Our Radiant Tampa

J. Baja's Mexican Grill

2011-02-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

Had some very tasty food at this new little place called J. Baja's Mexican Grill. Roadside tacos and the quesadilla were delicious and very fresh tasting. We'll definitely be headed back soon!

Hours:

Mon - Sat:11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Location:

15309 B Amberly Dr.

Tampa, FL, 33647

(813)632-0103
Facebook Page

Cole's BBQ

2010-09-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

I just stopped by Cole's BBQ for dinner and had a terrific BBQ beef sandwich, and Phil had a fantastic chicken sandwich. The meat had a really great smokey flavor, and the three sauce options (hot, mild, and sweet) were all very tasty.

Don't be put off by the plain decor - the food is delicious! I highly recommend this BBQ restaurant!

Cole's BBQ
(813) 979-1230
17024 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33647

Frostings Etc.? More like Frostings AMAZING

2010-07-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes © Frostings Etc.
photo from Frostings Etc.'s Facebook Page

After being severely disappointed at the overwhelming generic-ness of The Cupcake Spot in St. Pete, I was admittedly a bit hesitant to try another cupcake-centric establishment in the Tampa area. However, when a livingsocial deal on half-price cupcakes at Frostings Etc. graced my inbox, I decided to give it a shot.

To make a long story short, the deal was for 12 mini-chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes and they were like magical cakey gifts for my soul.

The location is pretty easy to miss on the first pass: it's an unassuming end cap on the corner of Howard and Horatio, across the street from a Chipotle and a couple doors south of the Pita Pit. (Here's the store in Google Maps.) It's pretty small, and at first blush the interior feels like the modern interiors that populate the 1-day remodeling shows on TLC and HGTV. However, once you meet the owners, it quickly becomes evident that the entire business is a personal labor of love.

One of the major things that stood out to me was the fact that the cupcakes are hand-made from scratch. The most disappointing thing about the Cupcake Spot was that the cakes tasted and felt like something that could be purchased at Publix. The cutesy descriptions were more interesting than the actual products. The cakes at Frostings Etc., however, were dense and cakey, not spongy and artificial. And the variations themselves were more than just different icings, as some cakes had very specific flavors associated with them, sometimes filled, and topped with a corresponding icing. I''m excited for the holidays, as they have a mint cake that sounds awesome.

Overall, I cannot recommend Frostings Etc. enough. They are open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays (for late-night cupcake cravings) and the owners are very personable and passionate about serving the best cupcakes in the Bay area.

Written by Phil McCollam

Dessert Reviews

2010-05-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

NOTE: both of these dessert spots are in St. Pete (Not Tampa)

GOOD:
Schakolad Chocolate Factory
They have a quality product - I've tested a lot of chocolate in my day - and novelty factor (who doesn't love to carefully mull over a case of chocolates deciding which tiny cups of delicious-ness are going to go into your very own box of chocolates??!!).

NOT WORTH IT:
The Cupcake Spot
While the cupcake was edible, it was in no way special. It tasted just like any cupcake I could make myself or buy from Publix. But it was almost $3 per cupcake. Lame. They offered a lot of pretty gift boxes and a cute menu design, so if you're a sucker for such gimmicks, go for it.... OR, go next door to the Chocolate Factory!

Wrights Gourmet Cafe

2010-04-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

Do you know what's really nice? A great big sandwich, and an accompanying huge slice of cake from Wrights Gourmet Cafe.

If you haven't taken a trip to Wrights, you're really missing out on a Tampa treasure! They use excellent ingredients and assemble their sandwiches with care. When I went, I had the pressed Cuban and a slice of red velvet cake. Two thumbs up.

