South Tampa | Panache Vue' Magazine

Peplum Power

May 20, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 275 Comments

Flip for This Season’s Flaptastic Fashion Trend!

It may be that not-so-noticeable transition period between spring and summer in the Sunshine State, but that doesn’t mean you have to swap your ladylike style for less sophisticated fare like billowy shorts and familiar flip-flops.

A La Moda - Peplum Power If you’re looking to highlight your flair for fashion, consider embracing this season’s haute peplum trend. Not only will you showcase your refined sense of style, but you’ll be able to create a flattering silhouette while doing it.

It could be considered a fashion flashback. After all, the roots of the peplum trend—defined by a short flared ruffle that sits at the natural waist—can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece, when people would wear a tunic or long garment with a flap of fabric folded and belted around the waist. It grew quite popular in the mid-19th century, entered high fashion in the 1940s and became a full-on craze in the 1980s after making ample appearances on primetime soap operas like Dynasty, Dallas and Falcon Crest.

But don’t worry; this season’s peplum styles aren’t as exaggerated as they were back in the 80s. Instead, restrained representations of the flaptastic style resurfaced on the runways in Milan, Paris and New York City, popping up on dresses, jackets and pants designed by the likes of industry icons like Giorgio Armani, Alberta Ferretti and Vera Wang.

And Hollywood’s style-savvy celebrities have taken notice of the flare trend, which with the right fit can be flattering for most women. Starlets like Blake Lively, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry, Emma Stone and Michelle Williams have been photographed wearing hip-accentuating pieces on and off the red carpet. Even fashion’s new ‘It’ girl Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has been spotted wearing peplum dresses and suits.

So if you’re ready to get frilled-up this summer while looking fantastically fit and strikingly shapely, here are some ways to embrace the power of peplum this season.

A Perfect Fit
When updating your wardrobe with peplum pieces, keep in mind that there are actually two types: fitted and flared. If you’re hoping to show off your hourglass figure, choose a fitted peplum. On the other hand, flared pieces will help create the illusion of curves and are the perfect choice for boy-shaped bodies.

Two in a Bush
This season, why not add two trends to your wardrobe with one single piece? From Jason Wu’s hot pink pencil skirt to Rodarte’s neon green pantsuit, some of this season’s most dazzling peplum designs come in haute hyper colors. So if you’re ready to pop it like its hot, pick out a ruffled garment in a bold color!

Prints of Tides
Sure you can easily find a peplum piece in a single color; but some of the most dramatic garments come in bewitching prints. For inspiration, check out Anna Sui’s tribal-patterned dress with its lengthy ruffle or Nina Ricci’s peplum piece that combines several floral prints and lace to create the ultimate feminine silhouette.

So whether you decide to go for a peplum jacket in a bold color or a ruffled dress in an eye-catching print, there’s no denying the power of peplum. Just remember to find a flared piece with a soft structure. And, look for jersey fabrics with a bit of stretch to give you the right amount of hip-enhancing volume and drape without overwhelming your frame.

Tom Castañeda

Tom Castañeda is a creative writer, blogger, and award-winning broadcast journalist who has worked at Architectural Digest, In Touch Weekly, and Latina – a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine for today’s bi-cultural Latina woman. Throughout his career in publishing, Tom has planned and executed numerous celebrity, fashion, and beauty programs throughout the country, including fashion shows, and shopping events for brands like Bloomingdale’s, Chanel, Mikimoto, David Yurman, Givenchy, Armani Fragrances, Macy’s, Southpole Collection, and more. Additionally, Tom has drawn on his strong journalism background to create various print, online, and video reports on various subjects, including fashion and beauty.

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, A La Moda, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Designer, Fashion, Features, Flapper, Haute Flapper, peplum, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tom Castañeda

Buzz Stop – In and Around Tampa Bay

April 16, 2012 By Karyn Anjali 257 Comments

Festival of Speed Luxury Lifestyle Jet Port

On March 30th at Tampa International Jet Center, as part of Festival of Speed, guests experienced a fabulous display of vintage and contemporary aircraft, exotic cards, custom created motorcycles, high performance boats and the finest luxury products.

: Photo: Don Shepherd XOPIXO Photography

Bacchus’ Knockout Black & Blue Cocktail Party!

The kids of Legends Boxing Club are headed for the Olympic Trials and to other national and world events thanks to the support of Bacchus Event Solutions Foundation. On March 23rd, the community came out in support of the kids along with High Energy Entertainment, Music by DJFelix Indahouse, Fashion Show by Erica G, Silent Auction, Raffles and much more.

: Photo: Don Shepherd XOPIXO Photography

Upcoming Events to Consider

In the next few weeks, Panache Vue’ is proud to sponsor the following local events and we hope to see you there!
April 21 – Margaritaville in the Tropics to benefit All Children’s Hospital at Nielsen in Oldsmar
April 22 – Golfing for Heroes at Countryside Countryclub
April 26 – Dining Out For Life, Dine Out. Fight AIDS. For a list of participating restaurants or to volunteer, visit www.DiningOutForLife.com/TampaBay
April 29 – Blooming Place for Kids Luau at Besa Del Sol Resort in Dunedin

Karyn Anjali

Karyn Anjali is a published author and Tampa Bay’s resident socialite spends time out and about attending events and supporting charities. A successful business owner of a custom jewelry line, Karysma, and a Real Estate Broker, writing remains a preferred hobby.

Born in Trinidad, and having lived in Toronto, London, Miami and Vancouver prior to moving here 9 years ago, she enjoys the small town feel within a large city with daily dynamic things happening. She has an MBA and a BA in Communication Arts.

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, Buzz Stop, Events, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Bacchus Event Solutions Foundation, Bacchus’ Knockout Black & Blue Cocktail Party, Event, Events, Features, Festival of Speed, Karyn Anjali, Living Legends Boxing Club, Luxury Lifestyle Jet Port, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay

Speakeasy Style

April 16, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 27 Comments

Embrace This Season’s Haute Flapper Trend

If you’re looking to jazz up your wardrobe this spring, you may need to take a trip back in time to the 1920s. Much like the release of a 3D-enhanced version of Titanic in theaters this April, many of this season’s hottest looks could be considered a blast from the past with a modern twist.

Haute Flapper

Call it a “Roaring Twenties revival,” a resurgence quite possibly inspired by Hollywood’s fascination with the enchanting era that gave birth to a new type of woman—the fashionable flapper. In recent years, there’s been an increase in TV shows and films set in the 1920s, including HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and the highly anticipated Great Gatsby remake.

Along with entertaining audiences with their high drama, the projects—featuring award-winning costume designs—have made a major impression on the fashion world. This spring, designers like Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs and Alberta Ferretti have welcomed the trend by dusting their collections with flapper-like pieces, including dazzling dresses that feature 1920s-inspired beading, fringing and drop-waists.

Haute Flapper

And starlets like The Artist’s Bérénice Bejo, who wore several smart looks from the era in her Oscar-winning film, have been spotted striking a pose on the red carpet in Roaring Twenties reinterpretations from Gucci, Oscar de la Renta and Marchesa.

So if you’re ready to make a bold fashions statement this season, here are some ways to incorporate some trendy Gatsby-inspired pieces into your wardrobe and unleash your flapper spirit:

Drop It Like Its Hot
If you’re not completely sure you can pull off fringe or feathers, don’t despair. It’s still quite possible to roar into 1920s fashion. Simply look for a flowy frock with a deeply lowered waistline. Regardless of your body type, a drop-waist dress will flatter your figure while helping you stay right on trend.

Art Deco
The eclectic Art Deco style, which began in Paris in the 1920s and spread throughout the world throughout the 1930s, had a great influence on flapper fashion. Designers began incorporating the awe-inspiring Art Deco style—which represented elegance, glamour and modernity—into their glam garments by creating similar patterns with sequins, jewels and beads. Fortunately, it seems that history is repeating itself with this season’s collections! Designers like Matthew Williamson have created similarly stunning Art Deco-inspired looks that, like those of days gone by, will surely turn heads with every stylish step you take.

