Based on the results of our annual Reader’s Survey:
1 — COLDSTONE Cathy and Chip Byrne have owned the Cold Stone Creamery since it opened on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in 2004, employed hundreds of local kids and delivering thousands and thousands of delicious treats to area residents.
Welcome to Cold Stone, indeed.
New Tampa’s favorite desert joint has a fun and friendly staff that delivers a very rich ice cream, which has so much butter fat that Cathy won’t even tell us exactly how much.
The ice cream, which is actually made in the back, is scooped onto a cold stone (get it?), and whatever flavors (a heaping spoonful of peanut butter?) and treats (Kit Kats? M&Ms?) your heart desires are folded into it for a frozen delight. Dessert and a show!
Ice cream cakes are particularly hot sellers at the New Tampa store, especially the chocolatey ganache-topped Midnight Delight.
While being located in front of a movie theater ain’t bad for an ice cream shop, what makes Cold Stone your favorite is that it is a high-quality product and a fun place. Just be ready to wait in a line if you plan on stopping by any weekend night!
2. Twistee Treat Twistee Treat is best-known for operating out of a giant ice cream cone, but its variety of soft serve ice cream flavors (including peanut butter and banana!), candy-infused Twirls, sundaes and great pricing make it a favorite.
3. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Bruster’s is what it says — real ice cream. When it comes to variety, Bruster’s takes the (ice cream) cake, and what kid in New Tampa didn’t grow up on the Dino sundaes? For a real treat, try a custom-made ice cream pie!
4. Dunkin’ Donuts Dunkin’ may not typically classify as dessert, but as a morning sweet it’s not a bad place to pick up a donut, muffin or coffee, and the addition of Baskin Robbins ice cream to some of our locations helps add to its dessert appeal.
5. The Cake Shop was purchased by Jean Paul Petit about a year ago. Petit, who had previously been the cake and pastry chef at Don Pan International Bakery in South Tampa, has brought a new flair to this local favorite.
Head Chef Adrian Luna (left) and owner Steve Fallabella.
Based upon votes cast in our annual Reader Survey, here are Wesley Chapel’s favorite pizza joints.
1 — 900 Woodfired Pizza Steve Falabella says he doesn’t have one secret to his success as the owner of 900 Woodfired Pizza — he has many.
It starts with the pizza, sure. The New York-style pizza, his best seller, boasts a crispy crust — a little bit of whole milk when making the dough gives it some extra life — sauce derived from six different tomatoes and Grande cheese, which he says is the best around.
“It’s all about the cheese,” Falabella says, and he doesn’t mix any other into his choice of mozzarella to cut any corners.
But it’s also all about the employees. If you wonder why the food — whether one of 20 different kinds of pizza, specialty pastas like the Tortellini della casa or a big plate or spaghetti or Pesto Genovese — is always delicious, it’s because it’s probably made by the same people that made it last time.
Head chef Adrian Luna has been with Falabella all eight years he has been at the Shops of Wiregrass, as have those providing top-notch service — Cynthia, Bryan and Ivan.
“Consistency is crucial, it’s what we do,” Falabella says. “You know you are going to get the best quality ingredients cooked in the best quality way, and if you don’t, we will fix it for you in a second.”
For more information about 900 Woodfired Pizza (28152 Paseo Dr.), call (813) 527-6940 or visit 900degreeswoodfirepizza.com.
2. Amici’s Amici Pizza & Deli dropped to 2nd place in this year’s Reader Survey after winning the Favorite Pizza in WC” title last year and there’s no doubt that the pizza is true New York style and the linguini with white clam sauce is the best (and most authentic) in our area. The new location has been a blessing.
3. Mellow Mushroom Mellow Mushroom definitely has the funkiest decor of all the pizza joints on this list, and it pairs an eclectic environment with equally eclectic offerings like the Funky Q Chicken (BBQ), Holy Shittake (for the mushroom lover), Great White and Kosmic Karma, with a handful of gluten-free pies as well.
