Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The beverage director of the Tampa fine dining favorite is reimagining the classics to expert effect When is an old fashioned not an old fashioned? When you order it from Ponte Beverage Director and Sommelier Tyler Wolff who uses dark kokuto sugar and walnut bitters and amaro instead of simple syrup for a nutty caramelly evolution of the classic cocktail staple this year’s MICHELIN Guide Florida Exceptional Cocktails Award Winner is behind the Tampa spot’s radical drink menu split down the middle with parallel classic and modern preparations of the bartender’s canon with lavender vodka and white cranberry juice tweaks just clever enough to keep the drink feeling familiar and boundary-pushing at the same time everybody's comfortable with the margarita everybody's comfortable with an old fashioned What are some things that we can focus on to keep things similar stylistically allow people to try something new?” Wolff says Wolff talks designing an iconoclastic drink list and how he worked foie gras into one of Ponte’s most popular cocktails Providing for the guests is the most important thing for us—they’re why we keep our lights on and why we’ve become an important restaurant It’s great to have a bartender make a cool cocktail is that going to be something that the guest is going to order When we talk about making differences between classic and modern cocktails we want to change small things along the way without making a completely different drink Maintaining the identity of what a cosmo is originally One of the ones that I always like to highlight is probably our staple everybody's very comfortable with an old fashioned—it’s a super old cocktail that's been done mostly the same way—with some differences—throughout the years a small presence of smokiness to the cocktail without having to have the cocktail smoked in any way Where you often see people using demerara sugar concentrated brown sugar that you can find in Asian markets We also use black walnut bitters to bring out some more nutty flavors and to emphasize the little bit of nuttiness that you get from the sugar itself Our twist on the drink is that instead of adding a simple syrup—because the cocktail is so simple anyway—we add Montenegro which is an amaro that’s a little bit more on the higher-sugar-content side of amaro We just use a small portion of that to fill the spot of simple syrup while also adding another layer of flavor It becomes a very complex cocktail with all the small which just takes an old fashioned up a notch I've worked for Chef Chris Ponte (the Chef/owner of Ponte) for 13 years I started working at Cafe Ponte and it's been a great ride eventually becoming a bartender and manager When I started working at Cafe Ponte, learning about cocktails and wine had the largest learning curve. As I focused on studying, I realized that balance is at the core of what makes a beverage high quality. Creating that balance is what makes a wine or a cocktail special. My first real experience making cocktails for a menu was when we opened Olivia We spent time as a team making an Italian-inspired menu from scratch Learning about Italian cocktails inspired me and I started diving more into how cultures have their own classics and make cocktails their own I’ve been grateful to be a part of three restaurant openings: On Swann Curating the beverage programs has become part of my focus and one of the most rewarding parts of working in restaurants for me I started by ordering mostly drinks where you couldn't taste the spirit learning about the effort distillers put into spirits I began to appreciate all of the flavors that different spirits bring I like to enjoy something someone else created or something I've never had We see a lot of people nowadays doing milk punches or fat washing or they're making their own bitters or different unique touches With us being a more elevated style of dining we wanted to figure out how to infuse some specialty ingredients into our cocktails a small portion rendered down to a complete fat the foie gras fat separates from the spirit but it adds texture and imparts the flavor of the foie gras It's a mixture between an old fashioned and a Manhattan kind of a play on both of those styles and ingredients You pick it up in the aromatics and the nose where most of your sense of taste comes from and then you go ahead and get the rest of the flavor on the back end It's one of those that you taste for a minute or two after your first initial sip based on what's freshest at his local farm Her fully Italian wine list is farmer first and blends perfectly with rustic Italian cooking The general manager of the nearly 20-course tasting menu can make time stand still A host of new wallet-friendly spots join the Florida selection From listening bars to neighbourhood restaurants explore all the top recommendations from Chishuru’s Adejoké Bakare One of the most prominent chefs serving Indian cuisine talks India and his New York What the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors Saw in 2025 The Mexican capital takes center stage alongside the culinary world's top talents From Texas Barbecue to Mexico City's cutting-edge dining these new MICHELIN Guide hot spots promise unforgettable vacations and world-class cuisine These are the best lake vacations for a summer break from Lake Tahoe in the US to Lake Como in Switzerland and the MICHELIN-recommended restaurants and bolt holes to bed down in when you visit where do fashion’s biggest names retreat for a bite and a bed We imagine the post-Gala sanctuaries of the chicest attendees these iconic chefs mentor professional chefs who have an ego Who knew brisket and biscuits could be so good From tartan fabrics and stag antler furnishings to rare Scotch whiskies and castle views you'll have no doubt which country you're in when staying at these Michelin-Key hotels she has championed America’s farm-to-table movement for 54 years The self-proclaimed “unofficial talent scout” shares his local favorites from the city he calls home When you want to dress up and enjoy a night out on the town Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels When is an old fashioned not an old fashioned? When you order it from Ponte Beverage Director and Sommelier Tyler Wolff this year\u2019s MICHELIN Guide Florida Exceptional Cocktails Award Winner is behind the Tampa spot\u2019s radical drink menu split down the middle with parallel classic and modern preparations of the bartender\u2019s canon \u201cEverybody's comfortable with the cosmo allow people to try something new?