carrollwood - vol. 4, issue 2, february 2016

The Premier “Shop Local” Community Magazine Directly Mailed To 15,000 Homes In Carrollwood, Lake Magdalene & Avila

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:Remembering our Friend Bruce Boore......................3

Community Calendar/ News Briefs..................4-5

Tropical Smoothie Café.....................................8-9

Charitable Benefit for St. Peter Claver................15

Divine Connections Massage & Spa...............16-17

Tampa Teens Organize Charity Art Showcase.....18

PostNet Neighborhood Business Center.............20

JCC North Campus Events................................26

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTAMPA FL

PERMIT 1185

Your neighborhood. Your magazine. Vol. 4, Issue 2, Feb. 2016®

by Deborah Bostock-Kelley

If you think Cigar City Brewpub is filled with pretentious old menpuffing on smelly cigars while enjoying craft beer and edible master-pieces, you’d be half right.

There are no cigars sold at Cigar City; the name pays homage toTampa history, to the men and women who worked in its local cigarfactories – and the beer is renowned and the food is an incrediblework of art.

Created by Chef Gerry Malymowski and often incorporating thevarieties of house-made craft beers, the menu is an unexpected pleasurein the eclectic gastro pub at 15491 N Dale Mabry Highway.

By Alexis Selby

Directly affecting your personalrelationships, quality of life, and evenyour ability to go about a normal day,hearing is an important part of lifeand is something people often takefor granted – that is, until they experi-ence hearing loss. At Alvarez Audiol-ogy and Hearing in Citrus Park theyknow how important it is to not onlyaddress hearing loss, but to be proac-

tive about the health of your hearingin order to help prevent hearing loss,and their dedicated team of trainedprofessionals go above and beyond tohelp you take full control of yourhearing health! “At Alvarez Audiol-ogy we help people live better lives,”says Indira Alvarez, Au.D., CCC-A,owner of Alvarez Audiology.

James C. from Odessa writes, “Ibelieve that my purchase of HearingAids from Alvarez Audiology has im-

proved my quality of life tremen-dously. I am an investigator for theState. Hearing the little details canmake or break a case. My new HearingAids have been a miracle. In additionto voice, I have been able to hearbuzzers on appliances, alert buzzers inmy car and other things that I couldnot hear before. Last week I was at anawards ceremony and was sitting at atable in the back of a meeting room

Alvarez Audiology and Hearing –Take Control of Your Hearing Health!

Cigar City Brewpub isMuch More than Beer

See “Cigar City” on page 28.

See “Audiology” on page 24.

Shrimp Grits -a customer favorite

at Cigar CityPhotos by MikeBird.US

Carrollwood Neighborhood Lifestyle2 FEBRUARY 2016 For Ad Info 813-928-6124 • NNLFlorida.com

Carrollwood Neighborhood Lifestyle FEBRUARY 2016 3For Ad Info 813-928-6124 • NNLFlorida.com

CarrollwoodNeighborhood LifestyleDirectly mailed once a month to 15,000

households in zip codes 33618, 33624 & 33613220 S. Safford Ave.

Tarpon Springs, FL 34689Phone: (813) 928-6124; Fax: (727) 942-2432

Advertising E-mail: [email protected] E-mail:

[email protected]© 2016 Carrollwood Neighborhood Lifestyle

Nothing that appears in Carrollwood NeighborhoodLifestyle may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part,without permission. Opinions expressed by CarrollwoodNeighborhood Lifestyle writers are their own and do not re-flect the publisher’s opinion.

The management of Carrollwood NeighborhoodLifestyle is always happy to accept outside editorial sub-missions to the paper. Please call for outside editorial sub-mission and advertisement deadlines.

Carrollwood Neighborhood Lifestyle will consider pre-viously non-published outside editorial submissions if theyare double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Carroll-wood Neighborhood Lifestyle reserves the right to editand/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makesno guarantees regarding publication dates. CarrollwoodNeighborhood Lifestyle will not return unsolicited editorialmaterials.

Carrollwood Neighborhood Lifestyle reserves the rightto edit and/or reject any advertising. Carrollwood Neighbor-hood Lifestyle is not responsible for errors in advertising be-yond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, not for thevalidity of any claims made by its advertisers.

PublisherMatt SelbyAdvertising SalesJared Nager (Manager)Linda ViegaMike BirdAccounting ManagerAlexis SelbyMarketing & DevelopmentAshley KnoblachArt DirectorTony Sica

EditorAlexis SelbyCorrespondentsJulie KanehlMarcy SanfordPamela SicaKatie ThomasKim ThomasDara TuckerDeborah Bostock-Kelley

From The Publisher Matt Selby

Remembering our Friend BruceBoore of Hattie’s Cafe and Beanery

This isn’t an easy editorial piece.The community has lost a great man,and like so many of you whose livesBruce has impacted, we’ve lost afriend. Not long after hearing aboutHattie’s Cafe and Beanery closing itsdoors due to Bruce’s medical issues,Bruce Boore tragically passed awayafter a long, hard fight. Bruce had beenbattling Crohn’s disease, and over theyears I’ve known him there were a fewtimes flare ups sidelined him for a shorttime; but he would always be back towork not long after with a big smile onhis face as if nothing was wrong. Henever let anyone know how bad it re-ally was because he wasn’t the type ofguy that needed anyone to feel sorryfor him. When we heard Hattie’s wasshutting down due to Bruce’s health Iknew it must be worse than normal,but I am still in shock that he’s actuallygone. I honestly thought he was goingto surprise us all and beat any health is-sues plaguing him and re-open thecafe. He was, and always will be, a spe-

cial man to so many people whose liveshe became a part of.

I first met Bruce in February2013. I walked into Hattie’s Beanerylooking for the owner so I could tellthem all about my new publication Iwas starting in the Carrollwood area.He was gracious enough to listen tomy pitch and give me feedback onwhat he thought. He wasn’t con-vinced that people from Carrollwoodwould drive past other cafes in the areato come visit him. I understood his

concerns and simply asked him tothink about it and give me a chance.About 5 pm the same day Bruce calledme back and said he wouldn’t mindgiving me a shot for one month to seehow it goes. Even though it wasn’t along term contract, Bruce was the firstbusiness to believe in me by signing upto advertise, and it really meant a lot.Fast forward to December 2015 -Bruce never missed an issue since hestarted! He loved our magazine, andwas a major reason our publicationgrew over the past few years, becausehe was always telling other local busi-nesses about his great experience withus. I’ll always be grateful for his kind-ness and regret never getting thechance to tell him how much it meantto me that he gave me a chance beforeanyone else did.

