Everglow Jewelry in Tampa Palms is owned by Kayla & Derrick Pyke.
When Derrick Pyke and his wife Kayla (top photo) moved from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, to Tampa, Derrick already had years of experience, first working in his father’s jewelry manufacturing business and then in a retail jewelry store they had opened together.
After moving to this area, Derrick first worked “for a few years” as a store manager for another jewelry business in Tampa before going into finance for the last couple of years. “Then, I decided I wanted to get back into jewelry but I wanted to do it my own way again,” Derrick says.
The result is the new Everglow Jewelry, located at 17032 Palm Pointe Dr., in the former location of GPS Pools in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms (at the end nearest to Stonewood Grill &Tavern).
One thing Derrick says that sets Everglow apart from any of its local competition is that other than his own custom-made designs (more on those below), there is only one brand sold in the store — Kendra Scott, which specializes in items for (primarily) $100 or less, making the brand perfect for everyone from young girls to “full-grown women,” he says. “We even have grandmas buying Kendra Scott for themselves, too.”
Kendra Scott is the primary brand of popularly pricedjewelry at Everglow Jewelry in Tampa Palms.
He adds that, “You kind of have to be picked by Kendra Scott to carry the brand. We are one of only two stores in Tampa that carry it.”
Everything else in the store, Derrick says, “are either pieces I’ve designed and created myself or I can. Our big thing at Everglow Jewelry is custom design. Let me make something for you in the size and color you want, with the metals and stones you choose. When you do that, you don’t need a ton of samples or display cases in the store.”
Derrick notes, however, that if you want something simple and don’t want to have to wait to receive it, “I do have catalogs I can show you or we can look on the internet together so you can find and order pieces that aren’t custom-designed, too.” He adds that even if you see something you like in a catalog or online, “I can usually get you a better price if I custom-design something similar, exactly the way you want it.”
And, best of all, he says, “Unlike most places that do custom, since I do the work myself, I don’t charge a custom-design fee. I price everything as though you found something in a case, loved it and wanted to buy it.”
As for lead time, Derrick says that custom pieces can take “from a few days to several weeks,” depending upon the design, the number of stones, etc. “We usually start with a hand drawing and then a computer-aided design. We can even create it as a 3D-printed wax first for you.”
He also is proud to be one of the only stores in the area to carry a laser welder, “because a lot of colored stones can’t handle the heat of using a torch. It changes their color.”
Everglow also offers laser-welded, “permanent” jewelry, so be sure to ask Derrick about that, as well as his on-site jewelry repairs.
For more info, call (813) 561-0055 or visit EverglowJewelry.com and please tell Derrick that I sent you!— GN
Everglow is a less-packed jewelry store than most in our area.
When AdventHealth cut the ribbon at the new 13,000-sq.-ft. Medical Group office in the AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Wellness Plaza on July 16, the event was much more than just a ribbon cutting, as the hospital announced that the eight Family Medicine residents who cut the ribbon would be the first to participate in the hospital’s new Family Practice residency program that will train eight new residents a year for three years at the new Medical Group location. Check out all of the news about AdventHealth on pages 4-5! (Photos by Charmaine George)
If anyone thought that Advent Health Wesley Chapel (AHWC), the first hospital to open in our area more than 12 years ago, was going to sit back and rest on its laurels and let newcomers BayCare Wesley Chapel and Orlando Health Hospital at Wiregrass take the lead in local health care, they were sadly mistaken.
Not only did AdventHealth cut the ribbon on a new 13,000-sq.-ft. space for its AdventHealth Medical Group in the hospital’s adjacent Wellness Plaza on July 16, AHWC president Erik Wangsness also announced the start of a new Family Medicine residency program in the new space.
As if that impressive new office, with its eight new Family Medicine residents and state-of-the-art technology wasn’t enough, the hospital also broke ground on July 9 on a new freestanding emergency room in Meadow Pointe and also is getting ready to break ground on the expansion of the hospital itself.
In other words, when it comes to AdventHealth in Wesley Chapel, to quote Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”
More than 100 people attended the ribbon cutting for the new AdventHealth Medical Group office on July 16, including District 54 State Representative Randy Maggard and Pasco County Commissioners Seth Weightman, Jack Mariano and Lisa Yeager.
