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Archive for the 'things to do' Category

Walking in Pinellas County is enjoyable, but not highly rated by some

It’s funny; before we moved to Florida we lived in Bath, Maine, a quaint and attractive small city on the Kennebec River. While Bath was scenic and pleasant, I almost never walked anywhere when I lived there.

There were two reasons: (1) Much of the time it was REALLY cold, and (2) it was very hilly. Walking down the hills wasn’t so bad, but walking back UP was no picnic.

When we moved to Florida, I was delighted to be able to increase my walking. It was always warm (okay, maybe TOO warm in the summer, but you can always walk in the early mornings, before the toasty factor gets too high), and the nearly flat terrain means none of those challenging grades.

Since I find walking to be much more enjoyable here than up north, I was a bit surprised to find a website devoted to the “walkability” of various communities, and to note that our area of Florida, Pinellas County, and more specifically Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs, were rated pretty low on the walking scale.

Even more surprising was that cold, hilly Bath, Maine was rated very highly by this website, www.walkscore.com. Here are the scores:

Bath, Maine: 78 (out of a hundred), “very walkable”

Palm Harbor: 37, car-dependent

Dunedin: 45, car-dependent

Tarpon Springs: 38: Car-dependent

Okay, I actually get this. Our Florida communities are relatively young and they are spread out all over the place. Many lack a real central downtown, and you do need a car to get around and run errands. Bath, Maine (and other up-north older cities) are old, and many were established on the banks of rivers. They were centrally laid-out, as automobiles weren’t even around when they were founded.

Still, if you want my opinion, I’d rather walk right here in Florida. Walking in Maine? No, thanks — especially in January.

By the way, Walkscore.com says it ”helps you find a walkable place to live. Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100 that measures the walkability of any address.”

Tags: Dunedin, Palm Harbor, real estate, Tarpon Springs, things to do, walking

Food truck fun in Safety Harbor

Food trucks line Main Street in Safety Harbor

As I’ve said on this blog many times, there’s always something to do in North Pinellas County, or in all of Tampa Bay, for that matter.  Local residents love to get outside and enjoy the warm sunshine, and the local organizations and communities know that and plan all sorts of activities throughout the year.

This past weekend, Bill and I drove over the Safety Harbor to check out that town’s first-ever Food Truck Rally. About a dozen different food trucks were on hand, offering everything from barbecue to doughnuts to Korean food items.

Ordering up snacks at the Korean food truck

The city blocked off a couple of blocks on Main Street so folks could enjoy strolling from truck to truck without the danger of passing cars.

We sampled a number of items and really enjoyed it. We also enjoyed some live music.

This food truck idea has been held in a number of different local communities and they are pretty popular. There has been a little friction about some of these events – some local restauranteurs have objected to food trucks coming in and allegedly stealing away some business from local restaurants. But in this case, local Safety Harbor businesses were “in the loop” and helped with the planning of the events. If there were any objections, I didn’t hear about them.
“The idea is not to compete with our local restaurants, but to enhance our active community and get them downtown on a Saturday afternoon,” Joe Cooper, Special Events Supervisor for the city, said before the event. “We also hope to bring in new faces to the city that will come out and enjoy our shops, restaurants and pubs.”

These food truck events are becoming more popular. We’re looking forward to the next one.

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Tarpon Springs Thanksgiving Weekend Craft Fest

Tarpon Springs hosted a nice little craft fair over the weekend that followed Thanksgiving.

Billed as the 19th annual Tarpon Springs Thanksgiving Weekend Craft Fest, the event was held right in the downtown area about a block north of the Post Office. A street was closed down to make room for the white craft tents, and there were all kinds of vendors — artisans of all kinds, food vendors, event a booth for the St. Petersburg TIMES.  

I didn’t buy anything, but I enjoyed poking around. Of course, the REALLY big local arts and crafts fair is coming up this next weekend, Dec. 5-6, in downtown Olde Palm Harbor. That event has been going on for the past 35 years and is (I think) the biggest arts & crafts show in the Tampa Bay area.

