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FREEVOLUME 2 ISSUE 12 • FEBRUARY 2012

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Volume 2 Issue 12 • February 2012focussouthtampa.com

LICENSING OPPORTUNITYLicensed territories are available. We are looking to expand the family and are looking for motivated individuals to join our award winning team. If you are interested in owning your own Focus Magazine contact Mike Floyd at 813.707.8783 ext 26.

oN the CoVer

20SPORTSThis month we invite you to meet your newest Athlete of the Month championing the classroom, waters, and performing arts. He is multi-talented, motivates his team mates to be greater and is destined for a great future. Meet Blake High Schools Michael Alvarez and see what hard work, determination and a lot of practice can bring a student!

14SPOTLIGHTSOHO’s XFloral Salon has brought a breath of fresh air to the community with its new decorations, new paint and new mindset to South Tampa. Owner Mylez Edward shares his thoughts, passion and desire to change the area one fl ower bouquet at a time. With skill, great customer service and stunning selection, they are our top pick for Valentine’s Day fl orists. Don’t miss their “Tunnel of Love”!

X FLorAL SALoN Not your everyday fl oral shop

ALL NeWFoCUSSoUthtAmPA.Com

Online Features Include:• Full digital version of the current and past magazines• Extended features, interviews, dining profi les and business profi les with extra content• Community news updates• New home of FOCUSTV

6EDITORIALIt’s that time of year again – the time everyone expresses their love for one another in the form of fl owers, candy, etc. While we defi nitely support the holiday of Valentine’s Day, read a column encouraging you to show and share love every day. Visit the Better You column for tips on how to show yourself, your hair and overall look some love as well! In our Get Fit & Golf Columns, check out how to better yourself – don’t lose steam, the new year is just beginning!

22DININGIn her best Wine Column yet, Jodi brings you a spectacular wine and cheese to indulge in either by yourself or with a great friend. Curl up on your sofa in our “colder” weather and enjoy her recommendations. Your wine and cheese experience will never be the same! If you’re looking for something more casual, check out our review of South Tampa’s PDQ where they serve up excellent Chicken and Turkey favorites in a quick, casual, high quality manner with a reasonable price tag.

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10BUSINESS PROFILEJust in time for the holiday, we’re featuring Hyde Park’s City Street Sweets. This is not your ordinary candy store – the shelves are lined with your favorite retro candies as well as their specially designed and one-of-a-kind chocolates. This is a family place…bring your children in for a candy making class or host a birthday party. Not sure what to buy, no problem, the City Street Sweets owner and staff are experts and willing to help! This is the place to go for your chocolate and candy needs!


Christina MusialEditor-in-Chief

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Standards of accuracy: The goal of the writers at FOCUS Magazine is to provide heart-warming stories that are accurate from the start. Being human, however, we sometimes make mistakes. Please forgive us.

So if you notice anything that is incorrect, then please do not hesitate to contact the editorial department and inform it about the fact error. To do so, call (813) 707-8783 or e-mail [email protected]. The staff will fix the error in a timely manner.

FOCUS Magazine is published monthly and is available through local South Tampa businesses, restaurants and many local venues.

Advertisers warrant and represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. Focus Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All letters and their contents sent to Focus Magazine become the sole property of Floyd Publications, Inc and may be reproduced thereof. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Duke Publications, Inc. Use or duplication of material used in this publication is prohibited without approved written consent from Duke Publications, Inc.

Publisher Jim Duke

Editor in chief Christina Musial

Advertising Director Harrison Tropp

Sales Sophia Hyde | Holly Farmer | Harrison Tropp

Production Anthony Sassano | Tony Cartagena

Photographers Ben Drummond

Staff Writers Christina Musial | Harrison TroppJodi Lokay

Contributors Al Ruechel | Kim Francis | Emery JonesTeal McKenzie | Rachel Drummond

I have recently taken on a new hobby that is quite surprising to my family members. Every weekend, I try to bake one delicious dessert from Scratch. Now, this new interest of mine is odd given that I’ve never had an interest in cooking/baking in my life. However, it has become a sort of new passion for me.

Baking is exactly the exercise that suits a high-strung Type A Personality – you follow the directions and ingredients exactly, and you turn out a quality dessert deserving of a photo on one of the many chef shows on TV. I get a little thrill when I know I can use my new KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer (in RED, thank you very much!) and I may be able to use my new mechanical cupcake icer/filler and my pretty cupcake liners that can be transported in my handy dessert traveling case!

It may be a little overkill, but my thought process is fairly simple…If I love dessert and food this much, why not learn to make all the best items myself so I NEVER have to rely on someone else to make it for me! But really, the joy comes when people are excited to eat my food. I love when my Husband tastes the batter and tells me it’s the best chocolate cake I’ve made yet. Or, when someone’s eyes light up when they see the S’Mores or Chocolate & Crème Brule cupcakes I perfected. It makes me giddy to know something I created has brought someone joy and was good enough to talk about!!!

Now, take a leap with me - I understand the concept I laid out up there will be difficult to tie into anyone’s REAL life! Valentine’s Day is soon approaching and while it’s about showing love to others, you also should show yourself a little love. Do something, Create Something, Buy Something that will bring you joy when you gift it to someone else.

This month we’ve featured a few businesses and their owners who do just that on a daily basis – create something for the greater public that brings the purchaser joy, but at the same time brings value to the skills they’ve mastered and the time they’ve sacrificed.

A full life is about what you contribute…you may as well contribute something you LOVE!Happy February!!!

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The month of February is littered with reminders of adoration, affection, commitment, etc. It seems everywhere

you turn, crimson roses and Swiss chocolates remain cliché examples of a day that should be replicated most days and to all people. While I am certain this is not a revolutionary thought, I feel as if Valentine’s Day is theoretically reserved for couples head-over-heels in love who are given a single day to express their devotion to one another. Whatever happened to a candlelit dinner on a random Sunday evening or perhaps a phone call to a relative or friend simply asking how they are? I understand that Valentine’s Day is a special day, but the idea and audience is lost in love’s iconic

redundancies.While deciding on a tone for this article, I recently remember sitting in front of the TV when a specific commercial came on. Unless it is the Super Bowl, I am not one to intently watch commercials in hopes of finding underlying meaning or direction. In fact, I find most to be unimpressive pieces of slap-stick humor with no substance or value. On this evening, however, a specific commercial caught my eye and, to this day, I value its message.The commercial begins with a woman stopping a pizza delivery man from walking into oncoming traffic. A man in a nearby café sees the incident and becomes inspired to help someone on his own. The following scene shows the same man from the café

helping a woman off a bus. In that scene, another man witnesses the incident and he too becomes inspired to help someone on his own. The commercial continues with a variety of people helping one another, all deriving inspiration from other acts of random kindness.In speaking with a friend of mine who shares a similar appreciation of my thought, the notion of “paying it forward” is relatively common and even made its way into a movie which shares the same title. While I appreciate the input of my friend, I disagree in the apparent “common” perception. While I am sure most readers have labeled me a cynic well before the first paragraph, I do believe that people are inherently good hearted and most people can make the

distinction between right and wrong. Like the commercial, everyone knows that it would be kind to stop a man from walking into traffic or to help a lady off of a bus. The questions remains, however, why is it not done? Why is it not common to see random acts of kindness, especially if kindness is ingrained in all of us?The answer I have is not so much a solution as it is a reflection. On a single day of the entire year, we are a culture that professes affection and devotion by showering our loved ones with gifts of appreciation. While I am a person who appreciates gifts, they certainly don’t mean much if there is no residual reaction for others to act.

better community» Focus

The True Meaning of ValenTine’s DayWhy is there a single day oF kindness?story by: Harrison Tropp


as we come off the winter holiday season many of you are undoubtedly wanting to ramp up your New Year’s weight

loss resolutions to be ready for spring and summer. There are nutrients that can help give you that extra help you need to energize your bodies and maximize your potential for weight loss success. These nutrients work in special ways to help enhance the loss of body fat, reduce cravings, regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, and promote beautiful, healthy, young looking skin and hair. Here are six nutrients to help you maximize weight loss success:

1. ProteinProtein is the most important nutrient for those wanting to lose weight in a healthy way. Protein repairs and builds body tissue to help maintain and build lean muscle, thus increasing your body’s metabolism and ability to burn more calories. Also, protein is found in every one the cells in your body and is a major component if healthy skin and hair.