\u201d Wolff says and how he worked foie gras into one of Ponte\u2019s most popular cocktails Providing for the guests is the most important thing for us\u2014they\u2019re why we keep our lights on and why we\u2019ve become an important restaurant It\u2019s great to have a bartender make a cool cocktail everybody's very comfortable with an old fashioned\u2014it\u2019s a super old cocktail that's been done mostly the same way\u2014with some differences\u2014throughout the years Our twist on the drink is that instead of adding a simple syrup\u2014because the cocktail is so simple anyway\u2014we add Montenegro which is an amaro that\u2019s a little bit more on the higher-sugar-content side of amaro When I started working at Cafe Ponte, learning about cocktails and wine had the largest learning curve. As I focused on studying, I realized that balance is at the core of what makes a beverage high quality. Creating that balance is what makes a wine or a cocktail special. My first real experience making cocktails for a menu was when we opened Olivia I\u2019ve been grateful to be a part of three restaurant openings: On Swann PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A licensed real estate agent was recently indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple charges that include conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to sell firearms illegally, providing false statements to a firearm dealer, conspiracy to traffic illegal drugs, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to federal investigators, between March of 2022 and June of last year, Braden Hobbs, 27, of Jacksonville, purchased more than 120 firearms from three different federally licensed gun dealers in Jacksonville, then illegally sold those guns on the street to drug dealers, drug traffickers, and convicted felons. Federal authorities said there were multiple occasions in which Hobbs advertised firearms for sale to potential customers before he completed the purchase of the firearms from federally licensed gun dealers. Federal investigators also said customers had paid Hobbs cash for the guns or traded drugs for the guns. According to investigators, Hobbs was aware that some of his customers intended to resell the weapons and were either drug users or drug dealers. Hobbs did not act alone, investigators found. According to the feds, Hobbs asked unnamed co-conspirators to assist him in finding buyers for the guns, and those co-conspirators advertised the firearms for sale. Cell phone records later showed that one of the unnamed co-conspirators regularly purchased guns from Hobbs. Hobbs is accused of making straw purchases at licensed gun stores. A straw purchase is when someone who is legally allowed to own a gun purchases the weapon for someone who is not legally allowed to own a firearm. According to federal investigators, law enforcement started investigating Hobbs when several guns he had purchased were recovered during unrelated drug raids on homes suspected of being drug houses. Retired JSO Director of Investigations and Homeland Security, turned News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst, Tom Hackney, said this case highlights how straw purchases get guns on the street into the wrong hands. “This really highlights that burglaries are not the only way guns find their way into the criminal element. It’s a criminal element that is supplying them, and this highlights the nexus between drugs, guns, and violence,” Hackney said. In addition to being a suspected firearm trafficker, federal investigators said Hobbs was also trafficking illegal drugs. Court records show that in June of last year, Hobbs was arrested by Jacksonville police for suspicion of driving under the influence. It was during that traffic stop that officers discovered Hobbs had 330 grams of cocaine, 17 grams of Adderall, and paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking. According to court documents, the evidence found in his car led to multiple drug charges, including trafficking cocaine, which was the most serious felony charge. While in the Duval County jail, Hobbs received an additional criminal charge after investigators said he assaulted a corrections officer. Hobbs posted a $120,000 bond to get out of jail and was awaiting his day in court when he was recently indicted on illegal gun charges. If convicted, Hobbs could face up to 95 years in prison. Hobbs is a licensed real estate agent who worked out of a Ponte Vedra Beach office. An employee at the corporate office confirmed to News4JAX that Hobbs was still employed with the company and that his real estate license was still valid. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. 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Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site I got an error when visiting eurovision.tv/video/gabry-ponte-has-played-all-biggest-stages-world-now-hes-eurovision2025 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Marcela Camargo ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating reports of tire spikes near a bicycle path in Nocatee. SJSO said on Thursday night it had received two reports of punctured tires near the bicycle path at Crosswater Parkway and Bluewater Drive.  “It’s just been a little alarming,” Maureen McCluskey, a Nocatee resident said. McCluskey said she first heard about the tire spikes from a post in one of her “mommy” Facebook groups. Then, she heard about it again from one of her neighbors. “My neighbor was one of the one whose children ran over one of them,” McCluskey said. Since hearing about the spikes she’s made sure to be more careful and vigilant while on this path, so neither her nor her child don’t roll over one. News4JAX also spoke spoke to a teen named Sebastian after his mom gave him permission to speak with us. He said one of his friends was injured when they rolled over one of the spikes, and it popped their tire.  “So his tire got caught in one of the spikes and then he also landed on one of the spikes,” Sebastian said. Sebastian says his friend had to have surgery but is recovering now. SJSO said the Tolomato Community Development District was helping with cleanup and implemented measures to locate spikes. Deputies asked the community to be careful when biking and using the path near Crosswater Parkway and Bluewater Drive. If you locate anything suspicious, please contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (904) 824-8304. Khalil Maycock joined the News4JAX team in November 2022 after reporting in Des Moines, IA. Marcela joined News4JAX in 2023. She grew up in Mexico and eventually moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. Now, she is a proud San Diego State University alumna who has many years of experience in TV and digital journalism. Make way for Ponte Vedra in the final four Mason Hauseman and Matthias Schulz netted four goals apiece for the top-seeded Sharks, overcoming rival Nease 13-6 in the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-2A championship for boys lacrosse on May 3 It chalks up another mark in Ponte Vedra's Battle of the Bridge dominance, a run now extending well over a decade, and keeps the Sharks' hopes alive for adding another FHSAA trophy to go with their title from 2019. clawing back to tie the score after an early 3-0 deficit and denying Ponte Vedra repeatedly on reaction saves by goalie Austin Azotea But the Sharks (18-3) found their rhythm in the middle of a contest amid intermittent rain moving the ball quickly and adjusting to the Panthers' defensive tweaks and we just know it's eventually going to come," Ponte Vedra coach Chris Polanski said Carter Magnano added two goals for Ponte Vedra and Jackson Coughlin scored twice to lead Nease Ponte Vedra advances to the Class 2A final four at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples and next play Lake Mary on May 8 on the FHSAA bracket What a difference six weeks made for Bolles the Bulldogs avenged a regular-season defeat and overcame top seed Episcopal 9-5 in an intense Region 1-1A final at Jangro Stadium David Caldwell scored three goals and Preston Hager two for the Bulldogs (18-5) "It's a shame that only one of us could move on," Bolles coach Tom West said After Episcopal upset Bolles 15-7 on March 21 the Eagles' first victory in the series for nearly seven years the Bulldogs responded with a lockdown night on defense to stifle the hosts Episcopal (19-4) bounced back from an early 3-0 hole tying the game on the second of three goals from Robert Adams before Bolles took charge with two second-period goals from Hager The Bulldogs led by at least two goals the rest of the way with Tucker Chappell and long-stick midfielder Cam Zielinski forcing multiple turnovers helped Bolles weather a string of man-down sequences The Bulldogs (18-5) earn a trip to Naples to face Boca Raton St "We've kind of had a stress test on what we're good at and what we're not good at," West said A Ponte Vedra Beach business executive who put $2 million in the bank for taxes has pleaded guilty to holding onto employment taxes that were owed to the federal government Daniel Tharp’s conviction for willfully failing to pay taxes that his Hangar X Holdings LLC owed could legally lead to a prison sentence as long as five years, but prosecutors agreed to recommend lenience when U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger sentences him Tharp had already paid the Internal Revenue Service the roughly $1.2 million he owed as restitution before his plea agreement was handed over Wednesday to U.S Tharp’s plea only admitted not sending employment taxes for one three-month quarter of 2019, when the company had at least 14 employees and should have submitted $187,525. But the agreement spells out that the company didn't send either money or required quarterly reports for about five years Different case: $10M+ in earnings, $0 to IRS; Jacksonville-area businessman charged with tax evasion Employment taxes include withheld income taxes Social Security and Medicare taxes and unemployment taxes who became chief platform officer for Wheels Up through 2022 Tharp’s plea agreement doesn’t address why Hangar X drew government attention But it says that between 2015 and the end of 2019 the company had employees scattered around the country and withheld employment taxes as the law requires Tharp created a bank account in 2019 labeled as a federal payroll escrow and put $2 million there but “did not remit any of the $1,217,858.81 that were due,” the agreement said and experience what it feels like to inspire the next generation of students Recruitment / Retention SupplementFor Full and Part-Time Instructional EmployeesStarting in the 2025-2026 School Year regular full time and part time instructional employees will receive an annual salary supplement of no less than $4,500.00 in accordance with conditions set forth in the SJEA Memorandum of Understanding The funds reserved for the instructional unit shall be paid to employees within the instructional  bargaining unit in referendum supplements as follows: Recruitment / Retention SupplementFor Full and Part-Time Support EmployeesStarting in the 2025-2026 