COOLWHITE HOT

A MAGAZINE of thE tAMPA BAY tIMEs

AuGust 2015

8 bay AUGUST 2015

Aug Sept

50LIGHT IN OUR LIVESInterior design experts discuss trends in lighting, which some view as jewelry to accentuate a room.

65POP ARTTwo ice pop artists on either side of Tampa Bay create deliciously cool treats that can help tame the summer heat.

Photograph by Patty Yablonski

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER ISSUE

72MOONLIT MAGICNight gardens provide an enchanting venue for outdoor entertaining and a respite from the heat of summer.

82EYE FOR THE UNUSUALFrom cotton balls to mop strings, expect the unexpected in designer Lina Teixeira’s stylish apparel.

92PETS WITH TIARAS

St. Petersburg artist Steven Kenny creates dreamy surreal images featuring animals and people in surprising settings.

on the coverCool, white fabrics that reflect Florida’s relentless rays are perfect for summer, such as a Lovers + Friends jumpsuit ($198), from Mis en Chic, St. Petersburg. Paz Sintes textile flower necklace ($265), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary, St. Petersburg.

More styles, page 38.

Cover photograph by Cherie Diez

ROROROROROROROROROROROROROOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROROOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFOFROOFROROROROROOFOFOFOFOFTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOTOPPPPPP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LPP LP LP LP LLOLOLOP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LP LOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUOUNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGNGLOUNGP LP LP LP LP LOUOUOUOUOUNGNGNGNGNGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

PLAY AND STAY-MAKE YOUR NEXT GETAWAYHISTORIC!Downtown St. Petersburg's newest and most historic luxury escape!

THE BIRCHWOOD340 Beach Drive NE - St. Petersburg, FL 33701www.TheBirchwood.com • 727-896-1080

AWARD WINNING SEASONAL MENUCREATED FROM ORGANIC & LOCALLY

GROWN INGREDIENTS

DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG’S ONLY ROOFTOP LOUNGE

WITH BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF TAMPA BAY.

18 bay AUGUST 2015

EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTORMary Jane Park Pegie Starkmjpark@tampabay.com pstark@tampabay.com

PHOTO EDITOR Patty Yablonski

COPY EDITOR Cathy Keim

CONTRIBUTORS Sophia Nahli Allison, James Branaman, Penny Carnathan, Jim Damaske, Cherie Diez, Katie McCormick, Suzin Moon, Rachael Ortega, Valerie Romas, Amy Scherzer, Michelle Stark, Gabrielle Yablonski

Bay is published seven times a year by Times Publishing Co. and delivered to Tampa Bay Times subscribers in select neighborhoods in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Copyright 2014. Vol. 8, No. 7.

THE TAMPA BAY TIMES

CHAIRMAN AND CEO Paul C. Tash

EDITOR AND VICE PRESIDENT Neil Brown

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING Bruce Faulmann

ADVERTISING MANAGER Mark Shurman

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER Michelle Mitchell

TAMPA ADVERTISING MANAGER Dawn Philips

National / Major Retail Advertising Manager Kelly Spamer

St. Petersburg Retail Advertising Manager Andi Gordon

Clearwater Retail Advertising Manager Jennifer Bonin

Brandon Advertising Sales Manager Tony Del Castillo

Classified Real Estate Manager Suzanne Delaney

Pasco Retail Manager Luby Sidoff

Automotive Advertising Manager Larry West

MARKETING MANAGER Christopher Galbraith

FULFILLMENT MANAGER Gerald Gifford

IMAGING AND PRODUCTION Gary Zolg, Brian J. Baracani Jr., Orville Creary, Greg Kennicutt, Janet L. Rhodes, Ralph W. Morningstar

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jim Thompson

REGIONAL HOME DELIVERY MANAGERS Diann Bates, David Maxam

To view the magazine online, visit www.tampabay.com/bayTo order photo reprints, visit www.tampabay.com/photosalesTo advertise in Bay magazine: (727) 893-8535

A MAGAZINE OF THE TAMPA BAY TIMES

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RECORD HOLDER FOR THE HIGHEST PRICEDRESIDENTIAL SALE IN TAMPA BAY HISTORY!

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20 bay AUGUST 2015

PLAY IT COOL IN SUMMER’S HEAT

Have comments, questions or story ideas? Let us know. Contact Mary Jane Park at (727) 893-8267 or mjpark@tampabay.com.

Perhaps you are a sun worshiper who lives for this season and its volatile conditions. If so, you have my utmost admiration. Yes, we live in astounding Florida, the Land of Flowers, and yes, our state is exorbitantly warm in summer.

By August, I am grateful for sea breezes and do-nothing time on a shady porch. I love the idea of a moonlit garden with fragrant pale blossoms and silver foliage.

White seems soothing now in the spaces we inhabit and in the clothing we wear. And icy treats, which you’ll read about in this issue of Bay. Up-to-the-minute designs in lighting help conserve energy. Take in the styles a Clearwater designer creates from repurposed objects.

Beyond that, make use of the opportunity to be still on occasion. Sleep late. Sink your feet into the sand. Laze in the pool. Take a long nap. Boredom begets creativity, the experts tell us.

Make the best of vacation time as you are able; soon enough, busy fall will be here.

— Mary Jane Park

from the editor

AUGUST 2015 bay 23

Sugar, water and flavorings. At the heart of things, this chilly Italian indulgence is essentially just shaved ice.

Mix fruit or fruit juice (or cof-fee or tea) with sugar and liquid, pour the liquid into a flat pan, freeze, then scrape the ice with a fork and pile the resulting slushy treat into a wine or parfait glass.

Our version combines fresh plums, ginger, sugar, vanilla extract and a touch of salt.

Photograph by Cherie Diez

GRANITA

24 bay AUGUST 2015

place it

Classic. Simple. Perfect.The Marghab label hired only the best

in embroidery artists, whose work is renowned for its quality and detail. Even the scalloped borders were created by hand. The monochromatic clusters of blossoms here remind us of North Carolina summers.

Emile and Vera Way Marghab established Marghab Linens on the Portuguese island of Madeira in the 1930s. The couple were famous, scholars note, for their “continual pursuit of perfection” among the already exacting standards of Madeira’s other embroidery houses.

Craftsmanship and fine design are the hallmarks of the line, which closed in 1980. Each piece took months, and many thou-sands of stitches, to accomplish. Today, they are prized collectibles.— Mary Jane Park

SO FINE

Vintage Marghab place mat and napkin are hand-embroidered with hydrangea motifs in Madeira, Portugal, on the highest-quality Irish linen. Set of 12 place mats, 12 napkins and one table runner ($600), Villa Rosa Distinctive Linens, 3001 S MacDill Ave., Tampa; (813) 831-6189.

Photograph by Patty Yablonski

ST PETERSBURG

727-896-1800TREASURE ISLAND

727-397-1800TIERRA VERDE

727-867-3100

L U X E L I S T – F E A T U R E D P R O P E R T I E S

TAMPA BAY’SFAVORITE REALTORS

WELCOME HOME TOWATERFRONT CAYA COSTA! Gated community. 4bed/2.5 bath/2 car garage. 3,674 sq.ft. Formal and casual living and diningspaces. All bedrooms upstairs. Updated flooring throughout. Indoor laundry.Pool and pavered deck. Dock and davits. Close to The Weedon Island estuary.Coming Soon to MLS! Contact David Vann | The Vann Team at727-510-0265.

The most highly coveted address on St Pete Beach is finally on themarket. Inspired by a trip to Italy. The Mediterranean, Italian influenceis remarkable. Open Water Views Sunrise to Sunset. 6 Bedrooms / 6.5Bathrooms 6682 Sq Ft + Much Bonus Space. OFFERED FOR $3,500,000.Contact Al Bennati 813-309-2400.