We will never forget you Bruce.Thank you for providing this commu-nity with your wonderful soul and pas-sion for some of the best coffee anddelicious food this town has ever seen.


Community Calendar & News Briefs

Cosmic Driving Range isComing to the Chi ChiRodriguez Golf & FamilySports Complex Feb. 18-20th

February 18th – 20th from 7 p.m.– 10 p.m., at the Chi Chi Sports Com-plex, 2987 N McMullen Booth Rd,Clearwater

Come enjoy the Brightest Nightin Golf for a three night event benefit-ting the Chi Chi Rodriguez YouthFoundation. From Thursday, Febru-ary 18th to Saturday, February 20thChi Chi’s will host skills competitions,food and fun for the whole family

from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Sign upyour group of four or five for an hourof unlimited glow balls and test yourgolf skills in the Cosmic Skills Chal-lenge. Special prize opportunities pro-vided by the Valspar Championshippresented by BB&T.

About the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf& Family Sports Complex:

Rated a GRAA Top 50 StandAlone Range in Florida, the Chi ChiSports Complex offers over 40 hittingbays with mats and grass, with two100 ft. long covers providing plenty of

Show Your SweetheartHow Much You Care ThisValentines Day!

Looking to make a lasting im-pression this Valentines Day? Want todo something really special for yourloved one or significant other? A greatand memorable way to say "I LoveYou", how about sending your lovedone a singing Valentine! Make yoursweetheart the center of attention andreally catch his or her attention withthis one-of-a-kind, romantically won-derful singing Valentine!

Serving all of Hillsborough andPinellas counties, and vicinities, Her-alds of Harmony barbershop quartetwill be performing Singing Valentinesas part of a fundraiser for the Heralds,a 501c3 organization.

Here’s how it works – a barber-shop quartet dressed in tuxedos willshow up unannounced at the “sweet-heart’s” workplace or home (desig-nated by the one who purchases theSinging Valentine), and sing two lovesongs, “Let me call you sweetheart”,and “Heart of My Heart”. The sweet-heart will then be presented with apersonalized Valentines Day card, and

a special Valentine Coffee Mug filledwith chocolate kisses. Chorus memberAndy says, “this is one of the most fundays I have as a barbershop singer, aseveryone at the workplace enjoys thefestivity and the sweetheart becomesthe center of attention.” This is reallya memorable way to say “I Love You”on Valentines Day.

The Heralds of Harmony willbe performing Friday, Saturday, andSunday, February 12, 13, and 14.For more information or to pur-chase the singing Valentine pleasevisit www.HeraldsOfHarmony.org.


shade. With over 1.25 acresof putting and chippinggreens, the facility offersplenty of area to practice allshots. Inside the Pro Shopenjoy certified club fitting on-site and a wealth of knowledgeoffered by the PGA/LPGAcoaching staff.

All proceeds from theSports Complex go to supporteducational programming atthe Chi Chi Rodriguez YouthFoundation. The Foundationfunds Chi Chi Academy public part-nership school, the Chi Chi The FirstTee of Clearwater and offers a licensedBoys & Girls Club in collaborationwith the Boys & Girls Club of theSuncoast for After School program-ming on its Clearwater campus.

RSVP at www.chichi.org orwww.cosmicdrivingrange.com . Formore information call (727) 726-8829 x 207 or [email protected].

Come Meet Their Horses!Saturday, February 20, at 5 p.m.

at Suncoast Stables, 1108 AltamontLane in Odessa

Suncoast Stables invites the com-munity to its FREE EVENT on Feb-

ruary 20th. The fun will begin at 5p.m. with a barn tour, a horseback rid-ing demonstration, and a groomingstation, with the evening wrapping upwith a FREE kid-friendly horse movieunder the stars! For purchase, therewill be some food vendors and facepainting, and Suncoast Stables is giv-ing away a 4-pack of FREE riding les-sons! Proceeds from this fundraisingevent will benefit Saving Grace forEquines (savinggraceforequines.org)and the Suncoast Stables Youth Club.

Suncoast Stables is located at1108 Altamont Lane in Odessa.For more information about theSuncoast Stables & Riding Acad-emy and their free event, please visitwww.SuncoastStable.com or call(813) 368-0666.

Events and Activities at theCarrollwood Cultural Centerin February

The Carrollwood Cultural Center,located at 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa,will host several events, activities andworkshops in February, including:

ART RECEPTION: MarkGonzalez and Art from the Heart

When: Friday, February 5 from 5p.m. – 8 p.m.

Admission: Free Where: Carrollwood Cultural

Center, 4537 Lowell Road in TampaMore Info: Art from the Heart

is an initiative started by Tampa artistMark Gonzalez. In 2014, Mark do-nated works to 17 local non-profit or-ganizations. Many of the pieces wereauctioned, raising more than $22K forlocal charities.

In February, Gonzalez will do-nate more pieces from his magnificentcollection of contemporary collage artto benefit more than 22 charities. Hisgoal is to help bring attention to or-ganizations that have made a signifi-cant impact on our community.Gonzalez will also host a Charity Ap-preciation Night on Thursday, Feb-ruary 18 to honor the organizationsbenefiting from his fundraiser.

In addition to the featured exhibitby Mark Gonzalez, the Center’s lobbywill feature works donated by localartists that will be part of a silent auc-tion to benefit the Center. The ex-hibits will remain on display throughFebruary.

FREE WORKSHOP: “BucketBrigade Drumming”

When: Tuesday, February 9 from5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: Carrollwood CulturalCenter, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa

More Info: Buckets are morethan something you use to carry stuff.Did you know that they can also carrya beat? Bucket brigades are improviseddrums made from empty containers.This workshop will teach you to keepa beat while having a whole bucket fullof fun! (ba dum chhh) This workshopwill be taught by Matthew Jones andis for ages 6-12.

Admission: Free

FREE WORKSHOP: “In Touchwith Social Media”

When: Wednesday, February 10from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Carrollwood Cultural

See “Calendar/Briefs” on page 12.


By Alexis Selby

Get a healthy dose of delicious atTropical Smoothie Café in Carroll-wood, where you will find a refreshingvariety of omelets, wraps, sandwiches,flatbreads, tacos, salads and of course,smoothies! Serving up deliciouslyfresh, made to order food, in a fun,tropical setting, the Carrollwood com-munity is proud to welcome this fan-tastic new business to theneighborhood.

Opening their doors on December7, Tropical Smoothie Café has alreadystarted off with a bang, and has en-countered a remarkable response fromguests who are thrilled to have thisgreat new option for healthy eatingright in their own backyard. Located at14394 N Dale Mabry Hwy in thePalms of Carrollwood Shopping Cen-

ter next to Starbucks, if you haven’tbeen to Tropical Smoothie Café yet, Irecommend you check them out – youwill not be disappointed!