Farmers’ Market in Palm Harbor

Fruit and veggie vendor's stand at the Palm Harbor Farmers' market

If you are a fan of local farmers’ markets, you should know that Palm Harbor hosts a very nice little farmers’ market on the grounds of the  North Pinellas Historical Museum at the corner of Belcher and Curlew Road.

This area has a number of good farmers’ markets that are fun to attend.  The one in Dunedin is a good-sized market, and Clearwater has a somewhat smaller one.  I haven’t been to the farmers’ market in St. Petersburg, but it’s supposed to be terrific.

But anyway, back to the Palm Harbor market; it happens every Sunday at the museum, and vendors are on hand from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This past Sunday there was a fruit and vegetable stand, a fellow selling very good-looking fresh fish, a woman selling handmade hats, a could of sandwich vendors and several others.  I mostly just nosed around, but I did buy some bananas and some really nice-looking red grapes.

I’ve written about the Dunedin and Clearwater farmers’ markets in the past — you may want to scroll back a few pages and look those over.  It’s nice to have one in Palm Harbor, and you can combine your visit with a tour of the North Pinellas Historical Museum.

Tags: farmer's market, Palm Harbor

Fourth of July in Dunedin and Palm Harbor

People everywhere have their own favorite ways of celebrating the Fourth of July, just as they have special ways of observing every holiday. In Tampa Bay, we have parades and cookouts and fireworks displays like everywhere else, but people around here love to celebrate just about everything by getting on (or near) the water.

We spent a little time this morning poking around some of the favorite beach spots in Palm Harbor and Dunedin, just to see what people were doing.  Sure enough, the beachs were jammed with people, and the nearby waters were loaded with watercraft of all kinds.

Most of these picture were taken on the Dunedin Causeway, which runs from the mainland out to Honeymoon Island. There’s also a ferry that runs from Honeymoon Island out to Caladesi Island, which we wrote about recently as being the nation’s very best beach, at least in the opinion of at least one person who makes such nominations.

We also took a picture of what we believe is the largest American flag in all of Pinellas County — it flies over an auto dealership on US19. If you know of a flag bigger than this one, which is supposed to be just a little bit smaller than the size of a tennis court, we hope you will let us know.

We hope you are having a great Fourth of July, wherever you may be.

Flags at the entrance to Harbor View subdivision, Dunedin

Tags: Dunedin, fourth of july, Palm Harbor

Fourth of July fireworks planned for Pinellas County

Fireworks displays are planned this weekend all over Pinellas County. Here is a partial list:

CLEARWATER

• Clearwater Celebrates America, July 4, Coachman Park, 301 Drew St. A free celebration that includes the following: Mostly Pops Orchestra with John and Mary K. Wilson; craft show, and concessions. Gates open at 4 p.m., fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

• Clearwater Marine Aquarium, July 4, 11 a.m. — 5 p.m. Food, music, dolphin shows. Admission: adults $11, seniors $9, kids $7.50. www.SeeWinter.com.

DUNEDIN

• Dunedin Hometown USA, July 3 at Dunedin Stadium, 373 Douglas Ave. Gates open at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Free admission.

LARGO

• Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, July 4, 7 – 10 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. www.largoevents.com.

GULFPORT

• Day-long celebration July 4 including fishing derby, sandcastle building, car show and community parade. Celebration starts at 8 a.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.

REDINGTON SHORES

• Fireworks display July 4 after dusk in the county park, 182nd Avenue and Gulf Boulevard.

TREASURE ISLAND

• Fourth of July Constitution Boat Parade and Rally July 4 from noon to 6 p.m., at Gator’s Café on Kingfish Drive. Boat Parade will sail through John’s Pass between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island around 3 p.m. www.constitutionparade.com.

• Beach Blast July 3 and 4 behind Bilmar Beach Resort, Treasure Island. Fireworks at 9 p.m. July 4. www.mytreasureisland.org. 

PINELLAS PARK

• Freedom Fest July 3-4. England Brothers Band Shell, 5120 80th Ave. N. Fireworks after dusk Friday. Laser light show Saturday night. www.bayareaentertainmentonline.com.