L U X E L I S T – J J A N D T H E Z F E A T U R E D P R O P E R T I E S

ST PETERSBURG

727-896-1800TREASURE ISLAND

727-397-1800TIERRA VERDE

727-867-3100

1833 Brightwaters Blvd NELive the Florida Waterfront Life in Style,Open Water Views, Exceptional

Indoor and Outdoor Entertaining Space with MuganiPizza Oven & Gazebo. Pool & Spa, Office and Fitness Room.

5 BR, 4.5 BA, 5,601 Sq Ft, 3 CGOffered for $3,475,000

Contact JJ and the Z at 727-344-9191Julie Jones or Kathryn Krayer-Zimring

ACTIVE

L U X E L I S T – F E A T U R E D A G E N T S - J J A N D T H E Z

J U L I E J O N E S , K A T H R Y N K R A Y E R Z I M R I N G

H O M E S @ J J A N D T H E Z . C O M

2506 70th Ave SSpectacular views of Tampa Bay and the Skyway Bridge. Large Open

Entertaining Home with Two Levels of Expansive Balconies.A Grand Master Suite with an Elegant Bath. Outdoor Features Pool, Spaand Spacious Yard with Dock and Lift. Views of Pristine Natural Estuaries.

5 BR, 4 BA, 4,295 Sq Ft, 2 CG - ElevatorOffered for $1,490,000

Contact JJ and the Z at 727-344-9191Julie Jones or Kathryn Krayer-Zimring

ACTIVE

1338 Park St NPrestigious Park Street Home with Expansive Water Views of Boca Ciega

Bay. Formal Entertaining Spaces and Floor to Ceiling Windows with Viewsof the 545 ft Deep Lot. Classic Brick Patio and Pool.

4 BR, 4.5 BA, 5,581 Sq Ft, 2 CGOffered for $1,500,000

Contact JJ and the Z at 727-344-9191Julie Jones or Kathryn Krayer-Zimring

PENDING

Our Success Secret:We Listen

It’s good to knowJJ and the Z

“They are timely, wellorganized, enthusiastic,

knowledgeable…”– Sharon &

Victor Gardner

FAVOAVO O S

The moTheThemarketmarmaris remarkisisBathroBatBatContacConCon

COUNTRY CLUB LIVING! Built to last with all concrete block constructionfrom top to bottom, this outstanding 4 BR 3 BA, 2,872 Sq. Ft. WaterfrontPool home with an oversized 2 car garage and wonderful views is located ina gated community. Enjoy a luxurious and spacious master suite with sittingarea and his & hers walk-in closets. Kitchen has corian counters, walk-inpantry and overlooks an expansive, cozy living room and the marina. Thisis a great home offered at an exceptional price!OFFERED FOR $850,000.Contact Bettina Guild at 727-420-7606, email Bettina.Guild@gmail.com

L U X E L I S T – F E A T U R E D A G E N T S

A L B E N N A T I , B E T T I N A G U I L D A N D D A V I D V A N N

ST PETERSBURG

727-896-1800TREASURE ISLAND

727-397-1800TIERRA VERDE

727-867-3100

L U X E L I S T – F E A T U R E D P R O P E R T I E S

TAMPA BAY’SFAVORITE REALTORS

WELCOME HOME TOWATERFRONT CAYA COSTA! Gated community. 4bed/2.5 bath/2 car garage. 3,674 sq.ft. Formal and casual living and diningspaces. All bedrooms upstairs. Updated flooring throughout. Indoor laundry.Pool and pavered deck. Dock and davits. Close to The Weedon Island estuary.Coming Soon to MLS! Contact David Vann | The Vann Team at727-510-0265.

The most highly coveted address on St Pete Beach is finally on themarket. Inspired by a trip to Italy. The Mediterranean, Italian influenceis remarkable. Open Water Views Sunrise to Sunset. 6 Bedrooms / 6.5Bathrooms 6682 Sq Ft + Much Bonus Space. OFFERED FOR $3,500,000.Contact Al Bennati 813-309-2400.

L U X E L I S T – J J A N D T H E Z F E A T U R E D P R O P E R T I E S

ST PETERSBURG

727-896-1800TREASURE ISLAND

727-397-1800TIERRA VERDE

727-867-3100

1833 Brightwaters Blvd NELive the Florida Waterfront Life in Style,Open Water Views, Exceptional

Indoor and Outdoor Entertaining Space with MuganiPizza Oven & Gazebo. Pool & Spa, Office and Fitness Room.

5 BR, 4.5 BA, 5,601 Sq Ft, 3 CGOffered for $3,475,000

Contact JJ and the Z at 727-344-9191Julie Jones or Kathryn Krayer-Zimring

ACTIVE

L U X E L I S T – F E A T U R E D A G E N T S - J J A N D T H E Z

J U L I E J O N E S , K A T H R Y N K R A Y E R Z I M R I N G

H O M E S @ J J A N D T H E Z . C O M

2506 70th Ave SSpectacular views of Tampa Bay and the Skyway Bridge. Large Open

Entertaining Home with Two Levels of Expansive Balconies.A Grand Master Suite with an Elegant Bath. Outdoor Features Pool, Spaand Spacious Yard with Dock and Lift. Views of Pristine Natural Estuaries.

5 BR, 4 BA, 4,295 Sq Ft, 2 CG - ElevatorOffered for $1,490,000

Contact JJ and the Z at 727-344-9191Julie Jones or Kathryn Krayer-Zimring

ACTIVE

1338 Park St NPrestigious Park Street Home with Expansive Water Views of Boca Ciega

Bay. Formal Entertaining Spaces and Floor to Ceiling Windows with Viewsof the 545 ft Deep Lot. Classic Brick Patio and Pool.

4 BR, 4.5 BA, 5,581 Sq Ft, 2 CGOffered for $1,500,000

Contact JJ and the Z at 727-344-9191Julie Jones or Kathryn Krayer-Zimring

PENDING

Our Success Secret:We Listen

It’s good to knowJJ and the Z

“They are timely, wellorganized, enthusiastic,

knowledgeable…”– Sharon &

Victor Gardner

FAVOAVO O S

The moTheThemarketmarmaris remarkisisBathroBatBatContacConCon

COUNTRY CLUB LIVING! Built to last with all concrete block constructionfrom top to bottom, this outstanding 4 BR 3 BA, 2,872 Sq. Ft. WaterfrontPool home with an oversized 2 car garage and wonderful views is located ina gated community. Enjoy a luxurious and spacious master suite with sittingarea and his & hers walk-in closets. Kitchen has corian counters, walk-inpantry and overlooks an expansive, cozy living room and the marina. Thisis a great home offered at an exceptional price!OFFERED FOR $850,000.Contact Bettina Guild at 727-420-7606, email Bettina.Guild@gmail.com

L U X E L I S T – F E A T U R E D A G E N T S

A L B E N N A T I , B E T T I N A G U I L D A N D D A V I D V A N N

30 bay AUGUST 2015

on display

Sculptural solo blossoms seem to float in space in these vases created from optical glass. With or without flowers, herbs and other greenery, the sleek architectural structures have a decidedly modern appeal that can freshen the look of a tabletop, a desk, even a windowsill. — Mary Jane Park

FLORAL HOUSING

Aphrodite Prado vase, large ($50) and house-shaped Aphrodite Home vases ($29.95 each), all by Design Ideas.Tampa Museum of Art store, 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa; (813) 421-8386.

Photograph by Scott Keeler

FinchBerry soaps look freshly baked from the company’s northern Florida studios, and all are gluten-free, vegan-friendly and made without chemical preservatives. Tart Me Up bars ($10 each, $35 for four), are created from olive oil, organic coco-nut, shea butter, pink Moroccan rose buds, poppy seeds and select essential oils and served here with a mother-of-pearl flower ring ($56). All from Pippa Pelure, 50 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg; (727) 623-0926.