2. GlutamineGlutamine is the most abundant amino acid in our bodies and is a non-essential amino acid. This means our bodies can produce glutamine on its own. However, during times of stress or injury, the body cannot produce enough glutamine. Glutamine helps prevent muscle loss and aids in tissue repair and alleviating soreness from exercising or suffering injuries. Glutamine also enhances our immune system, reduces cravings for sweets, and can slow down the affects of aging. 3. L-CarnitineCarnitine is one of the most important nutrients for weight loss, energy production, and an active metabolism. Our hearts rely on carnitine to provide it energy and do so by transporting the fatty acids from our blood into our cells for energy production. The transport of fatty acids for use as energy aids in weight loss.

4. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)Conjugated Linoleic Acid is essential for our body’s metabolic processes. CLA helps push glucose into cells, thus preventing the conversion of glucose to fat. CLA also helps fats enter our muscle and connective tissue cells where fat is burned for fuel. Studies show that if we do not have enough CLA, dietary fat will be stored as the physical fat you see in your problem areas.

5. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)Uniquely found in green tea, the catechin EGCG is an antioxidant that scavenges for free radicals that damage our bodies and cause aging. EGCG also helps boost metabolism and burn fat. Studies show that a combination of EGCG and caffeine improve weight loss and weight maintenance. 6. CapsicumCapsicum is a member of the chili pepper family and contains capsaicin, vitamins A and C, flavonoids, and carotenoids. Capsaicin increases your body’s production of heat and helps regulate blood sugar levels by affecting the breakdown of carbohydrates after eating. Studies have also shown that capsaicin may reduce obesity-induced glucose intolerance by enhancing fatty acid oxidation, suppressing inflammation, and improving insulin resistance.

Incorporating help from our nutrient friends can make a difference in our weight management goals while also helping keep us healthier, more energized, and younger looking regardless of our chronological age.

To learn more about these nutrition supplements and products visit Fred Pressley at Max Muscle Sports Nutrition in South Tampa.

local » Focus

nuTriTion suppleMenTs to boost your Weight loss goalsstory by: Fred pressley, M.ed., nesTa CsnC

Fred pressley, M.ed., nesTa Certified sports nutrition CoachFor more information you can contact or visit Fred at Max Muscle sports nutrition in south Tampa, 813-253-2300.


10 rules for MaKing a swing Change

local » Focus

01 Don’t go it alone.Th ere’s a saying among teachers: “Feel and real are never the same

thing.” Meaning, what you think you’re doing with your swing and what you’re actually doing are a lot diff erent. You’ve got to see a PGA coach to help you make an accurate diagnosis and identify the right change for you. And don’t limit yourself to one or two lessons, a 3 to 12 month commitment of lessons and practice is usually a good place to start.

02 It’s about commitment.It takes commitment, a vow to stick with the program come hell, high water or worst of all, high scores. But if you don’t have at least some of that, you’re pretty much wasting your time.

03 A swing tip is not a swing change. A band-aid fi x that gets you through the day, or even through a few weeks, is not a swing change. Th ey help the outcomes but not the cause. A swing change that addresses the root cause of a problem is more complicated than a quick fi x. It’ll have a positive infl uence on other aspects of your swing.

04 If it feels good, you’re not doing it right.Because a swing change involves either a totally diff erent motion or a wholesale change in your grip or setup, there’s no way it should feel comfortable. In fact, when the lesson with your instructor is over and you fi nd yourself getting the hang of a swing change a day later, you’d better schedule another lesson, because I’ll bet you’re not doing it right. It’s very easy for your old swing to sneak up and take hold again.

05 Rehearse the change in slow motion.Th e best way to make a radical change is to take slow-motion swings, sometimes exaggerating the movement. Th en you repeat it over and over. For a swing change to work, you have to ingrain the feel of it. You can’t do that by hitting balls, because the golf swing lasts only a couple of seconds.

06 Good rhythm is a boost.Although a swing change involves addressing some mechanical feature of your technique, don’t forget the importance of rhythm and balance. For the change to work, your swing has to happen in the correct sequence.

07 Put the change to the test.Obviously, it’s easy to work on your swing on the practice tee, but having the courage to try to post a number with it is another matter. A lot of amateurs get into the habit of using their old swing on the course and their new swing on the range, hoping that the change will work its way into their game. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that way. Take your swing change onto the course as much as you can, and the sooner the better. It might be torture for a while, but that’s how you learn to trust it under pressure.

08 Don’t forget the short game.Th e point of a swing change ultimately is to lower your scores, but if you let the other aspects of your game go, you’ll never improve as much as you could.

09 Keep your eyes on the prize.A swing change is like curing the cancer in a swing. It’s about identifying one thing -- it’s usually a major fault -- and devoting all the attention there. By taking care of that one problem, all kinds of related ills gradually disappear. It can be hard to see the payoff right away, and after making the change you might even regress for a while. But have faith, because when the new move starts to take eff ect, you’ll see a lasting diff erence. A good swing change will make the game more fun than you thought possible.

10 Your ball fl ight will tell you when. You don’t change your swing because of what your buddies are saying, you don’t do it so you can swing like your favorite pro, and you certainly don’t make a change out of boredom – in the end, Ball fl ight is really all that matters.

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story by: don CosTanZo, golFTeC TaMpa, direCTor oF insTruCTion


story and photos by: raCHel druMMond

Think of your favorite candies. I imagine racing through your minds are clichéd candies like, M&M’s, Skittles, Jolly

Ranchers. But, for you true candy lovers I’m sure something quite different popped into your mind. We’re talking Candy Buttons, Pop Rocks, giant Gummy Bears and all of your Pixie Stick favorites.

I think we found the place for your ‘retro candy fix’.

Hyde Park Village offers a wide variety of upscale shops, along with restaurants, but more importantly it holds a young candy and sweet shop with a lot of ambition. City Street Sweets, which opened four years ago, specializes in giving the community the exact candies and chocolates they want.

“My store, I created it four years ago, it’s called City Street Sweets. I have all sorts of homemade chocolates, homemade truffles, artisan chocolates, chocolate bark, chocolate dipped strawberries, and then we have lots of fun candies for kids; a lot of classic retro candies you can’t find anywhere else,” creator and owner Steven Ashworth said.

Ashworth, who graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design, found his love for making chocolates while working with a family business while attending school.“I worked for a family in Savannah, Georgia for six years while I was going to college and learned all about candy making, right on the main street of Savannah, right on the riverfront and I loved it so much. I later left them and stated working for Godiva Chocolatier, and I worked for Godiva for fourteen years.”

