Bay Magazine April 2026

SWINGING INTO SPRING

FROM THE EDITOR

by Kathy Saunders

SPRING SPORTS inside

Spring brings new beginnings, and, for me, the opening of baseball season brings the joy in April. Returning to Tropicana Field to watch our Tampa Bay Rays is an especially welcome treat, following the hurricane damage of 2024.

Rays fans will recognize former outfielder Brett Phillips on our cover. A native of Seminole, Phillips played in some of the Rays’ most memorable games and now has moved from the outfield into team offices and stands, working to recruit fans and bolster the bond between the team and the community he continues to call home.

Keeping fans happy is also the job of fan host Bruce Reynolds. The longtime Rays usher has written a book about his experiences at Tropicana Field called “There Is No Place Like Dome.”

Another local athlete returning to help his hometown team is retired professional soccer player Jeff Attinella. The Clearwater native found a home with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and now is part of the team’s staff, generating enthusiasm for soccer and promoting the sport in the community.

Beginning in May, readers can subscribe to Bay, as only select subscribers receive the magazine as part of their Tampa Bay Times newspaper. If you don’t receive Bay, you can subscribe to have a copy mailed to you each month. Turn to Page 6 of this issue and scan the QR code to subscribe.

THE APRIL ISSUE

▲ 12 PROFILE

Former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Brett Phillips is back as the team’s brand engagement executive.

16 SOCCER

▲ 8 FOUND IT

Find playful and posh pickleballthemed products for your friends obsessed with the sport.

24 RAYS

Tampa Bay Rays fans returning to Tropicana Field this season will enjoy the stadium’s luxurious new upgrades.

27 BOOKS SCENE

Tampa native Paul Wilborn explores the 1980s in his new novel, “The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall.”

Retired goalie Jeff Attinella returns to the Tampa Bay Rowdies as the new director of content and development.

18 GOLF

Tampa resident and former pro golfer Gary Koch’s ties to Copperhead Charities go way back.

20 BASEBALL

Tampa Bay Rays usher Bruce Reynolds shares fan stories in his book “There Is No Place Like Dome.”

▲ 30 ARTS SCENE

Discover nature-inspired art and up-and-coming talent at exhibits in St. Petersburg, Sarasota and beyond.

32 SOCIAL SCENE

Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist

APRIL 11, 2026 THROUGH JU LY 12 , 2026

APRIL 2026

Bay is published monthly by Times Publishing Co. and delivered to Tampa Bay Times subscribers in select neighborhoods in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Copyright 2026. Vol. 19, No. 4.

EDITOR KATHY SAUNDERS | ksaunders@tampabay.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR LISA SCHILLINGER | lschillinger@tampabay.com

Graphic Designer Nausheen Syed-Ali

Copy Editor Erin Murphy Imaging & Production Brian Baracani

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Luxury

Style

on and off the court

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

Kind of a mix of tennis and badminton with a little ping-pong tossed in, pickleball is a fastgrowing sport taking over tennis courts nationwide. If you aren’t on a pickleball team yet, odds are you know someone who is into the game. Here, we highlight pickleball-themed merchandise that will make great gifts for those friends who keep bugging you to take up the sport.

Pickleball backpack

Retro pickleball set

The Sainty + Eric retro pickleball set, exclusive to Neiman Marcus, features two paddles with vintage, 1960s glamour designs, coordinating balls, and two waterproof paddle covers with chenille patches and embroidery. “Elevate your game — and your style — with a set destined to turn heads.” The faux leather-wrapped handles offer a comfortable grip to the set that blends “sophisticated design with modern playability.” $249. neimanmarcus.com.

Spartina 449’s lightweight backpacks with a front zipper pocket are designed to hold one or two pickleball paddles. The inside features a large elastic pocket and a mesh zipper pocket to hold everything else, and an interior key ring for your car or locker keys. The bags have adjustable straps and are made of an easyto-clean, stain-resistant and splash-proof nylon material. $128. Available at Marion’s, 1301 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, and marions4thstreet.com or spartina449.com.

Pickleball outfit

Perfectly designed for pickleball, Lilly Pulitzer’s conch shell pink Roaring with Joy active dress is made from a moisture-wicking fabric and includes undershorts with a pocket. This zippered dress is also made with UPF 50+ sun protection. $168. Available at local Lilly Pulitzer stores and lillypulitzer.com.

