Visit the stunning permanent collection of world renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s unique artwork in a magnificent 10,000 square foot setting designed by award-winning architect Albert Alfonso. The Chihuly Collection presented by the Morean Arts Center includes Chihuly’s spectacular large-scale installations such as Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier created specifically for the Collection, along with several popular series works including Macchia and Ikebana which have thrilled audiences around the globe. And visit the Glass Studio & Hot Shop where you can watch glassblowers create one-of-a-kind pieces and purchase glass art and jewelry created by local, regional, and national artists.
400 Beach Drive St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727.896.GLASS (4527) ChihulyCollectionStPete.com Purchase your tickets in advance online at ChihulyCollectionStPete.com
Float Boat PHOTOGRAPHER: TERRY RISHEL
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VERTICAL Tampa Bay employs an innovative page-turning user interface that delivers both a familiar reading experience to consumers of traditional print media, and a host of enhanced browsing options that are unique to the technology.We want you to get the most out of your VERTICAL experience so we’ve highlighted a few key features to help you get better acquainted with the user interface. FULL SCREEN MODE The single best way to experience VERTICAL is by using the FULL SCREEN MODE. Clicking on the FULL SCREEN icon located at the top of the viewing area allows the interface to resize the magazine to the full resolution of your computer’s monitor.You can turn pages by clicking the grab handles at the outer edges of each page or by simply clicking the left/right arrow keys on your keyboard. If you wish to jump to a certain section, you can do so by clicking on the thumbnail navigator located at the bottom of the viewer.
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With 170 ‘interactivities’ in 12 themed areas for kids to explore and discover, come see why the new Glazer Children’s Museum is a whole new way for kids to play – and learn a whole lot along the way.
Learn why becoming a member adds to the fun at GlazerMuseum.org/membership. Or call 813-443-FUN1 (3861) DOWNTOWN TAMPA • 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza Hours - Mon – Fri: 10am to 5pm • Sat: 10am to 6pm Sun: 1pm to 6pm
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winters are wonderful for gathering at Innisbrook
®
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INdaba daba Spa, Salo aloN & FI FIt tNeSS SS CeN Nter Nat atU Ure walk joggIN jogg INg IN g & Cy yClINg g traIl tra lS opeN N FIrep repIIt patI rep patIo
we live in one of the best areas in the country. our winters are perfect for activities inside and out. gather friends, family or co-workers together for a round of golf, a tennis match, a great meal or a relaxing spa outing. they may be hibernating up North but here at Innisbrook, we’re enjoying life!
for more information, call 727.942.2000 | VisitInnisbrook.com 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Innisbrook, Florida 34684 -1239
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TAMPA BAY Dear VERTICAL, Happy Anniversary my love! We made it! One year! You are my love letter to Tampa Bay and you reveal possibilities to me every single day.You have seen me through storms and you have saved me.You bring me joy and it’s my great pleasure to share it. My soul soars in your presence. Each issue is a journey and this first year has taken us places. From our own backyard to “Picnics Around the World” and from Costa Rica to Anna Maria, you have been a stellar companion. On this “Wonderfully Wild” trajectory, we’ve been fed, we’ve been styled, we’ve been seduced and we’ve smiled.We’ve flitted and fluttered and buzzed around town. Even a severe economic meltdown couldn’t get us down! With so many blessed moments to treasure I think, we have celebrated, been Beauty Full, and we’ve been “Tickled Pink.” So what shall we do together this time? Let’s get intimate with the faces behind the fabulous in PRO and fly over to SOCIAL BUTTERFLY for a fall that’s packed with benefits. We’re going to WANDERLUST out West; get bubbly in BEAUTY FULL and in HABITAT.We’re “Sew in Love” with STYLISH and circling the globe for TASTE. And glass is EXPOSed all over the place. I will always look back at this first year, to honor the sweet memories that got us here. Looking toward the future, I can’t help but wonder…could the world be our oyster? Perhaps if we dream.And now to the very heart of the matter:With each new issue, I can’t wait to take a deep breath, curl up cozy, flip for VERTICAL and fall in love. Always,
SusanJeffersPhotography.com Makeup: Pamela Bloomgren
STYLISH BEAUTY FULL EXPOSURE HABITAT TASTE WANDERLUST SOCIAL BUTTERFLY PRO PEOPLE WHO ROCK Local musician Geri X Photograph by Sarah Kay McDonald, www.sarahkayphotography.com
PEACE OUT Lizard Fashion Shoot, Anna Maria Island Photography by Leslie Joy Ickowitz
START
ON THE COVER: Photographer: SusanJeffersPhotography.com Stylist & Makeup Artist: Pamela Bloomgren, MOD Productions Hair: Bill Baker Model: Willow, Benz Model & Talent Agency Photographed: On location at Innisbrook a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort
ON THIS PAGE Pimped out and glassy photography by Leslie Joy Ickowitz
BUZZ ON VERTICAL Illustration by Justin Kingsley Noyes, The Hive Creations, TheHiveStore.com
INTROS Vignettes of Dale Chilhuly’s Fiori Di Como, 1998 photographed at Bellagio Resort, Las Vegas. Social Butterfly photographed at The Bellagio Conservatory. Photography by Leslie Joy Ickowitz, June 2010
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LOVE IT!!! Gosh, the whole issue is simply AMAZING. Amy Tranter
VERTICAL Tampa Bay is one of the most BEAUTIFUL magazines we have ever seen.
YOU ROCK! Punk Rock Betty
Zoey Bloom
Beautiful photography; AWESOME content! David Teitelbaum
This issue is awesome! Every time I see your work I am rejuvenated. You are so fabulous and I so respect you and what you are doing. Very high-quality work, I SIMPLY LOVE IT. Neko
I love your magazine, it’s BEAUTIFUL and WELL DONE. Of course, I always look for Bill Baker’s article...he’s the best!
Another FABULOUS magazine! Loved your article about Anna Maria Island! Oh, and cannot wait to try some of those pedicure places!
Yvonne-Evette Charneskey
Smitha Reddy
I found myself ABSORBED in VERTICAL Tampa Bay! I love the FRESH look and have not seen anything like it before. Kaeleen Weiser
OMG!, OMG! OMG! The magazine is incredible. I’ve spent the morning going through all the issues and I don’t have the words to describe how fabulous it is. Kathy Yurko
Photography: SusanJeffersPhotography.com Stylist & Makeup: Pamela Bloomgren, MOD Productions Hair: Bill Baker
Publisher & Editor In Chief Leslie Joy Ickowitz
Creative Director Leslie Joy Ickowitz
Art Director James Burgos, www.BoulevardCreative.com
ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Natalia Galbetti
Contributing Writers Bill Baker ✵ Marcia Biggs ✵ James Burgos ✵ Natalia Galbetti Casey Brook McPhee ✵ Swathi Reddy ✵ Kelly Seeley ✵ Janan Talafer
Contributing Photographers www.BrianJamesGallery.com ✵ www.LeslieJoyOriginal.com www.PapergirlPressPhoto.com ✵ www.PatFoleyPhoto.com ✵ www.SarahKayPhotography.com Sean Fabian Dumanal ✵ Shannon Holt ✵ www.SusanJeffersPhotography.com
Illustrator Justin Kingsley Noyes, The Hive Creations
Proofreading Swathi Reddy ✵ Ian Wark VERTICAL is a community magazine and we welcome your participation. Letters to the Editor, inquiries and nominations for Social Butterfly and Pro may be sent to: info@verticaltampabay.com. For advertising and other inquiries, please call 813.382.4387 or email: info@ VerticalTampaBay.com. To enjoy a complimentary subscription to VERTICAL delivered via email, visit:VerticalTampaBay.com. Copyright 2010 VERTICAL™ Tampa Bay. All rights reserved. Reproduction, either in whole or in part, is forbidden without written permission from the publisher. Articles and advertisements published in VERTICAL™ Tampa Bay do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. VERTICAL™ Tampa Bay assumes no liability for the content and shall not be held liable for any errors or omissions. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. All letters and press releases sent to VERTICAL™ Tampa Bay may be unconditionally assigned for publication and are subject to VERTICAL™ Tampa Bay’s editorial comment.VERTICAL™ Tampa Bay is not to be held liable for the quality or performance of goods or services rendered by the advertisers in this publication.