4. PizzaMania PizzaMania has never been much lower than the top three or four favorite pizza places with our readers since the day it opened in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza. PizzaMania offers authentic New York/New Jersey-style pizza and excellent veal and chicken parmigiana & other Italian specialties.
5. NY NY Pizza NY NY Pizza lives up to its name, serving up some pretty tasty NY-style pizza lauded for its sauce-to-cheese balance. One of the most popular items is the thin-crust Grandma Pie, with basil, garlic and plum tomatoes. With more than 25 kinds of pizza, as well as wings and sandwiches, NY NY has something for everyone.
6. Blaze Pizza 7. Best NY Pizza 8. Pomodoro Pizza 9. MOD Pizza 10. Fratelli’s
1. CAPPY’S PIZZERIA There is no doubt that Harold Hasselback, the owner of one of the five individually-owned Cappy’s Pizzerias in the Tampa Bay area, has never lost sight of what his City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center location does best.
While some restaurants try to be all things to all people, Cappy’s menu consists mainly of pizza, calzones, salads (like the awesome Greek salad) and beer.
The pizza, which I have described in years past as “thin crust, but not New York-style” and “deep-dish, but not authentic Chicago-style,” has been among our readers’ favorites since Cappy’s first opened in Tampa Palms almost a decade ago, but had never won the title of “Favorite Pizza in New Tampa” — until now.
It’s a credit to Hasselback and his laser focus on what Cappy’s does best — delicious food at great prices — that this long-time favorite (which first opened in South Tampa) has ascended to the top of our readers’ Favorite Pizza list.
But, it’s not a big surprise. The formula of fantastic food (and beer) in a fun, funky, family atmosphere is a proven formula for success — and now, a Neighborhood News Reader Award! — GN
2. Taste of New York Pizzeria Taste of New York Pizzeria has been a favorite of yours truly and our readers in New Tampa since it opened, but this true NY-style pizza place has never finished as high in our annual Reader Survey as it has this year. It’s always, in my opinion, had the best NY-style crust and obviously, many of you agree.
3. Marco’s Pizza Marco’s Pizza is probably the best of the national pizza chains for my money, even though, like Cappy’s, you can’t call it true NY-style pizza. Also like Cappy’s, quality ingredients is the obvious key as to why so many locals love Marco’s, and with new locations still popping up everywhere, our readers aren’t alone.
4. Full Circle Pizza Full Circle Pizza has grown in popularity with our readers since new owners Julia and Freddy Nova took over last year, and for good reason. Not only does Full Circle feature authentic Chicago-style thin-crust and deep-dish pizza, it also has delicious Italian specialties like chicken parm and tasty pastas.
5. Precinct Pizza Precinct Pizza has only been open at the eastern end of Cross Creek Blvd. for a couple of years, but despite that somewhat remote location, owner Rick Drury has continued to build his following as a NY-style pizza place that also has great hero sandwiches, calzones, rolls, burgers and pastas.
6. Papa John’s 7. Capri Pizza-n-More 8. Westshore Pizza 9. Pizza Hut 10. Domino’s
AMC Highwoods 20, the target of recent criticism over its appearance inside and out, may be looking at a major $6-million facelift.
According to plans filed by Kansas City-based BRR Architecture with the City of Tampa, the AMC Highwoods 20 location just off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. could be receiving major interior renovations that include an upgraded lobby, new carpet and paint, larger bathrooms and new projection and speaker systems, with roomier recliner leather seating inside the theaters.
AMC Theatres public relations director Ryan Noonan did not confirm any specific enhancements, but did tell the Neighborhood News that “the renovation process is in place” and, if permitting goes smoothly, it could begin sometime around June and be completed by the end of 2020.
A woman who identified herself as one of the AMC Highwoods 20 managers declined comment.
Noonan said that the New Tampa location would likely receive the same upgrades AMC is putting in at many of its other theaters across the country.