School Year educational support (non-instructional) employees will receive an annual salary supplement of no less than $6,110.00 for regular full-time employees as defined by Article VI (C) and no less than $3,055.00 for regular part-time employees The salary supplement will be paid in installments within the employee’s regularly scheduled paycheck during the following school years: Applying online is the best and most efficient way to begin the hiring process gather your documents this may include (i.e. high school diploma or high school transcripts etc.) Be sure to monitor the website and your daily notification email for updates on job vacancies Sitemap|Disclaimer Notice Former Florida Georgia Line singer and Volusia County native Brian Kelley will make a stop on his “Sunshine State of Mind” tour later this summer at the intimate Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Ponte Vedra Beach a converted church that has become a hub for a diverse array of touring acts  Tickets for the 8 p.m. show, which range from $42.90-$81.40, will be available online through the venue’s official ticketing partner, AXS (axs.com) and in-person at The St The tour’s title is a reference to Kelley’s debut solo album, “Sunshine State of Mind,” a 2021 collection of Florida-centric songs that included “Florida Boy Forever,” an ode to his formative years in Ormond Beach The video for that song featured an assortment of Daytona Beach-area backdrops, including the historic Daytona Bandshell, as well as a cameo by Kelley’s father, former Volusia County Council Chair Ed Kelley Brian Kelley was a baseball star on the school team which also received a shout-out in the video “Palm Tree Country,” that’s also built in that same Sunshine State mindset Expect to hear that one, along with additional solo material from his 2024 album release, “Tennessee Truth.” Could there be a reunion?With its lyrics about a broken relationship “Kiss My Boots,” generated speculation that it was about the dissolution of Florida Georgia Line but Kelley told The News-Journal in 2024 that the inspiration is more universal than that “It’s a bigger meaning than one thing or one person,” he said “Everybody in the music industry has a couple of people on the kiss my boots list I love that song and I’m so glad it's out in the world for people to make it what they want when its resonating and when people find their truth in it.” Florida Georgia Line generated 19 career chart-topping singles becoming the first and only act to achieve two RIAA Diamond singles in Country music history (14X Platinum #1s: “Cruise” and “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha) The duo has surpassed 17 billion global streams selling more than 40 million tracks and 4.8 million albums worldwide Speculation continues among fans about a possible Florida Georgia Line reunion something that Kelley didn’t rule out in a 2024 News-Journal interview The duo of Kelley and partner Tyler Hubbard officially split in 2022 after taking an indefinite hiatus in 2021 “I’m really proud of what we built,” he said “Time will be the great teller with that,” Kelley said at the time This story was updated to add new information FALL RIVER — The SouthCoast community was left with heavy hearts this week following the sudden death of a familiar face at a longtime city bakery Joshua Ponte, who ran Modern Ponte's Bakery on Rodman Street with his father, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 195 in Seekonk this past Tuesday friends and those local business owners who got to know Joshua as the bearer of their locally sourced breads and baked goods remember the 37-year-old Fall River resident for his kindness Relatives described Joshua as a family man who loved his job and could always be counted on for a laugh "He was a wonderful person," said Natalia Medeiros sister-in-law of Joshua's father Agostinho Ponte "He was a very friendly person to everyone he knew He always had a smile on his face and was always a big joker." What we know: Fall River man dies in I-195 crash, DA's office says Modern Ponte's Bakery has been a staple in Fall River for 20 years a go-to for an assortment of breads and papo secos (Portuguese rolls) who had also previously worked as a barber and according to the family was poised to take over for his dad as owner But Joshua's experience working in a bakery — and alongside his dad — started well before that Joshua had been learning the ropes from him as a young child at another local bakery before Agostinho decided to start their own family shop The elder Ponte recalled these memories fondly which sum up the great team they had become over the years "He was a good friend and a good son," Agostinho said Employees at Modern Ponte's Bakery said they will remember Joshua's "incredible personality" that made his staff always feel comfortable a great friend and an incredible boss," said Crystal Bielawa "He was a beautiful spirit inside and out .. He wanted to do everything for everybody." 'Unimaginable pain': Norton 6-year-old who died in icy pond was 'full of wonder' This sentiment was shared by Md Shahidul Islam, New York City transplant and owner of NY Fresh Bagel and Bakery on Jefferson Street who considered Joshua not just a friend but family "Josh was the one who introduced me to Fall River and made it feel like home. He was also the kind soul who painted my restaurant, Monalessa’s Kitchen, without asking for anything in return. His selflessness and kindness knew no bounds," reads a post shared on NY Fresh's Facebook page on Wednesday The post further highlighted Joshua's charitable efforts we organized a free blanket distribution for those in need in my childhood village We were so excited as we planned our next free medical campaign Josh was deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of others and his generosity and compassion will forever inspire me," the post reads White's of Westport and Fall