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24 HELEN FRENCH Meet the acclaimed dancer now cast as a leading advocate for St. Pete’s arts community.
33 THE ORIGINALS We surveyed some of our favorite creatives on all things design and style.
46 PETER DAYTON This local maker crafts heirloom furniture meant to be treasured for generations.
58 CHEF’S TABLE Discover the talented team behind Fortu and Isu, two of St. Pete’s most exciting flavor destinations.
Here and on the cover: Helen French, photographed by Steven Kovich, www.kovich.com Wardrobe: Black Tie Shirt and Silvia Sheer Midi Trench in soft tulip black from Jackie Z Style Co., jackiezstyle.com, with Paul Black wide leg pant from Bobbles + Lace St. Pete, bobblesandlace.com
WELCOME
Putting together each new issue of the magazine is an opportunity not only to tell fresh and compelling stories but also to explore art and design in distinctive ways. Like a chef balancing flavors or an architect shaping an environment, we are mindful of each ingredient and the lasting impact of each decision on the final result. We’re constantly making choices about how to give our readers an inside view of a subject and create visual excitement by balancing great photography and inventive graphic design with the written word. We pride ourselves on looking past the noise of topics and stories already explored in other publications and offering fresh perspectives, bringing leading tastemakers together in unexpected ways and introducing new faces and topics that just may surprise you. We know that true beauty lies in curation, so we endeavor to create an experience that draws you in and gives you a reason to stay awhile. For our Design & Style issue, we invited some of our favorite local creators and original thinkers to share their perspectives on style, from the spaces they inhabit and the work they create to just what makes them tick. We went behind the scenes at Fortu and Isu, where culinary creativity becomes a form of storytelling, transforming meals into experiences. And for our cover, St. Petersburg Arts Alliance Executive Director Helen French got creative with us and was candid about her first year in the role and her vision for the future. The shoot also gave us an opportunity to showcase the offerings of some of our favorite local boutiques, whose distinct collections helps us explore our personal style. But this issue is about more than beautiful rooms, stylish outfits or perfectly prepared plates. It is about authentic and passionate pursuits, which can also be found in the traditions of a local furniture maker, the resilience of an organization working to protect Florida’s birds, the story of a family-run bodega woven into the fabric of its neighborhood and a chef determined to improve the food served to children throughout the state. These stories are an exploration of the creative ways we engage with the world around us. And we think that is the most interesting kind of style there is.
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HELEN FRENCH has transitioned seamlessly from a celebrated dancer and educator to a LEADING ADVOCATE FOR THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY, channeling her creative discipline into CIVIC LEADERSHIP.
Photography by STEVEN KOVICH Written and Styled by NICK STEELE If you were to say that Helen French has been lying down on the job since taking over one of the top leadership roles in one of the city’s leading arts organizations, you wouldn’t be wrong. But you wouldn’t be entirely right, either. French, a professional dancer who spent much of her life training to keep herself in top physical shape, finds the constraints of office life challenging at times. As the executive director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance (SPAA) and co-founder of the acclaimed BEACON dance series, she is using her formidable creative muscle to direct the future of our city’s entire cultural landscape. She explains that staying engaged with her artistic practice on a daily basis is very important for her mental, emotional and physical well-being. “Because so much of my day is spent at a desk, I have to be very intentional and make sure that I allow myself
time to move and dance. I do have a daily physical practice that consists of either yoga, ballet class, conditioning or strength training and I also continue to investigate my own choreographic voice and collaborate with other artists. It has been challenging for me to shift out of the dance studio and teaching to being at a desk for so many hours,” she admits. “In order to protect my body and my mental health, I do take daily constructive rest breaks and lay down for 10 minutes, not to sleep but to focus on my breath, give my back a break from sitting and clear my mind. So, yes, I do occasionally lay down in my office,” she continues, good-naturedly. “This helps me shift my perspective and regulate my nervous system.” And while French will tell you she isn’t naturally funny, she has a joyful spirit, a ready laugh, an irreverent streak and
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the kind of humor that puts others at ease. She is also quick to point out that while she appreciates beautiful clothing, she is most comfortable in a white shirt and jeans. That made her willingness to indulge us in multiple wardrobe changes with clothing from some of our favorite local boutiques even more fun. Give her a few new outfits and, almost instinctively, she will slip into a dancer’s pose, seemingly unable to resist the physicality of each one. Perhaps it’s part of the same instinct that has allowed her to embrace changing roles throughout her life—from artist and performer to arts administrator and advocate. “Her rare blend of artistic excellence, nonprofit experience and community-centered leadership makes her uniquely qualified to guide the SPAA into its next chapter,” Ryan Griffin, chair of the SPAA Board, explained last year following her appointment. French is the granddaughter of the late Robert A. “Bob” Pfeiffer and Eleanore J. Pfeiffer, a couple who devoted much of their lives to the community. Bob, a beloved St. Pete civic figure and longtime St. Petersburg High School booster, was known as “Mr. Green Devil” for his decades as the school’s exuberant mascot. He also helped bring the iconic newsboy statue near the St. Pete Pier to life, raising more than $100,000 to honor the city’s newspaper history. Eleanore was a teacher and civic volunteer, and together they left a legacy of community involvement that continues through their family. French and her husband Jonathan were both born and raised in St. Pete. And while she left to attend The Juilliard School and perform on the global stage, touring internationally as a principal dancer with New York’s prestigious Buglisi Dance Theatre, Jonathan’s work as an officer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took him to different locations around the world for many years. Eventually, they returned home to raise their family in the community they love. “I was pretty homesick for my family,” she recalls. “I'd lived away from home since I was 16.” French’s career has unfolded across performance, choreography and education, with each facet informing the other. She has translated the lessons of her training into her work
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September/October 2026
as an educator, teaching at George Mason University and Juilliard while also working with students closer to home at Gibbs High School and St. Petersburg College. Those teaching experiences led her to her next great leap. “I had this teaching practice going, but I wasn't done creating my own work and being part of other people's creations. I wanted to make work and I didn't see a lot of it here,” French recalls. “There were dancers here, but I didn't see the kind of dance scene that I wanted to create. So, I started gathering people, like what are we going to do together? It was me and Erik Wagner, who lives in California now, and Erin Fletcher, who was in Sarasota. We formed a performance group and did a whole show at the Studio at 620. Then I started the St. Pete Dance Alliance, which was with another group of dancers that just needed a voice. Around the same time, 2015, I co-produced BEACON with Lauren Slone, which is an annual contemporary dance series at the Palladium. It was designed to help drive an ecosystem—for dance to have a platform.” Those were the first steps she took locally to ensure that our city's arts ecosystem was supporting the actual creators who live here. “Who's out there?” she remembers asking herself at the time. “Who wants to make work together? How can we pool our resources? Who has access to what? At that time, there was no unifying conversation around that in St. Pete.” Her willingness to ask those questions and advocate for the arts brought her into view of SPAA. “It was about that time that I was asked to be on the board of the alliance,” she explains. “I attended an event for the alliance and I made some statement to Duncan McClellan like, artists should never work for free. Artists should get paid. I strongly believe that. And, apparently, Duncan told John Collins that I should be on the board. I've always said, dancers need a seat at every table. I say that about art in general. If we're having a discussion on any level civically, on any level economically, the arts need to be at the table. John invited me to be on the board. I thought, what does a board member do? What do you want me to do?” Later, while French was working at the Palladium, doing development for their capital campaign, she recalls that the idea of the open director role was floated to her.
Noir De Lune Dress from Pippa Pelure Boutique. Gold cuff from Bobbles + Lace St. Pete.
“WHO WANTS TO MAKE WORK TOGETHER? HOW CAN WE POOL OUR RESOURCES?”
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“I thought, okay, I don't know, do I want this? I love all art and I will advocate for all art all day and all night. I also like a challenge,” she asserts and then adds. “I'm also terrified by the challenge. It’s a big responsibility to be in this role and to be advocating for the arts broadly in St. Pete. To me, it means that I'm always going to be there fighting, like, how can we get more funding? Where are the resources? What city or county administrative codes could we change to build spaces that are live-work? Why are the arts not talked about in affordable housing more?” Her excitement about the opportunity ultimately outweighed the fear. She sees the pulse of the city’s creative community in transition and believes keeping it moving forward will require robust and consistent investment in the arts as St. Pete grows. She knows that leadership, much like dance, requires a true balance of vision, strength and collaboration. Recently, French has raised the volume of the conversation, pointing to the $132.5 million in economic activity generated by St. Pete’s nonprofit arts and culture sector while pressing city leaders to recognize how little of that value makes its way back to the people doing the work. Her message is increasingly direct: If the arts are helping drive the city’s growth, artists need a meaningful voice in shaping what comes next. Much of the alliance’s vital work happens out of sight, supporting K–12 arts education through Arts for Complete Education, scholarships and grants for young and professional artists, as well as through collaborations with the city and other community partners. That work, French says, is essential to maintaining a pipeline for the next generation of artists and arts professionals. Without arts education, she warns, “kids won’t see a pathway because they don’t see an option for them in school.” She says there is a sense of urgency around this vital infrastructure work and what comes next. French is particularly proud that the alliance recently received a two-year, $100,000 Creative Resilience and Emergency Preparedness grant from South Arts to develop strategies that can help communities respond to disruptions, not only from hurricanes and pandemics but also from economic downturns
and other crises. The goal is to move beyond reacting to emergencies and be better prepared for them. “There have to be better strategies. There have to be best practices,” she urges. “And right now there’s not really anything codified that is contained just for the arts.” French is also looking ahead to the alliance’s signature fall programming, including the MUSE Awards and SHINE Mural Festival. The MUSE Awards will honor Jeffrey Multer and the Palladium Chamber Series, Babs Reingold, Loreille Hollaway of Cultured Books Literacy Foundation, Kevin Hohl, Steve and Marie Beaty, Liz Dimmitt and Leslie Curran in the performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, art and technology, patron, ambassador and legacy categories, respectively. The awards will take place on October 2nd, while French is changing up the timing of SHINE this year. “SHINE normally has been, with the exception of last year, in September or October during the hotter months. This year, I'm keeping it in November. It is going to fall in the middle of Art Everywhere, which is the initiative that Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, Creative Pinellas, Clearwater Arts Alliance and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance are working on. Art Everywhere is art from all over the county throughout November and December and SHINE falls right in the middle of it. The city will feel very activated because of all the various initiatives that will be going on.” For now, French is still finding her footing in a role that draws on nearly every chapter of her career. “I don’t know that I ever aspired to be an executive director of something. I’ve never done a role exactly like this,” she admits. “I’ve done components of this role as singular standalone jobs—working in development, launching programs, fundraising and working on a capital campaign. With many of those roles, I learned how to successfully communicate across multiple stakeholders. There’s also a component of teaching in this role. I am educating people about the importance of art. “And there’s a bit of herding cats and wrangling information. I hope that each day I'm making steps in the right direction and truly making things better. My goal is to address some of the issues we’re seeing and make progress on how we respond to them, like mental health and creative resiliency. It’s all really important work.” Visit stpeteartsalliance.org to learn more. September/October 2026
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LESLIE LANGFORD
JENSEN
JASON
JILLIAN
LISA GILMORE E YS H A
BOWEN
ROB
We asked a few of our favorite tastemakers to share their style and design insights. Here’s to the creatives who write their own rules.