Pickleball pendant

Crafted in polished yellow gold, this distinctive pickleball paddle pendant features a sculptural, open design of 14-karat gold, highlighted by a luminous pearl accent. It’s a great gift for Mother’s Day or any special occasion for a pickleball-playing fashionista. $549. Available at Gold & Diamond Source, 3800 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, and goldanddiamond.com.

Pickleball needlepoint pillow

Furbish Studio has added a pickleball pillow to its statement pillow collection: “For the ones who know that pickleball is more than a game — it’s a lifestyle.” The pillow measures 9 by 15 inches and is backed by luxe velvet. $98. furbishstudio.com.

Pickleball glass candles

The SOi Company makes these 12-ounce, “Match Point” pickleball candles scented with fresh citrus and bergamot. They offer a “lively fragrance inspired by the energy of the court.” The soy and vegetable wax candles with cotton wicks are designed to burn for 55 hours. $34. Available at Marion’s, 1301 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, and marions4thstreet.com.

Pitch perfect

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

f you are, or have ever been, a season ticket holder with the Tampa Bay Rays, don’t be surprised if you get a call from former outfielder Brett Phillips. He’s the new pitchman for the team. And just as he was on the field and on the pitcher’s mound, he’s all in.

Phillips, 31, was raised in Seminole, played baseball for Seminole High School, and grew up rooting for the Rays before joining the team in 2020. Officially, he’s the brand engagement executive. Informally, he’s going to make sure the fans, especially longtime supporters, know they are appreciated. He will spend games working the crowds, introducing himself to fans, taking selfies, and answering questions about Tropicana Field, the players and the game itself.

“I will be wearing a lot of different hats, but right now I am working with our season membership team and corporate partnerships and helping out in any way that I can,” he said. “I’ll be showing my love and appreciation just as they did for me as a player.”

Phillips announced his new position on social media in February, writing that time with fans was a highlight of his baseball career.

Phillips was drafted out of high school in 2012 by the Houston Astros. He played three seasons for the Rays and became a fan favorite after his famous single in Game 4 of the 2020 World Series, sending former teammate Randy Arozarena slapping home plate to win the game. Arms outstretched, Phillips “flew” around the field in his nowsignature airplane imitation. He was known for his slogan, “Baseball is Fun.”

And he made many memorable sprints to the pitcher’s mound when called upon by manager Kevin Cash to close games the team was surely going to lose.

Phillips knew it was time to retire in 2024, he said, but he wanted to give pitching a try before calling it quits.

“I ended up getting signed by the Yankees as a minor league pitcher in Tampa and, long story short, we made it a year,” he said. “But my shoulder did not make it a year.

“I got to go out how I wanted to go out, and I started thinking about the future and living a life that was still going to give me purpose.”

Phillips met with Ken Babby, the Rays’ new CEO, at the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando to pitch his new position.

“We are excited to welcome Brett Phillips back to the Rays family in this role,” Babby said. “We especially love his ability to build meaningful connections with our fans and community, while helping to elevate the Rays brand in impactful ways.”

“There’s nothing better” than being at the Trop to greet fans, Phillips said. “(I love) being present and available to our fan base to answer questions, be around, shake hands, make them feel special and (appreciated), and make their Rays experience even better.”

GAME CHANGER

BY KATHY SAUNDERS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEFF ATTINELLA

occer fans are preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in 16 cities across North America. The Tampa Bay Rowdies, the area’s United Soccer League team, are ready, too. In January, the team brought back former goalie Jeff Attinella to serve as director of content and development.

Attinella, 37, retired in 2022 after playing for the Rowdies and Major League Soccer teams in Oregon and Utah.

In his new role, based out of Waters Sportsplex, the team’s office and training facility in Tampa, Attinella wants to increase soccer’s visibility by adding a personal touch to public events, social media and player promotions.

“I want to help the Rowdies be the shining light of the soccer community in this area,” he said. “My hope is to be the driving force for that.”

“I want to help the Rowdies be the shining light of the soccer community in this area. My hope is to be the driving force for that.”

The Rowdies will be hosting one of the teams coming to the United States for the World Cup games. At press time, Attinella was unable to reveal which team will use the Tampa campus. The Rowdies, who play at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, will likely move there for practices while their training space is leased for the World Cup.

Attinella expects enthusiasm for soccer locally will increase dramatically after the World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19. In the meantime, he has been meeting with bay area soccer players, coaches and parents to see what the Rowdies can do to increase access to the sport in Tampa Bay.

“It’s not supposed to be an expensive game — it’s the world’s game,” he said. “But in the United States, that’s what it has become.”

Besides the costs for gear, teams face fees for playing fields and team memberships. Parents have to make hard decisions about driving far from home for practices and games.