(l.-r) County Commissioner Lisa Yeager, State Rep. Randy Maggard, AHWC president Erik Wangsness & County Commissioners Jack Mariano and Seth Weightman.
“I understand we have a County Commission quorum here,” Wangsness quipped. “We genuinely appreciate the support.”
Also on hand were several of Wangsness’ colleagues, including several of the hospital’s Board members, AHWC Foundation Board members, President & CEO of Administration David Ottati, chief clinical officer Dr. Rajan Wadhawan, Family Medicine founding program director Dr. Omari Hodge, Dr. Robert Rosequist, and AHWC CFO Jonathan Fisher, as well as the eight new residents themselves.
The new facility includes an in-house laboratory, procedure room, classrooms and eleven exam rooms, 4D ultrasound, preventive care, minor procedures and chronic disease management, as well as the residents and their supervising physicians.
Dr. Rajan Wadhawan Dr. Omari Hodge
“Each year, we will bring in eight new residents into the program, so in three years, we will have 24 new doctors who will be serving the community in the clinic and in the hospital in outpatient settings and it’s going to be a powerful way to serve the needs of not only this growing community but throughout Florida.”
He added, “Across Florida, there’s a dearth of physicians. This new residency program is a way that we can bless this community through health care. And, we hope and believe that many of them will choose to stay here when they complete their three-year residencies and continue to serve this growing community.”
Dr. Wadhawan mentioned that the new family medicine program, “is one of three GME (graduate medical education) programs we launched this year in our West Florida division. On July 1, 2024, we had 40 new doctors join these programs as trainees.”
Dr. Hodge, who will be in charge of the resident program, said he was hired by AHWC two years ago. “I took a drive out to one of the beautiful Pinellas beaches and told my wife, ‘I think I can do this.’” He also said he was excited to be starting this program with an outstanding crop of young residents.
So, with still three weeks left before the end of the sweltering summer and your younger kids have to go back to school, where can you take them for a fun day — any day — in air-conditioned comfort?
I suggest a trip to the Glazer Children’s Museum, located in the heart of downtown Tampa’s Arts District, right near the Straz Center for the Performing Arts and the Tampa Museum of Art.
If your kids love The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other books by Eric Carle, the Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa is hosting the traveling “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit” through September 8.
I had two reasons for wanting to visit the Glazer Museum. The first was that Jannah and I were going to be babysitting our young grandchildren — 4-1/2-year-old Rosie and her 15-month-old brother Gio — for five days and there’s only so much pool, TV/screen and dining out time this Grammie and Grampa can handle without having something to do and Gio isn’t old enough yet to sit through a movie, much less Busch Gardens or (gulp) Disney.
The second motivation was the fact that the museum was hosting a new traveling, temporary exhibit that first opened in May — the “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit.” Even my sons, now both in their 30s, grew up being read, and then reading themselves, Carle’s most famous book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and when I saw the promotional photos for the exhibit, with giant versions of each page that kids can walk through, I thought the opportunity was too good to pass up — especially at only $18 per person.
But, while Rosie enjoyed the Carle exhibit — especially standing in front of the butterfly wings of Carle’s transformed caterpillar and tromping through the tall grass like the author’s The Very Clumsy Click Beetle — Gio was too young to appreciate it and even Rosie found almost everything else at the museum to be more interesting — and fun!
Even before you get inside, your kids will know a big, fun time awaits them! Your kids will love tromping through the tall grass like Carle’s The Very Clumsy Click Beetle. Gio thinks shopping carts are just so much fun, whether they have food in them or not!
Something For Every Young’n!
While I refuse to call them “littles,” there’s no doubt that if you have children from toddler age up to at least 6-8 years old and maybe as high as age 10, there truly are many things all of them will enjoy at the Glazer Children’s Museum.
On the first floor of the Glazer Children’s Museum, there are fun activities that involve water, lights and sound. In addition to the Eric Carle exhibit, the second floor has a fun “working farm” among its many exhibits that is perfect for kids from toddlers to at least ages 6-8. But, the excitement gets even bigger when you venture up to the third floor.