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LISA GILMORE Interior Designer, Lisa Gilmore Design Fashion advice you swear by? I truly believe in wearing pieces that make you feel your absolute best. I believe in dressing for joy in everyday life. That could mean specific colors, pattern mixing and of course, jewelry and accessories.
Best style hack? Scarves, hair wraps and turbans for when my roots need to be touched up!
Project that sparked joy for you, and why? So many of my projects spark joy, but the ones that really stand out are the homeowners who fully trust my talent and guidance. They don't overthink it and let the process unfold. They allow themselves to enjoy the element of surprise of working with a designer and fully leaning in. I also really love to work on projects when homeowners have great art and collectibles. Working with personal collections and giving them a new life in a newly designed space is so rewarding.
Favorite item, room or quality of your home? I'm currently finishing the renovation of my own 1928 home. It turns out, I am my worst client. My family and I are eager to move in and nest. I think my favorite room will be our bathroom. I was able to create some really great tile designs and use
materials that will give our bathroom so much personality, but also appropriate for a 1920s home.
Favorite design style or era? I am truly a chameleon when it comes to design and eras; I love them all for different reasons. I personally find myself referencing Hollywood Regency and Art Deco a lot, however, I also love the clean lines of midcentury modern. I love to mix and match different eras to create a style that is unique and individual—which also usually has a layered and whimsical twist.
What inspires you? Do you have any style muses? I am very much inspired by creative women who came before me. I am so grateful for the roads they have paved for our success today. My top style muses and icons are Diana Vreeland and Iris Apfel. For interior design, fabulous designers like Dorothy Draper and Elsie de Wolfe—some of the first American interior design businesswomen.
Book, film, TV show or stage production that inspires you creatively? I love shows like Palm Royale, Capote vs. the Swans and also a good inspiring documentary like Diana Vreeland The Eye Has to Travel and Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's—the story behind
Bergdorf 's legacy is incredible to me. I love the detail that goes into their window displays!
for a living, that is enough for your personal happiness and the rest will fall into place.
Trend others love but you'd ban?
Budget steal and must-splurge?
Gray and blue combos.
Budget steal: I love using found vintage items and refurbishing them if needed. Must-splurge: custom handmade drapery.
Word or phrase you most overuse? I feel like I say, "a million percent yes!" a lot and an F*bomb has a way of trickling in from time to time... (covers blushing face). I should really work on that one. Ha!
Recent aha moment? I used to think that being successful meant having the biggest design studio, large projects back-to-back and a big staff. I recently realized that thought really doesn't align with who I am as a person. Once I recognized that and decided to listen to my intuition rather than silence it with other people's agendas for my business and success, all the drama, overthinking and anxiety began to fade away. At the end of the day, if you are lucky enough to do your dream every day
Style or design hot take? Interior design and style don't have to be so serious. They don't have to make your friend, your mom or anyone else happy but you. Stop overthinking it and surround yourself with colors, patterns and objects that bring you joy.
Dream project? Ooh, this is a tough one. I have so many. I think I would really love to work on a maximalist Victorian-era house. The ornate woodwork, stained glass and so many other details to layer in with beautiful selections. Visit lisagilmoredesign.com to learn more. September/October 2026
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ROB BOWEN Interior Designer, Rob Bowen Design Fashion advice you swear by?
What inspires you? Do you have any style muses?
Buy less, buy better, tailor everything and never leave the house looking accidental. Confidence is still the best accessory.
Travel, fashion, architecture, art, hotels, restaurants and people who are brave enough to have a point of view. I am much more inspired by someone who risks getting it wrong than someone who plays it safe and pleases everyone.
Best style hack? Show a little skin. A bit of chest, a rolled sleeve or an open collar makes almost any look feel more confident and relaxed. Then tailor everything properly. Sexy should feel effortless, never overworked.
Project that sparked joy for you? The projects that spark the most joy are the ones where the client says, “We trust you.” That is when we can stop decorating and start creating something truly original. Trust is where the magic lives.
Favorite item, room or quality of your home? The mood. Our home is masculine, layered, dark, sexy and comfortable. It feels collected rather than decorated and it looks like two grown men with opinions actually live there.
Favorite design style or era? I am greedy. I want the discipline of modernism, the glamour of Art Deco, the strength of brutalism and the soul of something old and imperfect. The mix is what makes it interesting.
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Book, film, TV show or stage production that inspires you creatively? Anything that builds a complete world. I love when the lighting, interiors, wardrobe, music and atmosphere are so strong that the setting becomes one of the main characters. That level of commitment is incredibly inspiring.
Controversial design trend you love? Dark rooms. Paint the walls, ceiling, trim and doors the same deep color and commit to it. Not every room needs to look like a bowl of vanilla yogurt.
Trend others love but you’d ban? Overstuffing a room with accessories simply because there is an empty surface. Not every table needs a stack of books, a bowl, a sculpture and three candles. Nothing should be there just to fill space. Every piece should have a purpose, a story or at least earn its place.
Budget steal and must-splurge? Save on accessories, occasional tables and pieces you will probably replace once you get bored. Splurge on lighting, art, upholstery, stone and anything you touch every day. Cheap lighting makes an expensive room look cheap.
Style or design hot take? Not every room needs to be timeless. Sometimes “timeless” is just another word for scared. A room should reflect the person and the moment in which it was created.
Dream project? Word or phrase you most overuse? “Insane.” Usually followed by, “Trust me, this is going to be insane.”
Recent aha moment? That restraint and fear are not the same thing. Restraint is knowing when the room is finished. Fear is never giving it anything worth remembering.
A completely immersive boutique hotel or private club where we control every single detail: architecture, interiors, lighting, art, scent, music, uniforms, tableware and even how the staff moves through the space. I do not just want to design a room. I want to create an entire world. Visit robbowendesign.com to learn more.
KEYSHA JILLIAN Interior Designer, K. Jillian Designs
Fashion advice you swear by? To put in the effort and feel good about what you wear every day. Positive self-talk starts with feeling good about how you show up in the world.
dining table with a modern base. I fell in love with it while designing a client’s home. Years later, they reached out when they were moving and asked if I’d like to purchase it. It felt like the piece had found its way back to me.
Best style hack?
Favorite design style or era?
Never skip the finishing touches. Whether I’m designing a home or getting dressed, I believe the final touches are what tell the story. They create balance, add character and make everything feel complete.
My favorite style is transitional because it offers the perfect balance between classic and modern. I love incorporating the warmth, character and timeless details of traditional design while blending them with the clean lines and simplicity of modern interiors. The result is a space that feels refined, inviting and effortlessly luxurious.
Project that sparked joy for you? Transforming a family room for one of my clients—both she and her husband were busy physicians and they had three kids who each had very active social lives. They really valued family time together. Her living room was the heart of the home, but it was outdated and no longer reflected the warmth and comfort she wanted family and friends to feel. The fireplace was a dominant focal point, but it was holding the entire room back. By reimagining it with a timeless, modern metallic tile, we completely changed the character of the space. That update, combined with the overall redesign, brought the room to life and created a setting that truly reflected the way my client lives and entertains.
Favorite item, room or quality of your home? My favorite item in my home is a hand-carved natural wood
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What inspires you? I am always fascinated when I walk into a beautiful space. I have such an appreciation for the details. I love the different textures, the blend of materials, colors and fabrics.
Book, film, TV show or stage production that inspires you creatively? One of my favorite books is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. I love her philosophy that we should surround ourselves with things that bring us joy and let go of what no longer serves us. Great design is about intentionally curating spaces. When every piece has purpose or meaning, a home feels lighter, more functional and far more personal.
Controversial design trend you love? I love accent walls. Some designers feel that they are outdated or overly simplistic, but if done correctly, they can add so much interest to a space.
Trend others love but you'd ban? Fifty Shades of Grey. While gray can absolutely be a beautiful neutral, relying on it too heavily can leave a space feeling flat and uninspired. I love layering in warmer neutrals, richer tones, natural textures and subtle pops of color to create depth, balance and visual interest. A home should feel dynamic and inviting.
Word or phrase you most overuse? “Love it!” is my go-to phrase. I use it all the time when I’m complimenting something or someone.
I didn’t realize I was missing. When I take care of myself first, I’m more creative, focused and present in every area of my life.
Budget steal and must-splurge? A great budget steal is decorative accessories. There are so many places you can go to source unique finds. You don’t have to spend a fortune to create a curated look. A must-splurge is definitely custom window treatments. They instantly elevate a room by giving it a tailored, polished and luxurious appeal.
Style or design hot take? My design hot take is to embrace mixed metals. When balanced correctly, they add richness, dimension and a timeless designer-curated look that a single metal throughout simply can’t achieve.