Wanting to start a business herein Carrollwood, husband and wife duoDavid and Dara Pettinato decidedopening a Tropical Smoothie Caféwould be the perfect fit! They saw theneed for more healthy options forthose on the go, and, already familiarwith the Tropical Smoothie Cafébrand, loved the concept and businessmodel that the company had to offer.

“I have been going to TropicalSmoothie Cafe for many years,” saysDara. “I love the food and thesmoothies, and the whole concept ofhealthy eating. Coming from a culi-nary background – I went to culinaryschool after college – I love to cookand I love being around food. Com-

bining all of my experience with cook-ing and retail, I thought this would bea great opportunity.”

Offering delicious options forbreakfast, lunch and dinner, includ-ing vegan-friendly choices, whetheryou need to grab a quick smoothieon the way to work or want to comein with the family for a relaxed sit-

down meal, their fabulous selectionswill provide you with the necessarynourishment and sustenance to getyou through the day.

“Everything is made fresh toorder,” says Dara. “Our whole philos-ophy is to eat better and feel better.People want healthier options, espe-cially for their kids. We have a lot of

Carrollwood WelcomesTropical Smoothie Caféto the Neighborhood!


yummy blend of oranges, bananas,green apples, orange juice and vitamin-C immune complex. The Island Greensmoothie – the number one sellingsmoothie at Tropical Smoothie Café –is another great option and featuresspinach, kale, mango, pineapple, ba-nana, and fresh ginger.

You also have the ability to createyour own smoothie from their longlist of available ingredients, which alsoinclude supplements, such as vitaminc, vitamin b12, multi-vitamin, wheyprotein, pea protein, flax seed, ener-gizer, probiotic, fat burner and more.For those looking to put on somemuscle, add a scoop of whey proteinto your favorite smoothie!

As more incentive to get up early,Tropical Smoothie Café Carrollwoodoffers Happy Hour daily, from 7 a.m.– 9 a.m., where guests can enjoy 50%off all smoothies.

With their dedicated commit-ment to offering fresh food andhealthy options, Tropical SmoothieCafé in Carrollwood will help youstart the new year off right! Visitthem today and see just how great itfeels to eat healthy!

Tropical Smoothie Café Car-rollwood is located at 14394 NDale Mabry Hwy in the Palms ofCarrollwood Shopping Centernext to Starbucks. They are openMon. – Fri. 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sat. 8a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.For additional information pleasecall them at (813) 252-3750, visitthem on Facebook by searchingTropical Smoothie Café Carroll-wood or check outwww.TropicalSmoothieCafe.comand type Carrollwood into the lo-cation search bar.

parents that come in with their chil-dren for our smoothies. The IslandGreen is our number one sellingsmoothie. It’s loaded with spinach andkale – and it tastes great. When elseare you going to be able to get yourkid to eat spinach and kale and actu-ally enjoy it?”

For a better way to a healthier you,try Tropical Smoothie Café’s deliciouslive better smoothies, including theirChia Banana Boost, made with roastedbanana, chia seeds, coconut, almonds,dates, cinnamon and whole grain oats,with your choice of peanut butter orstrawberries, or their Immune Blast – a

Roasted Jalapeno Chicken Flatbread & Mojo Cubano Pork Flatbread

The Pettinato family welcomes you to Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Carrollwood!


FLORIDA TREASURES presentedby A.C.T. for Youth

When: Wednesday, February 17and Thursday, February 18 at 10:30a.m.


More Info: When two touristsdiscover a treasure chest full of histori-cal artifacts, they are magically trans-ported back in time in a fun-filledjourney through Florida’s history.Laugh and learn about Ponce DeLeon, the settlement of Pensacola(Florida’s “Almost Oldest” city), thefounding of St. Augustine, and the“Original” Pocahontas story. FloridaTreasures is presented by AtlanticCoast Theatre for Youth (A.C.T. forYouth).

Admission: $7 members / $8general admission / $28 Family 4-Pack / Free for ages 4 and under

JAZZ WITH JIMWhen: Friday, February 19 at

7:30 p.m.Where: Carrollwood Cultural

Center, 4537 Lowell Road in TampaMore Info: Jazz with Jim is a

monthly concert hosted by Jim Burgeand The Jazz Directions. The concertis best known for fusing personal sto-

ries by the musicians with popular jazztunes suited for that month’s theme.Patrons can purchase home bakedgoods donated by the Center’s volun-teers, which help complete the inti-mate ambiance.

Admission: $12-$18

CCC BOOK CLUB present “Allthe Light We Cannot See” byAnthony Doerr

When: Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.Where: Carrollwood Cultural

Center, 4537 Lowell Road in TampaMore Info: The CCC Book Club

is friendly, informal and open to all. Atclub meetings, the group explores awide variety of books and interests —fiction and non-fiction, male and fe-male authors, selections old and new.The reading list is determined by ademocratic process in which membersof the club promote a book of theirchoosing for addition to the list. Formore info, please contact the group fa-cilitator, David Brayshaw, [email protected].

Admission: Free

WORKSHOP: “ABCs ofAuditions”

When: Tuesday, February 23from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Center, 4537 Lowell Road in TampaMore Info: Don’t let your com-

puter and new technology scare you.You can be in charge. Come and seehow you can overcome some of thefears of the new age. Bring your lap-top, phone and camera to class andget comfortable with these technolog-ical tools. This workshop will betaught by Ruth Levy and is for adults.

Admission: Free

NORTH TAMPA MARKETWhen: Saturday, February 13

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Where: Carrollwood Cultural

Center, 4537 Lowell Road in TampaMore Info: The outdoor market

will include fresh food, hand-craftsand live music. For more information,visit www.tampabaymarkets.com.

Admission: Free

“LET ME CALL YOU SWEET-HEART” with the SOUNDS OFSOUL

When: Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m.Where: Carrollwood Cultural

Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa

More Info: It’s a special Valen-tine’s Day dance with the Sounds ofSwing! Band director Jim Burge willlead the group through a series of bigband love songs that would even makecupid’s heart go pitter-patter.

Dance shoes aren’t required to at-tend this concert…but we guaranteeyour toes will be tappin’. (Swing-Dance Lesson at 6:30pm, taught bySwing Time. The lesson is free for allticket holders, and no partner isneeded.)

Admission: $12-$18

WOMEN AUTHORS BOOKCLUB presents “Trail of BrokenWings” by Sejal Badani

When: Monday, February 15 at7:15 p.m.