“I want to provide the game for people who can’t afford it,” said Attinella, a

father of two. He hopes the Rowdies will be able to help.

Growing up in Clearwater, Attinella was a star soccer player at Countryside High School and at the University of South Florida.

After being drafted by the Real Salt Lake MLS team, he was cut during preseason. He immediately reached out to his hometown team.

“They were like, ‘Absolutely. We have a roster spot for you. Come home,’” he said. “I’m now happy to be a foot soldier for them.”

One way to spread love for the sport is to introduce the players to the community.

Take Russell Cicerone. Attinella described him as a player “who is fast, fights hard like a hockey player, and is extremely talented and skilled on the ball.” The Rowdies signed Cicerone in December 2025 from the Sacramento Republic FC in California.

“Cicerone used to play hockey at a really high level,” Attinella said, adding that he hopes to attract crossover fans to the Rowdies stands. “Two of his old teammates have won Stanley Cups.”

Another Rowdie, MD Myers, “knows how to score goals,” Attinella said.

“He’s a player fans should be very excited for.”

Jahmali Waite, the team’s starting goalie, is the backup goalkeeper for the Reggae Boyz, Jamaica’s national team.

“If they can make it to the World Cup, he is in line to be the backup (there),” Attinella said. The Jamaican team was still in the playoffs at press time.

And, Attinella said, fans will enjoy watching Dion Acoff, whom he described as “a very fast winger who can get himself into the attack. I expect him to play a big part this season.”

Attinella will be looking for ways to put these players front and center so the community can start feeling a connection.

“I have a feeling, knock on wood, they are going to do really well on the field,” he said. “I just believe in soccer in this area and the potential for growth.”

The Rowdies’ regular season opened in March and runs until October. For more information and tickets, visit rowdiessoccer.com.

DRIVING FORCE

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

golfer Gary Koch’s ties to Copperhead Charities go way back. He played in the organization’s first professional tournament in 1977 at Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club and continued to participate for years in their championships, formerly known as the JCPenney Classic, among other names.

Today, the charity operates the Valspar Championship at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort, raising more than $52 million for local charities over nearly 50 years, including more than $1.6 million in 2025.

When the Tampa resident wasn’t playing in the Copperhead tournaments, he was doing play-by-play analysis as a commentator for ESPN, NBC and the Golf Channel.

Koch, 73, is best known in the golf world for his coverage of Tiger Woods’ tumultuous career. He was on air during THE PLAYERS Championship in 2001 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach when Woods attempted a difficult putt on the 17th hole in the third round.

Koch described the ball’s trajectory as “better than most” as the ball approached the hole. It became a famous phrase in golf circles for describing the difficult putt.

“I joke often that it will be on my tombstone,” Koch said.

His Tampa connections gave the Copperhead organization, now chaired by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Rondé Barber, a great reason to invite Koch to help with the Innisbrook tournaments.

“NBC ended up getting the telecast here, so for a number of years I

actually did the broadcasts,” he said. “When Valspar came on as the title sponsor in 2014, it was a natural connection to continue on with the relationship.”

Koch spent the March tournament sharing stories, seeing friends, and supporting players and fans throughout the event.

“Calling the golf is fun, but the best part is getting to see people,” he allowed. “You make a lot of relationships through the years.”

The Copperhead Course, Koch said, is a big draw for golfers.

“It’s very unique for Florida, and I say that because of the elevation changes on the golf course,” he said. “There are several places where you play downhill maybe 30 or 40 feet. Then you may play an approach shot that is uphill some 50 or 60 feet.”

The terrain on the Copperhead Course is another distinctive feature.

“The course is lined with oak trees and pine trees, so you very rarely see a palm tree, which, for this part of Florida, is very unique,” he said.

More importantly, Koch said, professional golfers like the course.

“It really doesn’t favor any one type of player. I think the players appreciate that, and virtually every player who plays thinks he has a legitimate chance to do well,” he said.

As a member at Avila Golf & Country Club and Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa, Koch continues to golf regularly.

“It’s one of the only sports that you can play literally for a lifetime. I have friends in their 80s who still play two and three times a week.” These days, he’s also looking forward to golfing with his three young grandsons.

While he enjoys all the courses in Florida, Koch does have a favorite all-time course.

“If I had one round left to play, I would go to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island. It’s just a unique setting. It’s quite a challenge. And having played fairly well there in the past probably influences my decision.”

Koch will be hosting the broadcast from Shinnecock at the U.S. Open in June.