Photograph by Patty Yablonski

sweet!

LATHERED UP

34 bay AUGUST 2015

Inge Christopher tilapia-skin clutch with 24-karat gold detail ($165) from Pipa Pelure, 50 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg; (727) 623-0926. Miniature “Love” bowl with spoon (price upon request), and Sugar Paper greeting card ($8), both from Spa Jardin, 4121 S MacDill Ave., Tampa; (813) 835-9549. Spoons from Jeffrey DiBlasio of He Who Metals ($12 each), Sara’s Karma Chic Boutique, 3006 W Swann Ave., Suite B, Tampa;(813) 785-2388.

Photograph by Patty Yablonski

Tampa native Jeffrey DiBlasio uses recycled metals such as discarded auto or bicycle parts and other found objects to make one-of-a-kind pieces. The artist suggests using his stamped metal spoons as plant markers. Hammered metal, embossed paper, guitar strings and Swarovski crystals work together in a wonderfully eclectic way. Regardless of the materials, pairing refined with rugged is always interesting.— Valerie Romas

IN THE MIX

shaking things up

38 bay AUGUST 2015

WHITEOUT

otton and linen come to mind when heat-shimmer illusions appear nearly everywhere these days. We desire loose, flowing garments now, styles that billow and sometimes create their own currents. We’re keeping it light this summer, as white as shad-owless, sun-washed surfaces, in fabrics that wick away moisture and reflect those relentless rays. Even in this monochromatic state, we like a mix of textures and shades. We look for lacy things and demure cutouts, plus crystalline materials that make us think of ice and frozen concoctions. In fashion, what better way to express summer than in white?

CBY MARY JANE PARKPHOTOGRAPHS BY CHERIE DIEZ

At left: Carmen Marc Valvo shift dress ($525), from Neiman Marcus. Helena Kazakova glass, acrylic and sterling silver Baubles necklace ($170), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary, 320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

Opposite page: Herve Leger “Francesca” top ($740) with Alice + Olivia “Justina” tulle skirt ($348), both from Neiman Marcus. Paules leather strappy sandal ($80), from ALDO Westfield Countryside, 27001 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Addison Weeks gold and moonstone pendant ($350), Mis en Chic, 1180 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

At left: Derek Lam tank ($150), Haute Hippie sequin and fringe vest ($895) and Joie “Charlet” zipper-cuff jogger ($188), all from Neiman Marcus. ACEIDIA D’Orsay pumps ($75), from ALDO Westfield Countryside. Necklace ($416), from Mis en Chic.

Opposite page: Amanda Uprichard confetti lace A-line ($298) and Joie “Odina” leather moto jacket ($998), both from Neiman Marcus. Paules sandal ($80), from ALDO Westfield Countryside. Tom McCarthy sterling silver, concrete and terrazzo ring ($400), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary.

AUGUST 2015 bay 41

42 bay AUGUST 2015

Regardless of the heat index, frosty indoor climate settings can mean shivers, even in Florida. Hence our pairing of Pam & Gela’s “Frankie T Lips” cap-sleeve tee ($95), from Neiman Marcus, Tampa, with a vintage fur wrap (private collection) and feather bow tie ($120), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary.

Opposite page: Lovers + Friends “Star Gazer” jumpsuit ($198), from Mis en Chic. Paz Sintes textile flower necklace ($265), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary.

42 bay AUGUST 2015

Regardless of the heat index, frosty indoor climate settings can mean shivers, even in Florida. Hence our pairing of Pam & Gela’s “Frankie T Lips” cap-sleeve tee ($95), from Neiman Marcus, Tampa, with a vintage fur wrap (private collection) and feather bow tie ($120), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary.

Opposite page: Lovers + Friends “Star Gazer” jumpsuit ($198), from Mis en Chic. Paz Sintes textile flower necklace ($265), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary.

AUGUST 2015 bay 45

Opposite page: Herve Leger “Julianne” top ($890) and Badgley Mischka pleated maxi-pant ($336), both from Neiman Marcus. Paules sandal ($80), from ALDO Westfield Countryside. Bangle bracelets, private collection.

At right: Alice + Olivia “Vandy” lace slip dress ($440), from Neiman Marcus. Shoe bootie ($90), from ALDO Westfield Countryside. Brass clutch with rainbow moonstone ($879) and white turquoise necklace ($425), both from Mis en Chic.

46 bay AUGUST 2015

Above: Alexis “Darya” lace and fringe detail dress ($695), from Mis en Chic.Opposite page: Haute Hippie graphic tank ($135), BCBG Max Azria “Farrell” fringe jacket ($468) and J Brand “Demented” cropped low-rise distressed jeans ($178), all from Neiman Marcus. Susan Dyer sterling silver and polymer clay earrings ($150), from Michele Tuegel Contemporary.Hair and makeup: Suzin MoonWardrobe stylist: Valerie Romas, one2styleu.comStylist assistant: Rachael OrtegaModel from Stella Runway, Bradenton

AUGUST 2015 bay 51

T

L I G H TIN OUR LIVES

he soft luster of pearls, the brilliance of fac-eted gemstones, the glow of precious metal: These are qualities many interior designers envision for brightening the homes of their clients.

“With all lighting, I feel so much that that’s jewelry to a room,” says Tampa designer Michelle Jennings Wiebe.

“If you put on a perfect dress,” it can be accentuated by “this bracelet, a great neck-lace or stones. I really feel like lighting is jew-elry, that final layer that can really make a room special.

“I’m pretty passionate that it does add to the room.”

Wiebe takes a layered approach that begins with recessed ceiling fixtures in nearly every room and adds additional features.

Spacious master bedrooms in many new homes include separate seating areas, she says. In those larger spaces, “one overhead (light) typically is not enough for one room.”

BY MARY JANE PARK

Custom LED elements for a downtown St. Petersburg condominium accent the fireplace in a large living space. The organic shape for the dining room chandelier complements the angular geometry of the fireplace. Custom controls provide a broad range of lighting and color effects.Photograph by Gary Grooms of Mesh

Architecture

AUGUST 2015 bay 51

T

L I G H TIN OUR LIVES

he soft luster of pearls, the brilliance of fac-eted gemstones, the glow of precious metal: These are qualities many interior designers envision for brightening the homes of their clients.

“With all lighting, I feel so much that that’s jewelry to a room,” says Tampa designer Michelle Jennings Wiebe.

“If you put on a perfect dress,” it can be accentuated by “this bracelet, a great neck-lace or stones. I really feel like lighting is jew-elry, that final layer that can really make a room special.

“I’m pretty passionate that it does add to the room.”

Wiebe takes a layered approach that begins with recessed ceiling fixtures in nearly every room and adds additional features.

Spacious master bedrooms in many new homes include separate seating areas, she says. In those larger spaces, “one overhead (light) typically is not enough for one room.”

BY MARY JANE PARK

Custom LED elements for a downtown St. Petersburg condominium accent the fireplace in a large living space. The organic shape for the dining room chandelier complements the angular geometry of the fireplace. Custom controls provide a broad range of lighting and color effects.Photograph by Gary Grooms of Mesh

Architecture

52 bay AUGUST 2015

An assortment of complementary options — recessed ceiling lights, industrial pendants in the kitchen and a statement chandelier in dining room — add visual interest to a Dunedin home.Photograph by Uneek Photography, Interiors by Studio M

AUGUST 2015 bay 53

Interior experts also are “using chandeliers in bedrooms these days,” says Clearwater designer Suzan Decker Ross. “We’re having fun. We’re getting a little more creative.”