Wrights Gourmet Cafe
1200 S. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa FL 33629
Ph: 813-253-3838

Electric car services in downtown Tampa

2009-09-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Tampa's Downtown Shuttle Services:

Hop Tampa
Mulligan Shuttles
Green-Go
Joy Ride

After an emergency meeting held by the Public Transportation Commission today, the ruling to ban the NEV's from the streets has been rescinded. Ultimately, the boards authority over the matter is in question, and the PTC has asked the Florida Attorney General if they are the body to regulate them.

So as of TONIGHT, Hop Tampa, Green-Go, Mulligan Shuttle, and Joy Ride all are back in business!

Once the AG comes back with a ruling, some legislative or administrative body will have some oversight into the NEV industry. It will be our job to make sure they get a fair shake and that this eco-friendly business succeeds in Tampa Bay!

Image taken from Mulligan Shuttle webpage

Fort DeSoto Park

2009-08-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

Fort DeSoto Park has the best beaches out of all those I've visited in the Tampa Bay area. It is the best for the following reasons:

- Free parking
- Super cheap! (there's no entrance fee aside from the toll roads - the total cost adds up to about 80 cents)
- Plenty of space for everyone on the beach
- Lots of activity options (a lot of people like to go fishing, boating, swimming, camping, check out the old fort, etc in addition to just lying on the beach)
- Great facilities (showers, restrooms, snack bars, gift shop, picnic tables, well marked paths, etc)
- Away from the metro area (there are no hotels bordering these beaches)
It's also been named "America's Top Beach" in 2005 and 2009. So go check out Fort DeSoto!

Fort DeSoto Website
3500 Pinellas Bayway S.,
Tierra Verde, FL 33715
Park Office- 727-893-9185
Campground Office- 727-893-9185
Automated Information Message: 727-582-2267

Sand Key Beach

2009-08-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

This is a somewhat negative review of Sand Key Beach, but I feel I'm justified in my feelings:

1. Sand Key beach is not sandy! It is coated in coarsely ground shells that are not fun to walk on barefoot. Isn't that part of the allure of the beach? To walk barefoot?
2. Parking is not free! When there are more lovely beaches with free parking (think Fort DeSoto), why on earth would I ever go to Sand Key? (which is not sandy...)
3. Sand Key has a healthy population of sting rays! I know this because I was stung last weekend. AND while I was sitting on the beach with a bucket of hot water (waiting for the venom to be drawn out of my foot), a German couple approached and told their story of being stung on this very beach just 3 days before.

Thus, I recommend checking out some of Tampa's other beaches before you dive in at Sand Key!

Qachbals Chocolatier

2009-08-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Screen capture from Qachbals website

Ever find yourself at Channelside in downtown Tampa, and wonder what to do in this highly commercial area?

Well, there's a little chocolatier that you shouldn't miss - Qachbal's (pronounced kash-bell). I stopped by about a week ago and sampled their chocolate coated toffee and a chocolate smoothie topped by a truffle - all fantastic! I've tasted a lot of chocolate, and these items were of excellent quality. It's also nice to know you're supporting a local business.

615 Channelside Dr
Tampa, Fl 33602
813.223.5919
http://qachbalschocolatier.com

Wood Fired Pizza Wine Bar

2009-08-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: Wood Fired website

What a great little find! Having come from Minneapolis, a city of many Neopolitan/Wood-fired pizza places, I was super excited to give Wood Fired a try. What a pleasant surprise to find how friendly and attentive the staff were! The pizzas are a few bucks more expensive than your regular take out place, but it's well worth it for the flavor pay off. I recommend splitting a salad and a pizza with your friend - delicious! The pepperoni and artichoke is my favorite so far.

Go try creating your own combo of toppings - you can't go wrong with that amazing wood fired crust.

http://wood-firedpizza.com

2822 E. Bearss Avenue

Tampa, FL, 33613

813.341.2900

HOURS

Lunch: Noon - 2:00 pm

Dinner: 5 pm - Until Sold Out of Fresh Dough

Tuesdays: Open for Private Events & Catering Only. Call 813.341.2900 to Book Your Event.

