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by Kathy Saunders
Local museums have become my favorite spots to meet friends these days. I am addicted to the sugary morning buns at Café Clementine at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, and I love the wide-open atmosphere and the weekend brunch menu at the Arts Café at the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. And nothing says fall more than chef Chuck Bandel’s roasted oyster mushroom bisque offered this season at Café Gala at The Dalí Museum. Bandel has traveled often to Catalonia, Spain, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí, to create recipes like the bisque, Basque cheesecake and more as a tribute to the artist’s homeland.
Bandel generously offered Bay readers the recipe for his delicious bisque in this issue, and guests at my home will be enjoying it as a main course.
Our arts writer, Maggie Duffy, also spends plenty of time at museums. This month, she shares her thoughts about some of the unique exhibitions featured at our local galleries, like one of Florida artist Jeff Whipple’s witty social commentaries on the absurdities of life. “Jeff Whipple: Past, Present, Future” is on view at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs through Dec. 7.
We also profile the 2025 St. Petersburg debutantes who are busy volunteering throughout the community. They will be formally presented to society at the Debutante Ball on Dec. 27 at the St. Petersburg Coliseum.
The Posh Vault in Clearwater offers local shoppers designer styles for less.
Some of the Tampa Bay area’s best cafés can be found inside local museums.
A college love triangle is the subject of Lily King’s new novel, “Heart the Lover.”
A retrospective exhibit, holiday events and more exciting arts experiences await this month.
At 131 MAIN in Sarasota, enjoy classic American cuisine in an ultra-chic setting.
Tampa Bay Fashion Week spotlights unique styles from local designers every fall.
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Rebekah Monzon-Aguirre, owner of The Posh Vault in Clearwater, offers local shoppers designer styles for less.
BY CHRISTINE BRYANT
he stage is set, the luxury handbags are carefully arranged, the phone is positioned just right and the lights illuminate boutique owner Rebekah Monzon-Aguirre.
It’s a Tuesday afternoon at The Posh Vault in Clearwater, and Monzon-Aguirre, 33, is preparing to go live on Instagram, ready to greet customers from loyal locals to shoppers who tune in from thousands of miles away.
Tucked along Clearwater Largo Road just east of Belleair, The Posh Vault is a boutique specializing in preowned luxury handbags, wallets and accessories. Twice a week — every Tuesday and Friday at 3 p.m. — Monzon-Aguirre goes live on Instagram to showcase the latest arrivals.
I believe many people are tired of feeling judged or overlooked in traditional luxury boutiques, so it’s refreshing for them to walk into a space that feels inviting and friendly.
— Rebekah Monzon-Aguirre
During each broadcast, she walks viewers through the rules, highlights the condition of each piece and announces the price. The pace is quick. The first shopper to type “mine” in the chat claims the item, which could be a Louis Vuitton or Prada handbag or pieces by Christian Dior, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Christian Louboutin, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and more.
For the boutique’s 40,000-plus Instagram followers, it’s an opportunity to hop online and secure a designer bag at an affordable price. For Monzon-Aguirre, these live moments and her social media presence aren’t just about boosting sales. They’re about building relationships and a close-knit community with her clients.
“We make it a priority to showcase our new arrivals daily and give sneak peeks of what’s coming up for our live sales,” she said. “Alongside that, we mix in funny content and short vlog-style videos that bring clients behind the scenes. It keeps things fresh, authentic and helps our community feel connected to the boutique beyond just shopping.”
In February, The Posh Vault celebrated its second anniversary as a small business, which Monzon-Aguirre said solves two
problems for its customers: “We help you find a new owner for your bag, whether you sell it, consign it or trade it, but we also help someone who wants to buy a luxury product.”
Her journey to business ownership began with a realization that there was a gap in the Clearwater area for this type of service. Monzon-Aguirre secured a $20,000 loan and 15 handbags, and from there, grew her business through client connections and making luxury fashions feel accessible.
“I didn’t have prior retail experience, so there was definitely a learning curve,” she said. “I remained naively positive about the store’s future. The thought of the store growing and the vision I had for it kept me going on the hard days.”