STYLISH
Sew in Love
designer Kimberly Hendrix creates timeless pieces by reusing and renewing vintage clothes
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Story by Natalia Galbetti ❧ Photography by BrianJamesGallery.com
very week, millions of people tune in to Project Runway for 90 minutes of fashion, style and drama. Kimberly Hendrix does not. All she gets are the first few minutes and then she’s off to work: she has a challenge to finish. After not making the final cut for the hit show, the Palm Harbor-based designer decided to go for the experience anyway and make the looks for every episode following the challenge rules. “I was a little disappointed and I thought there’s no reason why I couldn’t do this by myself,” she explains while working on the challenge, which had her making an outfit built entirely out of party supplies. “I only watch the beginning because I don’t want to be influenced by anything the judges are saying or what the designers go through. I really want to see what I can come up with.” In this case, it’s a cocktail dress fashioned from crepe, or in her words, a “wedding piñata”. She had to use dye to save her from a sartorial disaster before her time was up, making the paper look like copper silk scraps and transforming the design into a piece that would be worthy of the judges’ approval. The drama was recorded not by a production crew, but a webcam, and broadcast on her blog for her customers’ entertainment. After the challenge is over, Hendrix designs her own line by her own rules. Drawing from a collection of vintage clothes amassed over ten years, she recycles
them into new ones. Sequins, beads and crystals are aged as she dyes the clothes after completion, resulting in pieces that look like they belong in a museum, with timeless elegance and style. “I like this idea of being worn out,” she says of her design aesthetic. “There’s a lot of beauty in flaws and imperfections.” A watermark on a fabric, an opaque bead among shiny crystals or a shredded hem on a tunic are what set every piece apart and give them a modern and rock and roll edge. “Every beaded piece is one of a kind,” says Hendrix. “I design for girls who can appreciate that kind of hand-work.The hipster girls who are willing to take risks with what they wear and like sparkly things.” Among those girls is an extensive celebrity clientele that includes fashion icons Janet Jackson and Zooey Deschanel. The general public will get to see Hendrix’s new collection in the fall when she shows at Tampa Bay Fashion Week and while her Project Runway looks will not be included in the show, she does credit her experiment for teaching her how to make it work. “I’m learning new ways to design in general,” she explains. “I realize now that if I take a deep breath it will come out. It all works out in the end.” www.khendrix.com
e v o L n i l l a f
Photography: SusanJeffersPhotography.com
Stylist & Makeup: Pamela Bloomgren, MOD Productions
Hair: Bill Baker Models: Willow and Henry P. Philpot IV, Benz Model & Talent Agency Fashions: k.hendrix khendrix.com Urban Body Menswear urbanbody.com
Photographed: On location at Innisbrook a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort innisbrookgolfresort.com
FASHION STYLING & MAKEUP ARTISTRY BY PAMELA BLOOMGREN & NELDA CORBETT
MOD FASHION HEADSHOTS WEDDINGS LIFESTYLE COMPOSITES
PRODUCTIONS 727.458.4143
BEAUTY FULL
Blissfully
Bubbly And So Squeaky Clean
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Story by Natalia Galbetti ❧ Photography by Shannon Holt, Studio77Photography.com
t the end of a long day nothing is more relaxing than a good shower. As the water hits your skin and washes stress away, only one thing can make it better: luxurious soap.With a refreshing fragrance and soothing bubbles, soap moisturizes and cleanses and a handmade soap does both naturally. “Handmade soap is made with pure ingredients,” explains Trista Page, owner of Indigo Bee, an online handmade soap company based in Tampa. “There are no chemicals in it, so it’s better for your skin.” With natural oils as a base, handmade soap uses the same technique applied centuries ago, before soap was mass produced and sold in a cardboard box. Scents are handpicked for different effects: lavender making for a relaxing lather; citrus giving a refreshing sensation while patchouli and vanilla are mood enhancers. Colors and patterns result from the ingredients used, with bright yellows, reds and greens or pastel combinations beautifully
layered in each bar, compliments of Mother Nature. Another organic benefit of the soap bar is its moisturizing quality. Containing glycerin, a natural humectant soap factories remove from massproduced soaps, handmade soap is like a cleansing bar and a hydrating lotion in one. “You can add certain things that make it more moisturizing like olive oil or honey but the handmade soap in itself is already very moisturizing,” explains Teresa Ross, owner of Milagros, a handmade soap store that offers over 100 varieties of soap bars. Sometimes the combinations are simple like a dark yellow olive oil bar. Others read like delicious recipes, like Page’s Cherry Almond bar that with its cream base and brown and red swirls, looks and smells like a French pastry. Eye-catching shapes add a whimsical and decorative touch, enhancing your bath or shower with a foamy, luxurious and natural way to get a squeaky-clean start or finish to your day. www.indigobeesoap.com and www.sisteragnes.com
Photographed on location at Milagros, Hyde Park Village
Mother Nature’s Beauty Secret Minerals are Good for Glow Story by Kelly Seeley
Who knew 30 years ago that mineral makeup would be the hottest cosmetic item today? All natural, finely ground minerals from the earth, free of any chemicals, dyes, preservatives or fragrances—Mother Nature’s gift to us and our beauty regimen. You can find mineral makeup at these Tampa Bay area spas:
Day Dreams Day Spa & Bath Shop In Atlantic Village, Brandon DayDreamsDaySpa.com
Massages for Health, Valrico MassagesForHealth.com
Pia’s South Tampa PiaSpa.com
Facial Accents Boutique, Tampa http://bit.ly/90Vkcu
E
ver wonder how some women have that glowing, flawless-looking skin? Often it’s courtesy of light, easy-to-wear mineral makeup. When used properly, mineral makeup applies evenly and allows your skin to be seen… with a little boost! Three of the main ingredients in mineral makeup are mica, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have anti-inflammatory properties which can be calming for rosacea and acne-prone skin. Both ingredients will not block pores and help with sun protection as well. Note: Even though mineral makeup has sun protection properties, you’ll still want to use a good sunscreen underneath because it’s not quite enough to combat the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Mineral makeup can be used to enhance your natural beauty or help to camouflage areas that are less than perfect. “We are so fortunate to have mineral makeup as our first line of defense against aging.Why use anything else?” asks Leanne Carter, owner, Facial Accents Boutique in New Tampa. Port stains, vitiligo, bruising, acne and even aggressive skin-care treatments can be comfortably concealed under mineral makeup. It’s light, natural, good for you and powerful! From algae and pomegranate extract to green rooibos tea, ingredients will vary from brand to brand, and
most people find the natural elements to be gentle on the skin. Some mineral makeups have added fillers in the ingredients so be sure to stay with a 100% natural makeup line.Whether it’s liquid or powder, there are many benefits to mineral makeup for the skin but the traditional routine of removing your makeup before going to bed still applies. If you’ve never tried mineral makeup, it’s definitely worth experimenting.There is virtually no allergic risk involved and the inert minerals do not support bacteria. However, bacteria can lie within the application tools, including brushes and sponges. It’s important to wash utensils at least once a week with either a brush cleaner or baby shampoo. Shake them out and lay them flat to dry completely. If your skin is oily, it is recommended that you replace your brushes monthly. This fall there are some hot new colors available in mineral makeup brands. It’s a far cry from the plain old browns. Enter your highness, a la purple. From lighter violets to rich, deep eggplant, you’ll be feeling like royalty...naturally. Kelly Seeley is co-founder of spa50.com and “5 Days of 50.” spa50 is an online resource connecting spa-going consumers with Tampa Bay area spas.The first “5 Days of 50” event will be held Sept. 20-24, 2010. Visit spa50.com for more information.