Pretty in Pastels

Donning a flapper-inspired dress in a bold, look-at-me hue like tangerine or coral not your thing? No worries! This spring, designers have incorporated another haute craze into their voguetastic 1920s-inspired looks: pastels. So if you’re hoping to give off a low-key, ladylike vibe, look for a flapper-like dress in a sweet sorbet shade. Not only will you flaunt your understated style, but you’ll show the world just how fashionable you are by rocking two trends at once.

Sleepeasy Style
Pajama dressing may have originated during the Jazz Age, but the lounge-in-style trend is making a colossal comeback. This spring, designers have captured the comfort of those silky separates that were popular in the 1920s and given them a street-friendly look. The end result: a sleepeasy style that will make an impression well beyond the bedroom.

No matter how you choose to integrate this spring’s haute flapper trend into your wardrobe, rest assured that you’ll be roaring with sophisticated style.

Tom Castañeda

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, A La Moda, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Designer, Fashion, Features, Flapper, Haute Flapper, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tom Castañeda

Gene McDonald – Green Interior Artist Extraordinaire

April 16, 2012 By Nina Stanley 22 Comments

Gene McDonald - Photo: Lisa Sibley

PV: Why did you choose this business or line of work?
Gene: I love art and woodworking, especially fixing things.

PV: What is your primary role or duty in your company?
Gene: ALL phases, mainly project management and researching design trends.

PV: What sets you apart from your competition?
Gene: I personalize kitchens, baths and furniture. While many sell the most popular, I tend to attract those who want something which is not as popular. Recycled Glass, precious stone slab, and Paperstone; My own blend of Crystal top that customers can put whatever they want into the tops as well as backlight.

PV: What would you be doing now if it weren’t for your business, taking money out of the equation?
Gene: Helping people who need a chance in life, I don’t like to give hungry people fish too much; I’m one of those who would rather teach them how to fish.

PV: What do you do for fun?
Gene: WORK and Dance!

PV: Who or what is most important to you, personally or professionally?
Gene: Personally it is my mom who passed away too young of Leukemia. I can actually feel my heart swell up as if she says, Keep doing the next right thing. She always told me to be kind, but not a doormat and make as many friends as possible (she would have loved Facebook). Professionally I want to always be able to give back, many of my heroes in Tampa Bay give back. They welcomed me to help out even though I did not have much money, I was able to offer my hands, my smile, my countertop scraps, and my shop to help inspire the Children of CASA, Boys and Girls Clubs and countless others. It feels like my Mom swells up my heart when I am around these people…It’s my own personal awesomistic feeling. I love life like crazy!

PV: A little secret about you that would shock those who don’t know you!
Gene: I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t do Drugs, I don’t smoke Cigarettes and I love Hardcore Thrash Punk rock as well as Motown music. People always think I am on something because I enjoy wherever I am at. They spend big money on booze to act like me…LOL

PV: What are your personal and professional mottos?
Gene: Personal~ you cannot make a plant grow by pulling on it! Professional~ you cannot discover new oceans unless you have courage to lose sight of the shore.

PV: When you were five, what was your dream to be when you grew up?
Gene: Bruce Lee and a cartoonist

PV: Have you achieved all or most of your dreams thus far?
Gene: Yes, I am so glad I didn’t sign a contract because I achieved that dream 5 years ago. I am also grateful for all the friends and business I got. I feel that if my life doesn’t get any better than it is right now. I am ok with that. But I am Gene, Gene the dancing machine. Life is getting better by the minute…

About the President

Gene McDonald, President of Refresh Interiors Inc., is an active member of the Tampa Bay U.S. Green Building Council Chapter, the Florida Green Building Coalition, and the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA). As a countertop fabricator specializing in green products, McDonald has worked on many LEED-certified projects in the area. He has recently earned Master Fabricator status from Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Surfaces, a status reserved for fabricators who have fabricated 50 Vetrazzo jobs that have demonstrated superior craftsmanship. Since then McDonald has quadrupled that number! He also won the International Surface Design Expo’s Best Commercial Application Award in 2006 for his illuminated cobalt glass bar. In 2009, he won the Best Green Residential Kitchen award. He also won Best Green Small Application for his recycled paper toilet seat that glows in the dark. His top employee Hugh Simon won the Best Green Kitchen in 2010 and Best Design in Green Application in 2011. The newest edition of the Refresh Family, to lead the cabinet division is Chris Kessler. Master Cabinetmaker. Gene McDonald has spoken at The National Association of Home Builders and numerous Green Expos from Orlando to Las Vegas. Gene McDonald is proud to be what some call a Green Interior Artist. He shares his green projects with the world to smash the misconception that green design is bland and boring. His very own creation called Crystal Top was used in the upcoming film Step Up 4 from Touchstone Pictures.

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneur - ST, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Artist, Bars, Bathroom, Counters, Countertop Fabricator, Designer, Entrepreneur, Features, Gene McDonald, Green, Green Interior Artist, Kitchen, Master Fabricator, Recycled, Recycled Glass, Refresh Interiors Inc, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay

Introducing Chef Extraordinaire Ingrid Hoffmann

April 16, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 1,208 Comments

Ingrid Hoffmann may be an internationally acclaimed culinary expert with a loyal base of followers in English and Spanish, but “chef” isn’t the official title you’ll read on her impressive resume. The host of Delicioso— an hour-long lifestyle cooking show on Univision—primarily considers herself a “professional eater.”

“My love of food really starts with a love of eating and sharing the table,” professes the 47-year-old cookin g star who was born and raised in Colombia and lived in the Netherlands with her family before moving to Miami as an adult. “It was very important to my mother that we always share a meal at the table as a family.”

Ingrid Hoffmann

But Hoffmann’s mother—a Cordon Bleu-trained chef who ran a catering business from her home kitchen and later opened her own restaurant—did more than incite a passion for food in her daughter. Through hands on lessons, Yolanda Ibarnegaray taught Ingrid the art of cooking as a child.

“I used to pull up a little stool to the stove, so I could reach the range and cook steaks and shrimp,” recalls Hoffmann, who now cooks the food of 22 Latin countries, including Spain. “I’d make this shrimp dish—my father’s brandied shrimp recipe that today is a staple and still one of my favorite meals.”

It should come as no surprise that traditional children’s fare like chicken nuggets and fish sticks were never served in Hoffmann’s home.

“Kids who’d come to my house would comment on the strange food; and I never really understood why it was weird,” admits Hoffmann, who remembers eating Indonesian food for about a year after her mom spent time in the Southeast Asian country learning how to cook their cuisine.

“She had this rule that wherever we went in the world, she had to go to the market and a cooking class with a local chef. She always said that you learned so much about a culture through ingredients. Looking back now, it really was like the United Nations of food at our house!”

It’s no wonder Hoffmann—who isn’t a classically trained chef—began developing her own flavorsome recipes with a similar eclectic spirit.

“Ignorance has been bliss,” declares Hoffmann. “My mixes of food really are unorthodox, which may not have been the case had I been classically trained. Instead, I can just have fun creating foods with a great balance of textures, colors and flavors.”

It’s that mindset that led Hoffmann to open her own restaurant called Rocca, which was the first Miami eatery to feature tabletop cooking on heated lava rocks.

“It was an incredible experience; it helped me be taken seriously as a chef,” proclaims Hoffmann, who has no plans to open another restaurant anytime soon. “I wasn’t able to be creative and develop recipes. It was about running a business and dealing with the bank and employees. And, it just took all the fun out of cooking!”

But the restaurant experience did help Hoffmann break into television at a local Miami station, where she shared her recipes with the public. That would lead to regular cooking segments on Univision’s morning show and a series of multi-page culinary stories in Buen Hogar, the Spanish version of Good Housekeeping.

“When I first started, no one was really focused on Latin food,” states Hoffmann, who launched her bilingual Delicioso brand with Simply Delicioso on the Food Network and the Cooking Channel, as well as Un Minuto Delicioso on Galavision. “My philosophy is everyday food with a Latin twist, something people can easily prepare that’s healthy and fresh. I believe in trying to eat as natural as possible, but with great flavor!”