From the beginning, Monzon-Aguirre said she has been selective about the condition of the items she accepts, and she also maintains a curated list of brands
that she knows resonate with the boutique’s followers. She personally inspects each piece before it reaches a customer, crediting her Midwestern roots for the care she takes in both business and customer relationships.
“I believe many people are tired of feeling judged or overlooked in traditional luxury boutiques, so it’s refreshing for them to walk into a space that feels inviting and friendly,” Monzon-Aguirre said. “That’s why kindness is at the core of what we do. It’s not just about the products we sell, it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable and valued.”
When two customers recently visited the store and realized all of the handbags available were beyond their budgets, Monzon-Aguirre said she didn’t assume they weren’t her clients. Instead, she told them, “If you give me a budget, I’ll find you a bag.”
“They were so touched that I was willing to take the time to help them, rather than brushing them off,” she said. “That
experience really reflects how my Midwestern perspective shapes the way I run my business, making sure every person who walks through the door feels welcomed, valued and taken care of.”
While Monzon-Aguirre said she has had several requests to franchise throughout Florida and in other states, she wants to instead focus on her Clearwater boutique and online reach by purchasing digital ads throughout Tampa Bay and Miami, eventually expanding that strategy to include Orlando and the Florida Panhandle.
“While it’s flattering and could certainly be a great opportunity, I know how challenging it is to preserve the exact vision I have for how I want the brand to make people feel,” Monzon-Aguirre said.
“For me, staying founder-led and hands-on allows me to protect that experience, which is ultimately more important than rapid expansion.”
To learn more about The Posh Vault, visit theposhvault.com or the boutique at 1771 Clearwater Largo Road, Clearwater.
Some of the Tampa Bay area’s best lunches can be found not in typical restaurants, but in another set of cultural institutions: museums.
BY MICHELLE STARK
cross the area, fantastic places to eat exist within the walls of our major art museums. From The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, which recently opened a new café, to the Sarasota Art Museum, these spots are worth seeking out regardless of whether you’re perusing artworks that day. Here are some of our favorites.
One of the best bakeries in all of Tampa Bay just happens to be found in the lobby of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. You can visit Café Clementine even if you don’t purchase admission to the museum, but why not enjoy one of its salted honey croissants before a stroll through the permanent galleries? It’s a lovely combination of recreational activities that can make for one delightful day. In addition to a truly mouthwatering display of several baked goods, Café Clementine has a solid lunch menu that rotates its offerings, from soups and sandwiches to toast and yogurt bowls. It’s a perfect spot to stop before a special occasion and load up on treats. The café is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. 727-896-2667. mfastpete.org.
The Dalí Museum’s Café Gala is almost as renowned as its collection of surrealist art. Named in honor of Salvador Dalí’s wife, Gala, the eatery in the lobby offers a wonderful menu of Spanish fare. In addition to delicious pastries and fun coffee beverages, there are tapas and small plates, soups and sandwiches. A standout item is the Spanish farmhouse cheese plate, which is great for sharing and features a trio of Spanish cheeses accompanied by sunflower seed brittle, poached pear, spiced almonds, apricot jam, Basque peppers and fig cake. You’ll also find a select offering of beer and wine, including the café’s signature cava rosado. The café is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 1 Dalí Blvd., St. Petersburg. 727-823-3767. thedali.org.
By chef Chuck Bandel of Café Gala at The Dalí Museum
1½ pounds oyster mushrooms
6 ounces butter
½ cup olive oil
5 ounces shallots
5 ounces leeks
1 tablespoon salt-and-pepper blend
1 tablespoon marjoram leaf
1½ tablespoons granulated garlic
1 cup albariño wine
3½ quarts choice of stock (chicken, pork, vegetable)
1 tablespoon mushroom powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
1 cup heavy cream
■ Place the mushrooms in a shallow roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper (not the olive oil and salt and pepper listed above). Roast at 350 F till lightly golden and the mushrooms start to release some liquid. Remove from the pan, give the mushrooms a coarse chop and set aside.