Beauty full View tips from tampa bay’s celebrity hair stylist on the loose Story by Bill Baker ❧ Photography by SusanJeffersPhotography.com HOT HAIR Lots and lots of hair will accessorize your wardrobe this fall and it is sure to make you sizzle.Volume, curl and glamour top off this season’s look while subtle is nowhere to be found on the catwalk.The fashion world is screaming,“Look at me!” and hair is the loudspeaker accentuating an already exciting shout of bold and colorful textures and shapes, some of which we haven’t seen before. Just when you think you may have seen everything, the fashionistas bring us fur pants! Thank heaven they are faux. Now that’s hot! HIGH HAIR The higher the hair, the closer to God and this year is a religious experience.What started as a simple Hairspray poof has exploded into a Jersey Shore phenomenon. Although I usually like the teased bump, I’m not giving this poof the same rating that the TV show is getting. I am always amazed at what will influence a fashion trend. Don’t be afraid to do a bit of backcombing in the crown and let your conscience be your guide in terms of how high. HAT HAIR There was a time when a
woman didn’t leave the house without her hat and gloves.With accessories playing such a big part in the wardrobe this year, hats will once again turn heads. When Florida weather douses your hopes for a good hair day, a hat can transform your outlook. You won’t go unnoticed in a fedora, cloche, bowler, mod cap or any other funky hat, although I purposely left out the baseball cap and visor! Even if you’re into function over fashion, an oversized hat can play a dual role by covering your uncooperative hair while shading your face from scorching midday sun or protecting it from afternoon drizzles. But fashion comes with a price and you may think twice before removing your hat in public. After a long day, hat hair is not pretty! Now remember why you chose to make a fashion statement today.That’s right! It wasn’t a good hair day. It wasn’t a hot hair kind of day or a high hair kind of day. It was a hot, humid Florida day…and therefore it was all about the hat! My advice? Keep your hat on and your head held high! While attending art school, Bill Baker saw the movie “Shampoo” starring Warren Beatty. It was then that he decided, like Warren, to surround himself with beautiful women. He feels lucky to have accomplished his goal in the beauty industry and hopes some of his observations and opinions prove to be helpful. Contact Bill with questions or comments at: info@verticaltampabay.com or www.Billbakerhair.com.
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A DV E R T I S I N G AG E N C Y
3RD AnnuAl St. PeteRSbuRg Rg SAtuRDAy, novembeR R 20th, 2010 6:00 - 11:00 pm StRAub PARk will tRAnSfoRm foR fo Rm into A mAgnificent outDooR lounge Benefiting creative clay & the woodson museum *Must Be e 21 years or older to attend tICKets In advanCe: $20 at event: vent: $25 vIP: $80
to PurChase tICKets vIsIt www.chilloungenight.com or at the Gate. Brazilian SamBa Parade • BK JacKSon on Performance faShion Show By icon B • SPectacular fireworKS ireworKS irewor KS diSPlay diSP SPlay lay flamenco • caSh BarS • food By ceviche ceviche
portraits headshots fashion glamour life
flashing forward
EXPOSURE
Art to Wear
Accessoreez Fuses Glass Into Fashion Story by Natalia Galbetti ❧ Photography by Scott Menaul
Seek the Unique is the motto for sisters Leslie Belcher and Shelley Harper when designing their glass jewelry line Accessoreez. Looking at their handcrafted, detailed and distinctive pieces, it’s clear they have hit the mark.
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ccessoreez’s jewelry is hot and original—literally. Each piece begins with a torch directed at glass rods, which the artists carefully and meticulously turn to create one-of-a-kind color combinations and shapes. “The heating and cooling of the glass defines the colors,” Belcher explains.“No glass art is like another and sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get.” The heating process reveals a plethora of hues with names as unique as their appearances. A creamcolored rod develops shades of pink and caramel becoming “Tan Silver Creek.” Red transforms into a combination of yellow, amber and orange tones making “Tequila Sunrise.” A simple black rod gets unexpected light blue and indigo streaks, creating “Amazon Nite.” While the colors flourish sometimes unpredictably, the shapes are molded precisely. Each glass piece is carefully created with a specific motion in front of the flame making it a puzzle piece in what will be, after the wiring, beading and stones are picked, an accessory. The process is slow and time-consuming, 15 hours to be exact. The end product is wearable art. Influenced by current trends but innately elegant, each piece is a small sculpture with a fashionable edge that can add whimsy and sophistication to any outfit. “They’re so unusual but they’re comfortable and it just comes together so well,” says Kathy Hintz, one of Accessoreez’s loyal clients. “I have a bunch and I just keep thinking ‘How can I get some more?’” The sisters’ designs are available in art galleries nationwide, and the colors and shapes in the jewelry reflect their inspirations.The earth tones and pheasant feathers in Harper’s designs replicate southwestern sunsets while the blue, green and coral-like pendants in Belcher’s mirror the natural treasures of Tampa Bay. The collection includes necklaces, earrings, cuffs, rings, brooches and belt buckles ranging from $30 to $450. Today, Accessoreez’s client roster has about 3000 names and includes celebrities like Natalie Cole and Candy Spelling. In addition to designing her collection, she meets with clients individually to make custom pieces, ensuring that all of them go home with something fabulously unique. www.accessoreez.com
Photography by Al Hurley
The Chihuly Experience A Celebration in Glass Story by Marcia Biggs
The light catches your eye like a Ferris wheel at night, brilliant and mesmerizing and filled with an energy all its own. It’s the light that transfixes you as it emanates and reflects off the deep jewel tones of the glass art sculptures that make up the Chihuly Collection.
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nshrined in its own 7,600 square foot gallery, some 16 installations containing thousands of pieces of glass make up this collection of work by renowned Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly. Although his work can be found in more than 200 museums worldwide, the St. Petersburg location marks the artist’s first permanent site. “The response has been beyond our expectations,” says Katee Tully, executive director of the Morean Arts Center, which owns and operates the Chihuly Collection. “We are definitely making an impact as an impetus for bringing more people, arts and culture to downtown St. Petersburg.” When it opened July 10 a collective sigh of relief was felt from Seattle to St. Petersburg. The very birth of this collection over the past two years was fraught with roadblocks and at times it seemed the entire project would never see the light of day. But now, the collection—and the gallery itself—are nothing short of spectacular. Thanks to Tampa architect Alberto Alfonso, founding principal and president of Alfonso Architects, the visitor is enveloped in a sensual environment that flows organically between installations. Dale Chihuly’s love of nature is the inspiration for most of his signature glass sculptures that take organic forms such as undulating flower petals, glowing orbs, and sea creatures. The brilliant orange “Persians” installation mounted along one wall is a joyous study in color and movement (according to the principles of chromotherapy, orange is considered warm and joyful and connects to our emotional self). Indeed, the interplay of vivid colors and light from emerald green and cobalt blue to lemon yellow, lavender, pink, aqua and magenta found in Chihuly’s works is a celebration of life. It’s a playful world of chandeliers made of swirling cylinders and orbs, and delicate sea forms reminiscent of corals and shells. A beached wooden rowboat filled with glass globes of every size and color is a favorite of many, as is the Persian Ceiling, a clear glass hallway through which visitors look up to find an enchanting assortment of colorful glass similar to an underwater coral garden filled with sea life. Note: Expect a surprise appearance by Dale Chihuly sometime in October, according to Katee Tully. It will be announced online, “so keep an eye on your Facebook and Twitter,” she says. The Chihuly Collection at 400 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg; 727.896.4527 or www.chihulycollectionstpete.com.Ticket prices vary from $15 ($13 seniors, $12 students) for the Collection to $20 ($16, $14) including the Hot Shop and Morean Galleries.
Dale Chihuly Mille Fiori, 2010 101⁄2 331⁄2 x 101⁄2’ Chihuly Collection presented by Morean Arts Center St. Petersburg, FL Photography by Terry Rishel
This holiday season celebrate with Innisbrook
®
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This holiday season, we offer simplicity and ease in planning your festive events. Gather friends, family or co-workers for intimate to large get-togethers. Packard’s Steakhouse and Market Salamander® Grille make the perfect venues for lunches and dinners. Need gift ideas? We have gift certificates for Indaba Spa services, lessons, weekend getaways and more!
for holiday information, call 727.942.2000 | VisitInnisbrook.com 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Innisbrook, Florida 34684 -1239
HABITAT
Bathed in Luxury Soothing Spaces to Soak In Serenity Story by Janan Talafer ❧ Photography by PatFoleyPhoto.com
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel like we are “on” 24 hours a day, with little time left for contemplation or relaxation.Yet, recharging body, mind and spirit is essential for our health and well being.
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ne way to accomplish that sense of tranquility is to carve out a small space in the home where it’s possible to enjoy privacy, comfort and a little luxury. For many people, that area of escape is the bathroom. Luxury bathrooms that resemble upscale spas are hot, hot, hot. And the reason is simple, says Michelle Jennings Wiebe of Studio M Interiors. “My clients are spending more time at home; they are cocooning. But they’ve also traveled a lot and stayed at nice hotels. Now they want that same feeling and style in their home.”