That commitment to healthy cooking with comfort and ease led to Hoffmann partnering with T-Fal to develop her own Latin-influenced cookware and appliance line, Simply Delicioso by Ingrid Hoffmann, which includes a paella pan, calderos of different sizes and a pressure cooker.

“My cookware line comes from the same place as my recipes; I’m all about practical living,” asserts Hoffmann. “I’m always thinking about how to make life easier… how to help people save time and money and still eat healthy.”

It’s a never-ending mission for the hard-working Hoffmann, who is currently writing a book that she calls “very personal” while developing appetizing recipes and culinary content for her multi-platform Delicioso brand. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s not glamorous work; it’s a lot of sacrifice,” states Hoffmann. “But I do it for so many hours a day because I love what I do!”

It’s that commitment to sharing her passion for cooking and entertaining with the world that has made Hoffmann simply the best bilingual expert in Latin cuisine.

Tom Castañeda

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, Celebrity, Feature - South Tampa, Feature Articles, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Author, Book, Celebrity, Cooking Channel, Cookware, Food, Food Network, Ingrid Hoffmann, Latin, Latina, Latino, Recipee, Restaurant, Television, The High/Low Project, Tom Castañeda, Un Minuto Delicioso

Environs – Your Bedroom – Haven or Headache

April 16, 2012 By Cheryl Perotti 29 Comments

Cheryl Perotti

Mmm, yes! It is spring cleaning time and I want to talk about your bedroom and (yuck)… closet. You know, the bedroom that never looks inviting because it stays messy (except maybe when company is coming) and that closet that holds your shoes and clothes and is never, ever big enough! Well there are solutions, so let’s get creative.

Keeping your master suite organized is the key to its serenity. First item- a bed that is simple to make is a bed more likely to get made! This puts coverlets and duvets high on my list. Pull them up, straighten and smooth your bed pillows or store them, toss on any decorative shams and accent pillows and you are done. This is at most a 3 minute chore and makes all the difference in the world.

Providing storage is the second key to success. Benches at the foot of your bed, oversized nightstands often called bachelors chests, and furnishings that take advantage of height offer a few ways to create more space than you may already have. Adding to that list, places for easily stored and easily accessible personal items such as cell phones, keys, wallets, and jewelry will help ensure that your clothing and personal effects get put away. Let’s be realistic, if you have to cram clothing into an overstuffed dresser or have not left space available in a drawer or decorative box for your miscellaneous items, they are going to be a part of your everyday clutter.

Bedroom Photo

There is a bevy of other conveniences that can make your bedroom work for you instead of against you. A convenient hamper for your laundry, plus storage for reading material, eye glasses and the TV remote will ensure that those items won’t end up accessorizing your night stands or the floor.
If your closet is painfully small you can add hanging space with an old fashioned armoire. And don’t forget to utilize under bed space featuring a platform bed with drawers or simply storage boxes that slide out easily.

Walk in closets can be easily improved with a pull out hanging bar to temporarily park the dry cleaning you just brought home, the outfit you are going to be wearing that day, or the clothes you are packing for a trip. Decorative wall hooks allow you to temporarily park your robe or hoodie and a well organized assortment of shelving and hanging space, including shoe and handbag storage, is easily achieved with the assortment of closet hardware available. To tackle this project yourself, measure the linear feet of clothing that hangs in your closet, separating the shorter pieces like tops from the longer items, and plan your hanging space accordingly, providing double rows for the shorter clothing. Also count your shoes and other items, allowing approximately 8” of shelving space per pair or look for shoe trees and other creative solutions that fit your closet.

I realize that economics and space dictate which of these solutions might work for you but, if nothing else, just put in that 3 little minutes making your bed, toss your robe or pj’s on a hook, stack your reading material in a floor basket and provide that drawer or some attractive containers for your dresser top to toss in the personal stuff. Add a few candles and a little night music….you may will be well on your way to a serene retreat…and don’t you deserve that?

Cheryl Perotti
Fountainhead Design

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, Home, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Bedroom, Cheryl Perotti, Decorating, Home, Home Accessories, Home Decor, Home Furnishings, South Tampa, Tampa

Zig-Zagging Your Diet to Eat, Look, and Live Better

April 16, 2012 By Linda Baldwin 1,191 Comments

It’s so hard to find a diet you can stick to, much less live with, for long enough to see real changes in your waistline. Like most of us, I’ve been looking for that diet for most of my adult life, because I love food.

Panache Vue' Magazine - South Tampa - Hotspots

Believe me when I tell you – as a chef, caterer, and a lifelong student of nutrition, I really love food. And I don’t believe you have to sacrifice flavor or satisfaction while cutting calories.

When I heard of the “Zig-zag” diet weightlifters used, I was intrigued. Here’s a diet in which you aren’t stuck with the same 1200 calories every day for months on end. Instead, you vary your caloric and carbohydrate intake, which not only boosts your metabolism and avoids those resolve-shattering plateaus, it gives you more room in your diet to eat the variety of foods you need to maintain a healthy body. You can even enjoy dessert now and then. Now that’s a diet I can live with.

Weight lifters use “Zig-zagging” to build more muscle while losing fat at the same time. But any dieter can use the same principles to jump start her own metabolism to keep losing weight. Not only will Zig-zagging keep your metabolism moving, you’ll feel healthier, stronger, and have more energy than you would if you stuck to the same low-calorie diet plan.

The next time you hit a weight loss plateau, try this: Eat low calories for two to three days, then high calories for two to five days. Then return to your low calorie diet. On the high days, increase your fat intake and complex carbs – whole grain pasta, fruits, beans, and starchy vegetables. On the low days, stay away from starchy carbs and return to lean proteins and greens.

For example, if your normal diet calorie count is 1200, increase that to 1400 on the high days, and decrease to 1100 on the low days – then try experimenting with more cardio with higher calorie counts on the high days. But be warned: Do not extend the low calorie days past three – your body will go into starvation mode, making weight loss more difficult.

The Zig-zag diet is heavily dependent on exercise, especially cardio, because it’s not just food that affects your metabolism, it’s your activity level. Daily cardio workouts are critical, or those high calorie days will make you gain weight. You’ve got energy to burn – use it!

My favorite part about this diet plan is that it takes away the guilt of going out to eat with my friends once in a while. A couple of restaurant splurges during the high days doesn’t hurt my diet at all – as long as I maintain my cardio workouts and switch back to the low calorie part of the cycle later.

However, don’t let this become an excuse to eat unhealthy foods – it’s not carte blanche for donuts! In order to look better, feel better, and live better, keep eating whole foods and good fats.

Linda Baldwin

Linda Baldwin, is a Credentialed Diet & Nutrition Expert and a Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) whose skills have been honed by 25 years in the catering, restaurant, and event production industry. She is know as local foodie, ultra healthy prepared foods specialist, educator – columnist and creator of Amore and Amore To-Go a lifestyle company, based in South Tampa since 2006. She leads a team of professionals that include chefs, and educators in the field of health and wellness.

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay, Wine & Dine Tagged With: Diet, Dieting, Dining, Food, Gourmet, Health, Linda Baldwin, Nutrition, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Weight loss, Zig-Zag Diet

Changing Lives… One Smile at a Time

April 16, 2012 By Nina Stanley 30 Comments

Dr. Paul Duryea

Dr. Paul R. Duryea is not your typical Orthodontist, there is so much more to this gracious man that many don’t know. His smile lights up every room he walks into and just exudes friendliness and happiness, he’s someone you just want to get to know better!

His background is interesting and his life’s accomplishments even more so. Dr. Duryea had gone thru four years of Dental School at the University of Detroit at which he graduated as Valedictorian and with Summa Cum Laude distinction. He started his private practice in 1981 and was the 1st full time Orthodontist in Palm Harbor! He treats not only adolescent patients, but also has a very large adult practice.

The scope of his practice is from minor correction with appliances to the correction of severe dental and skeletal problems with the need for jaw surgery. He is a Preferred Provider of Invisalign and has been for 10 years.

Dr. Duryea got involved in Orthodontics in a very odd way. He had completed his Dental School clinical requirements by the end of his junior year.

