West Tampa Shopper - October 26, 2005

Entrepreneurs Launch Cigar City Magazine
Party at Italian Club

By Derek Maul - Columnist

West Tampa entrepreneurs Marilyn Esperante Figueredo, Lisa M. Figueredo and Vienna LoCicero Santisteban will unveil the first edition of Cigar City Magazine during an invitation only launch party at the Italian Club in Ybor City Oct. 26.

The club, L'Unione Italiana, was founded more than a century ago by immigrants committed to overcoming social and economic challenges by uniting together. Cigar City Magazine, Marilyn Figueredo said, tells the story of Tampa through the eyes of such settlers from all over the world, people who contributed to the emerging character of the community.

Circulation of the new publication is slated to begin immediately. "Each guest at our launch party will receive a copy of our premier issue," Marilyn Figueredo said. "The following day, Oct. 27, we will begin delivering Cigar City Magazine to our distribution points."

About 20,000 copies will go directly to homes with another 5,000 distributed around downtown Tampa, Westshore, Ybor City, West Tampa and South Tampa.

"We will be putting our distribution sites on our Web site in the very near future so people will know where to go to pick one up."

The bi-monthly magazine is the brainchild of the three friends, and will evolve largely in response to contributions from people who know Tampa's history.

"Not only will our writing staff develop stories based on feedback from our readers," Marilyn Figueredo said, "but we also want our readers to contact us and give us their stories and share their pictures or any other interesting data they might have.

"We are also looking for good writers who have experience in writing and who are interested in getting published.

"Of course, it goes without saying; they must have a love for history, especially of the Tampa area."

Response so far is encouraging, Marilyn Figueredo said. "Many have said 'what a wonderful idea, thank you for remembering our history and heritage.'"

Information: www.CigarCityMagazine.com.