As I work on the back patio today, enjoying this great 'Spring' weather, I am reminded of a few things:
This is the BEST time of Year to be in Tampa - weather, activities, festivals, concerts...
And the AirForce Thunderbirds are LOUD and FAST!!! as they fly over head practicing for this weekend...decisions, decisions for the weekend---
MacDill AirFest
Univ of Tampa GreenFest
Polished Palate Rum Fest in Ybor
Sensory Overload 4.0 in Ybor
Paula Poundstone at the Tampa Performing Arts Center
Italian Festival of the Moving Image - Italian Club in Ybor
Festa Italiana - Ybor City
St. Petersburg Intl Folk Fair - Vinoy Park
Festival of Speed - North Straub Park - St. Pete
On Thursday the St. Pete Grand Prix kicks off with the St. Pete Festival of States Illuminated Night Parade in downtown St. Pete.
Showing posts with label festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label festival. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
A Crawl, and Fiesta Day!
Nothing better than walking in the neighborhood to meet some friends for good wine after a busy work week. We all met up this time at CDB's Southside on Westshore Blvd, and grabbed a great spot on the upper outdoor balcony, overlooking Westshore Blvd...even the food here is just OK, it was nice to see such good friends, and enjoy some fine Kim Crawford Wines...my fav is the 'Chef Rolls", select meats wrapped in Mozzarella and Provolone Cheese..perfect with some warm fresh bread, and a little olive oil. A few hours later, we made it down to the Green Iguana, last stop on the neighborhood crawl for this Friday night.
Saturday was another beautiful day in Paradise....after a slow start, a few of us went to Ybor to partake in the annual Fiesta Days Festival....it celebrates the immigrants that came to Tampa back in the late 1800's to work in the Cigar Factories, and make a better life for themselves...Cubans, Spanish, Italians, Germans and Jews...7th avenue was closed down to traffic, so the thousands of people could sample many of the foods and listen in to the worldly entertainment along the avenue. After strolling around a bit, we stopped at New York New York Pizza, for an extra large 18" pie with Meatballs, Pepperoni and Green Peppers...its a very friendly place, lots of pictures throughout of NYC...the pizza is close to NY, but definitely not a real NY pizza...good stuff!! We then walked over to the Southern Exposure Carnival that was happening next to Club Czar...I felt like it was something out of a very scary movie....not many people around, some very weird drag shows taking place(not like Key West), and some out of the ordinary type people(kinda backwoods like rough people)......there were some rides, and it was nice to run into quite a few friends I havn't seen in a while.....we made the most out of it for the time we were there, hopping into Club Czar now and then...we also checked out StreetCar Charlies, always a good time here, very clean and comfortable place, they have now installed a toy trolley and tracks above the bar that runs throughout...nice touch....Ybor was getting busier as the night went on....checked out Spurs, and lastly ended the evening at La Creperia as some of my friends were craving a great dessert...and La Creperia didn't disappoint at all.
Finally getting a downpour of Rain(feels like its been just weeks of blue skies), so the Gasparilla Intl Film Festival looks like a good bet for the day today....
Saturday was another beautiful day in Paradise....after a slow start, a few of us went to Ybor to partake in the annual Fiesta Days Festival....it celebrates the immigrants that came to Tampa back in the late 1800's to work in the Cigar Factories, and make a better life for themselves...Cubans, Spanish, Italians, Germans and Jews...7th avenue was closed down to traffic, so the thousands of people could sample many of the foods and listen in to the worldly entertainment along the avenue. After strolling around a bit, we stopped at New York New York Pizza, for an extra large 18" pie with Meatballs, Pepperoni and Green Peppers...its a very friendly place, lots of pictures throughout of NYC...the pizza is close to NY, but definitely not a real NY pizza...good stuff!! We then walked over to the Southern Exposure Carnival that was happening next to Club Czar...I felt like it was something out of a very scary movie....not many people around, some very weird drag shows taking place(not like Key West), and some out of the ordinary type people(kinda backwoods like rough people)......there were some rides, and it was nice to run into quite a few friends I havn't seen in a while.....we made the most out of it for the time we were there, hopping into Club Czar now and then...we also checked out StreetCar Charlies, always a good time here, very clean and comfortable place, they have now installed a toy trolley and tracks above the bar that runs throughout...nice touch....Ybor was getting busier as the night went on....checked out Spurs, and lastly ended the evening at La Creperia as some of my friends were craving a great dessert...and La Creperia didn't disappoint at all.