“Because of that fact I was asked to find “something to do” for my senior year, I had decided I wanted to become an Oral surgeon initially, but was attracted to the Orthodontic department to finish up my senior year before applying to a surgery program. I became very interested in Orthodontics because of treating a wide range of patients and was very interested in Surgical Orthodontics. By the time I completed my fourth year of Dental school, I had completed the clinical requirements of the masters Program in Orthodontics. I never applied to the Orthodontic Program formally and was asked into the program by the Chairman of the Department. As an enticement, I was offered to run the Chairman’s private practice as a first year graduate student. I completed the program with not only a certificate in Orthodontics, but also a Master’s Degree in Orthodontics”.

Dr. Duryea’s primary focus is to offer the highest standard of Orthodontic treatment in a casual and intimate setting. His practice is different from many others in that he has a small but well trained staff of four, 2 as administrative assistants and 2 that are certified Orthodontic Assistants who take personal time with every patient.

There are no satellite offices, and he is in the same office all of their normal business hours. He sees to all emergencies himself, unless he is out of town golfing or lecturing. One of his goals is to stay on time. Since his patients arrange their day around their Orthodontic appointment, Dr. Duryea is respectful of all of his patient’s time and maintains their appointment on time!

His patients come from a very large geographic area, from Pinellas to Pasco. His associations and affiliations are too many to mention. Dr. Duryea continues to offer state of the art in Orthodontic treatments and anticipates bringing in an associate in the near future.

One of his most rewarding and memorable work related experiences involved a 17 year old young lady with not only a severe malocclusion (bad bite), but a severe skeletal problem that was a major contributing factor to her bite. During their initial consultation, Dr. Duryea knew her problem was very severe. She did not look at him and said nothing. Sadly, she was totally lacking self-confidence. But, after two years of Orthodontic treatment and corrective surgery was completed, her Mom took him aside and gave him a big hug filled with love and gratitude! Her daughter finally looked like the rest of the family. “The most amazing part was during her retention phase of treatment. She would come in all smiles and was amazed how her social life had improved. Her self-confidence soared! That’s what makes what I do so rewarding. To be able to profoundly change a person’s life by restoring their smile and facial appearance is unbelievable and gratifying”, states Dr. Duryea.

Dr. Duryea’s family life is another great accomplishment. Married to Nan, his best friend for 37 years, they have raised 2 great kids, Becky and Scott. Paul and Nan’s newest treasure is grandson Harrison.

Paul’s hobbies include Travel, Cooking, Golf, and of course Halloween! He is our very own, Walt Disney! For the past 19 years, he personally builds a display outside of his house call the “Mansion of the Macabre”. It takes a month to set up and take down and is open for only 2 nights a year. He does this as a fund raiser for Susan G. Komen, For the Cure and The Suncoast Hospice. There is no admission fee; they only accept donations to one of these charities every year. He’s been told by more than one visitor, it’s the “Disney of Palm Harbor” It truly is his labor of love!

Dr. Paul Duryea is so many things to so many of us. Caring and compassionate, loving, and always striving to be better and do what is best for others. He is a role model to all and someone we can all learn from. He changes lives.

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, Entrepreneur - ST, Health, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Braces, Dentist, Dentistry, Entrepreneur, Health, Orthodontist, Palm Harbor, Paul Duryea

Beauty and the Beat – Tamara Sky

March 19, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 270 Comments

Introducing Model-Turned-Mixtape-Master Tamara Sky

During her childhood, Tamara Sky was completely captivated by music, including salsa, 80s, rock ‘n’ roll and disco. The Puerto Rican beauty listened to everything, including her father’s collection of old records.

“When I was about 4 years old, I raged to one of my dad’s ‘60s records, Surfin’ Bird by The Trashmen,” recalls the 27-year-old model and professional disc jockey with a giggle. “In my teen years, I listened to metal, drum & bass and reggae. To this day, I really enjoy music with Latin and disco influences.”

Tamara Sky - Photo: Charis Kirchheimer

With such an eclectic ear, it should come as no surprise that Sky moved to Miami—a city bursting at the seams with mind-blowing music—at the age of 19. But she didn’t actually relocate to the Capital of the Americas to work in music.

Tamara Sky - Photo: Joel Alvarez, Venge Media *

“I moved to Miami to pursue a modeling career,” states Sky, who has worked with brands like LOVE+MADE, Luxirie by LRG and Stüssy. “Miami reminded me of Puerto Rico’s beach vibe; and I liked how free-spirited and open-minded people were. Making the move was definitely a pivotal moment in my life. I was in Puerto Rico studying accounting, which I’d probably be doing today if I’d stayed there.”

Tamara Sky It’s hard to picture Sky crunching numbers, especially knowing the stunning beauty—who was featured in Ocean Drive magazine, became a Playboy Playmate of the month and appeared on E!’s reality TV show The Girls Next Door—was born to strike a pose. And, Sky has capitalized on her success as a model to take her deejaying career to new heights.

“I’ve always been passionate about music, but I didn’t wake up one day saying, ‘I want to be a deejay.’ Honestly, it never crossed my mind,” admits Sky, who dated a turntablist who would inspire her to become a disc jockey. “After watching him nerd out, it just came about organically. And, once I started, I couldn’t stop. I was practicing five hours a day, even after starting to deejay at clubs. I was focused on being good at it!”

It’s that commitment to her craft that has made Sky a highly sought-after deejay. In recent years, she’s landed high profile gigs, including playing at Donald Trump’s birthday party and sharing the stage with industry superstars like Tiësto, Paul van Dyk and The Crystal Method.

“I get to travel and experience new cultures, which is something I have always wanted to do. The countries I visit and the events I work at are very diverse, everything from underground parties to high-profile events, which fits my personality,” proclaims Sky. “But my biggest reward is establishing myself as an artist through the eyes of my peers. I love getting the opportunity to perform alongside other artists that I respect, that inspire me.”

Tamara Sky Sky’s now inspiring others with her own mind-blowing mixtapes, like Jet Lag and Lil Death, which have been commissioned by brands like Casio G-Shock and We Are Handsome.

“I like to tell a story with each of them and make sure there are levels of meaning and intention. They all come with a vibe, theme, title and cover art that I personally design to convey their respective message,” asserts Sky. “I like using movie samples and some of my rare music finds to make them even more unique. And I focus on making cinematic intros and unforgettable endings.”

Even though Sky has experienced tremendous success as a model, deejay and mixtape master, she’s not planning to settle for the status quo.

“I’m never content with what I do,” admits Sky, who is currently working on her own music as a singing artist. “If I achieve something I’ll be searching for the next thing. I believe that the key for success.”

With that dogged determination, coupled with her ceaseless creativity, there’s no doubt the sky is the limit for this dazzling deejay.

For more about Tamara Sky, visit www.DJTamaraSky.com

Hair: Rock Paper Scissors Salon – Make Up: Art of Beauty by Sunha – Wardrobe: Fused Fashion, Saks Fifth Avenue Tampa – Production: Parisa Soleimani/P.S. Promotions – Photographer: Joel Alvarez, Venge Media – Location: The Playboy Club, Miami Beach – Cover Picture Photographer: Charis Kirchheimer

Tom Castañeda

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, Feature - South Tampa, Feature Articles, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: DJ, Fashion, Fashion Model, Fashion Show, Fashion Week, Hispanic, Latina, Miami Fashion Week, Mixtape, Mixtape-Master, Model, Playboy, Playmate, Tamara Sky, Tom Castañeda

Meet HGTV’s Event Planner Extraodinaire Dina Manzo

March 19, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 248 Comments

Life of the Party

She may have chosen to leave The Real Housewives of New Jersey during the hit Bravo series’ second season, but Dina Manzo never really left the public eye. Instead the noted interior designer, event planner and philanthropist maximized on her status as a beloved reality TV star to expand her business empire and become one of HGTV’s most popular personalities.

Dina Manzo

“It’s so amazing; I truly feel like part of the family,” declares the 40-year-old charismatic superwoman about her experience as the cable network’s newest star. “I have a voice and people are listening; I love what I do!”

