Monday, December 17, 2012
There are plenty of places in the Bloomingdale-Riverview area to satisfy the most discriminating sweet tooth.
Don't feel guilty if you have no time to bake during the holidays. The Bloomingdale-Riverview area has plenty of places where you can buy custom-ordered cakes, cookies and candies for the holiday. Sweeties Delights, 1050 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico Owner Karen Walker and her crew have been as busy as elves during this holiday season, baking up sugar cookies, gingerbread men, elaborate holiday cakes and more than 20 assorted flavors and types of cupcakes. Cookies, brownies and bars sell for $1 each while cupcakes start at $2.50 each. Sweeties Delights' custom cakes can serve as a one-of-a-kind centerpiece or a hostess gift. Cakes care baked and made to order to ensure freshness. Walker encourages pre-ordering your cake as soon as you know …
Friday, November 23, 2012
St. Stephen Catholic Church's first "Taste of Chocolate" fundraiser attracted nearly 100 chocolate lovers.
Chocolate lovers enjoyed sampling candies, baked goods and exchanging recipes at the first "A Taste of Chocolate" at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico Nov. 9. The sweet-filled event was a fundraiser for the church's bereavement ministry. Nearly 100 chocolate lovers shared tastes of their favorite chocolate recipes including chocolate flan, chocolate pizza by Jan Thompson and chocolate cakes by Dianna Erdelac of To Di For Special Desserts and Sarah Shirina of Cakes by Sarah Beth. The evening also included ice cream with a choice of chocolate toppings, chocolate beverages and chocolate candy created by Anita Fox and The Original Leena's Chocolates in Valrico. Leena's also donated a chocolate fountain for the evening. Parishioner and …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The event will take place Nov. 9 at the church in Valrico.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- D'Ann White
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Chocolate lovers are in for a treat Nov. 9. St. Stephen Catholic Church's Martha Ministry will host a Taste of Chocolate from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the church, 5049 Bell Shoals Rd., Valrico. For $5, those attending will have a chance to sample three chocolate desserts, including cakes, cookies, trifles, candy, ice cream, chocolate beverages and more. Another $5 donation entitles chocolate lovers to six tastes. Proceeds from the event will go to the church's bereavement ministry. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here. The Original Leena's Chocolates, 1048 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, also will be on hand, selling seasonal…
Monday, October 22, 2012
Stop by The Original Leena's Chocolate for a caramel apple and support your favorite charity.
The Original Leena's Chocolate, 1048 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, is offering residents a chance to taste a fall favorite while supporting local charities. Leena's owners Leena and Anthony Caligiure hope to sell 10,000 caramel apples by Oct. 31 during their Apples for a Cause campaign. For each caramel apple sold, Leena's will donate $1 to the customer's favorite charity. And, at the end of the campaign, the store will double the donation to the charity that raises the most money. "We created this fun promotion as a way to bless local communities with an opportunity for nonprofits to raise money," said Anthony Caligiure. "Every apple sold is one more dollar going back into our local community to help local people and families in need." …
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Nancy Slade held a signing for her new book Sept. 21 at The Original Leena's Chocolates in Plaza Bella.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- D'Ann White
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Sunday, September 23, 2012
For Bloomingdale resident Nancy Slade, chocolate isn't an occasional treat relegated to Christmas stockings and Easter baskets. "Chocolate is my passion," she said. "I am a true chocoholic. Just the word, 'chocolate,' brings a smile to my face." However, Slade isn't content to simply sample her favorite food anywhere and anytime she has a chance. Instead, she's written a book about her passion now available for purchase. Slade chose to premier her A Guidebook to Chocoholics with a book signing at her favorite local chocolate shop Sept. 21, The Original Leena's Chocolates, 1048 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. A crowd of fellow chocolate lovers were on hand to purchase copies of the book and sample chocolates. Slade said her son, Robert, came …
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Anthony Caligiure recalls the painful events that prompted the third-generation New York City resident to relocate his family to FishHawk Ranch.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- D'Ann White
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Tuesday, September 11, 2012
It was a typical September morning in Queens, N.Y. Third-generation New Yorker Anthony Caligiure was preparing to head off to work at his job at Time Warner. His wife, Leena, pregnant with their second child, was already at work at Citigroup in midtown Manhattan. Around 9 a.m., Caliguire heard a plane fly over their apartment complex. Shortly after, he received a phone call from his mother, urging him to turn on the news. "I couldn't believe what I saw," said Caligiure, as he watched the events unfold following the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on Sept. 11. "I said, 'We're at war.'" Although 11 years have passed since that fateful day, Caligiure said he'll never forget the feelings of fear and disbelief he experienced as he watched …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The camp will take place Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Do you have a budding cake decorator in the family? Or perhaps your child simply enjoys experimenting in the kitchen. The shops of Plaza Bella is appealing to the sweet tooth in all children ages 8 to 12 with a Eats and Treats Day Camp Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Original Leena's Chocolates, 1048 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. Leena's is joining forces with Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats and Sweeties Delights for an interactive, hands-on workshop offering children a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Children will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of Leena's, will make and package chocolates to take home, will prepare a smoothie and kid's wrap for lunch, will receive instruction on cupcake decorating and make their own …
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Barefoot Books ambassador Karen Taylor will present stories and crafts Aug. 9.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
News Report Parents and kids are invited to join Barefoot Books ambassador Karen Taylor at The Original Leena's Chocolates, 1048 Bloomingdale Ave., in the Plaza Bella shopping center for story time and crafts on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. The stories and crafts will be suitable for ages 4-7 but all ages are welcome to come. Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats will provide each child with a healthy smoothie. The cost is $3 per child. Space is limited. Call to reserve a spot at 813-469-8870. Barefoot Books began with two mothers who wanted their children to have books that would feed the imagination, while instilling a respect for diversity and a love of the planet. Today, Barefoot Books is a worldwide community of writers, artists, …
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thanks to our readers, we collected more than double our target.
Back in April, we asked Patch readers throughout the Tampa Bay area to assist us in collecting food to help feed families in need this summer. Our goal was humble. We wanted to collect 2,000 pounds of nonperishable goods from the 19 communities we serve in the Bay area. We should have known better than set such a conservative goal. After all, our readers and business partners are awesome! So awesome, in fact, that we crushed that goal of 2,000 pounds. When all was said and done and the last cans were picked up the first week of June, our final weigh-in brought us to just under 5,000 pounds collected. We more than doubled what we’d hoped for! Even more importantly, we were able to connect with you to do something good for our communities …
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The fundraiser will benefit the Sylvia Thomas Center in Brandon.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- D'Ann White
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Saturday, May 5, 2012
Culminating with the crowning of both a prince and princess of Brandon May 23, the Royal Highness Race to benefit the Sylvia Thomas Center is under way. The prince and princess are determined by the subjects who successfully raise the most money over a 30-day time period. This year’s contestants are Anthony Caligiure, sponsored by The Original Leena’s Chocolate; Cathy Smead, sponsored by GMS Landscaping; Angela Stone, sponsored by the Oaks Bar and Grill; and Simone Tolley, sponsored by Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill. The Sylvia Thomas Center is the only agency in Hillsborough County funded to assist adoptive families after the adoption has been finalized. The agency provides support groups and services to adoptive families, including Teen …
Ruth Butler
9:57 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Congratulations Nancy. I will ask Santa for a copy. I'd love to try the recipes. Ruth more ›