Dream project? Recent aha moment? Reintroducing The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod into my daily routine. I realized I’d drifted away from the very habits that help me feel my best. The SAVERS routine (Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading and Scribing) was exactly what
Designing a boutique hotel—I love the idea of creating a one-of-akind experience where every guest feels inspired from the moment they walk through the doors. Visit kjilliandesigns.com to learn more.
JASON JENSEN
Architect and President/CEO, Wannemacher Jensen Architects Fashion advice you swear by? The architect stereotype is to wear black to let the building be the focus instead of clothing, but who wants to wear black on a job site in Florida and disappear into the background. I enjoy color, patterns and well-tailored clothes. My advice is to take some time to explore what you like and commit. People with style, you notice because they stand out as unique.
frames light where the sky is the main focus. Turrell inspired our work on the James Museum interior. We washed the ceiling and wall above the waterfall with light and curved the corners. It gives the illusion of a sky floating above the walls. Ultimately, light both defines interior space and connects us to the sky. I designed my home with bright, open light in communal spaces and soft, focused light in the bedrooms.
Best style hack?
What inspires you?
Great glasses are a statement opportunity. I love unique readers or sunglasses like Vuarnet that you don’t see often. Probably because all the pictures of that brand show people hiking on glaciers. I guess I’m ready for the next ice age.
Nature is still my ultimate inspiration, especially the North Carolina mountains. Light coming through the leaves, rock formations and fall colors all have influence on my design work. When it comes to heroes, historically Antoni Gaudi created amazing complex nature-inspired forms like Sagrada Familia without the benefit of the technology that we have today. His work reminds me to stay curious and observant.
Project that sparked joy for you? When I walk down the pier, seeing people celebrating at Perry’s Porch or children rolling down the hill at the Pier Approach playground, I feel that joy with them. It’s even sweeter knowing the secret about what it took to make those moments possible—so much talking, debating, planning, design and construction. It’s truly an honor to design projects that make a community impact and make St. Pete special.
Favorite design feature, item, room or quality of your home? I’m obsessed with light. My favorite artist is James Turrell. He
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Book, film, TV show or stage production that inspires you creatively? I’ll add musicians to this list. Before architecture, I was focused on jazz—playing the saxophone. Coltrane was obsessed with math, frequency ratios and the circle of fifths—essentially connecting the world through sound and music. You could even connect his genius to string theory and quantum mechanics. On stage, however, all of that curiosity practice (the habit of constantly asking "what if " and exploring
Opposite page: Ryan Gamma Photography. Above: Paul Rivera
unfamiliar patterns) blends with creativity and improvisation, leading to amazing music. This is a perfect example of the design process that I aspire to.
on the computer models. It really infused more creativity and solved problems faster. Analog is not dead!
Controversial design or aesthetic trend you love?
The right color and lighting can upgrade a space for a steal. A must splurge is still the right chair. An Eames Lounge Chair is a design investment that’s actually comfortable to sit in.
I love creative breeze block design. Fifties Modern made it popular, but with new patterns and 3D printing, I think it has a new lease on life today.
Trend others love but you'd ban? Pretty soon all new homes will be white farmhouses. They are like your favorite hoodie—comfortable, oversized and it pulls the hood over the design eye. It’s okay to be a bit more unique.
Word or phrase you most overuse?
Budget steal and must-splurge?
Style or design hot take? Be a curious collector and see where it leads. Don’t start with a picture of a space you like. Start with adjectives, details and chase those ideas toward unique solutions. Preconceptions destroy potential discoveries.
Dream project?
Recent aha moment?
I’ve always wanted to do a true skyscraper—adding to the skyline. Our Burg Bid proposal for the Historic Gas Plant proposed two iconic towers that echoed the original gas tank cylinders, as a landmark to the city. I’d love to design that and to see our city get the attention it deserves.
We put an emphasis back on sketching and modeling to try ideas more in an improvisational state versus getting too fixed
Visit wjarc.com to learn more.
Timeless—you actually need time to go by before you can claim timeless.
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LESLIE LANGFORD Art Advisor, Langford Projects
Fashion advice you swear by?
Favorite design style or era?
Invest in accessories! A great bag, quality shoes, fun jewelry or beautiful sunglasses add polish to every look.
I have a crush on midcentury modern furniture and contemporary artwork.
Project that sparked joy for you, and why?
What inspires you? Do you have any style muses?
A client of mine was drawn to a particular artist, Kelly Reemtsen, who “is known for her iconic series of richly textured paintings featuring stylish contemporary women wielding the kind of powerful tools traditionally reserved for men.” Together, we began to search for a painting that held meaning for her. We had the rare opportunity to visit the artist’s studio in Los Angeles and select a work in person. In the painting Over It, Kelly challenges the notion of the glass ceiling…quite glamorously. The experience made the acquisition especially meaningful, not to mention a lot of fun. That experience established the direction for my client’s collection, which has since evolved into a cohesive and highly personal reflection of her aesthetic.
Any artist whose work moves you emotionally but also makes you think—perhaps about history, culture or a novel use of materials. To me, the best art stays with you and opens the door to new ideas and perspectives.
Favorite item, room or quality of your home? Two of my favorites are a Sadie Barnette photograph I acquired several years ago and a painting one of my best friends made for me. Both make me smile every time I see them.
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Book, film, TV show or stage production that inspires you creatively? I would say the musical Hamilton. It does not rely on elaborate sets or spectacle; instead, it’s driven by thoughtful storytelling and music that makes you laugh one moment and moves you the next. It reminds me that the greatest impact comes from restraint and intentional choices. Often, my clients and I wait for the right work, as we carefully curate a collection that feels thoughtful, personal and impactful.
Word or phrase you most overuse? “That’s interesting.”
Artwork: Over It by Kelly Reemsten. Photo: Tanner Sobelman
Budget steal and must-splurge? Artwork from emerging artists or editioned prints from University of South Florida's Graphicstudio are a fantastic way to start or layer a collection and stretch your budget while still getting quality artwork.
Recent aha moment? I recently paddled the Chassahowitzka River with St. Petersburg’s Wild Space Gallery and the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation in support of their recent Benjamin Dimmitt photography show, An Unflinching Look: Elegy for a Landscape, documenting climate change, saltwater intrusion, and development that has reshaped the river’s
landscape. The photographs were powerful, but seeing the river’s changes up close really brought the show to life for me and inspired me to become more aware of our state’s fragile waterways.
Dream project? Any project with clients who view collecting as an intellectual and aesthetic pursuit. Curiosity and openness combined with the ambition and desire to collect meaningful work create my favorite opportunity: to create deeply personal and significant collections. Visit langfordprojects.com to learn more.
with the grain
FOR PETER DAYTON, CRAFTSMANSHIP IS A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY TETHERED TO TRADITION AND HERITAGE, YET ALWAYS WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE. BY NICK STEELE Portraits by Madeleine Burgess | Furniture images by Matthew Bowie
P
eter Dayton runs a white cloth across the surface of a plank of wood—slowly, almost lovingly—before tipping it up to present the intricate grain he has just uncovered. “Gorgeous,” he utters. On this day, the woodworker and shipwright behind Arotza Woodworks is collaborating with one of his creative partners, veteran-owned Three Forks Wood Reclamation. Three Forks exclusively sources historically significant timber from around the world to honor and preserve these materials. This piece originated at a significant World War II site in Normandy, France. “Every remarkable piece of historic wood has two stories. The first is written by history. The second is written by the craftsman entrusted to carry it forward,” say founders Chris Kelley and Christian Knutzen. “Every timber we reclaim carries a story. Arotza Woodworks helps us preserve it. What makes Peter exceptional is not simply what he builds. It is the care, humility and respect he brings to every piece entrusted to him.” Dayton crafts custom heirloom furniture here in St. Pete, from rustic to streamlined styles, using natural wood and traditional joinery techniques further refined during his time in the Basque Country of Spain. The word arotza, which Dayton chose for his business, means carpenter in Basque and pays homage to the place and
culture that further influenced his approach to traditional woodworking. “I love to work with locally felled and milled trees for many reasons. I also enjoy working with wood that has a story behind it—wood holds stories,” he explains. “Every piece I use has a history and I think that history adds beauty to our furniture. I use reclaimed wood as a way to draw attention to this source of wood and the stories it holds—stories of the past, present and future.” He works with a variety of locally harvested southern magnolia and old-growth longleaf pine, as well as exotics like teak, Indian rosewood and curly African mahogany, often incorporating bronze inlay or quartz into pieces. He grew up right here in Belleair, where he spent his time fishing, skimboarding, wakeboarding and surfing. “My childhood was idyllic. The beaches and salt water were the nucleus of my past,” he recalls. “As far back as I can remember, I always loved building things with my hands. I made my first skimboard in middle school, started shaping surfboards in high school and taught myself basic cabinet-making and trim carpentry in my parents’ garage before graduating.” Another early passion was inspired by a family connection and led him to explore the culinary arts. “One of my uncles, with whom I am very close, used to own restaurants and my interest and passion for cook-
ing came from time spent with him growing up,” Dayton explains. “My passion for it in my early 20s was intense and it was not uncommon for me to be making five-course meals four to five times a week for friends, family and neighbors.” After graduating from the M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Dayton went to work for the Beck Group in Tampa. “I had the opportunity to work on some incredible projects during my time with them,” he explains. “The Dalí and Ulele restaurant are two that stand out. After working for them for about eight years, I decided to explore my passion for the culinary world more seriously.” In 2014, he moved to Spain and accepted an internship at Restaurante Arzak, a world-renowned, three-Michelin-starred culinary destination in San Sebastián that has been heralded as one of the world’s most innovative eateries. “The experience was incredible, but when it concluded I decided that though cooking is a deep passion, I did not want to do it professionally,” he admits. “While living in San Sebastián I stumbled upon a museum at the mouth of
September/October 2026
an adjacent port town where a group of historians and shipwrights were building a replica of a 16th-century whaling ship. I began to volunteer there a few days a week and quickly became obsessed with the art of wooden boat building. Though I had done carpentry work in some capacity most of my life, the discovery of the art, skill and tradition of wooden boatbuilding hooked me like nothing else had before.” His volunteering evolved into actual employment and he worked as a shipwright for the next five or so years. “During that time, I also began building furniture in the shop at the museum in my free time,” Dayton explains. “I fell in love with using hand tools. Whether it is the sound a sharp hand plane makes when taking shavings from a board or the crispness of a mortise cut by and with a chisel, hand tool work is by far the most gratifying aspect of the craft. Most of the machinery in my shop would be considered ‘vintage,’ some of which is over 100 years old. They are heavy, reliable, not overly complicated and beautiful in their design and construction. They inspire and influence me to build pieces of furniture that will last as long as they have. In the shop you can expect sawdust, a lot of noise and handcrafted furniture that can be passed on to your grandkids’ grandkids.” He likes to say that craft becomes a profession, but passion makes a life. “It is good for the soul to create with your hands,” he asserts. “When I design, my goal is to create a piece that will stand the test of time. I avoid what I perceive to be short-lived fads and instead rely on classic lines and proper proportioning that will remain relevant even as trends change. Traditional wood joinery is at
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Bow & Stern Bar at Craft
the heart of my work and is one of the most gratifying aspects of what I do. It is demanding, highly skilled work that is ironically largely unseen in the finished product. Even when hidden, it makes all the difference in creating excellent furniture.” Not surprisingly, given his love for cooking, there’s one piece of furniture that he finds particularly satisfying to create. “Dining tables are one of my favorite types of pieces to build,” he reveals. “They are a place where people gather to eat, drink, converse, laugh and make memories.” Since returning to the area in 2021 and establishing Arotza, he has built a loyal clientele of private clients, interior designers, restaurants and hotels with whom he regularly collaborates. Interior designer Kathleen Boss was introduced to Dayton by another local master craftsman, Michael Bright, at Bright Wood Works. “We collaborated on a custom dining table and sideboard for one of my own homes,” Boss explains. “I drew inspiration for both from a few pieces of furniture and combined those ideas into something that felt right for the house. Peter suggested using native southern magnolia for the table, which gave it a wonderful sense of place. It turned out beautifully.