Manzo—who didn’t plan on returning to television after Housewives—is now starring in her own HGTV series. Launched last September, Dina’s Party spotlights her impressive interior design and event planning skills. In each episode, Manzo and her team transform a client’s space into something singular and stunning to celebrate an important moment or occasion.

“I love the challenge that comes right after that first inspiration, that first idea,” admits Manzo. “It’s such a rewarding feeling to bring that vision to life and celebrate the finished product. It’s so fast-paced and every week brings something new and different. I feel more creative than ever!”

Manzo’s ceaseless creativity isn’t some newfound talent though; it’s actually a gift she inherited from her mother.

“She was all about making our home a lovely place to be,” recalls Manzo, the youngest of 11 children. “I grew up watching her paint walls and make curtains; and I remember being very young and redoing my own bedroom with my stuffed animals and moving everything around once a week. It was not normal!”

Dina Manzo

Despite that natural talent, Manzo didn’t pursue a career in interior design and event planning right away. Instead she worked as a makeup artist, something she might still be doing had her doctor not ordered her to go on bed rest during her pregnancy.

“I was bored out of my mind and realized I needed to do something, so I started taking basic interior design classes,” remembers Manzo, who later continued her studies while working for a furniture company called Expressions. “But I quickly learned that in this industry, you either have a natural talent or you don’t.”

Realizing her true calling, a self-assured Manzo launched her design career with complete conviction. She even side-stepped small jobs to work on “mega mansions.”

“I’d help build a 20,000 square-foot home from the ground up with the builder and the architect,” states Manzo. “It was really interesting to start from the foundation and carry the feeling through the entire house, and I’m glad I had that experience. It has helped me in all aspects of design, knowing what really goes into the structure of a home, the layout and paying attention to the details.”

It’s that meticulousness that led Manzo to transition from interior design to event planning. Along with executing events with her then-boyfriend Tommy—a co-owner of Housewives haunt The Brownstone—Manzo planned her own wedding, which was featured on the VH1’s My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding.

“When I accomplished it and actually made the place look gorgeous, I realized I was pretty damn good at event planning,” proclaims Manzo. “I went from planning a wedding ceremony for 50 to one for 750 people, all in a matter of four weeks with VH1 cameras following my every move. And, I realized I had a natural gift.”

So in 2005, Manzo wrapped up her projects, phased out her design business and launched her event planning company, Designer Affair, where even her 16-year-old daughter Lexi lends a hand.

“She helps set up parties,” says the proud mother. “She loves my team; they’re like her big brothers and sisters. She’s a part of it all and it’s working out great!” But there’s more to Manzo’s life than party planning. She’s also the founder of Project Ladybug, a non-profit organization that enriches the lives of children receiving treatment for serious and life-threatening illnesses.

Dina Manzo - Party Planning

“I toured the hospital where my husband and daughter were born, and I saw a need for these children who were coming for treatment with no winter coats and no shoes on their feet,” remembers Manzo. “It just broke my heart and I thought this is who I want to help. So I said, ‘I’m an event planner and I throw a damn good party, so why not throw one for a great cause.’ And, the charity has grown by leaps and bound, we’re now even national!”

So what’s next for this empowered businesswoman with a heart of gold?

“I’m coming out with my own line of pillows, throws and candles; and I’m writing a lifestyle and design book,” announces Manzo. “I dream big; and I think Martha Stewart needs a younger, hipper replacement.”

It’s that passion, determination and superwoman spirit that could see Manzo unseating Martha Stewart sooner than later!

For more about Dina Manzo, visit www.DinaManzo.com.

Tom Castañeda

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, 2012, Celebrity, Feature - North Pinellas/Pasco, Feature - South Tampa, Feature Articles, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, March/April 2012 - North Pinellas/Pasco, March/April 2012 - Tampa Bay, North Pinellas / Pasco, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Author, Book, Celebrity, Dina Manzo, Get It Sold, HGTV, Home, Home & Garden Television, Home & Garden TV, Home Accessories, Home Decor, Home Design, Home Furnishings, Television, The High/Low Project, Tom Castañeda

Panache People to Know – Tampa Artist – Taylor Ikin

March 19, 2012 By Nina Stanley 284 Comments

Taylor Ikin

PV: Why did you choose this business or line of work?
Taylor: I did not choose it…it embraced me. Looking for friends while living on an island in the Caribbean, I joined a group of painters. And so my life began.

PV: What is your primary role or duty in your company?
Taylor: As an artist, I am a one man band. I am a studio of one.

PV: What sets you apart from your competition?
Taylor: : I am known as an environmentalist with a paint brush. I try to educate, inform and encourage the viewer to preserve for the future.

PV: What would you be doing now if it weren’t for your business, taking money out of the equation?
Taylor: Painting and teaching art are my job and my pleasure. I would not change a thing.

PV: What do you do for fun?
Taylor: Anything that has to do with people, especially relating to the arts, a party and travel!

PV: Who or what is most important to you, personally or professionally?
Taylor: My family, friends and doggie Abby are most important, followed by doing the best work I can. My long term relationship with Nuance Galleries in Tampa has also given me the much appreciated personal and professional support.

PV: A little secret about you that would shock those who don’t know you!
Taylor: My full name is Anna Robinson Taylor Newton (Gray) Ikin!

PV: What are your personal and professional mottos?
Taylor: “Defer not to tomorrow to be wise, for tomorrow’s sun may never rise!” unknown

PV: When you were five, what was your dream to be when you grew up?
Taylor: My dream was to have horses and especially show jumpers.

PV: Have you achieved all or most of your dreams thus far?
Taylor: Yes. I had a horse; I have enjoyed painting all over the world, including 18 years in Antigua. I teach workshops and lecture around the country and the class I teach at the Dunedin Fine arts Center is a total joy. The public recognition of my work is the icing on the cake.

Taylor Ikin is widely known for her work on YUPO, a synthetic tree free surface. Her environmentally sensitive images have been exhibited in Museums throughout the South as well as Florida house in Washington DC. Her unique approach and joy in making art are the frequent topic of articles in multiple art magazines, books and the local press, and can be enjoyed through her DVD, Dancing With YUPO. She has taught regionally, nationally, and in the Caribbean as well as 15 years at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art and recently the Beach Art Center. Ikin now teaches at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center in Dunedin, FL.

She has served on the Boards of the Arts Council of Hillsborough County and was the President and a Board Member of the Florida Watercolor Society for a total of 16 years.
Ikin is currently on the Board of the Gasparilla Festival of Arts, the Education Committee of the Tampa Museum of Art and the Restoration Committee of the Tampa Theater. She was awarded Signature Membership in the Florida Watercolor Society as well as the Suncoast Watercolor Society and is an award winning member of the Florida Artist Group. In 2012 her work was juried into the National Water, www.TaylorIkin.com

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, Culture & Arts, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, Panache People to Know, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Art, Art Gallery, Artist, Dunedin, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, Fine Art, Gallery, Painter, Paintings, Tampa Bay, Taylor Ikin, Watercolor

In Full Bloom

March 19, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 963 Comments

Cultivate Your Style in Spring’s Fadtastic Floral Patterns

In Full Bloom Spring is in the air; and it appears that everything’s coming up roses (and azaleas, and tulips).

After several seasons of fashion offerings in a tomboy style— male wardrobe staples like military jackets, boyfriend jeans and combat boots—this spring marks the triumphant return of femininity. No longer borrowing from the boys, designers like Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch and Ralph Lauren are bringing back the pretty—everything from ladylike short suits in softer sorbet shades to flapper-like dresses inspired by the Roaring Twenties.

But this season’s ka-blooming floral print trend is undoubtedly the girliest of the bunch! After all, is there anything more feminine than a beautiful floral pattern?

This season, designers like Giambattista Valli, Anna Sui and Matthew Williamson have taken a fresh approach to florals, seeding their spring/summer collections with oversized blooms, asymmetrical motifs and wallpaper-worthy botanicals in a variety of chic colors, everything from pale pastels to oh-so-noticeable neons. The end result: marvelously modernized flower-patterned dresses, shirts and pants that will make you feel flirty and fabulous.