For beach condominiums, she likes decorative pieces that feature shells, and she says oversize pendants and drum pendants are having a moment.

Wiebe is finding that clients “desire very soft lighting. They do like it to be a sanctuary.” She suggests having indi-vidual switches for both recessed fixtures and chandeliers, adding: “Always put lighting in bedrooms on dimmers. I do recommend wall sconces or lamps on nightstands as good reading lights.

“In my personal home, we did a big renovation. I’m picky about soft lighting, especially in bedrooms.”

Wiebe also likes art lighting that focuses on paintings or family portraits and motorized shades that can integrate with smart-home systems for watching television.

Decorative sconces and chandeliers are “where you can have a lot of fun with finishes,” she says, noting a “resur-gence in brass and gold fixtures, usually a burnished or brushed finish. Every trade show or market we have been to in the past two years, it has become more prevalent. There are silver finishes as well, mixed with crystals or other types of stones such as agate.”

Kitchens and adjoining great rooms continue to be a trend in contemporary homes as families move away from formal living and dining rooms.

“People are opening up their houses even more, so they have that space for entertaining, especially,” Decker Ross says. Some kitchens are including double islands. One might be for bar seating and another for food preparation or buffet-style serving. Above those, she recommends pen-dant lighting.

Wiebe advises starting “with the top. A lot of recessed lighting is still popular.” She, too, likes pendants over free-standing islands, and she says many homeowners now desire illumination for cabinets and bookcases.

“For a while,” she adds, “we did a lot of halogen. Now we’re getting into the LEDs for upper- and under-cabinet lights.”

Zsavonne Perryman, public relations specialist for Fer-guson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Galleries, points to a trend toward what she calls “pendaliers,” a sort of cross between pendants and chandeliers, many of which incorporate LEDs into the fixtures themselves.

Top left, the open-weave construction of the Hoyne pendant lamp ($349) offers sculptural geometry in an industrial-style iron wire sphere. Top right, blown-glass Eve pendant ($199) has vintage-inspired curves and polished nickel accents. Both from Crate & Barrel. crateandbarrel.com

52 bay AUGUST 2015

An assortment of complementary options — recessed ceiling lights, industrial pendants in the kitchen and a statement chandelier in dining room — add visual interest to a Dunedin home.Photograph by Uneek Photography, Interiors by Studio M

AUGUST 2015 bay 53

Interior experts also are “using chandeliers in bedrooms these days,” says Clearwater designer Suzan Decker Ross. “We’re having fun. We’re getting a little more creative.”

For beach condominiums, she likes decorative pieces that feature shells, and she says oversize pendants and drum pendants are having a moment.

Wiebe is finding that clients “desire very soft lighting. They do like it to be a sanctuary.” She suggests having indi-vidual switches for both recessed fixtures and chandeliers, adding: “Always put lighting in bedrooms on dimmers. I do recommend wall sconces or lamps on nightstands as good reading lights.

“In my personal home, we did a big renovation. I’m picky about soft lighting, especially in bedrooms.”

Wiebe also likes art lighting that focuses on paintings or family portraits and motorized shades that can integrate with smart-home systems for watching television.

Decorative sconces and chandeliers are “where you can have a lot of fun with finishes,” she says, noting a “resur-gence in brass and gold fixtures, usually a burnished or brushed finish. Every trade show or market we have been to in the past two years, it has become more prevalent. There are silver finishes as well, mixed with crystals or other types of stones such as agate.”

Kitchens and adjoining great rooms continue to be a trend in contemporary homes as families move away from formal living and dining rooms.

“People are opening up their houses even more, so they have that space for entertaining, especially,” Decker Ross says. Some kitchens are including double islands. One might be for bar seating and another for food preparation or buffet-style serving. Above those, she recommends pen-dant lighting.

Wiebe advises starting “with the top. A lot of recessed lighting is still popular.” She, too, likes pendants over free-standing islands, and she says many homeowners now desire illumination for cabinets and bookcases.

“For a while,” she adds, “we did a lot of halogen. Now we’re getting into the LEDs for upper- and under-cabinet lights.”

Zsavonne Perryman, public relations specialist for Fer-guson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Galleries, points to a trend toward what she calls “pendaliers,” a sort of cross between pendants and chandeliers, many of which incorporate LEDs into the fixtures themselves.

Top left, the open-weave construction of the Hoyne pendant lamp ($349) offers sculptural geometry in an industrial-style iron wire sphere. Top right, blown-glass Eve pendant ($199) has vintage-inspired curves and polished nickel accents. Both from Crate & Barrel. crateandbarrel.com

LEDs also are being used in “nostalgia bulbs” designed to replicate the looks of 1920s fixtures that have exposed fila-ments, says Ferguson’s Southeast Florida lighting manager, Heather Thomas.

“It can completely transform the way a fixture looks. Those used to be some of the most inefficient bulbs.”

LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are newly prevalent in residential lighting designs, offering substantial energy and heat savings. Government initiatives are phasing out tradi-tional incandescent bulbs, and the popularity of LEDs has surpassed that of twisty compact fluorescents.

“They are so much better for the environment,” Decker Ross says.

Wiebe, the founder and principal designer at Tampa’s Studio M, concedes that she came “kicking and screaming” into using more contemporary options.

Below, a shell chandelier illuminates the bedroom in a Clearwater Beach residence designed by Suzan Decker Ross.Photograph by Dorian Photography

Eos 1 Light Globe Pendant (large size, $399) by Vita Lighting Inc. is con-structed of hand-applied goose feathers and paper. From Doma Home Furnishings, 4005 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa, and 2540 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg; domahomefurnshings.com.Photograph from Vita Lighting Inc.

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I really feel like lighting is jewelry, that final layer that can really make a room special. I’m pretty passionate that it does add to the room.”

MICHELLE JENNINGS WIEBE, Tampa designer

An elevated take on the rustic antler trend, the nine-lamp Haywood Chandelier ($1,629) from Currey & Company has a Silver Granello finish. Coordinating wall sconces also available. From Mis En Chic, 1180 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; misenchic.comPhotograph from Currey & Company

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“I’ve been hesitant to go the LED route,” she says, partly because early iterations were not as “warm” or flattering as traditional bulbs. As a compromise, she sometimes installs recessed LEDs and adds a classic chandelier. “You can still get the chandelier-type (incandescent) lights in stores.”

True, says Ferguson’s Thomas. But LED technology has advanced to the point that “pretty much anything you would shop for will have an LED option — decorative light-ing, chandeliers, bathroom lighting and ceiling fans, archi-tectural lighting and under-cabinet lighting. I definitely think that as more LED bulbs are introduced into the mar-ket, (incandescents) are going to be a thing of the past.”

St. Petersburg architect Jason Jensen agrees that LEDs will be the standard “moving forward. They have opened a lot of doors for potential in artificial lighting.”

The co-founder of Wannemacher Jensen Architects works primarily on civic and commercial structures, where increased use of natural light “is tied to sustainable design and can improve working environments,” he says.

“That’s certainly a change from the 1970s, when energy conservation” was a focus, but technology was not as advanced.

Even residential clients are using LEDs as purely deco-rative elements, said Jovica Milic, a principal and partner at Mesh Architecture in St. Petersburg. Surfaces painted in neutral tones serve as canvases for a technique he calls wall washing, where LEDs become the color palette.

“What we’re seeing a lot more now is the flexibility of LED lighting,” he said. “You can turn a white wall into any color you want. It’s pretty exciting. It makes it very interest-ing.”

