Nibbles & Bytes: AliBaba Hookah Lounge To Open In Cross Creek Center

For those of you already “hooked” on the whole hookah water pipe flavored tobacco craze and those who have heard about it but never tried it, the AliBaba Hookah Lounge (10038 Cross Creek Blvd., in the Cross Creek Center plaza), which is set to open by around May 1 in the Cross Creek Center plaza, is the place for you. AliBaba will have about a dozen tables, lots of hookah pipes and flavored (all legal) tobaccos, plus a variety of coffee and other beverages, sandwiches, desserts and more (but no beer, wine or alcohol).

For more info, call 991-1216.

Nibbles & Bytes: 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.Continue reading

Freedom Grad Brings Enters Tribeca Film Fest With ‘The Exit Room’

By Matt Wiley

Film festivals. Red carpets, celebrities and champagne come to mind. Or, maybe that’s the Oscars. But, for one Freedom High graduate, the Tribeca Film Festival could be a stepping stone to the latter, as he premieres his short film, “The Exit Room,” during the New York City festival to help get his name out there and bring exposure to his work.Continue reading