and needs. “You don’t want to be a prisoner to the choices of the previous owner,” she said.

Chorniak led Bay through several rooms, explaining her design choices and offering tips on decorating the large rooms and high ceilings found in newer upscale homes.

Leah Chorniak of Spaces by Leah. Photos courtesy of Joseph Tosi, Spaces by Leah

THE PRINCIPAL BEDROOM

Chorniak wanted her bedroom to “feel like a high-end hotel where you can put your feet up and relax at the end of the day.” She added a chaise lounge, creating a “great quiet spot” to get away from the kids or houseguests. Instead of using a small nightstand, she chose taller chests on either side of the bed so there would be more storage. “Gone is the day when somebody buys the entire bedroom suite. People choose individual pieces to make it more customized.” Instead of wall-to-wall carpeting, she used an area rug that she can roll up and take to the cleaners. Large mirrors lend a touch of grandeur, while the wall color, Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore, gives the room a feeling of coziness.

THE GREAT ROOM

The challenge in rooms with ceilings as high as this, 22 feet, is what to do with the massive amount of wall space. “If you put a lot of complicated artwork up to the ceiling, it’s exhausting. It doesn’t give the eye a place to rest,” Chorniak said. “It’s best to look at abstracts instead of trying to focus on tiny details.” Instead of hanging landscapes or family pictures, Chorniak made nine simple black-and-white pieces out of drywall compounding and framed them in vintage-style frames from Hobby Lobby. The long sofa on the left is actually a sectional from which the corner pieces were removed and the longer pieces attached side by side. It is covered in an easily cleanable polyester velvet in white because “the darker the furniture, the more visual space it takes up,” Chorniak said. “You don’t want to feel like there’s a truck parked in the room.” Two of the chairs are green: “I think green is absolutely important in a room. It adds earthiness and brings the outdoors in.” She kept the lighting simple and modern, and hung round mirrors up high to reflect the light.

THE TV ROOM/DEN

Chorniak wanted the great room to be a place for conversation, not watching TV. So the television resides in this room, which can be closed off with sliding barn doors to keep the sound in. It was one of the rooms “that felt a little dated to me, so I painted the entire side of the room matte black and used reclaimed shelving,” she said. On each shelf she added one of the small brass library number pegs she found at an antique mall. Other personal touches include artifacts collected while she lived in South America and a framed piece of “really beautiful wallpaper” made by Schumacher, renowned for its wallpapers and fabrics. “I actually wallpapered a room in that print for a client and (Schumacher) put it in one of their published books, so that print has a great memory for me,” Chorniak said. As in other rooms, this one has overhead lighting on dimmers to adjust the mood.

THE DINING AREA

Chorniak has a large family, so she needed a dining table that could seat at least 10. She chose a wood harvest table “because the more wear and tear a wood surface gets, the more inviting it feels.” Instead of wood chairs, she went with ones covered with a stain-resistant fabric. They are on castors so they are easy to move if someone wants to get up from the table. The rug is made of wool — “one of the more stain-resistant fibers,” Chorniak noted — and is large enough so the chairs won’t be half on and half off it. She couldn’t find a lighting fixture long enough for such a big table so she had an electrician install two fixtures back to back.

THE KITCHEN AND BREAKFAST NOOK

Chorniak’s goal with the kitchen was to give it a more timeless feel, not too trendy. She wanted an island but, lacking space, opted for a butcher block cart that can be moved around. The dramatic, oversize light fixtures “add to the mood, especially when you have 12-foot ceilings,” she said. In the breakfast nook, she made a bistro table out of plumbing parts for the base and a stone slab for the top. She covered the benches in a white cowhide and used a velvet Schumacher print on the chairs. As in other areas, there are touches of green and black. “Black is very grounding,” Chorniak said. “I always like to have some element of black or navy or chocolate brown.”

SA T. , NO VEMBER 11, 2023

9 a.m. – 7 p. m. TH E PA LL AD IUM

253 5T H AV ENUE N, ST. PE TERS BU RG

Join Tampa Bay Times book editor Cole tte Banc roft as she interviews acclaimed authors about their latest books and fields questions from the audience

FE AT UR ED AU TH OR – MI CHAE L CO NN EL LY

Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of 38 novels and one work of nonfiction With over 85 million of his books sold worldwide and translated into 45 languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. His new novel in the Lincoln Lawyer series is “Resurrection Walk.”

In partnership with

Mar tin Baron

Dave Barry

Roy Peter Clark Lane DeGregory

Lauren Groff Stephanie Hayes

Vanessa RileyLisa Unger

This event benefits Tampa Bay Times Journalism Fund

BAGGAGE CLAIM

For more than a century, Tampa’s Luggage Service Inc. has been selling luggage and repairing suitcases, purses and more.

Luggage Service Inc. in Tampa was originally called Tampa-Peninsular Trunk Factory because it made steamer trunks and wardrobes suitable for long journeys. Photo courtesy of Luggage Service Inc.