River's Primo on Water Street were also among those local businesses who offered their condolences "If you have had a dinner or salad roll at White’s over the past 5 years Always quick with a smile and hello when he delivered our bread Josh was one of the nicest guys you would want to meet We will miss our interactions," reads a post from White's of Westport on Thursday According to the family, a service for Joshua Ponte will be held at Silva-Faria Funeral Home The Bristol County District Attorney's Office says an investigation into Ponte's crash is ongoing Two popular cuisines ― Italian and Japanese ― will come together in an inspired fusion menu offered at an upcoming Black Pearl hopes to open at 880 Florida A1A N. in Ponte Vedra Pointe Shopping Center by early March just before The Players Championship co-founder and managing partner Kelvin Ole told the Times-Union Ole said Black Pearl will specialize in Itameshi cuisine with a rotating menu focusing on local and global seasonal ingredients Itameshi, which means "Italian food" in Japanese, combines traditional Italian dishes with Japanese ingredients, according to Club + Resort Chef a publication designed for professional chefs "I want to bring the experience to the city," Ole said "I want people to experience what real sushi is I want to explain to people … and get people more excited about food." He said food should be an experience that goes beyond what is on the plate It's not just about grilling fish or frying fish That is what I want to bring to the people here," said Ole noting the culture and history of a dish add to the dish and its creativity Ole said the restaurant will reflect the spirit and elegance of its namesake As described on the restaurant's Instagram page black pearls are significant in Japanese folklore and art Black pearls (kuro shinju) can "symbolize rarity "We are coming to bring black pearl essence with our imagination and creativity to create rare and unique moments for your dining experience!" the restaurant promises Black Pearl will be the first restaurant of its kind in the Jacksonville area Ole said he had been searching for a location for about a year He chose Ponte Vedra Beach for Black Pearl because he "fell in love with the area." think miso carbonara pastaEating at Black Pearl Ole said will be an opportunity for guests to explore the elevated and diverse cuisine that he has experienced during his career "It's not going to be a sushi pizza restaurant … Black Pearl is going to be something different I'm going to do something like a miso carbonara pasta Then probably short rib ramen with garlic parmesan Espuma," said Ole citing a culinary technique that creates a light airy foam His mother had a small bakery in their home of Bali he developed a background in Italian and French cuisine took him to the Philippines for a couple of years and then Singapore and Europe Ole emigrated to the United States four years ago He spent the first two years in Los Angeles where he "fell in love" with sushi and other Japanese cuisine "It changed my life and my point of view about restaurants bring something rare from my experience to here," he said Two years ago, Ole relocated to Jacksonville, where he became the manager of Sushi Bear Sushi & Grill in the Lakeshore neighborhood Ole said Black Pearl will have about 100 seats in the main dining area and patio There also will be a speakeasy-style lounge that will accommodate about 18 to 24 people "It's going to be more cocktail experience with Japanese ingredients and Italian wines There will be Asian-inspired drinks with alcohol or nonalcoholic beverages." Ole said French fine dining bistro: Acclaimed St. Augustine chef opens French bistro as his third fine-dining restaurant What's old is new again: Southern Grounds restores, revitalizes century-old St. Augustine house for new restaurant There also will be eight seats for private Omakase and Italian capo-style dining "My big goal is to bring the first Michelin [star] restaurant to North Florida and I want to start from here with this project," he said Black Pearl is building out in a 4,256-square-foot storefront at an estimated cost of $400,000 Ole said he wants it to become a trendsetter for the hospitality industry in the Jacksonville area The new restaurant replaces Mezcal Cantina Authentic Mexican Grill, which relocated and transitioned into Anejo Cocina Mexicana Black Pearl will join other restaurants at Ponte Vedra Pointe Shopping Center including McFlamingo, Beach Diner, Bronx House Pizza, I Noodle Ramen & Dumpling, and Flo's Premium Ice Cream, a Strategic Sites-Clifford Commercial real estate flyer shows Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com If you're a subscriber, thank you. 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Learn more Olivia will open at the ground floor of the ascent tower in downtown st Tampa Bay's prestigious Chef Chris Ponte has set an opening date for OLIVIA a modern Italian restaurant coming to downtown St The 5,550-square-foot restaurant, which was announced in March 2023 will open on January 21st on the ground floor of the recently completed 36-story Ascent apartment and hotel tower at 225 1st Avenue North OLIVIA’s flagship Tampa location debuted in 2019 in Tampa and has garnered a loyal following for delivering all the authentic flavors of a traditional Italian trattoria with innovative modern touches from the mind of Chef Ponte a past nominee for the highly prestigious James Beard Foundation Award.   