The Medusa MultiPendant ($1,860) fromCurrey & Company features five lights that glow from sea creatures attached at different heights, each with a hammered nickel-finished brass dome above clear glass tentacles. From Mise en Chic.Photograph from Currey & Company

Iron wire spirals form the sculptural Cosmo pendant light ($299) with antique zinc finish that blends with most decor. Vintage-style filament lightbulb (not included) adds a retro element. From Crate & Barrel. crateandbarrel.comPhotograph from Crate & Barrel

Lighted pillar candles, capiz-shell chandelier and wall sconces are harmonious in a dining room in Tampa’s Davis Islands. Photograph by Daniel Newcomb Photography, Interiors by Studio M

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Tiered Tapers Chandelier ($1,598) features white-washed agar wood twigs attached to iron curves. anthropologie.com.Photograph from Anthropologie

What we’re seeing a lot more now is the flexibility of LED lighting. You can turn a white wall into any color you want.”

JOVICA MILIC, principal and partner at Mesh Architecture, St. PetersburgLED rope lighting and recessed lights in a curved ceiling detail in the living room of a Clearwater residence designed by Suzan Decker Ross.Photograph by Dorian Photography

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Tiered Tapers Chandelier ($1,598) features white-washed agar wood twigs attached to iron curves. anthropologie.com.Photograph from Anthropologie

What we’re seeing a lot more now is the flexibility of LED lighting. You can turn a white wall into any color you want.”

JOVICA MILIC, principal and partner at Mesh Architecture, St. PetersburgLED rope lighting and recessed lights in a curved ceiling detail in the living room of a Clearwater residence designed by Suzan Decker Ross.Photograph by Dorian Photography

“My artistry and inspiration as a chef is to provide you with an unforgettablemeal that allows me to share my passion for cooking with you.”

— Chef Ciro Mancini

The Allure of True Southern Italian FoodVilla Bellini Restaurant & Lounge is the perfect location for a special celebration or

intimate dinner. Chef Ciro Mancini’s sophisticated, mouth-watering menu focuses on thecuisine of Southern Italy, using only the finest and freshest ingredients.

Villa Bellini Restaurant & Lounge • 2930 Gulf to Bay Blvd • Clearwater, FL 33759villabellinirestaurant.com • 727.754.9848

5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday • 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Friday – SaturdayDinner served Sunday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. • Lunch served Tuesday – Friday 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

ART

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PATTY YABLONSKI

It’s time to cool off with some yummy gourmet treats. Two Tampa Bay area ice pop artists combine fruits, herbs, choc-olates and even gelatos into a

swirl of wonderful tastes. Whatever Pops in Tampa caters parties and events. TropicCool in St. Petersburg offers individual servings in a store-front on Central Avenue and caters events in a colorful truck that has seating on top. Here’s a look at some of their creations.

POP

Coconut lime, fromWhatever Pops.

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We handcraft our ice pops in small batches so we can control the quality. It is a lot of hard work, but we feel the results make ourcustomers happy.”

STEVE McGLOCKLIN, owner, Whatever Pops

Above: Strawberry-lime.Right: Pineapple-cilantro,both from Whatever Pops.

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Chocolate-covered raspberry, from TropicCool.

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Above: Watermelon , from Whatever Pops.Below: TropicCool’s pistachio gelato pop with dark chocolate drizzle and crushed pistachio garnish.

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The texture of our pops are completely different than your average (ice pop). At TropicCool, we never freeze liquid or fruit juice, because it gives an icy texture. We don’t freeze our pops until we get our product consistency to a thick and soft texture. This makes the bite softer and, for many, more enjoyable to eat. I started making pops this way using a pastry piping bag in France, filling the molds with thick ice cream. Talk about cold hands!”

STEFAN CERF, owner, TropicCool

Clockwise from top: Toasted almond, panna cotta walnut and toffee pecan, all from TropicCool.

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Above: Watermelon , from Whatever Pops.Below: TropicCool’s pistachio gelato pop with dark chocolate drizzle and crushed pistachio garnish.

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The texture of our pops are completely different than your average (ice pop). At TropicCool, we never freeze liquid or fruit juice, because it gives an icy texture. We don’t freeze our pops until we get our product consistency to a thick and soft texture. This makes the bite softer and, for many, more enjoyable to eat. I started making pops this way using a pastry piping bag in France, filling the molds with thick ice cream. Talk about cold hands!”

STEFAN CERF, owner, TropicCool

Clockwise from top: Toasted almond, panna cotta walnut and toffee pecan, all from TropicCool.

Left: Rose, hibiscus and lavender are a few of the ingredients used in Whatever Pops treats.Below: Hand-crafted desserts from Whatever Pops are offered during a recent wedding held at the Postcard Inn in St. Pete Beach. Photographs by Sophia Nahli Allison

TROPICCOOL2244 Central Ave.St. Petersburg(727) 251-2988tropiccool.com

Stefan Cerf, 25, founded TropicCool three years ago after graduating from the University of Cen-tral Florida. Specializing in ice pops and gelato, the business started in a vintage double-decker bus and now also operates out of a storefront in downtown St. Petersburg. Cerf was born and grew up in St. Petersburg and has dual citizenship in France, where he worked in his godfather’s ice cream shop during many summers in high school and college. That’s where many of the recipes originated. TropicCool offers dozens of flavors of gelato and ice pops, all made from scratch and with natural ingredients, and soon will add a toppings bar.— Michelle Stark

WHATEVER POPSTampa (813) 220-3717whateverpops.com

Owners Steve and Nancy McGlocklin got into the ice pop business more than four years ago, the same day they got engaged. They were vaca-tioning in St. Augustine, strolling around look-ing at shops and restaurants. “And we came across an ice pop shop called the Hyppo,” Steve said. “We thought it was a great concept, fun and natural and not too serious, and that’s what we wanted for our future as a family and as a busi-ness. So instead of researching wedding venues or bridal gowns, after we called our families to let them know we were getting married, we spent the night researching how to make ice pops. It’s a lot of hard work, but working for yourself and your family and a product that you are proud of — that’s the best kind of work. We are currently tinkering with a new dessert product that’s a little bit retro that we hope to roll out in the fall on our truck and in some of our carts. We always have our eye out for the perfect retail location, so that would probably be our next step. However we grow, we want to maintain our passion for this business and for our customers.”

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BY PENNY CARNATHAN

In the heat of summer, smart nature lovers make like moths and do their fluttering after sundown. That can be disappointing in landscapes planted for sunshine, with their green foliage and colorful blooms that disappear in the dark.

Moonlit magic

Night gardens provide an evening respite, a magical venue for outdoor entertaining and a putterer’s paradise. Fill them with silvery leaves that glow in the moonlight and white flowers that sparkle like stars. Add a pond to reflect nature’s celestial lights, strings of bulbs and shiny art pieces such as gazing balls, and you’ll elevate the dazzle factor.

The concept is not new: Florida is home to a nearly 90-year-old night garden that gets thousands of visitors from around the world. Mina Edison’s Moonlight Garden in Fort Myers is beloved by tourists and a favorite year-round venue for weddings, cocktail parties and photo shoots.

The wife of inventor Thomas Edison, Mina hired famed landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman to design the gar-den at what is now the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Com-pleted in 1926, its classic structure continues to inspire, but Shipman’s plants quickly died because she relied on selec-tions from a temperate palette.

“Mina replaced them with plants that do well here,” says Debbie Hughes, senior horticulturist for the gardens. “She loved Easter lilies.

“She hosted garden club parties there, and I think she and Thomas sat out there a lot and meditated in the eve-ning. Nature was his inspiration for a lot of inventions, and he had a little office just a few steps away.”

Mina’s garden includes many fragrant blooms, which is no coincidence. Flowers smell sweeter at night because

Mina’s Moonlight Garden includes white shrimp plants, above. Night plants that bloom this time of year include moon vine, night-blooming Jessamine (Cestrum nocturnum), white caladiums, white pentas and St. Bernard’s Lily (Anthericum), says Sydney Park Brown, a landscape expert with the University of Florida.