More Info: The Women AuthorsBook Club is a group of readers whoget together about every six weeks atthe Carrollwood Cultural Center todiscuss a contemporary or classic, fic-tion or nonfiction, piece of literaturewritten by a woman. For moreinformation, please contact group fa-cilitator, Debbie Doliner, at [email protected].

Admission: Free

“Calendar/Briefs”Continued from page 5



More Info: Learn what you needto land that role. From monologueselection, cold readings and characterdevelopment this workshop will giveyou the confidence and skills to stickthat next audition. This workshop willbe taught by Beth LaBaren-Root andAaron Washington and is for teens andadults.

Admission: $20

PEACE OF WOODSTOCKWhen: Friday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m.Where: Carrollwood Cultural

Center, 4537 Lowell Road in TampaMore Info: Peace of Woodstock

is a show paying tribute to Woodstock,the famous three day festival of Peace,Music, Love, and Fun, in upstate NewYork that defined an entire generation!This show will take you on a musicaljourney from the acoustic opening actof the Woodstock experience, RichieHavens through the closing momentsof the festival with the explosive, elec-tric sounds of Jimi Hendrix. Also fea-tured are songs from Crosby, Stills,and Nash, The Who, Janis Joplin, Slyand the Family Stone, Joe Cocker,Arlo Guthrie, Country Joe McDon-ald, Santana, the Jefferson Airplane,

and others.Admission: $20-$26

THE GALLERY AT CARROLL-WOOD CULTURAL CENTER

Exhibits and artists displaying thismonth in The Gallery at CarrollwoodCultural Center through January:

- Mark Gonzalez’s Art fromthe Heart (Featured Exhibit)

- Deborah Rodriguez (Fea-tured Artist: Corridor Lobby)

- Peter Stilton (Atrium)

All performance tickets can bepurchased at the box office, onlineat www.CarrollwoodCenter.org, orby calling (813) 922-8167.

4th Annual Golf For ALS –Play For Those Who Can’t

Monday, March 28 at 9 a.m. atthe Cheval Golf & Athletic Club,4142 Cheval Blvd, Lutz

Benefitting The Ride To DefeatALS Ride Operations Team, the 4thannual Golf For ALS golf tournamentwill be held at the beautiful ChevalGolf & Athletic Club, located at 4142Cheval Blvd in Lutz.

“This is our 4th Annual tourna-ment and has grown to where we had

140 golfers last year and expect to maxit out at 144 golfers or 36 Teams thisyear,” says tournament organizer GaryDassatti. “All of the proceeds go di-rectly to the ALS Association FloridaChapter through our Ride OperationsTeam for our Ride / Run to DefeatALS, which is held in November eachyear. The funds stay her in Florida tohelp our ALS patients and their familiesstruggling with this horrific disease; ithelps them with things they mightneed, like a wheel chair, ramp to theirhome, and rides to our ALS Clinicsthroughout the state (1 of which isright here in Tampa at USF).”

The tournament will be a scram-ble format with three divisions: Men,Ladies and Mixed (with at least twoladies per team). Cost is $90 perplayer or $360 for a foursome. Regis-tration includes lunch, cart and greenfees, tee gifts, range balls, prizes

Registration will be from 7:30a.m. – 8:45 a.m. with tee off at 9 a.m.There will be light pastries available atregistration. The raffle will occur dur-ing registration and the silent auctionwill run from registration throughlunch. Lunch will be served right aftercompletion of the tournament, withannouncements, awards and finalizingof the silent auction following that.

Hole Sponsorships are available for

$50 each and anyone can buy them –just provide your company logo in a .tifor .eps file upon donating.

Gary says, “Each year we haveraised more – last year we raised$20,000 and hope we might be ableto get to $25,000 this year!”

For more information or toregister contact Gary Dassatti [email protected] or (413)530-6523, or mail registration andpayment to: 6106 Cognac Circle,Lutz, FL 33558.

PATIENT ADVOCATESERVICES, INC. – Strivingto Help Patients with HealthInsurance and Medical BillingProblems

Patient Advocate Services, Inc.(PASi), a local 501(c)(3) non-profit,was founded by Kim Petro McCrumafter experiencing many of the prob-lems common to patients dealing withthe health care systems. The non-profit was formed to improve the ex-perience of patients overwhelmed byillness and medical bills.

The US has a very complicatedmedical billing system - with 68,000different codes that are both compli-cated and time consuming for anyonetrying to understand the complexities.Eighty percent of medical bills that aregenerated by medical providers con-tain errors, according to MedicalBilling Advocates of America and 60percent of all bankruptcies are due tomedical bills, according to NerdWal-let, and out of that 60 percent, 70 per-cent have health insurance.

The US healthcare system, ac-cording to the World Health Organi-zation, ranks 37th in quality ofhealthcare, but ranks in at number twofor having one of the most expensivehealthcare systems.

PASi strives to provide assistance

See “Calendar/Briefs” on page 22.


Thursday March 3, from 6:20p.m. – 10 p.m. at the historic Cen-tro Asturiano de Tampa, 1913 NNebraska Ave in Tampa.

Experience worldly entertain-ment and first class cocktails at thehistoric Centro Asturiano deTampa at their fabulous Ybor Cul-ture & Cocktails event! This bene-fit will feature the Bay Area’s bestcultural performers, offer a cateredVIP experience, full service bar,silent auction and general admis-sion seating in one of Tampa’smost beautifully preserved culturalclubs; Centro Asturiano.

All guests are invited to dressin festive cultural or cocktail attireas they celebrate diversity andsupport one of Florida’s oldestschools.

About St Peter ClaverSt. Peter Claver School is one

of Florida’s oldest elementaryschools. Established in 1894 theSt. Peter Claver School continuesto thrive due to the generosity of

people like you!97% of the students families

earn $26,000 or less annually.Fortunately S.P.C. offers 100% fi-nancial assistance for qualifyingstudents; reflecting the founder’sintentions to provide equal educa-tional opportunities to all chil-dren, regardless of race, religionor financial status. Your ticket pur-chase, silent auction donationand/or sponsorship will provideuniforms, lunches, scholarshipsand academic resources to S.P.C.students in need.

There are two available op-

Charitable Benefit for one of Florida’s oldest schools,St. Peter Claver. (Est. in 1894)

tions for tickets: General Admis-sion Seating ($25) which includesthe show, and VIP Seating ($75),which in addition to the show,also includes a culturally diversearray of food and drinks prior tothe performances.

If your organization is capableof sponsoring and or donating anauction item, your contributionwill aid in providing uniforms,lunches, scholarships and aca-

demic resources to the children ofSt Peter Claver. Any donation isappreciated.

Please contact Ashley TLowe, Creative Director, at(813) 928-3228 or at [email protected] for more information orto contribute. Additional in-formation can be found ontheir website atYborCultureAndCocktails.com.