FAN FAVORITE

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

One Tampa Bay Rays fan who is especially excited to be back at Tropicana Field this month is Bruce Reynolds, author of the book “There Is No Place Like Dome.”

Reynolds, 74, has been attending Rays games since the team was established in 1998. Since 2008, he has been an usher and fan host, most recently working the 51 steps between sections 116 and 118 behind the home dugout.

felt like there were stories that had happened in the stands that should be told.”

With input from other fan hosts and permission from the team, Reynolds shared his favorite experiences in his book. For instance, he remembers a woman who was terrified of foul balls and caught one accidentally, hands over her head trying to avoid it.

and the St. Petersburg Museum of History, as well as on Amazon. It’s also part of the collection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

Reynolds has made an impression on fans with his friendly disposition and enthusiasm. He’s the guy who dons hats shaped like giant tacos, pizzas, burgers or subs. He waves flags with the same food themes after Rays pitchers record 10 or more strikeouts in a regular-season home game. All the props are shaped and stitched by his wife, Jeanette, a former fan host.

“The fans are a huge part of any sporting event,” Reynolds said. “I just

In one of his earlier years at the Trop, Reynolds was helping escort children to the field to run the bases. He noticed a gap in the line to the field and realized the child making his way down was visually impaired, walking with a cane. Reynolds guided him to the turf, and he walked to each base on his own, drawing spectators as he went.

“He reached the bases by himself, and when he got to home plate, everybody in the Trop cheered,” Reynolds said. “I will always remember that.”

Reynolds, a former Presbyterian minister, has lived in St. Petersburg since 1986. He published “There Is No Place Like Dome” through St. Petersburg Press. (Full disclosure: He mentions my family in the book.) It’s available at several local bookstores and shops near the field, including Tombolo Books, Wilson’s Book World, Marion’s

“I cannot have any impact on what’s going on on the field,” he said. “But in the sections I’m in, I can have some degree of impact for fans. If you’re not a season ticket holder, maybe you will come back just because of the good time you had.”

The book was almost ready for publication when Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof and much of the Trop in 2024, forcing the Rays to play at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ outdoor spring training facility in Tampa.

“I grieved,” he said, “because it was like a friend of mine had gotten hurt.”

With the repairs completed and the team back home, Reynolds said, “We’ve got a renewed love story with the Trop. The memories that are locked in there are priceless.”

dome sweet dome

BY KATHY SAUNDERS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TAMPA BAY RAYS

pending the season last year at George M. Steinbrenner Field gave Tampa Bay Rays players and fans a new appreciation for the air-conditioned Tropicana Field. It also gave the team some new ideas for seating and service for the 2026 season.

While the Trop, severely damaged during Hurricane Milton in 2024, was getting a major face-lift, Bill Walsh, chief business officer for the Rays, said the team took the opportunity to spruce up some of its premier offerings.

“Our premium program was a big focus area. We knew we did not offer the full spectrum and quality of products that the modern fan has come to expect and enjoy,” Walsh said.

“That (put) us at a competitive disadvantage, not only within Major League Baseball, but regionally as well. We really tried

to turn things on (their) head. ... (We thought), ‘What if we took this opportunity to have folks walk away feeling like the premium experience at Tropicana Field is actually the best in the market and among the best in Major League Baseball? Can we do that? What would it look like?’”

For starters, the Rays have expanded the DEX Imaging Home Plate Club to include a speakeasy with craft cocktails and a candy room designed to look like an old-fashioned confectionery shop.

A few rows behind and beside the DEX Imaging Home Plate Club are 300 new seats with padded chairs and in-seat food delivery. Fans in the Home Plate Box can order food from a QR code and have the items brought to their seats — something that was offered at George M. Steinbrenner Field as well.

In the Fieldside Box, the Rays have added luxurious, premium seats immediately behind and alongside the dugout.

Seats in the Chalk Box along the first-base line were replaced with oversized, reclining chairs with access to an all-inclusive meal service.

The Executive Suites all got makeovers with new, high-end finishes and fixtures, in-suite restrooms, new appliances and furniture, and built-in induction systems for food service.

The upper deck above leftfield, the MaintenX SkyDeck, was

redesigned with graphics inspired by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Those seats include food, beer, wine and soft drinks.

Much of the technology in the Trop was also improved.

“From the LED lights that light the roof up at night to the video boards to the sound system — they are all receiving various levels of upgrade,” Walsh said.