“That’s what I love most about residential design—collaborating with talented local artisans and craftspeople. Whether it’s one of my own projects or a client’s home, it’s incredibly rewarding to see everyone’s expertise come together to create something unique.” One of Dayton’s most unusual projects ties together several of his key passions. He was tasked to create a unique “boatwithin-a-boat” bar feature for Craft, a low-profile dining river cruiser in Tampa. The bar is built directly into the aft deck and incorporates a repurposed 1914 wooden boat as part of its structure, centered on the open-air back deck of the vessel. Dayton says he is technically a one-man show, always collaborating with other local artisans (metalworkers, finishers, artists) and designers. He prides himself on creating pieces that will stand the test of time with character and authenticity, encouraging clients to collaborate with him to create a custom piece that represents their vision. “To me, crafting furniture is making functional art,” he shares. “I love the challenge of creating a piece that serves its function well and will still feel timeless in 20 years.” Visit arotza.com to learn more. September/October 2026
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ST.PETEOPERA
GENERAL DIRECTOR MARK SFORZINI PRESENTS
THe MEDIUM PLUS
VOICES FROM THE OTHER SIDE FEATURING THE MUSIC OF VERDIGOFFENBACHGMOZART A HAUNTING NEW THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE CONCEIVED BY MAESTRO SFORZINI During Halloween, the veil between the living and the dead grows dangerously thin. This double bill transforms Opera Central into an intimate séance with 150 guests. With performers moving among the living, illuminated tables, and eerie preshow encounters, this is opera you don’t just watch—you feel it breathing beside you. Sung In English
PERFORMED AT OPERA CENTRAL
October 23-November 1 TICKETS: StPeteOpera.org
ARTISTIC SEASON SPONSOR Belinda Dumont
SEASON PRODUCING SPONSORS EVENT SPONSOR Linda & Rossi Bonugli Claudia McCorkle & BEAU * Jo-Ann Hammack In Memory of William C. Draeger, Jr.
the
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Bathroom Remodeling Trends for 2026 Bathroom remodeling in 2026 is focusing on open layouts, durable materials, and features that stand up to the demands of coastal living. From a contractor’s perspective, successful remodels balance smart construction with practical design choices that perform well for years. One trend gaining popularity is the waterproof bathroom, where the shower area is integrated into the rest of the space. These designs feature rooms fully built with materials intended to handle moisture, allowing the entire floor area to function as a wet space. Continuous flooring and linear drains create a seamless, spa-like look that delivers a modern luxury feel. Floating elements are also becoming more common. Floating vanities, mirrors, and open shelving help visually expand the room while adding a modern architectural touch. Material selections are shifting toward large-format porcelain tile and quartz surfaces, which offer the look of natural stone with better durability and easier maintenance. When planning a bathroom remodel, proper waterproofing, lighting, and ventilation remain essential. The right combination of construction expertise and modern design ensures a bathroom that not only looks beautiful but also functions reliably for years to come.
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A Tradition of Change For more than a century, the clubhouse of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club has evolved with the times while preserving the spirit that has defined its legacy. On the night of October 29, 1909, a group of St. Petersburg civic leaders gathered at the Marine Supply Co. downtown with a simple goal: give the city’s boating enthusiasts a club to call home. Within weeks, the fledgling St. Petersburg Yacht Club held its first outing, 20 boats carrying roughly 100 members and guests to Blind Pass. It was a modest start for a city of fewer than 5,000 residents — but it set in motion a tradition that has now spanned more than 115 years. The Club's first true home didn't arrive until 1917. After years of fundraising and a fight to secure a lease on city-owned waterfront land, members opened an elegant Spanish Mission–style clubhouse at 11 Central Avenue, designed by architect George W. Stewart. Thousands turned out for the dedication. The Great Hurricane of October 1921 pushed several feet of bay water into the new clubhouse and tore at its porches. Rather than retreat, members rebuilt — and then some. Membership was growing so quickly that the reconstruction became an expansion, and by December
1922 the Club had more than doubled its footprint, adding the grand ballroom that would make SPYC the social heart of downtown St. Petersburg for decades to come. As history progressed, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club continually evolved to meet the changing needs of its members and the community. During World War II, the docks emptied of pleasure boats, but the Club remained a vibrant gathering place. Members welcomed soldiers and sailors training nearby, offering evenings of food, music, fellowship, and gratitude. Following the war, SPYC became a cornerstone of the community — a place where members gathered to socialize, celebrate, and enjoy the camaraderie that continues to define the Club today. The 1970s and 1980s brought significant growth in social programming, dining, and member activities, reflecting the evolving interests of a growing membership. Here's something many members are surprised to learn: the clubhouse standing at 11 Central Avenue today is not
the original 1917 building, and it isn’t historic in the way it appears. While the Club has occupied this same waterfront site for more than a century, the structure itself has been renovated so many times — most recently and most extensively in 1989 — that today’s building is, in effect, a late-1980s/ early-1990s facility wearing a century-old address. The Spanish Mission details remain, but the bones underneath date to a renovation that is now more than 35 years old. That distinction matters. A 2023 facilities study found that the clubhouse sits roughly six feet below current FEMA flood elevation standards. Under FEMA rules, if storm damage were ever to exceed half the building's appraised value, the Club would be required to rebuild it entirely — on FEMA’s timeline, not one of SPYC's choosing. A closer look at what it would take to lift and harden the current structure put the cost of $10-15 million to address deferred maintenance and needed upgrades, in addition to the cost of renovating or upgrading a 35-year-oldstructure. For the Club’s Board and its Building Replacement Oversight Committee (BROC), that combination of age, elevation, and cost has made one thing clear: the most practical and responsible path for the Club's next century is a new Downtown Clubhouse, not a patch or another renovation of the old one. The goal of the Club’s “Next 100” initiative was never to erase what makes SPYC feel like SPYC — it's to carry that feeling into a building actually equipped to hold it. Early concepts developed with architects — shown to members at a September 2025 town hall — envision a new threestory clubhouse that keeps the Club's yachting heritage front and center: a Heritage Lounge, a Ship's Store, and a 1909-style dining room named for the year it all began, alongside a Regatta room which nods to SPYC's history as a social and sailing institution. At the same time, the new design is meant to solve the problems the current building simply can't. Storm resilience and flood protection sit at the center of the plan. So does a layout built for how members use the Club today — from the Sailing Center and marinas to family-friendly amenities like a pool deck and tiki bar, expanded event spaces, and updated back-of-house operations that will support a Club our size for another century. Design, cost estimates, and financing assumptions are being refined as the project moves through schematic design, with a construction manager now on board alongside the Owner's Representative and architect to keep the project on budget and on schedule. No special
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member assessments are planned; funding continues to come from monthly capital contributions and joining fees, as it has throughout the process. And critically, the Sailing Center, regattas, marinas, and the Pass-a-Grille Beach clubhouse will continue operating without interruption, whatever the timeline for the SPYC Bayshore Drive project turns out to be. As SPYC sets sail into its next century, the Club is looking forward to continuing to be a staple on the waterfront in Downtown St. Petersburg. Promotional Feature: created in partnership with SPYC
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ST. PETE’S FORTU AND ISU RESTAURANTS OFFER AN EXPLORATION OF NEW CULINARY TERRITORY, ARTISTRY EXPRESSED THROUGH MODERN PLATING AND A MASTERY OF FLAVOR THAT TRANSFORMS MEALS INTO EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES.
certainty of your favorite local restaurants for the gamble of a chef ’s unique vision usually lasts right up until curiosity outweighs the hesitation. Enter Fortu and Isu, the sister restaurants in downtown St. Pete that have generated so much buzz they’ve become impossible to ignore. For several years, I have longed to visit but never quite crossed the threshold. It wasn’t a lack of appreciation for good food or sophisticated dining that kept me on the sidewalk. It was a lack of familiarity with the cuisine and format. To those of us raised on the predictable geography of traditional Asian dining, comfort is often measured by a high degree of autonomy at the table. Our rituals are defined by a personal orchestration of flavors—the mixing of soy sauce and wasabi, the side of pickled ginger and a menu filled with familiar dishes. But when considering a more elevated and perfectly orchestrated Pan-Asian menu, that sense of control evaporates, leaving the unfamiliarity easy to misinterpret as exclusion.