Even on-trend celebrities like Anne Hathaway, Zoë Saldaña and Taylor Swift are seeing life through rose-colored glasses. The stylish starlets have been spotted expertly rocking the floral trend in their everyday lives and on the red carpet.

Minimalist-Chic

Not really the “Mary, Mary quite contrary” type? Don’t worry; you really don’t have to be covered in flora from head to toe to stand out in the style crowd. Designers like Roland Mouret have fashioned some attention-grabbing garments with minimal blooms that offer a tip of the hat to the floral pattern trend.

Pumped Up!
If you aren’t afraid to introduce some considerable color into your wardrobe, you’re in luck! This spring, designers like Proenza Schouler and Thakoon have infused their flower-heavy collections with bright island colors like aquamarine, yellow and tangerine. For a very of-the-moment look, pairing two vivid shades in the same hue has never looked fresher.

Supersize It!
Maybe a wetter than normal winter is to blame; but some of this season’s most eye-catching botanical prints come in oversized blooms. Designers like Diane von Furstenberg, Adam Lippes and Paul Smith have produced some fashionable pieces that feature massive motifs. For the bold at heart, they are definitely stand-alone standouts. For the less daring, they can be paired with a solid-colored blazer or cardigan to downplay the drama. Either way, you’ll definitely be big on style. Just remember that oversized blooms are typically most flattering in lighter tones.

Mix ‘n Match
If you’re the type who takes fashion risks, why not mix and match two different prints together. Mismatched floral patterns can add a little rebellious flair to your look; while combining a botanical print with stripes or plaids can create a punk-meets-pretty effect. Neat tailored lines will help keep you looking sophisticated!

Garden Formal
Flowery patterns aren’t just for casual clothing! Even formal attire like evening wear, suits and gowns are getting the floral treatment. During this year’s runway shows in Milan, Paris and New York, several designers introduced red carpet worthy dresses featuring flowery flourishes. Not only are they elegant and romantic showstoppers, but they’re lavishly ladylike!

So whether you decide to take a subtle or extreme approach, there’s no doubt you’ll make your wardrobe blossom with feminine flair by embracing this season’s petal-perfect trend! Happy harvesting!

Tom Castañeda

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, A La Moda, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Fashion, Fashion Show, Features, Floral, Pattern, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tom Castañeda

Your Money & Your Life

March 19, 2012 By Dr. James Pitts 22 Comments

Dr. James R. Pitts

In the last column we discussed reaching your “Financial Number”. This is the amount you will need to support your family when you retire. The big question is “How do I get there?” There is no magic bullet in accumulating wealth; however, there are some strategies that will propel you faster toward your goal.

First, start early. That means now if you haven’t already. History shows us how important the power of time is in building up wealth. The correlating factor to time is the power of compounding interest. Einstein once commented that compounding interest was one of the most amazing principles he’d ever seen and he was a pretty smart guy! Some people never fully get to see the really good part of compounding interest because they start too late or give up before it has time to work.

The next principle is to save and invest money automatically. By setting up an automatic draft from your bank account into your investments, the money gets there every month. Once you do this, you don’t think about it. You don’t miss it and it goes automatically to work for you. For most people, if they have to write a check every month, it is less likely to happen. By investing automatically, you are also invoking the principle of dollar cost averaging. This strategy allows you to buy differing amounts or shares of an investment with the same amount of dollars every month. By doing so, you may lower the average cost per share by buying more when the price is low and buying less when the price is higher.

Most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get interested is when no one else is. You can’t buy what is popular and do well.

–Warren Buffett

The next principle of investing gets less attention but I feel is so important. This is the technique of rebalancing. By rebalancing we have a preset allocation of assets, for example 60% stock and 40% bond. Once a year (or quarter) we will look at the portfolio and sell some of the asset class that has increased in value and buy some of the asset class that has decreased. By doing so, we are keeping our 60/40 balance. We are also invoking another principle of wealth building-Buy Low and Sell High. Most folks buy something when it is looking great then miss the increase it had. They sell when the investment bottom drops out. Most investors do the exact opposite of what you should do. They buy high and sell low.

http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/value/archive/investors-lose-big-with-market-timing.html
Dollar cost averaging does not guarantee profit or protection from loss.

In our next issue we will continue our discussion on wealth building strategies. Until then, “Happy Investing”!

Dr. James Pitts is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative and Financial Planner. He ran a successful dental practice for 25 years and by using financial planning techniques and investing wisely, he was able to retire at 51 financially independent and debt free. His passion is to help other people reach their financial goals and live the best life.

Call to schedule a free, no obligation consult or 2nd opinion.
Dr. James R. Pitts
727-686-4068
james.pitts@jwcemail.com

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, Business, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Business, Dunedin, Finance, Financial Planner, Investing, Investment, Investors, James Pitts, Money, Retirement, Stock Market, Stocks

Commitment, Pride & Experience – S.T. Anthony Contracting

March 18, 2012 By Nina Stanley 25 Comments

Julia Anthony, Benjamin Anthony, and Stephen T. Anthony - Photo: Nicole Geller

Steven T. Anthony literally has business in his blood having grown up spending his summers working with his father who is a general contractor and his uncle, a custom home builder. In the summer of 1997, he decided to branch out by starting S.T. Anthony Contracting, Inc., a full service home improvement and building company based in the Tampa Bay Area.

He chose this business because of a fascination with the process of transforming something that is considered at the end of its usefulness into a thing of beauty and ready for people to enjoy. It was a natural fit for him to carry on the family business while helping people improve their homes through providing quality construction services. With the economy the way it is today, clients are happy with the affordability of their services.

The difference from other contractors and their competition is that Steven has a strong desire to provide his lifelong expertise with a high level of professionalism during the build/remodel process. They strive to make the customers home improvement project experience a pleasant one without the worries that may occur when beginning a renovation or improvement project. It is his priority to be present on every job site and to personally lead the project.

In five years, it is the hope that the company be recognized, respected and trusted in the South Tampa community as well as continually developing their reputation for high quality home improvements and superior service. They want to be the first one a client thinks of as a referral to a future customer. In the long run like any other successful business, being able to employ and serve more customers is a goal.

Steven volunteered recently alongside other general contractors using donated construction materials to assist a homeowner who would not have been able to do necessary repairs. Giving back is a big part of their business. The company belongs to Tampa Bay Business Builders and the Better Business Bureau.

The success of the business is a direct result of the planning and dedication that their family puts into ensuring that each of their clients has a positive, memorable experience working with us. He is married to his childhood sweetheart and biggest fan, Julia, and is father to son, Benjamin. Also in the family are two ShihTzus, Max and Bailey.

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneur - ST, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Construction, Entrepreneur, Features, General Contractor, Home, Home Improvement, S.T. Anthony Contracting, South Tampa, Steven T. Anthony, Tampa, Tampa Bay

New South Tampa Hotspots at Every Price Point

March 18, 2012 By Linda Baldwin 19 Comments

I don’t know if there has ever been a study of how people eat at different times of their lives. But DINKS (Dual-Income-No-Kids) and college students, young professionals, proud parents and empty-nesters definitely have different dietary requirements. It’s been a good month for all of them here in South Tampa, because it seems like the perfect restaurant has opened up for each.

Panache Vue' Magazine - South Tampa - Hotspots

Foodie Finds for Empty-Nesters, DINKS & Young Professionals

Boca – Kitchen – Bar – Market (901 W. Platt Street; 813.254.7070)

Having opened February 3rd, Boca-Kitchen-Bar-Market is almost as fresh as its produce, which gets picked up not from frozen storage facilities, but off of boats (like red snapper from “The Fish Coffin”) and straight from local farms (like quail eggs from Lake Meadows Ranch). Seasonal herbs and vegetables are picked and delivered daily to show up in salads, flatbreads, and possibly even the Staff Meal – which is whatever the chef feels like cooking that night. Wines are from sustainable vineyards, and little touches like cardboard rounds for coasters, in keeping with the restaurant’s environmentally conscious convictions. The tight table arrangement encourages conversation among the communal and chatty crowd and the bar. The young, hip, vibe has packed the house since it opened, so be sure to make a reservation.