By Marcy Sanford

Since opening Divine Connec-tions Massage & Spa in June, sistersMercy Terrill and Maggie Ramirez-Malast have expanded the services theyoffer and feel like they have expandedtheir family. “So many of our clientshave told us that they feel like this is asecond home,” says Mercy. “We havereally become friends with our clientsand it is such a blessing to be able tohelp them overcome their pain.”

Located at 6052 Van Dyke Roadin Lutz, Divine Connections Massage& Spa has become the place to go toif you’re looking for therapeutic mas-sages to help you live a happier,healthier life with less pain, or wantskin care services that make your skinglow with vibrant health.

Divine Connections Massage &Spa has even begun helping somefour-legged friends live better lives by

offering equine therapy services froma therapist who specializes in workingwith horses.

Massage: When Maggie talkedher sister Mercy into becoming certi-fied in massage therapy three yearsago, Mercy did not realize how muchshe would enjoy the healing powersof massage therapy, or that it wassomething she had been training forher entire life. Mercy, who has beenlegally blind birth, said, “I’ve beenpracticing my whole life to be a thera-pist. I’ve always used my hands todiscover the world. They are my wayof seeing. Being a massage therapisthas been very rewarding. One of myareas of specialty is neck issues. I’vehad many clients come to me who saythey’ve tried everything to get rid ofneck pain but have not had any relief.It is great to be able to help their paingo away. Many of my clients havefound they can even stop taking pain

medication.Massage is sowonderful be-cause it helpspeople and does-n’t have any sideeffects.”

“You don’t have to live withpain,” says Mercy. “The average per-son does not realize how tense theyare. Pain and tension can have adomino affect on you life in manyways. We treat the causes of your painand help get rid of it. We also like toeducate our clients so that their paindoes not come back. Our long-termgoal is to eliminate a person’s need tocome see us. But we still hope they’llcome back, even after their pain isgone.”

Divine Connections offers manymassage modalities including Swedish,sports, prenatal, Thai foot massage, re-flexology, lymphatic, neuromuscular,

hot bamboo, hot stone, trigger pointtherapy, and muscle energy technique.

Thanks to their therapeutictouch, Maggie and Mercy have helpedclients get relief from conditions suchas sciatic and peroneal nerve pain,plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder,thoracic outlet syndrome, and otherpainful injuries and conditions.

Bio Mat for Chronic Pain &Stress Relief: If you suffer fromchronic pain and stress, have an injury,are about to have surgery, or have justhad surgery, you could benefit fromthe Amethyst Bio Mat at Divine Con-nections. “The bio mat technologyhas been around since the late 60swhen NASA discovered its healing

Mercy Terrill and Maggie Ramirez-Malast

acne. It is so gratifying to see myclients walk out of here with a naturalglow after a facial or spa treatment.”

Equine Therapy: Growing up inOdessa, both Maggie and Mercy havespent plenty of time taking care of andloving all types of animals includinghorses. Recently they partnered witha massage therapist who has 28 yearsof experience in equine therapy toprovide massage therapy for horses.“The therapy is very beneficial to thehorses,” says Maggie. “It is especiallygreat for show horses, race horses,or jumpers. We go to the barns and itso gratifying to be able to help thesebeautiful creatures. Equine therapy isreally helpful for any ailing horse orfor horses with arthritis.”

If you are in pain or are just look-ing to relax, call Divine ConnectionsMassage & Spa today to make anappointment.

“We want people to escape theirdaily stress when they come here,”says Mercy. “We want this to be likea mini vacay for them and we wantthem to leave here feeling better,happier, healthier, and pain free.”

Valentines Day Specials Divine Connections is offering

some fabulous Valentine’s Day Spe-cials and Exclusive Spa Packages.

The Sweetheart package includesa 60 min. custom massage, along witha chocolate hand or foot scrub, foronly $60.

The True Love spa package, in-cludes a 60 min. custom massage, aswell as a 30 min. chocolate-strawberryfacial & 30 min. of their infared ther-apy. You get all this for $99!

Invite your loved one or signifi-cant other for the Be My Valentinecouples massage, where any length ofmassage is Buy One get One 1/2 Off- a 25% Savings.

All of their Valentine’s packagescome with delectable chocolates andromantic rose petals - a fabulous wayto show your loved one how muchyou really care! So give some love toyour Valentine with one of DivineConnection’s relaxing spa packages!

Divine Connection Massage &Spa is located at 6052 Van DykeRoad in Lutz. Book your appoint-ment online by logging on towww.divineconnectionmassage.comor call 813-402-2959. Walk-ins alsoare welcome. Divine Connections isopen 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Mon. – Sat.and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sun. “Like”Divine Connections Massage & Spaon Facebook for news and updates.


properties to the human body. Themat was originally developed in theOrient to help people recuperate fromsurgeries,” says Maggie, “but we’vefound clients with many differenttypes of injuries, illnesses, and painhave benefited from the bio mat.”

“The bio mat promotes repairat a cellular level,” explains Mercy,“and it helps your cardiovascular andlymphatic system flow more optimally.

We’ve had a client come in before andafter knee surgery to lie on the mat.He has told us that his surgeon isimpressed with how quickly he is heal-ing. We’ve also had individuals withcancer who have found that theyaren’t nauseous or tired after they’vespent time lying on the mat. We haveanother client who has found relieffrom joint pain and rheumatoid arthri-tis after time on the mat. We’ve seenincredible results in many on ourclients.”

“God has given us so manyblessings,” says Maggie. “We want tobe a blessing to others. We want peo-ple to feel good and be relieved oftheir pain.”

Facials: In addition to healingyour body, Divine Connections offersspa treatments that will leave you re-laxed and refreshed and looking yearsyounger. Maggie is an expert aestheti-cian who offers a variety of facials,microdermabrasion, micro-current,micro needling, TCA peels, waxing,eyebrow and eyelash tinting and more.

Maggie customizes each facialto meet her clients’ needs and evenmakes her own masques with high-quality, organic materials. “I havesome wonderful facials that have greatanti-aging benefits and one that treats


Tampa Teens Organize Charity Art Showcase Of Their PeersTwo Tampa high school seniors

have set out to recognize the artistictalent of their peers and raise funds fora worthy cause in the process.

After touring the finest art muse-ums in Europe last summer with agroup led by his art history teacher,Matt Cannella, a Plant High senior,founded Artists in Action because hesaw how art “deeply moved the massesacross continents”. Although he’s notan artist himself, his love for art moti-vated him to inspire others in the sameway that he was inspired when he vis-ited places like the Louvre and UffiziGallery. A 3rd generation Tampa nativeCannella has chosen to inspire those inhis own backyard – right here inTampa. Cannella even retired from hishigh school football career so he couldconcentrate on producing an inauguralteen artist showcase and give back tothe community.