Being given the opportunity to work with that family increased his goal to open his own shop.

“I always wanted my own candy shop while I was working with the family in Savannah. I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a Bachelor in Fine Arts so I’ve kind of been able to create the whole concept by myself. “Ashworth says that his love for chocolate and candy was developed working in those atmospheres, but his desire for his own shop flourished when he considered that there should be a candy shop that pleases everyone.“I saved my money and the opportunity

came up in 2007 for me to open my own chocolate and candy shop. I wanted something that would attract every age group,” Ashworth said, “But, coming into Godiva mommies and daddies would always say [to their children], ‘This isn’t for you, I’ll take you someplace else for your candy.’ If a kid comes with their mommy, the mom can still get their upscale chocolates and the kids can get something too, and that’s what I wanted to create.”

And Ashworth has created an atmosphere just as he intended.

Throughout the shop Ashworth has created an atmosphere that plays off of the name, City Street Sweets. You can make your way over to Gummi Grand Station or maybe even to Jelly Bean Blvd. Each sector of the store being labeled as a street. Not only has Ashworth created a shop that has brought back many repeating customers, he has created a place that kids love to be a part of.

Ashworth recently began giving classes in chocolate making allowing individuals to make their own chocolate treats and even a chocolate pizza. He says that recreation centers along with girl scouts and cub scout troops have brought countless numbers of children in to try their hand at candy making. He has even opened the venue to hosting birthday parties.

“I’ve even branched out and started doing chocolate baking classes three years ago. We do birthday parties where you can come in and make your own chocolate bark during your birthday party and the kids get to take them home as a treat. We also do classes with girl scout groups, cub scouts, and the rec center.”

He says the results have been excellent.“I have birthday parties every weekend. Since I’ve started doing the chocolate making classes, I’ve had probably 9,000 students come through.”Ashworth says that ‘Candy College’ has definitely made an impact on his store,

people have loved to come through and make their own chocolates. He says that everything is his own and the staffs recipes, the staff gets together and tosses ideas around; ultimately resulting in several unique candies.

Ashworth even takes suggestions from customers and tries his best to create exactly what they are looking for, including a chocolate making contest where customers are the judge!

Ashworth says that the shop has already survived the difficult parts of the recession; he has big plans for his shop and is anxious to remain a staple in the community. “So, far business is much better with our street presence. I held my own through the recession, it’s still going on but I made it through the toughest part of it. The birthday party room has been really successful too.”While City Street Sweets has only stood for four years, it has great potential to flourish. The owner has plans to mass produce and make enough candy to outsource.

“Well right now I just want to survive this big recession. I would like to expand on my Artisan Chocolate creations, eventually I would like to have a whole chocolate factory where I could mass produce chocolates.”City Street Sweets has the potential to become a strong chocolate company in the area. Every ounce of chocolate is hand crafted and made in the shop, definitely creating a quality product. The shop has a lot of history and experience under its belt and can only become larger from here.“I wanted to have a candy and sweets shop that would be a place that anyone could come and find something they like; every age. And, it’s been a lot of fun.”

CiTy sTreeT sweeTs

business proFile» city street sWeets

inForMaTion

Hyde park Village1605 snow aVenueTaMpa, Fl 33606813-251-6764www.CiTysTreeTsweeTs.CoM


The CosT of prepaiD DeBiT CarDs story by: se day

local » Focus

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The state of the prepaid debit card has been of a highly controversial nature since its inception. Th e prepaid debit or

reloadable debit card was created as a way of providing banking services to the unbanked or unbankable communities without the traditional banking services like checking or savings accounts.

Th is niche market of ‘would-be’ consumers has now become the controversial pawn of the banking industry. Th e controversy spawn because of the enormous and outrageous fees which came attached to the prepaid debit cards. On some of the prepaid debit cards, the fees can be as high as $10 per month for having the prepaid debit cards in your possession. And that is just the beginning! Fees for using the cards at ATMs, for being declined at the ATMs, for using the cards to pay bills, for using the cards to check your

balance at ATMs, et cetera, et cetera, etc. With all the fees to have and use the prepaid debit cards, it makes one wonder if the cards are truly benefi cial at all.

In January, Suze Orman, the personal fi nance guru announced she is getting in on the prepaid card game with her self-created Approved Card. Many celebrities before her like Russell Simmons, entertainment mogul, the Kardashians, and Lil’ Wayne have all endorsed a prepaid debit cards. As a consumer advocate, I say, “who cares and why should we pay for your name being on the card!”

People wake up! If you don’t like the banks and the copious ways they make money on you, join a credit union. Th ey do not charge for having a debit card and it performs better than a pre-paid debit card. Plus, it’s FREE!


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I-4 Exit 21• 2011 N. Wheeler St. • Plant City, FL 33563WWW.REDROSEINNANDSUITES.COM

MRS. EVELYN MADONIAOWNER

Show Guests – ask about ourspecial overnight room rates!

JANUARY 14THE CONTOURSPerforming their hits, including: Do You Love Me, in the Red RoseBallroom. Johnny Alston’s Motown Rock ‘n Roll Review also per-forms. Call for our tiered pricing for this fabulous dinner show!

JANUARY 14, 27 & 28RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room.

JANUARY 20BOBBY PALERMOPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room, plus Destiny.

JANUARY 21BRIAN ROMANOne of Canada’s finest entertainers! Roman performs the classics –spanning the Golden Era, ranging from Sinatra to Tom Jones.Destiny also performs.

JANUARY 27RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room.

JANUARY 28BEAUTIFUL BOBBY BLACKMON& THE B3 BLUES BANDBobby Blackmon's career began in a small town not far from theDallas, Texas area. His Texas blues influence is heard loud ‘n’ proud inhis soulful guitar playing. He's worked with the likes of Barbara Lynn,Jimmy Reed, ZZ Hill, Johnny Taylor, Lavelle White and Lou Rawls.Destiny opens and closes in the Red Rose Dining Room.

JANUARY 28THE VAN DELLSWITH THE LAS VEGAS SOUNDSBack by popular demand. This trio is a fireball of entertainment andnot to be missed! The Las Vegas Sounds also perform. Dinner servedin a supper-club atmosphere in the Red Rose Ballroom.

FEBRUARY 3BOBBY PALERMOPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room, plus Destiny.

FEBRUARY 4 & 17JOHNNY ALSTON’S - MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUEA dynamite crowd pleaser! Plus, Destiny performs beforeand after the show.

FEBRUARY 10WALT MADDOX - TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLEWalt Maddox performs all of Nat's greatest hits. He started out inthe early '60s with The Marcels. His tribute to Nat has performedto sold out crowds nationwide.

FEBRUARY 11 & 25RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room.

FEBRUARY 11THE FOUR PREPS- A VALENTINE EVENT

Bring your special someone for a romantic dinnerand show. The chart topping group will be per-forming their hits. The Las Vegas Sounds will alsoperform in the Red Rose Ballroom.

FEBRUARY 18TROY “SATCHMO”ANDERSON- TRIBUTE TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Troy Anderson on trumpet as “Satchmo,” atribute to Louis Armstrong. Plus, a 3 hour setfrom The Wonderful World Band with the sameinstrumentation as Armstrong's bands. Destinyopens and closes.

FEBRUARY 24

BRIAN ROMANOne of Canada’s finest entertainers! Romanperforms the classics – spanning the Golden Era,ranging from Sinatra to Tom Jones.Destiny also performs.