On the first floor, your journey begins with “Tugboat Tots,” where the kids get to steer a mini tugboat, “fish” off a mini-pier and play “I Spy” with an ocean mural. There also is an open play space for kids ages 3 and under that Gio loved, especially the “tasty” blocks (photo left). Rosie put on a smock and played not only with gliding boats through the water, but also with light and sound on the colorful “Light Cloud” piano, which also is on the first floor.
But, the second level was probably both of the kids’ favorite. It started with a visit to a farm, where Rosie sat on a pig statue’s back and bottle-fed it and got to “milk” a cow statue (with fairly life-like udders), while Gio gathered tomatoes and oranges in a wheelbarrow and walked around with them.
From there, Gio spent a lot of time checking out the “Safety Village,” where he could put groceries at the Publix supermarket in a shopping cart (he thought the empty cart, above, was super-fun, too!), sit in a fire truck at the firehouse and play with stuffed animals at the “Vet Clinic.” Rosie first checked out the Eric Carle exhibit and then flew off to the two-story-tall, fully-enclosed “Water’s Journey Climber,” where she climbed way up high (tentatively at first, but she caught on fast) and then loved the journey back down even more!
Rosie also got very into the “Family Play Project” area, where she cut and pasted different paper and fabric swatches to create a unique artwork.
Both kids enjoyed the “Twinkle Stars Theater,” where Rosie tried on costumes and Gio loved banging the buttons that controlled the lights and sound on the theater’s stage.
Rosie then found the “Vet Clinic,” where she looked at pretend X-rays of some stuffed animals and then took time to properly groom them with a blow drying hose.
Rosie also felt like a big girl while sliding down the fire pole at the firehouse and watching her skeleton move along with her on “Skelevision” at the “Hospital” sponsored by St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Among her favorite exhibits on the second floor, though, were the “Pizza Place” — where she created and “cooked” a pizza of her own design in the oven that looks hot, but isn’t — and the “Ice Cream Parlour,” where she made a two-scoop cone for Grampa and a cup of ice cream with toppings for Grammie.
On To Big John!
The third level of the Glazer Children’s Museum is where you’ll find “Big John,” purported to be the “world’s largest” triceratops. The 66-million-year-old fossilized dino, which is on loan for three years from Tampa-based businessman Siddhartha Pagidipati, is the focal point of the museum’s dinosaur exhibit. Big John was reportedly reconstructed in less than a week upon his arrival to the museum.
Gio had a blast playing with the plastic dinosaurs and popping out of a dinosaur egg, while Rosie properly matched bone shapes to a small version of Big John’s skeleton. Both kids also got a kick of weighing themselves against Big John’s 10-ton weight.
Of course, by now, the children had to visit the cute store back on the ground floor, where we bought them a mini-copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and a transparent car filled with plastic dinosaurs.
The museum also has a great private room for hosting kids’ birthday parties.
Hop On The Pirate Water Taxi!
Of course, after this three-hour romp, the kids were tired and hungry and, since we parked in the lot next to the museum, we were able to walk down to the Hillsborough River at the adjacent Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and catch a ride on the Pirate Water Taxi that took us upstream to Armature Works — only one stop away. Because we’re Florida residents, adults can stop at all 16 of the Pirate Water Taxi stops all day for $26, while children ages 2-12 can ride all day for $16 (those under age 2 ride for free). Rosie thought it was so cool that she was riding a boat since her parents were on a cruise while we were watching them!
More About The Glazer Museum
The 53,000-sq.-ft. Glazer Children’s Museum opened in 2010 after a $22-million capital campaign, with construction beginning in 2009. It was named in honor of the Glazer Family Foundation, which donated $5 million. The Foundation, at that time led by Edward Glazer and his brother Bryan, was founded by their father, the late Malcolm Glazer, who was the owner and president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Manchester United Football Club.
The Glazer Children’s Museum dates back to Tampa’s original Safety Village, located in Lowry Park, which opened in 1965. According to the museum’s website, the museum’s Mission is to “create and foster engaging, impactful PLAY experiences for children and families to learn and thrive.” Its Vision is “a community that values PLAY as the foundation for the learning and development of families across generations.”
All I can tell you is that it is a super-fun place and a great way to spend a day with your children or grandchildren.