■ Heat a medium-sized pot (big enough to hold 6 quarts). Add the butter and olive oil till hot. Add the shallots and leeks and sauté till soft. Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper, marjoram leaf and granulated garlic. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or so. (I cook mine even deeper, around an hour, stirring occasionally to make sure it’s not burning. The longer it cooks, the deeper the flavor, in my opinion.)
■ Deglaze the pan with the wine. Cook until the wine has mostly evaporated. Add the stock and mushroom powder to the pot, mix well and raise the heat to medium. Let cook until it starts to simmer. Simmer for around 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
■ Working in batches, blend the soup in a powerful blender. (I use a Vitamix.) Blend until very smooth. Return to the pot and place on a gentle simmer. Add the lemon juice. (I like to finish my seasonings on soups with lemon juice. It brightens everything up. This is optional.)
■ Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if need be. Add the heavy cream and bring back to a simmer. The cream will make the soup even more velvety. Secure the soup. The best practice is to add a chill stick to cool the soup down rapidly.
■ This recipe yields around 3½ quarts, enough for friends and family to enjoy all week!
■ Garnish ideas: sautéed mushrooms, croutons, creme fraiche and chives. Be mindful of your choice of stock. If it is heavily salted, then you might want to season at the end.
The Arts Café in the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement is one of downtown St. Petersburg’s hidden gems. With a wide-ranging menu featuring breakfast, sandwiches and desserts, it makes for a lovely meal no matter the time of day. This year, they launched a brunch menu that’s served on weekends. The café’s full liquor license means they can serve up cocktails, too, and the menu is a fun one: Bellinis, Negronis and sangria. The menu has a New York deli vibe, and the café confirmed some of their bestsellers are pastrami, tuna and egg salad sandwiches. The tempting bakery case contains carrot cakes made in-house, plus tiramisu, croissants, scones and more. The café is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. 355 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-440-4859. museumaacm.org.
The newest museum dining destination on the scene is the café at The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in downtown St. Petersburg. In June, it debuted The Canyon, a café open mainly for lunch. Local catering company Catering by the Family has crafted a menu inspired by the American West and Indigenous ingredients, featuring locally sourced components. Dishes like the deviled crab, a croquette filled with crab, nod to Tampa’s past, while a tasty chicken and biscuit sandwich and canyon plate with creamed kale, charred chicken thighs and herb-garlic fingerling potatoes round out the savory offerings. Enjoy your food in front of the vintage saloon-style bar, then head upstairs for more Western artifacts. The café is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-892-4200. thejamesmuseum.org.
If you’re south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, make sure you plan a trip to the Sarasota Art Museum, housed in a historic building that was once home to old Sarasota High School. The main gallery is very cool; the multifloored space has original restored brick floors and large-scale installations that inspire awe. Just across a charming outdoor space sits Bistro, the museum’s café. Breads and produce especially are sourced locally, and the menu rotates often, taking inspiration from the seasons. The café offers an elevated menu, with items like a daily quiche, summer avocado tartine, blackened catfish and summer corn soup, making for a lovely meal. Bistro is also a gallery space, with exhibits on the walls and even in the dining area; its chairs are inspired by the Thonet chair, the first mass-produced piece of furniture in the world that became synonymous with bistro seating after it was created in the 1850s. The café also periodically hosts Bistro Pop-up Nights, during which guests can experience an after-hours gallery tour and a four-course dinner. The café is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 941-309-4300. sarasotaartmuseum.org.
Some college romances hardly last longer than a hangover and have about as much impact. Some of them, though, last a lifetime — even when they end before classes do.
Such a romance is the subject of Lily King’s captivating latest novel, “Heart the Lover.” King has written compellingly before of all-consuming love, as she did in 2014’s “Euphoria,” with its memorable fictionalized version of the great anthropologist Margaret Mead involved in a love triangle while conducting research in the remote jungles of New Guinea.
A similar triangle provides the frame for “Heart the Lover,” which is set at a university that sounds something like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during its narrator’s senior year a few decades ago. She’s studying English, and when she first meets Sam and Yash, the star student scholars in her 17th-century literature class, she’s in awe of their brilliance and banter.