ST. PETE BEACH

• Fireworks along the Gulf of Mexico at dusk July 4.

ST. PETERSBURG

• Rock ’n Wings concert July 4 at the Albert Whitted Airport, First Street and Fifth Avenue South. Gates open at 3 p.m. Music, classic cars, aircraft. Bring beach chairs or blankets. Admission $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 6 – 12. Children 5 and younger free. Parking $5, free for motorcycles.  www.rockwingsconcert.com.

• Fourth of July Extravaganza at 1 p.m. July 4 at The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E. Performance by the Cool Daddies from 1 to 4 p.m. Drum circle 4 - 5 p.m., Tampa Bay Rays “watch party” 8 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Free. www.stpetepier.com.

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This information is believed to be accurate but is NOT guaranteed –check before you go.

Tags: fireworks, pinellas county

Carl Cowden III is Tampa Bay’s premier painter of murals

Artist Carl Cowden III

In 1974, while still in high school, Carl Cowden III painted a 4 x 8 panel that was part of a temporary construction wall. That project, part of a contest for students, won him second place. Today, Cowden is Tampa Bay’s premier painter of murals.

He graduated from the University of Tampa in 1978 with a degree in fine arts and then got a job with the Community Design Center as a mural artist. The Community Design Center was a Tampa non-profit that developed building and restoration codes for historic neighborhoods. Between 1978 and 1980, he completed six large public murals.

During those early years, he was also known locally for his music.  His band, the Voodoo Idols, began performing in 1978 and continued until 1986.

Safety Harbor Fire Station mural

While he doesn’t limit his work to murals, the murals may be what he is best known for, and he is proud of the contribution they make to the community.

“Public art adds to the quality of life and property,” Cowden said. “These are images that are enjoyed by generations for generations.”

Cowden’s murals can be found just about anywhere and everywhere in Tampa Bay, and all kinds of clients pay for his services. For example, after the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004, the team and the local Outdoor Arts Foundation decided to depict the victory on a 10-foot-by-28-foot oil tank at 39th Street and Adamo Drive. Cowden had to work 130 feet off the ground to get that project completed.

According to Cowden, the lifespan of any mural depend on a number of factors.

Oldsmar City Hall mural

“Of ultimate importance is the condition of the wall before it is painted — the quality of the wall preparation as well as the paint and sealer used to complete the mural,” he said. “The wall must be sealed well, especially at the top. This keeps moisture from seeping behind the paint or substrate, which can destroy it from the inside out.”
 
A public mural’s value is largely determined by the community it serves as well as by the property owner, Cowden said, making the projects very site-specific. The process can be complicated somewhat by the fact that property owners may not live in the local community.

“When I begin a design, I like to speak to the local community and the individuals who will live with it,” he said. “In this way, it is more than just a pretty picture — it is something that has meaning and value to the community. When the people who live with a mural have no say in it, or it deteriorates, or the community loses its unity, its value is diminished and it is subject to vandalism and the owner’s needs.” Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: art, carl cowden, Clearwater, murals, Tampa Bay

Tampa Theater is a Tampa Bay treasure

If you have seen the movie Casablanca, chances are you’ve seen it on TV. Nothing wrong with that, it’s a terrific movie and it comes across great no matter how or where you see it. But next weekend is a true treat for movie buffs — you get to see Casablanca at the Tampa Theater.
If you are not familiar with the Tampa Theater, it is a true gem of a movie theater that was built in 1926 and then lovingly restored in the 1980s to its original splendor.  The detail inside the lobby and theater itself are breathtaking. It is a true local treasure, and if you live in Pinellas County it is a fairly short hop across the Courtney Campbell Causeway or over Hillsborough Avenue to Tampa to take advantage of what it has to offer.
The Tampa Theater is home to many concerts and events, but it is still a great place to see a movie, especially on old black-and-white classic. We saw Keb Mo in concert there a few years ago, and we’ve attended everything from cocktail parties to receptions in the tiled lobby.
Oh, yeah — back to Casablanca.  It is being shown next Saturday (June 27) at 3 p.m., and then it is being shown again the following day at the same time.  If you’ve never been to the Tampa Theater, it’s a great time to go and admire it. It is on Franklin Street in Downtown Tampa — learn more at http://www.tampatheatre.org

Tags: Pinellas County real estate, Tampa Bay, things to do

Things are happening in Downtown Clearwater

The Rays' Hummer

There’s a lot more to major league baseball than what goes on on the field.