BOOKS SCENE by

Colette Bancroft

SMOOTH CRIMINAL

Charlie Wall, the son of a former Tampa mayor, was born in 1880. He grew up to be a powerful organized crime boss who rivaled Sicilian mobsters like Santo Trafficante Jr. When he was found murdered in his Ybor City home in 1955 — a crime still officially unsolved — he became part of Tampa’s history.

But what if Wall hadn’t died in 1955? What if he had lived on for decades, long enough to tell his amazing life story to a young aspiring writer living in Ybor City in the raucous 1980s?

That’s the premise of Paul Wilborn’s entertaining new novel, “The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall.” This is his third book after the novel “Florida Hustle” and short story collection “Cigar City: Tales from a 1980s Creative Ghetto.” Wilborn, a Tampa native who serves as executive director of the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg, returns to the settings of the short stories in his first book for this novel.

One of the book’s main characters is, of course, Wall. In real life, he was legendary not only for his rejection of his prominent family and his ruthless tactics as a crime kingpin and purchaser of politicians, but also for his generosity to the poor and his typical outfit of a white or seersucker suit and a straw boater — a costume that earned him the nickname “The White Shadow.”

The other main character is Trip Armstrong. In 1985, he’s decades younger than Wall, but they have some things in common.

Armstrong’s dad is a corporate honcho in Tampa, and the family home perches along the Palma Ceia golf course. But Armstrong is restless. Instead of following in his father’s wingtips, he takes up the hippie life as a teenager in the 1960s, making a living by harvesting, brewing and selling magic mushrooms, “always his own best customer.”

But when he’s still doing that for a living as he hits 30, the thrill is gone. After his father improvises an intervention, Armstrong casts around for a new career path — and ends up working as a driver-bodyguard for the aging gangster.

Wall doesn’t need a lot of chauffeur service. He emerges from his home only in the evening, in his familiar suit, to hold court in old-school watering holes like The Turf and Licata’s.

That gives Armstrong time to pursue a pretty young poet named Katrina. She’s sworn off romance but is happy to talk about literature, and pretty soon Armstrong has a reading list — and then gets the itch to write himself. And what better subject and source than Wall?

Wall’s story and Armstrong’s advance and intertwine in alternate timelines, spiced by several sweet love stories amid the chaos. Wilborn packs the book with colorful characters and does a beautiful job of evoking Ybor City in the 1980s. If you were lucky enough to be there, you’ll enjoy the flashback, and if not, you’ll get a delicious taste of what it was like.

Meet the author

Wilborn will present the following book talks for “The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall”:

• April 29: 7 p.m. Tombolo Books, 2153 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Scott Deitche, author of “Cigar City Mafia,” will interview Wilborn. tombolobooks.com.

• May 8: 8 a.m. Café con Tampa at The Portico, 1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. facebook.com/cafecontampa.

• May 17: 3:30 p.m. Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. With readings by Eugenie Bondurant. bookstore.oxfordexchange.com.

BOOK PICKS: TRUE CRIME

Here are a few ideas for additional fiction reads featuring true criminals.

“Alias Grace” by Margaret Atwood: This brilliant, complex novel is based on the real-life case of Grace Marks.

“Shadow Country” by Peter Matthiessen: Matthiessen’s masterpiece is the best novel yet written about Florida and an arresting portrait of E.J. Watson.

“See What I Have Done” by Sarah Schmidt: This creepy novel reimagines the Lizzie Borden case.

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ARTS SCENE by

Maggie Duffy

NATURAL BEAUTY

Nature and art are the perfect combination, and this is the ideal time of year to enjoy both. Head to Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for the latest in its annual exhibition series, “Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement.” See how horticulturists delightfully interpret Calder’s kinetic art throughout the gardens, then view actual Calder works in the Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts. On view through May 31. $12-$28. 1534 Mound St., Sarasota. 941-366-5731. selby.org.

Enjoy an exhibition in two locations in St. Petersburg

For the past decade, St. Petersburg’s Morean Arts Center has been showcasing the best of the state’s up-and-coming artists with its “Fresh

Squeezed: Emerging Artists in Florida” exhibition. Each year, chief curator Amanda Cooper finds artists who work in different mediums but often have similar themes, including home, family and nature. “It’s a terrific way to get a pulse on exciting new art being made in our region,” Cooper said in a news release.