She’s soon drawn into their circle, hanging out with them in the elegant home they’re house-sitting for a professor on sabbatical. They nickname her Jordan, for the second-fiddle female character in “The Great Gatsby,” and they teach her to play an intricate card game called Sir Hincomb Funnibuster, an element of which gives the book its title.
In short order, she falls into a sort of stuttering affair with Sam, who is awkward and standoffish when it’s
just the two of them but relaxes when Yash is around, “as relieved as I am that there are three of us now,” Jordan notes.
Sam is an introvert who struggles with a strict sense of Christianity and a semiserious commitment to celibacy; Yash, son of an American mother and a father who emigrated from India, seems to be friends with everyone on campus, a fountain of good cheer and affection. Jordan vibrates between them, looking for herself.
She waits tables to pay tuition and shares a place with 11 roommates, so she revels in the time she spends with Sam and Yash, whose resources are more plentiful. But she is even more charmed by their intelligence, learning and quick wit — so much so that she decides to change her major and stay in school for an extra semester.
By then she’s drawn away from her relationship with Sam and, before long, falls dizzyingly in love with Yash. King does a splendid job of making the reader feel the thrill of a first serious love, when every day is glorious and every little thing about the beloved seems like sacred text.
But it comes to an abrupt and shocking end. The book’s second section jumps forward about a decade, and it seems Jordan might have found her happily ever after with someone else. She’s happily married with two young sons, and the author of several successful novels.
When Yash shows up unexpectedly, she learns he’s moved on, too, and she thinks their love is just a bittersweet part of her past. Then the novel’s third section takes another leap forward.
Saying almost anything else would be a spoiler, but King deepens her story of Yash and Jordan (and Sam) with poignancy and beauty.
Here are more terrific novels with campus settings.
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ARTS SCENE by Maggie Duffy
Irecently found an artist’s work that was so compelling I couldn’t wait to see the next piece. The exhibition is “Jeff Whipple: Past, Present, Future” at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs, on view through Dec. 7. The retrospective spans over four decades of the Florida-based artist’s career. Whipple’s figurative works are laden with wit and social commentary, especially about life’s absurdities. He created a recurring three-line motif called a “spasm” that appears throughout his art, and in works like “The Patron is Moved by Culture,” the motif obscures the subject’s face. The exhibition spans the entire museum and includes an interactive miniature golf course (ask for a putter at the front desk). Whipple is so prolific that a screen in the museum streams more than 200 additional paintings. 600 E. Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs. 727-712-5762. leeparattner.org.
Attend an art show at The Tampa EDITION
We’ve all been to art parties where there is so much distraction that it’s less about the art and more about being seen. The art shows at the swanky Tampa EDITION’s rooftop pool could easily cross into that realm. But because they’re presented by local architect and curator Tobin Green, the approach puts the art and artist first. Presenting them under his architecture firm’s moniker, AADMIXX
(the second A stands for art), Green built movable walls and created an outdoor gallery designed to make the art stand out.
The first show happened last year and was a solo exhibition for St. Petersburg artist Raheem Fitzgerald, whose works sold out. Two more shows followed last fall and spring. Up next on Nov. 14 is “It’s Yours,” a solo showcase of Tampa artist Fary “Junkyrd” Charles.
Green has created a more serious model of what a one-night-only show can be:
“We can take the creative edge of St. Pete, the creative grit of Ybor and this new little pocket of affluence that’s been created here in Water Street, and we can create an art show as influential as any big city,” he said. The event will be held at 8 p.m. on Nov. 14 at The Tampa EDITION. 500 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813-2214600. Follow @aadmixx on Instagram for details.
November also marks the beginning of holiday shows. See the Peanuts gang learn the true meaning of Christmas while performing composer Vince Guaraldi’s memorable holiday score in “A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage” at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. themahaffey.com.
