Charley's World

Operation Art of Valor is an exhibit of beautiful blown glass all done by local military veterans. The exhibit runs through December 29. Since the program was launched in March 2018, more than 20 veterans have had the opportunity to learn about glassblowing and other techniques for making glass art. Some even use it as PTSD therapy.

Nick Reale retired after 30 years with Pinellas Park Fire Rescue, and started his own woodturning studio.

Suncoast Center for Fine Scale Modeling is getting ready for their open house on November 16 and 17. The train layouts are amazing, as are the military dioramas that fill the space.

M&M Video Games in St. Petersburg is an 8,000 square-foot warehouse in St. Petersburg. It’s filled with almost any home video game console you can think of, and thousands of throwback games.

Creative Pinellas is a non-profit local arts agency with a mission to sustain and support the artists of Pinellas County. The event this Thursday, November 14, brings together many of the most accomplished and well-recognized artists in Pinellas for a group exhibition and performance. The Arts Annual showcases professional and emerging artists who received Creative Pinellas’ 2016, 2017 and 2018 individual artist grants.

You can't celebrate Dade City without high school, so Pasco High School's cheerleading squad and band joined in on Good Day Tampa Bay's 'Hometown Dade City' special to play their fight song.

There is some big personality in Steph’s Southern Soul Restaurant’s dishes. The meals are made with love and come from good old southern recipes.

Perks Café Artisan Coffee & Chocolates has good coffee, baked goods made from scratch and chocolate -- also made from scratch. In fact it's the perky owner's specialty. Corry Graber moved to Dade City from Michigan, and she says the city reminds her of home.

Pascal’s Artisan Bistro & Gourmet Coffee is a neighborhood eatery that has an emphasis on good food and local art.

The grandson of the founder of J.C. Newman Cigar Company never knew there was a secret stairwell in a room once used by managers to count money made from that day's production of cigars. Employees discovered it two months ago as they continue to upgrade the factory for its 125th anniversary. Apparently, it was used to hide money from the mafia before they can rob the factory.

Machines have been used to make cigars at J.C. Newman Cigar Company for decades, but there are still some employees at the factory that continue to hand-roll cigars. They can produce up to 100 per day.

When J.C. Newman Cigar Company first opened in the late 1800s, they, like all factory, rolled their cigars by hand. The factory introduced machines to speed up the process in the 1930s. Those same machines are still being used today in the last operating cigar factory in Ybor City.

Lang Sun Country Groves is where you can still ship citrus to friends up north, or enjoy some fresh grapefruit pie they are famous for. The business has been handed down through the generations. The family’s aim was to produce the juiciest, sweetest citrus in Florida.

The owner of Felice’s Italian Pork Store & Deli, Nunziata Bowers – but everyone knows her as Mamma – says they make everything the old-fashioned way.

The Hillsborough County School District is hosting its School Choice Expo to educate you about everything the district has to offer, including magnet schools. Open enrollment is underway and closes at the end of the year. The event takes place at the Florida State Fairgrounds Friday, November 1 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Miss Anita is known to come up with some creative crafts – and on Halloween it is no different. It’s amazing what you can come up with just a lot of duct tape. She offers art classes for kids and adults.

There is a new way to learn even more about the murals in downtown St. Petersburg, thanks to Pixelstix. They’ve teamed up with the folks from SHINE Mural Festival to create a digital gallery. Using a smartphone with the Pixelstix app, visitors to a mural can scan a Pixelstix plaque which will load docent-level information about the mural and the artist onto their device. Additionally, interactive maps show the locations of the festival’s collection of murals, creating a personalized mural tour. For more information: pixelstix.com

Joe’s New York Diner is one of the few places in Hillsborough County where you can grab a meal at any hour of the day or night.