Avacado Cafe and Bakery

2009-08-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

Whenever I have company in town, and they want a taste of Cuban food, I like to take them to Avacado for a Cuban sandwich. I love Avacado's intimate atmosphere and comfortable neighborhood feel. They also have an excellent Daily Special (I recommend getting the shredded pork - delicious!).

14941 Bruce B Downs Boulevard

Tampa, FL 33613

813-631-9703

Mr. Dunderbak's Restaurant, Biergarten, and Marketplace

2009-08-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

Mr. Dunderbak's is a great place for a beer and a bratwurst. They also have an excellent selection of sandwiches, including a tasty ruben. With a wide variety of beers (obviously), they offer pint glasses or liter mugs. Anyone can find tasty treat within their great selection of European foods and confections (everybody knows the best chocolate comes from Belgium and Switzerland!). Plus, it's a fun place to meet a group with their long picnic-table-style seating (they have regular tables too). See you there!

(Photo credit: Dunderbak's)

14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd

Tampa FL 33613

813.977.4104

Hours:

Mon 4 - 11pm

Tues - Thurs 11:30am-12am

Fri - Sat 11:30AM-1am

Sun 12pm-7pm

http://www.dunderbaks.com

[menus are posted on their website]

How to be unchained in Tampa Bay: Grocery store addition

2009-04-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

Written by Ariel Baron-Robbins

Look around. It might seem as if this place is clogged with corporations (it is rumored to be a "testing spot" for chains) but there are a plentitude of local, independent and family run operations that offer better quality products and much better customer service.

My rule of thumb is if I can't walk into a place and meet the owner, the real owner who lives in Tampa, then I don't shop there. If one of his or her family members is there (they are probably the staff) then that is of course, an exception. I also make exception for a place that has perhaps 2 locations within the area but I can't recall any that I've been to recently (The Jerk Hut is an example.)

I grocery shop at several locations, it might seem like a waste of gas but I usually hit all of them on one day and several are along the same path so I can stop and shop on the way there and back.

I go to the outdoor farmer's market on Hillsborough & 30th on Sundays with a couple of friends. I usually can get all of my veggies there for the week and it typically costs under $15 to get squash, sweet potatoes, 4-5 red peppers, Brussels sprouts, beets, 5-6 Roma tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, 6 oranges, 4 mangos, 2 avocados, 2 eggplants, etc. A plus is that I've learned what's really in season at the moment and look forward to what will be at the market next week because it always changes. The prices also change according to what is plentiful and I've also successfully haggled with several different stalls. The more you go, the more willing they are to offer 2 avocados for a $1 or 3 mangos for $2. Seeing that one mango (I'll argue the SAME mango) will cost you as much as a $1.50 at Publix or Sweetbay. Its not all guaranteed organic, but I make the sacrifice for the face-to-face interaction I get as well as feeling as if I live within the community and am actively supporting it with my money. I know where my money will go.

There is also a much smaller farmer's market on 56th between Busch and Fowler that I hit up on the way home in case I've forgotten anything. Just found some really good tomatoes there as well as the usual assortment of vegetables. The highlight recently came when I saw some coconut candy on the counter for 50 cents ( a massive piece actually ) and got some. This started a conversation with the very friendly lady behind the candy about how her mother made it and then I chimed in that my Grandma makes coconut cake from scratch. We talked about the decline in cooking from scratch going on today but she's noticed that since the markets gone down, business has gone up. This is great, perhaps people are noticing that the big corporations can't be trusted to provide quality merchandise, they can only be trusted to advertise more than indies ever could afford and for paying their employees starvation wages. They don't care about whichever community there are in and how each is unique. Its all about homogenous, I'll-know-what-I'm-getting here apathy. If I sound bitter, its because I am. I've just gone through seeing my favorite businesses, run by incredibly hard working and nice people fail too many times because of this attitude.