HISTORIC HOSPITALITY
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f you’re anything like me, your relationship with highend restaurants is a mix of profound curiosity, palpable excitement and quiet hesitation. That hesitation stems from a feeling of vulnerability. When we step into an unfamiliar culinary setting, we temporarily lose our bearings, navigating not just a menu of unknown flavors but an intricate choreography of service, presentation and chef-driven storytelling that asks us to surrender control. In other words, trying a new cuisine can feel like visiting a foreign land where you don’t quite speak the language and don’t feel you can join the conversation. It’s also an investment of time, money and social energy, which makes the fear of disappointment entirely reasonable. Ultimately, when trying a new type of cuisine or restaurant, the only true barrier to entry is your own preconceptions. That hesitation to risk trading the comfortable
On the ground floor of the historic Ponce de Leon Hotel, Michelin-recommended Fortu blends contemporary luxury with heritage architecture, at the corner of Beach Drive and Central Avenue. The space is handsome with warm wood finishes, sleek and inviting banquettes and an abundance of lanterns, reminiscent of a swarm of jellyfish. It has the quirky yet sophisticated feeling of a 1970s neo-noir film set. Specializing in Pan-Asian cuisine that combines cooking styles, ingredients, and recipes from various regions across East, Southeast and South Asia. It blends distinct culinary traditions—such as Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese—into a unified dining concept. The aim with this form of cuisine is to harmonize flavors, respecting their origin while using them in new and exciting ways which is evident in such dishes as their signature Miso Black Cod, Otoro with shiso chimichurri and their sophisticated sake-infused cocktails. Slip down a flight of stairs and you will discover Isu, Fortu's sultry "little sister.” This below-ground izakaya lounge has a moody vibe and warm amber lighting low enough to conceal a mystery. At the center of it all is Nathan Howey, the reserved but jovial ringmaster, who is Benson Hospitality Group’s director of culinary, a managing partner, operating owner and the chef who once led Fortu’s kitchen. He is also a man on a mission, determined to steer Fortu away from the frigid elitism often associated with fine dining. Here, elevated food
is served with back-porch warmth, an approach designed to dispel the old notion that luxury should be guarded. He gestures toward a dining room devoid of white tablecloths and explains that there is no room for pretension or gatekeeping here. He and his partner Shan Bakrac, Benson’s founder and owner, collaborate on operations for Fortu, Isu, Black Cattle Burgers and Top Slice Pizzeria. “Shan is all things taste, touch, feel, sensory and organized,” Howey offers. “He kind of designs the dining rooms and has a strong hand in the flow of the menus and how he wants the feel of everything to be.” This is abundantly evident as Bakrac holds court with the restaurant general manager and staff a few feet away, laying out a plan to reimagine the host stand and passage to Isu. At their very core, these eateries are designed around the ultimate form of hospitality: making the guest feel entirely at home through an exceptional culinary program and curated experiences. “If you followed us, we went through massive branding changes, almost every quarter in our first year and every six months in the years after,” Howey explains. “What we wanted was a steakhouse with a ton of Japanese inspiration, a lot of high-end Wagyu—just real prime. Prime was going to be our lowest cut. We went very elevated. What we found out quickly is that the community didn’t really understand it, and I don’t know that we really put our best effort into helping everyone get what the brand was about. When we put the verbiage ‘Japanese steakhouse’ out, some people would walk in and be like, ‘Where’s the hibachi? Where’s the guy flipping the shrimp?’” He shares that they realized that particular marketing language and their opening price point didn’t make sense for the community. So they focused on refining the concept and delivering the level of service that they wanted to provide. “Shan had an idea in his mind, and we spent week in and week out developing that, but it was aggressively inventive for the area compared to what the other offerings were,” Howey recalls. “You travel down Beach Drive, and they’re good restaurants, traditional, right? We were so nontraditional that I think it kind of shocked people and we became this divisive place. We didn’t want to have that balance of love and hate. We just wanted to resonate with the community. So internally, we took every negative review and every constructive comment to heart. We kind of rolled with it and worked on those things as we went.” That strategy served them well.
“We gained a lot of traction with Michelin coming to town and getting that recognition. It was huge for us. Quality and consistency obviously the pillars of that distinction. And then we just focused on overall growth. How do we refine the plating? How do we make it more beautiful? How do we make the space better? We realized we had to further hone everything. Being good isn’t good enough. We wanted to be great. We wanted to be great all around.”
“So, at this point, Fortu is inherently Japanese as far as ingredients and the structure of the menu, with a bit of a French backbone. That’s kind of how we operate now. And, as any restaurant will do, we’ll incorporate some international and world flavors as we go through the seasons.” September/October 2026
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PASSIONATE PURSUITS One flight down, Isu extends this concept beautifully, offering a menu that coaxes incredible depth out of every ingredient while exploring its own brand of cool. Howey says they saw an opportunity to bring high-quality sushi in a distinctive setting, while applying the same approach they used at Fortu. “From our perspective, as far as high-quality sushi in a vibrant atmosphere, I don’t know that there’s really an option here in St. Pete,” Howey asserts. “Not to say that there aren’t good sushi bars, but we asked ourselves, are we going to be compared to the same hand roll, the same sushi roll? How do we get away from that? We’re not going to have a dynamite roll and those sorts of things. What else is out there that could be accomplished branding-wise similar to what we did with Fortu? We found this Peruvian-style sushi, and if you’re not familiar with it, Nikkei is the result of Japanese immigrants who came to Peru and integrated Japanese culinary traditions with Peruvian ingredients, ceviches and other national dishes. He shares that they brought in a chef with a personal connection to the cuisine to help refine the concept. “He was born in Japan, but his father lived in Peru, so he went back and forth between the two his whole life,” Howey explains. “That was Chef Saya. He came on board for about a week and helped us poke at ideas, elevate some
of our concepts and really bring that true Peruvian Nikkei essence to the food.” Sushi Chef Christian Lopez was recruited to lead Isu and has become a popular draw for diners. “Chris worked hand in hand with Chef Saya for seven straight days, trying to pick his brain as much as possible and then took the original idea and ran with it,” Howey offers. “It’s not totally Nikkei. It’s the same thing we have with Fortu, by design. We took a lot of liberty with interpretation and just have fun with it.” Lopez grew up in Dorado, Puerto Rico and credits his mom as his favorite chef. He had already gained a lot of experience with sushi from stints at the Hotel San Juan and then locally at Kobé Japanese Steakhouse and Noble Rice. “I was given the opportunity to join Nathan and Shan to open this beautiful concept. It was new to me, working with Peruvian flavors at this level,” he says. “Most people have never seen anything like this before, so they're very excited to experience what we're doing here. I am right at the bar preparing the food and I love to have guests come and sit there, talk with me and have some fun. We're communicating throughout the whole service.” One patron shared, “What started as dinner quickly became one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve had in St. Pete. As he prepared each course, Chef Christian shared stories, explained techniques and gave us a glimpse into the passion, precision and years of dedication behind his craft.”
Some of the most popular items among the artfully composed sushi and creative hot and cold small plates include a steak-and-egg maki with ginger chili-cured tartare, kami crudo, wagyu gyozas served with sweet plantain, artful nigiri flights and vibrant ceviche-style tiraditos. Lopez’s graciousness is also a significant part of the appeal. “To me, everyone's a VIP,” he enthuses. “Maybe they are somebody that can come and have dinner every night or maybe they are somebody that's been saving money to dine with us. They’re all VIPs to me.”
THE PERFECT BITE When you step into Fortu or Isu, the absence of condiments on the table is not a restriction—it is an act of care. Since taking over as the Executive Chef of Fortu in July of last year, Colombian-born Cristian Canencio has worked to ensure that each dish is an unforgettable explosion of balanced flavor. “We highlight a lot of seasonal ingredients and elevated items, such as truffles, caviar, king crab and lobster,” the chef explains. “I want to make sure there is also always the right harmony of flavors, acid, sugar, salt, everything in every single bite. Each bite needs to be perfectly balanced so they get all the textures and flavors that we're trying to high-
light. And I want to make sure that when we do, that we're creating a sense of comfort. In Japan, it's called umami. It's when you hit all the points on your palate, through one bite. That’s what creates that craveability—something you want to keep eating. We like to make sure the guest experiences that feeling.” September/October 2026
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SAVORING THE JOURNEY With Fortu and Isu now flourishing, the evolution of the group continues with an ambitious new concept that pushes the culinary vision even further. Howey broke the news to us exclusively that the group will open a new American steakhouse in the old Datz location at the James Museum in the next 12 months. “We will be opening a 250-seat steakhouse called Jana (pronounced Yana). The name is an homage to Shan's mother. We really want it to be a very high vibe Miami style steakhouse,” he offers. “You know, dark, sexy and alluring. We’ve had a lot of talks about wanting to make everything feel very lush and beautiful. “The structure of the menu will be inherently American and include local Florida aspects. When we say Miami style, Miami has kind of created this particular vibe, even if it's an Italian steakhouse or whatever. It's not quiet. It's not calm. You'll walk into something visceral,” he shares. “It won't just be this big open room. We'll have private dining rooms, structured in a couple different places. There will be some different feelings, same atmosphere, but different feelings in each part. So, all of that is going on and it will be a much larger footprint for us. It will be our biggest undertaking yet.