The Glazer Children’s Museum is located at 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza in downtown Tampa. A “Playmaker Membership” costs just $250 ($55 tax deductible) and includes 12 months of play for up to six members, access to members-only events and other discounts. For more information, including everything about memberships and donations, call (813) 443-3861 or visit GlazerMuseum.org. For the Pirate Water Taxi, visit PirateWaterTaxi.com.
Rosie had so much fun creating and then “baking” her pretend pizza in the oven at the museum. “Don’t worry, Grandpa,” she told me. “It only looks hot. It’s not really.”
Dr. Jonas Santos, with some of the technologically advanced equipment at Florida Advanced Spine & Orthopedics’ Wesley Chapel office. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Florida Advanced Spine and Orthopedics (FASTMD) is a leading orthopedic practice with five locations throughout Tampa Bay. The Wesley Chapel office, located in the Cypress Ridge Professional Park on the north side of S.R. 56, is led by orthopedists Jonas Santos, D.O., and Andrew Corbett, D.O.
FASTMD’s comprehensive spine and general orthopedic services include minimally invasive spine surgery, injections, sports medicine and general orthopedics of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, neck, knee and ankle. The doctors can help patients suffering from back pain, arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated discs and dislocations/subluxations, among many other concerns. This breadth of offerings positions the practice as a one-stop solution for all of your musculoskeletal issues.
Dr. Santos is a Board-certified and fellowship-trained Interventional Pain Physician specializing in minimally invasive procedures and interventional injections. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton. He continued his medical training at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine, where he completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, including rotations at Tampa General Hospital and the Moffitt Cancer Center. He served as Chief Resident during his residency. Following his residency, Dr. Santos pursued a Fellowship in Interventional Pain Medicine at USF, where he gained expertise in interventional procedures for pain relief.
These days, Dr. Santos also teaches residents and fellows at the USF Health Residency and Fellowship Programs, where he stays up-to-date with current research and effective treatments for the spine and orthopedics.
“I wanted to specialize in the field of spine and orthopedics because I feel that when it comes to surgical options, patients are understandably apprehensive about having to undergo surgery.”
He adds that he aims to emphasize that many conservative treatments and minimally invasive options are available before just going straight to surgery.
“This misconception is something that I really wanted to educate our community about,” he says. “We promote trying to treat patients conservatively.”
While he acknowledges that some situations do require surgical interventions, he is cognizant of putting patients at ease when entering a surgical practice office. The doctors work collaboratively with patients to develop treatment plans tailored to their specific situations to avoid surgery anytime it is not essential.
Dr. Santos offers injections that can help with pain in a patient’s spine, neck, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and hand. For issues with feet and ankles, however, he refers patients to a podiatrist.
He stresses that early intervention is imperative, as the longer the damaged nerves and discs exist, the greater the likelihood that chronic pain will increase.
“Some of the most gratifying aspects of what I do is seeing the relief on a patient’s face when we tell them there are other minimally invasive options — like injection therapies — that can help a lot of back and nerve-related pain,” he says. “After we are able to proceed with those interventions — and some patients feel almost instantaneous relief that they’ve been suffering with for usually several months — it is quite rewarding.”
Dr. Andrew Corbett goes over a patient’s chart with the patient.
Dr. Andrew Corbett, a recent addition to the FASTMD practice, also earned his D.O. degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton. He completed his Adult Deformity and Spinal Reconstruction Surgery Fellowship at the Sonoran Spine Center in Tempe, AZ, following his Orthopedic Surgery residency at the USF Morsani College of Medicine.
Dr. Corbett says he was inspired to follow the path into orthopedics due to a personal experience with a sports injury he sustained in high school and college.
When surgical intervention for a patient’s spine is required, Dr. Corbett utilizes a MEND (Minimally-Invasive Endoscopic Discectomy) procedure, which is done by utilizing small cameras similar to laparoscopic surgery, allowing the removal of painful disc material, clearing out bone spurs and arthritis through a small camera less than an eighth of an inch wide. This process enables Dr. Corbett to access the painful area of the patient’s spine without damaging the surrounding tissues.
“The recovery is much quicker and, in most cases, less painful,” Dr. Corbett says, “and allows you to get to your rehabilitation and physical therapy much quicker than the larger incisions used in traditional surgeries. While certain indications do still require larger surgery, we try to offer the minimally-invasive offer whenever it is appropriate.”