I also go to Java on Busch Blvd around 30th. Its a family owned grocery store/butcher/bakery with a little restaurant. I just recently found out that one of the owners is a guy that owned a little copy store back in my home town of Oxford, MS before he got run out by the chain copy centers. They have home made feta, aged roomy cheese (really good, very pungent) nuts, roasted seeds, an olive bar, and a selection of baked in the house breads as well as spices, flour, mixes, frozen foods, etc. etc. Seriously the place has everything!

Greenland grocery is somewhere else I've gone to. Both Java and Greenland are typical of local Middle Eastern grocery stores and I've found that they all get Sami's bakery items as well as other local baked goods. My new favorite bread is Lavash, but they also have flour pitas, whole wheat pitas and other crackers and such. Its nice when you see the bread having only 4 ingredients printed on the label and see that its all made in the area. I found the same whole wheat pita bread at the local organic store Chuck's All Natural for about $3 more and when I turned it over, it had mold all over it! It was green! I like Chuck's, go there occasionally for speciality items such as almond milk, but geez...don't blindly trust any place that calls things Organic or All Natural and jacks the price up.

I go to MD Oriental on Fowler occasionally as well. They are an Asian marketplace with an in-house butcher, live fish, eels, shrimp, oysters, squid, etc., frozen foods, a big veggie selection (awesome mushrooms) and many other things. The sweets aisle is wonderful and enticing, I love the crystallized ginger and tamarind and they have a wide assortment of canned goods with many, many vegetarian meat substitutes. They also have tofu for $1 (the same tofu I once found at Public for $3.99 and when I turned it over, I realized it had expired a month before) and local eggs. That is the cheapest tofu they have but the selection is endless. Baked, marinated, seitan, pre-seasoned, noodles, etc. etc. Amazing. They also have fun stuff like quail eggs, bok choy, all sorts of meat, Durian fruit, good prices and selection on pears, lots of crackers and biscuits, huge amount of tea, bulk rices and flours, coffee, beer, wine, frozen treats (lychee pops, anyone?) and an in-house pharmacy! I love this place and they are so nice. Credit cards accepted as well.

One of the most frequent stops for me is the Super Saver Latin Market on Fletcher. They recently expanded into the to-go place next door and now offer their home-cooked food there as well. They have all the normal grocery items that the chain stores do, and they are similar quality-wise. I get cat-food, litter box stuff, bisquick mix, canned beans (much cheaper), fruit, veggies that I run out of mid-week, butter spread, eggs, cheese, etc. They have beer, wine and a in-house butcher with fish, cheese, and other meats. The owner is a super-friendly guy that speaks fabulous English as well as Italian as I discovered! Now whenever I'm in there he greets me with an enthusiastic "Bongiourno Flaquita" (I take that last part as a joke) Their guava pastries are to die for as well as their Cuban bread. They also take credit cards.

I go to Kiran on Fowler as well whenever I go to Cafe Kili (my favorite family-owned and operated coffee shop). They are an Indian grocery store, cheap, good spices, pre-mixed boxed foods, frozen foods, oils, vinegars, mango chutney, yadda yadda yadda. They also have fresh veggies and by the counter, home made chapattis.

The Tampa Theatre

2009-03-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Photo borrowed from the Tampa Theatre's Facebook page

Written by Ellen Mueller

Now, I've seen a lot of theatres in my day, but the Tampa Theatre is truly a find! I was lucky enough to attend an Ani Difranco concert there last Friday. Ani was great, but the theatre was truly spectacular! I'd recommend finding any excuse you can to take in a show there (just so you can see the amazing architecture). They show independent films and live concerts (Ray Lamontagne is coming April 29, 2009!), or you can just tour the theatre (I think this would be a fun outing for out-of-town guests).

There's an ongoing calendar of events on their website.
And you can become their fan on Facebook.