Photograph by Penny Carnathan

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nocturnal pollinators such as moths and beetles rely on scent to find them.

“If you’re entertaining outside in the evening, the first thing people will say is, ‘What’s that I smell? Doesn’t it smell wonderful?’ Then they get up and they hunt for it,” says Johnnie Jones, a longtime Tampa Bay landscape designer and co-owner of Sunset Beach Lawn Care and Landscap-ing. “And the fragrance in your garden in May is going to be different from the fragrance in August. You’ve got different plants in bloom.’’

Jones includes night plants in all the landscapes he designs. He wants to create spaces that can be enjoyed in every season and any time of the day or night. But night plants are not something most people think about, he says. Kathy Belz, landscape manager for Tampa Bay Landscaping and Horticultural Services, agrees.

“They’re underutilized,” she says. “I put in a night garden for my mother in Land O’Lakes, around her pool, and it’s such a peaceful area. People are looking to wind down after work. It’s hot in the morning, hot in the afternoons, but the evenings are a little cooler. My mother loves her night gar-den!”

Belz says she avoids using purslane and other flowers with blooms that close after dark, but fragrant roses, garde-nias and several types of jasmine are ideal for evening enjoy-ment at various times of the year.

Thomas Edison would likely be thrilled by new options for night gardens. Solar lights offer muted illumination and dovetail with efforts to be more environmentally conscious, Belz says.

And the proliferation of succulents on the market offers

so many more choices, Jones adds.“Night-blooming cereus, silver donkey ears and the sil-

very blue agaves — they’re all easy to find now,” he says.Plant with an eye toward the night, and you’ll find it easier

to relax in your garden, Hughes adds.“During the day, we see all the problems — the weeds, the

shrubs that needs pruning. When the sun goes down, you can sit in the garden, contemplate the day and enjoy the beauty of the night.”

Top left, Moonflower Blossom.iStockphoto.com

Top right, Begonia odorata alba is a favorite in Mina Edison’s garden and is sold in the estates’ plant store. It likes dappled light or shade and produces a sweet fragrance at night.

Photograph by Penny Carnathan

Mina Edison filled her Moonlight Garden with Easter lilies, which proved hardier than her landscape designer’s choices. The lilies have been replaced with dwarf crinum lilies, which are even hardier and stay true to Mina’s vision.Courtesy of Edison & Ford

Winter Estates

Moon gardens date back centuries. Mina Edison’s famous 89-year-old Moonlight Garden is the venue for wedding receptions, parties and photo shoots almost every week of the year.

Courtesy of Edison & Ford Winter Estates

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Wherever she shows, Lina Teixeira’s designs turn heads. Fluffy cotton balls? Mesh shower loofahs? Decorative paper guest towels? Teixeira is likely to feature them in a dress. Feathers, discarded videotapes, fabric flowers and other adornments figure into her creations, as do paper doilies, mop strings and surgical gloves. She usually starts with damaged garments she buys on sale or rescues from a closet. She may shorten a skirt, replace sleeves or add texture to existing trim. “The challenge is to change it,” Teixeira said. “It’s not as much fun to design something from scratch.”

AN EYE FOR THE

BY MARY JANE PARK PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHERIE DIEZ

Lina Teixeira sews red anthuriums (“my favorite flower,” she says) on the senior prom dress she made for her daughter, Bianca Persechino, 18. Inspiration for the dress came from watching pasodoble performers on television’s Dancing with the Stars.

unusual

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Wherever she shows, Lina Teixeira’s designs turn heads. Fluffy cotton balls? Mesh shower loofahs? Decorative paper guest towels? Teixeira is likely to feature them in a dress. Feathers, discarded videotapes, fabric flowers and other adornments figure into her creations, as do paper doilies, mop strings and surgical gloves. She usually starts with damaged garments she buys on sale or rescues from a closet. She may shorten a skirt, replace sleeves or add texture to existing trim. “The challenge is to change it,” Teixeira said. “It’s not as much fun to design something from scratch.”

AN EYE FOR THE

BY MARY JANE PARK PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHERIE DIEZ

Lina Teixeira sews red anthuriums (“my favorite flower,” she says) on the senior prom dress she made for her daughter, Bianca Persechino, 18. Inspiration for the dress came from watching pasodoble performers on television’s Dancing with the Stars.

unusual

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Mop strings are transformed into a stylish wearable in this unusual Lina Teixeira design.

The designer in her downtown Clearwater studio. She finds inspiration everywhere. “Sometimes it’s as simple as I’ve got to clean out my garage,” she said. “Or it’s art. Or a character in a movie. Or an era.Sometimes I dream about it.”

Creative from childhood, she grew up in Montreal, in a family of Portuguese descent. Her mother was a seamstress who made nursing uniforms in a factory there, and she held veto power over her daughter’s clothing choices.

“She would censor it,” Texeira said. “I wanted it slit higher. I wanted it tighter. So it was frustrating. I had no right to do anything. I had no autonomy until I got mar-ried.”

She and her husband, Frank Persechino, met as nursing students at Vanier College. On their honeymoon 21 years ago, they vowed to move to the hometown of “whichever American we would meet and find interesting.” Cleveland didn’t make the cut. Neither did a town in Idaho. Lakeland did.

“In 24 hours, we got jobs,” she said. They rented an apart-ment, then bought a mattress, a television, a table and two chairs. They had a daughter, Bianca, who graduated from Dunedin High School in the spring, and a son, Lucas, who starts there in August. They founded a medical research company, Research Alliance, in Clearwater.

They enrolled their daughter in modeling classes at age 12, and Teixeira began accompanying her to photography sessions. The idea was to help Bianca overcome her timid-ity through networking, public speaking and other appear-ances. Teixeira assisted with some of the appointments and was enlisted to create a costume for one. Her official debut was at the City of Largo’s Trashy Fashion Show, which high-lights costumes crafted of reused and recycled materials. Bianca was the model, and Texeira’s design incorporated medical supplies such as test tubes and biohazard bags from the family’s laboratory.

“When I saw her on the runway,” Teixeira said, “she had an attitude of confidence that we couldn’t believe.”

For her daughter’s senior prom, Teixeira took inspi-ration from pasodoble performers on television’s Danc-ing with the Stars. The steps are modeled after bullfighting stages, in which toreros and bulls “are adversaries, but they meet each other.” She added red anthuriums (“my favor-ite flower,” indigenous to Portugal). “Everyone’s wearing sequins,” she told Bianca. “Everybody’s wearing pastels. I didn’t want any midriff showing. That was the trend this year — two-piece gowns.”

Teixeira fits 16-year-old model Tyler Rupe of East Lake for a vest fashioned out of discarded videotapes.

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Many of her designs can be accomplished over two or three nights, she said. “Some take a month to make. Some take three days, depending on the intricacy.”

Attending the annual Wearable Art Show at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, Teixeira said, she thought: “I could do this. I already had three dresses.”

Creative Loafing gave her a “Best of the Bay” award in 2013. In September 2014, she opened Studio 617 in down-town Clearwater, where she creates custom garments and leases some to clients for special events.

Montserrat Cerf said she has come to rely on Teixeira’s creativity and professional dependability. Cerf and her hus-band, Emmanuel, will co-chair the Dalí Museum’s annual “Suenos de Dalí” gala for the fourth time later this year. Both are executives at Polypack; he is vice president of sales and marketing, and she is international sales director.

Organizing a charity event is complicated, Montserrat Cerf said. “If you also have to worry about your dress, it’s a stress you don’t need.”

For last year’s fundraiser, the designer created a paper dress and coordinating headpiece for her and a bouton-niere for her husband.