FEBRUARY 25

THE FABULOUSHUBCAPSCome and hear one of the nation’s most soughtafter oldies’ bands. Their music spans generationsof some of the top hits of our time. The Las VegasSounds also perform in the Red Rose Ballroom.Dinner served in a supperclub atmosphere.

MARCH 2BOBBY PALERMOPerforming in the Red RoseDining Room, plus Destiny.

MARCH 3JOHNNY ALSTON’SMOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

MARCH 9 & 17RALPH ALLOCCO& SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red RoseDining Room.

– Coming Soon! –

MARCH 23-24DOOWOP WEEKENDEXTRAVAGANZA VI

MARCH 24BOB RYMAN “THE FIDDLER”APRIL 14THE JARMELS

APRIL 28“SIMPLY STREISAND”

YYDonʼt forget

Valentine’s Day.Enjoy our specialValentine Show onFebruary 11th

RRCalendar_Jan2012:Layout 1 1/6/12 1:42 PM Page 1

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Call 813.752.3141for Reservations Today!

I-4 Exit 21• 2011 N. Wheeler St. • Plant City, FL 33563WWW.REDROSEINNANDSUITES.COM

MRS. EVELYN MADONIAOWNER

Show Guests – ask about ourspecial overnight room rates!

JANUARY 14THE CONTOURSPerforming their hits, including: Do You Love Me, in the Red RoseBallroom. Johnny Alston’s Motown Rock ‘n Roll Review also per-forms. Call for our tiered pricing for this fabulous dinner show!

JANUARY 14, 27 & 28RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room.

JANUARY 20BOBBY PALERMOPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room, plus Destiny.

JANUARY 21BRIAN ROMANOne of Canada’s finest entertainers! Roman performs the classics –spanning the Golden Era, ranging from Sinatra to Tom Jones.Destiny also performs.

JANUARY 27RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room.

JANUARY 28BEAUTIFUL BOBBY BLACKMON& THE B3 BLUES BANDBobby Blackmon's career began in a small town not far from theDallas, Texas area. His Texas blues influence is heard loud ‘n’ proud inhis soulful guitar playing. He's worked with the likes of Barbara Lynn,Jimmy Reed, ZZ Hill, Johnny Taylor, Lavelle White and Lou Rawls.Destiny opens and closes in the Red Rose Dining Room.

JANUARY 28THE VAN DELLSWITH THE LAS VEGAS SOUNDSBack by popular demand. This trio is a fireball of entertainment andnot to be missed! The Las Vegas Sounds also perform. Dinner servedin a supper-club atmosphere in the Red Rose Ballroom.

FEBRUARY 3BOBBY PALERMOPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room, plus Destiny.

FEBRUARY 4 & 17JOHNNY ALSTON’S - MOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUEA dynamite crowd pleaser! Plus, Destiny performs beforeand after the show.

FEBRUARY 10WALT MADDOX - TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLEWalt Maddox performs all of Nat's greatest hits. He started out inthe early '60s with The Marcels. His tribute to Nat has performedto sold out crowds nationwide.

FEBRUARY 11 & 25RALPH ALLOCCO & SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red Rose Dining Room.

FEBRUARY 11THE FOUR PREPS- A VALENTINE EVENT

Bring your special someone for a romantic dinnerand show. The chart topping group will be per-forming their hits. The Las Vegas Sounds will alsoperform in the Red Rose Ballroom.

FEBRUARY 18TROY “SATCHMO”ANDERSON- TRIBUTE TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Troy Anderson on trumpet as “Satchmo,” atribute to Louis Armstrong. Plus, a 3 hour setfrom The Wonderful World Band with the sameinstrumentation as Armstrong's bands. Destinyopens and closes.

FEBRUARY 24

BRIAN ROMANOne of Canada’s finest entertainers! Romanperforms the classics – spanning the Golden Era,ranging from Sinatra to Tom Jones.Destiny also performs.

FEBRUARY 25

THE FABULOUSHUBCAPSCome and hear one of the nation’s most soughtafter oldies’ bands. Their music spans generationsof some of the top hits of our time. The Las VegasSounds also perform in the Red Rose Ballroom.Dinner served in a supperclub atmosphere.

MARCH 2BOBBY PALERMOPerforming in the Red RoseDining Room, plus Destiny.

MARCH 3JOHNNY ALSTON’SMOTOWN ROCK & ROLL REVUE

MARCH 9 & 17RALPH ALLOCCO& SECOND WINDPerforming in the Red RoseDining Room.

– Coming Soon! –

MARCH 23-24DOOWOP WEEKENDEXTRAVAGANZA VI

MARCH 24BOB RYMAN “THE FIDDLER”APRIL 14THE JARMELS

APRIL 28“SIMPLY STREISAND”

YYDonʼt forget

Valentine’s Day.Enjoy our specialValentine Show onFebruary 11th

RRCalendar_Jan2012:Layout 1 1/6/12 1:42 PM Page 1


spotlight» X Floral salon

Totally Unexpected

South Tampa Florist turns the everyday

into X-traordinary

Easy to RememberImpossibleto Forget

story by caitlin scudder, photos by kat rodgers photography



“what a diff erence one letter can make!” Mylez Edward exclaimed as we sat in the consultation

offi ce of the beautiful X Floral Salon, located in the SOHO district of South Tampa. Nestled in the Hyde Park area on the corner of West Azeele and Tampania streets, Mylez is exactly what this corner needed. A construction and landscaping remodel, fresh paint and colors, a bright new sign, plush pink carpet up the front sidewalk, and the pièce de résistance, a giant infl atable letter “X” on the front lawn. You may have seen this over the top and glamorous attention getter while coming down West Azeele Street, and it made you wonder exactly what is inside.

“Th e outside appearance was created to catch people’s attention and keep things fun” Mylez explained. As proprietor and founder of X Floral Salon, Mylez has designed an ambience that embodies a new, cutting edge style that gives the fl oral industry exactly what it needs...a breath of fresh air. Its warm bright colors on a palate of sparkly metallic neutrals, lush fabrics, and over the top displays, as seen in the trendiest of boutiques in Los Angeles, New York and Palm Beach is a culmination of hard work, rebellion towards convention in the industry, and Mylez’ personal glitzy style that come together to create an exciting look and feel, taking tradition and good taste to a new and fresh, upbeat vibe. Th is is not your everyday fl ower shop. Th e feel is quite contagious and, from the moment you walk in, captivates your interest, sparks your imagination, and makes you feel as if dreams really do come true. I like it already! Although its doors have been open for less than a year, Mylez explained that business has taken off more quickly than expected. Tampa may just be catching on to Mylez, and X Floral Salon’s fashionable, editorial style.

At a young age, the business owner moved to Jacksonville, Florida with his family where he found his fi rst job in a successful fl ower shop. Mylez wasted no time, knowing what his desire was, and started sweeping fl oors, cleaning and helping out, all the while paying close attention to what he wanted to learn. Th e position evolved and the shop’s owner, a well reputed designer and fl oral event commentator taught Mylez strong mechanical skills with attention to quality and freshness in fl oral design. “I had the opportunity to work with one of the most talented people I have ever met in the fl oral industry. She taught me extremely valuable lessons in a very hard way, however, I have

carried those lessons throughout my career” Mylez off ered.

After several years gaining the techniques and skills needed to be a great designer, Mylez went to work for a man who taught him how to make those skills marketable- the value of doing “good business”.”An exceptional fl orist is part of the family, and is whole heartedly involved in the goings on and life events of their guests, and community” stated Mylez. “Th is concept has become engrained in my persona, and I put a lot of emphasis on quality and value for my guests, as well as creating an experience and product worthy of the title, destination retail.”