Think of today’s bathroom as a pampering, hideaway retreat in which you can linger and luxuriate, where it’s perfectly okay to indulge yourself and brush off the stress of the day. “The goal is to feel at peace when you walk into the master suite; to be able to take a deep breath,” says Wiebe. Many upscale baths these days feature high-tech accessories like tubs with adjustable color lights to suit your mood, flat-screen LCD TVs for your favorite programs and multiple shower heads, from a rain shower to a pulsating massage or even a steam bath. Other trends, says Wiebe, include freestanding sculptural bathtubs, perfect for soaking in. “We’re getting away from the traditionalstyle built-in tubs and the garden-style Jacuzzi tubs,” she says. Texture is also very big. “People are also asking for layers of texture such as the use of stone and wood and combining it with shiny fixtures in plumbing and lighting.”
Use your imagination. Get rid of any clutter to allow a feeling of spaciousness. Add beautiful scents, natural light, a few candles and soothing music. And don’t forget dimmable lighting. “You can’t take a bubble bath without being able to dim the lights,” says Wiebe. Wiebe also suggests using pretty single frame mirrors over a vanity or sink—not the old plate glass look of the ’80s or ’90s. How about decorative sconces and fluffy monogrammed towels? Arrange small collector items, like a perfumebottle collection, on a decorative mirrored tray.And don’t forget to incorporate interesting artwork. In the bathrooms highlighted here, Wiebe has added her magic touch to create a unique, distinctive bathroom to fit each of the homeowner’s style, from a sleek, coastal chic waterfront home on Davis Islands to an elegant Mediterranean revival home in the style of renowned architect Addison Mizner.
PATRICK FOLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
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Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 365 Days A Year
(941) 388-4441 www.mote.org
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add zest to your nest
Pendant lighting by Union Street Glass Pitcher by Orbix
Pottery by Jonathan Adler
home décor
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TASTE
THE WORLD ISSUE
Taste
Escapes A World Tour for Your Taste Buds Story by Janan Talafer ❧ Photography by Sean Fabian Dumanal
Once upon a time, dining out on Florida’s Gulf Coast could be summed up with one phrase: early-bird special. Today, we are blessed with an ever-increasing abundance of wonderful restaurants showcasing cuisine from around the world. It’s a testament to the diverse melting pot that our region has become. For the uninitiated, sampling food from far off cultures can be an education for the palate. But step outside your comfort zone and embrace exotic herbs, spices and ingredients. Discovering and enjoying cuisine from other cultures deepens our understanding of the global connection we all share. Travel with us as we sample the hot, intriguing spices of Africa and the Middle East. The seductive sensations of Asia.The tangy, zesty flavors of Mexico and South America. The rich, indulgent smoothness of French cooking. And the satisfying comforts of Italy and Greece.
Photographed at Black Palm
Photographed at Kiku
AFRICAN: QUEEN OF SHEBA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT, TAMPA — Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, is one of the oldest countries on earth. The Queen of Sheba ruled there in the 10th century B.C. Ethiopian cuisine is rich and flavorful, liberally sprinkled with spices like berbere, a blend of red chili peppers, ginger, garlic and cardamom; and awaze, a red-pepper paste mixed with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Both ramp up the heat in the spicy vegetarian dishes and meat stews. Meals are typically served family style in large platters scooped up with pieces of injera, a gluten-free sourdough pancake made of a fermented grain called teff.Try the Doro Wot, a chicken and hard-boiled egg stew seasoned with berbere orYe Misr Wot, red lentils simmered in onion, garlic, ginger and berbere. www.ethiopianrestauranttampa.com ASIAN: KIKU, CLEARWATER BEACH — Kiku is one of Tampa Bay’s original Sushi restaurants and this distinctive, upscale venue across the street from Clearwater’s beautiful beaches continues to offer delicious artistic creations. Sit at the sushi bar to watch the skillful chef at work or take off your shoes and enjoy traditional Japanese dining in the Tatami Room. The Ahi Carpaccio is superb—paperthin medallions of fresh ahi tuna, bonito seasoning and wasabi aioli dressing, topped with scallions and smelt roe. For the main course, enjoy the steamed Chilean Sea Bass.The black bean sauce is packed with flavor. Sushi rolls include the Dynamite—a blend of tuna, yellowtail, salmon, octopus, crab and mackerel chopped and mixed with Srirac, the hot, sweet and spicy dipping sauce for seafood. It will definitely clear your sinuses. www.clearwaterbeachkiku.com LATIN AMERICAN: BLACK PALM, PASS-A-GRILLE BEACH — Tucked away down a little side street in Pass-a-Grille, the Black Palm is the perfect way to experience this historic beach community. The restaurant features a unique blend of island attitude with South American regional cuisine. On weekends when it’s cool, sit outside and enjoy Latin jazz, salsa and meringue. The menu features more than 17 different Tapas selections. I love the piquant taste of Ceviche, a Latin American specialty of raw fish marinated in a lime juice blend. Try the Black Palm’s Ceviche de La Costa with snapper, scallops and shrimp with a zesty mango relish. Then get down to one of the mouth-watering entrees like plantain crusted snapper or pecan-espresso encrusted filet mignon. Ask for Chimichurri sauce, which is like pesto but made with parsley. www.blackpalmrestaurant.com FRENCH: LA CACHETTE, DOWNTOWN CLEARWATER — If you can’t spend a month at a villa in the south of France, dinner at La Cachette might satisfy your craving.This landmark restaurant on Indian Rocks Beach recently moved to downtown Clearwater where it continues to offer a luxurious, intimate evening of prix fixe dining.The food is rich with cream, butter, wine, shallots, cheese and other staples of French cooking. Start with frog legs sautéed in butter, garlic and white wine or lamb kidneys sautéed with shallots and flambéed with Cognac. Then move on to the traditional slow-simmered Coq au Vin or duckling topped with compote of black cherries infused with Framboise. For the adventurous, try the farm-raised ostrich, the rabbit, or the pan-seared quail. Leave room for the dessert butter tarts, a family heritage recipe from Canada. www.lacachetteflorida.com GREEK: MYKONOS, TARPON SPRINGS — Mykonos, located in the heart of the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, is the iconic family-owned Greek restaurant. Look for traditional favorites and specialty items like charbroiled octopus over a bed of lettuce served with the family’s lemon aioli dressing.The Greek salads with fresh tomatoes, feta cheese, olives and a scoop of potato salad in the middle are fresh and filling.The gyros are outstanding and the entrees are all consistently good, from the lamb baked in a clay pot with tomato sauce, cheese and pasta to the traditional moussaka with ground beef and eggplant blended in a creamy cheese sauce. Saganaki, a cheese dish flambéed with Greek brandy, comes to the table with the staff yelling “Opa!”The family also owns a bakery and other retail shops. www.andricosfood.com
INDIAN: ANGITHI FINE INDIAN RESTAURANT, TAMPA — The exotic ambience of Angithi is the perfect setting for this authentic Indian cuisine showcasing curries, basmati rice, chick peas, tangy yogurt, chutneys and fragrant herbs such as cumin and coriander with their nutty, pungent flavors. Indian cooking abounds with vegetarian dishes—there are at least a dozen on the menu, including whole roasted eggplant, mashed and cooked with spices. A diverse selection of other entrees range from Chicken Tandoori, which is marinated in spices and yogurt, to Goat Curry, and Lamb Biryani, a basmati rice dish cooked in a sauce with pieces of lamb and garnished with nuts and raisins. Ask for a side of Peshawari Naan, a leavened flatbread stuffed with nuts and raisins or Lachha Parotha, an unleavened, whole wheat bread baked in a clay tandoori oven. www.angithirestaurant.com ITALIAN: THE LAUGHING CAT, YBOR CITY — The Laughing Cat is the essence of classic Italian cuisine. This small, intimate restaurant in historic Ybor City is permeated with the wonderful aroma of garlic, tomatoes, olive oil and basil. Start your meal with a traditional antipasto such as Mozzarella Cappresse with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, tomatoes, basil and roasted red peppers. Then do your best to pick just one entrée from dozens that beckon. There’s the timeless lasagna and eggplant parmigiana; Linguini Malafemmina, a medley of seafood sautéed in garlic and basil over linguine with white wine and tomato sauce; or Pollo Limone, chicken sautéed with broccoli, artichoke hearts and garlic, and finished with white wine, lemon and basil. The food is hearty and comforting and the wine list is extensive. Save room for dessert. www.thelaughingcat.com MIDDLE EASTERN: BYBLOS CAFÉ, TAMPA — Dark wood, rich reds, subdued lighting and private dining alcoves set off with flowing scarves create the mood at this South Tampa restaurant showcasing Lebanese cuisine and its emphasis on mint, olive oil, yogurt, oregano, parsley, grape leaves and tahini, a thick sesame seed paste. Start with Shanklish, goat cheese mixed with oregano and served with diced tomatoes and onions, topped with olive oil. Instead of the chick pea-based hummus, try the Baba Ghanuj, a dip made with roasted eggplant blended with tahini, lemon juice and olive oil. Entrees include lamb chops marinated with olive oil and herbs and the traditional Shish Kabob. Save room for Turkish coffee and Ismalieh, a ricotta cheese square topped with phyllo dough and doused with orange flavored syrup. Belly dancers entertain on the weekends. www.bybloscafe.com MEXICAN: PEG’S CANTINA, GULFPORT — This transformed bungalow with its jungle-like front yard and people sitting outside enjoying a meal under the stars is quintessential Gulfport—eclectic and laid back. Peg’s Cantina is a favorite hangout for locals and visitors.The menu is limited but everything is made to order. Quesadillas are standard or decadent like the one with Portobello mushroom, spinach, garlic, onion and cheddar jack cheese. Burritos are the same – traditional or upscale with sweet potatoes, beans, corn and diced tomatoes, topped with salsa and guacamole. And the specialty pizzas include goat cheese, roasted peppers and kalamata olives. Peg’s is also known for its American craft beers, including those brewed by the owner’s son Doug, who brews a variety of “Gulfport Original On Draft” beers all year long and makes them available on tap at the restaurant. www.pegscantina.com
Photographed at Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant
Made with
Love
Celebrating Heritage through Cuisine Story by Swathi Reddy ❧ Food Photography by Subhash Reddy Recipes by Upendra & Smitha Reddy
My mother has always told us, my younger sister and me, that she taught herself to cook from memory.
