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.
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.
It’s Raining Berries…And It’s Not What We Thought!
Do you ever drive around Wesley Chapel and wonder what some of the new places will be like that you’ve never heard of before?
No? OK, maybe it’s just me. One of the places that fooled me with its name is the beautiful new Raining Berries, located in the outparcel building set in from S.R. 56 between Earth Fare and Walk On’s Bistro & Bar (at 25595 Sierra Center Blvd.) that also includes two not-not-yet-open businesses — Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Bijous Beauty Bar.
If you’re like me, you were thinking “another frozen yogurt place” (like CherriBerri, MochiBerri, LaBerry, etc.) and you’d be wrong.
I know being able to Google search everything has made mystery mostly a thing of the past but when a first-ever location of a new business hasn’t yet opened and their website wasn’t up (until recently)…but, would you have guessed that Raining Berries’ signature product is (drumroll, please)…ethically and sustainably sourced coffee (and hot and cold coffee drinks) — and really delicious coffee at that? There’s some pretty great-looking baked goods, too.
So, where do the berries come in? Raining Berries does have a variety of açai berry bowls, dragon fruit “pitaya” bowls and coconut bowls, but RainingBerries.com didn’t yet have pictures or descriptions of all of these bowls at our press time. See, still a little mystery!
At any rate, the place itself is very cool modern, but after sampling a most delicious (not sweet) “traditional” (not caramel) macchiato on my first visit, I was very happy knowing that Jannah and I live less than a mile from the place.
For info, call (813) 949-8299 or stop in and try Raining Berries for yourself and tell them I sent you!
• Managing editor John Cotey says other businesses getting ready to build in the Cypress Creek area include Zukku Sushi, Woofgang Bakery and a Charles Schwab office. These may or may not be located in the same building just west of Bahama Breeze along S.R. 56 as the European Wax Center, which does have its sign up, but look for details next issue.
Arlene hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting event in November, which was well attended by her friends, neighbors and fellow Chamber members, as well as members of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, of which she is a member.
I personally missed the actual ribbon cutting, but have still enjoyed some delicious Ethiopian coffee at Coffee Speaks N’ Tea Talks since then and I look forward to checking out Arlene’s live jazz on Fri. and now Sat. nights (due to demand), especially because she’s a talented entertainer herself. Arlene sings with the Wesley Chapel Rotary’s Strictly Business Band.
“The smell of good coffee reminds me of my mom,” Arlene told us when we recorded a video at her opening for Neighborhood News Online. “She was the inspiration for this place.”
For more information, call (813) 528-8863 or search “Coffee Speaks N Tea Talks” on Facebook.
Congrats, Ben!
Congrats go out to Ben Hobe (3rd from left, with yours truly, Charmaine George and John Cotey). Ben’s a talented video editor we first were presented by Hands On Educational Services, Inc., a Tampa nonprofit that felt he would be a perfect fit for the Neighborhood News. And, after a no-risk, 80-hour trial run, we happily hired Ben as a permanent employee For more info, visit HandsOnEducation.net. — GN Â
I’m betting that most Wesley Chapel residents have never eaten an actual meal at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel, located off S.R. 56, less than a mile east of I-75.
And, that makes me a little sad.
For those who have never stepped foot inside this beautiful, award-winning (the year-old hotel won the New Business of the Year honors at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s 2019 Awards of Excellence gala in Nov.), 124-room hotel, much less enjoyed a meal there, I hope this article will help you decide to go.
Even if you don’t have relatives visiting or need a night in a local hotel room yourself, the Hilton Garden Inn’s restaurant — also known as the Garden Grille — serves outstanding food and drinks at great prices and will find its way into my top-10 favorite restaurants in Wesley Chapel when I release my list of favorites for 2019 in our March 13 issue.
I also hope that you’ll sit down with the hotel’s market director of sales Lisa Moore to discuss the possibility of hosting an event for 8-to-200 (and more) people at this contemporary hotel that still has that great new hotel smell.
Lisa, an ambassador with the NTBC who also is a member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, is a fellow New Yawka who will make sure that your event comes off without a hitch and will send everyone home happy afterward.
For example, when my stepdaughter Kristen’s best friend Sami needed an affordable location last month for a bridal shower, Lisa sharpened her pencil for me, knowing that I was planning to write this story shortly afterward.
The Hilton Garden Inn’s spacious ballroom (above) is easily subdividable to fit the size you need to host a variety of amazing events.
“Just tell me what you need and we can make it happen,” Lisa says. “We have a set menu for dinner, but we have an extensive catering menu and a great chef (Frank Skalitza) on the premises who can make pretty much anything you want.”
Jannah and I were on hand for the Grand Opening of the hotel in October of 2018 and we were so impressed (as was everyone who was there) with the filet mignon carving station and the four different pastas (top right) that also were created in front of the guests that we figured it must have been an outside catering company that was brought in for it.
“Nope,” said Lisa, “that was all in-house. Pretty good, right?”
Actually, I would go so far as to say excellent, and the deliciousness doesn’t end there. Although the Garden Grille only serves buffet and cooked-to-order breakfast (that I haven’t tried yet) and dinner (I wish it was open for lunch), I have to say that virtually everything we’ve sampled there has been delicious.
In other words, there’s a good reason why the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel is going to make my Wesley Chapel top-10. The hotel is beautiful and has great amenities (nice pool, fitness center, etc.) and, even though we’ve never stayed there, we have toured some of the beautiful rooms, too.
For info about the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel (26640 Silver Maple Pkwy.), call Lisa at (813) 591-6907 or visit TampaWesleyChapel.HGI.com