Cannella has teamed up withHadley Chillura, a senior at the Acad-emy of the Holy Names, who just sohappens to be an accomplished artist.Chillura has been expressing herselfthrough art her whole life and feelsthat art gives herself a unique voice.She says she has no calling in writingor singing, but can “write through herbrushstrokes and sing through her useof color”.

The teens are putting togetherthis fabulous showcase to give a di-verse group of artists the chance tospeak to the community through theirart. The Artists in Action charityfundraiser will be held Friday, Febru-ary 19th, from 6pm to 9:30pm atthe historic 1901 Anderson Housein Hyde Park, located at 341 SouthPlant Avenue. The perfect place tohost this extraordinary event, the1901 Anderson House is one ofTampa’s last and finest examples ofQueen Anne architecture and is desig-nated on the U.S. National Registry ofHistoric Places. Most of the work will

be displayed in the mansion’s 3rdstory ballroom. Net proceeds from the$12 ticket sales will benefit the Com-munity Foundation of Tampa Bay.The Community Foundation will ear-mark the funds to benefit the arts.Light refreshments will also be served.

So far, 14 teen artists representinga variety of mediums, including paint-ing, photography, sculpture and more,have committed to participate. Theartists come from a variety of schoolsacross Tampa Bay, such as Academy ofthe Holy Names, Berkeley Prep, Jesuit,Plant, Robinson, and Tampa Catholic.

Cannella and Chillura want othersto know that art is important and es-

sential. They want to leave their legacyof art appreciation when they graduatein May, hoping this will become anannual event.

The Artists in Action charityfundraiser will be held Friday, Feb-ruary 19th, from 6pm to 9:30pmat the historic 1901 Anderson

House in Hyde Park, located at341 South Plant Avenue in Tampa.For sponsorship opportunities, ad-vance ticket sales or more informa-tion, contact Matt Cannella [email protected] or (813) 417-4301. Limited tickets will also besold at the door.

Hadley Chillura and Matt Cannella have teamed up to showcase a diverse group of artists who will represent a variety of mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, and much more.

to patients of all ages, their familiesand caregivers, in managing theirmedical bills and providing referrals topatients who need specialized adviceor assistance. Even though the Af-fordable Care Act has attempted toaddress some of the deficiencies in thehealthcare system, it has fallen short ofcorrecting many of the problems thatfrustrate patients and continue toforce others into bankruptcy.

PASi Introduces Wellness Program A Mayo Clinic study showed that

70 percent of Americans take at leastone prescription drug on a regularbasis, while 50 percent take two ormore. In addition to PASi's primarygoal of helping patients with medicalbilling problems and referrals, it alsostrives to promote good health and ahealthy lifestyle. To this end, PASi re-cently introduced a member-basedwellness program. Membership in thePASi Wellness Program entitles mem-


“Calendar/Briefs”Continued from page 13

bers to take advantage of a variety ofholistic and/or alternative treatments.There is a perfect opportunity comingup to find out more in person: PASiinvites you to its Wellness ProgramMeet & Greet on February 24th at6:30 p.m., which is being held atTrinity Ultimate Fitness, located at11108 Challenger Avenue inOdessa, FL.

PASi's desire to help individualsimprove their health by participating inthe Wellness Program stems from thehope that by improving health, we canall rely less on the healthcare system.

Working tirelessly to accomplishthe goals of PASi is President KimPetro McCrum, along with the newlyelected Board, Vice-President DaynaStiteler, Treasurer Charlene Finerty,Secretary Sandra Petro Hart, and Di-rectors-at-Large, Chet Pietras andRenee Mays. The team at PASi strivesto promote and improve the WellnessProgram, along with the other servicesoffered. Working to utilize their variedareas of expertise – including account-ing, nursing, insurance and business –the PASi team helps patients under-

PASi President Kim McCrum introducing the PASi Wellness Program atthe Trinity Meeting Center in November 2015


stand complex and often confusingmedical invoices, Explanation of Bene-fit forms, reimbursement forms andother documents, so that PASi canprovide the best advice and referrals tohelp patients, families and caregiverswhen contacting medical providers, fa-cilities and hospitals. PASi helps pa-tients with problems such as billingerrors, overcharging, double charges,and services billed but not provided,

as well as where and how to obtainspecialized services depending on indi-vidual need.

Patient Advocate Services, Inc.(PASi) can be contacted by phoneat 727-372-0567 or by email at [email protected]. Formore information about PASi andthe services provided, log on towww.patientadvocateservices.org

Physician Seminar and Chef-Led Cooking Demonstration

Wednesday, February 24 from 12p.m. – 2 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, Garden Lobby Classrooms, lo-cated at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz

Hosted by St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, come join their cardiologist,Chetan Khamare,MD, for a seminar tolearn heart disease risk factors and howto minimize them. Then stay for acooking demonstration by their chefand taste heart healthy options.

Free heart-healthy screenings willbe available from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.They will check your blood pressure,body mass index, and cholesterol, aswell as assess your risk for diabetes. Ifthe assessment suggests your risk ishigh, an Alc test will be offered.

Cost is $10 and includes freeparking and a heart-healthy lunch.

Preregistration in required.Please call (813) 644-4370 or visitBayCareEvents.org.


and actually heard my name called.Before Alvarez Audiology, I would nothave heard my name. The only thinggreater than the product I purchasedis the quality of service that I receivefrom all the staff at Alvarez Hearing.”

Dr. Alvarez is a leader in the field,graduating with honors from the Uni-versity of South Florida with a Bache-lor's degree in CommunicationSciences and Disorders and a clinicalDoctorate in Audiology. During hertraining, Dr. Alvarez completed resi-dencies with the Department of Vet-eran's Affairs, All Children's Hospital,and several private practice clinics. Dr.Alvarez is a board certified Audiolo-gist, and is a Fellow of the AmericanAcademy of Audiology.

Dr. Nicole Lynch joined AlvarezAudiology & Hearing in June 2015,but has been diagnosing hearing lossand fitting hearing technology for al-most ten years. Dr. Lynch is a nativeof the Tampa Bay area, and gradu-ated with honors from the Universityof Florida. She obtained her Doctorof Audiology degree from VanderbiltUniversity School of Medicine, whichis ranked the number one Audiology

program in thenation, accord-ing to U.S.News & WorldReport. Shecompleted aone-year resi-dency at theBay Pines V.A.Medical Centerin St. Peters-burg, and hasworked in aprivate practicesetting for

nearly ten years. Like Dr. Alvarez, Dr.Lynch is a board certified Audiolo-gist, and is a Fellow of the AmericanAcademy of Audiology. Dr. Lynchhas served on multiple boards andcommittees at both state and nationallevels.