Holiday movie staple “A Christmas Story” gets the Broadway musical treatment from the songwriting team behind “Dear Evan Hansen” at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 28-30. Watch Ralphie’s hijinks and schemes in pursuit of the coveted Red Ryder air rifle. (“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”)
On Dec. 4, the Straz is screening another Christmas classic, “Home Alone,” followed by an interview with Kevin McCallister himself, actor Macaulay Culkin. The event celebrates the film’s 35th anniversary, just in case you needed a sobering age reminder. 1010 N. Macinnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827. strazcenter.org.
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BY MICHELLE STARK
Joe Douglas remembers the weather on the day he opened his very first restaurant: sunny and beautiful. “It’s like having your first child,” he said by phone from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Douglas and his Captiva Restaurant Group own several 131 MAIN restaurants in North Carolina and now, one in Florida: In April, the Sunshine State’s very own 131 MAIN opened to packed crowds in Lakewood Ranch’s growing Center Point at Waterside, a restaurant/retail development just east of University Town Center.
The Lakewood Ranch crowd took immediately to the spot: Reservations, which the restaurant intentionally limited early on to get their bearings, can still be hard to come by.
It’s a classy fit for a rapidly growing area. “Our restaurant needs to be nicer than where people live,” Douglas said. “So, we spend a lot of money on our facilities. A lot of thought goes into the design. That’s one of my passions, designing restaurants.”
It shows. The space is chic yet glamorous, with a moody bar and a gorgeous but approachable dining room. If you can’t find a seat at either, head to the lovely enclosed (and air-conditioned!) patio, where you can sip on a drink or order some food. (It would be a fantastic spot to host a party or event.)
Another nice touch at 131 MAIN is the artwork, all original, locally sourced pieces that Douglas handpicked. This personal touch makes for some memorable art that lends the spot a sophisticated vibe.
The menu at this location keeps a lot of the original 131 MAIN location’s standbys, and for good reason: The fare is at once elevated and simple, utilizing fresh ingredients and classic techniques. Fun fact: There’s no freezer on-site.
Inspiration for dishes comes from the California travels Douglas embarked upon with one of the partners in his restaurant group. They visited dozens of restaurants to figure out what they wanted on that original menu. The cast-iron cornbread, made with green chiles and Jack and cheddar cheeses, makes for a great (and generous) appetizer. The Southern shrimp and grits with traditional Cajun Creole sauce and corn salsa nods to the restaurant’s Southern roots, as does the grilled North Carolina rainbow trout. The double-cut pork chop is a must, a giant chop suitable for sharing. All the sides are a delicious addition to a meal here; be sure to save room for dessert.
6608 University Parkway, Sarasota. 941-394-0131. 131-main.com.
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Tampa Bay Fashion Week, now in its 18th year, spotlights unique styles from local designers in the bay area every fall.
BY KATHY SAUNDERS
This year, the Tampa Bay region celebrated 18 years of fashion and style during Tampa Bay Fashion Week. A runway show at WestShore Plaza was held Sept. 19 with models wearing fashions designed by 12 bay area designers, including Aarushi Pratap, AJÉAD by Daéja Anderson, B. Lovely by B. Evans, Bhavna Kanakia, Bracho+Bosch by Amalia Bracho, Colors House of Fashion by Sana Hassan, Dé Johnea Bianca, Elizabeth Carson Racker, Lenkašnová by Lena Slukhanova, The Logan Louis Collection, Rhonda Shear Intimates and Urban Native by Erik Wise.
Tampa Bay area designers received national recognition earlier this year after FLC Atelier, a collective of fashion designers from Florida and the Southeast, showcased their creations during New York Fashion Week in February.
“We had around 84 designer inquiries and applicants this year, which is a record number for us,” said Nancy Vaughn, founder and executive producer of Tampa Bay Fashion Week and owner of White Book Agency. “We hope to one day be able to showcase them all and highlight the unique contributions our region provides to the fashion industry.”
Garments and accessories designed by Aarushi Pratap, Bhavna Kanakia, Amalia Bracho and Elizabeth Carson Racker are available for purchase this month at the Tampa Bay Fashion Week pop-up shop inside The Shoppes at Bayshore at Tampa International Airport. For more information, visit fashionweektampabay.com.
Photos courtesy of NUBfoto/Don Scott.