The Brunchery, Any Day of the Week

2009-02-22T18:05:00.000-08:00

http://www.brunchery.com/

by Khadijah Queen, Tampa transplant

My son is a very picky eater. He has been like that since he was a newborn, needing a certain ambience before he could dine peacefully – no noise, low lights, no interruptions, no competing food smells. He would not eat baby food from a jar – he could not even see it poured from the jar. It had to be in a favorite lion cup, served with a favorite neon green spoon. At almost nine years old, he continues to have the strong preferences of a crotchety old man. If he orders cheese-eggs, for example, the cheese must be melted into the scrambled eggs. He must be able to taste the cheese, mind you, but there cannot be visible cheese "sprinkles," as he calls them, on top.

It's been difficult, even if somewhat entertaining, you might imagine, to keep him happily fed at home, much less at a restaurant. So, in trying to break his fast food addiction (it's all about the nuggets) and penchant for plain pancakes at an always-crowded chain restaurant, I proposed we venture out to a local, privately-owned eatery. We didn't know the area well, having just moved to Tampa, so I searched the web and came upon The Brunchery. I showed my son the menu and the pictures. He pointed to the French toast. "Why does it have all that stuff on it?" (Meaning powdered sugar, almonds, fruit, etc.) I said, "You can ask them not to put that on there." He was skeptical, but I insisted we try it. "We'll see," he said grumpily.

On our way there, total nerd that I am, I passed it three times. It's tucked into a mini-mall anchored by Sweet Bay, and my excuse is there was a lot going on in the parking lot. It could be, however, just me. My son finally spotted it as we passed. The outdoor patio furniture, bright blue neon-ish sign – yeah, don't know how I missed that. (Insert self-deprecating cough.)

When we arrived, we were promptly greeted by a smiling (but not annoyingly perky) hostess who recognized my son from school – her son, also in third grade, was in the class next to my son's. She welcomed us, and we were seated after a short wait – under five minutes, on a Sunday. It was full, but not overcrowded. And there's a toy area in one corner where kids can play while they wait. Bonus.

It's homey without being homely. The waitress, who is pictured on the website, has been there since the founding, so you don't need to worry about your order getting botched. She knows the ample menu back and front. I didn't ask, but I'd guess she's part of the family that owns this family-owned restaurant.

Anyway, back to the food. When his pancakes and cheese-eggs arrived, along with the fruit cup I insisted on, my son couldn't help smiling. The food looked exactly as he envisioned it would, no cheese sprinkles, and no soggy fruit. Though it did take a bit longer than he'd like – i.e. immediately – he dug in enthusiastically. I didn't hear a word, just a chorus of mm mm mm mms until every drop of food was gone. Sharing, I was told with a silent scowl, was not an option. Then he leaned back in his seat and said, "Oh yeah! Now that's a breakfast!" He should do commercials, this kid.

For my part, I ordered oatmeal, hash, eggs, home fries, and toast. Yes, I was hungry. My oatmeal was served in a large ceramic-looking mug, with strawberries and brown sugar and butter on the side. The rest of the meal was served in unpretentious dishes that might resemble your own, mismatched but thematically linked, if you will – some glass, some heavier stoneware. Not bad to look at and delicious, hot, exactly-what-you-ordered food.

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is The Brunchery has saved me from the abyss of chain restaurant dining that my son used to crave. It's comparable in price, and in some cases cheaper. It's cleaner, quieter, friendlier – and it's less than five minutes from my house.

And the food is better. Much, much better. (Did I say that already?)

But, as Levar Burton used to say on Reading Rainbow, don't take my word for it. Head on over and see for yourself.

The Brunchery

15706 Dale Mabry Hwy. N.
Tampa, FL 33618
Map and Directions
Phone : 813-964-8143
Fax : 813-964-5381

HOURS:
Monday - Sunday 8:00 am-2:00pm

The Dog Track

2009-01-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

PHOTO CREDIT: http://europuppyblog.com

Written by Robb Fladry

Visiting the dog track has always been one of those things I have thought about but never done. I put it up there with buying prescription drugs in Mexico and visiting a brothel in Las Vegas; legal but frowned up. I’ve always thought of the dog track as a seedy place and more so a “poor man’s” horse track - though I’ve never actually been to a horse track either. Now that I’ve visited a dog track I can safely say it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be going in.