Like Dr. Santos, Dr. Corbett finds that the most rewarding aspect of the practice is being able to alleviate a patient’s pain after surgery and “watching them return to an active lifestyle.”
Speaking Of Lifestyle…
Both doctors stress the significance of maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity and paying attention to cardiovascular health and core strength to all of their patients. They believe in stretching, proper weightlifting techniques, ergonomic practices, and postural awareness to prevent joint issues.
“Maintaining a healthy diet is number one to keep the pressure off your spine,” Dr. Corbett says. “Maintaining physical activity, at least 30 minutes a day, and paying attention to cardiovascular health, as well as core strength (also are important).”
Dr. Santos agrees and adds that proper diet and exercise allow your body to “essentially use all of the muscles, ligaments and joints harmoniously, so none of those systems is taking on the load and undergoing degeneration.”
The doctors share an unwavering commitment to providing patients with the best possible care. At the practice’s Trinity location, FASTMD has a very rare FDA-approved Stem Cell Lab where the doctors can harvest stem cells from patients and store them for the patient’s possible future needs.
“This way, if they need surgery in the future, we can use those stem cells to help the healing process,” Dr. Santos says. “(Stem cells) can be used for a herniated disc once removed and the fusion of certain joints that need to be fused using the patient’s stem cells. We also can harvest them to treat rotator cuff injuries, arthritis and tendonitis of other joints in the body, as well.”
In mid-November, a Board-certified general orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ryan Ouillette, will join the practice. He attended Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI, and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital. Dr. Ouillette furthered his specialization with a fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan.
Dr. Ouillette will perform all extensive and minor orthopedic surgeries, excluding spinal procedures, which will expand the practice’s capabilities for a broader full-service range of surgical options. This exciting addition further underscores FASTMD’s commitment to offering the Wesley Chapel community comprehensive orthopedic care.
Outside the practice, Dr. Santos enjoys basketball, football, and fishing. He is the proud father of an eight-year-old son and resides in Wesley Chapel with his wife and two Pomeranians, Becky and Gg. Dr. Corbett, who has been happily married for a year and a half, is excitedly anticipating the arrival of his first child, a baby girl. He enjoys spending quality time at the pool with family and friends and loves playtime with his three-year-old mini Goldendoodle, Leo. Both doctors also share a love of fishing.
As FASTMD continues to grow and evolve, patients can rest assured that their musculoskeletal health needs will be met with the highest standard of care and expertise, whether through non-surgical, minimally invasive interventions or surgical solutions when necessary. The practice’s dedication to each patient’s well-being remains unwavering, and it is poised to continue making a significant impact in orthopedics for years to come.
Florida Advanced Spine & Orthopedics’ Wesley Chapel office is located at 2309 Crestover Lane and is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For appointments and more information, call 855-3FASTMD, visit FASTMD.com.
The outstanding housekeeping staff at the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel was celebrated by the hotel’s managers at a special luncheon at the hotel on Sept. 15. (Photo above by Charmaine George)
If a night out at a rooftop bar sounds like a fun way to spend an evening or the perfect venue to host a party, there’s no need to head to downtown Tampa.
Stay right here in Wesley Chapel instead, where the Skybox Rooftop Bar is perched atop the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel, located next to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, just off S.R. 56 near the Shops at Wiregrass. Skybox is a unique and fun spot for gatherings with gorgeous sunset views, small plate food options, and tasty drinks.
Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel is a Marriott-branded hotel designed and managed by Mainsail Lodging & Development. Mainsail was founded in Tampa by Joe Collier in 1998, and now has eleven hotel properties in Florida, Georgia, and the Caribbean, including signature properties such as the Fenway Hotel in Dunedin and the Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa.
The Skybox Rooftop Bar at the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel recently expanded its menu and offers not only Wesley Chapel’s only lounge with a view but also a beautiful place to stay if you enjoy one drink too many. (Photos provided by Residence Inn)
Not only is Skybox the only rooftop bar in Wesley Chapel, it’s also the first-ever at a Residence Inn. It’s available to both hotel guests and those who want to enjoy craft cocktails and tasty small plates, even if they’re not hotel guests. Many of the Skybox’s online reviews refer to it as a “hidden gem” in Wesley Chapel.
