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Solivita had an amazing assortment of creative and fun activities and events in February. No need to leave the community when you can hop in your golf cart, enjoy dinner, a concert, the resident edition of Solivita Master Chef, a car show, an art class, an exercise class, or any one of the educational classes being offered. If a class is not for you, sign up for an event sponsored by one of our over 200 clubs, make some new friends, and join a club or two. Be busy or not, the choice is yours when you are a Solivita resident. Don’t miss out on the fun. Living life in Solivita is a great way to live an inspired life. Less stress and more fun, will add years to your life and life to your years…. Come and grow young with us.

Growing up in Madison Square Garden territory, I must admit to seeing a lot of concerts, but I had never had the opportunity to see Cher live in concert. Her tour is billed as a farewell concert. Cher is the first to admit this is not her first farewell tour, but Lee and I wanted to catch her live before it really is her last farewell tour. And I have to say wow! Cher looks great and can still strut her stuff with the best of them, even in those crazy high heels and her body-hugging costumes. Her voice is strong, and her stage show was spectacular. Cher was personable and did an opening act with footage of her early career, when she was Sonny and Cher or Cher and Sonny, as I fondly recall from a routine performed on the 1970’s Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. The opening act was poignant and left me with a real sense of how the loss of Sonny has affected her. Cher spoke briefly of her children when they were young and how they celebrated her 40th birthday. She ended her monologue with an announcement to her fans that she is 72 years young and asked all of us what our “grannies are doing tonight.” I don’t know about your granny, but I know mine stopped strutting her stuff a long time ago. The Amway in Orlando is a nice venue, the acoustics are good, and Church Street rocks when a concert is in town. The only other thing that could have made the night better is a public transportation option. Fingers crossed, as we hope the train continues to gain in popularity and the operating hours are extended affording us the option of traveling to and from Orlando without the I-4 drive.

We celebrated our evening out with a pre-show dinner in downtown Orlando at Kres Chophouse on Church St. A perfect start to the evening as the restaurant is warm and inviting and not your typical noisy steakhouse, but rather subdued with a casual, quiet elegance. Nice white linen on the tables, inviting space and great service. Kres is within walking distance to the Amway and turned out to be a great pick. Our table was comfortable, the wine selection was good, and each glass was served at the right temperature in nice stemware. We were a group of four and together we each shared our entrees. Every dish on our table was plated beautifully and delicious, the soup was spicy and served hot, the salads cool and crisp, the steak was cooked to the perfect temperature, but the pork chop was the undisputed winner at the chop house. It was perfectly tender, slightly pink in the middle, juicy and flavorful. A dish we all agreed we would order again on our next evening at Kres. You can visit Kres on the web at: www.kresrestaurant.com.

Are you wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day? Bella Verde is always in green. It is our official color. Our name (beautiful green), our logo, our front lawn, and this time of the year, even our beer is green. Bella Verde Realty is always happy to market and sell your home and bring some green to your pocket too.

We hope to see you downtown this year at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. It is always a fun event and a good excuse to party with friends and family. Our niece Michele, is usually here for the party, but this year she is planning a big bash in New York (without us) but she promises to visit later in the year. We will miss her, but her late visit will give us a great excuse to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day twice this year, once now and again when she arrives.

Lee and I hope you enjoy a slice of soda bread, Irish stew, a wee dram of Irish whisky, a good corned beef sandwich or just a few laughs with friends and family. Whatever you do, we hope the luck of the Irish is with you now and all year through.

Looking for a great deli? If you go to Mazzaro’s in St. Petersburg, you have come to the right place. Mazzaro’s is not exactly the NY Italian Market of my youth but, about as close, as I have found in Florida. Growing up, great delicatessens were on every corner. The sandwich of my youth was an Italian Hero with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, and broccoli rabe. After all, Mom always told me to eat lots of vegetables. The deli man would layer the lovely soft, warm and slightly salty, cheese on freshly baked crusty Italian bread, add a dash of olive oil, wrap the sandwich in deli paper and tie it with red and white butcher twine. I fondly recall the deli man reaching over the counter and handing me this delicious treat.

Mazzaro’s does make fresh mozzarella, and for an extra bonus, there is a well-stocked cheese department, so you can get all your favorite cheeses in one stop shopping. The grocery section of the deli is well stocked with a large selection of items ranging from fig jam to imported sundried tomatoes. The selection of groceries is quite extensive, the bread is fresh, and the bakery is always busy turning out cookies and pastries. You can eat in or take out. The deli also offers a nice wine selection and a great list of tasty, hot items. Lee and I make a day of it. Before doing our take home shopping, we buy a bottle of wine and enjoy a delicious lunch. After lunch we enjoy a fun shopping experience. We love choosing specialty items to enjoy at home, and to share with friends and family in Solivita. Mazzaro’s is a bit of a drive, but well worth the effort. If a day at a deli is not your thing, you can always spend the morning at the Salvatore Dali Museum in St. Pete and then drive over to Mazzaro’s for a snack. However, you plan your day, between the Deli and Dali, your day in St. Petersburg will be a true treat for all of your senses. You can visit Mazzaro’s Market online at MazzarosMarket.com.

Recently some of our friends and family spent a few days out at Cocoa Beach at the Inn at Cocoa Beach. They returned, refreshed with glowing reports of the wonderful hotel and beach. The weather was perfect, the water was calm, the sand was soft, and the complimentary breakfast and cocktail hour served at the hotel delightful. The Inn at Cocoa Beach is beach front and an alluring area to get away from it all. The rooms are spotless, a bit small, but nicely appointed. Quite the treat to have such a great beach get-away within 70 miles of Solivita.

Sarah, a family friend and self-proclaimed restaurant snob, made dinner reservations at Café Margaux in Cocoa. According to Sarah, Café Margaux did not disappoint. The entire group returned with reports of beautifully plated delicious food and good service. Sarah’s restaurant recommendations are usually on the expensive side, but we have never been disappointed in one of her picks. We have added this restaurant to our to-do list for the next time we find ourselves in need of a nice evening out in the Cocoa Beach Area. You can visit the Inn at Cocoa Beach online at TheInnAtCocoaBeach.com.

Valentine’s Day is a beautiful day to celebrate love and relationships. It is not just a day for couples to celebrate, but rather a day for each of us to celebrate our beloved relationships with friends, family, and neighbors. It is truly a day to celebrate all of those around us that we love and appreciate. The day originally started as a religious celebration but today has emerged, unfortunately like most holidays, as a day for the retailers to market the sale of chocolate, flowers, and gifts. Instead of concentrating on the commercial side of Valentine’s Day, Lee and I are planning a nice celebration embracing our love of each other and our circle of friends and family. We hope Valentine’s Day is a sweet day for you and yours.