Brooks, Mehra Hailed For Work Benefiting Children About 300 guests attended the seventh annual Champion for Children awards ceremony and dinner Oct. 2 at the Renaissance Hotel at International Plaza in Tampa. The dinner, the signature event for Voices for Children of Hillsborough County Inc., the fundraising branch of Guardian Ad Litem, honored Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks as the 2008 Champion for Children for his work with youths, including The Brooks Bunch, Derrick Brooks Charities and Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in North Tampa. Tampa psychiatrist Rahul Mehra was presented with the Guardian Angel Award for volunteering for Guardian Ad Litem, the nonprofit agency that assigns volunteers to represent children who need help during legal proceedings. The evening, called "Old Havana Nights," raised more than $43,000 and featured an outdoor cocktail reception with cigar bar, a chance drawing for a collection of 60 bottles of wine donated by board members, a silent auction, dinner and dancing. The emcee was former Buccaneers offensive lineman Ian Beckles, a host on WDAE, 620 AM. ...more

October 13, 2008

Just in time for Halloween, the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg is expecting a boom in reservations after being featured on tonight's "Ghost Hunters" on the Sci-Fi Channel. ...more

October 1, 2008

When the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a Division Series baseball playoff position last week, it could not have come at a better time for Pinellas County's visitors industry. ...more

September 30, 2008

When the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a spot last week in Major League Baseball's postseason, it could not have come at a better time for Pinellas County's visitors industry. ...more

September 29, 2008

CARIBBEAN ALFRESCO, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg; (727) 894-1000, Ext. 2144. The culinary theme under this attractive gazebo is Floribbean, a mix of Florida and Caribbean styles that blends tropical fruits, piquant relishes, aromatic herbs, translucent sauces and quick, fat-free grilling. Starters worth biting into are the Conch Fritters with curried remoulade sauce, or the Coconut-Fried Shrimp with a tangy citrus mustard sauce. A good bet for light eating under $10 is the Caribbean Chicken Caesar with pineapple relish. The limited entree selection includes slow-roasted Island Spiced Ribs with guava barbecue sauce and grilled Florida Spiny Lobster with charred tomato sauce and toasted cumin seeds. ($$) ...more

September 26, 2008

The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg will be featured on the Oct. 1 episode of the Sci-Fi Channel's "Ghost Hunters." ...more

September 22, 2008

The Academy of the Holy Names has come a long way since the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary began their first Tampa convent and school in a blacksmith shop on Twiggs and Marion streets. ...more

September 10, 2008

With chairs cloaked in animal prints and a stage adorned with palm fronds and tiki torches, the Plaza Ballroom of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg looks more like an indigenous tribe's elaborate altar than a ballroom. ...more

June 26, 2008

Dance fever is sweeping the country and heating up the floor this week in a national ballroom competition that brings more than 7,000 dancers to the Tampa area as well as some professionals from "Dancing With the Stars." ...more

June 22, 2008

TAMPA BAY AREA Vinoy Has New Owner The Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, a AAA Four Diamond resort on St. Petersburg's waterfront, has a new owner but will remain under the Marriott International flag. The deal was completed Dec. 14 and announced late Thursday. ...more

December 21, 2007