For the exhibition’s 10th installment, the Morean Arts Center is showcasing art by Alberto Alonso of Winter Haven, who makes nostalgic work reflecting his native Puerto Rico. Works by Angelina Palmisano of Maitland, who creates tender scenes of friends and family, and Gwen Mehler of Fleming Island, who paints endangered Florida birds on intricate backgrounds, are also featured. Part 1 of the exhibition will be on view at the Chihuly Collection through July 19. $16-$22. 720 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

727-896-4527. moreanartscenter.org/ chihuly-collection-location. Part 2 of the exhibition will be on view at the Morean Arts Center through June 25. Free. 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-8227872. moreanartscenter.org.

View local students’ artwork on display in Tampa and Dunedin

This is the time of year when art students get to show their work through multiple exhibitions, which speaks to a nurturing arts community. At the USF Contemporary Art Museum in Tampa, “Things Don’t Seem the Same,” the thesis show for seven Master of Fine Arts students from the USF School of Art & Art History, runs through May 9. Free. 3821 USF Holly Drive, Tampa. 813-9744133. ira.usf.edu/cam.

Competition is fierce at Hillsborough College’s decades-old tradition, the “52nd Annual HC Student Juried Art Exhibition,” which is on view at Gallery114 on the college’s Ybor City campus through May

5. Free. 1411 E. 11th Ave., Tampa. 813-2537674. hcfl.edu/campus-life/arts.

The Dunedin Fine Art Center showcases the work of students, members and faculty with “SMF ’26” in different galleries throughout the center. On view through May 3. Free. 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. 727-298-3323. dfac.org.

Celebrate Florida CraftArt’s 75th anniversary

St. Petersburg has a legacy of fine and contemporary craft in Florida CraftArt. (Full disclosure: I was its gallery manager for six years.) The organization was founded in 1951 by Elsa and Louis Freund, who brought exhibitions around Florida showcasing artists working in fine craft. Florida CraftArt eventually made its headquarters at its downtown location and celebrates its 75th anniversary with

the exhibition “The Makers Who Made Us.” It’s curated by Michele Tuegel, Florida CraftArt’s first executive director, along with Jorge Vidal, the gallery’s current CEO. The exhibit is mainly culled from the organization’s permanent collection, featuring ceramics, wood, fiber, glass, mixed media, metal and jewelry by some of the state’s most acclaimed and skilled artists. It’s on view

through April 22. Free. 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-821-7391. floridacraftart.org.

SOCIAL SCENE

Glazer Children’s Museum Imagination:

“Secret Garden”

Generosity bloomed at the Glazer Children’s Museum’s annual gala, Imagination: “Secret Garden,” co-chaired by Coley and Matt Simmons to grow “play is learning” opportunities for children and families. Giant paper flowers drifted above tables topped in leafy green; edible florals floated in carrot soup and garnished chocolate mousse Feb. 20 at Armature Works. Guests bought boutonnieres and wrist corsages, hung wishes on a storybook tree, and bid big for auction packages like a mountain lodge getaway, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game reached on a private jet and an unforgettable Manchester United experience. A $100,000 matching gift from the Glazer Vision Foundation seeded support for the museum’s new kindergarten prep initiative, “Play Your Way to K,” and its expanding neurodiversity programs. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

SOCIAL SCENE

The Chiselers Chiseling a Legacy: A Dinner for Plant Hall Preservation

“Plant Hall is the heart and soul of Tampa, and The Chiselers are its blood and brains,” said Jim Ferman Jr., presenting sponsor of the Chiseling a Legacy dinner. He shared his lifelong connection to the women’s organization best known for its annual “upscale resale” Chiselers Market, which raises funds to match historic preservation grants for the former 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, now the University of Tampa’s iconic Plant Hall. Ferman’s grandfather was a bellboy at the hotel, and his mother might have been the founding member who named the group in 1959 as they chiseled old paint off hotel fireplace tiles. “There’s probably not a family in Tampa that hasn’t taken a photo in front of Plant Hall,” said UTampa architect Scott Gossen, updating guests on current and future restoration projects supported by The Chiselers. UTampa President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg added her thanks during dinner overlooking the iconic minarets Feb. 28 at the university’s Vaughn Center. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

SOCIAL SCENE

Feeding Tampa Bay

Our Table

Feeding Tampa Bay’s Our Table progressive dinner followed a “four seasons” route through the nonprofit’s Causeway Center, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the regional hub where 100 million meals were distributed in the past year, bringing overall distribution to a whopping 1 billion meals. Along the way — through winter, spring, summer and fall displays — guests learned about job training, nutrition education, mobile markets and other vital programs. Hors d’oeuvres and dinner were prepared at The Bistro, a free-to-the-community extension of Trinity Café. The highlight of the Jan. 16 event was when Feeding Tampa Bay CEO Thomas Mantz presented the organization’s inaugural Solomon Award to Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers for championing the hunger relief mission. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos courtesy of Feeding Tampa Bay.