Arriving at the dog track I was blown away at the number of cars in the parking lot. I assumed there was going to be a handful of creepy uncles in the parking lot but that was about it. After noticing the neon lights and snapping a quick picture on my phone, I entered and saw a sign that said free admittance and another that said betting sheets $1.25. I ﬁgured I needed a betting guide book and went ahead and started the money losing process. I also noticed a tip cup.. great.. two dollars down.

Upon walking down what seemed to be a runway almost pouring onto the track itself I noticed the scoreboard. The scoreboard reminded me of the ﬁrst time I saw a college football game and I couldn’t help but wonder about the poor guy who had to climb the sign to change lightbulbs when they would go out. I wouldn’t want that job, no way. After staring at the sign and still having no idea what the numbers and spaces were for, I started wondering why in hell everything in Florida has to have a palm tree in it somewhere. It’s a requirement, I just don’t get it.

So the ﬁrst race went on and I was pretty underwhelmed with the actual act of dog racing. I guess I thought beforehand that it should be like Nascar and they should complete 500 laps. Yes, I understand this is totally unrealistic and would kill the animals, but this is where my mindset was. I then began to notice my surroundings a bit more and took notice to the people standing outside. Not as creepy as I was led to believe. Then I decided to go inside for a tasty snack.

This is where I noticed the large bank of televisions and the people hovering over them as if they were reading porno magazines in middle school. Old men sitting there with piles of tickets on the table in front of them having no expression on their face whatsoever. At this point I really didn’t want to make eye contact, I really wanted some nachos. After eating my nachos I ﬁgured it was time to bet. I had to get some explanation on what to tell the guy at the counter, but soon after a short lesson I was ready to proceed. I bet two dollars on someone to win, it doesn’t matter who, as that two dollars was gone rather quickly.

I was destined to not let the loss get me down, and ﬁgured I should try some of the other fancy betting methods I had been hearing so much about in this fancy betting book that cost seventy-ﬁve cents more than it should. The trifecta, that sounded pretty sweet, regardless of what it really was. Two more dollars, another race. I picked these dogs by pure aesthetic reasoning; they were all black. I realize the irony; I was about to make a bet based on a line in a Wesley Snipes movie. I made the bet, once again after some pre-bet coaching. This time I won. Holy crap, I’m a winner.

After collecting my winnings, a sweet $18 and some change, I decided to sit out a few races. I noticed more people and they all looked the same, desperate. This was the general overview and not everyone I encountered. I did see some guys there that seemed like they were on their ﬁrst trip to the dog track as well, but they had fancy watches, so maybe not. I observed the lack of females at the track. I assume thats common, but I would have never thought beforehand.

During my trip to the dog races I did have to relieve myself. Standing at the urinal doing my business a guy comes up the spot next to me and decides to start up a conversation. Wow, is this really happening? So while there I learned about some race that involved winning a free entry to a $10,000 race and getting a twelfth spot in the olympics. I really have no idea what was happening but I shook my head and tried to hurry. I did the quick handwash and tried to lose this guy with the not so awesome magnum p.i. mustache. Too late, he followed me out and I realized he didn’t wash his hands. Luckily I found a classmate and could strike up a conversation.

After my one win I decided to bet a few more times, hoping my dogs would come in, no such luck. I then read about the trifecta box on the back of the score booklet. Seemed like a smart idea, I didn’t have to pick an order the dogs came in. 6-1-5. This was an easy pick because I was told 6 & 5 were possibly the fastest dogs ever, the 1 came into play based on the Nashville area code. Easy. The race started and 6 & 5 were doing great. Number 1, not so much. He (or she) tripped in some fashion and didn’t make it, coming in last place. Number 8 took the third spot, oh well I thought. That was until I saw the winnings would have totaled $30,000 if I did my math correctly. Only if I had a time traveling delorian.