and On Swann and Bare Naked Kitchen in Tampa Pete OLIVIA will be similar in most ways to its South Tampa counterpart but there could be a few new additions to the menu olivia will serve authentic Italian dishes as well as pizzas including an expansive outdoor patio fronting 1st Avenue North The restaurant will include a dough room with large windows into the dining room allowing guests to observe OLIVIA’s chefs baking fresh breads and pastries A well-stocked wine vault and full bar will activate the central core surrounded by various seating styles in a modern urban chic atmosphere accentuated by warm lighting and elegant paneled columns Ponte worked with Tampa-based architect firm api(+) and local general contractor Reno Boyd Building Co. for the design and buildout of the new restaurant space See more renderings here Be sure to follow OLIVIA on Facebook and Instagram for the latest announcements a previous rednering of the dining room in olivia | api(+) Want to be the first to know what’s coming soon to the Sunshine City Sign up to receive the latest news straight to your inbox Contact - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy© 2024 St. Pete Rising, LLC Addional reporting by Roberto Mignucci and Remo Casilli Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved The designer served grapes, minus the wrath, in the form of an armor-like dress and a jewelry-like halter shown with a wrap-skirt made from a pair of pinstriped trousers, which tempered the Dionysian vibes. Celebratory in a different way were the dresses made of mylar balloons in odd, off colors: one looked almost as if Eve and the Serpent had become one. Vivienne Westwood Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Maison Rabih Kayrouz Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The former Serenata Beach Club has a new name The private club is now the South Ponte Vedra Ocean Club The new version of the beach club held a VIP Night on Tuesday which included a ceremonial ribbon cutting ‘Serenata is no more," Club director Kimberly Patterson said New owners Kevin Merritt and Lynda-Culhane Merritt purchased the beach club along A1A last year. The club officially opened to members on Monday and a new restaurant concept Culhane-Merritt remains involved with the daily operation of the Culhane’s Irish Pubs in Atlantic Beach and South Jacksonville and the Culhane’s vodka and wine brands The previous owners owed two mortgage lenders a combined $14 million The Merritts paid just over $1.5 million for the property bidding alongside an embattled Rhode Island businessman and Serenata Beach Club Members who planned to open a member-owned club RELATED | Embattled Rhode Island businessman, local corp. and Serenata Beach Club members plan to bid on property at auction Merritt jokes that if he only paid $1.5 million for the club he would be in the Guinness Book of World Records He clarified that they also paid what was owed to the previous mortgage lenders along with investing in much-needed renovations and upgraded fixtures for the beach club “We were going to sell the club to a member equity group They tried their best and they tried to get 550 to join so we had to do what we did,” Merritt said There are currently 275 members of the South Ponte Vedra Ocean Club all of which are previous members of the Serenata Beach Club Merritt said the beach club had about 1,200 members The club has been in the spotlight for a host of financial problems since 2023 leading to temporary shutdowns the club announced its reopening under new management employees said they were still waiting on their paychecks and W-2s Merritt said they are working on rebuilding trust with previous Serenata Beach Club members. “Two hundred and seventy-five believed and I thank them for trusting us. So kudos to them,” Merritt said. Memberships are still available for purchase. The initial cost through March 1 is $15,000 plus tax; after March 1 the cost will be $17,500 with tax. “Imagine oceanfront dining at the Ritz Carlton,” Managing Director Mark Rojas said. “From the time you walk into my restaurant, you will get a class.” Existing members were offered a discount on the initial membership fees. If they joined in November they paid $11,500 and in December that price went up to $12,500. Merritt anticipates that the initial cost will increase by $5,000 every six months until the private beach club is leveled up. Because Lynda’s at the Ocean Club is open to the public, membership will be capped at 850. Tiffany comes home to Jacksonville, FL from WBND in South Bend, Indiana. She went to Mandarin High School and UNF. Tiffany is a former WJXT intern, and joined the team in 2023 as Consumer Investigative Reporter and member of the I-TEAM. Hua Yao Ke, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday to establishing a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading immigration laws a felony punishable by up to five years in prison requires a conscious decision to get around immigration laws That’s something prosecutors argued Ke did with several employees of the restaurant Kamiya 86 which he opened in 2019 and ran until last year Another approach: Guilty pleas logged in workers comp scam that helped hide illegal labor, cost feds millions he had the intent of hiring undocumented aliens who he knew were not legally authorized to work in the United States,” said a section of a plea agreement labeled “Factual Basis” that Ke initialed to show he agreed with what it said The agreement said Ke didn’t require his workers to fill out a federal Form I-9 an employment eligibility sheet that every employer is supposed to keep for every employee The agreement said Ke paid his employees in cash didn’t take out taxes or withholding deductions and let employees live rent-free in a house he owned off Kernan Boulevard near Beach Boulevard The plea deal described a white van picking up people at Ke’s house and taking them to the restaurant to work It also described investigators talking to people in the van and the house and being told ― by at least two Guatemalan men and a Nepalese woman ― that they were in the United States illegally Whatever sentence he'll face, the biggest potential penalty might be deportation for Ke, who was born in China. A criminal complaint that an investigator filed against Ke last year for his prosecution identified him as a