In the late 90’s, Mylez moved to Orlando after being presented with new opportunities and gained even more experience and exposure to extremely high-end events and design opportunities all over the world. Traveling to various other states and countries, working with and learning from some of the world’s most celebrated designers, in the retail, design, and fl oral industries, he was able to broaden his knowledge, take in other cultures and their design styles, and develop his own personal style aesthetic. Now he wanted to share his editorial style and taste level with a diverse clientele who on many diff erent levels can appreciate who he is and what he does.

Deciding that he wanted to fi nd a new home for him and his career that fi t his idea of a truly great community, a place where he could have his own distinct clientele, a unique location where his guests, friends and community would appreciate his more intimate and tasteful, yet current and quirky

style, he started his quest to fi nd the holy grail of locations. After receiving several earfuls from friends and associates on where to move in Florida, which he insisted on, being a native Floridian, and not a fan of cold weather, someone suggested South Tampa after he had scouted several other cities. He spent a month in the area to get a taste of the culture and people before he made a fi nal decision. Spending time walking Bayshore Boulevard, hanging out in the local coff ee shops, meeting people and walking to nearby stores, restaurants and boutiques he fell in love with South Tampa. After digging and searching and practically giving up, he spotted his “jewel box” where his X Floral Salon now resides, and that the quaint little building got the makeover worthy of any television network before he set up camp!

“So how did you come up with the name?” I had to ask! Mylez’ face lit up with a smile as he shifted in his chair. “I wanted something that would embody who I am as well as the people of Tampa so I started doing my research.” Keeping in mind that pirates are a commonly loved theme among Tampanians with Gasparilla and the Buccaneers being two of the integral parts of South Tampa society. Mylez did some exploring of treasure maps, chests and other related icons. He soon realized that the letter “X” always marks where the treasure lies on a pirates map, and decided to explore further. He found that the letter X is the most commonly recognized letter in a number of alphabets and has an alluring, attention-getting tendency. It’s totally unexpected for his type of business, is easy to remember and impossible to forget! Mylez proudly stated, “It’s so Tampa, so me, and a piece of our combined energy can be felt in every corner

kringle Candles

Come in and take a sniff tour! The shop exclusively off ers the kringle candle line featuring scents ranging from freshly baked cake to calming spa scents. X Floral salon’s staff will be happy to guide you through the delightful smells that you can now have in your own home.

ConVenienT loVe

drive-thru for Valentine’s day this year. X Floral salon’s “Tunnel of love” allows customers to pick up fl owers, arrangements and balloons without even getting out of the car. This service is off ered on the 13th and 14th of February.


X Floral salon2602 west azeele streetTampa, Fl 33609813-872-7500www.xfloralsalon.com


of this new venture. What a difference one letter can make, and with our platinum level of service and quality, WE MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE!”

The thorn clad rose that is part of the shop’s logo also gives a taste of Mylez’ style and personality. He is not your everyday florist, or retailer, but rather possesses a more fashionable and cutting edge style that can be seen in his appearance, attitude and creations. The self professed Juicy Couture of florists, he states “Everything we do is just a little over the top and ambitious. I love that 1940’s glam style in old movies and photos of the time.” Mylez expressed regarding his approach to business. Clad in a pair of trendy jeans and boots he comments on his appearance. “You don’t normally see florists looking like me, but what do you think your clientele is going to think of you if you don’t represent what you do through your personal style and look?” I have no doubt that his exuberant personality and manner will have South Tampa hooked if it isn’t already.

More than a flower shop, X Floral Salon has boutique lines with unique gifts and home goods. They offer the Kringle Candle Company line of products which is a Tampa exclusive to his shop. Kringle was created by the son of the founder of Yankee Candle, “They have taken the scented candle and wax potpourri industry to a whole new sophisticated level, and I suggest you go in and take a sniff around to find some of the most amazing scents presented in white, smokeless wax and reusable apothecary jars.” I was totally amazed by the fragrances and look of this product line. For those looking to browse the boutique for their occasions, one will be greeted with the most amazing scents and pick of Godiva chocolates, cards, scented candles and unique gifts. You can

hand pick the flowers you want in your arrangements or leave it up to Mylez and his gift giving experts. Utilizing a very consultative approach with his clients a guest can come in and give a description of what statement they want to make and a little bit about the recipient and they create a masterpiece right in front of your eyes. All work is completely customized to the guests.

Platinum level value services such as emailing photographs of the floral gift each

customer orders and providing an email confirmation of delivery are only a couple examples of how X Floral Salon caters to their clients, and makes that difference from the mundane to the extraordinary. “People love to see the gift they sent, and knowing that the delivery was successful takes away so much of the concern and worry in our industry. We want our guests to feel totally at ease knowing we have it covered, and their gift giving needs are the least of their concerns when in our capable hands,” Mylez added.

With Valentines approaching, X Floral Salon has great plans to provide a drive-thru service for those shopping on the go. The “Tunnel of Love” will loop between the shop’s boutique and production facility, and guests can take their pick of arrangements, wrapped flowers, teddy bears and even balloons. The idea of a drive-thru service at a flower shop on the 13th and 14th of

February is not something I have seen before, but it certainly suits the on-the-go lifestyle of Tampa residents.

Although Valentines is a busy time, it is not the only crazy time in the life of a good florist. Mylez explains that many have the perception that the profession is simple and easy. From what I’m being told, this is not the case! “People often say ‘Oh you’re a florist, how nice is that?’This is really a different ball game from the perception

of most people.” A day in the life of this florist starts before six in the morning and continues well into the night to prepare orders, get the property cleaned, making sure all retail items are set and displayed, and the morning orders are ready to go out first thing. The trade seems far from mundane. Realistically, the floral industry is a produce and courier based organization. Everything is about timeliness and service. All produce must be fresh and kept in proper condition. All morning orders must be prepared the evening before so that they can reach their destinations promptly. The rest is all customer service and making sure that your guests and clients know you appreciate them and their business. Then it’s back to bringing the fresh flowers that are shipped in, through the same process to prepare for the next day.

Either selecting the flowers on their own for their arrangements or depending on the gift experts to create the perfect sentiment,

X Floral Salon’s clientele is distinct, and have rapidly taken to the artistic work the shop produces and appreciates Mylez’ sense of style and entertainment that come with their high energy shopping experience. The shop welcomes all, but has a penchant for designing large ornate pieces, from giant animals made from flowers, specialty arrangements, themed events and some of the most beautiful holiday looks and Christmas trees I have ever seen. “When our guests come in, they are going to build a

relationship with my staff and me. We all love what we do and do our level best to show that to our guests and clients.”

When questioned about any plans for the future with growing his business, Mylez expresses his strategy to take one day at a time. “We were busy and had business before our doors even opened and we multiply our clientele with every arrangement and event created. Our platinum level service nails what consumers want from their personal flower shop and people are so excited about it that they tell others. I love to get to know my guests when they come into my store so that when people refer us to others, they say ‘I know someone who will take great care of you!’” Sounds like a great strategy to me. So next time you’re in South Tampa area, stop in and experience the sights sounds and smells of a place where you are taken care of by people who love what they do and are eager to customize your experience as well as the products that they provide to you. X Floral Salon has definitely entered Tampa making a bold, dynamic

statement that demands a change of pace in the flower shop industry, just what Mylez Edward, the ultimate showman, was striving to accomplish.