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The St. Petersburg Debutante Club has announced its 2025 class of debutantes. The young women, generally entering their second year of college, are selected for their academics, athletics and community service. The debutantes have been volunteering in service projects and attending social events since June, working alongside members of the community who give their time and service to the city. They plan to continue their volunteer work until they are formally presented to society at the Debutante Ball, a club tradition since the 1930s. The ball is scheduled for Dec. 27 at the St. Petersburg Coliseum.
High-flying acrobats and spangled showgirls on stilts dazzled guests at the Cirque du Compassion gala benefiting Joshua House, a safe, temporary haven for abused, abandoned and neglected children. Gala chair Marshall Slaton welcomed supporters to The Motor Enclave on Oct. 4, where guests kicked off the evening with the Motor Thrill Experience before dinner and a dramatic Aerial Dragons performance about a character named Hope. High school student Mario Buruato also spoke about his childhood in the foster system. His moving story earned a standing ovation and helped raise $133,000 for the five-home, 11-acre refuge for children healing from complex trauma. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by PamElla Lee Photography.
With a big welcome to new CEO Robyn Ostrem, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay rocked the annual Big Gala, raising $400,000 for the life-changing mentorship program serving at-risk youth in nine counties. The fun rock ’n’ roll theme was a hit with the 550 guests at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa on Sept. 27, where alumni mentor Brett Morgan, CEO of Morgan Automotive Group, earned the Rays UP Award, and “Bigs” Janae Thomas and Carl Mueller, with their “Littles” Taniya and Calab, were named Bigs and Littles of the Year. Sister Hazel rockers Ken Block and Drew Copeland entertained and shared personal ties to the mission — Block as a former Big Brother and Copeland through his wife Jasmyn’s work for the organization in Gainesville. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos by PamElla Perkins Winslow of Tacy Briggs-Troncoso Photography. Brett Morgan.
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The NAACP Hillsborough County branch, led by President Yvette Lewis, hosted its annual Freedom Fund Dinner: “All In: Keep Advancing,” welcoming community leaders, politicians, youth groups and Divine Nine sororities and fraternities — 1,200 guests all united in support of an equitable America. Dinner chairwoman Liz York Cohen introduced keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Roslyn Brock, NAACP chair emerita, whose passionate words stirred the crowd to get involved, vote in every election and defend social justice. The annual Unsung Heroes, Living Bridge and President’s Awards presentation concluded the inspiring evening Sept. 27 at the Tampa Convention Center. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.
The derby-themed “Run for a Cure” FARA Energy Ball galloped closer to the finish line “to slow, stop and reverse” Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder that slowly takes away energy and mobility. The Sept. 27 fundraiser, created by Paul and Suzanne Avery and their daughters, Laurel and Alison, who have lived with FA since their teens, was the 10th co-chair turn for Steve and Janell Griggs, the 16th time for WFTS-Ch. 28 anchor Wendy Ryan to emcee and the 15th year Scott Robertson auctioned bucket-list trips to Mexico, Vegas, the NCAA championship, the U.S. Open and more. Showstoppers: An autographed 20-year-old bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, auctioned by Julian Van Winkle III himself, hit $16,000, and a visit to the Avery ranch in Montana sold twice for $40,000. Tampa Marriott Water Street’s dance floor filled with FA friends and families celebrating raising $1.4 million, including the $558,000 Fund a Cure appeal, for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance and the USF Health Ataxia Research Center. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.
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Guided by their belief that looking your best builds confidence, My Fairy Godfathers Foundation founders Steven Anderson and Andrew Ashton empower women — cancer survivors, troubled teens and domestic abuse victims — to see their own beauty, worth and strength by providing wigs, makeovers and scholarships. The Clearwater stylists’ third annual Fairytale Ball, “A Night at the Oscars,” opened with Joan Rivers impersonator Linda Axelrod’s snarky red-carpet critiques (“Botox? No, formaldehyde,” she riffed) and wrapped with chocolate dessert Oscar statues and dancing to tunes spun by DJ L Mo. Anji Corley emceed, and TiWanna “TK” Kenney played auctioneer for the 300 guests dressed in Hollywood glam Sept. 13 at Armature Works, helping to raise $175,000 to assist many more deserving women. Text and photos by Amy Scherzer.