Howey says the space has previously been “torrentially underutilized.” “We're going to do some pretty serious construction to change the space. We're working with a design and branding company out of Miami to help us build it,” he reveals. “Our core program is going to be a very involved process with regard to our beef and where we get our meat from. Everyone thinks grass-fed tastes like venison, but there's some really awesome grass-fed out there, like 100% natural Wagyu out of Australia. It is all grass-fed, grass-finished, no hormones, no anything. It's the best steak I've ever had and doesn't taste gamey. It's amazing.” What began as an ambitious experiment in unfamiliar territory continues to evolve, shaped by a willingness to consider the possibilities, rethink and refine. And now, with another concept on the way, Howey, Bakrac and the team behind Fortu and Isu are continuing to build on that evolution, expanding their vision one restaurant at a time. Visit forturestaurants.com to learn more. Reservations are recommended. September/October 2026
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SIP, SAVOR and SHINE SAVOR St. Pete Food & Wine Festival returns for its 14th Year can nosh and sip the afternoon away beside 180-degree waterfront views, cool bay breezes and lively music. The festival brings together the Bay Area’s most talented culinary creators, beautifully paired with a massive, global selection of craft beers and specialty wines. Whether in search of the perfect bold Cabernet, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a smooth, creamy French rosé, guests will sip and learn directly from the experts.
Whether exploring a trendy new bistro or world-class museums or catching the sunrise on a morning run along Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg knows how to capture a vibe. Chic boutiques and buzzing gastronomic energy have firmly placed the city on the global taste and style map. Florida’s west coast is gearing up to celebrate its hippest culinary tradition: SAVOR St. Pete! Returning for its 14th year, SAVOR will take over Vinoy Park on November 7th-8th for a waterfront weekend of flavor, fashion and festival. The event is presented by Publix Super Markets, the City of St Petersburg and Visit SPC, bringing together local and national culinary talent against the backdrop of St. Pete’s glistening waterways. The culinary experience is hosted by SAVOR Chef Ambassador and Culinary Director, Chef Lee Aquino of Birch & Vine, who will join an impressive lineup of culinary personalities throughout the weekend. Two Tents, Infinite Flavors Step inside the festival’s expansive tasting tents and instantly escape into a paradise of curated pairings. Guests
Star-Studded Cooking Stage Hungry for some kitchen secrets? Head over to the San Pellegrino Cooking Stage to learn from the experts. This year's lineup features heavy-hitting local and national icons ready to teach guests how to whip up their own show-stopping masterpieces just in time for the holiday season. Get ready to watch culinary magic live with: • Celebrity Chef Paul Wahlberg: The mastermind behind the famous Wahlburgers empire bringing star power and yummy comfort classics. • Chef Jing Gao: The visionary founder of Fly By Jing, ready to electrify your palate with her famous, trailblazing Sichuan flavors. • Chef Chris Valdes: Chef ambassador for Florida Dairy Farmers and celebrated chef contestant on Food Network’s Chopped and Star Salvation. Upgrade to the VIP Experience Want to elevate the weekend? Snag one of the exclusive, limited VIP tickets to unlock the ultimate premium experience. VIP status grants guests early access to the festival starting at 12 pm, plus entry into the VIP Spirits
Lounge presented by Publix Liquors. Relax and enjoy the energy with private lounge seating while sampling super-premium spirits from iconic, top-tier brands like Tito’s, Patrón, Angel’s Envy, Hendrick’s and St-Germain. Buy Tickets NOW Before They Are Sold Out! Every single ticket to SAVOR St. Pete delivers an incredible afternoon of unlimited tastings and samples, plus festival takeaways like a commemorative SAVOR wine glass, Sarasota BMW wine glass lanyard, and a stylish San Pellegrino/Perrier, limited-edition tote bag. General admission tickets are $135 before fees and provide festival access from 1-4 pm, including access to the Grand Tasting Village with unlimited tastings and samples, as well as the San Pellegrino Cooking Stage for live culinary demonstrations. For an earlier start and elevated experience, VIP Admission tickets are $165 before fees, with access from 12 pm-4 pm. VIP guests also receive access to the Culinary Showdown at the San Pellegrino Cooking Stage starting at 12 pm on November 7th. Tickets purchased at the gate increase by $25 and are subject to strict capacity availability. Secure tickets early to ensure access to the region’s ultimate culinary weekend. Avoid FOMO — buy tickets at www.SavorTheBurg. com before they are gone! As always, dress to impress! Promotional Feature: created by SAVOR St. Pete.
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A Lighter Way A low-waste lifestyle store in downtown St. Pete offers locally sourced products and sustainable alternatives, redefining the neighborhood market. BY TARA MACINTYRE
Along a busy stretch of Central Avenue in the Edge District, the air carries the scent of a European apothecary—the kind you’d find tucked into a side street in Paris—drawing passersby toward Sans Market. “It smells good,” co-founder Eniko Olah says. “The sensory experience matters. The products, the design, the sense of community—it’s all connected. Sometimes people simply discover us while walking by.” The name Sans, meaning “without,” reflects the store’s mission of reducing waste, limiting toxins and relying less on single-use plastics. Sunlight spills across neatly arranged shelves. Glass vessels and natural wood accents frame a space where products are given room to breathe, far removed from the bustle of the street outside. Blending organic pantry staples, low-waste essentials and a selection of beverages, the store invites customers to slow
down and explore. Near the entrance, a narrow seating area offers a place to enjoy Beech Kombucha on tap and other wellness drinks—a brief pause in the rhythm of the day. Olah built Sans Market from the ground up, beginning with a modest setup at the 2018 St. Pete Yoga Festival. The business quickly gained a loyal following through local markets and pop-up events, leading to the opening of its first brick-and-mortar location in downtown St. Pete in 2019. With a background in consumer product marketing, Olah was well-versed in the language of convenience and attuned to the excess packaging and unnecessary ingredients found in everyday products. Motherhood brought those concerns closer to home. Raising three children, she saw how deeply plastic had infiltrated daily life and began questioning the long-term cost of that convenience. Rather than accept that reality as inevitable, she envisioned a different kind of market—one where living sustainably felt less like sacrifice and more like second nature. September/October 2026
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Eniko Olah
“We can’t truly look at personal health without looking at our immediate surroundings or at the health of our planet,” Olah explains. “They are inextricably linked. The choices we make for the spaces we inhabit should support a clean body, a clean home and a clean planet.” When choosing a home for Sans Market, Olah says she was drawn to the walkable energy of the neighborhood and its entrepreneurial culture. She points to the Edge District’s small-town feel, where business neighbors actively support one another. “I felt the vibe here,” she recalls. Olah credits part of the store’s early growth to The Greenhouse, a city-run center offering education, counseling and assistance to entrepreneurs and small-business owners. Its training and mentorship helped transform her vision for a low-waste market into a popular local business. Shelves are lined with dry goods, loose teas, coffee beans, spices, herb-infused oils and small-batch nut butters. Fresh bread delivered daily from The Crumb Factory, produce from Life Farms, kimchi and sauerkraut from St. Pete Ferments and honey from Queen & Colony reflect a network of local and regional producers. The store’s focus on sustainable, thoughtfully sourced products also includes lifestyle goods such as recycled paper journals, organic cotton Turkish beach towels, dried eucalyptus bouquets, artisan-made personal care products, shower steamers and aromatherapy oils.
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At the center of the store is the Bulk Bar, where Sans Market’s refill model comes to life. A handwritten sign reads, “Refill, not landfill.” Here, shoppers bring their own containers or choose one from the store to fill with everything from kitchen essentials to body care products and non-toxic cleaning supplies. The ritual is simple: refill what you need, reuse what you have and reconsider the packaging that typically accompanies a purchase. Handmade soaps from local maker Ives & Bees are among the shop’s customer favorites, including an Oat & Honey bar crafted with natural oils, colloidal oatmeal, honey and goat
milk. Desert Fleur, a luxury botanical perfume from St. Petefounded Bohemian Rêves, blends notes of patchouli, rosewood and vanilla. The “I’d Rather Be in St. Pete!” soy candle by Soy & Sass evokes a sense of place with notes of bergamot, sea salt and driftwood. A recently added assortment of secondhand clothing, accessories and home decor extends that same ethos. Rather than rows of retail racks, the space is styled like a living room in a corner of the store, giving a second life to a curated assortment of pre-loved items. “We’re extremely selective about what we carry,” Olah notes. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that living sustainably means giving something up. For us, it’s about quality. We do the research. We vet the ingredients. You shouldn’t have to choose between what’s good for you and what’s good for the planet.” Regulars arrive carrying reusable jars and canvas totes, while first-time visitors are guided through the refill process by staff members who prioritize education as much as service. Store manager Vanessa Moore has become a steady presence for longtime shoppers and a trusted resource for newcomers. In more than five years with the market, she’s watched relationships grow well beyond a typical transaction. “We’re lucky to have a great group of loyal customers,” Moore says. “You get to know people by name—and sometimes even their dogs’ names. We can follow up on how they’re enjoying a product they purchased the last time they were in and help them decide what to try next. One of the best compliments we hear is, ‘This is my favorite store,’ or ‘I tell everyone I know about this store.’” That welcoming atmosphere extends to the shopping experience. Many assume they have to change everything at once. Sans Market meets people where they are, offering products that let shoppers ease into a low-waste routine. Olah points to the constant stimulation of daily life, from phone alerts to crowded product labels, as another reason to keep things simple. “Customers are still learning,” she says. “Where do you begin? Pre-fills are a jump-start.” “We encourage customers to choose either a room in their house or a habit and start making changes there,” Moore explains. “For example, your shower routine. Start by swapping in more natural, plastic-free alternatives.” “We like the phrase ‘progress over perfection,’” Moore says. “Even small changes matter.” More than a place to shop, the store has become a hub for conversation, connection and community. Throughout the year, Sans Market collaborates with local experts on classes and workshops ranging from cooking and composting to envi-
“We like the phrase progress over perfection.”
Vanessa Moore
ronmental advocacy and DIY low-waste living. Clothing swaps and the store’s annual Earth Day cleanup give customers other opportunities to get involved. “At Sans Market, we not only sell items to help customers achieve their eco-friendly goals, but we aim to educate the community as well,” Moore says. “This is a fun way for us to further connect with customers and our community to share valuable eco-tips and tricks.” Some customers arrive through what Olah calls “happy accidents”—wandering in without planning to stop. “We’ll never make an impact by preaching to the converted,” she says. “We want to make this way of living more mainstream and engage people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience.” Visit sans.market to learn more about the flagship store and Safety Harbor pop-up shop. September/October 2026
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COUNTER CULTURE
The shelves at Orlando Latin Market are filled with the flavors of Latin America, but its greatest draw is the people who gather at the St. Pete staple. In her new book, Bodega Stories, journalist Amaris Castillo celebrates the neighborhood institution through stories of food, family, identity and community found between the aisles.