“She is really talented and has a lot of imagination,” Montserrat Cerf said. “She also understands that this is also a business. The dress was ready, and everything else was on time.”

Embellishing the collar of a 1990s jacket, Teixeira attaches shag from a bath mat.

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Teixeira’s Clearwater studio is filled with unexpected surprises. A head-to-toe outfit from her “Foil Collection” adorns a mannequin. On top of the bookcase at left is a mirror bustier inspired by an 18th century mirror at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Beside it is a top to the “’petal bride” outfit made from foam. At right, unusual hats and headpieces fill the shelves.

Organizers at Fashion Week Brooklyn saw some of Teix-eira’s designs featured in a magazine and invited her to showcase her bridal collection, titled “Something Bor-rowed,” last September. Bianca “was my finale model,” Teixeira said. “She really got to rock it out.”

At Atlantic City Fashion Week, she was named Couture Designer of 2014 and opened for Project Runway veterans Dom Streater and Helen Castillo.

She finds inspiration everywhere, she said.“Sometimes it’s as simple as I’ve got to clean out my

garage,” she said. “Or it’s art. Or a character in a movie. Or an era. Sometimes I dream about it. Sometimes it’s a person. There’s this one model who is very regal; I see her as a Span-ish queen.”

Texeira’s work will be featured in the Dunedin Fine Art Center’s annual Wearable Art show and a Florida CraftArt exhibition later this month and in “Fine Art, Fash-ion & Photography, Three Magical Worlds Collide” at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, in October .

She declines to describe details of those new projects but said, “I’ve been binge-watching The Tudors. (The Show-time series aired from 2007 to 2010.) What really affected me was the days those brides married King Henry (VIII, the British monarch who married six times). They were so deli-cate. Their lives were so fragile and precarious.”

Studio 617, 617 Cleveland St., Clearwater (by appointment); (727) 409-3604

Sometimes (inspiration is) as simple as I’ve got to clean out my garage. Or it’s art. Or a character in a movie. Or an era. Sometimes I dream about it. Sometimes it’s a person.”

LINA TEIXEIRA

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Many of her designs can be accomplished over two or three nights, she said. “Some take a month to make. Some take three days, depending on the intricacy.”

Attending the annual Wearable Art Show at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, Teixeira said, she thought: “I could do this. I already had three dresses.”

Creative Loafing gave her a “Best of the Bay” award in 2013. In September 2014, she opened Studio 617 in down-town Clearwater, where she creates custom garments and leases some to clients for special events.

Montserrat Cerf said she has come to rely on Teixeira’s creativity and professional dependability. Cerf and her hus-band, Emmanuel, will co-chair the Dalí Museum’s annual “Suenos de Dalí” gala for the fourth time later this year. Both are executives at Polypack; he is vice president of sales and marketing, and she is international sales director.

Organizing a charity event is complicated, Montserrat Cerf said. “If you also have to worry about your dress, it’s a stress you don’t need.”

For last year’s fundraiser, the designer created a paper dress and coordinating headpiece for her and a bouton-niere for her husband.

“She is really talented and has a lot of imagination,” Montserrat Cerf said. “She also understands that this is also a business. The dress was ready, and everything else was on time.”

Embellishing the collar of a 1990s jacket, Teixeira attaches shag from a bath mat.

AUGUST 2015 bay 87

Teixeira’s Clearwater studio is filled with unexpected surprises. A head-to-toe outfit from her “Foil Collection” adorns a mannequin. On top of the bookcase at left is a mirror bustier inspired by an 18th century mirror at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Beside it is a top to the “’petal bride” outfit made from foam. At right, unusual hats and headpieces fill the shelves.

Organizers at Fashion Week Brooklyn saw some of Teix-eira’s designs featured in a magazine and invited her to showcase her bridal collection, titled “Something Bor-rowed,” last September. Bianca “was my finale model,” Teixeira said. “She really got to rock it out.”

At Atlantic City Fashion Week, she was named Couture Designer of 2014 and opened for Project Runway veterans Dom Streater and Helen Castillo.

She finds inspiration everywhere, she said.“Sometimes it’s as simple as I’ve got to clean out my

garage,” she said. “Or it’s art. Or a character in a movie. Or an era. Sometimes I dream about it. Sometimes it’s a person. There’s this one model who is very regal; I see her as a Span-ish queen.”

Texeira’s work will be featured in the Dunedin Fine Art Center’s annual Wearable Art show and a Florida CraftArt exhibition later this month and in “Fine Art, Fash-ion & Photography, Three Magical Worlds Collide” at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, in October .

She declines to describe details of those new projects but said, “I’ve been binge-watching The Tudors. (The Show-time series aired from 2007 to 2010.) What really affected me was the days those brides married King Henry (VIII, the British monarch who married six times). They were so deli-cate. Their lives were so fragile and precarious.”

Studio 617, 617 Cleveland St., Clearwater (by appointment); (727) 409-3604

Sometimes (inspiration is) as simple as I’ve got to clean out my garage. Or it’s art. Or a character in a movie. Or an era. Sometimes I dream about it. Sometimes it’s a person.”

LINA TEIXEIRA

St. Petersburg artist Steven Kenny’s paintings give animals a regal look, such as in Royal Lhasa Apso.

Courtesy of Steven Kenny

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EQUALITY GALA

A record $288,600 is raised for Equality Florida at the St. Petersburg event: Page 100

STORYBOOK BALL

Busch Gardens enlivens the Ronald McDonald House Charities’ ball: Page 108

PRIDE & PASSION

Una Voce performs for VIPs at the Tampa Museum of Art event: Page 104

DICK VITALE GALA

Sports luminaries celebrate raising $2.38 million for the V Foundation: Page 114

Royal Lhasa Apso, oil on panel, 7.25 x 7.25 inches, $800.

“Royal Boston Terrier”, oil on panel, 7.25 x 7.25 inches, $800.

“Royal Pink Flamingo”, oil on panel, 7.25 x 7.25 inches, $800.

STEVEN KENNY, ARTIST

WHEN DID YOU START PAINTING ANIMALS?I’ve always had a deep interest in nature so animals have been a favorite subject from the moment I started drawing as a child. Ani-mals, in one form or another, appear in almost all of my paintings.

WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO PAINT?I attended the Rhode Island School of Design and majored in illustration. Painting, however, wasn’t stressed in the illustration department so I learned most of what I know on my own after leaving school.

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM OF PAINTING ANIMALS WITH TIARAS? By portraying animals with crowns and tiaras I can give them the regal status I feel they deserve. I’ve been creating these playful portraits since 2005. The fi rst was painted for a small works exhibition and it sold immediately. I’ve lost track of the exact number but I’ve completed well over 200 individual paintings.

WHY DO THESE PAINTINGS BRING YOU JOY? It is so enlightening to spend long periods of time looking closely at something that is often taken for granted. When I fi nish each painting I have a deeper, more intimate understanding of each of these creatures. Also, just the act of painting such fi ne detail is always a satisfying pleasure.

DO YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL OF YOUR OWN? I got my very fi rst dog, Hudson, about two years ago. He was a 70-pound boxer/poodle mix and a sweet, handsome guy. Sadly, he passed away very suddenly, and my wife and I were understandably devastated.

AND DO YOU HAVE A PAINTING OF YOUR ANIMAL WITH A TIARA? It was my plan to paint Hudson’s portrait but never got the chance. I do have photos of him so it may still happen in the future.

CAN PEOPLE GET PORTRAITS OF THEIR PETS DONE? Commissions are available through ARTicles Art Gallery in St. Petersburg by calling (727) 898-6061 or by sending an email to articlesstpete@gmail.com.

— Pegie Stark

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Artist Steven Kenny in his St. Petersburg studio, surrounded by his paintings and works in progress.