Towards the end of the night I had two of the $1 cheeseburgers based upon Zach’s recommendation. Score. Those things were easily worth $2. I’m a sucker for food, especially of the fair persuasion. I was not let down by the dog track food, though I plan to return simply for the fact that I want to try the derby dog. Overall I enjoyed my dog track experience and wouldn’t mind going back and taking my wife. This says a lot because I know I can be protective of places where the creepy men gather, so the dog track somehow wins an odd seal of approval. I do want to return when it is warmer and I wonder if maybe someday I will adopt a greyhound myself.

Derby Lane
10490 Gandy Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2395

Telephone Number
(727) 812-3339

The Florida Aquarium

2009-01-29T13:40:00.000-08:00

Written by Ellen Mueller

The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, Florida 33602

Regular hours
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

General Information
Call (813) 273-4000

As you enter the facility, unfortunately the first thing that strikes you is the price, which was quite steep.

Adults - $19.95
Seniors (60+) - $16.95
Children (under 12) - $14.95
Children (2 & under) - Free

I attended with my family (5 people total, all of us adults), so suddenly, our little trip to the aquarium turned into a $100 affair. They also offered some cool sounding Ecotours, but after paying this much to enter the aquarium itself, we were hesitant to nearly double the already expensive cost of the afternoon.
We were then ushered directly into a photo area where we were bunched together as tightly as possible for a commemorative photo we could pick up at the end of our visit. After this photo, we were free to wander the various floors of the aquarium.
The variety of sea life was quite impressive. My favorite tanks were:

- Those that were open on top for birds and turtles, but see-through at water level so you could simultaneously see the watery ecosystem
- The tank for touching sting rays
- The very active otter tank (I love otters)
- The tanks of sea horses (they had a surprisingly wide array of sea horses at this aquarium)

While we were there, we saw a little wagon filled with penguins pass by. I followed the wagon to a small-ish room that was packed to the brim with small children and parents, and I was disappointed to see the wagon swallowed up by the crowd. It was impossible to see anything in this space. I love penguins, so I was sad to miss out. In my opinion, the aquarium should dispense a limited number free tickets to this kind of event to help with crowd control.

Overall, it was a nice aquarium with all the exhibits you'd expect to see, and a few that you wouldn't. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Sushi Tsu - Japanese Steakhouse

2009-01-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

Written by Ellen Mueller

Despite its crazy old website full of animated gifs and weird illustrations of cats eating sushi -
http://www.sushitsu.com/
Sushi Tsu has some good food, and great chefs who are entertaining and very talented.

I had the shrimp and scallops off the Teppanyaki menu (where they cook the food on a special grill in front of you), and the seafood was cooked to perfection - everything fully cooked, yet tender - nothing chewy. Dinner was served with a salad, soup, and a variety of veggies cooked on the grill - delicious.

The prices might look a bit high at first glance, however considering the entertainment of watching your food being cooked in front of you (complete with steaming and sparking onion volcano a la A Benihana Christmas on The Office), it's a fun night out, and well worth the cost.

Sushi TSU
Japanese Restaurant
Tampa Palms
15363 Amberly Dr. Tampa FL 33647
813-910-9404

Open 7 days a week!
Mon. -Thur. 5pm. to 10pm.
Fri. - Sat. 5pm. to 11pm.
Sun. 4pm. to 9pm

Manatee Viewing Center

2009-01-05T13:25:00.001-08:00

Written by Ellen Mueller

Now, I know this place isn't exactly IN Tampa, however it is very CLOSE to Tampa...

After visiting The Manatee Viewing Center at Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station, I'd say it is a great place to bring friends and family from out of town because there are only a handful of locations in the world where you can see these gentle creatures. You can make it a brief stop or spend some time watching the manatees poke their heads out of the water to breath. Plus, it has a great little environmental education facility for those who would like to learn more about these animals.

