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I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Alexander about 10 years ago when she jogged the streets of Isles of Capri without breathing hard, while I felt fatigued just watching her run past my house. While doing her standard running miles, she noticed some developers checking out The Blue Heron property. In all probability, she thought the property and bu...

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Last summer Creative Loafing Tampa checked in with the Santell family about its forthcoming namesake restaurant in Odessa. Santelli Pizza & Pasta took its time perfecting its menu and renovating its home at 13357 SR-54 throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, nearly six months after its initial interview, Santelli is preparing to op...

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A haven for St. Pete sugar-lovers is coming soon to 667 Central Avenue—and it’s all thanks to Sorrento Sweets. The space was formerly home to Brew D Licious, a beloved coffee shop and 600 block staple for nine years before their closure in April amid COVID-19 struggles. The owners of Sorrento Sweets realize they have big shoes to fill, but couldn’t...

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Two decades ago, a Miami jury convicted Italian filmmaker Enrico Forti of murdering an Australian man whose bullet-ridden body was discovered in the sands of Virginia Key. Forti’s claim of innocence has become a cause célèbre in Italy, even as he serves a life prison sentence in Florida and state courts have consistently rejected his appeals on the...

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Housed in a former 1925 Ybor City macaroni factory, Casa Santo Stefano pays fond tribute to Sicilian food. Richard Gonzmart 4th generation caretaker of the Columbia Restaurant Group knew he wanted to share the food he grew up eating at childhood friends’ homes. Those Nana-cooked meals provide the inspiration for the pastas, sauces and seafood featu...

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One of the joys of being Italian is participating in the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. This year, thanks to Pazzo!, everyone is welcome to enjoy it. “I grew up in an Italian neighborhood in New Jersey,” says Skip Quillen, owner of the Culinary Concepts restaurants (Chops City Grill, Pazzo!, Yabba, and The Saloon Wood Fired Grill). “Mo...

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Piola (piolausa.com) announced the opening of its newest location in Hollywood, FL., with a second new restaurant planned for Miami Beach in April 2021, bringing its total number of locations in South Florida to eight and 10 in the United States. The Italian-based restaurant franchise has juggled the COVID-19 impact, adjusting its menu, adding spec...

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A science fiction writer who for decades wrote a column in the Naples Daily News has died. Ben Bova, 88, died Sunday, his niece Kathryn Brusco announced on Twitter. "My Uncle Ben...by marriage...science fiction icon, author, adventure lover, story teller, futurist, and my son's namesake, Ben Bova, has passed away this morning from COVID-19 related...

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Bulgari is going to Miami. The Italian luxury brand has just announced that its first hotel in the United States will be located in South Beach. The new 100-room hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2024, will be located on 21st street, a stone’s throw from the city’s famous beach and vibrant Art Deco district to give guests a taste of nature, cult...

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If you’re going to do one thing, you better do it right. A new to-go spot on Washington Avenue in South Beach is doing exactly that. They know good gnocchi. Hope you brought your appetite. When it comes to gnocchi, Gnocchissimo wants to be your one and only. Stefano Carniato, owner, Gnocchissimo: “It’s a concept with a large menu with just one prod...

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