RAYMOND JAMES POPS

BUGS BU NNY AT TH E SYMPHONY

James Fellenbaum, conductor

“What’s up, Doc?” Warner Bros. Discovery presents “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony.” Sixteen classic Looney Tunes are projected on the big screen, while The Florida Orchestra plays their iconic original scores live!

Sat, Apr 18, 2 pm, Mahaffey Theater – Matinee Sat, Apr 18, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater Created by George Daugherty & David Ka Lik Wong LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements

SOCIAL SCENE

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Ye Captain’s Ball and Royal Coronation

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla’s 107th invasion may have blown in cold and rainy Jan. 31, but the celebrations surrounding the annual pirate revelry were anything but dreary. A few days earlier, Ye Captain’s Ball sparkled with skull-and-bones finery and a steady parade of cocktails Jan. 29 as more than 1,000 pirates, wives and dates packed the Tampa Yacht & Country Club in festive force, dancing to Mixt Bag in the ballroom and rocking to the Paradigm Party Band in the party tent. Tradition reigned at the coronation of the 112th Gasparilla rulers, King Alan Harvill and Queen Catherine Touchton, at the Tampa Convention Center on Feb. 21. Her royal lineage includes two kings (Grand-Grandpa Currie Witt, who reigned in 1972, and Grandpa Thomas Touchton, in 2008) and two queens (Grandma Lavinia Witt Touchton, who reigned in 1963, and Aunt Lavinia Touchton, in 1990). The Frequency band kept the celebration sailing far into the night. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

The Pointe on Boca Ciega at Marina Bay

Waterfront penthouse condominiums

With only three units per building – each commanding an entire floor –The Pointe Condominiums ensure the ultimate luxury – privacy. The penthouse-style, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom residence offers over 3,800 sq ft of living space, and nearly 1,000 sq ft of wrap-around terrace overlooking breathtaking panoramic views of Boca Ciega Bay and the Skyway Bridge. Featuring dual master baths, a whole-building gas generator, and a private, oversized 2-car garage for each unit.

Discover Marina Bay in St. Petersburg, a hidden gem tucked away on Boca Ciega Bay, where 60 acres of lush tropical landscaping, lakes with dramatic water features and abundant wildlife blend to form this vibrant community Just six minutes to downtown St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach, the new Villas, Estate Homes and Pointe Condominiums on Boca Ciega redefine both luxury and resilience by building to FORTIFIEDTM - Gold standards. Visit Marina Bay, next to Eckerd College, to tour our new models.

SOCIAL SCENE

The Florida Holocaust Museum To Life: “Act

& Inspire”

Guests at the annual To Life dinner were first to learn about The Florida Holocaust Museum’s upcoming projects, including the new interactive “Wiesel Experience,” featuring the archives of Elie and Marion Wiesel, along with the “Dimensions in Testimony” virtual immersion theater. Ambassador of Sweden to the United States Urban Ahlin accepted the Loebenberg Humanitarian Award via video for his nation’s role in saving thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. The 2026 Legacy Award paid tribute to Holocaust survivors from across Florida, as board Chair Stacy Conroy reminded the audience, “Memory without action is not enough.” Dinner co-chairs Rachel Elias Wein and Andy Gaunce were thrilled to announce that $1.6 million was raised at the Feb. 7 benefit at The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos courtesy of The Florida Holocaust Museum.

SOCIAL SCENE

Moffitt Cancer Center

31st Annual Magnolia Ball

“Cupid says, ‘Raise your paddle!’” urged Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation board Chair Rose Baker Reilly to nearly 1,000 guests at the 31st annual Magnolia Ball on Feb. 14. The crowd responded by raising nearly $6 million in support of Florida’s only National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center, including two $1 million pledges. A $10 million gift from gala co-chairs Wesley Barnett and Ashley Bell Barnett and a multiacre land donation from Steven, Dane and Tom Rogers excited the crowd when they learned the funds will help build a new outpatient center along Bartow Road in Lakeland. CEO Dr. Patrick Hwu and founder H. Lee Moffitt felt the Valentine’s Day love as auction bidding soared, including on a weeklong stay at the Pepin family’s North Carolina retreat that sold twice at $170,000. Grammy winner Ziggy Marley spread his reggae joy to end the elegant evening at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.