In a neighborhood market, a quick stop for groceries often comes with something extra—a familiar face, a shared story or a conversation that reminds shoppers they’re part of a community. For decades, the Orlando Latin Market near the corner of 30th Avenue North and 35th Street North has been exactly that kind of place, where customers searching for foods from across Latin America often leave with something even more nourishing—a connection to the people behind the counter and beside them in the checkout line. Few have had a front row seat to the market’s role in the St. Pete community quite like Amaris Castillo. As the daughter of owners Freddy and Damaris Castillo, she spent countless hours during her college years working at the family business, where she quickly got to know the people whose lives intersected there. Though the market may be best known for its freshly prepared empanadas, hard-to-find specialty products like the
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corn flour needed to make Colombian arepas and colorful bins of fresh vegetables, it’s perhaps the stories of immigration, family, food and identity that have become its lasting legacy. After creating a website—a passion project to share the stories of the people who orbit the store—Castillo says an editor from the University Press of Florida approached her about working together to create a book that chronicles the real-life experiences and Dominican culture that surrounds the market. Sharing stories was a natural fit for Castillo, now a research/ writing assistant for the NPR public editor’s office and a journalist for The Poynter Institute. “I have always been especially interested in the preservation of culture and food traditions and how that shows up in people’s lives today,” Castillo says. “I think the latter comes from being a child of immigrants and seeing the ways in which my parents have held onto their Dominican roots even as they remade their lives in the U.S. and became U.S. citizens.”
ABOVE: Freddy and Damaris circa 1980s.
By Christine Bryant | Headshot by Jasman Wynn
Yet she never could have imagined how diving into the traditions and journeys shared in Bodega Stories would lead her to uncover new chapters of her own family’s history. “I learned that my grandmother also had a bodega in Santo Domingo for some time,” she recalls. While Castillo describes the bodega as grueling work at times, she’s proud of the legacy her parents have built and excited to share this little corner of St. Pete with the world. “They are part of a community they helped form, and it’s a beautiful thing to witness,” she reflects. There are so many people who pass through the bodega every day. How did you decide whose stories belonged in the book? I began with a list of folks I definitely wanted to include: the store’s employees and a few longtime customers whom I have known for years. The people helped me decide the rest. I approached customers as they shopped, and they either saw the vision or they didn’t. Determining which stories ultimately made it in depended on the interview. Did writing the book change how you viewed your parents? Definitely. While working on this book, I heard stories and snippets I hadn’t heard before about my parents’ personalities and the many ways they have shown up for this community. It was a curious thing to reimagine my mother and father as others saw them, not just as my parents. What does the community lose when gathering places like neighborhood markets disappear? A lot. The daily social connection of joking with the store owner or running into an old friend while in your neighborhood market is severed. Gone is the sense of a shared identity that comes from the physical gathering of people, especially if it’s a market like my parents’ store. Did you find that customers were coming for groceries— or for something less tangible? People definitely came in for groceries and ingredients for a specific meal. But there’s a reason they chose this store. My guess is they came seeking community. They are comfortable here. What was remarkable to me, personally, was their willingness to share their stories, opinions and beliefs. I would not have been able to write this book were it not for every person who agreed to open their mind and heart just enough.
Your family's journey spans the Dominican Republic, New York and Florida. How has that shaped your understanding of home? Home for me is fluid. It is not one place. I feel love for New York because I was born and raised there. I feel love for Florida because I grew into a young adult here. And I have love for the Dominican Republic because my parents are from there and it’s where I spent nearly every summer as a child. Home is where love resides, and I have found love in every place. Food is woven throughout the book. What dishes instantly transport you back to your childhood? The main dish that takes me back to childhood would have to be mangú, which is a traditional Dominican dish made from boiled, mashed green plantains. You usually pair mangú with fried eggs, fried salami or fried cheese. If you use all three, you call it Los Tres Golpes, or The Three Hits. Mangú is easy to make and the pairings add a nice saltiness to the starchy green plantains. I love it. Customers came for all kinds of food, but mostly everything they came for is rooted in their culture and their traditions. Orlando Latin Market has served generations of families. How have you seen St. Pete's Latino community evolve? The community has definitely grown. In recent years, many Cubans have arrived in the area around Orlando Latin MarSeptember/October 2026
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ket. Some have been able to bring their families to the United States to join them in this new life. Many, though, still have children or aging parents back on the island. I have watched this community grow and join other Floridians who are just trying to live their lives. What do you hope longtime St. Pete residents—and newcomers—take away from the book? I hope they gain a new appreciation for a legacy business here in St. Pete and that they learn about the rich stories some of
If someone reads Bodega Stories having never visited a bodega before, what do you hope they carry with them? If their head filled with color and taste and sound while they read, then I know that I was able to transport them to this special place. I also hope it sparks curiosity about the small businesses in their own community and about the people who orbit them. We can all benefit from listening to each other more. Doing so builds understanding between us, and I think that’s a beautiful thing. Bodega Stories is available through the University Press of Florida website or major booksellers. It will be released on September 8th, with the official book launch event taking place at 7pm that evening at Tombolo Books. Visit amariscastillo. com for more information.
Photos courtesy of Castillo family.
our neighbors are carrying. Especially our immigrant neighbors who cannot simply erase the hardships they endured in their past, or the beautiful things they parted with. Where we come from shapes how we think and understand our current place in the world. Lastly, a trip to the store may feel mundane to most people, but I hope Bodega Stories shows that it has the potential to be the exact opposite.
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CYCLING FOR CHANGE Chef Marques Clark will traverse 700 miles on a bicycle to draw attention to his mission of improving children's nutrition. By Christine Bryant
Marques Clark has never been one to reinvent the wheel. And when it comes to creating change, he has little patience for the hamster wheel—running endlessly in place when the goal is to make meaningful progress. After spending several years in public schools as a volunteer mentor and seeing firsthand the lack of wholesome meals available to students, he knew raising awareness wouldn’t be enough. On October 11th, Clark will set out on a six-day journey as part of the Ride Hunger Out of Florida project. Each day, he’ll cover between 95 and 135 miles, with scheduled breaks for rest, hydration and community engagement with residents, educators, local leaders and supporters along the route. His ride concludes on October 16th, World Food Day, at the Florida Capitol. Clark hopes to present a petition to state leaders outlining 10 calls to action revolving around these three priorities—ban ultra-processed foods from all Florida public schools; eliminate excessive refined and processed sugars and artificial sweeteners from schools, youth facilities and publicly funded child programs; and declare child nutrition a public health priority in Florida.
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“A bicycle ride is symbolic,” Clark says. “Every mile represents the distance many families travel just trying to find healthier options. It slows the conversation down and invites communities to join it.” He affectionately calls the ride Keys to the Capital, symbolizing his desire for the trip to inspire change and gain support for his mission. “In practice, that means increasing access to fresh food ingredients, preparing more meals from basic ingredients when feasible, expanding nutrition education and continuing conversations about how schools can serve healthier options while meeting operational needs,” he explains. For those who know the 43-year-old St. Pete resident, who also goes by Chef Omaka, his commitment to improving the health of the community is no surprise. He is the founder of YES CHEF Village (short for Youth Enrichment Service Children's Healthier Eating Foundation), a community-focused initiative and nonprofit organization launched to improve childhood nutrition, educate families on whole-food options and preserve African American foodways. He also founded Mission Grounds Coffee, an enterprise that supports programming tied to YES CHEF.
Growing up, he was one of eight children raised by his mother in economically disadvantaged areas of St. Pete. Clark remembers one rule in particular that has shaped his views on food and connection: they ate together as a family. “We didn’t have much, but what we had was a very strong bond as a family because of my mother’s village mindset,” he recalls. “That togetherness, the breaking bread together every night at the dinner table, is the philosophy behind this campaign.” Make no mistake—he knows the challenges that can come with change, noting that school nutrition professionals work under real budget, staffing and procurement constraints. “My campaign isn’t about criticizing the people working in cafeterias,” he says. “It’s about encouraging collaboration among educators, nutrition professionals, policymakers, farmers and communities to explore practical ways to improve children’s access to nutritious meals over time.” Clark says addressing the issue starts at the top, especially considering that Florida is an agricultural state where food grows year-round. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, the state has more than 44,000 farms and is a top producer of products like Valencia oranges, watermelons and bell peppers.
“There’s no excuse as to why Florida cannot feed Floridians whole foods all the time,” he explains. “I agree the cost does go up, but so does the cost of health care. Why is it that we can afford more sick people, but we can’t budget for more healthy people?” For Clark, changing school menus is just the beginning. “I hope we begin treating nutrition as part of education rather than separate from it,” he notes. “Healthy children are better positioned to learn, participate and thrive.” Clark says long-term goals include engaging in more conversations around food literacy, cooking skills, family meals and how communities can support healthier lifestyles for children. While laying the groundwork for those long-term goals, Clark is also regularly training to build endurance, strengthen his body and prepare mentally for the long days on the road ahead. “What will keep me going are the children and families this campaign represents,” he says. “Every mile reminds me why I started and why this conversation matters.” Email yeschefvillage@gmail.com to contact Clark or visit ridehungeroutofflorida.com to learn more and sign the petition.
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STEPPING INTO Q4 WITH STYLE With Brook Borup, Business Design Strategist “Summer's almost over. If you're waiting until to figure out your end-of-year strategy, you're already behind.”
