Category: Dining & Entertainment

Wesley Chapel’s Vivian Fleming-Alvarez Appears On Big Screen In ‘12 Years A Slave’

Vivian Fleming-Alvarez(right) with “Boardwalk Empire” star Michael Kenneth Williams on the set of the feature film “12 Years A Slave”

By Matt Wiley

Already abuzz with raves from film critics and rumored to be a major contender for the upcoming film awards season, Fox Searchlight Pictures’ British- American historical drama “12 Years A Slave” has some ties right here in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area.Continue reading

Peabody’s Welcomes Back The Deacon Blues Nov. 22!

By Gary Nager,

After packing the house at Peabody’s Palms Lounge (15333 Amberly Dr., Tampa Palms) on Sept. 28 for a Leukemia Society fund raiser in honor of Busch Gardens dance captain Marlana Lacivita, the Deacon Blues Band (TheDeaconBlues. com) will return to Peabody’s on Friday, November 22, 8 p.m., with a canned food drive concert to benefit Metropolitan Ministries (MetroMin.org).

The cover charge is $5 per person, and every paid admission who also brings a canned or non-perishable food item will receive a free drink card. All food donations will benefit Metropolitan Ministries. The Deacon Blues always rocks the house, so we hope you’ll be there, too!

Also appearing at Peabody’s, the week before the Deacon Blues, on Friday, November 15, is Synergy in a Cup, Tampa’s hottest new soul, funk and blues band.

For more info, call Peabody’s at 972-1725 or visit Peabodysbilliards.com.

D’Alessio’s & OTB Café To Open Across From FHWC

By Gary Nager,

Two new restaurants are poised to fill the voids in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel shopping plaza, which is located directly across BBD from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) and already is home to Dickey’s BBQ, The Hungry Greek & the Latin Twist Café.

Moving into the space vacated by Baja Fresh is D’Alessio’s Restaurante, which will be a casual fine dining Italian restaurant and gourmet pizzeria. Owner Dom D’Alessio says his brother owns Francesco’s Pizzeria in Dade City, which has been very successful, “but this will be a little more upscale, with fine wines, beer and a unique Italian menu.”

Dom says D’Alessio’s should open sometime this month.

In addition, according to a flier posted on the window, Only The Best (O.T.B.) Delights Café will be moving into the space vacated by The Brewhouse coffee shop and Buddy’s Hot Dogs“We will be up early to provide you, our guest, a savory breakfast to start your day,” the flier reads. “We are working hard to open soon and can’t wait to see you!”

The flier says that the restaurant will focus on using local ingredients that don’t include unnatural nitrates, antibiotics or hormones and try to use as little processed food as possible.

New McDonald’s Opens On BBD In Wesley Chapel

McD's opening — New McDonalds New Tampa Ribbon Cutting

By Gary Nager.

Congratulations to the Frost family — father Jack (not a misprint) and sons Chris and John (photo above right), for the opening of their fourth McDonald’s franchise in our immediate distribution areas.

The Frosts, who already have McDonald’s locations in Tampa Palms, in the New Tampa Center and on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, opened their third restaurant at 1733 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., next to PNC Bank, in front of Nutrition S’Mart on BBD (just south of S.R. 56), with a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon cutting on Oct. 31.

At least 50 WCCC members were on hand at the sparkling new, very upscale-looking “Mickey D’s,” which doesn’t have a children’s play area but does have large menu boards warning you that those McNuggets you love have more than 1,000 calories.

I have known the Frosts since they opened their first Tampa Palms location in the City Plaza shopping center 18 years ago. The family has always been an amazing community partner and we are proud to feature the front-and-back full-page ads, with lots of great coupons (valid at all four of the local Frost-owned McD’s), on pages 43 & 44, although the ads also outline the Daily Specials available (for a limited time) at the new BBD store — like any size coffee for only $1, any Happy Meal for only $2.19 and more — and you don’t even need coupons to get these great deals!

The new open-24-hours restaurant also will host an even bigger Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, November 23, beginning at 11 a.m., with a visit from Ronald McDonald himself, face painting, a prize wheel, great giveaways and a balloon artist.

Little Greek Restaurant — Lunch? Sure, But Try It For Dinner, Too!

By Gary Nager

Although there already are several Greek and Middle Eastern restaurants I really enjoy in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, I have to tell you I’m a big fan of the new Little Greek Restaurant, which is located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the space that previously had been occupied by Firehouse Subs. Click through for a slideshow of some of the delicious Greek menu items.