S
Smitha, Upendra & Swathi Reddy l to r
he arrived in the States, a lovely young Indian bride, accompanied by delicate silk saris, precious family jewels and optimistic wishes for her new life. She had to navigate unfamiliar terrain, setting up a home for my father and herself while adjusting to a foreign culture. Yet it was by recalling the flavors of my grandmother’s food that she learned the art of cooking. And even after all these years, this is what continues to amaze me—what she mastered so brilliantly started out of necessity.We have always been wonderfully close, my mother, sister and me. We enjoyed so many things together—reading the novels of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Rohinton Mistry, laughing at Woody Allen movies (especially the ones with Diane Keaton), wearing the same rouge lipstick, admiring the fashions of 1950’s Indian movie actresses, eating both chaat and pizza with genuine enthusiasm and sharing an irreverent, jovial style of viewing the tiny world we inhabited. It is a relationship untouched by others.A sweet, perfectly feminine club of our own that endures because it brings us such pleasure. More recently, I’ve started to realize how many memories of our shared moments involve the foods and flavors of my childhood. I remember, when I was in middle school, bringing my homework downstairs to finish at the kitchen table while my mother made dinner. Often the radio was on in the background as she moved around the kitchen, opening the cabinet for spices, pulling rice and onions out of the pantry and chopping vegetables near the stove. My sister and I were quite definite in which were our favorite Indian curries—mine were the finely-chopped cabbage laced with lentils and golden cauliflower florets seasoned with chili powder, my sister’s
Editors Note: I recently had the pleasure of meeting and spending an afternoon with Upendra Reddy. She is one of the loveliest people I have ever met and that day will live on in my heart forever.
were masala flavored garbanzos and spicy spinach dal. When she gave dinner parties, my mother would make her famous Hyderabadi-style egg curry with the tangy, tamarind gravy and spicy potato curry puffs. Every Sunday we had an Indian family breakfast of idli or rava dosa with sambar and her superb coconut chutney, and on our birthdays she would make our favorite Indian snacks. What never occurred to me though was actually taking time to document the recipes. My sister, unlike me, took to cooking early on—frying puris to puffy perfection, gently rolling out the chapati dough, chopping onions and tomatoes to make garbanzos curry. Over time, she cajoled my mother into painstakingly measuring the ingredients and wrote them down, practicing and perfecting the steps on her own. I never gave much thought to my sister’s dedicated efforts, at least not until Thanksgiving last year when we flew home to visit our parents. Over the last few years, my parents have been spending
GREEN BEANS CURRY INGREDIENTS ✵✵ 2 tbsp vegetable oil ✵✵ 1 lb fresh green beans, chopped ✵✵ 1 carrot, finely chopped ✵✵ 2-3 slices of ginger, minced ✵✵ 3-4 garlic cloves, minced ✵✵ 2-3 Serrano peppers, sliced ✵✵ 1 medium onion, chopped ✵✵ 1 tsp cumin seeds ✵✵ 1 tsp mustard seeds ✵✵ ½ tsp turmeric powder ✵✵ 2 tsp coriander powder ✵✵ ½ tsp salt ✵✵ Fresh coriander leaves (optional) ✵✵ Curry leaves (optional)
time in India during the holidays, so this was a particularly special homecoming. Unwittingly, it turned into a true culinary celebration.We played old Kishore Kumar songs while making green beans curry with chapati, garbanzos and potato curries with puris, even widening the menu to include international dishes like vegetarian lasagna and baklava—using my sister’s carefully written recipes as a guide. My dad proved a willing and appreciative guinea pig, pitching in to make Earl Grey tea as an afternoon refresher and fluffy Indian style omelets for dinner, while endorsing whatever dishes we thought to try next. It was such a lovely tribute by my sister, this cataloguing of our mother’s recipes, with each retaining the indelible influence of my maternal grandmother. A reflection of all that my mother has given us—her love, warmth and trust, a world of comfort, strength and unwavering affection.
DIRECTIONS ✵✵ Boil the green beans for 4-5 minutes, until they are cooked half way, and then drain. Set aside in a separate bowl.
✵✵ Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat.
✵✵ Add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds to the pan and sauté for 5 minutes.
✵✵ Add the garlic, ginger, Serrano peppers and onions, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir periodically.
✵✵ Add the boiled green beans and carrots to the mixture. Reduce heat from medium to low.
✵✵ Add turmeric powder. Let the mixture cook for another 5-7 minutes.
✵✵ Add salt and coriander powder to the mixture.
✵✵ Place the lid on the pan and let the ingredients cook for 12 minutes.
✵✵ Transfer the green beans curry to a serving dish and garnish with fresh coriander leaves and curry leaves.
CHAPATI
CUCUMBER, TOMATO & YOGURT SALAD
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
✵ 1 cup whole wheat flour
✵ 1 cup yogurt
✵ 1/3 cup of water, at room
✵ 1/2 cucumber, chopped with seeds removed
temperature
✵ 1 Roma tomato, chopped
✵ Canola oil
✵ 1/2 Serrano pepper, chopped
DIRECTIONS
✵ 1/2 tsp sea-salt
✵ Combine flour and water in a
✵ Fresh coriander leaves (optional)
medium size bowl. Use your hands to shape the dough into a ball (similar to making pizza dough).
✵ Place the dough into a bowl and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours to allow the dough to set.
✵ Once it has set, knead the dough for 5 minutes.
✵ Divide the dough into 4-6 equal parts and shape each into a small ball.
✵ On a flat surface, add some flour and then use a rolling pin to flatten the dough. The dough should be about the size and width of a tortilla.
✵ Heat a large pan on medium heat. Place the flattened dough into the pan.
✵ Coat both sides of the dough with ½ tsp of oil.
✵ Fry the dough 3-4 minutes on each side until the dough has turned golden brown.
✵ Place the chapattis in a bread basket and cover to keep warm.
DIRECTIONS ✵ Combine the cucumber, tomato and pepper in a medium size bowl.
✵ Add yogurt and salt to the mixture. Make sure the yogurt and salt have evenly coated the vegetables.
✵ Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
SPAIN
RESTAUR ANT
TO M A TA PA S B A R
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you’re invited to dine with us. Our legendary Packard’s Steakhouse and Market Salamander Grillé are now open for reservations. From our signature steaks and seafood to outstanding grilled sandwiches, you’ll enjoy an exceptional dining experience. Not to mention, our fantastic golf course views and live entertainment.