BY SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN

Befitting its name, Luggage Service Inc. in Tampa carries thousands of pieces of luggage, ranging from $50 duffel bags to suitcases costing hundreds of dollars. But it can also:

• Make the cracked corners of a Louis Vuitton valise look like new again.

• Replace the worn-out bottom of a golf bag with a sturdy aluminum plate.

• Fashion a new leather steering wheel cover for an antique Lincoln.

“We can fix anything,” said Robert “Bob” King, the company’s president. “People call us miracle workers.”

For more than 100 years, the family-owned business has been making, selling, repairing and embellishing the things that people use to haul around their stuff. It can fix the zipper on a backpack, monogram an attache case, replace the handles on a purse and put new wheels on a carry-on. Got a spot on that favorite Coach bag? “We can make it go away with either dye or cleaning,” King said.

The store was founded in 1919 by Charles Wilson, who originally called it TampaPeninsular Trunk Factory. In an era when people traveled by train or steamship, sometimes packing enough clothing for months-long journeys, the store made “eight numbers of trunks and two numbers of wardrobes,” according to the trade publication Trunks, Leather Goods and Umbrellas. It also sold bags and cases and had a “well-equipped repair department.”

By the time King, Wilson’s grandson, started in the business in the 1960s, air travel was common and luggage had become smaller with handles for carrying. But the big

revolution in luggage did not occur until 1989, when a Northwest Airlines pilot hit on the idea of adding two wheels and a retractable handle to a bag that could be easily rolled through the airport and right onto the plane.

“We had customers come in and try to figure out (wheeled) systems with us and nobody could ever figure it out, but then he came out with two wheels and off it went,” King recalled. Today, the bestsellers are four-wheel

bags that can be effortlessly moved in any direction.

In its three showrooms, the store carries several lines of luggage including Travelpro (started by the Northwest pilot), Delsey, American Tourister and Samsonite. At the high end is Briggs & Riley, which comes with a lifetime guarantee. Even though the cases are well made, the company has had some issues. “Wheels are one of the biggest things

Luggage Service Inc. owner Robert “Bob” King, right, poses with son Eric at the Tampa store. The family-run business has been around for more than 100 years. In addition to offering repairs, the store carries travel accessories and several lines of luggage. Photo by Ivy Ceballo

that go,” King said. “Briggs sells to a lot of Europeans and the wheels weren’t holding up, so they made the wheels better able to handle the cobblestones.”

The store does warranty work for most of the major luggage brands, and handles repairs for United Airlines in Tampa. As a favor to its customers, Sacino’s Cleaners in St. Petersburg sends over damaged luggage and other items.

A good part of the business is repairing or replacing zippers, including on body bags from a funeral home. Purse repairs are common. “Once an older Vuitton bag has cracked, you can never put it back to the way it looked. The only way is to sew leather over it” King said. “We do a lot of Coach work, including retrofits.”

Luggage Service also carries a wide range of travel accessories, and custom-makes items including leather pillows, belts and knife sheaths.

Among the store’s seven employees are King’s wife, Theresa, and son, Eric. During the early days of the pandemic, when travel all but dried up, King and his wife were often the only ones in the store. Business was so slow that one month they collected just $6 in sales tax.

Today, most luggage is sold online, though many people still like to look and touch before buying. “A lot of people tell me they used to come here as a kid with their parents and now they’re old and bring their kids,” King said. On a recent morning, repeat customers included Bill and Debora Meyer, who had come from Lutz to pick out new luggage for a trip to Iceland. “We tend to get good quality that lasts,” she said. “It’s worth it.”

As for King himself, he’s not particular about his own luggage. He carries used bags — “left by people who just want a new bag.”

Luggage Service Inc. is at 4121 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa. luggageservice.com or 813-236-5946.

This 1907 cash register, used in the original Luggage Service store, could tally amounts up to $99. Photo by Susan Taylor Martin

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Spectator Award

Bay Area Advisors Martinis for Moffitt

Sparkling, statuesque showgirls posed along the red carpet path to a wall of Champagne, escorting 1,200 guests into Martinis for Moffitt, the limitless summer drink and dance party hosted for the 17th year by the Bay Area Advisors, a nonprofit men’s professional organization based in Tampa. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Event Center staffed 12 bars, circulated fancy hors d’oeuvres and arranged elegant dessert tables while the Spazmatics band and DJ Fresh entertained the sleek, chic crowd. Dr. John Cleveland, whose Moffitt Cancer Center titles include executive vice president and chief scientific officer, described how much the party’s collective contributions have advanced two cuttingedge research initiatives — the Advance Prostate Cancer Collaborative (APCC) and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) programs — by donating $2.7 million, including a whopping $500,000 raised at the July 15 gathering. — Amy

Scherzer, photos courtesy of Joe Photo Tampa

Mark and Michelle Spence.

From left, Tony and Laura Paredes, Rob and Courtney Cagno and Cherra and Chad Wammock.

Corey E. McLaughlin, left, and Chris Sewell pose with a showgirl.

From left, Scott and Amy Ferguson and Alex and Laren Jansen are flanked by showgirls.