lawfully admitted permanent resident ― a green card holder ― so his position in this country is pretty stable But the plea agreement Ke signed recognized that position could be undermined by him being prosecuted A breakdown of potential penalties from the plea including up to five years behind bars; a fine of up to $250,000; and up to three years of supervised release; also touched on a risk for a non-citizen like Ke "Conviction of the offense also could adversely affect the defendant's immigration status in the United States," the agreement said This story has been updated to include new information (This story has been updated to add new information.) Pompano Beach Blanche Ely climbed out of a halftime hole and rallied past Ponte Vedra 44-38 in Friday night's Florida High School Athletic Association Class 5A boys basketball championship Blanche Ely forward Kaleb Corbitt scored 19 and guard Dylon Hanna turned up the energy to spearhead the charge thrilling the enthusiastic traveling Tiger supporters from Broward County inside the RP Funding Center in Lakeland Paced by Maddox Palmer and his game-high 20 points the Sharks splashed back in the final minutes cutting the gap to two points when the Jacksonville University commit converted a four-point play with 2:29 remaining took command and iced the game from the foul line not X's and O's," Blanche Ely coach JR McNabb said Playing their fourth consecutive final four Ponte Vedra initially seemed to have the perfect recipe to frustrate the Tigers But they couldn't overcome the muscle of Corbitt the 33-21 rebounding margin in favor of the Tigers or their own shooting inconsistency (12.5 percent for the first three quarters) from beyond the 3-point arc "We knew they were coming," Ponte Vedra coach Ben Wilson said "We did a good job slowing them down first half but the third quarter's kind of an Achilles' heel for us all year." Two days after outlasting Leesburg in a triple-overtime semifinal epic the Sharks deployed a disciplined zone defense to slow down the eight-time champion Tigers and their three-pronged scoring combination of Hanna The Sharks held Blanche Ely scoreless for a span of nearly seven minutes and their patient approach tempted the Tigers into bad shots They did an unbelievable job preparing and an unbelievable job of scouting us." Ponte Vedra (22-9) entered the locker room up 16-12 holding the Tigers to 21.7 percent shooting before halftime TIGERS STRIKE BACKOne dunk changed the tone Corbitt began the third quarter with a dunk -- he called it a "momentum push" -- and from there our teammates [Hanna and McNabb] hit those little threes we start playing defense and start flying around Blanche Ely (20-9) emerged from halftime with renewed energy starting on a 7-0 run and jumping in front to stay on Corbitt's jumper with 5:28 left in the third The Tigers stretched their lead to as many as seven points getting eight boards from Jonas and six each from Hanna and Corbitt "They kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit," Wilson said stopped a lot of the offensive stuff we wanted to do and they got loose a little bit in transition twice cutting the gap to one score in the final four minutes and twice electrifying the arena on Palmer dunks as David Sanchez Barrera scored 14 for the Sharks to spur the comeback in his final game But the Tigers converted eight free throws down the stretch to seal it The drought continues for Northeast Florida Although Bradford won the Rural 1A class in 2022 no school from Jacksonville or its immediately bordering counties has won an FHSAA boys basketball championship since Bolles in 2016 Johns County's lone FHSAA tournament champion on the boys side appears well-positioned to challenge once more in 2025-26 The Sharks will graduate starters Sanchez Barrera and Alex Katsikas but the remainder of the roster is on course to return in 2025-26 guards Ryan Speace and Noah Simmons and 6-9 junior forward Trace Westercamp who pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and blocked three shots "There's no quit in our guys," Wilson said A Ponte Vedra Beach man may have a new favorite number after scratching off two 19s on his $5,000,000 Triple Match ticket to win one of the last top prizes in the $20 game chose to receive his winnings as a one-time lump-sum payment of $3,319.810 (note another 19 in there) He purchased his winning ticket from First Coast Energy at 195 (and again) Corridor Road in Ponte Vedra Davenport cashed his ticket in on November, you guessed it, 19, according to the Lottery's website. State law allows for a grace period to release winners' names unless waived The Triple Match game launched in September 2023 and offers three ways to win, featuring eight top prizes of $5 million — only one of which remains, according to the Lottery website Five secondary prizes of $1 million are unclaimed of the 18 Davenport becomes only the second Northeast Florida winner of either prize Jose Antonio Moreno of Satsuma claimed a $1 million prize after buying his ticket at the 700 Third Ave PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – In less than one week, you can be sitting right outside the ropes along the iconic island green at TPC Sawgrass and watch the best golfers in the world compete at one of the biggest tournaments on tour. The Players Championship is back for another year and the field was officially announced Friday. March 11 through 16, 144 of the best golfers in the world will compete in Ponte Vedra Beach. Unfortunately, Tiger Woods is not one of them. Though, 48 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are featured including representation from 24 countries. The Players champions will be competing, including two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler who is looking to become the first player to win The Players three times since Jack Nicklaus (1974, 1976, 1978). Scheffler is also looking to become the first