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Lunch
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lunch served monday - friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm dinner served
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F
We don’t build houses, we fill them.
or more than a decade, the Warrick Dunn Family Foundation has created a network of community leaders, nonprofit organizations and businesses dedicated to providing opportunities for single parents and their children. As the Warrick Dunn Family Foundation continues to pursue its mission of providing opportunities for single-parent families, the Foundation is also researching ways to improve the community through the life lessons and experiences of our founder, Warrick Dunn. Adding “Family” to the Foundation’s name reflects the renewed devotion and commitment to helping families that are helping themselves.Your support helps champion the needs of those who receive the assistance provided by the Warrick Dunn Family Foundation. Make your donation at www.WD-FF.org.
WANDERLUST
“O”MG
An Anniversary Expedition Out West Story & Photography by Leslie Joy Ickowitz
Photographed from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in the morning.
“Life isn’t measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.” ~ Anonymous
We swooped in to Las Vegas with a singular purpose: See Cirque du Soleil’s “O” coupled with an overnight stay at Bellagio. Sixth row center seats at the show put the “O” in OMG where we kicked off our 15th Wedding Anniversary celebration with a feast for the eyes. Every facial expression, every brush stroke of the theatrical makeup, every sparkle of the costumes—it was a mesmerizing display and an awesome point of embarkation for a journey leading us to Lake Powell, Grand Canyon and Sedona, Arizona along with Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks in Utah. Oh, and someone got carried away photographing the Chihuly ceiling.
This ladybug, constructed entirely of organic materials, was hanging out in the Bellagio Conservatory.
Spending time in the vortex and red rocks of Sedona is one way to get VERTICAL.
An afternoon strolling Tlaquepaque is yet another.
Sky over Lake Powell
Castle Rock at Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon. Planet Earth or other worldly?
Sunrise over the hoodoos Bryce Canyon National Park
New friends at Zion Mountain Ranch www.zmr.com
Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon located in Navajo territory near Page Arizona, is so spectacular it bears repeating. While there I jotted this down: “Daggers of sunlight slice through the Canyon in an illuminating ballet.”
This trip left me so moved and so touched by gratitude—a journey of breathtaking moments indeed.
llne ss… in to
we
Tune in for a lively day of entertainment and camaraderie as we explore healthy living.
t ted you’re invi
o
ne u t
Hosted by
Saturday, October 30, 2010 Tampa Convention Center Downtown Tampa •32 Breakout Sessions
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
To benefit Tampa General Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Joanne Lichten, PhD, RD “What Every Woman Wants – Great legs, more energy & peace of mind” America’s On-The-Go Health Guru is an accomplished author, speaker and media spokesperson who helps busy people stay healthy, sane and productive.
•FREE Health Screenings •Fabulous Luncheon •Lovely Gift Bag
Tickets - $35 Table Sponsorship, $700 includes: 10 event tickets, reserved seating and table signage
Tickets go on sale September 9 To purchase tickets online, visit www.tgh.org or call toll-free 877-745-7787.
The Old Florida Experience You Are Looking For. Anna Maria Island’s top-rated beach resorts are located on one of the most easy-to-get-to islands in the Gulf of Mexico at a price that's right for you. SEASIDE INN BEACH RESORT is small, charming and right on the beach, with Gulf-front access and direct sea views from every room. TORTUGA INN BEACH RESORT offers a wide range of truly fabulous accommodations many with Gulf or Bay views, plus a private white sand beach just across the street, three heated pools, and a 14-slip boat dock (for a small surcharge). And quaint TRADEWINDS RESORT, which shares the sweeping TORTUGA beach, has its own private street of pastel cottages that ends at a fishing dock and a heated pool right on Sarasota Bay. We look forward to seeing you soon on wonderful Anna Maria Island!
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Š 2009 Anna Maria Island Resorts, LLC. | Anna Maria Island Florida | info@AnnaMariaIslandResorts.net
SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
Get Up.
Get Into It.
Get Involved. 23 Great Places to Get September ZOO GRIA Dressed, Get Out and Make a Difference By Marcia Biggs
Sept. 22 – 25 TAMPA BAY FASHION WEEK Tampa Bay Fashion Week is one stylish event you won’t want to miss! Be dazzled by local designers like Helen Gerro, Essence Flowers, Pat McGhee, Kimberly Hendrix, Nina Verklas and Terry Funaro. Opening night’s Model Behavior Cocktail Soiree will be held at Clearwater Audi, followed by a Glitz, Glamour, Fashion (GGF) party hosted at Neiman Marcus, International Plaza on Thursday, and runway shows on Friday in the Fashion Tent at Tampa Armature Works. Net proceeds from GGF to benefit PACE Center for Girls. For more information or tickets, visit www.fashionweektampabay.com.
Ready to unleash your WILD side? Then come out and join Lowry Park Zoo’s young professional Tower Club for an eventful social, “Zoo Gria”, hosted by Ceviche in Clearwater. Eat, , enjoy the company of your peers...and maybe even adopt an animal! Suggested donation: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. All donations benefit Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, a nonprofit organization committed to excellence in education, recreation, conservation and research.Visit www.lowryparkzoo.com and click on calendar of events to register and make a gift online for this event, and check out all upcoming “Zoo” socials from October through December.
October 1 CLUBCORP CHARITY CLASSIC The Rising Leaders Committee of The Centre Club proudly presents the 2010 ClubCorp Charity Classic. The Centre Club will host the 3rd Annual Dueling Chef event featuring local chefs competing for the title.
The evening includes two complimentary drink tickets, a chef’s table featuring all of the items prepared in the Dueling Chef competition, wine pull, silent auction, live musical entertainment and dancing. Proceeds benefit The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA),The Children’s Cancer Center and ClubCorp’s Employee Partners Care Foundation. Event is from 6-11pm.Tickets are $60 per person or $100 per couple. To purchase tickets, visit www.clubcorpcharityclassic.com/participatingClub_centerclubtampa.htm.
October 2 ART OF HELPING CHILDREN GALA The A La Carte Pavilion will be transformed into a lavish Venetian Carnavale at the 12th Annual Art of Helping Children Gala for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Enjoy live music,“art and experience” auctions; cocktails and dinner beginning at 6 pm. Tickets are $150. Contact Amy Neff at 813.769.3636 or visit www.bbbsfl.org for tickets and information.
October 6 CITY FASHION + ART + CULTURE The spiffy new Tampa Museum of Art opens its doors this fall for CITY Fashion + Art + Culture. Groove to the beat of 10th Concession and DJ Papi, nibble on gourmet treats and sip cocktails while models glide by in fashions from Neiman Marcus.The museum will be open for gallery strolling during this fundraiser to benefirt museum education programs. Doors open at 7pm; the grand raffle prize is a trip for two to New York City.Tickets $100.Visit www. CITYfashionevent.org or call 813.421.8370.
October 8 NIGHT OF THE IGUANA Tampa heats up for an evening of tantalizing foods, signature drinks and live entertainment at the 14th annual Night of the Iguana at the Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center. The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s signature event offers food tastings from top restaurants such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, AquaKnox and Brio Tuscan Grille, along with an open bar and silent auction. Tickets are $85 before Oct. 4 or $100 at the door. For more information, visit www.nightoftheiguana.wishcentral.org.
October 8 FUR BALL Get that leopard print out of the closet, paint your claws and put on your best set of ears—it’s time for the 11th annual Fur Ball.This popular benefit for the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary brings out the animal in fun-loving attendees attired in “safari costume formal” (it’s theYear of Tiger, so stripes will be in). Get wild at 6:30pm at A La Carte Pavilion.Tickets are $150 and include dinner and dancing, live and silent auctions, a drumming circle, costume contest and presentation of the Guardian Angel Award to DonnaVivino from the Broadway stage musical “Wicked.” Go to www. bigcatrescue.org for tickets or call 813.323.5991.
October 15 3RD ANNUAL VINE TO WINE TASTING & SILENT AUCTION BENEFITTING KIDS CHARITY OF TAMPA BAY This evening extravaganza of sensational wine, spirits, great food, live music and fabulous auction items benefiting Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, Inc., is not to be missed. The event will be held from 7pm -10pm at The Palmetto Club at FishHawk Ranch.A Cigar Bar and Beer Garden will also be offered, and entertainment will be provided by Tampa Bay’s own Denise Moore and Then Some and saxophonist Gene Cannon. Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased at www.kidscharitytb.org/events or by contacting Event Chair April Diemer at 813.523.9620.