The Center welcomes the public annually from November 1 through April 15. It is FREE - no admission fees. The Manatee Viewing Center is located at 6990 Dickman Road in Apollo Beach, Florida.

Hockey: Avalanche at Lightning

2008-12-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

From our first guest writer: Phil McCollam

Tonight we went to a hockey game at the St. Petersburg Times Forum between the Lightning and the Avalanche. It was a lot of fun. We got free, inflatable Thunder Sticks (which I have yet to inflate and utilize) but I was unable to find nachos that were less than $5. Yikes.

If you go, try to sit at one end or the other, or try to sit on the center line, at the top of the ground section or in the first balcony. Although the game is shown on the Jumbotron, it's a little disorienting to try and connect what's happening on ice with the angles of the video.

As for parking, we found a parking garage with $5 parking, which seemed to be cheap in comparison to the other pay-lots around the Forum, and the walk wasn't too bad. And if you don't have tickets, there are nice men who will gladly sell you tickets on the street, if you're desperate.

Six Degrees of Separation

2008-12-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

Written by Ellen Mueller.

On Sunday afternoon, December 14, 2009 I attended Six Degrees of Separation at Gorilla Theatre. I was excited to see the play because it is has been widely produced, and I had never seen it. The play was written in 1990 by John Guare, who also wrote The House of Blue Leaves. Here's the synopsis from the Gorilla Theatre press release:

The plot revolves around rich art dealers Flan and Ouisa Kittredge, who are called upon by a charming young African-American stranger, who says he’s a friend of their kids' from Harvard. They offer him a bed for the night; he enchants them with a home-cooked meal and magnificent conversation. This encounter is just the beginning of a series of unexpected — and often hilarious — events that raise important questions surrounding the issues of art, power, race and sexuality.

Upon entering the space, I was immediately struck by the intimacy of the space (fewer than 50 seats, which I love). Next, we see a sparse set spotted with some very clean, high-end furniture. Later in the show, the seemingly uncomplicated set comes to life in a simple yet effective way, however I won't spoil it - there's still a weekend left to catch the show! Kudos to set designer, Keith Arsenault.

I enjoyed the plot, although some of the details were quite dated (the director, Nancy Cole, made note of this fact in the program, pointing out this play was written before the advent of cell phones or the internet). The show also felt dated with its handling of homosexuality and AIDS (this is no fault of the cast/crew - the script is just not aging very gracefully). Both these issues are hugely important today (just take a look at how California's Proposition 8/Florida's Ammendment 2 have rocked the political and civil rights atmosphere across the country), however their treatment in this script felt as dated as the musical RENT (don't get me wrong, I love RENT to death, but it does show its age). Today, the broader themes of art, power, race, and deception carry the show. In particular, the art theme seemed quite relevant with Damien Hirst's recent financial successes in the art market.

I was impressed and proud of the cast for their perseverance when two women stood up and left during the second half of the show as Chris Jackson's character was giving a poignant monologue about a homosexual rendezvous.

Overall, I enjoyed the show and the conversation fodder it provided. Well done Gorilla Theatre!

Catch a remaining performance:
Thur Dec 18 at 7pm
Fri Dec 19 at 8pm
Sat Dec 20 at 7pm (please note the early show time)
Sat Dec 20 at 10pm (late night performance)
Sun Dec 21 at 3pm

WHERE: Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33614
"Behind Steinbrenner Field"

TICKET PRICES (unchanged for the past three seasons):
Full price: $20 on Thursdays /$25 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Seniors (age 55+) and Students (with ID):
$15 on Thursdays / $20 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays
Student rush: $10, thirty minutes before the show when available.

Limited seating. Reservations are highly recommended.

RESERVATIONS: www.gorillatheatre.com (813) 879-2914