player to win a PGA Tour event three consecutive years since Steve Stricker won the John Deere Classic in 2009-2011. It will be bittersweet for 24 players who are making their tournament debut. Even if you’re not an avid golf fan, you can still enjoy The Players Championship. There’s so much to do and see. This year there are upgrades for spectators. The Players Championship executive director Lee Smith said his team listened to what you wanted and they delivered. THE PLAYERS Championship field list is as follows: Alessandra Pontbriand joined WJXT4 as a sports anchor and reporter in May 2023. She is excited to join the extremely talented sports team and have the opportunity to tell stories across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia from local high schools, universities, and pro teams! Ponte Vedra stood up to a basketball powerhouse until the very end on Friday night. But perennial heavyweight Blanche Ely’s burst in the third quarter was too much for the Sharks to overcome in a 44-38 loss in the Class 5A state championship game at RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The Sharks were trying to bring home the first championship for a St. Johns County team since Nease in 2002 and gave it their best. Ponte Vedra led at halftime in a low-scoring game (16-12) before the Tigers came on with ferocity in the third quarter. Ely (20-9) flipped that deficit into a 31-26 edge going into the final quarter and kept it until the finish. The Tigers now have nine state championships, including two over teams from St. Johns County. Ely beat Creekside 77-54 in the 2018 state title game. The Tigers have won nine state championships in 12 attempts, including the final eight. Two days after edging Leesburg in triple OT in the state semis, the Sharks went into a slowdown game in the opening half and frustrated the Tigers. Ponte Vedra closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run and took that lead into the second half. Maddox Palmer led Ponte Vedra with 20 points. Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years. Officials said Hua Yao Ke, 38, who owns the Kamiya 86 Sushi and Thai restaurant employed workers unlawfully present in the U.S. Ke didn’t require the workers to provide documents stating that they could legally work in the U.S., contrary to federal law. Investigators said Ke provided free food, housing, and transportation between the houses and the restaurants. Federal agents raided the restaurant on Aug. 14, 2024. Ke is facing up to five years in prison and a hearing has not been scheduled. Hailing from Detroit, Jonathan is excited to start his media career at News4JAX in November 2023. He is passionate about telling stories that matter to the community and he is honored to serve Jacksonville. This story has been updated to reflect new information The New York City-based daughter of a Jacksonville attorney was among the 67 victims of the Wednesday-night plane crash in Washington She was a 2014 graduate of Ponte Vedra High School Her parents are Peter and Stacie Nicandri of Ponte Vedra Beach Peter Nicandri is a partner at Milam Howard Nicandri & Gillam in Jacksonville He told WJXT TV-4 that he and his wife were with their daughter last weekend in New York City when she told them about a planned business trip to Kansas "She’s just anything that anyone would want in a daughter," her father told the station She worked hard and had so much ahead of her "They’ve already given us a timeline of the investigation so we will be monitoring," he said but … it’s not going to change the fact that our daughter is gone." A Moodys' spokeswoman said "two of our best" — Nicandri and Chris Collins — lost their lives on the American Airlines Flight 5342 "Chris and Melissa were cherished colleagues who embodied our values and enriched our lives with kindness and warmth," the spokeswoman said "They leave an immeasurable void in our community as well as all those grieving from this terrible tragedy." Collins was a vice president and senior analyst in Moody's Stamford Nicandri was secretary of the school's National Honor Society chapter and member of the National Hispanic Honor Society and Girls Learn International She was also yearbook editor and student ambassador She obtained a bachelor's degree in economics from Vanderbilt University in 2018 and a master's degree in international economics and finance from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 2022 she was an analyst and consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton an IT services and consulting firm in McLean (This story has been updated to include a family-provided photo.) AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Ponte Vedra girls soccer team is the best in the state again. The Sharks withstood a late push from Lourdes Academy and held on for a 2-1 win in the Class 5A state championship game Saturday afternoon at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale. The back-to-back titles are push Ponte Vedra’s total to five. For head coach Dave Silverberg, it’s the ninth championship of a hall of fame career. Silverberg won four at Nease. This one was special in a different way. The Sharks lost nearly a dozen seniors to graduation or early enrollment. That included star players Natalie Brooks (Clemson) and Jenny Dearie (North Carolina). That meant the Sharks needed every bit of their lineup to produce, and it did. Ponte Vedra scored two minutes into the game when Izzy Whitaker pushed a ball into Katie DeVincentis, who knocked it off a Lourdes player and into the net. The Sharks got their next goal on one of the prettiest shots of the year, this one by Lulu Consunji. Taking a free kick from 35 yards away, Consunji put it just past Whitaker’s head and into the net at the 15-minute mark for a 2-0 lead. The Bobcats pressed furiously after that and scored their lone goal in the final 10 minutes, but the Ponte Vedra defense held strong.