“It’s a sports bar atmosphere with TVs and a beautiful sunset view,” says Becky Hayes, the Residence Inn’s general manager and director of sales.
Becky says that makes it the perfect place to watch football, with specials on wings on Sundays and beer buckets on Thursdays. There also are sangria specials on Tuesday, and Wednesday is Hospitality Night with specials for anyone working in the hospitality industry.
Any night, you can try a Skybox whiskey flight or a “bubbles and wine” flight offering a variety of wines and champagnes.
There’s also a large selection of premium alcohol craft cocktails, fine wines, craft beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Skybox Rooftop Bar’s food menu was revamped as of early September. While there are only a few small plate options, Becky says there’s enough variety to find something for everyone, from wings to flatbreads to the soon-to-be-famous Skybox Cuban.
Becky says Skybox is an absolutely perfect to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or any type of party. This time of year, the hotel is getting a lot of inquiries for holiday parties. Parties at Skybox can be semi-private, where an area of the bar is reserved for your group, and private parties also can be booked.
For more information or to book a party, go to SkyboxRooftopBar.com or contact sales manager Erica Davis via email at EDavis2@mainsailhotels.com.
If you want to visit Skybox, be sure to look for the Residence Inn sign on S.R. 56, as there is no separate sign for the rooftop bar.
Staying At Residence Inn
Although Skybox is worth the trip without staying in the hotel, some locals find that the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel is great for a weekend getaway, as well.
Theresa Pandales is a New Tampa resident who says she recently visited the hotel for a quick “staycation,” spending a weekend away from her busy life with kids and grandkids.
She was pleasantly surprised at how perfect the entire weekend turned out to be.
“I like that it feels like home away from home,” Theresa says. “It’s so inviting. The lobby even smells amazing.”
Theresa says she enjoyed lounging by the pool, relaxing and visiting the Skybox for drinks.
Becky says the hotel also is great for those who need long-term accommodations, as it is fully equipped to be a home away from home.
“Because we’re extended stay, we offer full amenities, including full kitchens with refrigerators, dishwashers, stove tops — although not all units have ovens — pots and pans, dishware, silverware, living and sleeping areas,” Becky says. “All rooms have a living area and a sleeping area, while some are open and some have one or two bedrooms.”
She says the hotel also is a great choice for guests coming to visit family in the area. Also, a lot of people stay at the hotel while they are purchasing a home, waiting for a closing or the completion of their home’s construction.
The hotel offers 128 rooms, including 65 studio king suites, 24 studio kings with conservation views, 19 studios with two queen beds, 8 one-bedroom king studios, 8 one-bedroom studios with two queen beds and 4 two-bedroom suites with one king and one queen bed.
Other on-site amenities include complimentary hot breakfast, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, market and an on-site laundry with washers and dryers. Some other fun and unique perks include bicycle rentals with the first hour free, and outdoor grills by the pool for guests. “We are perfect for families,” Becky says.
And, while larger parties are hosted at the rooftop venue, the hotel also has a cozy meeting space inside, too, accommodating up to 25 people in its indoor meeting room.
The Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel recently won a Marriott award, called the Silver Circle Award, for meeting stringent Marriott standards and placing in the top 20% of all 856 Residence Inns in the U.S. and Canada, based on how guests rated the hotel in customer service, cleanliness and their intent to recommend the hotel to others.
Becky says the award is thanks in no small part to the housekeeping staff. She says the housekeepers are the hardest working group in the hotel. The Residence Inn management recently celebrated the team during “Housekeeping Week,” providing meals, gift and activities to thank them for their efforts to keep the hotel clean and up to the guests’ high expectations.
Based on her stay, Theresa feels the award is well deserved. “Everyone was so nice, the food was delicious and the service was unbelievable,” Theresa says. “My sixtieth birthday is coming up, and that’s where I’m going,” she says. “I won’t go anywhere else.”
The Skybox Rooftop Bar and the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel are located at 2867 Lajuana Blvd. For more info about hosting a party at Skybox or booking a stay, call (833) 214-9098, visit Marriott.com or SkyboxRooftopBar.com. The Skybox is closed on Monday, open Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., and 5 p.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