Finally getting a downpour of Rain(feels like its been just weeks of blue skies), so the Gasparilla Intl Film Festival looks like a good bet for the day today....
Monday, February 23, 2009
Biking, Festival, and Crashing Weddings on the Beach
Another great February weekend in the Bay area...met up with some friends at the North Westshore Green iguana for Happy Hour and Dinner...this Green Iguana located int he Westshore Hotel offers a very large dining area, outdoor patio, and small stage, where a great acoustic guitarist was being backed up by another musician playing electric drums...very entertaining...it was a cool evening in the upper 40's, so most were inside...we enjoyed the juicy burgers and some apps. Afterwards, went to the Grand Opening of Green Iguana's newest venture, Hula Bay Club and Duke's Retired Surfers Island Bar, a South Tampa waterfront restaurant/bar on Tampa Bay where the old Rattlefish used to stand, off Westshore Blvd, a little south of Gandy. The place has the same Floribbean atmosphere, large outdoor deck, and now has a pool with cabanas.
Saturday, couldn't resist taking in the great blue skies, and cool temps in the low 70's to get on the bike. So after doing a little yard work and raking up about 10 bags of leaves(who ever said Florida has no seasons obviously does not have a 100 year old Oaks on there property)...I ventured on the bike to the Pinellas Trail. Starting in Largo, rode up to downtown Clearwater, and the SeaBlues Festival was happening. Took in some great fresh seafood on the lawn, listening to some live blues, where there were at least a few thousand out enjoying the perfect day along the waterfront in downtown Clearwater. The bike ride back took some detours through the neighborhoods along the Intracoastal...big beautiful homes, and then into the Belleview Biltmore Estate, where it looks like they are still rehabing this over a century year old hotel and resort..it is said the Biltmore is the largest, oldest wooden structure in the country that is still being used.
It was then on to St. Pete beach where some friends had rooms at the Tradewinds Resort. A very nice sprawling resort along St. Pete Beach...a huge complex of rooms, suites, bars and restaurants , even a river where you can take boats through the property. I checked into my buddies suite, large, clean and comfortable, that was at the time overlooking a Pirate Show with great views of the beach and Gulf from the balcony. Heading down to walk around, I ran into the bride of the wedding, and even though I wasn't invited, she asked that I attend the wedding...who a I to say no to a huge ballroom full of happy people, a large buffet, open bar, and kickin' DJ providing the entertainment. Too much fun!!!
After a few hours, and then closing the wedding, the fun people went out to Shark's Bar on the grounds of the resort, and later walked along the beach over to Ricky T's and then Jimi B's. A great live band at Jimi B's (Phoenix), and had everyone still dancing till closing time.
Saturday, couldn't resist taking in the great blue skies, and cool temps in the low 70's to get on the bike. So after doing a little yard work and raking up about 10 bags of leaves(who ever said Florida has no seasons obviously does not have a 100 year old Oaks on there property)...I ventured on the bike to the Pinellas Trail. Starting in Largo, rode up to downtown Clearwater, and the SeaBlues Festival was happening. Took in some great fresh seafood on the lawn, listening to some live blues, where there were at least a few thousand out enjoying the perfect day along the waterfront in downtown Clearwater. The bike ride back took some detours through the neighborhoods along the Intracoastal...big beautiful homes, and then into the Belleview Biltmore Estate, where it looks like they are still rehabing this over a century year old hotel and resort..it is said the Biltmore is the largest, oldest wooden structure in the country that is still being used.
It was then on to St. Pete beach where some friends had rooms at the Tradewinds Resort. A very nice sprawling resort along St. Pete Beach...a huge complex of rooms, suites, bars and restaurants , even a river where you can take boats through the property. I checked into my buddies suite, large, clean and comfortable, that was at the time overlooking a Pirate Show with great views of the beach and Gulf from the balcony. Heading down to walk around, I ran into the bride of the wedding, and even though I wasn't invited, she asked that I attend the wedding...who a I to say no to a huge ballroom full of happy people, a large buffet, open bar, and kickin' DJ providing the entertainment. Too much fun!!!
After a few hours, and then closing the wedding, the fun people went out to Shark's Bar on the grounds of the resort, and later walked along the beach over to Ricky T's and then Jimi B's. A great live band at Jimi B's (Phoenix), and had everyone still dancing till closing time.