St. Petersburg Museum of History A Grove of Giving: The Sunshine City Soirée

The inaugural A Grove of Giving: Sunshine City Soirée celebrated the past and future: the 134th birthday of the city of St. Petersburg and an expansion of the St. Petersburg Museum of History envisioned by Executive Director Rui Farias and the St. Petersburg Historical Society. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and City Council members joined 250 guests at the waterfront museum’s fundraiser, co-chaired by Natalie DeVicente and Melissa Rutland, who turned The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club’s Palm Court Ballroom into an elegant, citrus-inspired grove. David Feaster and, posthumously, Fannye Ayer Ponder, received Sunshine City Civic Awards at the Feb. 21 soirée. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by Bill Dahl.

Queen’s Court Inc. 67th Annual Queen of Hearts Ball

How do you earn the title of Queen of Hearts and join her Royal Court? Volunteer countless hours to Pinellas County nonprofits, and you just might be nominated and chosen by a panel of past royalty. Dimity Carlson was crowned the 67th Queen of Hearts alongside Princesses Kim Blessinger, Lisa Funsch, Connie Koons, Janna Ranney, Shirley Rigo and Alex Sirimarco at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club on Feb. 21. The annual Queen of Hearts Ball benefits local nonprofits and has raised over $2.6 million to date by honoring 66 previous queens and hundreds of princesses for their community service. The gala’s 2026 beneficiaries were the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg’s teen poetry fellowship and Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay’s foster grandparent program. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos courtesy of Lori Shube.

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SOCIAL SCENE CALENDAR

by Amy Scherzer

April 16: Child Abuse Awareness Benefit, hosted by Joshua House. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Armature Works. friendsofjoshuahouse. org/events.

April 16: A Night with Mary Lee’s House: “Viva Havana.” From $200. 6-10 p.m. Armature Works. maryleeshouse.org.

April 16-19: Art in Bloom: “Curated Beauty.” Three floral interpretation events that benefit The Stuart Society/Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. stuartsociety.org.

April 18: Gilded in Jazz Gala, which benefits St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation. $750 and up. 5:30-10 p.m. The Floridian Social. 727-825-1086. stanthonysfoundation.org.

April 18: LAMPLighters Fund Hope: “Ruby Jubilee,” which benefits Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House. $200. 6-11 p.m. Higgins Hall. lamplighterstampa.org.

April 18: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation’s A Night for All Children: “Turning 100.” $400. 6 p.m. The Vinoy Resort &

Golf Club. 727-767-4199. hopkinsmedicine.org/all-childrenshospital/giving/events/a-night-for-all-children.

April 18: Fashion Funds the Cure, which benefits the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. $250. 6 p.m. The Motor Enclave. nationalpcf.org/programs/fashion-funds-the-cure/fashion-fundsthe-cure-tampa.

April 18: TASTE at Straz Center, which benefits the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. VIP: $175, 6 p.m. General admission: $100, 7 p.m. strazcenter.org.

April 19: Second Annual Citrus Gala, which benefits the Dunedin History Museum. $175. 5-8 p.m. Bon Appétit. onecau.se/ secondannualcitrusgala.

April 22: Latinos Unidos Luncheon, hosted by the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council. $125. Noon. Hilton Tampa Downtown. tampa.gov/hispanic-advisory-council/latinos-unidos-luncheon.

April 23: Handbags & Happy Hour, which benefits The Spring of Tampa Bay. $175. 6:30 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. thespring.org.

April 23: A Legacy of Love gala, which benefits Heart of Adoptions Alliance. $150. 6:30 p.m. Bob Buckhorn River Center. adopthoaa.org.

April 23: Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame: “Tides of Triumph.” $350. 5 p.m. Hilton Tampa Downtown. 813-289-8489. fcee.org.

April 25: Fuel Her Fire Gala, which benefits Girls Inc. of Pinellas. $200. 5:30 p.m. The Fort Harrison. girlsinc-pinellas.org.

PARTY WITH A PURPOSE

Check out Tampa Bay’s

April 30: Sips & Supper for Success, which benefits the BAYS Success Program. From $100. 6-8:30 p.m. Bob Buckhorn River Center. 813-372-0235. bayskids.org/sips-supper-for-success.

May 1: Dick Vitale Gala, which benefits The V Foundation for Cancer Research. $1,500. 6:30 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. v.org/event/dick-vitale-gala.

May 7: Tampa Bay Business Coalition for the Arts’ IMPACT Awards. $250. 6 p.m. Armature Works. tbbca.org.

Contact Amy Scherzer at amyscherzersdiary@gmail.com to have your event listed on the calendar.