Photograph by Scott Keeler

My artistic practice is to method-ically dissect reality and then reconstruct it on my own terms into a new, more recognizable form.”

STEVEN KENNY

“Royal Northern Cardinal”, oil on panel, 7.25 x 7.25 inches, $800.

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THE LONGEST TABLE

Tampa Bay area restaurants fed supporters of WUSF Public Media at its annual fundraising event, held in April along St. Petersburg’s Bayshore Drive. Dozens of patrons had a sunset repast, then attended an after-party at the Museum of Fine Arts. A photo in the June edition of Bay was of a previous benefit.

Photograph by James Branaman

ST. PETERSBURG

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EQUALITY FLORIDA GREATER ST. PETERSBURG GALA

Nearly 600 people sampled food from Locale Market and raised a record $288,600 at the May fundraiser, held in St. Petersburg’s Mahaffey Theater. Awards went to Rose Walton, Larry Biddle, Sylvia Rusche and Tech Data Corp.

1. Honorees Larry Biddle and Sylvia Rusche with Bob Devin Jones. 2. Auctioneer and Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner seeks bids for a pet adoption; Todd Richardson holds the puppy. Master of ceremonies Trevor Pettiford is at right.3. Chuck Dannewitz, John Tonnison and Pablo Zurzolo of Tech Data Corp., which received the Equality Means Business award.4. Equality Florida co-founder and chief executive officer Nadine Smith.5. Clockwise, from left: Kate Tiedemann, Bev Matthews, Arnt Monge, Marge Sherwin and honoree Rose Walton.6. Bobby Poth, Brad Husted, Erin Antonio and Tyler Hayden.

Photographs by James Branaman

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PRIDE & PASSION

“Forbidden” tempted Pride & Passion’s kimono-flaunting, gallery-floating guests with many Asian delights at the Tampa Museum of Art on in May. Una Voce, the Florida Men’s Chorale, performed for VIPs. Zenmaster Ian Prosser of Botanica International fashioned cherry blossoms from carnations, re-created two Buddha bars and strung red Chinese lanterns over a Shanghai restaurant row. All 700 revelers received yearlong museum memberships.

1. Austin Spradlin and Kelsey Bahr, attired as beautiful geishas.2. Ashley Brundage and Nick Buchanan.3. Khina Doll and Amy Wojo.4. Arts patrons David and Sara Scher.5. Joseph Naim and Pride & Passion chairman Kevin Reder.

Photographs by Amy Scherzer

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STORYBOOK BALLThe Gumbo Boogie Band fiddled guests into a black-tie bayou at Ronald McDonald House Charities’ 16th annual Storybook Ball, this year an adaptation of Leif N. Pedersen’s Swamp Kids tales of Pierre a Le Gator, TuTu the Turtle and Sashay the Crawfish. Busch Gardens authenticated the series, bringing a live gator, snake and owl to the Marriott Waterside in May.1. Dr. Terri and Michael Ashmeade. 2. Peter Wade, Ronald McDonald House Charities executive director Janice Davis and Chase and Ryan Enloe.3. Blake and Ronald McDonald House board member Tate Casper, with Allison and Robby Adams. 4. Felix Cannella and Dr. Yi-Hwa Outerbridge.

Photographs by Amy Scherzer

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RAYS ON THE RUNWAYThe sellout event crowded the lobby and ballroom at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront and raised a record $130,000 for the Children’s Dream Fund. The Rays Wives organization, which includes players’ spouses and significant others, organized the signature gala, which offers patrons the opportunity to meet favorite players, request their autographs, purchase merchandise and compete for big prizes.

1. Pitcher Álex Colomé with Alexxia, whose dream came true in the spring when she and her family visited Hawaii.2. Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier with Marissa, whose dream is to meet singer Taylor Swift.

Photographs by Sophia Nahli Allison

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10TH ANNUAL DICK VITALE GALA

A galaxy of sports celebrities gathered at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota in May to celebrate raising $2.38 million for the V Foundation, named for the late Jim Valvano, the N.C. State basketball coach who died of cancer in 1993. Honorees were Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith and Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher. Proceeds benefit pediatric cancer research.

1. V Foundation CEO Susan Braun, ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer and V Foundation president emeritus Nick Valvano.Photograph by V Foundation

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BAR ASSOCIATION’S 90TH

The dancers wore attire from the 1920s, as did many of the 400 guests at the St. Petersburg Bar Association’s gala. On May 15, 1925, a small group of lawyers officially launched the organization; the party took place almost to the minute of that first meeting.

1. Master of ceremonies Raleigh “Lee” Greene, left, and Chief Judge Thomas McGrady of the 6th Judicial District.2. Swing Time performers Sam Mahfoud and Bri Emge dance 1920s steps.3. U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich.4. St. Petersburg Bar president Lucas Fleming.Photographs by Kyle Fleming Photography

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9. 12ROYAL BALL: St. Pete Glitter Queens present fundraiser to ben-efit Angels Against Abuse. 7 to 11 p.m. Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S. $50. stpeteglitterqueens.com; (727) 644-8910.

9. 17SWANKY SOIREE VI: Evening of food, fashions from Saks Fifth Avenue to benefit Brookwood Florida. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Maha� ey Theater, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. $125. swankysoiree.org; 727.822.4789, ext. 31.

AUGUST SEPTEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY

9. 26RENDEZVOUS IN RIO: Brazilian Carnival-themed gala to bene-fit Great Explorations Children’s Museum. Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. greatex.org

10. 1PEARLS OF WISDOM: YWCA of Tampa Bay luncheon cel-ebrates women who have crossed racial, economic or soci-etal boundaries to empower others. 11 a.m. Hilton St. Peters-burg Carillon, 950 Lake Carillon Drive. (727) 896-4629; ywcaoftampabay.org.

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10. 9BOWTIE BALL: Features CBS News retiree Bob Schieffer, celebrates 40th anniversary of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. 6:30 p.m. Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon, 950 Lake Carillon Drive. $125; $250 includes des-sert reception. (727) 553-4676.USF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP & PHILANTHROPY: 10th annual fall symposium features Amelia Rosie Earhart. 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A La Carte Event Pavilion, 4050 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa. $100 members, $125 nonmembers. (813) 974-6996.

9.19 RUNWAY TO RUNWAY

When designer Zang Toi brings his Spring 2016 ready-to-wear col-lection to Tampa in September, it will be fresh off the runways at New York Fashion Week.

CITY: Fashion+Art+Culture, a collaboration between the Tampa Museum of Art and Saks Fifth Avenue Sarasota, will show-case the styles he created for next year in a runway show at the museum. The Sept. 19 fundraiser benefits the museum’s educa-tional programs.

Zang was born in Kuala Krai, Malaysia. He studied at New York’s Parsons School of Design and opened his atelier in August 1989. Soon after, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour featured his work. In 1990, he was named the Mouton Cadet Young Designer of the Year. His favorite thing about his career choice, he has said, is “the ability to make women feel and look beautiful.”

Numerous publications have featured his designs, and he has created wardrobes for celebrities and philanthropists. He sup-ports the Lance Armstrong Foundation, for which he has helped to raise more than $700,000.

VIP admission, with entry at 6 p.m., is $250. General admis-sion, with entry at 7 p.m., is $150. For details: cityfashionevent.com; (813) 421-8372.— Mary Jane Park

Designer Zang Toi’s Spring 2016 designs will be fea-tured at CITY: Fashion+Art+Culture, a benefit for the Tampa Museum of Art, on Sept. 19.Photo courtesy of Zang Toi

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next timeCOMING IN OCTOBERARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba is a feast for the eyes. Costume by Dominique Lemieux

Photograph by Marc-Antoine Charlebois

© 2012 Cirque du Soleil courtesy of Cirque du Soleil