Monday, April 21, 2008
A 1 year old visits Tampa; Art fest in St. Pete
My lil nephew from Colorado is visiting with his parents the next two weeks, on Saturday we took him downtown Tampa, and visited the Towers at Channelside new condominiums, part of the Urban Tour of Homes. The pool area was beautiful, probably one of the best I have seen with huge waterfalls, large bar area and clubhouse all on the 5th floor overlooking downtown and Channelside Bay Plaza. We looked at a 2/2 and a 3/3 on the 8th and 20th floors, although they seemed a little small, and left little room for any storage, the balconies and views were amazing. I'm not sure though that the views and wrap around balconies, large pool area, and location in the new urban residential area downtown warrant prices of over 1/2 million $$, with monthly HOA fees running around $500/month, but that's just me.
After viewing the towers, we walked over to Cotanchobee Park along the Riverwalk, and decided to have some lunch at Champions Sports Grille at the Marriott Waterside. Good food, at hotel prices, this Marriott has to be one of the nicest hotels in the Tampa area, the service was ok, we had a separate room to ourselves in the large, upscale sports restaurant located in the Lobby area of the hotel, which left alot of room for the little one to wonder around, and play some video games. We walked back along the Riverwalk to the park, so the little one could play at the kiddie area, it was nice relaxing under the trees with great views of the waterfront, Harbour Island, and downtown skyline. There is also a dock and small pier, where we were watching the dragonboat racers practice for the upcoming annual races taking place on May 3rd.
Saturday night, some friends of mine were having a small gathering at their place in the South Tampa neighborhood of Stoney Point, just off Westshore Blvd and Melrose Avenue. All canal and waterfront homes, large mature oaks in this small neighborhood, it was nice to relax out back poolside along the canal, they have a great tropical setting in their backyard with waterfall leading into the hot tub, the stars and almost full moon were out in full force this evening. One of their friends is a film maker that had one of her films at the Ybor Festival of the Movie Image, and we also watched some shorts from another film maker who was flying in from Boston to visit them. Before heading home, we stopped off at the Green Iguana Westshore, where good times are always happening.
Sunday, the little one and the others came over and we headed to downtown St. Pete for the annual Mainsail Arts Festival at the waterfront Vinoy Park. Before we got there, we stopped by Tijuana Flats for some mexican with the clan close by the festival. I twas a leisurely day walking around the over 200 art exhibts, all along the waterfront park, live music, and great people watching, all downtown St. Pete. Made for a great ending to another perfect weekend in the Bay area.
After viewing the towers, we walked over to Cotanchobee Park along the Riverwalk, and decided to have some lunch at Champions Sports Grille at the Marriott Waterside. Good food, at hotel prices, this Marriott has to be one of the nicest hotels in the Tampa area, the service was ok, we had a separate room to ourselves in the large, upscale sports restaurant located in the Lobby area of the hotel, which left alot of room for the little one to wonder around, and play some video games. We walked back along the Riverwalk to the park, so the little one could play at the kiddie area, it was nice relaxing under the trees with great views of the waterfront, Harbour Island, and downtown skyline. There is also a dock and small pier, where we were watching the dragonboat racers practice for the upcoming annual races taking place on May 3rd.
Saturday night, some friends of mine were having a small gathering at their place in the South Tampa neighborhood of Stoney Point, just off Westshore Blvd and Melrose Avenue. All canal and waterfront homes, large mature oaks in this small neighborhood, it was nice to relax out back poolside along the canal, they have a great tropical setting in their backyard with waterfall leading into the hot tub, the stars and almost full moon were out in full force this evening. One of their friends is a film maker that had one of her films at the Ybor Festival of the Movie Image, and we also watched some shorts from another film maker who was flying in from Boston to visit them. Before heading home, we stopped off at the Green Iguana Westshore, where good times are always happening.
Sunday, the little one and the others came over and we headed to downtown St. Pete for the annual Mainsail Arts Festival at the waterfront Vinoy Park. Before we got there, we stopped by Tijuana Flats for some mexican with the clan close by the festival. I twas a leisurely day walking around the over 200 art exhibts, all along the waterfront park, live music, and great people watching, all downtown St. Pete. Made for a great ending to another perfect weekend in the Bay area.
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