Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn enjoys a slice of Full Circle Pizza at the Taste of New Tampa.
By Gary Nager |
NEW TAMPA — Although the forecast for the 20th annual Taste of New Tampa on March 24 called for about a 70-percent chance of rain — and despite winds that gusted to 30 miles per hour — the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce that co-hosted the event with the Primrose School of Tampa Palms in the adjacent Primrose Park was happy with just the few sprinkles of rain that fell throughout the day.
An estimated crowd of about 3,000 people attended this year’s Taste and got to sample cuisines from nearly 20 restaurants, several of which were awarded prizes by a panel of judges that included two personal chefs.
This year’s Taste also featured an outstanding “Battle of the Bands,” which was won by a funk-rock band called Nervous Energy, which was rewarded with a $500 cash prize.
Click the above image to view our video coverage of the event on YouTube.
The event also was visited by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who sampled some of the food and also touted the city’s new New Tampa Blvd. Gateway Bridge, which literally let people cut their travel time to the Taste in half. 

The Primrose School also offered a great play area for the kids in attendance.
New Tampa resident and Lightning Community Hero Allen Guy (center), with Teddy Purcell (left) and owner Jeff Vinik of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
By Matt Wiley |
NEW TAMPA — Through selflessness and volunteerism, one person does have the ability to have an effect on and, in some cases, even change the lives of others. For his countless hours of time and service, New Tampa resident Allen Guy has been recognized as a Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero.
During an April 2 Lightning home game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in downtown Tampa, Guy, 50, a Hunter’s Green resident, was recognized during the first period as a Lightning Community Hero, following a more-than-two-minute video showcasing his selfless service to the New Tampa community.
Afterward, Guy was presented with a $50,000 grant from the Lightning, which he says will be distributed among the nonprofit organizations to which he volunteers his time. Among them are:Continue reading
The Rotary Speech Contest contestants from the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club were (l. to r.) Ali Giardezi, Club-level winner Kennedy McCann & Oriana Caffo.
By Gary Nager |
I already had planned to write this editorial about the recent Speech Contest at the Rotary Club of which I’m a member (the New Tampa Noon Rotary, which meets every Wednesday for lunch at Hunter’s Green Country Club, or HGCC), but since then, our country has survived another terrorist act of war perpetrated by two young people who were both naturalized American citizens in another major U.S. city.
As the father of two young men I’m very proud to call my sons, I felt it was even more important to commend and compliment the three young people who participated in our Club-level speech contest. The trio made every member of our club proud to have them represent us and yours truly even prouder to be one of the three judges for the event.
Little things like speech contests and other academic achievements are often overlooked, even by community news magazines, but I felt that at a time like this, when our faith in some seemingly wonderful young people has been shaken by a horrific act, it was even more important to honor these three teens — Wharton High sophomore Ali Giardezi, Freedom High senior Oriana Caffo and our winner, Wharton sophomore Kennedy McCann. All three spoke clearly and concisely on this year’s chosen subject — which, coincidentally (and a little stunningly), was already selected to be “Peace Through Rotary.”Continue reading
DTCC soon will bring more than 250 high-paying jobs to its Highwoods Preserve Pkwy campus in New Tampa.
By Matt Wiley | NEW TAMPA
More than 200 new jobs have been earmarked for the New Tampa area, as the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) plans to invest millions into expanding its Tampa campus.
In a press release dated April 15, DTCC, a global financial services company, announced that it will be investing nearly $5 million into its New Tampa campus — located off Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., adjacent to I-75, on the Highwoods Preserve Corporate Campus — bringing with it 255 new, high-wage jobs to the firm’s only location in Florida. “The decision to expand our operations in Tampa signals our continuing commitment to this community and represents a new chapter in DTCC history,” said DTCC President and CEO Michael Bodson in the release. “The City of Tampa, Hillsborough County and the State of Florida have been great partners of ours since 2004, and we look forward to strengthening these relationships for years to come.”
The jobs that DTCC will be creating are said to be double the average annual salary of $46,000 in the New Tampa area. DTCC currently employs more than 500 people at its New Tampa campus, which has grown from 300 employees since the branch was opened in 2004 as a “redundant services center” to its main hub on Wall Street in New York City. Occupations include positions in clearance, settlement, asset servicing, operations and technology. The multi-million-dollar expansion will allow DTCC to improve its facility, including technlogy and resources to provide secure transactions for its clients.Continue reading
New Tampa Financial Center leader Frances Belisle (with scissors) cuts the ribbon, with members of the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, at the new BB&T Bank branch on Doña Michelle Dr. at Bruce B. Downs Blvd. on Apr. 16.
The latest &greatest news about dining, shopping, retail and more in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.
World Of Beer to leave, Ciccio’s to replace it?
Although former Tampa Palms Ciccio’s Lodge managing partner Robert Garofano couldn’t confirm anything about his restaurant reopening in the same space, we do know for certain that the World of Beer (WoB) in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms is closing — and could already be closed as early as the day you receive this issue in your mailboxes.
The WoB anchor space in this difficult plaza with limited parking and tiny parking spaces (which originally was expected to be an Old Chicago restaurant) has been through a few different incarnations since the plaza opened five or so years ago, but WoB definitely seemed to be the most successful endeavor in that location, especially considering how successful some of the other WoB locations are (including the two nearest to us now.
Garofano says that the Ciccio’s management group, which also owns multiple successful restaurants in South Tampa (including Water sushi restaurant, Daily Eats, The Lodge, The Lime and Ciccio’s), has been looking at the WoB space, but at our press time, no announcement was imminent.
We hope you’ll check our website, NTNeighborhoodNews.com, for updates about Ciccio’s, a possible new location for Sushi Tsu Japanese restaurant and other same-day dining news. If we get any finalized, announce-able dining info before our next issue hits your mailboxes, we will make it our “News Item of the Day” on our website, so stay tuned!
We also know that the Beanery hasn’t replaced its broken espresso machine for several months (not a good sign for a coffee shop) and I personally was on hand at the Beanery more than once (because I’m a fan) when the space was being shown by Realtors to possible new tenants during regular business hours, which isn’t good for business if a place plans to stay open. But, we’ll keep you posted.
BB&T cuts a ribbon at former Krispy Kreme locale
Although a few of us miss having a Krispy Kreme Donuts shop at the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Doña Michelle Dr., just north of I-75, there’s no doubt that the new BB&T (Branch Banking & Trust Co.) Bank that recently opened in the space previously occupied by Krispy Kreme, is already proving to be a great community partner.