The ClouD story by: JosHua waTson

tech » Focus

and the commoditization oF magic

as a child I remember seeing my first personal computer with a graphical user interface on television. With its

point and click navigation and the ability to draw and interact with the machine I could only understand the technology through the simple understanding of a child. Simply put, I thought it was magic. This mysterious box would allow me to communicate with people all over the world, learn any new subject I wished and, one day, make my living making wonders of my own.

For the last several decades businesses have also understood computing in these simple terms. As mere magic that would empower them with the unbelievable ability to track every facet of their operations, automate business processes and provide a new way to interact with customers.

However, there has always been the issue of how to price this software wizardry due to its abstract nature. Some enterprise software companies have made a fortune selling their software with a price tag in the hundreds-of-thousands or even the millions of dollars, putting it out of reach for the little guy. Why? Because it provided such a significant advantage and cost savings that it justified these high price tags. Fortunately, this is beginning to change thanks to a new paradigm called “the cloud” and, as its name would suggest, it has begun to rain down enterprise class software on businesses big and small. Rather than forcing companies to invest in servers, networking equipment, expensive software and backup equipment, cloud systems run in secure and scalable data centers all over the world and simply sell

the services provided by the software on a subscription or usage basis.

The argument for running your enterprise in the cloud is so compelling that we are betting our company’s future on it. We run our email in the cloud, manage projects in the cloud, collaborate with our developers across the globe in the cloud and when it came time to design our next generation document assembly system, we built it as a cloud service with a monthly subscription price that put it within the grasp of even the smallest legal practice or title company. Why place so much faith in this new paradigm? Because the writing is on the wall. Expensive and complex enterprise software is a thing of the past. We have come to a point where most forms of enterprise software are just standard tools of business instead of priceless wizardry; a commodity that everyone can obtain. The cloud will lead to a new age where every business can capture some magic of its own, leaving those makers of expensive enterprise software packages as dinosaurs thrashing in the tar pits of their own complacency and antiquated thinking. We have begun to see some technology giants begin to fall and many see it is a sign of a faltering technology industry. However, I believe nothing could be further from the truth. Technology by its very nature is always changing and the torch is simply being passed from the lumbering beasts to a new breed of innovators and wizards of software magic.

Joshua Watson is CTO of Business Technology Advisors, LLC (biztechadvisors.com)


entertainment » event calendar

souTh TaMpacalendaroF events

if you have an upcoming event and would like us to add it to our calendar of events please email the information to [email protected]

all of feBruary» A town with a pastExplore Tampa’s history through photographs.

Th is display will walk you through the history of

Tampa through vintage photographs of people

and places in the Tampa Bay area. For more

information visit www.fmopa.org

feBruary 1-19» GasparillaView the history and rituals of Tampa’s unique

pirate tradition, with everything from coronation

robes and photographs to crowns and pirate

booty at the Henry B. Plant Museum. For more

information visit www.plantmuseum.com

feBruary 4» Suncoast Hospice BallTh e 11th Annual Suncoast Hospice Ball will be

held at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf

Club. Please join the community for an evening

of dancing, auctions, friends, food, and fun.

Sponsorship opportunities available. For more

information visit www.thehospicefoundation.org/

ball.

» Bike Smart Tampa BayA class off ered to adults commuting on bicycles.

Th e class is in a 90 minute increment focused

on teaching individuals how to bike safely in

the Tampa Bay area. Classes held at the Temple

Terrace Recreation Center. Visit tampabaycyle.

com for more information.

feBruary 5» Hyde Park Village Fresh MarketEnjoy hand crafts, local music and fresh foods on

the fi rst Sunday of every month.

» Upstairs/Downstairs at the Tampa Bay HotelStep back in time and enjoy these living history

vignettes that bring turn-of-the-century Tampa

Bay Hotel staff members and guests to life. Based

on original research conducted by the Henry B.

Plant Museum, the characters in our one-person

shows are based wholly or in part on actual Hotel

staff and guests.

feBruary 9

» Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Charity NightEnjoy complimentary appetizers, special drink

prices with proceeds to benefi t Girl Scouts of West

Central Florida. For more information contact

813-262-1759 or www.gswcf.org. Held at Th e

Tampa Club.

feBruary 10» Stuart Society Wine AuctionJoin co-chairs Margaret Amley and Chris

Chapman Hilton at the second annual evening

of food and wine featuring outstanding private

collections to be auctioned to benefi t the Museum

of Fine Arts. Located at the Museum of Fine Arts,

for more information visit www.fi ne-arts.org.

feBruary 12» PARC Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament Featuring Skip Holtz

Join Skip Holtz, University of South Florida

Head Football Coach, and event chairs Scott

Brinner, Susan Rasmussen and Laurie Stacy for

a Pairing Party on February 12 followed by a

Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament on February 13

at the prestigious Bob Sierra & Jack Nicklaus

designed Avila course. All proceeds from the

event will benefi t the children and adults with

developmental disabilities at PARC. For more

information contact Kim Waag, 727-410-6025 or

kwaag@parc-fl .org.

feBruary 16» Flicks and Food TrucksTampa Bay Markets, Inc. a local company that

operates the open-air fresh markets in the Bay

area, and the Tampa Downtown Partnership

present this event showcasing local independent

short fi lms, 10 to 15 food trucks, beer and live

music. Located at 1208 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa,

FL.

feBruary 17» Art after DarkFor Art After Dark - held the third Friday of

every month - the museum partners with area

organizations, volunteers, and artists for an evening

of music, live entertainment and, of course, fi ne

art, located at 120 W Gasparilla Plz, Tampa,

FL 33602. Visit tampamuseum.org for more

information.

feBruary 18» Moffi tt Cancer Center Hosts Integrative Medicine EventIntegrative Medicine: A Day of Health, Healing

and Wellness – a free event for survivors, patients,

caregivers and providers. Located at 12902 Usf

Magnolia Dr, Tampa, FL. For more information

visit www.moffi tt.org.

feBruary 19» Tough Turtle Hurdle Kids of all ages will be allowed and even

encouraged to play in the mud one of the best

kids’ fun races in the Tampa Bay area! For more

information visit www.trikidsrock.com.

feBruary 23» Grant PathwaysTh e conference features 11 professionals who will

address key areas to help a non-profi t improve and

expand its infl uence. For more information visit

grantpathways.com.

feBruary 24-25» Nuclear Cowboyz Freestyle Motorcross ShowTh e St. Pete Times Forum welcomes the Nuclear

Cowboyz, described as “half rock concert, half

Broadway production and all Extreme Freestyle

Motorcross. Visit sptimesforum.com for more

information.

feBruary 25» Calusa Music & Arts FestivalCanvas Management Group and Big Dogg

Audio Presents: Calusa Music & Arts Festival,

Tampa Bay’s local music & arts showcase. Come

experience the very best Tampa has to off er with

incredible music, tasty food vendors, artistic

displays, and unbeatable drink specials.Located at

1701 E 8th Ave, Tampa, FL.

feBruary 29» Radiohead ConcertTh e St. Pete Times Forum welcomes Radiohead

on their 2012 U.S. tour. For more information visit

sptimesforum.com.

Keep a look out for upcoming events including:

Mid Florida Walk in March; early registration

is required, visit their website at www.

MidFloridaMSWalks.org

Sea Grapes, Fine Wine and Food Festival in April,

for more information visit www.seagrapes.org.