October 16 BROADWAY BALL Feeling groovy? Then come to the Broadway Ball, a benefit lovefest set for 6pm at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. This year’s ball salutes the hit Broadway musical “Hair,” so get down and funky at an evening that will include cocktails, silent and live auctions, dinner on the Carol Morsani Hall stage, dancing and a special Broadway style performance. Tickets are $500.Visit www.broadwayball.org or call 813.222.1037 for more information.
Event details and ticket prices subject to change. Contact organizations directly for the most up-todate information.
October 16
October 23
FORGOTTEN CHILDREN MARCH
NIGHT OF MYSTERY
Stand up for abused and neglected children in foster care during the Forgotten Children March starting at 9 am. Oct. 16 at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa.That’s where you can claim one of 800 cutout children who represent the number of at-risk youth in Hillsborough County who are currently in need of a guardian. Once you decide to “sponsor a child,” take a march around the park, then join the family celebration with music, food, guest speakers and entertainment. The event is organized by Voices for Children of Tampa Bay in support of Guardian ad Litem—Hillsborough County. For more information, call 813.275.9300 or go to www.vfcgal.org
Tampa Bay Academy of Hope has helped over 100,000 at-risk teens since it opened in 1996, now it’s time for you to help them. T. Pepin Hospitality Centre is the place to be for dinner, dancing, silent auction and a special keynote speech by the Hon. Judge Glenda Hatchett, juvenile justice activist, author and star of “Judge Hatchett” cable television show. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling 813.277.0464.
October 17
Kick back, relax and let the Gulf breeze tickle your toes at Tampa Bay Watch’s premier fundraiser of the year held at their beautiful Marine Center in Tierra Verde. Support the organization’s many programs such as seagrass restoration, coastal cleanups and invasive plant removal that keep our coastal waters healthy. This casual affair includes food, beverages, silent auction and the acoustic vibes of Buffalo Strange. Tickets are $75 or $125 per couple. For tickets visit tampabaywatch.org or call 727.867.8166.
IRON CHEF CHALLENGE Expect things to get hot, hot, hot when local celebrity chefs compete with the pros at the 4th Annual Tampa Bay’s Premier Iron Chef Challenge at the T. Pepin Hospitality Centre in Tampa. Come hungry as you’ll get to sample and judge the tasty results, along with special martinis and Bloody Marys. Cool down with the soothing jazz of Les Sabler while you check out the live, silent and children’s art auctions. It’s all to benefit the All Children’s Hospital Guild Tampa Branch. Tickets are $45.Visit www.achgTampa.org for more information and to order.
October 21 SAVE THE ARTS Put on your dancing shoes for the Cuban music of Orquesta Infinidad at the 16th annual Gala and Save the Arts Benefit at the Ritz Ybor. A benefit for the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA), this year’s theme is “Business & Arts Past and Present,” and will offer a retrospective look at businesses and professionals who have made a significant impact on the local arts and cultural community. Expect a lively evening of music, live and silent auctions, a seated dinner and presentation of the coveted Image Award. Master of ceremonies will be Lissette Campos, director of community affairs at ABC Action News.Tickets are $95 and $105; for more information go to tbbca.org or call 813.221.2787.
November 13 EVENING FOR THE BAY
December 3 WINTER WONDERLAND Kick off the holiday season in style at the Junior League of St. Petersburg’s annual Partnership Ball, “Winter Wonderland: A Wish of Hope Under a Starry Night.”This elegant evening of glitter, glamour and glitz at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront will include dinner, dancing, auctions and an opportunity to mingle with St. Petersburg’s high society and business professionals. Proceeds go the Vincent House. Tickets cost $100 and are available at www.jlstp.org.
The sunflower is our new symbol. Why? Because sunflowers are strong hearty flowers that grow in every neighborhood. Sunflowers always seek the light — The Spring provides support and emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence who seek strength. They come from every neighborhood. The Spring is the light they seek— help us continue to be there!
The Spring is Hillsborough County’s only certified Domestic Violence Prevention and Emergency Shelter Agency. www.TheSpring.org
In Hillsborough County, our hotline phone number, 24-7-SAFE (813-247-7233) tells our story. It’s why we’re here. It’s what we do. It’s who we are. Twenty four hours each day, seven days each week, we work to keep individuals and families safe. Advocates are standing by to take a call from someone needing help, or seeking safety in our emergency shelter 24/7. Remember our number by remembering our cause. Keeping victims of domestic violence SAFE, 24/7. The Spring relies on the community to help us keep families safe.Your tax-deductible gift will make sure there is someone there to take the call, offer help and open the door to a safe haven—24/7.
To donate, go to www.TheSpring.org.
Outside Hillsborough County call 1-800-500-1119
PRO
From the Heart Love Letters to the VERTICAL Team By Leslie Joy Ickowitz
Step inside the inner circle for a heartfelt expression of gratitude. The people on these pages are a colorful bunch who share a common thread: they are the ones working behind the scenes, defining what it means to Get VERTICAL…and be part of something fabulous! To VERTICAL’s new and future contributors (yes I mean you Brian James, Melanie Alvarez and Shannon Holt to name a few), we look forward to sharing the love with you too… xo, Leslie Joy
Photography: BrianJamesGallery.com
Hair & Makeup: Pamela Bloomgren, MOD Productions
Maestro JamesBurgos Art director
Dear James, I could fill a whole book with gushy feelings for you and you would probably love every minute of it but... Really though…what can I possibly say to you? My Maestro. My friend. My confidant and my counselor. Art Director Extraordinaire. From the start, I challenged you to create texture where there is none.To make it feel like people can touch VERTICAL’s content. And from the beginning you have risen to the challenge with flying colors. Really, really vivid flying colors. For a self-proclaimed “non fashion guy” you have an avantgarde sense of style. Working with you on this dream-come-true has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Our relationship reveals possibilities and represents hope.You have taught me something that resembles patience (because we both know I’m far from actually patient) and I am forever grateful for your presence. You are my friend and you have become my family.
I love you man
Photograph by Leslie Joy Ickowitz
Photograph by Bobby Aazami, North Hollywood, CA
Susan Jeffers
photographer Dear Susan,
If a picture is worth a thousand words, I owe you a gazillion thanks for the beautiful moments you have captured in the spirit of VERTICAL. I love the way you see the world and so do our readers. EVERYONE is in awe of your photography. When you shared with me that in your Bahai faith, God is referred to as the “Fashioner of the Universe�, it made me smile. Because God can be found in the soul of your work. Thank you for blessing us with your art and your soul.
ith gratitude, W Leslie
Photography by SusanJeffersPhotography.com
Pamela Bloomgren
stylist & Makeup
Dearest Pam, You bring fashion to the fold and styling with you is one of my very favorite VERTICAL activities.The only thing I like more than hanging out with you is hanging out with you with a big slab of peanut butter cream pie between us and two spoons. Your brilliance in makeup artistry lies in your ability to somehow make natural appear even more flawless. I guess it comes from your own natural beauty (inside & out). They don’t make them with your style and grace Pam, and certainly not with your loveliness.Your friendship is a powerful force in giving me the strength to carry out the dream of VERTICAL.Thank you for everything you do, from the bottom of my heart.
o, x Leslie
Bill Baker hair
Dear Bill Baker, (could there be any other?) Smooth, suave, sophisticated, dashing and debonair—what more could a girl want in her hair stylist? Every time someone sits in your chair, fabulous things happen. And on fashion shoots, your charming demeanor, clever and cool creativity lead to shear genius. When Rachel’s up-do flirted with the nameplate on VERTICAL’s spring issue cover, that was a VERTICAL moment! And don’t worry, I’ll never tell how you created the gold hair ornament featured in “Glittering Spring.”Your secret is safe with me. You always live up to your reputation as The Master and…
y hat’s off to you, M Leslie xo
Photograph by David Henry Williams
Natalia Galbetti
ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Dear Natalia,
Okay, so I know I’ve come to rely on you because while you were on vacation this summer, I had a few “lost puppy” moments. BUT, I love how after being away for three weeks, you swooped in and accomplished 11 months worth of stuff in about five minutes flat.You go girl! I appreciate you, your efficiency and your quick wit. That day we spent on the Ave in the Burg was just the first of many future visits together involving shopping and cupcakes.You may be glad to have snagged this internship but I am equally glad to have snagged you!