The Manhattan Dolce Bar & Bistro (4328 West El Prado Blvd; 813.832.3388)

There hasn’t been anything like this in the neighborhood: an upscale, adult bar with a full tapas style menu. It’s a great place for stopping after dinner, since it’s open from 5pm to 1am, or you can choose from an eclectic menu, featuring short rib tacos or Sambuca lemongrass mussels, and have plenty to share. I love stopping by for the after-dinner specialty drinks, like the Italian coffee. Yummy! The bar is stocked to provide fresh fruit and muddled cocktails, along with beer and wine, and even the desserts are liquored up, like the bread pudding soufflé with Irish whiskey sauce. I think it’s the perfect girls-night out, or hot date night spot. Hit up their happy hour Monday through Friday from 5pm to 8pm, and enjoy nightly live entertainment. Their goal is to be the ultimate getaway in South Tampa – let’s help them do it!

College Students & Families

PDQ (2207 South Dale Mabry Highway; 813.254.737)

When the nearby high school lets out, it’s like an exodus to make it straight over to PDQ. The food is fresh and served up fast and hot in a friendly and fun environment. The retro soda fountain looks like an old-time coke vending machine, a detail few teens recognize but love anyways. Don’t expect to find burgers at this joint – this place is strictly for the birds: chicken and turkey. Chicken tender dipping sauces, salad dressings and fries are made on-site and nothing is prepackaged. Personally, I think the chicken tenders taste every bit as good as their sit-down restaurant competition. And if you’re wondering, PDQ stands for “Pretty Darn Quick.”

Irish 31 (1611 West Swann Ave; 813.250.0031)

Everything on their lunch menu is $8 and they have a kids menu. Ready to go yet? With a mission to set the standard for Irish Pubs by blending a love of the traditional (Mulligan stew, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash) with the homey atmosphere of a living room on a Sunday during an NFL game (if that living room had 16 televisions), Irish 31 is unique to say the least. Keep an eye out for the almost nightly drink specials.

Linda Baldwin

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay, Wine & Dine Tagged With: Boca - Kitchen Bar Market, Dining, Gourmet, Hot Spots, Irish 31, Linda Baldwin, PDQ, Restaurant, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay, The Manhattan Dolce Bar & Bistro

New Study – Water Softeners Among Very Best Household Energy Savers

March 18, 2012 By Matthew and Jori Zarra 248 Comments

Matthew and Jori Zarra

Water softeners can save significant amounts of money and energy in the home, a major new study by the independent Battelle Institute revealed. Softeners help preserve the efficiency of water heaters and major appliances and keep showers and faucets unclogged, the report found. The study was commissioned by the Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF) in 2009. Battelle Memorial Institute is a renowned independent testing and research facility dedicated to applied science and technology development.

Among some of the key findings of the study:

Gas & Electric water heaters: Gas & Electric storage tank household water heaters operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. On the other hand, hard water can lead to as much as a 48% loss of efficiency in water heaters. Up to 30 pounds of calcium carbonate rocklike scale can accumulate in these heaters over time, according to the study. The life of the heating element will be shortened due to scale buildup because of increased operating temperature of the heating element. Such scale adversely affects the water heater’s performance.

Tank-less heaters: Indoor instantaneous gas water heaters (tankless heaters) operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. The study found that tankless water heaters completely failed to function because of scale plugging in the downstream plumbing after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water use on 26 gpg hard water. Softened water saves 34% of costs compared to operating on 20 grains per gallon (gpg) and saves 47% compared to operation on 30 gpg hard water.

Showerheads and faucets: Showerheads on soft water maintained a brilliant luster and full flow. Faucets on softened water performed well throughout the study; nearly as well as the day they were installed. Showerheads on hard water lost 75% of the flow rate in less than 18 months. Faucets on hard water could not maintain the specified 1.25 gallons per minute flow rate because of scale collection of the strainers. The strainers on the faucets using un-softened water were almost completely plugged after 19 equivalent days of testing.

Appliances: In the study, dishwashers and washing machines were operated for 30 days and 240 completed wash cycles on soft and hard water sources. The units using soft water were almost completely free of any water scale buildup. As the report states, they appeared as if they could be cleaned up to look like new with just a quick wipe down. The appearance of the inside of units using hard water showed the need for de-liming and cleaning due to the buildup of scale and deposits.

Contact Florida Water Treatment by phone @ 727-736-2747 or visit us on the web @ www.flawatertreatment.com for all of your water treatment needs.

Study Source – Water Quality Association (WQA)

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, April 2012 - South Tampa, April 2012 – Tampa Bay, Green Living, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Energy Savings, Features, Florida Water Treatment, Green Living, Home, Jori Zarra, Matthew Zarra, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay

Why am I Harping on the HARP 2 Program???

March 16, 2012 By JoAnn Rooney 50 Comments

JoAnn Rooney

Because over a million homeowners may be eligible for this refinance and it comes out this month in March.

The HARP program is designed to help people who have made good on their mortgage obligation through a period of severe economic stress and housing price declines. This program will refinance your 1st mortgage only. The HARP program will allow borrowers to refinance their current mortgage to today’s lower rates. This program is specifically for borrowers who are “underwater” on their mortgage.

Borrowers who fulfill the following criteria will, in general, qualify for the HARP 2 program

They must be current on their mortgage and have no record of a late payment within the last six months, and may only have had one late payment maximum over the past 12-month period.
The current loan-to-value ratio (LTV) must be higher than 80%.the mortgage must have been sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on or before May 31, 2009
The mortgage must not have already been refinanced through HARP in the past, unless it happens to be a Fannie Mae loan that underwent a HARP refinance between March and May 2009

Your mortgage must be owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to check it is as easy as going to these web sites and entering your information:
www.FannieMae.com/loanlookup www.FreddieMac.com/mymortgage

If Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac own your loan than you can apply for the HARP 2 on an owner occupied home, a second home or a rental property. It can be a single family home, a villa or a condo it does not matter. You can owe 250K on a home that is now worth 200K it does not matter. You can have multiple properties owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and they are all eligible.

If you check and your home is owned by either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac then call your current servicer (your servicer is who you are making your payments to) and ask them if your loan qualifies for a HARP 2 loan. Then ask them what rate and terms are they offering. I have clients who have called their servicers and have been offered lower rates, shorter terms, no appraisal and minimal closing costs.

If you have a second mortgage and that lender will subordinate then you can refinance the first mortgage. You can NOT include the second mortgage in the new loan. If you currently have MI insurance and Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac own the loan then you are eligible to refinance. You can not get back more than $250.00 at closing.

Consider a shorter term on your mortgage to pay off your loan faster and build equity. Rates on a 15 year mortgage are less than a 30 year term. If you have been paying on your mortgage for the past 3 years ask your servicer for a 27 year term instead of a 30 year term.

Whatever you do first check the two web sites above and then pick up the phone and call your current servicer and ask if they participate in the HARP 2 program and if they do get started. If your servicer does not offer the HARP 2 program then call me.

Call JoAnn Rooney today 727-787-2299 X 1
www.facebook.com/FLMortgageLady
www.twitter.com/FLMortgageLady

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, Business, March 2012 - South Tampa, March 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Borrowers, Business, Clearwater, Fannie Mae, Features, Florida, Freddie Mac, HAARP, HAARP 2, JoAnn Rooney, Lender, Mortgage, Mortgage Broker, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Real Estate, Realtor, Refinance, South Tampa, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Title Company

Makeover Maven – HGTV Star Sabrina Soto

February 22, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 251 Comments

Meet Interior Design Expert & HGTV Star Sabrina Soto

Sabrina Soto

During her nearly six-year career at HGTV, renowned interior design and staging expert Sabrina Soto has become one of the network’s brightest stars. And the popular host of shows like Get It Sold and The High/Low Project continues to expand her fan base with her effervescent personality, enterprising approach to design and ability to click with her clients.

“Every morning, I wake up and wonder if I’m dreaming,” exclaims Soto, a Miami-born first generation Cuban-American who credits her success to hard work, passion and a never-give-up attitude. “It’s the best job in the world!”