The doctors of Audiology at Al-varez Audiology specialize in geriatricaural rehabilitation and provide serv-ices to children as young as five toadults a hundred years and older. Ashighly trained audiologists we areable to expertly identify, diagnose andtreat many different forms of hearingloss and focus not only on hearingloss and prevention, but on howhearing loss affects you. Dr. Alvarezand Dr. Lynch are joined by Practice

Administrator Blair Driscoll, who hasten years of experience in a privatepractice medical setting, Patient CareCoordinator Janet Howell, and 4thyear Audiology Resident Julie Unger,who will earn her doctorate in Audi-ology from Nova Southeastern Uni-versity in June! Together they providethe Tampa Bay Area with a welcom-ing experience for all.

The doctors at Alvarez Audiology& Hearing spend quality time witheach patient and go to great lengthsto ensure that every patient leaves100% satisfied. Dr. Alvarez says, “Iplace a strong importance on followup and keep an open line of commu-nication with my patients. I see my es-tablished patients about every threemonths for routine evaluations andear check-ups and conduct follow-uptests at least once a year.” To Dr. Al-varez, listening to her patients is justas important as the tests she conductsand alongside Dr. Lynch, goes aboveand beyond to establish long-lastingrelationships with all of the patients atAlvarez Audiology.

When it comes to hearing aidsthere is no such thing as “one hearingaid fits all,” which is why Dr. Alvarezand her team work with each individ-ual patient with attentiveness and gen-uine care. They believe fitting you

successfullywith a hearingaid is morethan just fittingyour hearingloss – it is lis-tening to youand your per-sonal needs andtaking the timeto get to knowyou and what isbest for you!

“Dr. Al-varez is not an

ordinary hearing professional,” stateshappy patient Mercedes. “She goesabove and beyond the call of duty inproviding exceptional hearing healthcare. She has always been there for myhearing aids. I have called and she hasprovided help on the same day. She isvery attentive of my needs and does anoutstanding job. My daughter is verypleased with how well I am now hear-ing and I owe it all to Dr. Alvarez!”

“I told my doctor, if any otherpatients complain about hearing loss,he’d be doing them a disservice tosend them anywhere but Alvarez Au-diology & Hearing. Dr. Lynch hasbeen wonderful to work with,” sayspatient R.A.

“Some people may call her Dr.

“Audiology”Continued from page 1

Dr. Nicole Lynch Julie Unger


Lynch, but I call her MIRACLEWORKER!”-G. Guth

People experience hearing loss formany different reasons, and regardlessof the cause, loss of hearing – whetherit be minor or substantial – shouldnever be ignored.

Presbycusis, the most commoncause of hearing loss, is the gradualloss of hearing that occurs as peopleget older and many people believe thatthis is a normal result of aging – this isnot at all true! “Hearing loss is nevernormal,” explains Dr. Alvarez. “It justhappens to become more prevalent aspeople age.”

Noise Exposure is the secondmost prevalent cause of hearing loss,and is something that can be easily

avoided, which is why Dr. Alvarezstresses the importance of taking spe-cial precautions to help prevent hear-ing loss and preserve healthy hearing– such as the use of customizednoise-protection ear plugs for thosewho are constantly exposed to loudnoise and custom audio monitors,which carefully control levels ofsound heard while maintaining pris-tine sound quality.

From basic behavioral tests to so-phisticated computerized otoneuro-logical evaluations, Alvarez Audiologyis well-equipped to fully test all as-pects of your hearing and using ad-vanced technologies and proceduresis able to properly administer thehearing aid that is perfect for you and

your lifestyle.“Choosing the right hearing aid

makes a huge difference,” says Dr.Alvarez. “Not all hearing aids are thesame.” Before hearing aids are imple-mented Dr. Alvarez administers athorough history check – includingmedical history, details regardingyour lifestyle and any medicationsyou are taking – and conducts a vari-ety of hearing tests to gage the exactlevel of your hearing loss. These com-prehensive hearing exams allow thedoctor to determine the cause andextent of your hearing loss and enableher to isolate the problem and pro-vide a solution.

“The use of a hearing aid is themost effective treatment for hearingloss,” says Dr. Lynch. “When you puton a hearing aid the only side effect ishearing better and the best part is ifyou don’t like it you can take it off.”

Alvarez Audiology administersfree hearing screenings for everyone,so if you suspect to have hearing lossor are over the age of 50 you shouldconsider stopping in to get a compli-mentary evaluation.

Together Dr. Alvarez and Dr.Lynch are extremely passionate abouttheir work and take pride in deliveringexceptional service and quality patientcare. “I really enjoy helping people,”

says Dr. Alvarez. As a patient at Al-varez Audiology you can expect one-on-one personalized service by aprofessional audiologist who truly un-derstands the limitations and capabili-ties of hearing aids.

Whether you are experiencinghearing loss and need a diagnosis, orjust want to get a routine hearingevaluation, you can trust the caringprofessionals at Alvarez Audiology.Don’t let hearing loss hold you back– come in to Alvarez Audiology andHearing today!

"In my 28 years of wearing hear-ing aids I've had several audiologistsin several states,” writes patient B.K.“Dr. Alvarez is the best I've ever had.As I live out the rest of my life I'llfeel peace in knowing she will bethere to help me hear what's goingon in the world."

Alvarez Audiology is located at6615 Gunn Hwy. in Tampa, in theGunn Executive Center. Officehours are Mon, Wed, and Thurs. 9a.m. – 4 p.m.; Tues. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.and Fri. 9:00 – 12 p.m. For moreinformation or to schedule a con-sultation please call (813) 265-2255, email [email protected] or visitwww.AlvarezAudiology.com.


JCC North Campus EventsThe following are offered at the

Jewish Community Campus North,located at 13009 Community CampusDrive in Tampa, (just off of GunnHwy. and the Veterans’ Expressway.

New Coin Collecting Series atthe JCC, starting February 9thfrom 10:30 am -11:30 am––Pleasejoin us for an exciting coin collectionseries hosted by John Frost, owner ofGilder Shop Coins & Currency. Hewill be giving free appraisals on yourcoins and will provide informationon how to become a coin collector.Classes will start on Tuesday, Febru-ary 9th from 10:30 am -11:30 amand will be once a month. Light re-freshments will be served. To RSVP

and for more information to register,please contact Marissa Rosenthal [email protected] 813-769-4724.

