Get Your Tickets Now To See The Tampa City Ballet’s ‘Cinderella’ At NTPAC Nov. 14-16!

Tampa City Ballet (TCB) will return to the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC; 8550 Hunters Village Rd.) next month, with three performances of “Cinderella” — Friday & Saturday, November 14-15, at 7 p.m. & Sunday, November 16, at 4 p.m. 

Since our photographer Charmaine George was able to attend and take pictures at the preview performance of “Cinderella” during NTPAC’s Fall Festival weekend, it’s obvious that TCB artistic director Paula Nuñez and her super-talented professional dance troupe will bring their own magical interpretation of this classic fairy tale to life, so don’t miss it! 

For tickets ($45-$90) to “Cinderella” at NTPAC and more info, see the ad below or visit TampaCityBallet.org. — GN

Sarasota-Based Food + Beer To Open In Former Shuckin’ Shack Location

For those who have been wondering what might be taking over the space at 25026 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Lutz, previously occupied by Shuckin’ Shack (just west of the Tampa Premium Outlets and Costco, in the same small strip plaza as Chicken Salad Chick and Ann’s Nail Spa), you can stop wondering! 

The location, with an entrance off of the Wesley Chapel Blvd. extension just south of S.R. 56, is being taken over by Sarasota-based mini-chain Food + Beer and, best of all, the scratch kitchen with full liquor bar should be open by the time this issue reaches your mailbox! 

According to a news release we received just before we went to press with this issue, “Food + Beer’s story started back in the early 2000s, when co-founders Mike Whalen and Casey Daniels first crossed paths working in restaurants — Mike as a server and Casey as a kitchen manager. 

“What began as a solid working relationship turned into a real friendship, and eventually a shared dream: to create a place that serves up seriously good, scratch-made food in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. In 2018, they brought that vision to life in Sarasota’s Gulf Gate neighborhood, and it quickly took off. 

“Today, the brand has grown into a local favorite (with seven current locations — two in Bradenton, three in Sarasota, one in Venice and one in Lakeland) and is known for good food, good people, and laid back vibes — now expanding across the Gulf Coast with more locations on the way, including Ellenton and West Tampa coming in 2026.” 

The newest Food + Beer will seat 150 guests and, “Just like every Food + Beer, the kitchen is scratch-made, serving food until 1 a.m. (or later) — a welcome spot for those in the hospitality industry to grab a bite or a drink after a late shift. Guests can dig into house staples like fresh-cut fries, hand-breaded boneless nuggets, specialty burgers, and the flavorful Korean Beef Bowl — alongside creative comfort food with a twist, like Red Velvet Chicken & Waffles during brunch or Crab Rangoon Mozzarella Sticks that hit all the right notes.” 

Food + Beer keeps things lively all week long with daily lunch specials starting at $8, plus the following lineup of weekly events and deals: 

• Burger Monday – Cheeseburger + fresh-cut fries for $6.99 

• Taco Tuesday – A variety of taco options with a side of chips and pico, as well as a build-your-own margarita menu 

• Trivia Wednesday – Starts at 6:30 p.m. 

• 89¢ Wing Thursday – Everyone’s favorite weekly tradition 

• Weekend Brunch – Featuring a build-your-own bottomless mimosa bar every Sat. & Sun. 

Plus, “to keep things fresh, the team rolls out a seasonal menu four times a year, spotlighting new, scratch-made dishes and limited-time cocktails, paired with a signature cocktail list and a rotating selection of local beers. 

The restaurant will feature an outdoor patio, a TV wall — perfect for catching the big game — and many more TVs. 

We stopped in to check out the progress on the new Wesley Chapel/Lutz location, and it already looked a lot like the finished product shown here, so we decided just to show you the photo provided by Food + Beer above. 

“Were excited to join the neighborhood!,” Food + Beer director of marketing Cassi Knapik told me. We can’t wait to check it out either, Cassi! 

For more info, visit eatfoodrinkbeer.com or @foodand.beer on social media. — GN, all photos provided by Food + Beer 

St. Mark Choir To Perform For Pope Leo XIV In Rome!

Dr. John Paul Cappa (center, with brown sport jacket) is bringing members of the St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church Choir on a “Peter’s Way” tour of Italy, including final stops in Rome, where the choir will perform for Pope Leo XIV, and have a Papal audience at Vatican City. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

I’m not Catholic, but I can’t help but feel proud to have seen and heard the amazing choir at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. perform shortly before 15 members of the choir and St. Mark director of music Dr. John Paul Cappa before the group embarked on a 10-day “Peter’s Way” tour culminating with a performance for Pope Leo XIV in Rome. 

St. Mark director of music John Paul Cappa 

Dr. Cappa, who has served in his position at St. Mark the past 18 years, has made this pilgrimage to perform for the Pope with two previous choirs — the St. George Parish Choir of Erie, PA, and the Mother of Sorrows Parish Choir of Murrysville, PA — but this will be the first time he has brought a group from St. Mark on such a journey. 