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(813) 837 - 5735 website: www.ThaiMarketKitchen.com

South of Bay to Bay on S. Dale Mabry3325 S Dale Mabry HwyTampa, Fl 33629

10% off military and family

10% off with advertisement!

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*Special Weekend Prepared Food Saturdays*

advertise with FoCusGet your business/organization in front of the community

Call or email us to learn more about advertising in FOCUS

Jim Duke 813-390-5526

[email protected]

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• Rapidturnaround• Loansforlargeorsmallacreage

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• Financingorrefinancing• Loansonsecondresidences

Whetherlargeorsmall,FarmCreditcanhelpyouachievethelifestyleyou’vebeendreamingof.We’vebeenfinancingdreamsformorethan90years.Callus,we’retheexperts.

Loans for land, homes, & agriculture.


Tickets go on sale Dec. 5th, 2011 at 8:00 am • www.flstrawberryfestival.com

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVALFLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

REBAHANK WILLIAMS, JR.

“TAKING BACK THE COUNTRY TOUR” VINCE GILL

THE BAND PERRYTHE CHARLIE DANIELS

BAND JOSH TURNER

THE OAK RIDGE BOYS GRETCHEN WILSON THE GATLIN BROTHERS CRYSTAL GAYLE

DEMI LOVATO LEE GREENWOOD THE JANEDEAR GIRLS

MAR. 1 - MAR. 11, 2012 - PLANT CITY, FLORIDA

LUKE BRYAN

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

MAR. 1 - MAR. 11, 2012 - PLANT CITY, FLORIDAMAR. 1 - MAR. 11, 2012 - PLANT CITY, FLORIDA

GrowingSweetMemories

LOUISE MANDRELL


sports » athlete oF the month

Michael alvarezschool: blake High school gpa: 4.0

FOCUS Athlete of the Month is brought to you by the Davin Joseph

Events for Cause Foundation

up until his junior year in high school, Michael Alvarez’s life was basically that of any other student musician,

one of tedious work, and constant rehearsals. For several years, his personality was never really aff ected by outside infl uences, since a great deal of his days were spent alone, practicing, or composing at home, in the music studio. After being in high school for a while, things had begun to change, and all of them, for the better. Of the many character-building experiences in his life, the most infl uential was when Michael became the captain of the Blake High School Boys Varsity Swim Team. As a 12-year concert pianist he never had the need to show signs of leadership, seeing as focus, persistence and dedication are considered more valuable traits to the striving musician. However, after having joined the swim team Michael’s junior year in High School, he noticed that he seemed to be able to put forth more eff ort than the other swimmers, according to the coaches, and show more eagerness when it came to growing as a student-athlete. His athletic consistency and work ethic was much more demanding than that of the other swimmers because of he had grown accustomed to always striving to be the best, musically. It was this drive that helped him grow from a “new guy”, rookie, to be the elected Varsity Swim Team Captain after being a member of the team for only one year.

Becoming the Captain meant a whole new level of responsibility, and it meant that he would have to increase his fervor and dedication tenfold in order to set the example for his fellow team mates. Of all12 members of the Boys Varsity Swim Team, Michael was the only one who had not missed a single practice. Th roughout each and every practice, the swimmer with the highest expectations was the team captain; and of all of the swimmers, the one who best motivated their fellow

teammates to push their limits farther was Michael. Not that he was required in any way, shape or form by his coaches to do all of these things, but more so by the underlying obligation that he felt came attached to the title of “Captain.” Th ese ideals drove Michael to push past his limits when it came to setting examples for the rest of his teammates. And ever since he had this experience with leadership and motivation, he has begun to live another style of life. He is much more dedicated, and focused life and sees the world on a wider spectrum. No longer does his fervor remain tied to the confi nes of his piano. After having been a “Captain”, he began to live like a leader.

Some of Michael’s accomplishments are that he is a senior with a 4.0 grade point average. He led his team to have the highest grade point average of all the high schools in Hillsborough County. Th is is a feat that has not been reached since 2003. He is one of Blake High School’s most accomplished guitar majors, and that is just as talented playing the piano. Look for great things in the future from Michael Alvarez

MiChael alVareZ


fasT, frienDly, DeliCious & high QualiTysouth tampa’s pdQ serves

chicken the right Way

entertainment » dining proFile

Written by: MiCHael Musial

inForMaTion

2207 s. dale Mabry HigHwayTaMpa, Fl 336269813-254-7373HTTp://eaTpdq.CoM

The search for high quality, quick service, good food, and reasonable prices has a new destination - Dale Mabry, just south of Neptune, across from Plant High School, is PDQ, which the proprietor would tell you stands for People Dedicated to Quality serving fresh food Pretty Darn Quick. When you arrive at PDQ the first thing you have to notice is how open the restaurant is. Large glass windows and an open outdoor seating area allow for plenty of natural light to be available to any diner. Behind the cashier is the open kitchen, where you can see the crew working on breading the meats, cutting the fries, and squeezing the lemons. The restaurant has a nice vaulted ceiling, and a few TV’s along the wall showing various sporting events. From the entrance three large LCD monitors hang, the first two with an image of the delicacies available within, the third displays PDQ’s simple but well executed menu. The focus is obvious, chicken. You have the option of crispy chicken tenders, grilled chicken sandwich, crispy chicken sandwich, grilled chicken salad, and a chicken Caesar salad.

In a nice twist PDQ has added a surprise fowl, Turkey. PDQ offers a crispy butterball turkey sandwich, and a grilled butterball turkey sandwich. Butterball actually went

through the process of making a custom machine to provide PDQ with turkey breast for these sandwiches. For sides there are freshly cut fries, and for those resolution-minded, fresh cut apple slices. To finish it off there are hand-spun malts and milkshakes for dessert, offered in Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Oreo, and a Seasonal.

Rather than focusing on a combo number, PDQ lays it out by the type of meal and then allows the alteration based on your selected primary entree: a tenders meal, a sandwich meal, and a salad meal. Each meal, except salads, includes fries, and a medium soda. For drinks PDQ has one of those exciting Coke Freestyle machines, hundreds of flavors all at your fingertips, all you need is a cup, time to spend on its touch screen, and a patient person behind you in line, and you too can explore the wonders of diet caffeine free orange flavored Coke.

I was again accompanied by my two most loyal dining companions to try a sampling of just about everything off PDQ’s menu. We ordered, gave our name, and found a table. While the place was quite packed, PDQ does a great job of turning tables. It wasn’t long before our food was ready. We first dug into the salads, I tried the crispy

chicken, Dave the grilled chicken, and Kevin the ceaser. All three of us were impressed. The salads were a decent size, a full meal themselves, the chicken was tender and juicy, and the dressings were just the right amount. Normally I am the type of guy who needs extra but I found the amount on my crispy chicken to be just right. If you’re not a fan of fresh ingredients then these aren’t the salads for you, but if you like me want crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and flavorful greens then these ARE the salad’s for you.

Now let’s be honest, if you know me, you know while I like the salad fresh, it’s not what I want to write home amount, I want the sandwich, the fries, you know, the meat and potatoes. My friends are the same way, we pushed aside our excellent salads and each took a grab at the offerings. Dave chose the tenders, provided with a homemade dipping sauce chosen from Honey Mustard, Ranch, Sweet Heat(a creamy spicy mayo sauce), Creamy Garlic, and Chipotle BBQ (we grabbed them all, you know, for scientific purposes). He enjoyed the double batter and proclaimed they were the best tenders he has had in a while.