“The new recliner seating is always the star of the show,” he said.
According to the plans, the renovations on the 82,815-sq.-ft. movie theater would cost roughly $6.6 million dollars.
“That’s great news,” said Tampa City Council member, Hunter’s Green resident and frequent AMC 20 patron Luis Viera, whose district includes the theater.
Viera wrote to AMC’s corporate management in November of 2019 stating that the New Tampa theater was “unkempt and not properly reflecting the exterior standards of New Tampa” and could use some TLC.
Many on social media agreed.
Posters on various platforms shared their horror stories, while others said they would rather drive 20 minutes to see a movie in Wesley Chapel.
Noonan acknowledged that AMC was aware of the bad press the theater had recently received.
“They have been discussing (renovating) the Highwoods 20 before any of that came to light,” said Noonan.
An upgrade would be a big boost to New Tampa’s only movie theater, which opened in 1999 and pales in comparison to the nearby and newer Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel when it comes to amenities like food, comfortable seating and offering a more modern experience.
AMC is currently renovating a number of its nearly-700 theaters across the country and has been for the last decade, Noonan said. He said there are less than a handful of new theaters built by AMC each year, with the company instead focusing of renovating its existing properties with better and reserved seating, touch-screen ticketing kiosks, eco-friendly restrooms and a full-service MacGuffins Bar.
Any AMC Highwoods 20 renovations would typically not cause the entire theater to be closed, just certain sections.
Most of the 20 auditoriums will have their current capacities reduced to make room for the larger, more comfortable seating. Auditorium 4, for example, currently has seating for 284, but plans indicate that once renovated, there would only be seating for 140.
“There will be a 40-60 percent reduction in seating,” Noonan said. “With the new seating it’s no longer an elbow-to-elbow experience.”
Viera said he hopes those that have been unhappy will support the effort to modernize the theater.
“They are taking the steps to fix it, and I would hope New Tampa recognizes that and supports it,” Viera said. “I’m thrilled to see this happen.”
The 2020 Academy Awards will be handed out on Sunday, February 9 (on ABC-TV), and for those of us who haven’t been to see a movie since “Finding Nemo” was released in 2003 (Thanks, kids!), we have enlisted the help of local movie buff Matthew Hunter to guide us through this year’s 92nd annual event with his picks in some of the biggest categories.
Best Animated Feature Film
THE NOMINEES: “Klaus,” ”How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” “I Lost My Body,” “Missing Link” & “Toy Story 4.”
THE PICK: Nine times out of ten, Disney usually reigns supreme in this category. But, not this year. I’m picking “Klaus,” a passion project from director Sergio Pablos. His unique origin story about Santa Claus and the Christmas holiday is great. In a world of 3D animated features, Klaus stands out from the crowd by being mostly a hand-drawn animated film. Bonus: It’s on Netflix, so you can (and should) check it out.
Best Original Song
THE NOMINEES: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman” – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin; “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from “Toy Story 4” – Music & Lyrics by Randy Newman; “I’m Standing with You” from “Breakthrough” – Music & Lyrics by Diane Warren; “Into the Unknown” from “Frozen II” – Music & Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez; “Stand Up” from “Harriet” – Music & Lyrics by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo.
THE PICK: There were some pretty great films songs this year, such as the fun and jazzy “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” or the big grand ballad that was “Into the Unknown.” But I’m picking “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman.” The song manages to work perfectly as a catchy pop song in the context of the movie.
Best Supporting Actress
THE NOMINEES: Florence Pugh – “Little Women,” as Amy March; Kathy Bates – “Richard Jewell,” as Barbara “Bobi” Jewell; Laura Dern – “Marriage Story,” as Nora Fanshaw; Scarlett Johansson – “Jojo Rabbit,” as Rosie Betzler; Margot Robbie – “Bombshell,” as Kayla Pospisil.