Brave law enforcement officers and dedicated business leaders earned communitywide gratitude at the 10th annual Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Foundation gala, where 400 guests applauded heroic Hillsborough and Pinellas sheriff’s deputies, sang the praises of 2025 Unsung Hero Jared Luce and saluted the St. Petersburg Police Department’s Community Policing Unit along with other distinguished officers at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. St. Petersburg City Councilman Mike Harting, CEO of 3 Daughters Brewing, was named the Business Partner of the Year, while Andrea Gonzmart Williams accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of her father, Richard Gonzmart, co-owner of the Columbia Restaurant Group. Boosted by a $100,000 matching gift from the Pepin Family Foundation, the Sept. 6 gala raised $275,000 for police academy scholarships and officers’ educational programs. Text by Amy Scherzer. Photos courtesy of the Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Foundation.
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Nov. 12: Everyday Miracles Luncheon, which benefits Operation PAR. $50. 12-1:30 p.m. The Karol Hotel. 727-545-7564, Ext. 3286.
Nov. 13: West Tampa Chamber Awards Gala. $125 for members and $175 for nonmembers. 6-9 p.m. Higgins Hall. westtampachamber.com.
Nov. 13: National Philanthropy Day luncheon, which benefits the AFP Tampa Bay chapter. $85. 11:15 a.m.-2 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall. afptampabay.org/event-6215110.
Nov. 14: Tampa Bay History Center’s Annual Gala: “Something in the Air: Celebrating our Civilian and Military Aviation History.” From $150. 7 p.m. Tampa Bay History Center. tampabayhistorycenter.org.
Nov. 15: Bowtie Ball, which benefits The Poynter Institute. Honorees include Jane Pauley, Dean Baquet and G.B. “Garry” Trudeau. $400. 5:30 p.m. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. 727-821-9494. poynter.org.
Nov. 15: Casino Night & Cocktails, which benefits Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. $125. 6:30 p.m. Coastal Creative. one.bidpal.net/casinonightandcocktails2025/welcome.
Nov. 15: Champion of the Year, which benefits Best Buddies. $350. 6:30 p.m. Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. bestbuddieschampion. org/tampabay/rsvp.
Nov. 15: The Roaring HER Gala, which benefits EmpowHERment. 6 p.m. Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park. empowherment.org/hergala2025.
Nov. 15: Denim and Diamonds Gala, which benefits the Raising Relief Foundation. $150. 6 p.m. Sheraton Sand Key Resort. raisingrelieffoundation.org/denim-and-diamonds-2025.
Nov. 18: Road Trip ’25, which benefits Wheels of Success. $250. 6-10 p.m. Armature Works. 813-995-5040. wheelsofsuccess. org.
Nov. 21: St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation Holiday Fashion Show. $250. 10 a.m. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. sjhfoundation.org/news-events/featured-events/fashion-show.
Nov. 21: Tampa Gala: “A Breath of Fresh Air,” which benefits Equality Florida. $375. 6-10 p.m. Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC. eqfl.org/tampagala.
Nov. 21: Arts Annual 8, which benefits Creative Pinellas. $25-$100. 6-9 p.m. The Gallery at Creative Pinellas. 727-5823600. creativepinellas.org/gallery.
Nov. 22: Tampa Gala, which benefits Breakthrough T1D. $350. 6 p.m. Hilton Tampa Downtown. breakthrought1d.org/northernflorida/events/breakthrough-t1d-tampa-gala-2025.
Dec. 4: Jingle Mingle Holiday Brunch, which benefits Boley Angels. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club. boleycenters.org/events.
Dec. 5: LAMPLighters’ 38th annual Silver Coffee, which benefits Metropolitan Ministries and Joshua House. $75. 11 a.m.1 p.m. Davis Islands private residence. lamplighterstampa.org.
Contact Amy Scherzer at amyscherzersdiary@gmail.com to have your event listed on the calendar.
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