Kevin grabbed the crispy chicken sandwich and was very satisfied. He found it to be tender and juicy. I selected the crispy turkey sandwich. Now I am going to put in print something nearly anti-American, I don’t like turkey. I know, I am not overly proud but each Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’m the guy pining away for Ham or Stuffing, anything but turkey. So why did I go for crispy turkey? Well simple answer, have you ever had a crispy turkey sandwich, specifically fabricated for a specific purpose by one of the largest and respected meat producers? Well I hadn’t either and I suspected there had to be something to it.

photo by michael musial

I was shocked. I quite enjoyed this turkey sandwich. It was juicy and crisp. The batter was light but the flavors were very full. It is served with the sweet heat sauce which added to the flavor nicely. Each entree had fries, which were fresh, crisp and also full of flavor. Each meal was devoured in a short time and the three of us began to swoon to the fullness of our bellies, when I remembered the desserts.

No review would be complete without sampling the hand-spun malts and shakes. So we loosened our belts and grabbed some dessert refreshment. Dave selected the chocolate malt, Kevin a strawberry malt, and I selected an Oreo shake. There’s nothing finer to finish a meal then some refreshing dessert goodness. We all agreed that the meal was exceptional and would definitely be back. So if you find yourself near Dale Mabry and Neptune looking for a great meal, quickly, that won’t bust your budget, PDQ is the crispy chicken or turkey destination for you. I might be able to handle turkey with the family this year, if perhaps I can find away to get dinner served a la PDQ style. Happy eating.

photo by michael musial


entertainment » Wine!

Chilean CarMénère

as another Sunday arrived I found myself surrounded by superior selections of wine provided by Publix

Greenwise. Completely undecided by the variety, I knew how I needed to back into this decision was to review the other variables that I wanted to contribute to my relaxing evening.

1. New Crystal Decanter - Check 2. New Ridel Bordeaux wine glasses - Check 3. Arctic weather & Snuggie- Check 4. Redbox Movie- Check

Almost when my mind narrowed the search to a delicate Pinot Noir, complex Cabernet or a bold Merlot, I found an enticing Organic Emiliana Natura 2009 Carménère on sale for $10.99. Carménère is actually a close relative of the Cabernet family and traditionally reigns from Bordeaux France. However, in the 19th century Carménère was imported from Bordeaux to Chile by Chilean growers. Moreover, they modeled their wineries to replicate the French and planted vines of Carménère, Malbec, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot among others grapes. Without much debate, the bottle was selected and purchased for future accompaniment.

I didn’t need my pairing chart to know which cheese I would pair the complex Carménère. I flagged over a deli manager to pull an espresso encrusted cheese from the case. I had tasted Sartori’s Espresso Bellavitano Cheese at a holiday party and never stopped thinking about the unique taste. A cheese so unique I literally thought about eating it as a breakfast, dessert, and daily snack. Excited to be home with my treats and agenda; I grabbed my Ridel Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Bordeaux wine glasses and crystal decanter from their freshly unwrapped Christmas boxes and headed for the kitchen.

Many ask, “Why should I decant wine?”Well, if you want to maximize the flavor and intentions of the vintner then you may want to take a moment before your first sip. For older wines that have been properly stored, they may have a sediment or skin from the aging process, where the slow and careful decanting process allows wine to separate itself. The sediment can become bitter and distasteful if not decanted properly. However, this process isn’t just for older wines, it can and should be used for younger wines as well. Decanting allows the wine to breathe, evolve, and improve just moments before your first sip. The tact you use to pour the wine into the decanter shape forces it to mix with oxygen and enables it to develop at an extremely accelerated pace. Additionally, depending on the shape of your decanter, you can expedite the aeration process. For example, wide-based decanters allow more surface area to expose oxygen and release aroma. I typically let my wine sit for approximately 20 minutes before trying and allowed it to develop over several hours.

After my Emiliana Natura 2009 Carménère sat in the decanter for just 20 minutes I poured a glass into my new Ridel Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon /Merlot Vinum glass. These particular wine glasses have been on my wish list for ages as the Ridel family and their products have been heroes of mine for a long time. The education and sophistication they contribute to their product can transform almost any wine to deliver the notes at their best.

The trick to maximizing Ridel’s skill and expertise is selecting the correct glass for the correct wine type. The Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon /Merlot Vinum glass is made for complex red wines and knows how to smooth out any rough edges. The glass balances the bitter tannins that even a decanter cannot achieve by itself. The size and shape of the glass allows the wine to gravitate to a specific

story by: Jodi lokay

challenges Wisconsin espresso encrusted cheese For perFect pairing

zone of your mouth allowing aromas to fully develop and accentuate fruit notes. This one glass can turn almost any Bordeaux (red), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rioja, Tempranillo or Carménère into completely developed wine.

Now that my selected Organic Emiliana Natura 2009 Carménère had support and tools it needed, I knew it couldn’t be anything but wonderful. The deep ruby-red color made my mouth water and I was ready for the Chilean Carménère Challenge. It’s fresh yet juicy flavor was exciting upon arrival to my awaiting taste buds including: cherries and toffee. The flavor developed and exposed a spicy touch of black pepper and bell pepper. The aftertaste lingered cinnamon, rich coffee and dark chocolate notes. Overall the smooth and aromatic complexity of cherry notes was elegant and easy to drink. This Carménère had a medium body and great tannin balance. I know how they earned every bit of the 88 points from INE Advocate November 2010. Emiliana Organic Vinyards are known for their multi-faceted organic gardening program. Their approach is two-fold: Development of Biodiversity and stimulating the absence of agrochemicals including pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Emiliana believes in producing healthier foods without chemical products. In turn they believe this will help soil degradation, desertification and reduce pollution and toxic residues. Additionally, they encourage employee programs where each of their employees can grow their own vegetables on the estate’s land to contribute to their family’s food. This specific Emilianaa wine is from Chile, in the central valley region called “Colchagua Valley”.

Ready for my Sartori’s Espresso Bellavitano Reserve Cheese, I slowly un-wrapped the cheese wedge. A sweet yet rich espresso aroma released immediately. I knocked a

few slices off the creamy quarter wheel and accompanied them with small whole grain pieces of fresh bread. The edges of the wheel are hand-rubbed encrusted premium roasted espresso grounds which contributed to the overwhelming brewing smell. This dark brown contribution sits on top of a sweet and sugary aged wheel of cheese. Finally tasting a chunk I had portioned for myself the texture was creamy and sweet with a subtle hint of nutty parmesan or cheddar.

The most incredible asset of this cheese is the variety of pairing from craft beers to dried fruits. From Wine, Beer and Food and respectively from Sweet to Salty this cheese would pair with the following:

1. Wine: Port, Sangria, Sherry, Sauvignon Blanc, Red Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Chianti, Pinot Noir and Merlot

2. Beer: Fruit Beers, Sweet Cider, Wheat Beers, Weizenbock, Pale Ales, Hoppy Pilsners and Stout Beers

3. Food: Figs, Dried Fruit, Red Grapes, Pears, Chocolate, Whole Grain Bread, Hard Salami and Olives. This specific Wisconsin cheese has won four medals within the last 2 years: 3rd place in 2011 American Cheese Society; 3rd place in 2011 Global Cheese Awards; 3rd place 2011 Wisconsin State Fair; and Silver Medal in the 2010 World Cheese Awards. It is because they only use the finest cow milk and use the “far-to-fork” with the highest food safety and flavor levels.

The wedge itself was only $5.80 for approximately 5.3 ounces, but I couldn’t have thought of a better pair for the evening.

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South Tampa 02-12

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