The owner of Elan Event Studio and a partner at Big City Events, NJ native Monica Varner arrived in Tampa 15 years ago and the city’s social scene has not been the same since. A 40-year-old South Tampa resident and mother of two, Varner is the organizing muscle behind the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival, Bourbon and Brew Festival, Spring Beer Fling, Summer of Rum Festival and the Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF), for which she serves as executive director. “When I moved here in 2000, there was not much to do downtown,” she says. “That’s changing now thanks to some of these events.” She still delights in pulling off small, unexpected “pop-up events" — on May 2 she’ll organize a carnival on the Riverwalk. “It’s so exciting to see us finally utilizing the waterfront,” she says. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Favorite place to get a buzz: THE HUB. “The Hub’s mixed drinks are so strong. They’re like rocket fuel.”
Favorite outdoor venue: CURTIS HIXON PARK. “The park has become the heart of the city.”
Favorite place to hang during the Gasparilla Film Fest: TAMPA BAY BREWING COMPANY. “I order True Blonde Ale and cheese dip. I’m a sucker for cheese dip.”
Favorite event of the year: TROPICAL HEATWAVE. “It’s where I find some of my favorite bands and the bands I book for other events.”
Favorite place to take her kids: GAMETIME in YBOR. “It’s not dark and horrible like some of the arcades I grew up with. It’s clean and nice and adults can drink there.”
Favorite healthy dish: KARPATHOS CHICKEN SALAD at ACROPOLIS GREEK TAVERNA. “Pine nuts, goat cheese, grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes and raspberry dressing — it’s the best salad ever.”
Favorite reason to cross the Howard Frankland: NITALLY’S THAI-MEX CUISINE. “I’m addicted to the chatta bread with panang mole dipping sauce.”
Favorite morning pick-me-up: BUDDY BREW COFFEE. “It’s the perfect strength and flavor.”
Favorite spot for an afternoon meeting: BUNGALOW RESTAURANT AND BAR. “I have a lot of 4 o’clock meetings there. They have outdoor seating, which is hard to find in Tampa.”
Favorite neighborhood shop: THE LOOK BOUTIQUE. “It’s an easy place to go if you need a top to go with a pair of jeans and you want to avoid the mall.”
Favorite retail addiction: DESIGNER SHOE WAREHOUSE. “It’s one-stop shopping. They carry so many shoes — especially boots, which I love.”
Favorite bling: DKM ACCESSORIES. “I just got my friend a cool pearl necklace with a cross on it. I love necklaces with crosses.”
Favorite ice cream alternative: SUGAR SHACK in TAMPA. “They serve New Orleans-style Sno-Balls, which are basically snow cones. My favorite flavor is tiger’s blood.”
Favorite place to primp: THE STATION. “I’ve been going to Abby Griffith for years. She’s a stylist and photographer, just an all-around artsy gal. She recently opened her own salon on South Howard.”
Favorite old school app: FRENCH ONION DIP AND RUFFLES POTATO CHIPS at FLYING PIG TAPHOUSE. “It tastes like growing up.”
Visit askthelocals.net to hear recommendations from other Bay area figures.