Take the Tampa Bay Rays, for example.  The Rays are a young team, having been formed just 11 years ago. They made it to the World Series last year, but not before nine seasons of last-place baseball. The product on the field simple wasn’t enough to draw fans to the park, so the Rays spent lots of time and money developing community-based efforts that would, hopefully, spark interest in the team.

I saw an example of that effort not long ago in downtown Clearwater.

There is a regular monthly event in downtown Clearwater called Fourth Friday. On the fourth Friday of every month, late in the day, vendors start setting up on Cleveland Street, which has been roped off for just that purpose. People turn out to walk along Cleveland street, buy food and other items from vendors, and just generally enjoy Clearwater’s much-improved downtown.

On the day I was there, the Tampa Bay Rays had their special Hummer there, along with a stage set up to host the Ray’s pre-game and post-game radio shows on WDAE, the Sports Animal. The Rays were actually playing the Florida Marlins in Miami that night, but the live radio programs that opened and closed the game would be coming live from downtown Clearwater.

As workers set up the stage, young Rays employees were busy handing out white Rays t-shirts and other team goodies.

The Rays are always looking for more fans. And Clearwater is always looking for more people to come downtown and enjoy what is offered there.

Tags: baseball, Clearwater, downtown

The great North Pinellas County roadside barbecue tour

I am from northern New England, home of pine trees, good seafood and plenty of snow.

Eli's, a Dunedin barbecue institution

What northern New England DOESN’T have is barbecue. And that’s enough to keep me here for the rest of my life. That, and the lack of snow.

When we lived up Maine and got a hankering for barbecue, we had to pile into the car and head south to South Portland, home to the only barbecue restaurant in the entire state of Maine.

(Now, before my old Maine friends get on here and attack me for my incredible lack of modern Maine barbecue awareness, I do have to acknowledge that, in my absence over the past 16 years, there is now something called the “Mainely Grillin’ and Chillin’ Country BBQ State Competition” that takes place in Eliot, Maine in August. Also, a Google search does reveal a few new barbecue restaurants scattered around the state. Wish they were there when we lived there…)

Anyway, there is no lack of barbecue in Florida, or throughout the entire South. Around here, there’s a barbecue joint on every other corner, and we go to most of them.

One thing that I really enjoy, though, are the little roadside pit barbecue places. Usually, these operate out in the open with not much more than a big black smoker and perhaps a couple of picnic tables. The more grandly financed outfits may operate out of a trailer of some kind.

Anyway, there’s enough of them around here that I thought I’d do a little blog tour of North Pinellas County’s outdoor roadside barbecue places. Here are three of them:

Eli’s

Now that I’ve just gotten through describing roadside BBQ joints as not having any permanent real estate, I start off with Eli’s, s which actually does. But here is why I’m including it: It’s a Dunedin institution; it’s only open on Friday and Saturday; and while it does have a small permanent building, only the help can go inside — customers must order through a window, and then have to take the food home or eat it outside on a strange collection of picnic tables and old restaurant booths.

One order of ribs -- to go!

There’s a big ol’ smoker out back that has a name of its own — “Bigfoot.” And it turns out very good barbecue that Eli sells at very good prices — a chopped pork sandwich with beans and cole slaw was just $6 on a recent visit.

The parking lot at Eli’s is often full or nearly so on Friday’s and Saturday’s, the only days that Eli’s is open. And on the day I was there, one customer actually rode in on a riding lawn mower, got his order of ribs and rode out, balancing his white bag of food on his lap.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: barbecue, North Pinellas County, restaurants