Here's what most business owners do in September: nothing. They're still in summer mode, thinking there's plenty of time. Then November hits like a freight train, and suddenly they're scrambling through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday without a plan. Sound familiar? The end of the year isn't just about holiday sales push (though it is that). It's about maximizing every dollar you have left in your budget and positioning yourself to keep more in 2027. Think about what Q4 really means for your business. Are your books a mess? Do you know exactly where your money went this year? Have you talked to your tax advisor about what you can do between now and April 15th to keep more of what you've earned? What about your operations? Are there projects that should be wrapped up before the new year? Systems that need cleaning up? Processes that should be streamlined before you take on 2027 challenges? And yes—are you ready to capitalize on the biggest retail sales months of the year? Now is the time to get intentional. Not in January when resolutions fade by February. Now, when you can actually implement changes and see results before the calendar flips. This is where most business owners get stuck. They know something needs to happen. They just don't know where to start. Here's the good news: you don't have to figure it out alone. Whether you need help cleaning up your books, planning a Q4 sales strategy, streamlining operations, or introducing your team to better systems—we can help. Your Q4 doesn't have to be chaotic. It can be strategic, intentional and profitable. Let's talk about your end-of-year game plan. Your complimentary call is waiting at meetwithbrook.com.
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Safe Haven Just steps from the Gulf of Mexico, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is a place where injured birds arrive in desperate need of help. Permanent residents find refuge, healing and sometimes, a second chance at life. Behind the sanctuary’s fences, the work reaches far beyond its 1.5 acres—from emergency rescues and rehabilitation to education, conservation and the recent need to rebuild after the facility was battered by two powerful hurricanes. BY CHRISTINE BRYANT
Nestled among the towering condos and vacation rentals that line the beaches of Indian Shores sits a different kind of sanctuary. It’s not the kind of place where visitors come to escape, unwind or indulge in a little pampering. There are no lazy beach days. Inside is a bustling wildlife hospital and rehabilitation center where visitors can wander among some of Pinellas County’s most remarkable residents—its wild birds. From April through August, “baby season” brings a steady stream of the sanctuary’s youngest patients, many of whom need hand-feedings every 30 minutes to an hour for much of the day. And they’re not the only ones needing around-the-clock care: The sanctuary’s most critical patients may require fluid therapy, medications, physical therapy and assisted feedings too. But the real work extends far beyond the property’s fenced walls—from rescuing and rehabilitating injured birds to educat-
ing the public and advocating for the wildlife that depends on Florida’s fragile coastline. The Dr. Marie L. Farr Avian Hospital treats an average of 3,000 patients every year. Some are released back into the wild— about 46% of the sick and injured birds admitted are treated and rehabilitated. Others now call the beachfront property home. There are birds of prey like Roosevelt, a majestic bald eagle that arrived at the sanctuary with a fractured wing from an old gunshot wound. Then there’s Ruby, a turkey vulture that has been a resident for nearly a decade, unable to be released because of a previously healed shoulder fracture that makes foraging for food in the wild challenging. Like many pelicans, Red and Nigel suffered wing injuries that left them unable to fully recover and perform essential behaviors in the wild, such as hunting and migrating.
Each of the more than 80 permanently injured birds at the sanctuary has a story etched into its feathers—whether it’s a bird of prey, pelican, shorebird, wading bird, parrot or songbird. For the staff, running the sanctuary means juggling the urgent work of rescue and rehabilitation with the equally important mission of educating the public and advocating for wildlife. Even after nine years as the avian hospital director, Melissa Edwards says her patients continue to keep her on her toes, including a short-tailed hawk named Arnold who arrived in 2023 on what she describes as “death’s door.” “He had a significant wing fracture that required a lot of care, and he was critically emaciated,” Edwards recalls. “Despite his critical condition, he thrived in care and proved us wrong. While his wing did not heal and required a partial amputation, he adapted beautifully and he is one of our most beloved avian ambassadors for his talkative nature and story.” Yet even after years of unexpected recoveries, nothing could have prepared Edwards for the challenge that would soon test the sanctuary itself.
WEATHERING THE STORM It was only three days after Edwards brought her son home from the NICU at All Children’s Hospital when Hurricane Helene hit the Big Bend region in September 2024, bringing with it a devastating storm surge that impacted Florida’s West Coast. “Two of our staff members live on-site at the sanctuary and they were there during the storm,” Edwards recalls. “That night was one of the longest nights of my life and the number one feeling to describe it was dread.” While all of the birds fared well, the property did not. Around 2 to 4 feet of water filled the inside of the property’s buildings along with a significant amount of debris. The seawall behind the property and much of the fencing completely washed away. After temporarily placing the birds with other partner organizations, the sanctuary’s volunteers began repairs. “We had just begun cleaning up when Hurricane Milton was forecasted to take a direct hit, so we did our best to secure the property, but we didn’t know what to expect,” she recalls. The damage from the second storm was significant, taking down enclosure netting along with a few trees. “The initial aftermath of Hurricane Helene was our lowest point, but we focused on the birds,” Edwards recalls. “Our birds needed us, and we were going to do everything in our power to ensure that they were taken care of and that they could return home.” By April of this year, all the post-hurricane repairs were completed. That was accomplished through the efforts of a diverse group of community members and local organizations, including volunteers who helped with the clean-up, Greater
Good Charities, which replaced the enclosure netting at no cost, as well as a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $100,000. “The storms definitely forced us to reset in a significant way,” she offers. “But we do feel much better prepared to withstand future storms.”
A DEEPER CONNECTION Far from Florida, another eagle has captured the attention of wildlife lovers around the world for years. Jackie, a beloved bald eagle at Big Bear Lake in California, had become an online sensation through livestreams that allowed people to follow her life and watch her raise eaglets with her mate, Shadow. Edwards was one of those longtime followers, rooting for Jackie when she was ill and later hospitalized at the Ojai Raptor Center. She watched with a familiar sense of hope and heartbreak as Jackie ultimately succumbed to her illness in August. “I was rooting for her full recovery, but it is the reality of our work sometimes that not all of our patients survive,” Edwards offers. But as Jackie’s story unfolded, Edwards was troubled by another development: a wave of criticism aimed at Ojai, much of it fueled by misinformation spreading across social media. “Social media has incredible benefits, especially for nonprofits because we can connect with such a large audience, but it also has its downfalls, which can lead to a significant strain on staff and volunteers dealing with the public demanding information,” she explains. “I think it's easy for people to forget that behind the photos and videos, the staff and volunteers are people too and they work so incredibly hard each and every day.”
September/October 2026
For Zucker, the sanctuary’s impact is measured not only in the thousands of birds it treats each year, but in the individual rescues—and the people who refuse to give up on them. “Release is always the goal,” she explains. “The idea is to take the sick, injured or entangled birds, fix them and release them back into the wild so they can live out their natural lives in as normal a fashion as possible.” Behind every successful rescue is a team willing to answer the call—often at a moment's notice in difficult conditions and with no guarantee of how the story will end. On Christmas Day 2023, Zucker drove to St. Pete after a great blue heron was spotted floating in the water. “With very little hope, I took my long net and gently eased the head out of the water,” she recalls. “I was shocked to see it take a breath. Then another. I leaped down onto the floating dock, grabbed the bird with my bare hands, and eased the limp body out of the water.” Heater cranked, she made the 30-minute drive to the sanctuary. As each day passed, the rehabbers saw small signs of improvement. By the next February, the heron was released. “Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is a unique and special place where I am so impressed and enamored of all they do that I donate my time copiously and freely,” Zucker enthuses. “The people who work here, staff and volunteers, are some of the most kind, caring and competent people I know.”
HOPE TAKES FLIGHT
While it’s easy for humans to anthropomorphize wildlife, Edwards contends that it’s important to remember that while they are sentient and intelligent, wildlife do not have the same emotions as humans. “The accessibility of the nesting cams allows everyday people to connect with wildlife on a personal level, and this in turn inspires the passion for wildlife conservation that all of us want to see in the world,” she notes. That connection to wildlife is something Mickey Zucker understands from the other side of the rescue equation. A Largo resident and longtime Seaside volunteer, she has spent the past seven years responding to calls about birds in trouble, often finding herself at the beginning of the very journey that eventually brings a patient to Seaside.
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For all the sanctuary has weathered, its gaze remains fixed on what comes next. Over the next five years, Edwards hopes to expand its operations, build new enclosures for resident birds of prey and create an Aquatic Rehabilitation Complex to replace the pelagic bird tanks lost in the storms. The planned complex would include three pools and specialized platforms and perches, giving seabirds the water access they need for feather conditioning and providing aquatic physical therapy for birds recovering from leg and foot injuries. But for Edwards, the sanctuary’s future ultimately rests on something less tangible than new buildings and enclosures— the people who believe in its mission. After the storms, the community rallied around Seaside, reinforcing for Edwards that the sanctuary's work matters far beyond its gates. “Our sanctuary family is a small but incredible group of people dedicated to our mission, and it is an honor to work alongside them,” Edwards declares. “After our community rallied around in the aftermath of the storms, it affirmed for us that our community truly wants us here and sees the work that we do.” Visit seasideseabirdsanctuary.org to learn more.
Count the Moments, Not the Years WITH SEAN GOODRICH, CFP®
Life has a way of moving forward whether we are ready or not. My sister passed away last year at age 48 after a long battle with cancer. A friend from high school, who was in incredible shape, died suddenly of a heart attack. I’ve seen clients develop health challenges that prevent them from enjoying activities they love. Those experiences have changed the way I think about time. A successful entrepreneur once shared an idea that stuck with me: Instead of measuring life by years, measure it by moments. My mother lives in Chicago and is in her late 70s. If I only see her once a year, I may have just 10 more visits with her if she lives into her late 80s. In nearly 30 years as a financial advisor, clients have shared wisdom that extends far beyond finances: Plan for experiences. Create memories with family and friends. The stories you make together often become your most valuable assets. Plan for giving back. Whether through time, talent or resources, serving others leaves a lasting impact that reaches far beyond what we can see. Plan for the unexpected. Life’s biggest changes rarely arrive on schedule. Building flexibility into your plans can help you navigate whatever comes next. Plan for your later years. Think about where you want to live, how you want to spend your time and who you want beside you on the journey. Most importantly, share your hopes, priorities and plans with the people who matter most. Because in the end, a meaningful life is measured not in years but by the impactful moments we create along the way. Sean Goodrich, CFP®, is the founder of Goodrich Wealth Planning in St. Petersburg, where he works with business owners to align financial strategy with longterm goals. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Goodrich Wealth Planning is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.
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