After watching the choir rehearse prior to Sunday Mass at the church, all I can say is that this is a truly talented group of singers of different ages who will do St. Mark and the entire New Tampa community proud when they perform for the Pope and 2,000 people at the St. Paul Center, next to the Vatican. 

Pope Leo XIV (Photo source: Wikipedia.com) 

“And, all of these folks are local,” said Dr. Cappa. “It’s really a blessing to be able to take this group on this journey.” 

He noted that, unlike his previous Peter’s Way tours of Italy, the St. Mark group is starting its tour on the western coast of Italy — Milan, Turin (to see the Shroud), Naples, Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano and Pompeii — and ending with a mass with the Pope at the Vatican. “A lot of the choir members and musicians are seasoned travelers who have been to Venice, Florence and Naples before,” he said, “so we’re doing a different trip this time.” 

And, even though he has brought groups to perform for the Pope before, “It’s a different Pope now. And, it is always exciting and an honor to perform for the Pope.” 

Soprano soloist Ashely Shalna 

It’d been years since I had attended a service at St. Mark, so I didn’t realize that the church’s choir has 30 singers, including soprano soloist Ashely Shalna, bass soloist Marty Angiulli and accompanist Maureen Hartung. “But, when some of our college students come back during breaks, we have as many as 42,” Dr. Cappa said. 

Of that group, he added, only 15 actual choir members will make the trip to Italy, “but with spouses and other church members, we’re bringing 37, I believe,” he said. 

Bass soloist Marty Angiulli 

On Nov. 2, the day photographer Charmaine George and I visited — and 9 days before the group was leaving for Italy — there were at least a dozen incredible musicians from the Florida Orchestra, as well as some USF professors, practicing and performing with the group for the 10:30 Sunday Mass. The rehearsal of composer Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” hymn with these woodwind, brass and string musicians was absolutely captivating. 

But, Dr. Cappa — who has a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Organ Performance from West Virginia University and is working on a second DMA degree in Choral Conducting at USF — says the choir will perform five pieces for Pope Leo: the “Orbis Factor” ordinary chant, the “Cantate Domino” by Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni; the “O Domine Jesu Christe” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina; the “Locus Iste” by Anton Bruckner; and the “Adoramus Te” by Jacobus Clemens non Papa. 

I wish them all “Bonam Fortunam!”— GN


Some of the musicians from the Florida Orchestra 

Accompanist Maureen Hartung 

Linda Is Back At The New & Improved Bagels Of Wesley Chapel!

When you visit Bagels of WC, say hi to (l.-r.) Cheyanne, Liani, David, Sierra, Linda & Wayne. 

You may have heard that Linda Henry (you may remember her last name as Carr, however) is back at her former location in the Freedom Plaza at 30032 S.R. 54, which is now called Bagels of Wesley Chapel (WC). 

The former owner of Bagelicious & More in the same location is happy to bring a renewed energy, revitalized interior and especially, house-made bagels that are now boiled before they are baked. 

“Do you see how big and fluffy the bagels are now?,” Linda asked as I enjoyed my over-easy eggs, crispy bacon and equally crispy homefries (above left) with a toasted poppy seed bagel (that actually came with the breakfast and was indeed bigger and fluffier than I remembered), all for just $8.95! 

Charmaine also raved about her chicken salad melt with provolone cheese and fresh tomato on a hashbrown bagel (bottom), served with a side of pasta salad (or fries, potato salad or, for $1 more, a bag of chips). 

This was actually my second visit to the new Bagels of WC, where Linda now has pretty much her entire family working (top photo). On my first visit, I had an equally tasty bacon, egg & cheese on a toasted, scooped-out sesame bagel (for just $6.49!). 

Bagels of WC, which features more than a dozen varieties of fresh bagels (for only $14.99 for a Baker’s Dozen of 13; or $21.99 with two 8-oz. tubs of spreads) also serves omelettes, a selection of deli sandwiches and lots of smiles. 

Bagels of WC is open every day, 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For info, call (813) 575-8300 (DoorDash delivery is available) & tell Linda we sent you.”—GN 

Ziggi’s Coffee Plans Hueland Pond Blvd. Location

Ziggi’s Coffee Drive-Thru has updated its permit application, which previously announced that the growing coffee chain was going to open on Mansfield Blvd. 

But, new plans now show that Ziggi’s will instead open on Hueland Pond Blvd., just south of S.R. 56 and the 76 gas station and Daybreak Market (see map, left). 

The new permit application announcing this different location was just submitted last month. Preliminary site engineering plans have been submitted for Pasco County’s review, which say: 

“The project proposes the development of a new 1,800+/- sq. ft. coffee shop with a drive through, associated parking and drainage improvements.” 

Ziggi’s Coffee currently has about 100 locations in 18 U.S. states, but only one other location — in St. Augustine — currently open in Florida . The company is in a rapid growth phase, however, with more than 200 additional Ziggi’s Coffee locations now in development. For more info, visit ZiggisCoffee.com. — Joel Provenzano & GN