Michael Francis, Music Director

Troupe Vertigo

Michael Francis, Music

Jubilant Sykes,baritone

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Tropical Nights XXXII

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful strives to meet the environmental challenges of our time through “clean and green” conservation and recycling programs funded in part by the annual Tropical Nights auction party. Supporters never miss the colorful, casual fundraiser where they sip mocktails and cocktails, play Plinko, pose for fun caricatures and bid on a huge array of artistic and useful items. The 400 guests packed the ballroom of the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel on July 7, swaying to the steel drums, sampling pizza, sushi, cupcakes and such from local restaurants and, of course, utilizing plenty of recycling bins. CEO Debra Evenson and event chairperson Dana Nafe gave a big welcome to former Tampa Mayors Dick Greco and Sandy Freedman, who backed the green initiative during their tenures.

— Text and photos by Amy Scherzer

From left, Dana Nafe, Jane Toombs, Sandy Freedman, Debra Evenson and Sue House.

From left, Monique Barton-Smith, Than Tenn, Stefani Rodgers and Kim Sinclair.

y

Ybor City Museum Society

39th Legacy Awards Brunch

The Columbia Restaurant served a traditional Spanish Sunday brunch to celebrate the 39th annual Legacy Awards presented by the Ybor City Museum Society on June 11. Over cafe con leche and sangria, emcee Lissette Campos introduced the nominators to the 100 guests to share why each 2023 honoree was selected for the prestigious awards. Tom DeGeorge received the Anthony “Tony” Pizzo Award for keeping Ybor arts and history alive. Jill Wax earned the Adela Gonzmart Award for being at the center of the Ybor retail and arts economy for nearly 50 years. For “excellence in community service,” Lou Piniella Jr. accepted the Vicente Martinez-Ybor Award on behalf of his father, Tampa native and Major League Baseball player, coach and manager Lou Piniella. Next year, a fourth award will join the lineup: the Lou Piniella Award presented to someone from the sports world who exemplifies dedication to the community. — Amy Scherzer, photos courtesy of PamElla Lee Photography

Emcee Lissette Campos and Rafael Martinez-Ybor.

From left, Lou Piniella Jr., Jill Wax and Tom DeGeorge.

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Social calendar Contact Amy Scherzer at amyscherzersdiary@gmail.com.

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 Children’s Cancer Center. $200. 6-10 p.m. Armature Works, Tampa. tinyurl.com/ym4hw4mm.

Oct. 7: Gigi’s Blue and Gold Gala, which benefits Gigi’s Playhouse. $225. 5 p.m. Hilton Tampa Downtown. gigisplayhouse.org/tampa/gala.

Oct. 7: Casino Night and Cocktails, which benefits Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital’s. $100. 7 p.m. University of South Florida St. Petersburg Student Center. tinyurl.com/4mrny5jt or 727-871-1352.

Oct. 13: Dishes & Wishes Tampa, which benefits Make-A-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. tuxestailstampa.com.

Oct. 14: Ruth Eckerd Hall Gala: Sowing the Seeds of Love, which benefits the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts. $450. 6 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. Cocktail attire. 727-712-2716.

Oct. 19: Red Cross Angels Silver Coffee. $50 minimum donation, invitation only. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Private residence on Davis Islands, Tampa. redcrossangelssilvercoffee@gmail.com.

Oct. 19: Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts Impact Awards. $300. 6 p.m. Armature Works. tbbca.org.

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

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

Oct. 21: Reef Ball: Evening for the Bay, which benefits Tampa Bay Watch. $200 and up. 6-10 p.m. Tampa Museum of Art. tampabaywatch.org.

Oct. 27: LAMPLighters Fall into Fashion luncheon. $125. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Shanna and Bryan Glazer Family JCC, Tampa. lamplighterstampa.org.

Oct. 27: Tampa Hispanic Woman and Man of the Year, with honorees Catalina Botero Lovett and Ray Ortiz. $185. 6:30 p.m. Armature Works. tampahispanic.org.

Nov. 2: The Stuart Society Smartly Dressed fashion show luncheon, which

benefits the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. $175 and up. 10:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg. stuartsociety.org.

Nov. 4: Pavilion XXXVII, La Vie en Rose, which benefits the Tampa Museum of Art. $850 and up. 7 p.m. Tampa Museum of Art. tinyurl.com/4kz8nx4p or 813-421-8375.

Nov. 4: Silver Jubilee Gala, which benefits University Area CDC. $125. 6-10 p.m. TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, Tampa. uacdc.org or 813-558-5212, ext 210.

Nov. 10: Tampa Bay History Center Gala. $300. 7-11 p.m. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tinyurl.com/ysa6prur.

Nov. 10: Equality Florida Tampa Gala. $125. 8 p.m. Shanna and Bryan Glazer Family JCC. eqfl.org/tampagala or 407-462-9692.

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

Nov. 17: St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation Holiday Fashion Show & Luncheon, which benefits St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital. $250. 10 a.m.2 p.m. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. tinyurl.com/2p8s4cz5 or 813-872-0979.

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