THE PICK: My money is on Pugh, who is the best of the many brilliant performers in “Little Women.” Watching her evolution from selfish sister to her own person was terrific, and she probably brings the most emotion and bitterness to her performance of all the nominees.
Best Supporting Actor
Brad Pitt (Photo: Glenn Francis)
THE NOMINEES: Brad Pitt – “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” as Cliff Booth; Tom Hanks – “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” as Fred Rogers; Anthony Hopkins – “The Two Popes,” as Pope Benedict XVI; Al Pacino – “The Irishman,” as Jimmy Hoffa; Joe Pesci – “The Irishman,” as Russell Bufalino.
THE PICK: Hanks, Pacino and Pesci were all terrific, but I think Pitt picks up the award for his performance as Cliff Booth in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” What makes Pitt so great is that he is the epitome of cool, and his character is charismatic and awesome at the same time, already earning him a Screen Actors Guild award in the same category.
Best Actress
Scarlett Johansson
THE NOMINEES: Scarlett Johansson – “Marriage Story,” as Nicole Barber; Cynthia Erivo – “Harriet,” as Harriet Tubman; Saoirse Ronan – “Little Women,” as Josephine “Jo” March; Charlize Theron – “Bombshell,” as Megyn Kelly; Renée Zellweger – “Judy,” as Judy Garland.
THE PICK: While there were some great performances delivered by Ronan, Theron and Zellweger, I thought Johansson’s Nicole Barber was the best. The wife of the main character (played by Adam Driver), Johansson has the difficult task of trying to divorce him while remaining part of her son’s life. The film delves into the hardships of divorce, and Johansson puts everything into the role.
Best Actor
Joaquin Phoenix
THE NOMINEES: Joaquin Phoenix – “Joker,” as Arthur Fleck/Joker; Antonio Banderas – “Pain and Glory,” as Salvador Mallo; Leonardo DiCaprio – “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” as Rick Dalton; Adam Driver – “Marriage Story,” as Charlie Barber; Jonathan Pryce – The “Two Popes,” as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
THE PICK: Banderas was great, and Pryce was superb. However, this is a one-sided competition as far as I’m concerned, because Phoenix in Joker was simply just better. His performance carried the movie, eschewing the usual hammy Joker played by previous actors. Instead, Phoenix played the troubled Fleck as a real person, albeit one with very realistic mental issues — a clinically insane villain, who is creepy, dangerous, and only seeks to make other people’s lives as bitter as his. Outstanding.
Best Director
THE NOMINEES: Sam Mendes – “1917,” Martin Scorsese – “The Irishman,” Todd Phillips – “Joker,” Quentin Tarantino – “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Bong Joon-ho – “Parasite.”
THE PICK: I’m picking “1917” for Best Original Score and Best Cinematography, so it’s only natural I like Mendes for Best Director. The movie is presented in one shot, though obviously it wasn’t. While you may be able to tell where there are cuts, you hardly notice them because of how good the editing is. War films are hard enough to expertly deliver, but Mendes took an already difficult and expensive production and put a unique and challenging twist onto it. That sealed the deal for me.
Best Picture
THE NOMINEES: “Parasite,” “Ford v Ferrari,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story,” “1917,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
THE PICK: I agree with the Screen Actors Guild — “Parasite” was the best film of 2019..
Many people like to overlook foreign movies. In fact, “Parasite” is only the 11th foreign-language film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, and none has ever won. I think this South Korean film makes Oscar history. The movie has a little bit of everything — the story of a poor family that ends up working for a rich family is dark, suspenseful and sometimes funny.
“Parasite” parallels the different viewpoints of economic classes without ever being too preachy. The intensity builds throughout the film, with surprises that keep you engrossed. However, it never loses its grip on realism. For being entertaining, nuanced and bold, “Parasite” absolutely deserves to be remembered as the Best Picture of 2019.
Matthew Hunter is a senior at Wharton High, a budding journalist and aspiring movie critic who has loved going to the movies since he saw “Robots” in 2005.