Ame seu estilo. Leslie
Photography by Lily Reisman, NewRootsNews.org
Dear Patrick, You have been with me from the start. So many of my fave pics in the book are yours.The mask and the horse from Tampa Artist Emporium and the “Ripe & Raw” feature images delivered such bold impact to the pages of VERTICAL. One of these days, in the not too distant future, we’re going to put the pedal to the metal and rock out an exotic car feature. And I can think of no one better with whom to buckle up and enjoy the ride. I know you’re geared up for it!
rooooom, V Leslie
Patrick Foley
Self Portrait
photographer
CaseyBrook
Contributing writer
McPhee Dear Brook,
We met at a creative writing course and you are one of my longest and dearest friendships here in Tampa Bay. How fitting that you should contribute so beautifully to VERTICAL. Each one of your columns has brought delight. The Manga feature in the premier issue characterized our cultural connection and “Cooking Character� is an instant classic. Both represent major VERTICAL moments for me. Your stories inspire whimsy and always bring joy.
ove ya Lady, L Leslie
Dear Janan, You and I go waaaaaay back to the beginning of my publishing career. I realized tonight that I have known you longer than every other participant in this feature (except for one) and it continues to be my pleasure working together. You dish up some serious goods with each issue and my, my, does it look tasty every time! It’s so much fun collaborating with you to create our master list of restaurants to feature issue by issue, and your thoughtful contributions serve to enhance the flavor of VERTICAL.
heers, C Leslie
JananTalafer Photography by Josh Possick
Contributing writer
Carol Cortright
Contributing writer
Dear Carol, Words flow from your pen (a premouse & keyboard device you may have heard of) like a river of possibilities.You paint pretty word pictures and invite readers to get lost in the stories. I’ve enjoyed traipsing through the garden of “Maria in Wonderland”, chilling out with “Coastal Cool” and touring The Big Easy with you. Some of your contributions top my list of mostVERTICAL moments.And because we share a passion for travel, I’ll say this:
hank you for a great trip, T Leslie
Dear Marcia, The great thing about tables is…they turn. From the start, our relationship has been rooted in writing. It was my pleasure to write for you while you were Editor for Flair and now I’m pleased to have you contribute to VERTICAL. Your “Coastal Life” article from the Summer issue is a highlight in my book—taking a heartbreaking moment and turning it around in true VERTICAL fashion. Thank you for bringing passion to each project.
ly Social Butterfly, F Leslie Photograph by Mike Nahat
Marcia Biggs Contributing writer
Namaste Swathi, You walked into my life (like something out of a Bollywood film) and stole a piece of my heart. And even though you brought it to NYC you’ll always have roots here with me. Clearly the pizza you’re getting in the city can’t compare to those we shared over lunch at the “conference table de la Snow” all those years ago. Thank you for your endless enthusiasm, constant support and devotion to me and this most decidedly fabulous path called VERTICAL.The journey would never be the same without you.
With absolute adoration, Leslie
Swathi Reddy proofreader
Photography by James Burgos
Dear Ian, You fabulous Scotsman you! When it was time to proofread the premier issue of VERTICAL, James said, “there’s no one I would trust more than Ian. He’s the best there is.” Little did I know then that in addition to your penchant for proofreading, our quarterly visits at Starbucks would become such pleasant occasions. Sharing stories, passing time and pages back and forth with you is always a welcome breath of fresh air… especially amidst the intensity of deadline. You are a true gem Mr. Wark and visiting with you is always a treasure.
With great respect, Leslie
IanWark
proofreader
JOIN OIN THE HE LEUKEMIA EUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA YMPHOMA SOCIETY OCIETY’SS LIGHT IGHT THE HE NIGHT IGHT WALK ALK
Taking Steps to
Cure Cancer
Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's walk and fundraising event to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. Thousands of participants raise funds for vital, lifesaving research and patient services and, on these special nights, they carry illuminated balloons in a show of support from a caring community. Anyone can take part - children, adults and seniors are all welcome. This is a casual fundraising walk with no fitness requirements. There are many ways you can help. You can register to walk individually or as part of a team; just make a donation online; or become a volunteer or sponsor/partner. Funds raised through Light The Night Walk support the work of hundreds of the world's best and brightest researchers in their search for better therapies and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
LIGHTTHENIGHT.ORG/SUN ▪ 813-963-6461 October 16, 2010 4:00 p.m. • Payne Park, Sarasota November 6, 2010 5:00 p.m. • Bright House Field, Clearwater November 13, 2010 4:00 p.m. • George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Biblio
Therapy Story by Casey Brook McPhee
About 10 years ago, while mourning the loss of a loved one, a therapist recommended that I start a book club. Replacing the intellectual stimulation I once received from this person seemed impossible. to talk about books. “Not interested,” We lamented about not spending enough time I sniffed. together. “A book club
H
ow would getting a group of friends together to drink wine, eat snacks and wax lyrical about some best-selling novel compare to talking to the person I missed so much? A nice diversion perhaps but, no thanks. So I sucked up my sadness and moved on. Fast forward more than a few years to me listening to a long-time friend’s experience of facing a cancer diagnosis and requisite treatments. An avid reader herself, she and I love
TOP 5 REQUESTED BOOK CLUB TITLES AT LARGO PUBLIC LIBRARY: ✵✵ The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
✵✵ White Oleander by Janet Fitch
✵✵ Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
✵✵ The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
✵✵ The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
would be fun,” she said. “Let’s do it,” we said in unison. My book club was started by assembling a group of 10 friends. The natural ebb and flow of a book club requires a larger pool of members than you expect to attend a meeting. The goal is to always have enough attendees for a good discussion. A trip to the library was next. Many libraries carry
book club kits that provide about five copies of the title and a list of thought-provoking questions pertaining to the story. Make a preliminary list of titles, leaving future title selection as something that can be shared by the group. Then pick a regular meeting date and stick with it. Scheduling the book club at regular intervals makes it much easier for members to remember it. Consider meeting at a restaurant or coffee house or some other neutral territory. This means that
no one has to clean up before of after. Open your group beyond the original set. Encourage members to bring someone to a meeting and then work hard to make them feel welcome. New recruits add flavor to the discussion. Anyone who has ever belonged to a book club knows it’s part book discussion, part therapy and part food and wine. Just make sure you have them in the right order and the intellectual stimulation will flow beyond your wildest expectations.
813.242.2400 • www.benzmodels.com
813.242.4400 • www.benzmodelandtalent.com
presents...
Spring/Summer 2011 Collections Sept 22-25, 2010 Featuring: JCagua, K Hendrix, Bambina by NV, Essence Flowers, Helen Gerro, Terri Funaro & Pat McGhee Visit fashionweektampabay.com for more details, complete schedule and ticket information.
www.artinstitutes.edu/tampa 1-866-703-3277
Team Arcuri www.headofrealestate.com
TM
SPECIAL THANKS TO FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS OF VERTICAL Geri X (pictured this page) ✵ James Maestro Burgos ✵ Pamela Bloomgren ✵ Susan Jeffers Bill Baker ✵ Natalia Galbetti ✵ Kimberly Hendrix ✵ Willow ✵ Henry P. Philpot IV Ryan Marshall ✵ Regina Columbo ✵ The one and only Nancy Vaughn Jessica Harmon ✵ Mark Thorn, Holley Sinn and Jerome Ritchey with Studio 10 TV Brandi Kamenar, Ada Mojica and Leia Daigler of Icon B and Icon Savvy TV Bob Rose & Austi Hawk of Reality Edit ✵ Eric Miller ✵ Karen Cuervo ✵ Rainer Scheer The Martinezes ✵ The Cantors ✵ Michelle Jennings Wiebe & Tom Wiebe of Studio M Interior Design ✵ Justin Kingsley Noyes of The Hive Creations ✵ Shannon Holt Melanie Alvarez ✵ Sean Fabian Dumanal ✵ Patrick Foley ✵ Brian James ✵ Sarah McKay Swathi Reddy ✵ Ian Wark ✵ Scott Moore & Esther Dill of Urban Body Menswear Elizabeth & Tad Joy of Fred Astaire Tampa Bay ✵ Jodi Jacalow of Premier Concierge Services, Inc. Special thanks to VERTICAL’s contributors and to Linda Blum of Adventure Pro Travel for arranging a stellar trip to The West for us. And an extra special thanks to Brandi Kamenar for hosting me on Icon Savvy TV. Much love to my husband Alan and our families and friends AND HUGS & KISSES TO OUR LOYAL READERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PEOPLE WHO ROCK
PEACE OUT