Mar. 2–23, 11 AM – 12:30PM––Chocolate Making Classes––with Michelle Palisi, owner of 2chocolate shops (New Port Richeyand Carrollwood), and a past winnerof West Pasco Chamber of Com-merce Small Business Person of theYear. Cost: $85 for members, $95non-members.

Mar. 8–29, 1–2 PM––FlowerArranging Classes––Learn the basicsof flower arranging in 4 easy classes.Dorelle, owner of Brides & Blooms,

has been in the floral industry for 15years and has been teaching small localclasses for 10 of those years. Cost:$72 members, $80 non-members.Please bring a vase and shears for theclass.

Mondays, starting March 21,11 AM–12 PM––Book Club facili-tated by Adrianne Sundheim.

Ongoing at JCC¬––JFIT atJCC¬¬––A wide variety of fitnessclasses for people of all fitness levels.Classes include Salsa, Aerobics,

Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Pilates,Stretch & Flex, Tai Chi, Meditation,Water Aerobics, 20-20-20 comboclass, cardio circuit and SilverSneak-ers®. Fitness classes are open to thepublic and are $4 per class for non-members. Find complete list ofclasses at www.jewishtampa.com orcall Pam Cotner at 813-769-4748for more information.

For more information and toRSVP for any of the JCC events,please contact Marissa Rosenthal [email protected] (813) 769-4724.


When asked to describe beer to anovice, Chef Gerry explained, “it isthe art of fermenting. You can put anyfruit in it, any spice, even chocolate tomake it more complex in flavor. A lotof our sauces that we make in-houseincorporate beer; we reduce our beerto a thick syrup, and add the concen-trated flavor to the different sauces.It’s not alcoholic; it’s just the flavorprofile. As a beer-lover, people willpick up on it.”

Head Brewer Nick Streeteradded, “Typically beer has four in-gredients – malt, hops, water andyeast. You use yeast to ferment it togive it the certain flavor profile that’sunique. You create an idea of whatyou want to make and then youchoose the particular ingredients tocreate a complexity.”

Similar to a wine Sommelier,Cigar City staff go through intensetraining to be certified as beer expertsthrough the Cicerone CertificationProgram, which covers five areas: serv-ing beer, styles of beer, beer flavor andevaluation, brewing process and ingre-dients, and lastly, beer pairing.

So, for example, if you don’tknow what beer will compliment Gen-eral Manager Russell Simons’ favoritemenu item, the Cuban on La SegundaCuban bread, your Cicerone-certifiedstaff will be able to point you in theright direction and answer all yourquestions regarding beer pairing.

Cigar City Brewpub has a 15-beerline up on tap, including one specialtycider and one beer from the Brew Busdivision of brewing. Additionally, theyhave a full liquor bar, craft cocktails(some of which even incorporate beerinto the cocktail), and wine personallyselected by Russell. “We do make aquite a few craft cocktails that are clas-

sically inspired, innovative and new,”said Russell. ”The naming of a lot ofthe drinks and beer speak to the his-tory of Tampa.”

Their India Pale Ale, Jai Alai, theflagship beer for the brewery, namedafter the once popular sport whocalled South Dale Mabry home duringthe 70s through 90s, has even gar-nered a gold medal in the Best FloridaBeer Championship. Giving them arating of 97, DraftMag.com describesJai Alai as, “Soft breadiness supportsan intense tropical bouquet of orange,tangerine, melon and a touch of pine.Likewise, the bright, playful swallowsends a fresh, fruity blend of grape-fruit, peach, melon and tangerine

across the tongue, backed by lightgrainy bread notes. Gentle bitternesscleans up the swallow, resulting in asmooth finish that caps off the incredi-bly delicious sip.”

But you don’t even have to likebeer in this brewpub, as the foodalone will entice a teetotaler to enterits door, take a seat, and await aplethora of deliciousness. Youwouldn’t think beer-friendly mealswould feature a gourmet touch, butCigar City’s seasonal menu reads like awho’s who of things one would defi-nitely want to eat.

“We are doing pub food in morerefined direction,” explained Russell.

From handcrafted salads to all

natural beef burgers, fresh seafood tomouthwatering sandwiches, theyoffer something for every taste andpreference; they even have a deliciousselection of deserts for those with asweet tooth.

In their Shrimp grits – a customerfavorite at Cigar City – blackenedplump jumbo Gulf shrimp nestle atopsouthern-style creamy grits with ched-dar cheese, and are surrounded byspicy shrimp bisque and topped withhouse bacon and shallot pan sauce.

Or try Cigar City’s newest addi-tion, Chicken and Waffles. Grilled orfried chicken breast with roasted cornand black bean salsa, and pickled cab-bage, cushioned between a warm waf-

“Cigar City”Continued from page 1

Cigar City’s newest addition, Chicken and Waffles, features grilled or fried chicken breast with roasted corn andblack bean salsa, and pickled cabbage, cushioned between a warm waffle with maple syrup.Yum!


fle with maple syrup. Are you drool-ing yet?

Besides a Happy Hour 4pm-6pmMonday through Friday, featuringsmall plates and specialty cocktails,each Tuesday from 5pm-10pm, CigarCity offers a 3 course dinner deal fea-turing a Caesar or house salad, entréeand bread pudding. On Saturday andSunday, guests can enjoy a special ex-panded brunch menu service from11am-3pm.

It is Russell’s goal to make a visitto Cigar City Brewpub an immersiveexperience. “We want our food tohave a visual impact,” said Russell.“We often do dinner specials on theweekend and when we have a mealthat is well-received we will considerbringing it on to the menu. By chang-ing the menu frequently, it keepsthings relevant and fresh.”

Russell relayed how Head BrewerNick Streeter went above and beyondrecently to explain the brewingprocess to two inquisitive young mendining out with their father. Nick ex-plained the brewing process in lay-men’s turns, explaining the function ofthe equipment used to brew their spe-cialty craft beers. “That’s elevatingtheir experience and I think Nick did agreat job at that,” said Russell. “Thisenvironment is unique. There is asense of camaraderie in the brewingcommunity. We want to reflect thebeer community accurately. This is nota job; this is a passion for us.”

Cigar City Brewpub is lo-cated at 15491 North DaleMabry Hwy. in Tampa. They areopen Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m.– 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday:11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Bar is OpenLate. For more informationplease call (813) 962-1274 orvisit www.CigarCityBrewpub.comor connect on Facebook atfacebook.com/cigarcitybrewpub.

Cigar City Brewpub has a 15-beer line up on tap, including one specialty cider and one beer from the Brew Busdivision of brewing. Additionally, they have a full liquor bar, craft cocktails (some of which even incorporate beer

into the cocktail), and wine personally selected by Russell.

carrollwood - vol. 4, issue 2, february 2016

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