It should come as no shock that the 35-year-old star has landed a gig that allows her to create stunning spaces that inspire millions around the world. Soto inherited her considerable passion for design from her mother, Maria Soto, who ran a decorating, home staging and party planning business.

“Every weekend we would make crafts,” recalls Soto. “And I would just sit around and watch her put a room together or we would go shopping for clients. I just looked up to her and loved the whole design process. I was never bored in her presence.”

Soto credits her mother with teaching her an invaluable lesson that would lead to her developing an uncanny knack for designing breathtaking spaces, even on a limited budget.

“My mom always told me that no matter how much money you have, you can still create a beautiful space and be proud of where you live” divulges Soto, who has been featured in Time, USA Today, In Style and The New York Post. “And she would show me ways to have a beautiful home and atmosphere without breaking the bank.”

Sabrina Soto

Surprisingly, Soto didn’t immediately pursue a career in the industry, despite taking design classes at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I just never thought I could really make a business out of decorating,” admits Soto. “So I kind of did it on the side while I was working in real estate and marketing.”

Soto would eventually land television hosting roles for the likes of MTV and The Learning Channel, before finding her dream job on Craigslist.

“I saw this posting where they were looking for someone with television and real estate experience,” remembers Soto. “While meeting with the owner of the production company, I told him that I was also a designer and did staging work. He flipped because he was looking for a host for Get It Sold. One thing led to another and they cast me!”

In no time, Soto saw her popularity rise at HGTV. But after six seasons on the show, she knew it was time to let people see her true colors.

“If I painted one more room beige, I was going to die,” proclaims Soto, Target’s style expert for home—a role that gives her the opportunity to curate the company’s lines, put rooms together and make recommendations. “I love using bold colors on the walls in a room or through the accessories. I really love using different colors in unexpected ways!”

Along with allowing her to demonstrate her creativity through a variety of design styles, Soto’s latest show—The High Low Project—lets her work with unlimited and limited budgets in the same episode.

“I love being able to do a very high-end design and then recreate it for the budget the homeowners have,” says Soto, who believes the initial client consultation is the key to creating a perfect space, especially since they tend to contradict themselves with what they want and don’t want. “Sometimes I take a $30,000 room and turn it into a $3,000 room. To show people it’s completely doable with such a small budget—even if they get inspired by one project or one piece of the room—is wonderful!”

So what’s next for Soto? The release of her first book, Sabrina Soto Home Design: A Layer-by-Layer Approach to Turning Your Ideas into the Home of Your Dreams, in May.

“It basically takes the guesswork out of the process,” explains Soto, who had a LEED-accredited designation from the U.S. Green Building Council—one of only about 6,900 accredited interior designers worldwide. “Each chapter is a different layer and you just go through the process of how to put together a beautiful space.”

It’s just the latest chapter in the inspiring life of a design superstar living the dream while helping people around the world create their own dream homes.

Soto’s Renovation Recommendation

If you’re looking to redecorate or redesign a living space, Soto says it’s important to avoid rushing the process:

“Even though design shows are 22 minutes long, it takes a lot more planning than that,” declares Soto. “Sometimes when you rush to get it done, you make mistakes. And you spend more money than you have to. With patience comes good design and great deals!”

For more about Sabrina Soto, visit www.SabrinaSoto.com.

Tom Castañeda

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, Celebrity, Feature - South Tampa, Feature Articles, February 2012 - South Tampa, February 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Author, Book, Celebrity, Get It Sold, HGTV, Home, Home & Garden Television, Home & Garden TV, Home Accessories, Home Decor, Home Design, Home Furnishings, Sabrina Soto, Television, The High/Low Project, Tom Castañeda

Safari Style

February 22, 2012 By Tom Castaneda 274 Comments

Embrace the Next Season’s Haute Tribal Trend Now

New York Fashion Week - Donna Karan (Spring 2012)

The first day of spring may not be until March 20, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start converting your wardrobe now. And while you’re making the transition between seasons, why not unleash your wild side?

One of this season’s most popular fashion fads appears to be inspired by Meryl Streep’s classic film Out of Africa. Don’t worry though, embracing the tribal trend doesn’t mean having to sport saggy safari suits or lackluster khakis.

This season, designers like Donna Karan, Michael Kors and Zuhair Murad have created African-inspired styles with a modern twist. Their spring/summer collections feature pieces that combine the traditional earth colors that reflect the tones of the continent’s untamed landscape with magnetic color and high-octane prints. The end result: Afri-luxe looks that will breathe some fresh Sahara air into any plain Jane ensemble.

But don’t take my word for it! Pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly or People and you’ll undoubtedly see images of celebrities like Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian wearing exotic, tribal-print pieces that include intricate beading and crochet details.

Here are some ways to add a tribal-inspired twist to your wardrobe and go absolutely wild this spring:

Effortless Expedition
Designers like Oscar de la Renta and Derek Lam have all embraced the tribal trend and made it their own through a wide variety of vibrant patterns. If you’re not sure what silhouettes or colors will work best for your body type, remember to pick a simple shape since not all prints are the same. Try selecting two or three colors from the ethnic-inspired palette—like tan, gold and bronze—and work within those colors to keep your look classic and uncomplicated.

Tribal Trimmings
If you’re not sure how far you’re willing to go to introduce the tribal trend into your wardrobe or you’re just afraid of looking like Katherine Hepburn in The African Queen, consider warming up to the look with awe-inspiring accessories. Beaded bangles, wood rings and woven belts are a great way to start. But if you really want to stand out in the crowd, consider a bold statement necklace. Pair one with a cocktail dress for a night out or look equally chic wearing the same piece with a T-shirt and jeans.

To Dye For!
Traditionally, safari clothing is light-colored to help reflect the sun’s rays and blend in with the natural environment. But fashion brands like Bottega Veneta have strayed from the customary to infuse their tribal-inspired attire with spirited shades like red and tangerine—this season’s hottest hue. So if you’re ready to go bold, add some punch to your wardrobe by picking ethnic prints and patterns with a splash of color.

Milan Fashion Week - Bottega Veneta (Spring 2012) | Paris Fashion Week - Zuhair Murad Haute Couture (Spring-Summer 2012)

Touchy-Feely
While on the hunt for the perfect exotic print, why not invest in pieces with some texture—like shell beading, fringe and crochet? By sampling some of this season’s handmade and craft-like fabrics and styles, you’ll add a little depth and flair to your overall look.

Mix & Match
Now if you’re a fearless fashionista, consider mixing your newly acquired ethnic-patterned attire with animal print pieces to create a brasher look. Talk about experiencing the best of both worlds!

So whether you decide you’re more comfortable in feel-good earth tones or choose to pump up your style with rich tribal patterns and shapes in bold colors this spring, you’ll go on a first-class fashion expedition and you’ll be the queen of the urban jungle.

Tom Castañeda

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, A La Moda, February 2012 - South Tampa, February 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Fashion, Fashion Show, Fashion Week, Features, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tom Castañeda

Buzz Stop – In and Around Tampa Bay

February 22, 2012 By Karyn Anjali 38 Comments

Photos: Michael Blitch

Upcoming Events to Consider

The Tampa Museum of Art presents Worlds Apart: Myth & History, Gods & Mortals, Heroes & Hybrids form February 12th to the 15th.

The Florida Orchestra and The Studio@620 present the third season of “An Intimate Collaboration” on February 15th, March 14th and May 9th.

3rd Annual India International Film Festival of Tampa Bay will be held from February 17th to the 19th at Channelside Cinemas.

Don’t miss your chance to mingle with local and national celebrities at the 30th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic, Stars and Pars Gala and Auction on February 25th. Funds will benefit The Children’s Home, Inc.

Karyn Anjali

Filed Under: 2012, 2012, Buzz Stop, Events, February 2012 - South Tampa, February 2012 – Tampa Bay, South Tampa, Tampa Bay Tagged With: Event, Events, Features, Karyn Anjali, Redefining Masquerade, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay

Introducing Model-Turned-Mixtape-Master Tamara Sky

Life of the Party

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Meet Interior Design Expert & HGTV Star Sabrina Soto

Embrace the Next Season’s Haute Tribal Trend Now

PanacheVue' May 2013